Samuel E. Shultz
Although a resident of this county but a few years, Samuel Shultz has won honor and recognition for himself as a farmer and public-spirited citizen. He takes a deep interest in everything pertaining to the material advancement of his adopted township and county, and every enterprise intended to promote the welfare of Fayette comity is sure to receive his hearty support. He is rated as one of the most progressive farmers of his township, and the high respect in which he is held by all classes of people is a deserving compliment to an intelligent, broad-minded and worthy man.
The Shultz family trace their ancestry back to colonial times. The first member of the family of whom definite information has been preserved was Jehu Shultz, a native of Pennsylvania and a soldier of the Revolutionary War. Shortly after the close of that war Jehu Shultz, the great-grandfather of Samuel Shultz, with whom this narrative deals, came to Ohio and settled in Adams county. One of his sons was Edward B., who grew to manhood in Adams county, married Elizabeth Watson and spent all of his days in the county of his birth, dying at an advanced age.
John W. Shultz, one of the children born to Edward B. Shultz and wife, was a native of Adams county, Ohio, where he lived until he was about forty-five years of age. He then removed to Champaign county, Illinois, where he is now living. Four children have been born to John W. and Nancy E. (Polly) Shultz, Samuel, Rhoda, Alva and Walter, all of whom are still living except Rhoda.
Samuel Shultz was born in Adams county, Ohio. February 29, 1872, and moved with his parents to Illinois, where he lived from the time he was about eight years old. He received part of his schooling in Adams county, Ohio, and finished in Champaign county, Illinois. Upon reaching manhood he worked by the month for several years and then went west and worked on a cattle ranch for a time. He married in Champaign county, Illinois, and bought a farm which he operated there for about eighteen years, after which he sold his land holdings in Illinois, moving to Fayette county, Ohio, where he purchased a farm of three hundred and twenty acres one mile from Jeffersonville. He maintains an interest in several grain elevators in Shelby county. Illinois, where he lived for some years.
Mr. Shultz was married January 24, 1897, to Hannah E. Potter, the daughter of John and Rebecca (Gibson) Potter, he a native of Oldham, England, and she of Guernsey county, Ohio. Mr. Shultz and wife are the parents of four children, three of whom are still living, John H., Irene and Stanley. Edward W. is deceased.
Politically, Mr. Shultz is a Progressive, and while living in Illinois was very active in local politics. He served as ditch commissioner and had served two years of a four-year term as county commissioner when he resigned and moved to this county. Since coming here his agricultural interests have demanded all of his time and attention, but is at present candidate for county commissioner on the progressive ticket. The family are all loyal and consistent members of the United Brethren church, and take an active interest in the welfare of their denomination. They live in one of the finest homes in the township.
From History of Fayette County Ohio - Her People, Industries and Institutions by Frank M. Allen (1914, R. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.)