From "History of Shelby County and Representative Citizens:" H. H. Apple, who is one of Loramie township's most respected citizens and able men, for a number of years serving most acceptably as township clerk and also on the board of education, belongs to an old and substantial family that was established in Shelby county, O., by his grandfather, John Apple. He was born on his present farm in Loramie township, where he has ninety-five acres, November 2, 1861, and is a son of Jacob S. and Sarah E. (Creager) Apple.
Jacob S. Apple was born in Montgomery county, O., and was fifteen years old when he came to Loramie township, Shelby county. Here he subsequently secured 160 acres of land for $500, and on this he cut the first tree and erected a pioneer cabin for a home. He cleared his land and as it required draining he at first used oak timbers for pipes but later put down tile and his soil became mellow and productive. He became a man of ample means and his fellow citizens recognized his sterling character, electing him to offices of trust and responsibility. He served as township trustee and township treasurer and also was a member of the school board and was universally esteemed for his honesty and consulted in important matters as a tribute to his good judgment. He became an extensive farmer and also was a successful dealer in horses. At the time of death, in 1902, when aged sixty-seven years, he owned three farms, aggregating 320 acres and had previously sold two eighty-acre tracts of land in this township and bought 160 in Kansas and later another 160 there. He was a stanch democrat and the success of his party was always a matter of pleasure to him as long as he lived. He married Sarah E. Creager, who was born also in Montgomery county, O., where her father, William Creager, died before she came to Shelby county. Three sons were born to this marriage: John W., who lives in Missouri, H. H.; and G. E., who lives in the old home in Loramie township.
H. H. Apple and his brothers all attended the Beech Grove school in boyhood and later he and his brother, G. E. were students in the Ohio Normal School at Ada, O., following which H. H. Apple taught two terms of school in his native township. After his first marriage he settled on the east ninety-five acres of the homestead and has made all the improvements here with the exception of building the residence, his father having completed that. All his land is in excellent condition and all under cultivation with the exception of twenty-five acres which is valuable as a wood lot.
H. H. Apple married Miss Carrie Allgire, who was born in Franklin county, O., and died in Loramie township, Shelby county, June 23, 1891, aged twenty-six years. She was a member of the Christian church at Houston, where her burial took place. Her parents were Henry H. Allgire and wife, formerly of Franklin county and later of Loramie township. One daughter was born to this marriage, Bertha, who is the wife of W. E. Baumgarder, a business man of Russia, O. In 1893, Mr. Apple was married (second) to Miss Florence Cook, who was born in Montgomery county, O., a daughter of Ezra Cook, and five children have been born, two of whom, Ada and Roy, the oldest and the youngest, are now deceased. Edgar W., Arthur F. and Clifford L. all survive. Mr. Apple and family belong to the Lutheran church at Bloomer.
The Apple family in Shelby county has been notably devoted to the Lutheran church and no less so to the democratic party and H. H. Apple has upheld family tradition and custom. On the democratic ticket he was first elected township clerk of Loramie township in 1887 and served until 1891, when he was appointed clerk for J. H. Cruse in June, 1906, served that term, and in January, 1907, was elected clerk and served in the office until January, 1912. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias at Versailles, O., and is a member of the D. H. T. Association, of which he is also secretary.
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