Shultz, George Washington

Posted By: Dale Motschman
Date: 14 July 2003

The Shultz Family of Darke County, Ohio

The Biography of George Washington Shultz
Son of George Jacob Shultz and Elizabeth Creager
by Francis D. Motschman, Sr.

George Washington Shultz had a reputation that was almost as big as he was, and that was big. George stood about 6 feet 6 inches tall and was solidly built. According to his grandson, Sherman Harold Shultz, George would walk to the next town if there was the slightest prospect of a good fight. I used to rankle my father-in-law, Sherman by manipulating the conversation to his grandfather, then, when he got to the part about him fighting, I would remind him of the stature of men in those days. "Don't you think there is something strange about a man hungering for a fight with someone who is probably about a foot shorter and about 70 pounds lighter than he is?",
I would ask Sherman who would then change the subject.

George was just an ordinary sized boy when he was born at home on Tue., July 25, 1837 but by the time he was a teenager he could no longer wear hand-me-downs for there were none large enough. He took some good natured kidding about his size... but not a lot. People soon learned not to be too free in their kidding with this boy in a mans body. Due to his size he always got the heaviest jobs to perform and naturally, the most dangerous. He was not one to work anyway less than hard. When he did some heavy chore that none of the men could do he would get praise from everyone. This became a tonic for him; he had to do things beyond what others could do and more dangerous than anyone else would do... and get the praise that came with it.

Sarah Marie Hunter gave him her hand in marriage and the nuptuals were performed on Wed., September 29, 1858 in Darke County, Ohio. Sarah Marie was the daughter of William Fulton Hunter, Sr. and Elizabeth (Betsy) Earhart. She was born on Sat., December 7, 1839 in Greenville, Darke County, Ohio. Being married to this big man, who loved to live dangerously, was not going to be an easy task but Sarah felt that she was up to it.

Two years after their marriage, George and Sarah heard the cry of their first child, a girl whom they named Laura Belle Shultz. Laura was born on Sat., December 25, 1860. This was a divine Christmas present, they thought. Laura Belle died 85 years later on Thu., August 30, 1945 in Greenville Twp., Darke County, Ohio.

The next child born would become the grandfather of my wife, Juanita V. Shultz. This was William Sherman Shultz and he was born on Fri., October 21, 1864. He died 84 years later on Sat., July 31, 1948 at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio from a kidney disorder.

Ida Mae Shultz made herself known on Mon., March 19, 1866 in Ansonia, Darke Co., Ohio. She died at the age of 79 in Verona, Preble Co., Ohio on Sun., October 21, 1945, just 2 months after her sister, Laura.

The last child born to them was Thomas Albert Shultz who was born on Mon., September 14, 1874. Before he died on Mon., January 29, 1945 he had 10 children.

On Mon., May 7, 1894 when George was 57 years old he was using dynamite doing some work on the Hunter farm, the home of his inlaws. Some dynamite exploded prematurely and George was killed. A tragic accident.

Sarah passed away on Wed., October 21, 1914 after a lingering illness

Note: It always seemed strange to this writer that William Shermana had 9 children and Thomas Albert had 10 children all within Darke County and about the same time, but with almost no contact with each other. To my knowledge there were never any communication or any kind of get togethers between the two family's.

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