My Genealogy Hound

SHOTZMAN FAMILY. There is no family in Franklin Township whose members, separate and collectively, are more highly honored and respected than that bearing the name of Shotzman. For over one-half a century, their names have formed an important link in the chain of history of Franklin Township. Its members are known far and wide for their integrity, business qualifications and steadiness of purpose and it is to be hoped that this honor will attach itself to each and every member who may hereafter dwell in Franklin Township and Brown County. The founder of this family in Brown County was Peter Shotzman, a native of Germany, who married Eva Wagner, and emigrated to America about the year 1829. They located on the farm adjoining that now owned by Hamer Pindell, where they resided through life. The latter died July 7, 1850, and her husband exactly one month later. They were the parents of fourteen children, ten of whom are living — Frederick, Peter, Louis, Christian, George, Reason, Caroline, Christina, Lillie and Joseph. Joseph Shotzman, a son of Peter, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, September 28, 1828, and was but eleven months old when his parents emigrated to America. He was reared on the old homestead, never receiving over ten months’ schooling in all his life. During the first twenty years of his life, he worked on the farm, and on October 12, 1847, married Caroline Hanselman, a resident of Cincinnati, who accompanied her parents from Germany to America when but eight years of age. Soon after marriage, Mr. Shotzman rented some land of Luther Reed, whereon he resided about two years. He then bought a farm of forty-six acres on Straight Creek, near Arnheim, where he resided six years, and sold out to buy 100 acres of his present farm. Mr. Shotzman has since added over three hundred acres to his first purchase, and has now one of the largest farms in Franklin Township. Mr. S. has always evinced a deep interest in bettering the condition of horses in his vicinity and township. He is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, the Democratic party and the Protestant Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Arnheim. In the latter body he has served as Trustee; has also been Trustee’ of Franklin Township. He is the father of nine children — Charlie, married Lou Warner, a native of this county; and a farmer in this township; Caroline, wife of Louie Troutman, a farmer of Lewis Township; Joseph T., a farmer of Franklin Township; William, residing with brother Louie in Lewis Township; Frederick, Christinia, Lillie, Eddie and Frank. Reason, another son of Peter Shotzman, and a brother of Joseph, was born in Franklin Township March 4, 1832. He resided with his parents till attaining his majority. He then went to Maysville, Ky., and was employed as a clerk for about eighteen months. On his return to Brown County, he went to farming on a fork of Eagle Creek, and resided there five years. He then purchased two farms, the one of sixty-eight and the other of seventy-one acres. He resided on the first farm a period of one year, and then sold both farms. He then bought 102 acres of his present farm, and has since added 166 acres, now owning 268 acres of as fine farming land as any in Franklin Township. He is connected with the Protestant Evangelical Lutheran Church, at Arnheim, and the Democratic party. He has served his neighbors as Director and School Supervisor. He was united in marriage, January 11 1855, to Sarah Wendell, a native of Germany, who came with her father, John W., to America when quite young. They have eight children, four daughters and four sons — Eva Matilda, Frederick William, Sarah Ann, Mary Elizabeth, George Washing ton, Charlie Reason, Louis Albert and Josephine. Mrs. Shotzman and family are also members of the Lutheran Church. Charles F. Shotzman, a son of Joseph and Caroline (Hanselman) Shotzman, and a prominent young farmer of this township, was born near his present farm January 1, 1849. He grew to manhood on the home farm, remaining with his father till twenty-two years of age. He received a fair English education in the district schools, and has always taken a special interest in education. At present he is serving as Director of School District No. 1. Mr. Shotzman was married, December 29, 1870, to Louella, daughter of Philip Warner, a farmer of Pleasant Township, this county. After marriage, he rented a farm of 203 acres, on which he farmed for one year. He then purchased his present farm of ninety-three acres, where he has since been engaged in cultivating the soil. Mr. Shotzman is a member of the Protestant Evangelical Lutheran Church, at Arnheim, Franklin Lodge, P. of H. and is Democratic in politics. He served two years as Township Assessor, and in the fall of 1881 was the second highest candidate in receiving the nomination of Commissioner of Brown County. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Shotzman; two living — William Lee and Ada May. Joseph T., another son of Joseph and Caroline Shotzman, was born in Franklin Township January 1, 1854. He remained with his parents till twenty years of age, then rented nine acres of land, four of which he put in tobacco, and the other five in corn. On November 14, 1876, he married Susan, daughter of J. Franklin Pickering, and a native of Scott Township. After marriage, he rented twenty-five acres of his father-in-law, on which he farmed one year. He then engaged in mercantile pursuits, near Grange Hall, on the Ripley and Arnheim Pike, in Franklin Township, where he remained two and a half years, and met with good success. On April 5, 1878, he took possession of his present farm of 112 acres. Politically, he is a member of a Democratic family. Two children have been given himself and wife — Ionia and Johnnie.