Alonzo M. Shank

Alonzo M. Shank, Sheriff of Osceola County, and proprietor of the Hersey City Flouring Mills, was born May 2, 1850, in Hancock Co., Ohio. Joseph shank, his father, was born in the same county, Jan. 6, 1822. In 1853 he removed his family and interests to a farm in Heath Township, Allegan County, coming thence in 1867, to Sherman Township, Osceola County, locating on an 80 acre farm, now in fine condition for agricultural purposes. The mother, Sarah (Crow) Shank, was born July 31, 1828, in Hancock County. Seven of their nine children are living. Martha married Ashley Babbitt, a farmer in McPherson Co., Kansas. Mr. Shank of this sketch, is the second in order of birth. John is a farmer; William Nicholas is a shingle manufacturer; Mary married Charles Marvin; Albert is still at home. With the exception of the first and second they are residents of Sherman Township. Joseph and Samuel are deceased.In 1872 Mr. Shank secured 80 acres of land on section 10, Sherman Township, and he now owns 80 acres situated on the same section, having added 80 acres by later purchase. In 1871 he began the manufacture of shingles in Heath Township, ioerating in that line of business two years. In 1873 he took possession of his property in Sherman Township, where he has 130 acres of his land under cultivation, and is largely engaged in the raising of hay for the Cadillac market. In the spring of 1878, he moved to Hersey, to manufacture shingles for W. S. Gerrish, running two mills, one within the corporation, the second situated one and a half miles east of the depot. In 1882 he bought a meat market and grocery, to which he gave his personal supervision one year, and then rented the stand. In September, 1883, he bought a half interest in the Hersey City Flouring Mills, owned by A. Root. Their joint ownership continued until Aug. 22, 1884, when Mr. Shank became sole proprietor by purchase. The mill has three runs of stones, two sets of rollers, and a producing capacity of 70 barrels, besides the custom grinding of feed, etc. Two assistants are employed.

Mr. Shank is a Mason, and belongs to the Blue Lodge, Royal Arch Chapter and Commandery.

He was elected to the position of Sheriff of Osceola County in the fall of 1882, on the Republican ticket, receiving a majority of 500 votes over the nominee of the opposition element.

He was married June 19, 1870, in Sherman Township, to Essie E. Deffenbaugh. Their children were born as follows: Bessie, Jan. 27, 1873; Cora, Feb. 6, 1875; Byron L., July 3, 1883. Mrs. Shank was born May 4, 1853, in Morrow Co., Ohio, and is the daughter of Jacob and Hannah Deffenbaugh.

In the portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Shank, on other pages of this work, may be seen the fair types of the element on which the assured progress of Osceola Co. is based. Intelligent, energetic, trustworthy, and public-spirited, Mr. Shank may be considered a representative of the spirit which gives the county an impetus in an onward course, notwithstanding the depression of the times, which have not yet corroded nor dimmed the luster of the era of the present of Osceola County.

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