SINES-George - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

"George F. Sines, a member of the firm of Bonebreak & Sines, dealers in dry goods at Yeddo, is one of the native-born sons of Fountain County who represented her at the front during the Civil War, and has since become one of her most enterprising and successful business men, identifying himself with both the merchantile and agricultural interests of this section of the state." "Mr. Sines was born on his father's farm on Scott's Prairie, September 26, 1840. He is of German ancestry, his grandfather, who emigrated hither some time during the last century, being the first of the family to come to America. He settled in Pennsylvania, and his son Joseph, the father of our subject, was born in Philadelphia in 1798. He was reared in his native city, where he learned the trade of a weaver. He also worked on a farm in his youth. He was married in Philadelphia to Mary Ann Griffith, a daughter of Richard Griffith, who was a millwright of southeastern Pennsylvania. Eight or ten years after his marriage Mr. Sines left Philadelphia for Ross Co., Ohio, and, locating near Chillicothe, he engaged in farming there some ten years. In 1839 he came to Fountain County and settled among the pioneers of Cain Township. He bought a tract of school land comprising two hundred and forty acres, and in the years that ensued he devoted hi energies to clearing and improving it. His wife actively co-operated with him in the making of a good home, and they spent their declining years amid its comforts, and died full of years, her death occuring in 1874, and his in 1878. Mr. Sines was a Whig until the Republican party was organized, and from that time he was a stanch supporter of the policy of that party. He was prominent in the management of public affairs for several years as Trustee of the township. Religiously, he was a member and Class-leader of the United Brethren Church. He and his wife had a large family of children, as follows: Richard G., a farmer in Nebraska; John, who was a farmer and died in Illinois; Caroline, who married Amariah Elwell, and is now dead; Jane G., wife of John Elwell, of Iowa; Joseph who died in Ross Co., Ohio; Mary Ann, wife of J.P. Hartman, of Kearney, Neb.; Samuel, who superintends a lumber business at Adair, Iowa; George F,; and Melinda, widow of Charles Marshall, a resident of Yeddo. "George F. Sines, of whom we write, was reared and educated in this county. When he began life for himself he first engaged in farming. In September, 1862, he laid aside his work in response to his country's call, and his name was enrolled as one of the brave volunteers of Company H, Sixty-third Indiana Infantry. He went into the army as a private, but his efficient soldiership won him promotion to the rank of Corporal ere long. He bore an honorable part in the famous campaign of Sherman through Georgia to Atlanta, engaging in the various battles from Buzzard's Roost to Atlanta, and from Ft. Fisher to Goldsboro, N. C. He was severely wounded at Atlanta during a hotly-contested engagement with the rebels, and was in a hospital for nearly six months. He gave his country faithful service until after the terrible war was brought to a close, and he was mustered out of the army July 4, 1865. "Returning to his native county from the South, Mr. Sines resumed his former occupation in Mill Creek Township, and subsequently bought a farm there, which he operated from 1871 to 1883. In the latter year he came to Yeddo to engage in his present business, entering into a partnership with Messrs. Bonebreak and Elwell, under the firm name of Bonebreak, Elwell & Sines. Mr. Elwell withdrew from the company in 1886, and the firm name has since been Bonebreak & Sines. They have an establishment that is complete in its appointments, and they carry a superior class of dry goods, supplying their customers with the latest and best, and displaying marked enterprise and admirable judgment in catering to the tastes and requirements of their patrons. "October 6, 1861, our subject was married to Miss Catherine, daughter of Anthony Raypole, one of the leading farmers of Mill Creek Township, who came to this county from Ross County, Ohio. Mr. and Mr. Sines are blessed with a family of nine children, namely: Caroline, wife of James Ward, a druggist at Hillsboro; Barbara A., wife of John Condon, a railroad man of La Fayette; Samuel, who manages his father's farm; Sylvester, who is also at home; Mary, Grant, Clara, Nellie and Lottie. Mr. Sines has accumulated a comfortable fortune by honorable methods, and besides his business interests he has a valuable farm of two hundred and forty acres, which he devotes principally to raising grain, his sons attending to the management of the farm for him. He and his family are highly thought of throughout the community, as they are gifted with pleasant social qualities, and are kindly and considerate in their relations with their neighbors and other associates. Mr. Sines belongs to Harveysburg Lodge No. 314, F. & A. M, at Kingman, is prominent in the control of its affairs, and acts as its Secretary. Politically, he is a Republican, and is Deputy postmaster at Yeddo."

File Created: 2007-May-01