977.1
W73
V.3 I
320002 /
GENE:Al_Or:v COLLECTFON
GeW
3 1833 02420 7364
A HISTORY
OF
NORTHWEST OHIO
A Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress and Development
from the First European Exploration of the Maumee and
Sandusky Valleys and the Adjacent Shores of
Lake Erie, down to the Present Time
By
NEVIN O. WINTER, LITT. D.
Assisted by a Board of Advisory and Contributing Editors
ILLUSTRATED
u,3
VOLUME III
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
1917
/^^ Mo^-^2/~^
S3O002
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Rutherford Birchard Hayes, nineteenth
President of the United States, was born at
Delaware, Ohio, October 4, 1822. He came
of a long line of sturdy, God-fearing New
England ancestry, seven of whom served as
Revolutionary Soldiers. He was of Scotch
descent on his father's side, but the prevailing
strain was English; his mother's ancestors
coming from England in 1635. George Hayes,
from whom he descended in the sixth genera-
tion, came from Scotland to Windsor, Con-
necticut, in 1680. The great-great-grandson
of this George Hayes, who was named Ruther-
ford, born at New Haven in 1756, migrated as
a young man to Vermont where he served as
an Ensign in the Revolution. There he
■^ married Chloe Smith, a woman of remarkable
I strength of character, ajid reared a large
family. He was a Revolutionary Soldier,
farmer, blacksmith, and inn-keeper at Brattle-
boro. Here his son Rutherford the President 's
father was born January 4, 1787. He married
Sophia Birchard who was of English lineage
and became a successful business man at
Dummerston, Vt., serving as Captain of a
Militia company in the War of 1812. In 1817
the young couple removed to Delaware, Ohio,
where he built the first brick dwelling house
in which the future President was born.
There the husband fell a victim to malarial
fever in July, 1822, three months before the
birth of the son destined to so gi-eat a career,
leaving his wife a valuable farm. Sardis
Birchard, her brother, who became a prosper-
ous merchant at Lower Sandusky (Fremont),
was her constant counsellor and the guardian
of her two children. She lived till 1866.
The future president attended the village
school and early began the study of Latin and
Greek. Then he spent a short time at Nor-
walk (Ohio) Academy and a year at Isaac
Webb's School at Middletown, Connecticut.
In 1838, when barely sixteen, he entered Ken-
yon College at Gambler, Ohio, where he dis-
tinguished himself in his studies and in
student activities, graduating in 1842 as vale-
dictorian.
In his diary written in his junior year he
expressed a sentiment which was prophetic of
his life. He wrote : ' ' The reputation which I
desire is not that momentai-y eminence which
is gained without merit and lost without
regret. Give me the popularity which runs
after, not that which is sought for." In all
his life he never solicited an office or sought
promotion. Honors, distinctions, ofBces came
to him unasked for because men recognized
his merit.
Almost immediately after graduation young
Hayes began to study law in the office of
Thomas Sparrow at Columbus. In August,
1843, he entered the Harvard Law School
where he en.joyed the tuition and friendship
of Judge Story and Professor Greenleaf;
while he attended also the lectures of Long-
fellow and Agassiz in literature and science.
He finished his law courses in Jannar_v, 1845.
Returning to Ohio he was admitted to the bar,
and commenced practice at Fremont, where in
the following year he became a partner of
Ralph P. Buckland, later a member of Con-
gress. Bronchial trouble forced him to give
np active work in 1848, when he spent a winter
in Texas and a summer on the Atlantic coast.
Then, in the early winter of 1849-50, he estab-
lished himself at Cincinnati, where he soon
made for himself a recognized place in the
profession. At the same time he kept up his
interest in letters, becoming a member of the
Cincinnati Literary Club, in which he mingled
with many men of distinction or to become
distingiiished, such as Thomas Corwin, Sal-
mon P. Chase, Moneure D. Conway, Stanley
Matthews, and others. (This club, indeed, fur-
nished the Union armies more than forty
officers, many of them generals. )
On December 30. 1852, Mr. Hayes married
]Miss Lucv Ware Webb, the daughter of Dr.
1335
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
James "Webb, then deceased, who had been a
well-known physician of Chillicothe. She was
a young woman of fine culture, of most win-
ning personality, of gracious manners, and
strong character, who throughout all the busy
years to come was a constant source of help
and inspiration to her husband. Meanwhile
Hayes was winning forward in the law; sev-
eral criminal cases in which he participated
drawing public attention to him. In 1856 he
declined a nomination to the Court of Common
Pleas. In 1858 he was appointed city solicitor
to fill a vacancy, and the following year he
was elected to the same office, by a majority
of over 2,500 votes, and served the public
faithfully and satisfactorily. lu April, 1861,
he failed' of re-election, the entire ticket of his
party being defeated. He at once resumed the
practice of the law; but the war drums soon
summoned him to sterner work.
Hayes had always been an anti-slavery
whig and republican. He .supported Clay in
18-44, Taylor in 1848, Scott in 1852, and in
1856 worked earnestly for Fremont. Clay was
his ideal. "I would start in life without a
penny," he wrote in early manhood, "if by
that Henry Clay could be elected President. ' '
He was an enthusia.stic supporter of'Lincoln,
and he was one of the committee to escort
Lincoln from Indianapolis to Cincinnati when
the Great Commoner was on his way to Wash-
ington to be inaugurated. He recorded at
the time his faith in Lincoln 's ability to meet
the impending crisis. On June 7, 1861, the
governor of Ohio commissioned him major of
the Twenty-third Ohio Volunteei-s. The regi-
ment was soon ordered to West Virginia,
where it rendered effective service throughout
the war except during the Antietam cam-
paign, in 1862, and duriiig the operations of
General Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley
in 1864. October 24, 1861, he was promoted
to lieutenant-colonel. On September 24, 1862.
in the Antietam campaign, Hayes showed con-
spicuous gallantry in leading a charge at the
battle of South Mountain. Here he was
severely wounded, a minie ball shattering his
left arm above the elbow. Before his wound
was healed he returned to his regiment as
eolonel. In 1863 his command was engaged in
Southwestern Virginia in efforts to cut the
Confederate line of communication to Ten-
nessee. There was much rugged campaigning
and many engagements. In July of this year
also Hayes commanded two regiments and a
battery of artillery that was sent back to chcc!,-
John Morgan in his raid in Southern Ohio.
The year 1864 was full of stirring incident,
incessant campaigning, and opportunities for
valorous service tor Hayes. In the spring he
served under General Crook in the movement
against the East Tennessee and Virginia Rail-
road, and led a brigade in storming the
enemy 's works at the crest of Cloyd Mountain
with noteworthy gallantry. Afterwards he
participated in the march ujjon Lynchburg
and in the operations thei'eabouts and covered
the retreat in the perilous passage of the AUe-
ghanies. In July Hayes was ordered to the
Shenandoah Valley, where he took part with
great credit in many important battles. At
the battle of Winchester he performed a feat
of extraordinary courage and daring. His
brigade had the extreme right of Ci-ook's com-
mand. His troops with the cavalry executed
the turning manoeuvre which decided the fate
of the day. In leading an assault upou a
battery on an eminence he found in his way
a morass over fifty yards wide. Without a
moment's hesitation Colonel Hayes plunged
in. His horse was quickly mired, and had to
be abandoned, and Hayes waded through alone
under the enemy's fire. Waving his cap he
signalled to his men to come over. When
about forty had joined him he charged the
batterj' and took it after a hand to hand fight,
the enemy, trusting to the security of the posi-
tion, having left it without infantry supports.
The enemy fled in great disorder and Hayes
re-formed his lines and continued in pursuit.
At Fisher's Hill Crook with Hayes's brigade
in the lead executed brilliantly a flank move-
ment through the mountains and woods to the
enemy's left. He led repeated charges until
the enemy's works with eveiy piece of artillery
had been captured. A month later, October
19th, at Cedar Creek, Hayes displayed such
courage and sagacity in cheeking the enemy's
advance, and even after he had been severely
injured when his horse was shot under
hira, in rallying his men and aiding in
forming the line, which Sheridan inspired to
renewed effort after his famous ride from
Winchester, that Crook on the battlefield
grasped his hand and said : ' ' Colonel, from
this day you will be a brigadier general.''
The commission bearing data of the battle
soon reached him ; and on JIareh 13, 1865, he
received the rank of brevet major-general,
"for gallant and distinguished services during
the campaign of 1864 in West Virginia and
particularly at the battles of Fisher's Hill and
Cedar Creek," Virginia. Hayes was wounded
six times, had four horses shot under him, and
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1337
jrarticipated in 100 battles great and small.
General Grant in his memoirs says:- "On
more than one occasion in these engagements
General R. B. Hayes, who succeeded me as
President of the United States, bore a very
honorable part. His conduct on the field was
marked by Conspicuous gallantry, as well as
the display of qualities of a higher order than
mere personal daring. Having entered the
army as a major of volunteers at the begin-
ning of the war, General Hayes attained by
his meritorious service the rank of brevet
major-general before its close."
In August, 1864, while he was in the tield
he was nominated for Congress by the republi-
cans of the Second Ohio District (Cincinnati).
To William Henry Smith, who wrote suggest-
ing that he come home and make campaign
speeches, he wrote: "Your suggestion about
getting a furlough to take the stump was cer-
tainly made without reflection. An officer fit
for duty who, at this crisis, would abandon
his post to electioneer for a seat in Congi-ess
ought to be scalped. You may feel perfectly
sure I shall do no such thing." The district
gave him a decisive majority and two years
later re-elected him by an increased vote. In
Congress he was a cjuiet, faithful, hardwork-
ing member. As chairman of the library com-
mittee he carried through measures of much
benefit to the Congressional Library. He was
an earnest advocate of the Fourteenth and
Fifteenth amendments to the Constitution and
of the reconstruction measures of liis party.
In 1867, in the midst of his second term, the
republicans of Ohio nominated him for gov-
ernor again.st Allen G. Thurman. After an
exciting canvass, he was elected by a majority
of 2,983. Two years later he was re-elected
over George H. Pendleton by a majority of
7,506. In his first campaign for governor he
vigorously advocated negro suffrage. In his
second campaign he combated the democratic
declaration in favor of paying the Government
bonds with greenliacks. His messages to the
Legislatvire abounded in practical suggestions
for reform of the tax laws, the election laws,
the prison laws, and many other reforms which
bore fruit., Under his administration the sol-
diers' orphans' home was established, the
State University was founded; the Fifteenth
Amendment was ratified, and the state debt
was reduced. At the expiration of his term,
in 1872, he refused to be elected Uiiited States
Senator by a combination of republicans and
democrats against John Sherman. His friends
in the Second District that year insisted that
he stand again for Congress; the tide was
running against the republicans in Cincinnati
and it was thought that Hayes, if any man,
could be elected. He reluctantly accepted the
nomination and made a vigorous campaign,
pleading for an honest financial policy and
civil service reform. While he ran much
ahead of his ticket he was defeated. Soon
after this he declined the position of United
States assistant treasurer at Cincinnati to
which he had been commissioned bj- President
Grant.
In 1S73 General Hayes returned to Fre-
mont and established himself at Spiegel Grove,
which was given him by his uncle, Sardis
Birchard, whose chief heir he became on 3Ir.
Bii-chard's death the following year. It was
his fixed determination at that time completely
to retire from jDolitics and to sjjeud the re-
mainder of his life in learned leisure. But the
people of Ohio would not have it so. In 1875,
much against his wishes and after his positive
declination, the republican convention again
nominated him for governor, against William
Allen, then governor, a man of great popu-
larity. The democratic platfor-m declared that
the volume of the currency (that is, paper
money) should be made and kept equal to the
wants of trade; that the national bank cur-
rency should be replaced with greenbacks, and
that eustoms dues should be payable at least
to the extent of one half in greenbacks. The
questions involveil atti'acted the attention of
the entire country to the Ohio canvass. Gen-
eral Hayes made a most vigorous and unyield-
ing sound iiKHicy rampaign and was elected by
a nuiji>rit\ i>f ri..")44. During the canvass it
was predicted by many papers (among them
the New York Sun) that if Hayes were elected,
he would be a formidable candidate for the
Presidential nomination in 1876. His brilliant
and successful campaign increa.sed such talk
and his availability became more and more
widely recognized. A letter from John Sher-
man made public in the early part of 1876
gave impetus to the movement. General Hayes
himself refused to take any step toward secur-
ing the nomination. To a friend he wrote:
"It is not for you or me to enroll ourselves
in the great army of office-seekers. Let the
currents alone." The Ohio Republican Con-
vention instructed the delegates to the Cincin-
nati Convention to vote for Hayes. Blaine,
Morton, Conkling and Bristow were the lead-
ing candidates. General Noyes presented
Hayes's name to the convention, dwelling on
his high personal character, and his lack of
1338
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
enemies, and contending that his nomination
would "compromise all difficulties and soften
all antagonisms." On the first ballot Hayes
had 61 votes, 378 being necessary to a choice.
His strength slowly increased until on the
seventh ballot he received 384 votes, when on
motion of William P. Frye, of Maine, the
nomination was made unanimous. This was
on June 16th. On July 8th appeared the let-
ter of acceptance, which was altogether ad-
mirable in tone and in matter. Advanced
ground was taken in behalf of civil service
reform ; the speedy resumption of specie pay-
ments was advocated, and stress was laid on
the imperative necessity for the pacification of
the South. The opposing candidate was
Samuel J. Tilden of New York, who had
gained a reputation as a reformer in crushing
the infamous Tweed ring in New York City,
and by demolishing the Canal ring, as gov-
ernor of New York State. He was moreover a
most astute and skilful political organizer.
The election was very close and resulted in a
bitter coutroversy. It hinged upon the result
in South Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana, in
which states the vote was close and where
allegations of corrupt methods were made by
both parties against the other. Friends of
both candidates went from the North to each
of these states to watch the count. Mr. Hayes
throughout the crisis preserved a dignified
bearing, awaiting elamly the result. On
November 27, 1876, I\Ir. Hayes wrote a letter
to John Sherman while the latter was at New
Orleans, which clearly gives his position. He
said : "You feel, I am sure, as I do about the
whole business. A fair election would have
given us about forty electoral votes in the
South — at least that many. But we are not to
allow our friends to defeat one outrage and
fraud by another. There must be nothing
crooked on our part. Let Mr. Tilden have the
place by violence, intimidation, and fraud,
rather than undertake to prevent it by means
that will not bear the closest scrutiny. ' ' In all
three states the Hayes electors were declared
elected. Thus on the face of the returns Mr.
Hayes had 185 votes in the electoral college
and Mr. Tilden 184 votes. So bitter was the
controversy between the parties in the comi-
try at large and in Congress, so many doubts
and difficulties were raised, that both parties
in Congress, the Senate being republican and
the House democratic, at la.st united in the
creation of an extraordinary court or commis-
sion to which all disputed electoral votes were
to be referred. The commission consisted of
five senators, five representatives, and five
judges 'of the Supreme Court, and its decision
was to be final unless set aside by the concur-
rent vote of both houses of Congress. The
commission by a vote of 8 to 7 refused to go
behind the returns, holding that the certif-
icates of the governors must be accepted. On
March 2d the canvassing of the electoral votes
was completed and Rutherford B. Hayes was
declared duly elected President of the United
States.
President Hayes was inaugurated Monday,
March .5th, 1877, having on the Saturday
evening previously taken the oath of office
privately at the "White House, to prevent the
possibility of an interregnum. His inaugural
address covered much the same points as his
letter of acceptance. In it occurred the
apothegm oftener quoted than any other one
thing said by Mr. Hayes, ' ' He serves his party
best who serves his country best." Mr.
Hayes named as his cabinet, William M.
Evarts, secretary of state ; John Sherman,
secretary of the treasury ; George W. McCrary,
secretary of war; Richard W. Thompson, sec-
retary of the navy ; David M. Key, postmaster
general ; Charles Devens, attorney general ;
and Carl Sehurz, seeretaiy of the interior. It
is acknowledged to have been one of the ablest
cabinets in the lustory of the country. Presi-
dent Hayes at once directed his attention to
the southern situation. In the first entry
made in his diary after his inauguration occur
these words: "My policy is trust, peace, and
to put aside the bayonet. I do not think the
wise policy is to decide contested elections in
the States by the use of the national army."
These words afford the key to his southern
policy. After securing a.ssurances from lead-
ing southerners of peaceful intentions and a
purpose to accord constitutional rights to all
cla.sses of citizens. President Hayes ordered
the Federal troops recalled from South Caro-
lina and Louisiana. This was in April, 1877.
The republican administrations in both states
immediately fell to the ground and the rival
democratic governments were established.
Both North and South ilr. Hayes was widely
commended for his course. People were tired
of Federal interference in the South. The
time was come when it was believed that all
the southern commonwealths should be left to
work out their own salvation in their own way.
This policy, to be sure, weakened the repub-
lican party in the South and so was criticized
by many partisans: but it strensrthened the
party among the great masses of the North.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1339
Probably no single act of Mr. Hayes's admin-
istratiou was of more immediate or furtlier-
reacking benefit to the country. There was a
gradual subsidence of sectional animosity and
the southern question began rapidly to disap-
pear from its position of tirst importance lu
the public mind. President Hayes 's persistent
conciliatory policy marked the pompletiou of
reconstruction so far as the National Govern-
ment was concerned.
The other great features of the administra-
tion can be only briefly mentioned. First.
Consistent elfort was made by the President
to minimize the evils of the spoils system and
to advance the cause of civil service reform,
lu all this he was opposed and thwarted
largely by the politicians of his own party.
And yet he was able to secure the adoption of
the mei'it system in the New York Custom
House and Postoffice which became valuable
object lessons in the furtherance of the great
reform. He defied "Senatorial courtesy" in
the appointment of Edwin A. Merritt as col-
lector of customs at New York, and then in-
structed him to conduct his office ' ' on strictly
business principles, and according to the rules
which were adopted, on the recommendation of
the Civil Service Commission by the adminis-
tration of General Grant. ' ' Then he added :
"Neither my recomendation, nor that of the
Secretary of the Treasury, nor the recommen-
dation of any member of Congress or other
influential person, should be specially re-
garded. Restrict the area of patronage to the
narrowest possible limits."
Second. The financial history of the ad-
ministration is most noteworthy. Mr. Hayes
was most strenuous in upholding the policy of
an early resumption of specie payments, the
way for which had been prepared by the
Resumption Act of 1875. In his first message
he declared against ' ' any wavering in purpose
or unsteadiness in methods" in this regard.
His strength of purpose and conviction had
much to do with keeping the country up to
the mark of resumption, suffering as it still
was from the depression succeeding the panic
of 1873. A gold reserve was aecuuuilated and
when the date fixed by the law arrived the
greenbacks had risen to par with gold. An-
other feature of the administration 's financial
history was the successful refunding of the
public debt by which an annual saving in
interest of $15,000,000 was secured. More-
over, it is not to be forgotten that Mr. Hayes
vetoed the Bland-Allison Bill providing for
the coinage of silver dollars of 412^1; grains
standard silver, accompanying his veto with a
message of great force arguing against the
wisdom of issuing full legal tender coins of
less intrinsic than nominal value. This bill
was passed over his veto, to be siu-e, and so the
"silver question" entered upon its long and
exasperating career in American politics.
Third. Mr. Hayes maintained the dignity
and prerogative of the Executive by refusing
to be coerced into signing appropriation bills
with obnoxious riders, intended to curtail the
power of the President to execute laws disliked
by the democratic majority in Congress, but
which laws Congress was powerless to repeal
over the President's veto. In every contest
of the sort the President finally triiunphed.
Fourth. On March 1, 1879, Mr. Hayes,
while sympathizing with the opposition to
Chinese immigration, had the courage, in the
face of a large popular demand, to veto the
restriction bill, because it violated treaty obli-
gations. In his last annual message he an-
nounced that a new treaty with China had
been negotiated under which Chinese immigra-
tion could be regulated or suspended. More-
over, in the treatment of the Indians, in
furthering the interests of the colored people,
in the cause of education, Mr. Hayes urged,
and, so far as lay in his power, instituted pro-
gressive measures.
The resumption of specie payments was
followed by a revival of business, and a gen-
feral increase of prosperity. In November,
1880, the country declared its approval of Mr.
Hayes's administration by electing James A.
Garfield as his successor by a decisive ma-
jority. Charles Francis Adams, who had
supported Mr. Tilden in 1876, said of Mr.
Hayes's administration: "Taken as a whole, it
has been an administration which will bear
comparison with the best and purest of all
those which preceded it." And James G.
Blaine wrote : "It was one of the few and
rare cases in our history, in which the Presi-
dent entered upon his office with the country
depressed and discontented and left it pros-
perous and happy; in which he found his
party broken, divided, and on the verge of
defeat, and left it strong, united, and prosper-
ous. This was the peculiar felicity of GenerKl
Hayes's public career."
On the expiration of his term Mr. Hayes re-
tired to Spiegel Grove, his home, at Fremont.
To his neighbors he spoke in feeling apprecia-
tion of their hearty welcome. In the course
of his speech he said : ' ' The question is often
heard, 'What is to become of the man — what is
1340
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
he to do — who, having been Chief Magistrate
of the Republic retires at the end of his official
term to private life?' It seems to me the
reply is near at hand and sufiScient : Let him
like every other good American citizen, be
willing aiid prompt to bear his part in every
work that will promote the welfare, and the
happiness, of his family, his town, his State,
and his country. With this disposition he will
have work enough to do, and that sort of work
that yields more individual contentment and
gratification than belong to the more con-
spicuous employments of the life from which
he has retired."
In the full spirit of these words Mr. Hayes
lived the twelve years that remained to him.
He took great intei-est in the old soldiers ; he
was active in furthering the cause of the
Grand Army; he was first president of the
Society of tlie Army of West Virginia, and he
was for many years commander of the Loyal
Legion. He devoted much time, labor, and
earnest attention to the cause of education ; he
was president of the board of trustees of the
John F. Slater Education Fund, one of the
trustees of the Peabody Education Fund, a
trustee of the Western Reserve University at
Cleveland, of the Ohio Wesleyan University at
Delaware, and of the Ohio State University at
Columbus. He was for many years the presi-
dent of the National Prison Reform As.socia-
tion, an active member of the National
Conference of Corrections and Charities, an
earnest participant in the Lake Mohonk Indian
conferences; and a member of many other
benevolent or educational organizations. From
Kenyon College he received the degi'ee of
LL. D. in 1868 ; the same degi*ee from Har-
vard in 1877, from Yale in 1880, and from
Johns Hopkins in 1881.
Mr. Hayes was profoundly interested in
American history from the earliest period.
He collected a library of books relating to
American history and biography of many
thousand volumes, now preserved by Ohio
Archa?ological and Historical Society in a
beautiful memorial building, erected by the
state at Spiegel Grove. Mr. Hayes never lost
his interest in politics in the large sense of the
term, but after his retirement from the White
House he rigidly abstained from discussing
party questions for publication. He was most
happ.y in his home life. The death of I\Irs.
Hayes in June, 1889, was a crushing blow to
him, and he was not reluctant to respond when
the final summons come to him on January
17, 1893. He died as he had lived, a noble.
faithful, true-hearted Christian gentleman,
who had met every responsibility and per-
formed every duty that life laid upon him,
honorably, conscientiously, and to the endur-
ing good of his time and his country.
Col. Webb C. Hayes is the second son of
Rutherford B. Hayes and Lucy Webb Hayes,
and resides in Spiegel Grove which, reserving
the right of occupancy of the residence, he has
deeded for a State Park as a Memorial to his
parents. In 1909 Colonel Hayes deeded to the
State of Ohio for the benefit of the Ohio
Archffiological and Historical Society, Spiegel
Grove, through which runs for almost half a
mile the old French and Indian trail along the
Sandusky-Scioto waterway from Lake Erie to
the Ohio River, later known as the Harrison
Trail of the War of 1812, together with all the
personal property connected therewith, includ-
ing the 15,000 volumes of the Libraiy Ameri-
cana which had been collected by President
Ha.yes, and which was, perhaps, the largest
owned by any private citizen- at the time of
his death, conditional only on the preserva-
tion of it in a suitable fireproof building. The
Legislature of Ohio devoted $40,000 toward
the building, to which Colonel Hayes had
added, including his endowment of $50,000
for the annual purchase of historical books,
an amount not less than $100,000' in cash,
which with the value of Spiegel Grove, the
library, and personal property connected
therewith, and adjoining property (the pro-
ceeds from the sale of which is to be used in
maintaining the park) amount to a total value
of not less than a quarter of a million dollars,
bequeathed to the state for the benefit of the
Ohio Arch:"eological and Historical Society.
He has not only achieved a high degree
of success as a manufacturer at Cleve-
land, but has attained distinction as a
soldier and a local historian. He has the honor
of being the only soldier who served in battle
in each of the four campaigns, Cuba, Porto
Rico, the Philippines and China. He was
wounded and had his horse killed in the as-
sault on San Juan at Santiago and was
awarded a Congressional medal of honor for
distinguished gallantry at Vigan, P. I.
Colonel Hayes was born in Cincinnati, Ohio,
March 20, 1856, and" for a few months attended
school at Chillicothe and Cincinnati, before
being sent with his older brother. Birchard,
to live with his uncle, Sardis Birchard, at
Spiegel Grove in 1866, where he attended the
public schools imtil he entered Cornell Uni-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1341
versity in the class of 1876. He was personal
secretary to his father, while the latter was
serving his third term as governor of Ohio,
during his campaign for the presidency, and
during his administration as President of the
United StETtes. In 1881 Colonel Hayes began
his business career as tz-easurer of the Whipple
Manufacturing Company at Cleveland. Six
years later, in association with IMyron T. Her-
rick, James Parmelee and W. H. Lawrence,
he organized the National Carbon Company,
a concern of great magnitude, which, operates
one of its branches at Fremont. While a small
boy, he developed a fondness for the militarj',
hunting, and an out-door life, and his patron
saint from childhood, until the latter 's death
in 1890, was Maj. Gen. George Crook, U. S. A.,
the foremost hunter and Indian fighter of the
United States army, who had caused him,
while a child, to be uniformed as the junior
second lieutenant of his father's regiment dur-
ing the last year of the Civil war, and later
taught him to hunt the big game of the Rocky
Mountains ; grizzlies, elk, and Rocky ^Mountain
sheep, in his annual vacations from business
during the last thirteen years of the general's
life. Colonel Hayes always took an active in-
terest in military affairs, and served as an
active or veteran member of the First Cleve-
land Troop, later Troop A, Ohio National
Guard, for seventeen years prior to the war
with Spain. He sei*ved with Troop A, as the
personal escort of all of the presidents of the
United States from Hayes to Taft, and at the
funeral obsequies of the three Ohio presidents,
Hayes, Garfield, and ]McKinley. He was active
in securing the acceptance of a regiment of
voluntary cavalry, and the expansion of Troop
A into the First Ohio Cavaliy, for the war
witli Spain. This regiment had five graduates
of the United States Military Academy among
its officers, and everv member of Troop A of
Ohio became a commissioned or non-commis-
sioned officer of the First Ohio Cavalry, in the
war with Spain.
Colonel Hayes was commissioned ma.jor of
the First Ohio Cavalry, and mustered into the
United States service with his regiment at
Columbus, May 9, 1898. He was immediately
ordered to report to 'Maj. Gen. W. R. Shafter,
and embarked with the Fifth Army Corps at
Port Tampa, Florida, on June 6th for San-
tiago de Cuba. He reported to Brig. Gen. S.
B. M. Young, commanding the Second Cavalry
Brigade, to which the First Ohio Cavalry
had been oidered assigned when eauipped and
was attached to the brigade stafl" when the
Transport "Leona" No. 21 sailed before the
arrival of his regiment. He served through
the campaigns of Santiago de Cuba, and for
the invasion of Porto Rico, participating in
the first lauding at Daiquiri, Cuba, June 22d,
the first engagement at Las Guasimas, June
21rth, the assault on San Juan July 1st, and
the siege of Santiago de Cuba, terminating in
the surrender of July 17th. He was wounded
through the muscles of the back, with con-
tusion of the spine, by a Mauser bullet, which
killed his horse, at the crossing of the San
Juan River, on the morning of July 1st, but
participated in the assault on San Juan Hill
later in the day, and sei*ved until July 8tli as
acting adjutant general, acting brigade com-
missary, and acting brigade quartermaster of
the Second Cavalry Brigade, vice Captains
ilills and Henry, wounded, and Lieutenant
Shipp, killed, in the assault, by order of
Colonel Leonard Wood, acting brigade com-
mander. On the cessation of hostilities, Jul.y
14th, he was detached from the Second Cav-
alry Brigade, on his own application, and or-
dered to rejoin his regiment to accompany it
to Porto Rico, and on July 15th boarded the
transport "Hudson," with other wounded.
Sailed from Guantanamo Bay, on the Lam-
pasas in Major General Miles' Expedition for
Porto Rico and participated in the engagement
at the First Landing at Guanica, Porto Rico,
July 25th : temporarily attached to General
Garretson's staff, and served with his brigade
in the engagement on the Yauco Road July
26th. While scouting on July 27th he received
the surrender of the Town of Yauco, and was
lilaced in command of an expedition to Tala-
l)oa, by Gen. Gity V. Henry, commanding
Provisional Division, en route to Ponce. Or-
dered to report to Major General Brooks at
Arroyo, August 9th, and attached to his staff,
and served in the advance against the Spanish
forces on August 13th, which was stopped by
the news of the signing of the Peace Protocol.
He sailed August 20th from Ponce for New
York and rejoined hfs regiment in camp at
Huntsville, Alabama. He left Camp Wheeler,
Iluntsville, Alabama, in command of the
Cleveland Squadron, Troops A, B and C,
First Ohio Cavalrv, which was mustered out of
service at Cleveland, October 22, 1898.
On the breaking out of the insurrection in
the Philippines he was commissioned lieuten-
ant colonel of the Thirty-first Unit,',! St:ih^s
Volunteer Infantry, recruited in nliin. Imli-
ana, Kentucky and Tennessee and ui'i;auized
at Fort Thomas, Kentucky, in Julv, 1899, by
1342
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Col. James S. Pettit of Ohio (captain First
United States Infantry), who, with the re-
maining field officers, were graduates of the
Military Academy. This regiment was the
first to reach San Francisco en route to the
Philippines, but on the eve of sailing on the
transport "Grant," an epidemic of small pox
broke out and the entire regiment was trans-
ferred to the Small Pox Detention Camp ou
Angel Island, from which, six weeks later, on
October 25, 1899, Ligget's Battalion, Com-
panies I, K, L and M, the "small pox bat-
talion," with a detachment of hospital corps
men, all under command of Lieutenant Colonel
Hayes, sailed on the United States army trans-
port, "Manauense, " for Honolulu and Manila.
It later transpired that the "Manauense," a
British ship, whose last cargo, curiously
enough, had been saltpetre, had been thrice
condemned and refused for transport purposes
at Seattle, but had been brought to San Fran-
cisco freshly painted, but the true condition
cf the ship became so apparent before Hono-
lulu was reached, that many of the crew de-
serted at that point. The trip from Honolulu
to Manila was a succession of horrors.
Small pox was again reported by the sur-
geons from the sick bay, the electric plant
broke down, cutting off the lights and the elec-
tric fans in the quarters of the men and com
pelling them to sleep on the deck during the
remainder of the voyage, except during the
days of the typhoon, when the hatches were
fastened down.
The morphine-eating chief engineer opened
a sea valve which could not be completely
closed, shipping thirty tons of water, which
flooded the fire room, putting out the fires, and
causing the boilei-s to leak, clogging the pumps
with coal dust, so that all the water had to be
bailed out with pails by the soldiers, over 100
of whom were on duty continually for twelve
days bailing until the ship reached Manila.
The distilling plant collapsed, cutting off the
water supply and necessitating the use of salt
sea water in preparing coffee. The ice plant
failed, causing the loss of all fresh meats and
vegetables, which had to be thrown overboard.
The coal in the starboard bunker caught fire
and had to be removed after the fire was
'drowned out and then after the soldiers had
repaired or plugged the leaking boiler tubes,
and gotten up steam by feeding coal to the
fires by hand, the ship was struck by a typhoon
and with no one on deck save the soldiers form-
ing the bailing crew, who were securely lashed,
she was driven a derelict without steam be-
fore the storm for three days until picked up
by her consort and slowly made her way into
Manila Bay, arriving November 28, 1899. The
regiment was ordered to the Southern Islands
and was the first pennauent American garri-
son on the Islands of Mindanao and Isabella
de Basiland, establishing regimental head-
quarters at Zamboanga early in December,
1899. Pending an investigation of the con-
duct of the engineers of the "^lanaueuse,"
Colonel Hayes was ordered to report to his old
compiauder. General Young, then on an expe-
dition through Northern Luzon, and sailed on
the hospital ship "Relief," and the warships
"Wheeling" and "Princeton," arriving off
the port of Vigan late in the afternoon of
December 4, 1899.
On being landed on the beach he found
through a Spanish interpreter that the Ameri-
can garrison of eighty -three men with 150 sick
and wounded, had been surrounded by 800
Filipino insurgents, who had them cooped up
in the monastery buildings on the Plaza at
Vigan. It being too near dark to land the
sailors and marines that night. Colonel Hayes
seized a Filipino pony and forced its owner by
the use of his revolver to accompany him
through the Filipinos stationed along the trail,
and in the darkness succeeded in reaching the
garrison. General Young, with his cavalry,
and Captain McCalla, U. S. N., with his sailors
and marines, arrived at Vigan December 5th,
in time to drive off the insurgents and relieve
the garrison. Colonel Hayes was subsequently
awarded a Congressional ]\Iedal of Honor for
gallantry at Vigan and accompanied General
Young in his northern campaign. On being
relieved from duty in Northern Luzon he re-
ported at the regimental headquarters at Zam-
boanga, December 31, 1899, and served with
detachments of his regiments at Parang-Par-
ang, Pollok, Cotta-Batti, and Davao, and as
senior officer of a joint army, navy and civil
government expedition, at a conference with
the Sultan of Sulu, the spiritual head of the
savage iloro tribes of ilindanao and Jolo.
He returned to America via the Suez Canal
on leave of absence just at the outbreak of the
Boxer insurrection in China and. resigning,
accompanied the American Relief Expedition
to Peking, being appointed a volunteer aid on
the staff of Maj. Gen. Adna R. Chaffee, com-
manding. He participated in cavalry raids
from Peking, and on the disbandment of the
China Relief Expedition, was relieved from
duty and returned to America with the re-
mains of Col. E. H. Liscorab, Ninth Infantry.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1343
On the outbreak of the war between Russia
and Japan, with whose soldiers he had served
in the Relief of Peking, he again visited the
Orient and accompanied General Kuroki's
Japanese army on its advance to the Yalii;
and while eu route to Chefoo from Korea was
captured l)y Russian torpedo boats and taken
a prisoner into Port Arthur, but released after
a short detention and proceeded to Peking and
then visited the Russian army near Mukden.
On his return he witnessed one of Admiral
Togo's bombardments of Port Arthur, the
blowing up of Dalny by the Russians, and the
landing of the Japanese army which effected
tile capture of Port Arthur.
On returning to America lie called attention
to tlie unmarked battlefields of American sol-
diers in Cuba and China and securing Con-
gressional aid, he, as president of the China
Battlefield Commission, and secretary of the
Santiago Battlefield Commission, has been in-
strumental in marking these battlefields, this
necessitating numerous trips to each of them.
He has taken an active interest in the local
historical affairs pertaining both to his county
and state — and secured the marking of his-
torical sites aud the reburial of ilajor Crog-
han's remains on Fort Stephenson.
In 1911, on the outbreak of the troubles
with Mexico, and the partial mobilization on
the border. Colonel Hayes was commissioned
colonel and chief signal officer of the Ohio
National Guard, by Governor Judson Har-
mon, and served with the regular cavalry and
signal troops in patrolling the Rio Grande.
Colonel Hayes was married September 30,
1912, to Mary Otis, only surviving daughter
of the late Anson H. lliller and Nancy Otis
IVIiller. life long residents of Fremont. Largely
tlirough ^Irs. Hayes's efforts and her contribu-
tion of $100,000 in memory of her parents,
the Memorial Hospital of Sandusky Countv
was made possible.
In 191.S Colonel Hayes was again on the
ilexican border, and with his wife visited the
City of Mexico during the presidency of Gen-
eral Huerta. and in 1916 spent a short time
with General Pershing's expeditionary force
in Northern Mexico. On the outbreak of the
present European war, in August, 1914. they
sailed on the first steamer lc;i\iiu;' \cw York,
and as special agent of tln^ Pcp.^irtinent of
State at his own expense, visiti'd the American
embassies in Paris, London, and Berlin, and
the American legations at Brussels and at Thf
Hague. Leaving ]\Irs. Hayes at The Hague,
he visited Berlin and was sent in a German
.military motor ear with two armed German
soldiers through from Aix-le-Chapelle to Brus-
sels and then to Ghent, passing over the battle-
fields at Liege, Namur, Mons, Brussels, and
Louvain, within the month after the outbreak
of the war.
Just prior to the declaration of a state of
war with Germany, Colonel Hayes tendered
his military services to the secretary of war
in the following letter :
Army .\nd Navy Cdub, Washington, D. C,
February 19, 1917.
'"To the Honorable Newton D. Baker,
Secretary of War.
' ' Tender of ^lilitarv Service.
"Sir:
"In forwarding the enclosed application to
have my name entered and recorded on the
Army and Navy Medal of Honor Roll, 1
hereby respectfully tender my services in case
of war in such military capacity as may be
warranted by my qualifications and by my
previous military service which terminated
with my resignation as Lieut. Colonel of the
31st U. S. Vol. Infantry organized after the
war with Spain for service in the Philippine
Islands with station among the Moros of
Mindanao with regimental headquarters at
Zamboanga from 1899 to 1901. I had pre-
viously had service in Northern Luzon on the
staff of Major General S. B. M. Young and
was awarded the Congressional Medal of
Honor for
" ' Distingviished gallantry in pushing
'through the enemy's lines alone on the
'niglit of December 4th, 1899, from the
'beach to our beleaguered gai'rison at
'Vigan, P. I.'
"My previous military service was as Ma.ior,
1st Ohio Cavalry, in the war with Spain when
I served through the campaign of Santiago de
Cuba from the first landing until the surren-
der, in the Second Brigade, Cavalry Division,
5th Army Corps. I was wounded and had my
horse killed in the assault on San Juan on the
morning of July 1st, but served as acting
. Adjutant General, acting Brigade Commissary
and acting Quartermaster of the 2nd Cavalry
Brigade from July 1st to July 8th, vice Cap-
tains A. L. Mills (later Major General) and
M. J. Henri', wounded, and Lieut. W. E. Shipp
killed in the assault.
"I accompanied Major General Miles' ex-
pedition to Porto Rico and served in Brig.
Genei-al Henry's provisional brigade in the
skirmish at the landing and later was attached
1344
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
to the staff of Major General J. R. Brooke un-
til the Peace Protocol was signed.
■"After my service in the Philippines as
Lieut. Colonel 31st U. S. Vol. Infantry, I
served in the China Relief Expedition of 1900
for the relief of Peking on the staff of Major
General A. R. Chaffee, commanding the U. S.
forces.
"I was the only officer of the Army who
served in battle under fire in the four cam-
paigns of Cuba, Porto Rico, the Philippines
and China, was wounded in Cuba and awarded
a Medal of Honor for service in the Philip-
pines.
"On the outbreak of the Russian-Japanese
War I was appointed a dispatch bearer, at my
own expense, to the American Legations at
Seoul, Korea, and Peking, China, and as
an unofficial observer accompanied General
Koroki's Japanese Army on the advance
through Korea to the Talu River and after the
battle of the Yalu, while crossing the Gulf of
Pechilli was captured by Russian Torpedo
Boat Destroyers and confined for a brief
period in Port Arthur, after which I visited
the Russian Armies as far north as ^lukden.
"In 1911 I was appointed by Governor Jud-
S021 Harmon of Ohio, Colonel and Chief Signal
Officer of tlie Ohio National Guard and served
as such on the Mexican border during the par-
tial mobilization of that year doing patrol
duty with the Signal Corps, U. S. Army, then
under command of Major Squires the Chief
Signal Officer, now Brigadier General and
Chief Signal Officer, IT. s'l Army.
"On the outbreak of the present European
War I was appointed a special agent of the
Department of State at my own expense and
sailed on the first steamer leaving New York,
reporting at the American Embassies at Paris,
London, and Berlin and at the American Lega-
tions at The Hague and Brussels.
"After the repulse of the German column
under von Kluck before Paris, September 4,
1914, I proceeded via Antwerp to Berlin and
was provided with a German military motor
and anned guard and motored back from Aix-
les-Chapelles through Liege, Namur, and Mons
to Brussels, and subsequently by another mili-
tary motor car'visjted Lovivain and Ghent be-
fore returning to America late in the autumn
of 1914.
"Very respectfully,
" (Signed) Webb C. Hayes,
"Late Lieut. Col. 31st U. S. V. Inf.,
"Late Col. and Chief Signal Officer, Ohio
National Guard."
Colonel Hayes is a trustee of The Ohio State
Archaeological and Historical Society and of
the Western Reserve Historical Society of
Cleveland. He is a member of numerous
patriotic .societies by inheritance and is an
active member by reason of his own military
service of the campaign societies known as
the Society of the Army of Santiago de Cuba,
The Society of the Army for the Invasion of
Porto "Rico, The :\Iilitary Order of the Cara-
boa, The Military Order of iloro Wars, The
Military Order of the Dragon, and The ]\Iedal
of Honor Legion. He is a member of the
Union Club of Cleveland and of the Army and
Navy clubs of Washington, of New Yorli and
of Manila.
Anson H. ]\1iller, late president of the
First National Bank of Fremont, Ohio, was
connected with the banking interests of Fre-
mont for more than a half century. He was
one of the organizers of the First National
when the institution was founded in 1863,
serving as cashier and later became vice presi-
dent and president, occupying the last named
office at the time of his death, which occurred
ilarch 30, 1905. Mr. Miller was born May 2,
1824, at Hinsdale, New Hampshire, and was
the second son of John and Hanna (Bassett)
Miller.
In the year following his birth his parents
moved to Xorwalk, Ohio, and in 1839 settled in
New London To\raship, in Huron County.
Anson H. was educated in the Norwalk Sem-
inary and at Milan Academy, after which he
eagerl3' turned his attention to business. In
1847 he was employed by a lumber firm at
New Orleans, bi;t after about one year's ex-
perience, he returned to New London Town-
ship, where he engaged in farming until 1852.
He became bookkeeper for Dr. William F.
Kittridge, who was then treasurer of the
Toledo, Norwalk & Cleveland Railroad. In
1854 he became cashier for the firm of Birch-
ard and Otis, bankei-s, at Fremont, and be-
came a resident of that city on August 2, 1854,
and remained identified with its many inter-
ests throughout the remainder of his life. His
brother-in-law. Judge Otis, removed to Chi-
cago in 1856, and at that time I\Ir. Miller be-
came a partner, the firm name becoming
Birchard. ^Miller & Company.
As a patriotic move during the general
financial stringency in the third year of the
war for the Union, the private bank of Birch-
ai'd. Miller & Company become the First
National Bank of Fremont, with the following
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
13-45
first officers: Sardis Birchard, president;
James W. Wilson, vice president; and Anson
H. Miller, cashier. The bank started out with
a paid-up capital of $100,000, and an author-
ized capital of $200,000. This bank was the
fifth national bank organized in the United
States, and through all these succeeding years
it has held its supremacy, owing in large meas-
ure, its unquestioned solvency and its success-
ful business career to the high personal
character of its officers and their cai'eful, con-
servative methods. The fine quarters of the
bank, the solid, substantial building on the
corner of Front and Croghan streets, its ex-
terior appearance being typical of the solidity
of the bank itself, offer quite a contrast to the
small one-storj' building where Mr. ililler first
served as one of its officials fifty years ago.
:\Ir. ililler was married in March, 1854, to
Miss Nancj' J. Otis, a daughter of Joseph and
Nancy B. Otis. They had three daughters:
Mary 0., Fannie B., and Julia E., the former
alone surviving, now the wife of Col. Webb C.
Hayes.
John M. Sherman has been a prominent
factor in Fremont 's banking affairs for over a
quarter of a century and is vice president and
general manager of the First National Bank
of Fremont. He is also treasurer of the Fre-
mont Home Telephone Company.
Mr. Sherman is an Ohio man by birth and
training, comes from that splendid stock that
peopled the old Westei-n Reserve, and further
back his ancestors were prominent in Con-
necticut. Not long ago Mr. Sherman visited
the scenes of his ancestors in Connecticut and
became acquainted with the substantial homes
which they built there in the seventeenth cen-
tury and which have defied time and stress
of circumstances and still typify the sturdy
qualities which dominated those New England
home makers.
The Sherman family from which he is de-
scended came out of England in 1643 and
settled in Connecticut. The fir.st of the name
was Capt. John Sherman, and his four or
five sons became heads of various branches of
the family that have been prominent from
early colonial times down to the present.
Few other American families can rival the
Shermans in the contribution of distinguished
men, statesmen, soldiers, governors, public
officials, judges and lawyers, physicians and
surgeons, university professors and authors,
besides a great many successful manufac-
turers, merchants and farmers. Member.ship
of this old family can now be found in prac-
tically every state of the Union. As a whole
they have proved worthy of their ancestiy
and have been good citizens, faithful to
clnirch and state, and with those qualities of
ambition and character which mean most in
any community.
The grandfather of the Fremont banker
was Justin Sherman, who came to Ohio in
1822. He was born in Connecticut in 178.5,
and died in Huron County, Ohio, August 10,
1865. On coming to Huron County he found
himself in a complete wilderness and under-
took many of the pioneer enterprises of that
section. He built the first frame house in
Huron County in 1823. That house was the
birthplace of his son John G. and his grand-
son John M. Sherman. So far as possible he
made the house after the pattern of New Eng-
land homes, with all their substantial com-
forts, and he transplanted everything he could
from the old New England to the new country
of Northern Ohio, and in that environment
he lived happily all his days. He was a
farmer, a merchant miller, was the first post-
master of his town, had the first store there,
and his home contained the first musical in-
strument. His was the first mill, and through
these various undertakings he became a man
of great usefulness and influence. Justin
Sherman married Senea, daughter of John
Sherman, a distant relative from Roxbury,
Connecticut. They became the parents of
ten children, the oldest and the youngest of
whom died but when a few hours old.
The first white child in Wakeman Town-
ship of Huron County was bom on the Justin
Sherman farm. John G. Sherman, father of
the Fremont banker, was born at the old
homestead in Huron County in 1830. He
married for his first wife Julia Beecher,
daughter of Cyrenus Beecher, of Erie County,
Ohio. She died October 7, 1857, at the age
of twenty-four, leaving one daughter, Flor-
ence. John G. Sherman married for his
second wife Elizabeth Miller, daughter of
John Miller, of New London, Huron County.
They were married November 16, 1858. John
Miller, her father, was bom in Massachusetts,
and came to Ohio as an early settler in Huron
Count}'. He served as .sheriff of the county,
and had an extensive farm under cultivation,
owning a tract of land a mile square. John
G. Sherman continued to live on the old farm
in Huron County until his death in 1893. His
widow passed away in 1907.
In that old home John M. Sherman was
1346
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
bom July 29, 1860. He was educated in the
country and village schools and also in the
preparatory department of Oberlin College,
where he remained until 1880. On January 1,
1881, he entered the First National Bank of
New London, Ohio, as collector and janitor.
He had a vision then of becoming a banker
and his success in the line is due to the fact
that he has thoroughly concentrated his time
and efforts upon every duty and detail of the
banking business. He was promoted from his
humble first position to bookkeeper, and in
1884 was made cashier. He remained with
that bank seven years and resigned to come to
Fremont and take the position of general
bookkeeper with the First National Bank. He
has been continuously identified with this
bank since 1891, and in 1892 he was made
assistant cashier, was promoted to cashier in
1903, and in 1910 became vice president and
general manager. He has been a director in
the bank for over a qiiarter of a century.
Mr. Sherman has also acquired many other
interests in Fremont. He is treasurer of the
Price Lumber and Manufacturing Company ;
a director of the Simple Account Sales Book
Company ; a director of the Fremont Savings
Bank ; owns oil lands and valuable real estate,
especially in Fremont, including the Sherman
Block at the corner of State and Front
streets and his beautiful home at 613 Birehard
Avenue. He is a republican in politics, is a
thirty-second degree Scottish Rite IMason, also
a Knight Templar Mason and Shriner and a
member of the Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks. He and his family are mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Sherman was married in 1886 to Miss
Jennie Middleworth. She was born in New
London, Ohio, daughter of John Middleworth,
a merchant of that town. Mr. and Mrs. Sher-
man have two children. Helen Louise is the
wife of Raymond Erwin, now chemist for the
National Carbon Company at Fremont. They
have a son, Robert Douglas. John Homer, the
only son of Mr. Sherman, is assistant cashier
of the First National Bank. He married Miss
Mary Williams, formally of Minneapolis, Min-
nesota, and they have three children, named
Richard Benedict, John Miller, Jr., and
Phillip.
Fred Haughton. This is a name that be-
speaks a large relationship with some of the
early families of Lucas County. Mr. Fred
Haughton is a native of Washington Township
and has spent his active career as a farmer and
occupies one of the attractive homesteads
along the Bancroft Street Road in Adams
Township.
His parents were Ferdinand and Alice
(Glann) Haughton. His mother was a daugh-
ter of Henrj' Glann, who settled in Adams
Township as early as 1833, and died there
in 1899. Ferdinand Haughton was born May
7, 1848, a son of John Haughton, who came
from New York State in 1854. After spend-
ing a short time in Lucas County, he moved
on to Fulton County, settling about five miles
southwest of Matamora. That was his home
for nine years, and on selling his farm there
he returned to Lucas County and bought land
on Central Avenue in W^ashington Township.
That thoroughfare was then known as Haugh-
ton Street, five of his brothers having settled
there in the early days and impressed their
character upon the community. The Haugh-
tons secured their land direct from the Gov-
ernment. John Haughton died there in 1871.
Ferdinand Haughton lived at home un-
til he was twenty, and then started out as a
renter in Washington Township. His active
career has been spent as a farmer, and in 1873
he moved to the place now conducted by his
son Fred, and since 1899 has lived retired.
He spends a part of each year in California,
where his wife and a number of his children
are living. The children are : Mrs. Myrta
Boschard ; Fred ; Harry, who lives in the State
of Oregon; Ilah, of California; Nathaniel, in
California; lone Gardner, who lives in Cali-
fornia.
Fred Haughton spent his early life on a
farm, acquired his education in the local
schools, and since his marriage has been con-
ducting the old home place for his father. He
is a man of a great deal of progressiveness
and enterprise, and is managing his land ac-
cording to the best standards of Northwest
Ohio agriculture.
He married Miss Anna Kellogg, daughter of
Joseph G. and Sarah Kellogg. Joseph G. Kel-
logg was born in Lucas County, his father
having come from Connecticut to Northwest
Ohio in IffM. Sarah Kellogg's father was
Helon Norton and her mother was Nancy
(Richardson) Norton, the Nortons also having
been among the early settlers of Lucas County.
Jlr. and I\frs. Fred Haughton and wife have
three children, Helen, Alice and Fred A., Jr.
Frederick B. Shoemaker. It was in keep-
ing with the character of the man that the
late Frederick B. Shoemaker should have
made careful provision during his lifetime
that those broad and beneficent influences
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
1347
which he exerted in behalf of all that was best
in the institutional affairs of Toledo should
be continued through his generous bequests
after his death. Many Americans have shown
a remarkable genius for the accumulation of
wealth and the building up of vast and profita-
ble industries. It is a rarer quality when this
wealth has been wisely used and distributed.
In the best sense of the term Frederick B.
Shoemaker was a philanthropist, a lover of
mankind, but his philanthropy was performed
unostentatiously, and it is especially note-
worthy that his gifts to the public made
through his will do not provide for the perpet-
uation of his name in a distinctive institution,
but that they are distributed through well rec-
ognized channels of institutions already in ex-
istence. Thus it is that the Toledo Hospital,
the Old Ladies Home and the Toledo Museum
of Art become the recipients of his benefac-
tions and each of these institutions is perma-
nently enriched and their possibilities of
service vastly broadened not only as a result
of the several funds bequeathed them by his
will, but also by the disinterested service ren-
dered while living.
During his long and active career in To-
ledo, where he died September 25, 1916, Fred-
erick B. Shoemaker was a banker, manufac-
turer, grain merchant, and his name became
significant of all that is best in the commercial
and civic life of the city.
He is of an old and prominent family. On
both sides his ancestors were colonial settlers
in New York State. The first of the name was
Rudolph Shoemaker, who emigrated to Amer-
ica in 1710 and settled in the Mohawk Valley.
His great-great-grandfather, John Jacob Shoe-
maker, was major of the Fourth Battalion of
the Tryon County New York State Troops in
1775, at the beginning of the Revolution. His
grandfather, Robert Shoemaker, was an officer
of New York Troops on the line of the Cana-
dian frontier in the War of 1812. Other mem-
bers of the family have contributed to the
military record, and F. B. Shoemaker himself
was lieutenant of Company C in the One
Hundred and Thirtieth Regiment of Ohio Vol-
unteer Infantry in the Civil war, seeing much
active service in Virginia.
His father was the late Matthew Shoemaker,
whose name is so closely and intimately con-
nected with Toledo's financial history. Mat-
thew Shoemaker, who was bom in Herkimer
County, New York, November 16, 1813, set-
tled in Toledo in 1859. He at once interested
himself in the commerce of the growing city,
and from 1862 until 1868 was engaged in the
foundry and machine shop business. In 1862
he helped to build the first grain elevator of
the D. & M. Railroad in Toledo.
In a peculiar sense the Northern National
Bank of Toledo is almost a monument to the
financial integrity of Matthew Shoemaker.
This bank which was established in 1865 was
largely organized by Matthew Shoemaker,
who became a member of the first board of
directors, and served as its president until
1872. In that year he resigned on account
of ill health, but continued as vice president
and gave much of his time and attention to
the bank for ten years. At the time of his
death in Augiist, 1895, he was still a stock-
holder and director. It is noteworthy that
Frederick B. Shoemaker was a director in that
old and substantial institution for half a cen-
tury. For over thirty years Matthew Shoe-
maker was largely interested in various banks
in Toledo, and for fifteen years was president
of the Merchants and Clerks Savings Bank.
He was at one time a stockholder and director
in the Union Savings Bank.
His great public spirit led him to support
numerous local enterprises. For many years
he was a member of the Toledo Board of
Education. He was an ardent sportsman and
with a few friends organized the Middle Bass
Island Club of which for eighteen years he
was president. His was an honorable and im-
portant place in Toledo's history, and it was
with a fine sense of appropriateness that his
son Frederick, in providing for a large endow-
ment to the Toledo Hospital, gave it in mem-
ory of his father and to be known as "The
Matthew Shoemaker Fund."
Frederick B. Shoemaker, who was born in
Jackson, Michigan, in September, 1845, the
oldest son of Matthew and Catherine B. Shoe-
maker, was fourteen years of age when the
family removed from Dayton to Toledo in
1859. As a boy he attended the Dayton and
Toledo high schools, and also the preparatory
school of Heidelberg College at Tiffin. At the
age of seventeen in 1862 he had his first busi-
ness experience in the foundry and machine
business. He continued that employment un-
til 1866, excepting for the period spent in the
war.
Mr. Shoemaker was a director in the North-
ern National Bank of Toledo from 1867 until
his death, and from 1871 to 1881 was cashier
of the bank, and also served as one of its vice
presidents. In 1881, resigning his executive
place in the bank, he entered the grain busi-
ness, and was one of the foremost grain mer-
chants of the city until 1890. In 1888 he was
3348
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
elected president of the Toledo Produce Ex-
change, and held membership in that organ-
ization until his death. At one time he was
president of the Turnbull Wagon Company, a
large and successful manufacturing plant at
Defiance, Ohio. He was also a director in the
Union Savings Bank, The Commercial Bank-
ing Company of Bowling Green, The Produce
Exchange Safe Deposit Company, and in other
Toledo corporations.
There is probably no suburban home around
Toledo better known for the beauty of its sit-
uation and the splendid hospitality which pre-
vailed there for so many years than "Rock
Ledge" where Frederick Shoemaker spent
nearly all his years after coming to Toledo, as
a boy. Rock Ledge is in reality a farm, and
on it the late Mr. Shoemaker was able to exer-
cise and indulge his great fondness for out-
door life. Rock Ledge is beautifully situated
on the east bank of the JIaumee River in
Wood County. It .stands on an eminence
above the river and commands one of the finest
views to be had anywhere along that stream.
It afforded an unending source of pleasure
and wholesome recreation to Mr. Shoemaker.
In his younger days he was an ardent sports-
man with gun and rod, and to the end of his
life kept his membership in the Erie Shooting
Club, the Castalia Trout Stream Company and
the Middle Bass Club. He was also a mem-
ber of the Toledo Club and the Country Club,
and for nearly fifty years was affiliated with
Rubicon Lodge No. 237, Free and Accepted
]\Iasons at Toledo. His membership in patri-
otic societies included Toledo Post, Grand
Army of the Republic, the Society of Colonial
Wars and the Sons of the American Revolu-
tion. Politically he was a republican.
In 1875 Mr. Shoemaker married iliss Kate
Laura, daughter of the late Miles D. Carring-
ton. Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker spent the win-
ters for several years in Pasadena, California,
and while there in February, 1916, Mrs. Shoe-
maker passed away suddenly. Her death was
a great shock to their many Toledo friends.
It was only a few months later in the same
year that Mr. Shoemaker was called to join
her. Mrs. Shoemaker's father was a promi-
nent grain merchant and one of the early
members of the Toledo Board of Trade. The
Carrington family have long been well known
in Toledo. Mrs. Shoemaker was survived by
her brother, William Carrington, and by two
sisters, all of whom reside in New York City.
Recently when the will of Mr. Shoemaker
was admitted to probate the facts came out
regarding his generous bequests. One block
of property along the west side of Summit
Street including a five-story business build-
ing, was devised to a local trust company and
the income directed to be paid to The Toledo
Hospital, under the name of "The Matthew
Shoemaker Fund. ' ' Another property, on the
west side of Superior Street, and containing
a business block, was set aside and provision
made for its income to be divided equally be-
tween the Old Ladies Home and The Toledo
Museum of Art. The portion set aside for the
Old Ladies Home is known as the Catherine
B. Shoemaker Fund, in honor of Mr. Shoe-
maker's mother, and that portion going to
the Museum of Art is known as the Frederick
B. Shoemaker and Kate L. Shoemaker Fund.
Typical of the general esteem in which Mr.
Shoemaker was held in Toledo was the special
expression shown in the words of resolutions
drawn up by the trustees of the Toledo Mu-
seum of Art. The words of this resolution
may be appropriately taken to conclude this
article :
"For the first time since its organization
eighteen years ago this board is called upon
to sadly record the passing of one of its mem-
bers, and that one Frederick B. Shoemaker,
who by reason of his sympathetic interest,
helpful understanding and his unostentatious
generosity, is one of the associates we are
least able to relinquish.
"Mr. Shoemaker and the estimable and be-
loved wife whose death preceded his but a
few short months, took a deep interest in the
Toledo Museum of Art from the time of its
inception until the very last days of their
lives. Mrs. Shoemaker was a charter member
and Mr. Shoemaker was one of the first trus-
tees, and both were sustaining members. They
gave largely to the fund for the erection of
the building, were generous annual contribu-
tors, enriched the permanent collection with
many gifts of art objects, and gave freely of
their means for the furtherance of many of
the Museum's educational activities. Mr.
Shoemaker took a rare pleasure in the growth,
success and increasing usefulness of the insti-
tution he and his had for so many years be-
friended ; and his beneficences by virtue of his
bequests to be known as the 'Frederick B.
Shoemaker and Kate L. Shoemaker Fund,' will
go on for all time as a memorial to two greatly
revered and miich beloved friends, associates
and citizens.
"Frederick B. Shoemaker will live for ever
in the hearts of a community hungering for
beautv, as the first citizen to bequeath to the
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1349
Museum of Art a fund for the perpetual edu-
cation of the people. It was a most befitting
act with which to close a loug and honorable
career and we are grateful to him on behalf of
the institution his \'ision helped to rear. ' '
Michael Smith. To be really successful in
life is to do something that most people con-
sider impossible. There are many who fol-
low the regular routine of activities and enjoy
prosperity but the rewards of true success are
to those who undertake something more than
ordinarily difficult, and carry it out without
regard to the cost of personal hardships and
sacrifice.
A number of years ago the locality now
known as Smith's Siding in the northwestern
part of Sylvania Township in Lucas County
was what was called the heart of the cotton-
wood swamps. It was extremely low and wet
land. In fact, so wet was it that a person
could not cross except by jumping from one
log to another. There in the midst of that
uninviting spot Michael Smith secured 160
acres of land. On every hand he received the
most discouraging advice. Many told him that
it was a useless investment, since he would
never be able to make it productive of any-
thing beyond swamp hay or at most miglat
use it as a frog farm. About half an acre
had been cleared on the north side, but other-
wise it was in the same condition it had existed
for centuries. Mr. Smith, while living on a
rented farm, started the work of clearing,
and after getting enough land ready for cul-
tivation he moved to that farm, which is now
one of the most fertile and productive spots
in Lucas County. All the 160 acres are now
cleared and more than fourteen miles of un-
dergroiind drains have been laid, so that every
acre is tillable. In quality of soil there is
not a farm in the county that can surpass it.
"Sir. Smith has also introduced splendid im-
provements in the way of buildings and other-
wise.
When the Toledo and Western Electric
line was built, a siding and station known as
Smith's Siding was placed at the crossroads
at the corner of his farm, and since 1904 he
has conducted a general store there.
^Michael Smith was born north of Tiffin,
Ohio, August 11, 1857, a son of ]\Iathias and
Mary Elizabeth (Fisher') Smith. His par-
ents were born and reared and were married
in the Rhine Province of Germany. They
had three children when they left Gennany
and came to America, locating at Tiffin, Ohio.
In 1876 they settled in Spencer Township of
Lucas County, where their last years were
passed. The father died in 1888 and the
mother in 1894, she having spent her last
years with her son Michael.
Until he was twenty-three Michael Smith
remained at home and gave his father the
benefit of his labors. He then started out for
himself, and worked for wages until he was
twenty-five. In those two years by thrift and
careful economy he saved a capital of about
$200. His next step was to get mai-ried,
and he then rented a place in Sylvania Town-
ship. He lived on his rented farm until 1895,
by which time his present place of 160 acres
had been brought in a fair way of cultivation
and since then he has enjoyed the comforts
and profits of the fai-m which he redeemed
from the swamp.
Besides his operations as a farmer and mer-
chant he also conducts a thre-shing outfit, his
son Edward being a partner in that branch of
the business. His success has naturally given
him a place of confidence among his fellow
citizens, and he is now serving as township
trustee. He favors democratic principles in
politics and is a member of the Catholic
Church.
On February 14, 1882, Mr. Smith married
Catherine Rabb, who was born and reared in
Spencer Township. A brief record of their
fine family of children, all of whom have
grown up on and several were born on the
farm at Smith's Siding, is as follows: ilary,
wife of William Keller, a farmer of Sylvania
Township, and they have two sons ; Catherine
married Jacob Simons, who is a farmer at
Maystone in Essex County, Ontario, across
from Detroit, and has three girls ; Maggie mar-
ried Loyd Dewey, a farmer west of Metamora
in Fulton County, Ohio ; Joseph lives at home ;
Edward is associated with his father and by
his marriage to Miss Bird has one daughter;
the younger children, all at home, are named
Frank, Susan, Hilda, Carrie and Lucile.
C. August Kleis. For many years a resi-
dent of Point Place in Washington Township
of Lucas County, August Kleis has been
closely indentified with farming and with real
estate development in that section. He and
his father before him had been active factors
in the development of that locality as a town
and summer resort district, and deserve much
credit for their accomplishments there.
Mr. Kleis was born in Toledo, a son of the
late August Kleis. His father was bom in
Baden Baden, Germany, and came to the
United States in 1853. A cabinet maker by
1350
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
trade, he worked in that line for a number of
years at Toledo, and was long employed as
foreman in a furniture factory there. In 1882
he removed to Point Place, where he bought
fourteen acres of ground. For three years he
continued working at his trade in Toledo, but
then gave up that business to devote all his
attention to farming. He continued his ac-
tive career there until his death in 1900 at the
age of fifty-four. August Kleis Sr. had paid
$2,000 for his land at Point Place, and many
said that he would never get it paid for. Since
then a single building lot was sold for almost
as much as the purchase price. His wife died
in 1916.
The oldest of their children, C. August
Kleis, Jr., received liis education in the Toledo
schools and practically grew up on his father's
farm near Point Place. He farmed for some
years, but is now chiefly concerned in dealing
in real estate and in subdividing and building
operations.
He married Miss Minnie Winters, of Toledo.
They have no children. Mr. Kleis' brothers
and sisters are: Millie, Bertha, Carrie, Fred
and Edward.
In politics Mr. Kleis is an active republican
and has filled several of the minor township
offices. He is a member of the First Reformed
Church, is identified with Toledo Lodge, Free
and Accepted jMasons and with the Foresters,
and is a member of a German Beneficial So-
ciety.
Robert McCasket. Of the names that have
been longest and most influentially identified
with Toledo's commercial affairs, that of the
late Robert McCaskey stands out prominently.
He was a constructive business man, one who
built up and left the impress of his individu-
ality and activities as a permanent asset to
the city.
He was born in Delta, Fulton County, Ohio,
in December, 1837, and represented one of the
pioneer names of that section of the state.
His father, Matthew McCaskey, was the third
man to settle with his family in the county,
and for years was one of the leading figures
in its life and affairs. During the decades of
the '40s and '50s schools were very poor and
inefficient in Fulton County, and Robert Mc-
Caskey consequently had limited advantages
in that way. However the knowledge he ac-
quired in the schools of experience and hard-
ship marked him as a leader throughout his
mature life. His business career in Toledo
began in 1877, though he did not move his
family to the city until 1885.
Robert McCaskey did his greatest work as
a real estate man. His office became known
throughout the state as the most progressive
and enterprising of its kind. Up to 1891 he
was in business under his own name, but from
that date was associated with his son Fred
under the name Robert McCaskey & Son. Mr.
McCaskey early turned his attention to oil
operations and was as successful in that de-
partment as he was in real estate. It was
through his influence and enterprise that
many of the manufacturing industries that
now contribute to Toledo's wealth were in-
duced to locate in the city.
He was not less of a citizen because he was
a striking figure in commercial affairs. He
served as a member of the Board of Directors
and as an appraiser in the Co-operative Build-
ing and Loan Company, was a stockholder in
the Norwood Land Company and a member
of the Fitch Syndicate, besides holding inter-
ests in several local building and loan com-
panies. He owned a large amount of land
both in Southern Michigan and Indiana. Up-
right and honorable in all his dealings, con-
servative yet confident, he was always a
steadying influence in Toledo realty circles,
and enjoyed the friendship and esteem of a
large circle of friends. However, outside of
biisiness and home he formed few social asso-
ciations, though at one time he was a member
of the Masonic Lodge at Napoleon.
In 1864 he married Miss Esther Murphy,
of Napoleon, where they were married. "They
became the parents of two children : Fred E.,
referred to on other pages; and Mrs. T. B.
Allen of Toledo.
The sudden death of Robert McCaskey was
regarded. as a calamity in Toledo for he was
taken away when still enjoying the promise
of further extended usefulness, April 29, 1898.
Fred Eugene McCaskey. Though death
came early and prematurely to Fred Eugene
McCaskey, he had in the space of less than
thirty-five years attained a position of prom-
inence both as a business man and citizen of
Toledo. He was a son of the late Robert E.
and Esther (Murphy) McCaskey, reference to
whom is made on other pages of this publica-
tion.
Born in Napoleon, Henry County, Ohio,
September 16, 1871, Fred Eugene McCaskey
grew to manhood amid the surroundings of
an ideal home. The public schools of Napoleon
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1351
gave him their instruction until he was four-
teen, at which time the family removed to
Toledo, and he continued his education there
until graduating from the Central High
School with the class of 1891. A few days
after his graduation he w-as in his father's
real estate office helping to carry on the busi-
ness. After six months as a clerk, during
which time he had familiarized himself with
the various details, he was admitted as a part-
ner, and the firm name changed to Robert Mc-
Caskey & Son. A few years sufficed to give
young McCaskey a position of prominence in
Toledo, and there was no man more highly
esteemed on account of his integrity, ability
and honesty. For a number of years all his
best energies were devoted to managing the
numerous real estate, insurance and loan
branches of the firm, and he himself was a
factor in originating and establishing new
lines of enterprise for the company. He
also served as manager in Toledo for the
Waterville Cement Post and Stone Company.
Politically a republican, he exercised a fine
independence in local matters and voted for
the man he thought best fitted for office. His
death, like that of his father, came suddenly
and was a great shock to his family and many
friends. While canoeing on the river near
Walbridge Park on the evening of September
28, 1904. he was suddenly thrown into the
water and before assistance could be sum-
moned was drowned.
His home life was ideal, and he exemplified
the best virtues of a husband and father. His
time was divided between his business and his
home, and he spent little on lodges, clubs and
social orders. On February 15. 1893. he mar-
ried Miss Marietta Allen, member of a promi-
nent Toledo family who are referred to on
other pages under the name T. B. Allen, Mrs.
McCaskey 's brother. Mrs. McCaskey is a
promiment member of the Daughters of the
American Revolution, her ancestors having
played a valiant part in that struggle for inde-
pendence. Two children were born to Mr.
McCaskey and wife, Robert Allen and Ruth
Allen McCaskey, both of whom were liberally
educated in the public and private schools of
Toledo and the daughter is now pursuing ad-
vanced studies in Mt. Vernon Seminary,
Washington, D. C. The son, Robert Allen, is
pursuing a business career.
John Wesley Fov71,er, attorney of Toledo,
Ohio, is a son of John A. Fowler and Emma
(Cable) Fowler and a grandson of Allen
Fowler and Sarah Graham Fowler of Scotch,
English and Welsh descent.
Mr. Fowler was born on a farm in Riga
Township, Lenawee County, Michigan, on
August 1, 1885. He attended the common
schools of Riga Township Until the family
moved to Lucas County, Ohio, when Mr. Fow-
ler was ten years of age. He then attended
the schools of Springfield Township, Lucas
County, Ohio, graduating in the high school
of that township in 1903. After teaching
school for a short time he entered the Toledo
High School where he was graduated in 1906.
He matriculated in The University of Michi-
gan in 1906 where he pursiied an Arts Course
for a period of two years. Then he tempo-
rarily dropped his university course to engage
in general contracting and building which he
followed for a period of three years and then
resumed his studies at Ann Arbor in the law
department from which he received his LL. B.
in 1914.
In the fall of 1914 he took up the practice
of law in the Messinger Building at the cor-
ner of Summit and Cherry streets. He prac-
ticed there for about a year under a
partnership arrangement with Clair B.
Hughes, under the firm name of Fowler &
Hughes, the latter being a classmate. This
partnership having been later dissolved, Mr.
Fowler has since practiced with offices in the
Spitzer Building.
John A. Fowler, father of John W. Fowler,
is a native of Western Pennsylvania, having
been born in Clarion County July 1.
1847. As a young man he engaged in the oil
business, the oil boom being on in Pennsyl-
vania at that time. He later went West where
he married Emma Cable of Lucas County,
Ohio, and since that time has followed general
contracting and farming. To IMr. Fowler and
wife were born six children. Rose Ella, de-
ceased: Samuel. William. Otto, John W. and
Lulu Fowler Krepleever.
John W. Fowler is an active member of
The Lucas County Bar Association. The To-
ledo Commerce Club, The Northern Light No.
40, Free and Accepted Masons, of Maumee,
Ohio. The Waterville No. 566, Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, and The Hermitage of
the University of Michigan.
Mr. Fowler is very fond of outdoor sports
and finds much pleasure in horseback riding,
and also delights in long countrv hikes.
On August 30, 1916, he married Marian L.
Hickox of Toledo, Ohio, daughter of Edward
1352
HISTOKY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Piatt Hickox and Emelyn Colton Hickox, both
being descendants of old New England fami-
lies, the Coltons having settled in Long
Meadow, Massachusetts, near Springfield.
Mrs. Fowler was educated in the Toledo
public schools arfd took her A. B. degree from
Wells College in 1913.
Edwin L. Borton has for the greater part
of his life been identified with one of the in-
teresting rural sections of Lucas County,
Point Place in Washington Township. In
recent years he has had much to do with the
subdivision and development of that as a sub-
urban property contiguous to the Toledo
metropolitan "district. He was formerly ac-
tive as a farmer, and altogether has many in-
teresting associations with this section of
Northwest Ohio.
He was born near Riverside in Burlington
County, New Jersey, August 18, 1855, a son
of Bethuel and Caroline (Stockton) Borton.
His ancestry on both sides goes back to early
colonial days. His mother Caroline Stockton
was connected with the same family to which
Commodore Stockton, one of the gallant com-
manders of the United States navy in the
earl.y years of the last century, belonged. In
the paternal line one of Mr. Borton 's ances-
tors was a colonel in Washington's army in
the Revolutionaiy war.
The first of the Borton family to come to
Ohio were five brothers, John, Job, Nathaniel,
Samuel and Benjamin, who arrived in 1836.
These five brothers were uncles of Bethuel
Borton. These brothers and their mother
drove all the way from Philadelphia with
wagons and teams, and settled in Fulton and
Williams counties. John was one of the
pioneer refiners of peppermint oil. On one
trip he took a load of this oil to Philadelphia
in a wagon, and on arriving there was paid
$5.00 a pound for his product.
Bethuel Borton brought his family west in
1856, arriving in Toledo on the 16th of Febru-
ary in that year. He soon located at Point
Place in Washington Township. That was
then a wilderness section of Lucas County,
and woods and swamps made up a landscape
very different from its present appearance.
Bethuel acquired several tracts of land there,
seventy-one acres in all, and began its clearing
and cultivation. His market was Toledo. In
going to that town it was necessary to drive
along the Bay shore as far as Mud Creek, and
thence follow that stream up to the crossing
into Toledo. Mr. Edwin L. Borton remembers
several of those trips when a boy. On the
homeward journey he would usually get out
and pilot the wagon and team by the aid of a
lantern. It was necessary to do this in order
that his father might see the way to drive be-
tween the trees which hemmed in the road on
both sides. Bethuel Borton and wife had the
following children: Henry, who died in in-
fancy; Louise, who died at the age of eight-
een ; Edwin L. ; Marj' Ellen, Mrs. Jacob Carr
of White Fish, Montana; Sallie, Mrs. James
Barrow of Toledo; Frank, a resident of Bay
City, Jlichigan, and Ollie, who died in in-
fancy. The father of this family died in 1912
when about eighty-two years of age, and the
mother passed away in 190-1. Bethuel Borton
was a man of considerable influence and
prominence in the early affairs of his section
of Lucas County. A man of excellent judg-
ment and of absolute integrity he was fre-
quently called upon to adjudicate disputes
between his neighbors, and his decision was
always final.
Mr. Edwin L. Borton grew up in Lucas
County and received his early education in
its country schools, married Catherine Ely,
daughter of John Ely, of Fulton County,
where she was reared. The Ely family were
early settlers in Fulton County, having lo-
cated there in 1836 from Pennsylvania. Mr.
and Mrs. Borton have the following children :
I\Iaggie, who married Howard Canby, an em-
ploj'e of the Traction Companj' at Lorain, has
two children named Edwin and Robert; Ed-
win C, who lives at Point Place, married
Mabel Brumley and has a son named Edwin
Eugene.
While Mr. Borton 's father was an active
member of the Masonic Lodge the son has
never taken up any secret fraternal affilia-
tions. He follows his father's example in
politics, being a republican. The family were
reared in the Friends Church and Mr. Borton
favors that faith still, while his wife is a
Methodist.
After his marriage Mr. Borton started out
for himself as a renter on farms near Point
Place. He rented several different places, and
lived on the Faj^ette place for thirteen years.
In 1895 he removed to his present location, a
part of his father's first purchase. There he
owned and operated twenty acres, but in 1916
he had this land subdivided and it is now be-
ing sold as lots of a very popular subdivision.
For years ]\Ir. Borton carried on a successful
business there as a farmer and gardener. As
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1353
soon as his land is sold he intends to retain
only his private home and retire from active
business.
William Clifton Carr. A banker by pro-
fession and by experience, William Clifton
Carr is one of the very fortunate and very
efficient men of Toledo. His business connec-
tions are well known in that city, and the fact
that his ability and industry have put him at
the age of forty into the oiSce of first vice
president of the strongest bank in Northwest-
ern Ohio is a distinction such as might well
satisfy the ambition of any man.
Born in Toledo August 18, 1873, he is a
son of Spencer D. and Martha Louise (Rich-
ards) Carr. His family has long been well
known in banking circles at Toledo, where his
father is now president of the National Bank
of Commerce, and on other pages will be found
more extended reference to his career. Wil-
liam C. Carr possesses much of the financial
judgment and ability of his honored father
and has brought to his profession a sound ex-
perience and painstaking care in the perform-
ance of his dut.y.
He was educated in the public schools of
Toledo and in 1892 was graduated from the
Toledo High School and the :Manual Train-
ing School. In October following his gradu-
ation he started as a messenger boy in the
Second National Bank and has been steadily
with this institution in all its remarkable
growth and development for more than twen-
ty-four years. He has occupied every
position successively, was made assistant cash-
ier and on January 10, 1905, was made
cashier, and still later was elevated to the post
of first vice president. Thus his entire busi-
ness career has been worked out in one insti-
tution, and it has been strictly on the basis
of merit that he has achieved this enviable
status in the financial circles of Northwest
Ohio.
The Second National Bank stands for all
that is strong and enduring in the business
integrity of Toledo. It has a capital of
$1,000,000 and a surplus of similar amount,
while its total resotirces shown by a recent
statement total over $15,000,000. M. W.
Young is president, T. W. Childs is the sec-
ond vice president, while C. W. Cole is cashier.
The new home of the Second National Bank,
twenty-one stories in heicrht, was tlirown open
for public inspection on Saturdav night. Octo-
ber 11, 1913. By actual count more than 2,000
visitors pas.sed through the ornamental doors
of the main floor, which is entirely occupied
by the Second National Bank. This fine bank
and office building towers above all others in
Toledo, and is located in the very heart of the
business district, and the bank itself is the
heart of the financial resoiirces of the city.
The building is the highest structure of its
kind in Northwest Ohio, and is located at the
corner of Summit Street and Madison Ave-
nue. The old bank building was located on
Madison Avenue.
Mr. Carr is also vice president and a direc-
tor of The People's Savings Association, is
director and treasurer of The Toledo Bread
Company, director and treasurer of The Fifty
Associate Company, director of The Toledo
Factories Building Company, and director
and president of The Allen Manufacturing
Company.
He was for two and a half years president
of the Business Men's Club when that organi-
zation was started, and is now active in its
successor, The Toledo Commerce Club. He is
a republican in politics, a member of Sanford
L. Collins Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons,
of the Toledo Club, the Country Club, the
Inverness Club, the Toledo Yacht Club, is a
member and elder in the Collingwood Avenue
Presbvterian Church.
At Bowling Green, Ohio, July 18, 1899, he
married ]Miss Cora Elizabeth Crim, daugh-
ter of Rev. J. Jl. Crim. Her grandfather.
Rev. Jacob Biddle, was one of the first circuit
rider preachers in Ohio and spent many years
traveling horseback and carrying the message
of the Gospel from town to town and settle-
ment to settlement. Mr. and Mrs. Carr are
the parents of six children : Robert Spencer,
aged seventeen ; Richard Clarence, aged fif-
teen ; William Paul, aged thirteen ; Elizabeth,
aged eleven ; Rachel, aged nine ; and Louise,
aged four.
Capt. Clayton W. Everett. The recent
death of Captain Everett, though he was past
seventy at the time, left an unfilled vacancy
in the Toledo bar and in the ranks of good
citizenship. The following sketch of his
career serves to adorn the pages of a publica-
tion on Northwest Ohio in which so many no-
table personal it irs of thr ]iast ai'c given some
credit for thcii- iii-liicvi'iiicnts ami influence.
He was born n.'ai' ( Ji-aiivilh'. Ohio, April 11.
1844. His father, Israel, was a son of Samuel
Everett of Torrington, Connecticut. Samuel
Everett emigrated to Granville, Ohio, in 1805,
making the journey with an ox team and
1354
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
bringing with him ' ' a small town libran- and
the blade of a sawmill." A rosebush brought
along on this tedious journey was still bloom-
ing (1915) in the yard of the first frame house
erected at Granville — probably the house was
built of lumber sawed out by this ' ' blade of a
sawmill ' ' and it probably made a home for the
' ' small town library. ' '
The Everett family from which Captain
Everett sprang came originally from County
Essex, England, to "Watertown, Massachusetts,
in 1636 and includes in its numbers the names
of the illustrious Edward Everett and Edward
Everett Hale.
Clayton W. Everett lived on his father's
farm where he was born until his enlistment
at its formation, September 8, 1861. in Com-
pany H, Forty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
This companv formed a part of the regiment
of which William H. Gibson of Tiffin was the
colonel. The boy was only seventeen years of
age when he enlisted. He was soon made first
sergeant and later captain. He was honor-
ably discharged April 10, 1863, for wounds
received in battle. He participated in the bat-
tles of Shiloh, April 6 and 7, 1862 ; Corinth,
October 3 and 4, 1862; Lawrenceburg, Ken-
tucky, October 9, 1862 ; and Stone River, Ten-
nessee, December 31, 1862, and January 2,
1863. It was in the battle of Stone River,
where he commanded a battalion when only
nineteen years of age, that he lost his left arm
at the shoulder.
In 1864 he entered the Ohio Wesleyan Uni-
versity at Delaware and was graduated with
honor in 1868. In 1870 he married Jennie ]\I.
Allen of Delaware, Ohio, who was also de-
scended from a long line of revolutionary char-
acters including Ethan Allen of Ticonderoga
fame. Her father was Horace Allen, who
came to the region of Columbus from Vermont
in 1812.
Captain Everett came to Toledo in 1868
and began the study of law in the office of
Haines & Price, afterwards forming a part-
nership with Judge William F. Lockwood.
After the death of Judge Lockwood he con-
tinued the practice of law by himself, having
his office in the old Yeager Block until the
erection of the Valentine Building, when he
moved his office to that location and remained
there until his death in 1915.
As an attorney he was early interested in
the collection of the vast mass of back taxes
due the City of Toledo owing to the great
expense of raising the streets of the city to a
uniform level — in manj^ cases bringing the
street up to the second stories of the houses.
This work caused him to specialize on the sub-
ject of real estate law, in which he became
a notable expert, so that all real estate litiga-
tion of consequence in this region came to him
either directly or indirectly. One of his great-
est triumphs was his success in bringing to a
favorable decision before the Supreme Court
of the United States just prior to his last ill-
ness, the famous Anderson-Messenger suit,
involving extensive property holdings in the
down town portion of Toledo.
He never held public office other than that
of prosecuting attorney for one term, though
he was often urged to allow his name to be
proposed for the bench. He several times
refused to run for the position of mayor, for
which office he had backing of a large con-
stituency. He did his full political duty other-
wise, however, and took an active part in the
early campaigns, in which he was an effective
As a lawyer he was rao.st highly respected
by his legal associates. His mind served him
so well that he was able to see the point in a
legal question with unusual promptness and
he was noted for going directly to the point —
often to the gi'eat confusion of associates less
well grounded in the law and possessing less
keen powers of penetration. A certain quaint
bluntness that would have endeared him to
such a man as Abraham Lincoln served to give
him an enviable reputation among his friends,
and this was accentuated by his lovable char-
acteristics as a man. Indeed, he had a very
large following among the humble and the
distressed because of this very quality, for
however blunt and brusque he might be with
the pompous and those great in their own esti-
mation, to the widow, the orphan and the hum-
ble seeker after justice he was kindness per-
sonified. ]\Iany a time he refused to take a
ease when he considered the cause was not a
just one, so that his very espousal of a cause
was ample proof to the Bench that it was a
strong one.
Although deprived of one arm Captain
Everett was well known as an enthusiastic
horseman. He usually drove a spirited young
horse, seeming to take such risks that it was
frequently predicted he would come to grief
from this pastime. However, he seemed to
have some power of mental control over these
spirited animals and could do more in the way
of controlling them than most men with two
hands.
His health began to fail during the last few
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1355
years of his life, but he kept at his office long
after he should have been quietly resting at
home. He died January 12, 1915, at the resi-
dence of his son-in-law Edward F. Rowley,
3236 Collingwood Avenue, Toledo. He was in
the active practice of law in Toledo over forty-
five .vears. Besides his widow he left 1,wo
daughters, Mrs. Frederick J. Flagg, now of
Phoenix, Arizona, and Mrs. E. F. Rowlev of
Toledo.
Hon. Horace Newton Allen. Among the
citizens of Toledo who have won distinction by
service of national or international value there
is one whose career has been very intimately
and conspicuously associated with that unfor-
tunate and now dependent empire of Korea.
This is Dr. Horace Newton Allen, who was the
last ambassador of the United States to the
Korean government and who is an acknowl-
edged authority on the people and affairs of
that ancient kingdom.
By profession he is a physician, and it was
as a medical missionary that he first came into
close touch with the people of Korea, whom he
served so long and intelligently. Doctor Allen
has been a resident of Toledo since 1906, his
home being at 2248 Parkwood Avenue.
Horace Newton Allen was born in Delaware,
Ohio, April 23, 1858, being the son of Ohio
pioneers, Horace Allen and Jane (Riley)
Allen. Ethan Allen, the hero of Ticonderoga,
was his grand-uncle, while his Grandfather
Riley also fought in the War of the Revolution.
Doctor Allen graduated from the Ohio Wes-
leyan University at Delaware in 1881, and in
1883 obtained the medical doctor degree from
the IMiami Medical College. He married
Frances Ann Messenger, who was also gradu-
ated from the Ohio Wesleyan University in
1881. She is a descendant of the Messengers
who emigrated from England to Connecticut
in 1630 and included several revolutionary
heroes in their numbers.
Soon after his graduation in medicine and
immediately upon his marriage, having been
appointed medical missionary of the Presby-
terian Church, Doctor and Urn Allen went to
China. They lived at Nanking and Shanghai,
being at the latter city when it was attacked
by the French in 1884 "and being obliged to flee
for refuge on the night that their first son was
torn.
Korea having just been opened by treaty.
Doctor Allen went to Seoul and secured en-
trance to the country under appointment as
physician to the American Legation. Jlis-sion-
aries were not then allowed to reside in Korea.
Arriving in Seoul September 20, 1884, he was
present during the emeute of December of that
year when the Chinese drove the Japanese
from the land. By surgical means he saved
the life of the important personage, Prince
Min Yong Ik, as well as the lives of numbers
of Chinese and natives. For this work, be-
sides other emoluments, he was given a hos-
pital and equipment by the government and
was made court physician. He was also ap-
pointed by the British, Japanese and Chinese
governments as medical officer to their respect-
ive legations.
His intimate relations with the royal family
as court physician led to his becoming the
unofficial adviser to the Korean government.
In this capacity he took an embassy of twelve
natives to Washington in 1888-89 and estab-
lished a legation there in tl^e face of most
strenuous opposition from the Chinese gov-
ernment, as the object of this establishment
was to demonstrate the complete independence
of Korea from China. Yuan Shi Kai, the
present (1916) Emperor of China and then
Chinese minister to Korea, led in this opposi-
tion, but it did not sever the ten years' inti-
macy of the two, even though the mission was
entirely successful in its object.
In 1890 Doctor Allen was appointed secre-
tary of the American Legation in Korea, and
he was charge d'affaires for a j^ear in 1893-4.
While secretary of legation he took a com-
mission and an exhibit to the Columbian Exhi-
bition at Chicago in 1893. In 1897 President
McKinley promoted him, without leaving his
post, to be minister resident and consul gen-
eral, and in 1901 he was promoted to be envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to
the Korean Court. He was also envoy of the
LTnited States Government to the Korean coro-
nation in 1902, and was twice decorated by the
Korean emperor. He left Korea in July, 1905,
at the close of the Japan-Russian war, the lega-
tion being soon after reduced to the grade of
a consulate general under Japan.
Doctor Allen was actively connected with
the Korean government for twenty-one years,
or practicall.v the entire period of the coun-
try's independence — in securing which inde-
pendence he had played an important part.
He was present during three wars — the con-
flict between China and Japan in 1884 as well
as the great war between these two powers for
the possession of Korea in 1894, and the war
between Russia and Japan for the same pur-
pose in 1904-05. For sympathy and aid dur-
1356
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
ing these times of trial he was given the high-
est honors and decorations the little kingdom
had to bestow.
Owing to the unique position of trust and
influence he held with the royal family and
the ruling classes he was able to so promote
American interests that they were paramount
in Korea prior to the taking over of the coun-
try by the Japanese as the result of their
success in the war with Russia. Thus it was
that Americans built the first steam and elec-
tric railways as well as electric lighting and
power plants. The fine water works system
for the capital was built and operated by
Americans, who also built the first real wagon
roads in Korea. Americans opened up and
continue to operate the rich gold and copper
mines of the country, while American kero-
sene was (and is) the illuminant'of the people
and general imports of merchandise from
America made a most creditable showing. In
each case these several enterprises were
founded upon and made possible by conces-
sions obtained by Doctor Allen from the
Korean government — often in the face of
strenuous opposition from rival nations.
As an author Doctor Allen has written
entertainingly and instructively several books
with special reference to his experiences in
this eastern kingdom. These include : Korean
Tales, 1889 ; A Chronolog^^ of Korea 's Foreign
Relations, published 1900 and supplement
published in 1903; Korea, Fact and Fancy,
1904, and Things Korean, 1908. He has pub-
lished serious articles in the North American
Review and other publications, and has deliv-
ered well paid lectures before scientific bQdies
in several of the larger cities and universities
of the United States.
In 1911 tlie Oliio Wesleyan University hon-
ored Doctor Allen with the degree doctor of
laws. He is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa,
of the Authors Club at London, and in his
home city is a member of the Toledo Club, the
Country Club and the Commerce Club. He
is president of Anthony Wayne Chapter, Sons
of American Revolution.
Doctor and Jlrs. Allen have two children,
Horace Ethan, born in Shanghai, and Maurice,
born in Seoul, Korea. They both graduated
at St. John's Military Academy at Manlius,
New York, and after a year of study in
Switzerland graduated in 1908 from the Mas-
sachusetts Institute of Technology. Maurice
also graduated in 1911 from the Ann Arbor
Law School. Horace married Lydia, daugh-
ter of 0. S. Brumback of Toledo and is
engaged in the practice of his profession of
mechanical engineering. Maurice married
Mildred, only daughter of Barton Smith of
Toledo, and engaged in the practice of law
with Mr. Barton Smith.
Louis St. jVL\rie is an old and well known
citizen of Marblehead in Ottawa County,
where he has been closely identified with busi-
ness affairs and where he has performed a full
share of the services required of a public
spirited citizen.
Born at Marblehead December 13, 1868, he
grew up on his father's fann in that locality,
and as a youth learned the carpenter's trade.
After finLshing liis apprenticeship he traveled
as a journeyman workman throughout the
West for a year or two and after his marriage
was again in the West for some time.
In 1892 Mr. St. Marie identified himself
with the life saving service of the Federal
Government at Marblehead Station, and was
one of the fearless and courageous men in the
crew at Marblehead for six years. He left in
1898, and in that year engaged in the mercan-
tile business at Marblehead, which he con-
ducted for nine years. Since 1907 he has
been largely retired from active business,
though his property interests require his gen-
eral attention. He is now president of the
Marblehead Bank Company, which was organ-
ized in 1907 and ilr. St. Marie has been its
president since its organization. Recently he
invested some capital in carp fishing and has
some good grounds at Bay Point. He is now
filling the office of clerk of Danbury Town-
ship, and he was first elected to that office in
1898. He has also served on the Marblehead
Council several times. He is a democrat, a
member of the Catholic Church, of the
Knights of Columbus and the Catholic
Knights of Ohio.
His parents were Octave and Anatalie
(^Mairleau) St. Marie, and both were born and
reared at La Prairie not far from the City of
Quebec, Canada. They were married there
and about 1865 came to Ohio, settling at Mar-
blehead in Ottawa County. Here the father
entered the service of David Alexander for
whom he worked until he bought some land
owned by Mr. Alexander and then began
farming independently. He continued ac-
tively as a farmer until 1910, when he retired
and moved to Marblehead, where he died in
1911. His wife passed away in 1882. Their
children were Ephraim who was born in Can-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
l:J57
ada and died at Denver, Colorado, in 1888.
Mary, who died in infancy; Louis; Victoria,
who died in 1897 ; Clotilda, now Mrs. Joseph
Johnson of Jerome, Arizona; Louise, wife of
John E. Brunner, superintendent for the
Kelley Island Lime Company at White Rock,
and Elizabeth who died in 1882.
Louis St. Marie married jVIiss Anna
Knoerle, of Marblehead, who died in 1896.
Their children are : Raymond Martin, em-
ployed by the Warner Manufacturing Com-
pany at Toledo, who by his marriage to Gertie
Sherer has a son, Louis; and Edith Anna
living at home. Mr. St. Marie married in
1898 Rosanna A. Ward, of Marblehead and
they have become the parents of Eugene
Maurice, Clarence James and Genevieve, who
are still at home.
William Grossman Chapman, M. D. At
the time of his death. May 29, 1910, Dr. Wil-
liam C. Chapman was one of the oldest prac-
ticing physicians in Toledo. He had been a
member of the profession there for nearly
forty years, and his general standing lioth
locally and over the state is sufficiently indi-
cated by the fact that at one time he was
president of the Ohio State Medical Society.
Memliprs of two successive generations of
the Cli;i]iiM;m family have practiced medicine,
the lati' hr. William C. Chapman and his son,
Dr. Giorgr L. Cliapman of Toledo.
A native of Cincinnati William Grossman
Chapman was born August 15, 1840, and was
.seventy- years of age when he died. His
father was W. B. Chapman, Ph. G., while the
mother was Margaret (Grossman ) Chapman,
a daughter of a leadiiig member of the Society
of Friends in ( 'iiicinnati.
Doctor ('ha|iiiian was reared in Cincinnati,
attended the public schools, and also titted for
college in the private school of Charles E.
Matthews of that city. At the age of eighteen
he took up the profession and business of phar-
macy under the instruction of his father, who
at that time conducted one of the leading
stores in that line at Cincinnati. In 1861 the
late Doctor Chapman took up the study of
medicine as a profession, and completed a par-
tial course of lectures in the Medical College
of Ohio, and subsequently continued his stud-
ies under the preceptorship of Drs. William
Clendenin and William H. Mussey. On ac-
count of demands .of business he had to give
up his medical studies for a time, but they
were resumed in 1871, and in the spring of
1873 he graduated doctor of medicine from
Miami Medical College of Cincinnati.
With his professional career before him, he
chose Toledo as the scene of his endeavors,
and at once established his home and opened
his office in this city. Almost from the first
he enjoyed a successful practice both in medi-
cine and surgery and in the course of years he
attended a clientage that could not have been
otherwise than gratifying to his professional
pride.
Most of his public service was rendered
through his profession. He was a member of
the Toledo Board of Health for several years,
also a member of the State Board of Health at
one time, and his many accomplishments as a
physician led to his election as president of
the Ohio Medical Society. During the last six
years of his life he was not in active practice
beyond attending to an office clientage, largely
made up of a number of patients who had
come to rely upon his services and would not
allow him to retire altogether.
One of the former business concerns of
Toledo was The Chapman Hardware Com-
pany, and Doctor Chapman supplied much of
the capital of that organization. Its store was
first located on Adams Street, and later on
Superior and Huron streets, and it was one
of the prosperous concerns in its day. A num-
ber of years ago Doctor Chapman sold his
interest in the company.
In January, 1901, he organized The Toledo
Pharmacal Company. In 1904 it was incor-
porated, and Doctor Chapman was president
and treasurer of the corporation until his
death. Since then the officers of the company
have been: Frank H. Chapman, president;
Mrs. Harriet Chapman was vice president up
to the time of her death ; Howard V. Chapman,
secretary; and William B. Chapman, who is
the active head of the concern and its treasurer
and general manager.
Doctor Cliapman was a member and elder of
the Wrstniiiisfrr I'lvsbytn-ian Church, and
was cldscly associated witli his wife in many
philanlhropifs. lie was a strong republican,
though never aspiring to office, and was de-
voted to home and profession, being little
known in clubs or lodges. He had traveled
extensively and was a man of wide informa-
tion.
Doctor Chapman's home life was ideal. On
September 3, 186.3, he married :Miss Ilan-iet
Mitchell, a daughter of Jethro :\Iitcliell of Cin-
cinnati, Ohio, and a sister of the late J. G.
Mitchell, lumberman qnd banker, who died in
1358
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1915. Mrs. Cliapuiau was born iu Ciuciuuati
December 29, 1843, aud died at her home iu
Toledo January 29, 1916. She was especially
well known for her extensive and active
philanthropies. Until the time of her death
she was vice president of The Toledo Phar-
macal Company, and she employed her per-
sonal means liberally in behalf of local
institutions. She served on several committees
with the old Toledo Young Women's Christian
Association, then located on Erie Street, aud
took a prominent part iu the campaign for
raising funds to build the new Young
Women's Christian Association which Toledo
has today. Until three years before her death
she continued her church work with unabated
zeal and energy. She was a member of the
Westminster Presbyterian Chui'ch as long as
it was in exi.steuce, and then became identified
with the CoUingwood Presbyterian Church
from its beginning. She served as a trustee of
the Young Women's Christian Association
until her death.
Doctor and Mrs. Chapman are survived by
five sons. Harry M., the oldest, is connected
with Armour & Company of Chicago. Prank
H., president of The Toledo Pharmacal Com-
pany, has his chief business connection with
The Yost Electric Manufaetiiring Company of
Toledo. Dr. George L. is the only one of the
sons to follow his father in the medical pro-
fession. William B. is treasurer and general
manager and Howard V. is secretary of The
Toledo Pharmacal Company.
Hon. Edwin J. Lynch. Though he began
law practice at Toledo only five years ago, the
honors of his profession and of political life
have already marked Edwin J. Lynch as one
of the prominent men in his section of the
state. Mr. Lynch was formerly a member of
the law firm of Ragan & Lynch, and is now a
member of the Ohio Senate from the Thirty-
fourth District.
He was born at Toledo May 1, 1887, a son of
John E. and Julia C. (Stack) Lynch. His
mother was bom in Toledo and his father in
Crestline, Ohio, and they were married in
Toledo. John E. Lynch came to Toledo in
1883 and since that year has been a successful
groceryman and has been continuously in busi-
ness at one location, the corner of City Park
Avenue and Indiana Avenue. He occupies an
honorable position in the mercantile affairs of
the city, and he and his wife have reared a
family of four stalwart sons. Edwin being the
oldest. John T., who is clerk in the tax office
at the Toledo courthouse, married Nella Vau-
Aarle of Toledo, Ohio. Walter F. is clerk for
The Barrett Co. of East Toledo. Robert J.
is assisting his father in the store. All the
sons were born and educated at Toledo.
Edwin J. Lynch graduated in 1900 from
St. Patrick's Academy of Toledo, later at-
tended the old Central High School and for
his profes.sional education attended the Uni-
versity of Notre Dame at South Bend, Indiana,
where he was graduated bachelor of laws from
the law department in 1910. Mr. Lynch was
admitted to the Indiana bar in October of that
year and to the Oliio bar December 20, 1910.
On January 1, 1911, he began the practice of
law with Paul Ragan at Toledo under the
name Ragan & Lynch. This partnership ex-
isted until August, 1915, since which time Mr.
Lynch has practiced alone.
A loyal and enthusiastic democrat, Edwin J.
Lynch first became prominent iu politics in the
primaries of August, 1914, as candidate for
State Senator from the Thirty-fourth Dis-
trict. He was elected in November, 1914, for
a term of two years and has capably repre-
sented his district iu the recent legislature.
In August, 1915, Mr. Lynch was appointed
assistant prosecuting attorney of Lucas
County, and he is now giving most of his time
to the duties of that position.
Mr. Lynch is a member of the Knights of
Columbus, the Knights of Equity, the Lucas
County Bar Association, the Toledo Commerce
Club, "the Toledo Lodge of the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, and he makes his
home with his parents. He is an athletic
young man, and while in high school and
college he somewhat distinguished himself on
the football gridiron, having been a member
of the Notre Dame team for three years.
Hon. William E. Bense. Ottawa County
possessed no more vigorous and upstanding
business man, financier, and public spirited
citizen than the late William E. Bense, who
after an illness of many months died iu a
Toledo hospital July 15, 1911. He was a man
of affairs in the best sense of that phrase, and
had a character as well as an ability at action
which gained him the thorough confidence of
all who had dealings or associations with him.
He was a man of high ideals, a student and a
thinker, was absolutely honest and absolutely
fearless, and in his work as a legislator was
independent of party when his convictions as
to the public good were at stake. He was in-
deed the captain and master of his soul.
yf^ Qj.^yij^^^^t^^^
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1359
Though nearly all his life was spent in Ot-
tawa County, William E. Bense was born in
Brunswick, Gei'many, January 21, 184:9. Some
years before, in 1842, his father had come to
America, but soon went back to Germany
and was married. In 1848 the German revo-
lution broke out and he again came to Amer-
ica with several other high spirited Germans
who settled on farms near Elmore in Harris
Township of Ottawa County, lu 1850 Wil-
liam E. Bense, then about a year old, came
over witli his mother and joined the husband
and father in Ottawa County. William E.
Bense in 1855 went back to Prussia with his
mother, who, however, remained only a short
time, leaving her son and daughter to be edu-
cated in the home of their grandmother. Then
at the age of fifteen William E. Bense came
back to America and thenceforward was a
permanent resident of Ohio. For a year or
two he worked on a farm, then made a trip
tlu-ough the West, and on returning to Oak
Harbor engaged in bridge contracting. When
he was quite young he became identified with
public affairs, was elected a justice of the
peace in Salem Township, and served two
terms as mayor of Oak Harbor. In 1877 he
was nominated and elected clerk of courts for
Ottawa County and re-elected in 1880. Re-
tiring from that oiifice he took up the real
estate and loan business, but in 1887 was
elected a member of the Sixty-eighth General
Assembly and re-elected to the Sixty-ninth in
1889. While in the Legislature at that time
he was an ardent supporter of the late Senator
Briee and one of his closest friends. His
ability and worth were recognized and he was
made chairman of the Finance Committee,
which gave him the highest place in the Legis-
hiture next to speaker of the house.
After a service of two terms in the Legis-
lature Mr. Bense returned to his home in Port
Clinton, and during the next fifteen or twenty
years was the most influential factor in mak-
ing that town an important center of the fish-
ery industry around Lake Erie. He organized
the Bense Fish Companj', started this as a
small concern, but in time made it a business
of wide scope and representing thousands of
dollars of capital and engaging the .services
of a large force of men. When he sold the
business in 1902 to a syndicate it brought him
.$50,000.
Though he had been out of active polities
nearly twenty years Mr. Bense reluctantly
consented in 1905 to become a candidate to
the Legislature, and was elected by a large
majority. He became the ranking democratic
member of the Finance Committee, but had to
resign that position on account of ill health.
A few years before his death a special cor-
respondent of the Cleveland Leader spoke of
his legislative record as follows: "His com-
mittee work as well as the fact that he is a
recognized legislative leader has given him
opportunity for observation as to progress in
legislation. He asserts that the problems that
confronted twenty years ago are still issues,
and it amuses him to see the solons fight over
the same old fish and game bills, temperance
measures and other subjects which he says
are always with us. Mr. Bense is about as in-
dependent as a partisan may well be. Even
Governor Harmon has been unable to convince
him that he should oppose republican taxa-
tion, utility and other measnres, for political
reasons. Two years ago he supported the re-
publican referendum amenclmeut to the
Schmidt traction franchise bill, despite the
pleadings of Tom L. Johnson's delegate to
vote against it. Mr. Bense 's advice in legis-
lation is sought not only by democrats but by
republicans, and his opinions are respected
even by those who conscientiously disagree
witli him on matters of principle. No one can
guess how many bills introduced under other
names have been written by Mr. Bense. ]Mem-
bers with ideas consult him and if he agrees
with them ask him to draw the bills for them,
and being of an obliging disposition he does
the work." Mi-. Bense was re-elected to the
legislature in 1907.
On July 4, 1871, he married Miss Margaret
Scheuermau, who was born in Sandusky
Coiuity. Her parents came to Ohio from Ger-
many. Mr. Bense was survived by Mrs. Bense
and two daughters. The other daughter is
Mrs. Arthur Reed Black of Port Clinton, wife
of the sales manager of the American Gypsum
Company. They have one child, Madaline
Virginia. The younger daughter, Agnes Mar-
garet, is the wife of John C. De Pue.
Mr. Bense was an active member of the
Oliver H. Perry ilasonic Lodge, and he was
buried with the honors of that Order. His
pastor. Rev. ilr. Robertson of the Methodist
Church spoke of his character as follows:
"Mr. Bense was a man of deep convictions,
not from the standpoint of the partisan, but
from what he observed and studied. If his
party was in line with what he thought was
right — well and good, but if not he aligned
himself against his party. He was in the Leg-
islature to serve the State in the way he
1360
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
thought best. Of course there were many who
disagreed with him, \-et with all they respected
him. He had his reasons for whatever stand
he took.
"Mr. Bense was not a man of sentiment,
yet his heart was tender, and he M'as ever
ready to help the needy in distress. As a
business man he was honest and just. He ful-
filled his part and expected others to do the
same. As a citizen he interested himself in
those things which looked to the betterment
of our city. As father and husband he was
faithful and true. He loved his home and
sought to make it a place of restfulness and
comfort. Friend to those who labored, a
brother to the unfortunate, a helper in the
time of need, a patriot in his country's inter-
ests, a man in the front ranks of men, we have
lost a citizen who brought honor to our city
and state."
William Ellsworth Cole. One of To-
ledo's old established firms with a long record
of service is A. B. Cole Sons Company, with
offices at 1425-1427 Broadway. This is'a busi-
ness which was established by the late Abner
B. Cole, whose career as a prominent Toledo
business man is sketched on other pages, and
its active manager at the present time is Wil-
liam Ellsworth Cole, a son of the founder.
This business has been built up through
many years and now represents a complete
service for trucking, moving and storage of
household goods, a transfer and express busi-
ness to all parts of the city and the sale and
delivery of coal and coke and other supplies.
A large amount of capital is employed in the
business together with a large force of em-
ployes and a large equipment of mechanical
facilities for efficient transportation.
William E. Cole, who was born at Myrieks-
ville, Massachusetts, October 8, 1862, is one of
Toledo's enterprising and progressive business
men. He was four years of age when he caAie
with his parents to Toledo, and was graduated
from the local high school with the class of
1880. He began his business career with the
Blade Printing & Paper Company, and after-
wards for a time was in the emplov of the
A. E. Maeomber & Company. In 1898 after
the death of his father he took charge of the
business which the latter had established, and
has continiied it under the old firm name of
A. B. Cole Sons Companv. W. E. Cole is now
the owner of this extensive concern. He was
also proprietor of a slioe store at 1612 Broad-
way, having entered that business before the
death of his father and he continued it until
1915, when he sold out in order to devote his
"entire time and attention to the larger busi-
ness. He also owns some real estate in Toledo,
and his success in business is the more satis-
factory since all his prosperity has been hon-
orably and honestly earned. Mr. Cole is a
republican, is affiliated with the Knights of
Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America,
the National Union, the North American Union
and the Protected Home Circle, and also be-
longs to the South Side Commei-cial Club. He
married iliss Anna C. Harris of Toledo, who
was born in Huron County, Ohio.
Neuhausel Brothers are among the great-
est merchants of Northwest Ohio. The suc-
cess of these brothers has been nothing less
than remarkable. It was fifty years ago
that the name became associated with the
dry goods trade in Toledo. Recently when
the firm published the largest single adver-
tisement of a store ever issued in Toledo pa-
pers, the first page contained a cut illus-
trating the original building of the first store.
It was a squat frame structure, perhaps 20
feet in front, and only one side used for
the modest stock sold by the proprietor. The
combined enterprise of the brothers has given
Northwest Ohio one of its most distinctive
and most widely known trading centers.
It should also be stated that along with suc-
cess in private business, the brothers have
combined a splendid public spirit, a loyalty to
their home city, and an interest in the welfare
of their employes, so that their store is not
only a place of business but also in the nature
of an institution.
The founders of this business were Nicholas
Jr., I\Iartin, John F. and George C. Neuhausel,
who had come to America with their parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Neuhausel from their
home in Hessen Darmstadt, Germany, in 1852.
The family arrived in Baltimore July 10, 1852, .
and after spending six years in that city came
to Toledo in 1858.
Prior to the establishment of their store, the
brothers were employed bv one of the several
dry goods merchants prominent in Toledo's
early history. Shortly after the Civil war,
during which, it might be remarked inciden-
tally, one of the brothers, Martin, fought for
the cause of his country, they decided to open
a place of business of their own.
Compared with the brilliance of the event
which marked the opening of their new store
on March 21, 1916, the brothers made an
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
1361
exceedingly modest entrance upon commercial
life on August 15, 1866. Their stock required
but one side of the aisle of a single little store
on Summit Street. However, the stock was
well chosen, fairly priced and of only the kind
of merchandise that could be safely recom-
mended. It was in fact the small acorn from
which the gi-eat oak of the present day has
sprung. By strict adherence to established
high standards, by an unswerving policy of
square honest dealing in exclusively worthy
goods, that little store has grown to be one of
the city 's best known establishments.
On the evening of July 8, 1892, the store
was the scene of a great fire that wrecked the
building and destroyed practically the entire
stock. Then came an exhibition of the enter-
prise of Neuhausel Brothers. Not a day's
time was lost. The adjoining store was imme-
diately acquired on the following morning
and by noon business was resumed, though for
a time in a limited way. Negotiations were at
once opened for the purchase of the ground
on whicli the burned building had stood.
After the deal was closed, the work of con-
struction was begun, the stocks were moved
into the new store in 1893.
For many years Neuhausel Brothers have
been locatecl at 429-433 Summit Street, where
their large six-.story building is devoted to both
wholesale and retail handling of dry goods,
carpets, women 's and children 's shoes and kin-
dred lines. On April 5, 1915, the brothers
began the rebuilding of the entire store, and
the formal opening of this place of business
on Tuesday, March 21, 1916, was an event in
the .shopping district of the city. In rebuild-
ing forty feet additional was bought to pro-
vide an annex to the store and there is now one
solid building located in the heart of the busi-
ness district on Summit Street and extending
from No. 425 to No. 433. with a frontage of
100 feet and a depth of 115 feet, including six
floore and the basement. The traveling public
say that no better front in the state can be
found than that presented by Neuhausel
Brothers' store. The 100 feet of frontage is
so arranged that it presents 300 feet of show
windows, and there are two main entrances to
the store. A canopy of iron and glass extends
60 feet along the front over the sidewalk.
Since the beginning of their career Neu-
hausel Brothers have enjoyed a peculiarly un-
stinted confidence and good will among the
shopping pulilic of Toledo and surrounding
territory, and that confidence has been merited
through the unquestioned probity of their
business methods during the half century that
has gone. That same reputation for integrity
is as marked a distinction of the house today
as it was fifty years ago, and they have the
same reputation for dealing in exclusively
dependable merchandise. Close adherence to
open, straightforward business habits has kept
the continued good will of its many thousands
of friends and patrons.
A word should also be said concerning the
solicitude Neuhausel Brothers have shown for
the welfare of their employes. No better illus-
tration of this can be found than what oc-
CT^rred on December 24, 1912. Due notice had
been uivcn, ami at 6 o'clock on that evening
the sti>i-(. closril its doors. This was an \inprec-
edentcd evfiit in Toledo's shopping district,
and Neuhausel Brothers were the first to show
the courage to close early oii Christmas Eve
and afford tlieir employes the opportunity of
spending that evening at home with their fam-
ilies. A little later they set another precedent.
Since February 1, 1913, the Neuhausel store
has closed its doors on Saturdays at 6 P. M.,
and for several years previously the firm had
been foremost in agitating early closing on
Saturdays among Toledo business men.
Nicholas Neuhausel, Sr. It was not alone
due to the fact that he was the father of
those prominent Toledo merchants, Neuhausel
Brothers, that the career of the late Nicholas
Nenli;iii<i'l. Wi'.. iloscrvc's some special mention
and ci'-dit ill this liisfmy of Northwest Ohio.
He wns liiiiisi'lf an cai'ly settler in Toledo, com-
ing when the city was new and raw, and it
was his character for industry, strict integrity
and many of the best social and civic virtues
that gave him such an honorable place among
men and tliat are largely responsible for the
success of Ids family.
Born in Ober Roden, Hesse Darmstadt. Ger-
many, January 1, 1810, Nicholas Neuhausel
died at his home in Toledo aged about ninety
years. In the thickly settled portions of
Europe many of the tillers of the soil also fol-
low other pursuits. His father in addition to
being a farmer was a tailor and duly in-
structed and brought up his son to the same
pursuit. Nicholas, Sr., was one of a family
of four brothers and two sisters. "Wlien the
young men reached maturity and sought inde-
pendent homes of their own three of them
located in Southern France.
The experience and ambitions of Nicholas
Neuhausel, Sr., fuially decided him in a reso-
lution to come to America to seek his fortune
1362
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
and provide the better for his growing family.
In July, 1852, he left the old world and came
to America, first settling in Baltimore. A
number of years before, in 1833, he had mar-
ried Miss Anna Mary Becker. It was with her
and their family of children that he came to
the New World.
In 1858 Mr. Neuhausel arrived in Toledo.
That city remained his home from that date
until his death. Throughout his life, with all
its increasing prosperity, he constantly prac-
ticed industry, frugality and those other vir-
tues which bring community love and esteem
to the individual. One impressive fact of the
family history is the companionship, love and
esteem that existed between Mr. and ilrs. Neu-
hausel during their married life which was
prolonged for fiftj--one years. They had cele-
brated their golclen wedding anniversary in
1883 and Mrs. Neuhausel died the following
year. Their last years were spent comforted
by the presence and affection of a numeroiis
family. At one time their own children com-
prised seven, there were twenty-two grand-
children and six great-gi-andchildren, making
a total of thirty-six who occasionally gathered
in happy family reunions under the Neuhausel
home in Toledo.
At the present time five sons and two daugh-
ters survive and are all residents of Toledo.
Four of the sons constitute the pioneer dry
goods house of Nei;hausel Brothers, one of the
largest and most conservative establishments
in Toledo, located in the heart of the business
district. Reference to this firm is found on
other pages.
John Sandersen. It is more than likely
that if a youth of inquiring mind should ap-
proach a man like John Sandersen, a promi-
nent and substantial citizen of North Bass
Island, with the question as to the best way to
get on in the world, he would receive the prac-
tical answer, "go to work." Mr. Sandersen
would speak from experience. When the
necessity for self support confronted him very
early in life, he did not question long nor did
he seek the easiest tasks. Neither did he stand
and wait for opportunity to come up with
him, on the other hand he found it and seized
it, and p%bably from that day to the present
he has passed few idle moments. Hence, while
yet in middle life, he is practically indepen-
dent and not only does he own many acres of
fine, productive island land, but he also en-
joys the respect and esteem of those with
whom he has lived in neighborly relationship
for almost forty years.
John Sandersen was born June 8, 1861, on
the Isle of Foehr, off the coast of Schleswig,
Germany, in the North Sea. His father's
name was Nels Sandersen. He grew to the
ag:e of sixteen years in his native island, but
after a sister had come to the United States
and settled at Sandusky, Ohio, he bent every
energy to secure the means to also cross the
ocean and use his strength and skill in em-
ployments that would bring adequate returns
and enable him to provide for the future. In
1877 he reached this countiy and after a short
vi.sit with his sister at Sandusky, came to
North Bass in ilay of that year. He worked
for one month for Albert Smith and then en-
tered the employ of Edwin L. Keeney and
continued with him for three years. Still
later he was employed by Simon Fox and
Rudolph Siefield at work in the vineyards and
fisheries for some twelve years. Mr. Sander-
sen then went into business for himself, enter-
ing into a partnership with Fred Ernst and
they conducted a fishery for six years, when it
no longer was profitable as an individual en-
terprise on account of the organization of the
Sandusky Fish Company, which corporation
bought their outfit. Mr. Sandersen, however,
continued in the employ of this company for
eleven years, when it went out of business. In
the meantime he had acquired land for vine-
yard purposes, purchasing twelve acres at
first to which he has added and now has a for-
tune in his thirty acres of vineyard, owning
in all 50 acres. This is the result of persistent
industry and excellent judgment.
Mr. Sandersen was married to Jliss Jennie
Gorey, who was born in Erie County, Ohio,
and is a daughter of John Gorey and a grand-
daughter of Devlin Gorey, who came from
New York to Erie County with the first set-
tlers. Mr. and Mrs. Sandersen have six chil-
dren, namely : Elizabeth, who was born July
16, 1898 ; Clarence, who was born February
16, 1904; Dollie, who was born March 10,
1906; Theodore, who was born November 24,
1907 ; Rudolph, who was bom July 3, 1910,
and Nellie, who was born ]\Iarch 5, 1912.
In politics Mr. Sandersen is a republican.
He has never accepted any public office ex-
cept membership on the school board, which
he has held for twelve years and has been a
very efficient official. He is a member of the
fraternal order of Maccabees.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1363
HowABD Lewis. A lawyer of high standing
and capabilities, Howard Lewis was admitted
to the bar in 1903, and for the last six years
has been a member of the prominent Toledo
firm of Doyle, Lewis, Lewis & Emery. He is
a son of Charles T. Lewis, one of the senior
members of this law firm, and one of the best
known attorneys of Northwest Ohio, having
been in active practice at Toledo more than
thirty years. The mother is Mrs. Dora
(Glidden) Lewis, and for years the Lewis fam-
ily has occupied a place of social prominence
in Toledo.
Born at Caldwell in Noble County, Ohio,
October 18, 1877, Howard Lewis went to
Toledo with his parents in 1882, grew up in
that city, graduated from the Central High
School and finished his preparatory education
in Doane Academy at Granville, Ohio, where
he graduated in 1896. He is an alumnus of
Denison University, from which he took his
bachelor of arts degree in 1900. Few men
entered upon their professional work with bet-
ter preparation and eqiiipment. After gradu-
ating from Denison he entered Harvard Law
School, and was graduated bachelor of laws
in 1903. In December of that year he was ad-
mitted to the Ohio bar before the Supreme
Court of Columbus, and at once returned to
Toledo and began practicing with his father
and Judge John H. Doyle. The firm of Doyle
& Lewis was established many years ago. and
the first important change in its title came in
1910 when Howard Lewis and his brother
Frank S. Lewis were admitted to partnership.
On January 1, 1913, Judge Emery was also
admitted, and that makes the present firm
Doyle, Lewis, Lewis & Emery,
Before his admission to the firm Howard
Lewis had found a large field of usefulness in
the profession. Since 1907 he has been attor-
ney for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern
Division of the New York Central Lines, and
his practice has been largely corporation work.
He is a member of the Lucas County Bar
Association and the Ohio State Bar Associa-
tion, and has been a director in the Fifty
Associates Company of Toledo since its
organization.
Socially he is a member of Center Star
Lodge No. 168, Free and Accepted Masons, at
Granville, Ohio, and of the Sigma Chi frater-
nity. He belongs to the Toledo Commerce
Club, the Toledo Club, the Inverness Golf
Club, the Country Club, the Toledo Automo-
bile Club, and is a member and trustee of the
Ashland Avenue Baptist Church. For recrea-
tion he spends much of his time on the links.
On April 20, 1910, Mr. Lewis married Miss
Caroline Melvin Palmer. Their wedding,
which was held at the home of the bride on
Parkwood Avenue, was one of the notable
social events of the spring season of 1910.
Mrs. Lewis was born at Fostoria, Ohio, and is
a daughter of Melvin R. and Frances (Crock-
ett) Palmer. Reference to the career of her
lionored father is shown on other pages. Her
mother still lives in the old home at Parkwood
Avenue. Mrs. Lewis was brought to Toledo
when an infant and was educated at Miss
Smead's School for Girls in Toledo and at
Mount Vernon School in Washington, D. C.
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have two children, both
born in Toledo, Howard, Jr., and Melvin
Palmer Lewis.
Melvin R. Palmer was for many years a
prominent business man of Toledo and was
well known over Northwestern Ohio. He left
a record as a gallant soldier, as an excellent
manager of men, a keen and resourceful busi-
ness man, and faithful and efficient in all civic
relations.
A native of Ohio, he was born in Geauga
County January 1, 1842. When only a boy. in
company with one of his brothers, he moved to
St. Joseph, Missouri, which was then almost a
frontier town, a point where railroad com-
munication from the East ceased, and where
the great overland freight traffic began. Soon
after the breaking out of the Civil war he
enlisted as a member of Battery C in the First
Ohio Light Artillery, and he served until he
lost an arm during one of the bloody engage-
ments in which his command participated. He
was then granted an honorable discharge, and
returned to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he
resided until 1877.
In that year he went to Fostoria, Ohio, and
became a member of the Dewey Stave Com-
pany, which had an office in that city. Later
Mr. Palmer moved to Toledo, and about a year
before his death was elected president of the
Dewey Stave Company. He also acquired ex-
tensive interests in the oil fields, and was a
member of the Palmer Oil Company.
Wlien still in the prime of his vears and his
usefulness he died at Toledo October 8, 1898,
at the age of fifty-six. He was well known
.socially, a member of various clubs, lodges and
other organizations, and besides the sacrifices
he experienced as a soldier in the war he
always bore a full share of such responsibili-
ties as come to the public spirited citizen.
1364
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
IMelvin R. Palmer married Miss Frances
Crockett, who is still living at Toledo and
occupies the old home on Parkwood avenue.
Two of her daughters remain at home, Jeau-
ette C. and Elgia F. The other daughter, Miss
Caroline M., is now the wife of Mr. Howard
Lewis, a member of the law firm of Doyle,
Lewis, Lewis & Emery in Toledo.
Rudolph Siefield. It is to be hoped that
there will never come a time when the truth-
ful story of struggle crowned with success,
will lose its attraction. Capital and influence
assist many indifferent men to places of
prominence, but their rise possesses no partic-
ular interest for either their fellow citizens
or for the general read-er, but a record of per-
sonal eft'ort, of industry, courage and perse-
verance, leading from a poor and orphaned
boyhood to affluence and proud position, is so
human a document that it wins attention as it
should, and spreads a beneficial and stimulat-
ing influence. Such a story may be unfolded
concerning one of the most prominent citizens
of North Bass Island, Ottawa County, Ohio,
Rudolph Siefield, postmaster of the Isle of St.
George and identified politically and in a busi-
ness way with the leading affairs and indus-
tries of this entire section.
Rudolph Siefield was born July 15, 1858,
near Oak Harbor, Ottawa County, Ohio. His
parents were born, reared and married in
Wurttemberg, Germany. They came to the
United States some years after marriage and
located in Ottawa County among the earliest
pioneers, selecting land in what was known as
the Black Swamp, in the northern part of the
county. The father, Henrj' Siefield, con-
tracted malarial fever and died when Rudolph
was yet young, leaving the mother with nine
children, as follows : Rickey, now Mrs. Hels-
ley, a widow, living at Oak Harbor : Caroline,
who is the wife of Allen Tyrell. of Brompton,
Michigan ; Louise, who is the widow of Horace
Stevens, of California;. ^Minnie, who is the
■nadow of John Stone, of Put-in-Bay; Amelia,
who is the wife of John Hetrick, of Oak Har-
bor: Rudolph and Herman, who is a resident
of East Toledo. After the death of the father,
the mother removed with her children to Oak
Harbor. She was a woman of thrift and re-
sources and there started a small mercantile
business which she carried on for several j^ears
or until her death.
Rudolph Siefield was not more than ten
years old when his mother died and he was
thus left an orphan entirely dependent on his
own efforts. He was willing and industrious
and soon found an employer in Frank Clark,
on Catawba Island, with whom he remained
for some time and then came to Put-in-Bay, to
the home of Allen Tyrrell. Wishing to see
something of the world while bettering his
condition, he then went to Escanaba, Michi-
gan, and in that vicinity was a laborer for
four years. In the spring of 1875, however,
he retunied to the islands and came to North
Bass, where his brother-in-law, John Stone,
in partnership with Simon Fox, were operat-
ing a fishery, entering their employ and con-
tinuing with them for ten years.
During this time Mr. Siefield was prudent
with his money and soon had capital enough
to warrant an investment, this taking the
form of rented land from Simon Fox and the
operation of a vineyard on the same, on
shares. Subsequently he bought the fish busi-
ness of his employers and carried it on him-
self as long as it was profitable as an individ-
ual enterprise, but when the Sandusky Fish
Company was organized, he sold to that con-
cern.
In the meanwhile Mr. Siefield had been buy-
ing land, his shrewd business instinct leading
him to invest on the north shore of North
Bass, continuing to add to his acreage from
time to time, and he now has a home farm of
fifty-two acres, thirty of which are in grapes.
Another purchase, while still in the fishing
business was the "Heu and Chickens" gi'oup
of islands, north of North Bass, which he later
disposed of to an outing club of Cleveland, of
which he is a member. Besides liis farm he
has various other interests, the most important,
perhaps, being the owner and individual
operator of the Peerless Champagne Com-
pany. He gi'ows his own Catawba grapes and
produces a grade of champagne which in
flavor, appearance and bouquet cannot be dis-
tinguished from the finest imported wines.
He caters principally to private customers,
discriminating buyers, who want the best wine
they can procure and find their demands satis-
fied with the vintages of the Peerless Cham-
pagne Company. Mr. Siefield was one of the
organizers of the Bass Lslands Vineyard Com-
pany, of Sandusky, Ohio, large producers of
gi'ape juice, and is now vice president of this
company. He is also one of the directors of
the Becker Wine Company, and is president
also of the North Bass Central Dock Company.
Mr. Siefield was married to Miss Nana Fox,
who was born at Put-in-Bay, July 15, 1858,
and is a daughter of Simon and Elizabeth
RUDOLPH SIEFIELD
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1.365
(Sullivan) Pox, and they have had three chil-
dren: Florence, who was born February 19,
1884, is the wife of Emil Ruh, a prosperous
grape grower of Put-in-Bay ; Ida, who was
born June 21, 1887, is the wife of Walter S.
Ladd, a leading business man of Put-in-Bay
and postmaster, and Walter F. who was born
September 22, 1889, and died June 20, 1914,
was a young man of great promise, finely edu-
cated and widely known. He had attended
the Oak Harbor High School, the Sandusky
Business College and the Ohio State Univer-
sity, being a graduate of each. He was mar-
ried June 13, 1914, to Miss Rose Lesehied, of
North Bass.
In politics Mr. Siefield is a sound demo-
crat. For fifteen years he served as townsliip
trustee of North Bass, for many years
was a justice of the peace and during
the present administration has been post-
master of Isle of St. George. His high stand-
ing among his fellow citizens may thus, in a
way, be determined. The leading fraternities
are old institutions in the islands, and Mr. Sie-
field belongs to the ]\Iasonic Blue Lodge and
Chapter at Sandusky, the Odd Fellows at Put-
in-Bay, and St. George Tent, Maccabees,
North Bass.
Jacob Bash. Since very early time in
Toledo's history the name Bash has had impor-
tant associations with commercial and civic
life. Jacob Bash was one of that p-roup of
enterprising and influential men who laid the
permanent foundation for Toledo 's prestige
as a great grain and general commercial cen-
ter. His son, H. M. Bash, is cashier of The
Northern National Bank of Toledo.
The Bash family were pioneers in Ohio, and
it was at Navarre that the late Jacob Bash
was born. He grew up in that town, attended
tlie public schools, and during part of his ear-
lier years conducted a dry goods store in
Cleveland.
Jacob Bash came to Toledo during the
decade of the '50s, and thereafter was a con-
tinuous resident until his death. Several of
the old time commercial institutions bore the
impress of his character and activity. He was
vice president of the Toledo Board of Trade.
He was perhaps most widely known as a mem-
ber of the commission firm of J. Bash & Com-
panv, forwarding and commission merchants
on Water Street. The members of this firm
at one time were Jacob Bash, D. N. Bash, J. E.
Hill and A. M. Orhisou. Jacob Bash contin-
ued actively in the grain business until his
death October 5, 1872.
He was a member of old Trinity Episcopal
Church at Toledo, and in 1861 was married in
that church. Elizabeth Brightman, who sur-
vived him for many years, was a Toledo resi-
dent for nearly fifty years. She came to To-
ledo from her early home in Muskingum
County, and she died'^ October 9, 1908. She is
buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, while Jacob
Bash was laid to rest in Indiana. Mrs. Bash
for a number of years was a member of the
First Congregational Church. There were
three children, one son dying in infancy. The
only daughter. Miss Nellie F. Bash, now a
teacher in the Central High School of Toledo,
was educated in the local schools and also at-
tended Columbia University in New York
City.
Harry M. Bash, the only son, was born in
Toledo, and after a public school education
began his career as a banker in 1890. Since
then continuously for more than a quarter of
a century he has been identified with The
Northern National Bank, and in Januai-y,
1913, was elected its cashier. The Northern
National Bank of Toledo is one of the older
and solid conservative financial institutions in
Northwest Ohio. A recent statement shows its
aggregate resources at more than ten million
dollars. Besides Mr. Bash as cashier other
executive officers are: I. E. Knisely, presi-
dent ; J. K. Secor, H. C. Truesdall and A. F.
JMitchell, vice presidents,
Harry M. Bash is a member of the Toledo
Club, the Inverness Club, the Toledo Yacht
_ Club, Toledo Commerce Club, Toledo Automo-
bile Club, of which he is treasurer, is affiliated
with Sanford L. Collins Lodge, Free and
Accepted Masons, Toledo Council, Royal and
Select Masters, Toledo Chapter, Royal Arch
Masons, and St. Omar Commandery of the
Knights Templar. He and his sister occupy
the Bash residence at 123 Twentieth Street.
Jason Alonzo Barber. Through an active
career of more than thirty-five years. Judge
Barber has been successively useful and influ-
ential as a teacher, lawyer, .judge of the Court
of Common Pleas, and one of the leading men
in Toledo affairs.
Born on a farm near Ionia, Ionia County,
Michigan, January 24, 1855, he is a son of
Perry K. and Elizabeth Barber, who were pio-
neers in the woods of IMichigan. After at-
tending the common schools he received his
higher education in Oberlin Academy and
1366
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Oberlin College, and was gi-aduated bachelor
of arts with the class of 1879. During the
school year 1879-80 he was superintendent of
schools at St. Mary 's, Ohio, and was principal
of the Toledo High School for the year 1880-
81. After his admission to the bar he began
active practice in Toledo, and for many years
he has enjoyed a reputation among tlie ablest
lawyers of Northwest Ohio. His law offices are
in the Nicholas Building. He is also a direc-
tor of the Security Savings Bank & Trust
Company and of The Toledo & Indiana Rail-
way Company.
His record in public affairs was chiefly made
while prosecuting attorney and .judge of the
Court of Common Pleas. He was elected
prosecuting attorney of Lucas County in the
fall of 1890, and served two terms, six years.
Among the many important cases tried during
that period were the notorious boodle council-
men cases, in which Judge Harmon let each
convicted boodler off with a fine of $200 and
costs. He also prosecuted the famous Quigley
case, wherein Father Quigley of St. Francis
de Sales' Church resisted the enforcement of
compulsory education laws in Toledo, and
fought the case through all the courts of Ohio.
The case of Quigley v. Ohio was at that time
the only case of the kind that was ever fought
to a successful end in the court of last resort.
In the fall of 1896 Jiidge Barber was elected
to the Bench, the Court of Common Pleas of
Lucas County, and for ten years, two terms,
administered the law impartially on that
tribunal. He served as a member of the Board
of Education of Toledo from 1888 to 1890.
Judge Barber is a republican.
On October 3, 1883, at Sandusky he married
Ida M. Hull. Her family are of old American
stock and long identified with Northern Ohio
and Sandusky. The late Circuit Court Judge
Linn W. Hull, was Mrs. Barber's brother.
Her father was John L. Hull, a farmer in
Erie County. Judge and Mrs. Barber have
the following children : John E., a bond sales-
man ; Helen ; Alice ; Maurice C, in the junior
year at Tale College ; and "William M., who
was in the Ambulance Service of the American
Ambulance Hospital, was wounded, and re-
ceived from the French two medals for
bravery displayed while on the field of action.
He was wounded in the battle of Verdun.
He is now attending Oberlin College. They are
all single but Helen, who is the wife of Dr.
Whitelaw R. Morrison, now director of the
athletic department of the Government School
of Technology, at Shanghai, China.
Thomas Conlen is the present mayor of
Put-in-Bay. That responsibility was con-
ferred upon him without his special seeking,
and rather as a reward for the very efficient
service he rendered when appointed to till an
unexpired term. Mr. Conlen has long been
identified with Put-in-Bay, has been in the
resort hotel business since early youth, and is
proprietor of one of the most popular tourist
houses in the town.
He was born in Sandusky March 18, 1868,
a son of Mr. and ilrs. Thomas Conlen. His
father died when the son Thomas was a child.
His parents were natives of Ireland, came to
America in the early '60s, and after living in
Boston came on west to Sandusky, Ohio. Tliere
was a large family of children, and after the
death of the father the widow and her older
children had to work hard to support them-
selves. '
Thus it was that Thomas Conlen was only
nine years of age when he began working on
a farm. He received meager advantages in
schools prior to that date, and at short inter-
vals afterwards. He worked on farms until
he was seventeen or eighteen, and then came
to Put-in-Bay, where he was employed for a
time in the old Ward House, conducted by J.
B. Ward, now the Crescent Hotel. He was
employed in the Ward House during the sum-
mer seasons, and during the winters worked
in Sandusky for the Sandusky Wheel Com-
pany. That was his regular routine of em-
ployment for about ten years.
After his marriage in 1896 Mr. Conlen
started out for himself, building a ten-room
cottage which he opened during the season for
the accommodation of tourists. From this
start he has added to and improved his house,
and now has twenty-three sleeping rooms and
with general accommodations for about fifty
people. His dining room has been a special
feature in the popularity of his place, and
frequently he has served over three hundred
people at meal time. It has been his endeavor
from the very start to serve meals and accom-
modate patrons in a way tliat would hold and
increase his trade, and he has had a most
gratifying success.
In 1896 ilr. Conlen married Catherine
Romell, a daughter of John Romell of
Berlin Heights, Ohio. Mrs. Conlen has
been an active factor in his success at Put-
in-Bay. They have an adopted daughter
Mamie Rowland, who is now twelve years of
age and is attending school.
Mr. Conlen is a republican. For twelve
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1367
years he was a member of the city council of
Put-in-Bay, and was then appointed to fill an
unexpired term as mayor. So satisfactory
was his administration that he was compelled
to accept the nomination for a regular term,
and was elected by a large majority.
Gen. Charles W. Hill. One of the distin-
guished figures produced by Ohio and con-
tributed to the nation during the last days of
the Civil war was the late Gen. Charles W.
Hill, who was a pioneer resident of Toledo,
and in that city was highly honored not only
for his military rcenrd but also for the com-
maiiiliiiLT \Ai\i-f In- ciijiiycd as a lawyer and as
an effVflivc wnikcr in the ranks of good citi-
zenship. It is prulialile that no one citizen of
Toledo ever did more in behalf of public edu-
cation than General Hill.
A native of Vermont and of old New
England pioneer stock, he was born at Starks-
boro, Addison County, July 7, 1812. His
'death occurred in Toledo November 24, 1881.
When he was six years of age his parents re-
moved to the Western Reserve of Ohio. Thus
he became identified with the western fron-
tier when Ohio was still young as a state and
when its institutions were just developing and
taking on character. General Hill during his
early life in the Western Reserve received such
advantages as farmers' boys of that period
were granted, and by study at home and by
his industry he eventually acquired a liberal
education. At the age of twenty-two he en-
tered Oberliu College, which was then a young
institution and hardly of the rank which it
has since enjoyed among the great educational
centers of the Middle West. By manual labor
and by teaching school he remained in Oberlin
a year, but in 1836 at the age of twenty-four
he left college and came to Toledo. His first
experience as a citizen of Toledo was as clerk
in the store of Charles G. ilcKnight. That
early store occupied a frame building at 343-
347 Summit Street. A brief experience proved
to him that he was not adapted to commercial
work. While following other employment for
a livelihood, he began the study of law with
the aid of Daniel 0. Morton, and was admit-
ted to practice in January, 1839. In October
of that year the firm of Tilden & Hill was
formed, succeeding the older firm of Tilden &
Osborn. Henry Bennett subsequently became
a partner. With the election of Mr. Tilden as
judge in 1843, the business of the firm was
taken over by Hill & Bennett, who subse-
quently were joined by E. E. Perigo and later
by Charles Pratt. For many years General
Hill and Mr. Pratt were closely associated in
the legal profession. In 1870 General Hill
and his son, the late Avery S. Hill, established
a law partnership.
General Hill long enjoyed a peculiar pres-
tige in the Toledo bar during the middle years
of the last century. He was especially force-
ful as an advocate, and it is said that no one
excelled him in the tireless and critical prepa-
ration of cases. For upwards of half a cen-
tury he lent distinction to the profession in
Toledo.
Soon after coming to Toledo General Hill
manifested a strong interest in military or-
ganizations. A writer in the Toledo Blade re-
cently called attention to the patriotic spirit
which prevailed among a number of the citi-
zens of earlier times in Toledo, and as a result
of their leadership, the writer declares, Toledo
was better prepared to furnisli efficient sol-
diers for the Union during the war of 1861
than it is now, notwithstanding the great
increase of the city in business prestige and
population. This writer mentions the five
companies of militia in Toledo in 1858, one of
these companies being known as the Toledo
Cadets, which when first created was known
as the High School Cadets, all the members
being students in the high school. This or-
ganization had been effected by General HiU
about 1856, and he found special pleasure in
maintaining and directing the organization.
As early as 1840 General Hill had become cap-
tain of the Toledo Guards, and in June, 1842,
was elected brigadier-general of the First
Brigade, Eighteenth Division, Ohio Jlilitia.
With the outbreak of the war in 1861, and
with appointment as brigadier-general from
Governor Dennison, he entered the military
service of the Unil^ed States. He was in com-
mand of the Ohio troops of West Virginia dur-
ing the first year of the war, under the leader-
ship of General ]\IeClellan. He was assigned
to some very important duties in a district ex-
tending from Parkersburij and Wlieeling to
Cheat River, having about 250 miles of line
to defend, but with greatly inadequate force.
All his ability as an efficient soldier and his
promptness and energy in carrying out com-
mands from superior officers was greatly
handicapped and hampered by lack of equip-
ment and other circumstances not under his
control. He also suffered from lack of co-
operation from commanding officers, and on
that account and partly from misunderstand-
ing of the real situation he failed at one time'
1368
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
in a timely offensive movement, and that re-
dounded materially to the advantage of the
enemy. The attempt then made to throw the
responsibility upon General Hill was discredi-
table both because of the source of information
and for want of requisite proof. However,
General McClellan never made the explanation
of the situation which General Hill confidently
expected from him. For this reason, and also
because of his age, General Hill at the expira-
tion of the term of service of the Ohio troops,
in August, 1861, retired from West Virginia
and was assigned as commandant at Camp
Chase, Columbus, then a rendezvous for Ohio
volunteers for purposes of organization, equip-
ment and discipline, and also one of the north-
em prisons maintained for southern soldiers.
At Camp Chase General Hill rendered his
most signal service to the cause of the Union.
Included in his duties was the instruction of
volunteer officers in matters of tactics and gen-
eral discipline,' and among such officers as
came under his instruction should be men-
tioned Col. James A. Garfield of the Forty-
second Ohio and Maj. Wager Swayne of the
Forty-third Ohio. During 1862-63 General
Hill was made adjutant-general of Ohio under
Governor Tod, and that was a position for
which his qualities of industry and attention
to details especially fitted him. While he re-
mained on .official duty at Columbus, not less
than 310 regiments and battalions of state
militia were organized and their officers in-
structed. Besides the heavy duties which were
imposed upon him at Columbus, General Hill
spent much time attending camps of instruc-
tion at different points in the state. In these
later days people are beginning to understand
more generally what the advantage of pre-
paredness in organization and equipment
means. During the Civil war Ohio made a
most enviable record both i^ the quality and
number of its organized units of volunteer
soldiers. In the light of these facts the merit
and efficiency of General Hill's record stand
out more conspicuously than ever. His service
was especially noteworthy in the spring of
1864 when President Lincoln called for 100,-
000 men to serve 100 days, for the purpose of
meeting the great emergency of that critical
time. Largely due to the work which General
Hill had planned and carried on in previous
months Ohio was able to send forward 30,000
men within forty-eight hours after the call
was issued.
The heavy work and responsibilities entailed
upon him seriously affected General Hill's
health and he sought more active service in the
field. However, he remained at Columbus un-
til the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Ohio
Infantry was organized, and when that regi-
ment was sent to Johnson's Island in San-
dusky Bay for garrison service he was
assigned to duty with it. Again General Hill
was called upon to assume some very delicate
and important duties, all of which he dis-
charged in a manner to command the uniform
commendation of his superior officers. While
on Johnson's Island he was banker of the
prison, and had charge of the deposits of ap-
proximately 3,000 rebel officer prisoners, and
there was never a complaint voiced regarding
his administration of that post. Again and
again recommendations were made for the pro-
motion of General Hill, but he steadfastly
declined them until his record during the early
campaign in West Virginia could be duly in-
vestigated. This was finally completed and in
1865 he received the commission of brigadier-
general and was brevetted as major-general. »
With the close of the war General Hill re-
sumed his work as a lawyer in Toledo and was
in active practice until ill health compelled
him to retire.
The City of Toledo must always give Gen-
eral Hill great credit for the work he did in
behalf of pioneer public school education. He
was foremost in establishing the first high
school system, and in building the old Cen-
tral High School, which has long since disap-
peared. The first systematic movement to
establish public free schools in Toledo was
made about 1849, and two years later General
Hill was first elected to a position on the school
board. He remained active as a member of the
board of education for more than thirty years,
and for twenty-one years of that time was
president of the board, finally declining
another election in 1880. His interest in the
public schools was so sincere and absorbing
that he often neglected his law practice and
his personal affairs. While he was a member
of the board. or its president a number of the
old-time school buildings of Toledo were
erected, and he was most assiduous in looking
after the planning and construction of such
buildings, in the general management of the
schools, in procuring needed changes in school
laws, and in bringing about every desired re-
form that would increase the efficiency and
success of the public schools. Soon after com-
ing to Toledo General Hill was made secre-
tary of the Pioneer Lyceum upon its organi-
zation, and when that was merged with the
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1369
Young Men's Association he took an equally
prominent part in its affair. General Hill
long held a place in the city council, and was
one of its most useful members. In municipal
affairs it is said that he was never known to
have been affiliated with any ring or special
coterie, and in fact was almost a pioneer in
his constant opposition to rings of every kind.
In all his public and private relations he was
actuated by the sincere spirit of patriotism
and a high ideal of public service, and it is
doubtful if any one man in the city gave so
much of his time and labor without reward to
the public welfare as did the late General
Charles W. Hill.
General Hill was twice married. By the
first marriage there were three children :
Avery S., reference to whom is made on other
pages ; Mrs. Sophie L, Peckham ; and Mary
E., wife of Henry D. Pierce, who was for-
merly a principal of the Junior High School
of Toledo.
Abraham Jeremiah Hammer, M. D. By
reason of more than thirty years of active
practice in Northwest Ohio, and by his dis-
tinctive skill as a urgeon, the late Doctor Ham-
mer should be regarded as one of the fore-
most representatives of his profession. Death
stayed his hand in the full maturity of his
powers and experience. At the time of his
death Doctor Hammer was in charge of the
medical and surgical department of the County
Infirmary at Toledo, Ohio. Doctor Hammer had
practiced in Toledo thirty years, and was an
acknowledged expert in the field of surgery.
He had been in charge of the medical and sur-
gical department of the County Infirmary
for a little more than two years.
Abraham Jeremiah Hammer was born in
Bedford County, Pennsylvania, June 1, 1853,
and was in his fifty-ninth year when he died
on April 5, 1912. His parents were Rev. Wil-
liam and Margaret (Beisle) Hammer. His
father devoted his entire life to the ministry
of the Evangelical Church.
The youngest in a family of five sons and
four daughters. Doctor Hammer spent his boy-
hood years in Bedford County, Pennsylvania,
and acquired a substantial literary education.
In carrying out his determination to become
a doctor he began study under the preceptor-
ship of Dr. J. W. Failing of Fremont, Ohio.
He finally entered the Ohio Medical College
at Cincinnati, where he was gradiiated i\I. D.
with the class of 1880. Doctor Hammer was an
exponent of the homeopathic school of medi-
cine. On leaving college he opened an office
in Fremont, and conducted a successful gen-
eral practice there until 1887. With matur-
ing experience and more widely recognized
skill, he sought a larger field at Toledo, and
in that city he practiced with growing pres-
tige for twenty years until his death.
In 1880 Dr. Hammer married Miss Ella
L. Grant, daughter of J. A. and Abigail
(Cook) Grant of Fremont. Mrs. Hammer is
still living in Toledo and for a number of
years was elosely associated with her husband
in all his benevolent and charitable projects.
Of the three children of their union the only
survivor is Dr. Irving H. Hammer, one of
the leading physician and surgeons of North-
west Ohio, and now occupying the office at
829 Broadway in Toledo which his honored
father kept before his death.
Irving H. Hammer, M. D. With a posi-
tion of well won prominence in the field of
medicine and surgery, Doctor Hammer has
practiced in Toledo for a number of years, and
was associated with his honored father, the
late Dr. Abraham J. Hammer until the latter 's
death on April .5, 1912.
The career of the elder Doctor Hammer is
sketched on other pages.
Born in Fremont, Ohio, September 9, 1882,
Irving H. Hammer came to Toledo at the age
of four years. His mother, Ella S. Hammer,
is still living at the age of sixty years in To-
ledo. His early education was acquired in the
Toledo schools, including the high school, in
the Ohio Northern ITnivei;^ity at Ada, and he
attended the University of Michigan and
Hahnemann Medical College at Chicago.
Returning to Toledo he took up active prac-
tice with his father, and still retains the of-
fices at 829 Broadway where his father had
his professional quarters for a number of
years. Doctor Hammer was associated with
his father as physician and surgeon to the
Lucas County Hospital for three years.
In 1901 Doctor Hammer became a member
of the hospital corps of the Sixth Ohio Regi-
ment, and was honorably discharged in 1902.
In the latter year he became identified with
Company G of the Second Ohio Regiment, and
his honorable discharge from that body is
dated in 1904.
He is a member of the Homeopathic Medi-
cal Society of Toledo and the Toledo Academy
of Jledicine. His ^Fasnnic affiliations are Cal-
umet Lodge No. 612 Free and Accepted Ma-
sons, Calumet Chapter No. 191 Royal Arch
1370
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Masons, Toledo Council Royal and Select
Masters, St. Omar Commandery, No. 59,
Knights Templar, Zenobia Temple of the
Mystic Shrine, and Oton-To-La Grotto. Po-
litically he is a republican and is a member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
On January 3, 1914, at Chicago Doctor
Hammer married Elizabeth Schwartzkopf, a
daughter of Jacob Schwartzkopf, who died at
the age of fifty-eight, and Mrs. Emily
Schwartzkopf, who is now sixty-one years of
Simon Fox. So important have the grape
and fishing industries become on the group of
fertile islands lying like gems in Lake Erie,
ea-st of Toledo and northwest of Sandusky,
Ohio, that it may sometimes be forgotten that
agriculture also flourishes here and it wa-s as a
farmer that the first of the Fox family came
to Peelee Island. It was John Fox, the father
of Simon Fox, who later became one of the
important men of the entire group, the
founder of numerous island enterprises and
a man of high character and sterling worth.
Simon Fox was born December 13, 1823, at
Gosfield, County Essex, Ontario, and was the
third son of John and Rachel (Stewart) Fox.
John Fox and his wife were reared and
mari'ied in Ontario and possibly were born
there. Farming was his vocation. The Cana-
dian winters are sometimes very severe and
after three extremely cold seasons, in which
his stock perished and his crops failed to ma-
ture, John Fox decided to seek a milder cli-
mate and with his family, about 1827, sailed
to Peelee Island in Lake Erie. He found
several other white families there and many
Indians. The land was heavily timbered and
the family had to endure many pioneer hard-
ships and deprivations.
Simon Fox knew no other home through-
out life but these islands. He was four years
old when his parents settled on Peelee and he
grew up accustomed to the homely duties and
lack of comforts that attend all frontier set-
tlements but many were the interesting tales
he could tell of those early times, later in life.
He had practically no schooling, probably
learning, as have other big men of the world,
at his mother's knee. As soon as youth began
to assert itself he was ready for hard work and
soon became a courageous sailor and an expert
fisherman. In the course of time he acquired
a sloop rigged sailing vessel, named the Am-
herst, and established the first regular line on
the lakes between Sandusky and Detroit, mak-
ing regular trips by way of Kelley Island, the
Bass Islands and Canadian points.
Simon Fox followed the water more or less
regularly until he came to Put-in-Bay, about
1850, when he entered the employ of J. D.
Rivera, who had purchased South Bass, Mid-
dle Bass and all the other small islands in the
immediate waters. For a considerable period
Mr. Fox worked for Mr. Rivera, mainly in
clearing ofl: the timber, which was then cut
into cord wood and sold to the large boats for
fuel. He proved so efficient under all circum-
stances that Mr. Rivera made him his selling
agent, very little of the land at that time hav-
ing been purchased by settlers. Mr. Fox took
charge of this business with characteristic
earnestness and as fast as settlers came with
sufficient capital, tracts were sold them.
In 1852, with his brother Peter Fox, Simon
Fox purchased about two thirds of North
Bass Island. This island had been owned by
Horace Kelley, who had previously disposed
of two tracts, making up about one third of
the total area of 696 acres, to men who were
the very first settlers on North Bass. As
Simon Fox was still employed at Put-in-Bay,
his brother Peter moved to North Bass to take
care of their interests there, and in 1861
Simon removed there also, with his family and
it became his permanent residence. Peter
Fox selected the southwest corner of the island
for his homestead, while Simon chose over one
hundred acres in the northeast corner with
the intention of going into general farming
and stock raising. About this time the culti-
vation of grapes as an industry was intro-
duced in the Bass Islands, and the price of
grape land advanced to such a substantial
figure that Simon immediately sold all of his
homestead but fifty-five acres, in small lots for
vineyards, and then, in common with others,
took up the cultivation of grapes and his was
the first acre of grape vines put out on the
island. He increased until he had twenty
acres more in vineyard. The rest of his farm
he devoted to fruit growing and general farm-
ing.
Mr. Fox also went into the fishing business,
his first partner being a Mr. Axtell, and later
he was in partnership with John Stone, who
subsequently removed to Put-in-Bay Island,
where he died. Mr. Fox was then associated
in the fishery with Rudolph Siefield, who sub-
sequently purchased the business. In all his
transactions he was a man of his word and his
.iudgment concerning business matters could
be depended upon.
wt ^"^^
i^'^'7<^i$>-^^C^^
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1371
Simon Fox was married at Put-in-Bay,
October 11, 1857, to Miss Elizabeth Sullivan,
who was boru at Williamsburg, County
Dundas, Ontario, Canada, and died on North
Bass September 5, 1903. She was a half sister
of Philip Vroman, one of the early settlers of
Put-in-Bay, who had come fi-om a point on the
St. Lawrence River, in New York. To this
marriage the following children were born:
Nannie, who was born at Putin-Bay, July 15,
1858, mari-ied Rudolph Siefield, whose ex-
tended sketch will be found in this work;
Diautha Florence, who was born on North
Bass Island January 13, 1864, and died No-
vember 20, 1875 ; Frank W., who was born on
North Bass September 17, 1867, and Stewart
A., who was born November 13, 1873. Simon
Fox died November 16, 1902, one year before
his brother Peter. The latter was born in On-
tario, Canada, April 7, 1826, and after com-
ing to North Bass Island remained here until
his death on September 16, 1903. Two chil-
dren survive him : Fred, who is in the real
estate business at Toledo, and Mrs. Dr. Har-
vey, of Detroit, Michigan.
Simon Fox in many ways occupied a very
prominent place in early affairs in these
islands and his name is still held in high
esteem. In 1861 he erected the fine residence
in which his son, Frank W. resides, it being
the handsomest and most modern structure
then in North Bass, having a particularly
beautiful site, on the east side of the island
near the water line of Lake Erie. He spent
many happy years here. He was too broad-
minded a man not to be intensely interested
in politics and was identified with the repub-
lican party all his life, but he sought no polit-
ical honors serving merely from public spirit
for many years on the school board. He be-
longed to the Masonic fraternity. In his two
surviving sons, both able, honorable business
men, this old pioneer has worthy representa-
tives.
Frank W. Fox and Stewart A. Fox.
Considering the. many natural advantages to
be found on the little group of islands situated
in Lake Erie, off the coast of Ohio, it is some-
what remarkable that they were left practi-
cally uninhabited, except by a few Indians,
until as late as 1827, that being the year when
John Fox and family located on Peelee Island.
They were among the two or three white set-
tlers and for many years the Indian popula-
tion predominated, maintaining themselves by
fishing and hunting through the heavy timber
that then covered all this land. The pioneer
to the islands, John Fox, was the grandfather
of Frank W. and Stewart A. Fox, who control
the largest fishing plant on North Bass Island
and are otherwise prominent and substantial.
Both were born on North Bass Island and are
sons of Siirion l-'ox, who was one of the most
proiiiiiiciit men (if this island and had much to
do with the settlement and early development
of th€ entire group. An extended sketch of
Simon Fox will be found elsewhere in this
work.
Frank W. P^x was born September 17,
1867, in the old home in which 'he yet lives,
never having removed from its accustomed
comforts and conveniences. He was married
to Miss Milliceut Wardrow, of Sandusky,
Ohio, and they have had three children : Inez,
who is deceased, Simon and Clayton.
Stewart A. Fox was born on the old home-
stead on North Bass Island, November 13,
1873. He married Clara Gosser, of Sandusky,
and .they reside on a part of the old family
farm.
Both sons of Simon Fox were sent to school
until well grounded in the fundamentals and
then began to assi-st their father, who had
numerous interests. They learned many prac-
tical lessons before they were very old, these
including the best methods of conducting an
island farm and the most profitable times, sea-
sons and places to carry on their fishing enter-
prises. They proved so capable and reliable
that their father willingly paid them the
wages of men and they prospered, not through
any favor, but on account of their industry
and reliability. For a time they were sailors,
as were the most of their companions, one
time or another. After serving as foremen
of the fishing fleet for their father for a time
they determined to go into business for them-
selves, but in an entirely different line. One
of the enterprises they built up successfully
was a business in fuel and building material
and they transported their equipment and
supplies by scow from Sandusky.
The young men gradually succeeded to a
number of their father's island interests. The
farm and vineyard has been under their man-
agement for many years and when their
father retired from the fishing industry, they
again entered this line and have developed a
business of large volume. They own a com-
plete equipment of twine, nets and boats and
all the other ;ii>i)m'teiiaiiees- necessary in the
business and ^Im' steiidy employment to at
least four men and their annual sales average
1372
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
from $7,000 to $8,000. On February 20, 1911,
they had the misfortune to lose their twine
house and all its contents by fire. This hap-
pened just at a time when all of their winter
repair work had been completed and their nets
made all ready for setting. But men of their
type are not easily discouraged and by May 1
following they had thirty new nets back in the
lake and other repairs under way. In 1916,
with five others, they organized the United
Fisheries Company, of Sandusky, Ohio, with
a capital of $25,000. Their practical experi-
ence has been a very helpful asset and pros-
perity has attended the company from the
start.
The young men have brought their farm-
ing land to a high state of cultivation and
have increased the acreage of grapes to thirty-
five acres. A few years ago. through slack
business methods, the price of grapes fell be-
low normal but since the organization of the
Bass Islands Vineyard Company, of which
the Fox brothers are stockholders, things have
changed, this company being one of the largest
producers of grape juice in Sandusky and the
greatest factor in the maintenance of price for
grapes.
While not especially active in politics, the
Fox brothers take an intelligent interest in
all the concerns the islands, the state and the
country. They vote the republican ticket and
Frank W. is a member of the school board as
formerly was Stewart A. They belong to the
order of IMaeeabees.
Henry A. Schlingman. The builder of
one of Toledo's great wholesale houses is the
distinction that rests upon Henry A. Schling-
man. He is now the active head of The Amer-
ican Plumbers Supply Company, which has
well earned its place as one of the most ag-
gressive and thoroughly equipped supply
houses in the plumbing industrj' in the Cen-
tral West.
From the position of executive head of this
corporation one might trace Mr. Schling-
man 's steps backward for fifty years and find
him a humble boy clerk, proving his indus-
try and faithfulness, in a Toledo grocery
house. ]Mr. Schlingman takes a reasonable
pride in the fact that he is a native of the
Fatherland. He was born and educated there
and while loyal to the institutions of the old
eoimtry, he is intensely American and a bet-
ter citizen Toledo has never had.
He was born in Hanover, Germany, June
18, 1849, a son of William and Caroline (Brei-
fing) Schlingman. His parents also came to
the United States in 1869, locating in Toledo,
where they spent the rest of their years.
Henry A. Schlingman acquired his elementary
education in his native land. He was fifteen
when in 1864 he ventured alone from his pa-
ternal home and crossed the ocean to Amer-
ica. That was five years before his parents
came to the New World. He was the oldest in
a family of eight children, and probably had
a sense of responsibility and a feeling that he
should early get out and make his own way
in the world. Mr. Schlingman has a
brother and three si-sters who are all living
in Toledo.
The first two years after he came to To-
ledo Mr. Schlingman was employed in the
grocery house of Witker & Johnson. Then
came other occupations for his busy mind and
body, and by the time he reached manhood he
was ready for independent responsibilities. In
1871 Mr. Schlingman became interested in the
Toledo Pump Company. He was one of the
active members of that organization until
1890. In that year he organized the Ameri-
can Pump Companv, whose quarters were
located at 518-520 South St. Clair Street.
That was an industry which reflected his cap-
able powers as an organizer and director, and
he remained its active head for twelve years.
He then sold his interests in that line and
engaged in the plumbers' supply business,
which under his management has been an en-
terprise of rapid growth and of enormous
increase in trade and volume of assets. Those
most closely acquainted with his business
career say that the main factors in his suc-
cess have been sound business judgment, nat-
ural ability and perseverance. The Ameri-
can Plumbers Supply Company of which he
is now the head was organized by Mr. Schling-
man, his wife and his son Maurice W. The
firm has been located since 1909 at 616-622
Jackson Street, but they are now putting up
a large wholesale house at the corner of Shep-
hard & Canton streets. When this is com-
pleted it will be the largest and most complete
wholesale establishment of its kind in Ohio.
The business is exclusively wholesale and job-
bing, and its trade connections with individ-
ual plumbers and plumbing supply houses
reach all over the states of Michigan, Ohio
and Indiana. Progressiveness is one of the
main keynotes of the establishment. All new
appliances in the plumbing field are tried out
and when their worth is proved they are
placed on the trade list of the American
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1373
Plumbers Supply Company and distributed
to their patrons.
Mr. Schlingman has long been well known
in social and civic circles of Toledo. He is a
member of Rubicon Lodge No. 144, Free and
Accepted ^lasons, of all the Scottish Rite
bodies, including the thirty-second degree. He
is a republican in politics and has twice
served as a member of the board of educa-
tion. He is president the Home Building and
Savings Company of Toledo.
His home is at 2.524 Scottwood Avenue.
June 7. 1870, he married at Monroe, Michi-
gan, Miss Katharine Simmons. Mrs. Schling-
man was born and received her education in
Monroe. They are the parents of four chil-
dren : Mrs. George W. Edwards of Tulsa. Ok-
lahoma : ]Mrs, Carl A. Senf of Toledo ; Maiirice
W., of Toledo; and one son that died in in-
fancy. All the children were born in Toledo
and both daughters are graduates of the To-
ledo High School.
William 0. Holst. A native of Norway,
but reared and educated in Toledo, William
0. Hoist was for a number of years a tele-
graph operator and railway man in that city,
and for the past sixteen years has been in
business for himself. He is now president
and principal owner of The W. 0. Hoist Build-
ers Supply Company, one of the largest con-
cerns of its kind in Northwestern Ohio. The
plant and offices are at 414-420 South Erie
Street, and the company handles a general
stock of building material, particularly sand,
cement, stone, sewer pipe, roofing, etc.
Faithfulness to the tasks committed to him,
an unflagging industry and good business
judgment have been factors in "Slv. Hoist's
success. He was born in Christiania, Norway,
April 23, 1864, a son of Theodore and Han-
nah (Peterson) Hoist. The parents brought
their family to America in 1869, landing in
New York City, and going from there to Chi-
cago, Illinois, where they lived a year before
coming to Toledo. Theodore Hoist was a cab-
inet maker by trade. His skill in that art
had brought him inducements to emigrate to
America and work for the Illinois Central
Railroad when that company began build-
ing the better class of railway coaches.
After one year with the Illinois Central at
Chicago Theodore Hoist moved in 1870 to To-
ledo, and for thirty-nine consecutive years was
employed at his trade in the shops of the
Wabash Company of that citv. He was one
of the finest workmen in his line for many
years and is now living retired at the age of
seventy-eight. His wife has passed the four-
score mark. These worthy parents had four
sturdy sons, all born in Christiania in Nor-
way except the youngest, who is a native of
Toledo. Conrad A., the oldest, is now a con-
ductor on the Lake Shore & Michigan South-
ern Railway. Elmer T. is connected with F.
W. James wholesale millinery house of To-
ledo. Edward C. is trainmaster for the Mich-
igan Central Railway between Toledo and
Detroit.
William 0. Hoist received his early educa-
tion in Toledo public schools, and graduated
from the Central High School in 1883. His
brothers were also educated in this city, but
he is the only one who completed the high
school course. While in high school he spent
his spare hours mastering the art of telegraphy
in the Wabash office. As soon as he left high
school he was taken into the regular service
of the company as telegraph operator, and
remained in the Toledo offices for eight years.
After that he spent another eight years in the
transportation department of the Michigan
Central Railway, and during the greater part
of that time was yardmaster.
When he left "the railroad in 1900 to en-
gage in business for himself he located on
South Erie Street, where his business head-
quarters have been ever since. He began deal-
ing in builders' supplies and with the contin-
ued growth and prosperity of his establish-
ment he incorporated in 1906 The W. 0.
Hoist Builders Supply Company with a cap-
ital of .$10,000. He owns practically all the
stock and is treasurer and general manager.
The vice president is C. H. Beins and the sec-
retary is his son. R. W. Hoist. Besides sup-
plying the local trade the company also does
a jobbing business and keeps two men travel-
ing over Southern Michigan and Northwest-
ern Ohio contracting for the supplj' of sand,
cement and sewer pipe.
Mr. Hoist is also a director of The Ohio
Builders Supply Association of Ohio. His
name is also well known in public affairs at
Toledo. He was a member of the city coun-
cil from the Fifteenth Ward in 1897-98 and
in the latter year was president of the coun-
cil and as such opened the present city of-
fices in the Valentine Building at the comer
of St. Clair and Adams streets. In 1899-
1900 he served as city clerk of Toledo. He is
an independent republican. Mr. Hoist is a
member of the Toledo Club, the Inverness Golf
Club, the Toledo Yacht Club, the Maumee
1374
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
River Yacht Club, the Rotary Club, the
Transportation Club, the Toledo Automobile
Club, the Toledo Commerce Club, is affiliated
with Rubicon Lodge No. 144, Free and Ac-
cepted Masons, is a Knight Templar Mason
and a member of Xenobia Temple of the Mys-
tic Shrine, and also belongs to Toledo Lodge,
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, to To-
ledo Lodge No. 5.3, Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks. He also belongs to tlie Slagle
Resort Club. Mr. Hoist has always been an
ardent lover of good horses, and finds his rec-
reation in riding and driving, in yachting and
in golf.
At Toledo April 23, 1887, he married Miss
Eva May Friseh. Their only living child is
Raymond "W., now secretary of The W. O.
Hoist Builders Supply Company. The daugh-
ter Bessie died August 10, 1910, at the age of
nineteen.
Peter F. Lonz. A certain exclusive and
select patronage has loug known and appre-
ciated the Lonz vintage of sour wines, repre-
senting all the distilled sunshine and flavor
of Bass Island grapes. The processes of mak-
ing these rare vintages have been evolved by
the Lonz family and the output is now made
by the firm of Peter F. Lonz & Son of Middle
Bass Island.
For fully forty years Peter F. Lonz lias
been a resident of Middle Bass Island. He
came to the island on ]\Iarch 1, 1876. At that
time he was nineteen years of age, having been
born near Sandusky March 5, 1857. His
father was named Peter Lonz. After coming
to Middle Bass Jeter F. Lonz was employed
five and a half years by ilr. Wehrle in the
wine business and grape culture. With that
experience he .started out for himself, and in
1886 he began pressing grapes and manufac-
turing wine. From the fii-st he paid more at-
tention to quality than quantity, and the pure
wine from his presses had a reputation that
was recognized by the trade. Again and again
he has had to increase his facilities and space,
and the business was already one of con.sider-
able proportions when in 1912 his son George
entered partnership with him. At that time
the firm erected a complete new cellar. It
was constructed entirely of brick, and is
equipped throughout with the latest improved
machinery, including elevators, waterworks
and all the presses and storage facilities re-
quired for making and curing wines. At the
present time the firm press about ten thousand
gallons annually. Though this product is
quite large, the Lonz wines are not found in
the common centers of the wine trade, the
product being entirely taken by an exclusive
patronage, and even that the firm is unable to
supply with all that is demanded.
George Lonz now has the active executive
management of the firm of Peter F. Lonz &
Son, and since he took charge the business has
quadrupled in extent. The firm operates
forty-two acres of land, with twenty-five acres
in vineyard, and besides pressing out all their
own grapes they buy grapes from other grow-
ers. In 1915 they added another important
improvement to their equipment in the shape
of a fine brick barn.
Mr. Peter F. Lonz is an active democrat and
has taken a prominent part in local affairs.
He is now serving on the school board, with
which he has been connected for some years
and has filled the pcsition of treasurer. He
is a member of the Lodge and Encampment of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He
was one of the original incorporators of the
Bass Islands Vineyards Company of San-
dusky.
In 1882 he married Miss Margaret Siegrist,
daughter of John Siegrist of Middle Bass
Island. To their marriage have been born
four children, of whom a son and daughter
are now living. The daughter Louisa married
William C. Krueger. who is an engraver by
profession and is employed by one of the
large printing houses in Chicago. Mr. and
Mrs. Krueger have a daughter Henrietta. The
two children dead are : Cora, who died at the
age of 19 ; an infant who died unnamed.
George Lonz after attending the public
schools on Middle Bass Island and later at the
Sandusky Business College, entered the Ohio
Northern University at Ada, where he spe-
cialized in chemistry and where he was grad-
uated in 1910. He then entered the Govern-
ment laboratories at Charlotteville, Virginia,
and secured a broad and thorough technical
knowledge of all the phases of wine making.
This technical training has proved of great
advantage to him in his business, and along
with thorough knowledge he combined aggres-
sive and progressive enterprise. He married
Miss Fannie Macklen of Columbus, Ohio.
One of the most prominent democrats of
Ottawa County is Mr. George Lonz. He is
still young, but has shown his forcefulness in
party affairs in different ways. He is now
serving his second term as township trustee.
In 1914 he was a candidate for nomination
for the State Legislature. His defeat was ac-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
530002
1375
coinplished by a very small majority. It is
almost a tradition that any island man is sup-
posed to have no chance for county or any
oiifices except local ones. George Lonz is af-
filiated with Put-in-Bay Lodge of the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows and with the
JIasonie Lodge at Port Clinton.
Avery Sedgwick Hill, who died at Toledo
September 18, 1891, was for many years a
member of the Lucas County bar, and was
distinguished rather by the unusual attain-
ments of his mind and character and by the
posse.ssion of qualities which, while not neces-
sary and in fact sometimes preventing success
in a professional or business way, arc Jiighly
prized and appreciated as attributes of a cul-
tured and high minded gentleman.
A son of the late Gen. Charles W. Hill, he
was born at Toledo December 5, 1846, and at
the time of his death was forty-four years,
nine months of age. Mr. Hill graduated from
the Toledo High School with the class of 1866,
and in 1869 enjoyed some of the high honors
of his class in the law department of the Uni-
versity of Michigan. Prior to his graduation
he had been admitted to the bar of Ohio in
1868, and he began his professional career
with his father. The firm of C. W. and A.
S. Hill was terminated with the death of Gen-
eral Hill. After that Avery S. Hill continued
the practice of law alone until 1888. He was
then appointed one of the official stenograph-
ers of the court under the provisions of a law
passed that year, and he held that position
until his death.
"While thoroughly grounded in the princi-
ples of jurisprudence and loving the law as
a science, Jlr. Hill had a sensitive disposition
which made him adverse to the contentions in-
cident to active practice. Thus it was with
a sense of relief that he gave up his practice
and assumed his duties as official court sten-
ographer. His natural gifts and inclinations
were pre-eminently as a linguist, while he de-
voted much time and study to the acquisition
of a thorough knowledge of the modern lan-
guages, especially the German. It is said that,
not even excepting the most cultured men of
German birth, Mr. Hill was perhaps the most
proficient German scholar in Toledo. He was
a master of the language, speaking and writ-
ing it with the greatest accuracy and accent
and had a wide and thorough knowledge of
Germany as a nation, German history and
literature, and had studied deeply the con-
t-ributions of that nature and people to the
law, to science and to the various fields of art.
Mr. Hill possessed a reading knowledge of
the French and Polish language.
At his death the Lucas County Bar Asso-
ciation passed resolutions of respect and admi-
ration for their deceased fellow practitioner,
and the members of the bar and citizens in
general esteemed him as a high minded gentle-
man, and one whose attainments in scholar-
ship, whose genial and social disposition, and
courteous demeanor, were intimate and dis-
tinctive traits of his entire career.
In 1874 Avery S. Hill married Miss Ida
Rose Klauser, only daughter of the late Dr.
Francis J. Clauser. Mrs. Hill and her three
children still survive. These children are:
Carl F., a musician and teacher of music, liv-
ing at Toledo ; Herman A., reference to whom
is made on other pages ; and Miss Rose Eliza-
beth, who lives with her mother.
William Watson Bolles. Though a man
of intensely unassuming character, the name
of the late William W. Bolles is one that must
always be closely associated with Toledo busi-
ness and civic affairs. He was one of the city's
foremost real estate dealers. In that business
he was guided by some strong convictions and
ideals, and from the modern viewpoint it is
unmistakable that he rendered an enduring
service to the city'^ development by sturdily
following those convictions.
Born at Delphi, Indiana, February 2.5, 1841,
he came to Toledo when a boy with his father,
William Bolles, who was numbered among this
city's early dry goods merchants. Thus the
career of the late William W. Bolles was en-
tirely worked out in Toledo, and he lived there
until his death at his beautiful home on Col-
lingwood Avenue August 8, 1907.
He was a member of the second class gradu-
ated from the Toledo High School. For many
years he was affiliated with Toledo Lodge No.
144, Free and Accepted Masons, and with
Toledo Commandery Knights Templar. How-
ever, he was not given to club life, and divided
his time quite accurately between his busi-
ness affairs and his own home. So far as pos-
sible he avoided publicity, and was not a
seeker for social or political honors. Among
business associates he was upright and con-
scientious, gained the confidence of all with
whom he had dealings, and it was his strict
integrity that was at the foundation of his
success. He loved his home and its associa-
tions above everything else in life. In his
courteous relationship with his fcllowmen he
1376
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
was often spoken of as a gentleman of the
old school. On October 27, 1868, he married
Miss Ellen Collamore, daughter of Dr. Anthony
Collamore of Pembroke, Massaehnsetts. Doc-
tor Collamore was descended from an old co-
lonial family. Mrs. Bolles still resides in
Toledo, and her three children, also residents
of this city, are "William, George A. and Jliss
Margarita.
The home at which Mr. Bolles spent his last
years and where he died was a magnificent
place on Collingwood Avenue. The stately
homestead was surrounded by over twenty
acres of ground, and with its shaded lawns, its
blooming gardens it afforded an unusually
attractive place in the residential district. Mr.
Bolles had owned this place for many years,
and the fact that it was the center of many
associations of his own life and those of his
family prevailed above every other considera-
tion in causing him to refuse to sell any por-
tion of the grounds during his lifetime. Not
onl.y did he keep his own house and grounds
up to the highest standards of improvement
and beautification, but he exerted a strong
and potent influence in keeping the neighbor-
hood one of the highest character, and the
owners of property throughout that district
of the city have had many reasons to be grate-
ful to this Toledoan. It was Mr. Bolles who
set out all the fine shade trees which are grow-
ing today along "Winthrop Street. He pos-
sessed some very strong ideas on the subject
of civic sightliness and beauty, and it was
his influence that kept the telephone poles off
of Winthrop Street between Fulton and Ash-
land, and that fine thoroughfare has never
been marred by such poles. At one time he
owned practically all the property border-
ing on Winthrop Street and he bought the
corner of Ashland Avenue and Collingwood
Avenue, converting it into a small park, to
carry out his scheme of making this a strictly
residential district and keeping business
houses away. Now that the results of his
foresight are manifest, it is possible to esti-
mate at their proper value the services of
such a strong minded and forceful citizen as
the late W. W. Bolles.
After the death of her husband Mrs. Bolles
took an affectionate interest in keeping up the
old home until its care became too great for
one of her years. In April, 1909, she sold the
old homestead and its grounds to the school
board, and on the site now stands the splen-
did Jesup W. Scott High School, one of the
finest high school buildings in the State of
Ohio. Tims to a large degree this school and
its site will perpetuate the ideals which in-
fluenced the late Mr. Bolles in preserving
this beautiful location throughout his own
life.
Mrs. Bolles now resides a short distance
from the old home at 362 Winthrop Street.
She has been prominent for a number of years
in Toledo's social and philanthropic affairs
and was president of the Day Nursery for
many years. A student of history, she is
especially well versed in the storied annals
of the Maumee Valley, and probably no one
is a better authority on its past. Mrs. Bolles
is chairman of the Historic Sites and Revolu-
tionary Graves Committee of the Ursula Wol-
cott Chapter of the Daughters of the Ameri-
can Revolution in Toledo, and is state chair-
man for that order of the Revolutionary
Graves of Ohio. To plant a tree is to render
a service for which subsequent generations
may be grateful. Mrs. Bolles has in recent
years taken upon herself the remarkable task
of planting elm trees all along the old Detroit
trail of the River Road back to the bridge. So
far the plan has proceeded to the extent of the
planting of 135 elms. This is one of the
pleasant and grateful tasks of the Daughters
of the American Revolution. Each one of
these trees is to be named for an old settler
of Lucas County, and the name of such old
settler is to be engraved on a plate attached
to the tree. A more splendid way in which
to beautify some of the historic highways of
Ohio and to render tribute to many worthy
names of pioneers could not be imagined.
Ch.\rles B. Duggan. So largely dependent
is the securitj^ of water transportation along
the dangerous coasts of large bodies of water
like Lake Erie, on the .star that gleams with
light in the lighthouse towers through dark-
ness and frequent storm, that great care is
taken in selecting capable and experienced
men as lighthouse keepers. No position de-
mands greater faithfulness in the discharge
of duty or greater resourcefulness in the times
of the wild battle of the elements. On Put-in-
Bay stands the lighthouse that, through the
vigilant care of Charles B. Duggan, nightly
sends its friendly gleam for miles around,
thereby guiding the mariner safely to anchor-
age through the tossing waves.
Charles B. Duggan was bom ]March 14,
1866, at Sacketts Harbor, near Watertown,
Jefferson County, New York. In young man-
hood he learned the carpenter trade and fol-
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
1377
. lowed the same until 1898, when he entered
tlie life-saving service, at Buffalo, New York.
In this connection his training was very
thorough. It was in 1903 that he came to
West Sister Island, having been appointed
keeper of the lighthouse at that point, and he
continued there for five years. In 1908 he
took charge of the lighthouse on Put-in-Bay
and has continued in charge here ever since.
To some extent Mr. Duggan is also a farmer
and grape producer, owning a valuable tract
of twentj- acres here, devoting eight acres to
vineyard purposes and the remainder to gen-
eral farming and peach orchards.
At Sacketts Harbor, New York, Mr. Duggan
was married to Bertha Graham. He has three
sons, Arthur, Archie and Lyle, all three being
yet at home. In politics he has always been
identified with the democratic party. Fra-
ternally he is a Mason, belonging to a lodge at
Port Clinton, Ohio; belongs to the Indepen-
dent Order of Odd Fellows at Sacketts Harbor,
New York, and is also a member of the order
of Foresters, in Sandusky. He is a brave, de-
pendable man and an industrious and re-
spected citizen.
Charles A. Peckham. One of Toledo's
largest and most important industries is The
Toledo Bridge and Crane Company. The or-
ganizer and the general manager is Charles
A. Peckham, whose individual career has un-
usual interest on account of his varied con-
structive accomplishment and also because he
represents some of the fine old families of
Northwest Ohio.
Born in Monroe County, Michigan, Decem-
ber 16, 1869, he is a son of the late Edward
W. and Sophia L. (Hill) Peckham. His fa-
ther, who was born in Utica, New York, came
to Toledo after the Civil war, and was in active
business there as a saw manufacturer until
1890. He then lived retired until his death on
May 30, 1901. The mother, Sophia L. Hill,
was born in the old Hill home on Summit
Street in Toledo and was married in that city.
She died August 9, 1910, and she and her
husband were laid to rest in the Forest ceme-
tery. She was of old pioneer stock, and was
a daughter of the late Gen. Charles W. Hill,
a distinguished Toledoan sketched on other
pages of this publication. Edward W. Peck-
ham and wife had one son, Charles A., and
two daughters, Marv Louise and Mrs. Fred
E. Pile, both of Toledo.
Charles A. Peckham received his early edu-
cation in the public schools of Toledo, but
at the age of thirteen left school to become
dependent upon his own resources. At that
time he entered the employ of the B. F. Wade
Company, a large printing establishment, and
was with them eight years. He began as a
general utility boy in the printing ofiSce, and
was the firm's trusted bookkeeper before he
left.
In 1892 Mr. Peckham formed an affiliation
which opened the real field for his energies
and ability. Becoming connected with The
Toledo Bridge Company, he was eventually
made its assistant secretary and treasurer,
and filled that post until 1901. The Toledo
Bridge Company was then sold to The Ameri-
can Bridge Company. The larger corporation
transferred J\lr. Peckham to Pittsburg, Penn-
sylvania, as assistant to James A. Huston, dis-
trict contracting manager of The American
Bridge Company. Mr. Peckham remained at
Pittsburg as assistant to Mr. Huston from
May, 1901, to September of the same year.
On his return to Toledo he became secre-
tary and treasurer of The P. Bissel Company,
and that formed his chief business connection
until May 1, 1905.
It was at the latter date that Mr. Peck-
ham became the mainspring in organizing The
Toledo Bridge and Crane Compan.y, and of
this he has made a remarkable success. As
already mentioned, he is now general man-
ager of one of Toledo's largest industries.
This is an engineering concern, extensive
builders of steel bridges and buildings of
steel frame, and they also manufacture elec-
tric traveling cranes, hoists, coal and ore
handling bridges, and kindred machinery.
The plant covers ten acres, and the volume of
business has aggregated .$1,000,000 for the
past several years. About 500 men are em-
ployed. In passing it should be noted that
The Toledo Bridge and Crane Company .fur-
nished the steel construction for the twenty-
one story Second National Bank Building of
Toledo, also erected the Cherry Street bridge
of that city, the Damascus bridge over the
Maumee near Napoleon, and their bridges
may be found all the way from New York
to San Francisco. Recently a bridge was
shipped from the company's plant to Los An-
geles, California, and they have also done
work on the Island of Cuba.
Besides his position as head of this com-
pany Mr. Peckham is president of The L. P.
Burdick Company of Toledo and president of
The Refrigeration Engineering Company of
Toledo, vice president of The Gasser Coffee
1378
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Company of Toledo and director of The North-
ern National Bank. He is also well known in
social circles, being a member of The Toledo
Club, Inverness Golf Club, Toledo Commerce
Club and the Toledo Automobile Club, and is
a vestryman in Trinity Episcopal Church.
Politically he is a republican. His chief rec-
reation is automobiling.
Mr. Peckham and family reside at 416 West
Bancroft Street. On September 6, 1893, he
married Miss Celia Bird Burdick, the oldest
daughter of the late Leander and Jennie
(Walker) Burdick. Her mother is still liv-
ing in Toledo and her father, the late Leander
Burdick, was a prominent Toledo banker.
Mrs. Peekliam was born and educated in To-
ledo.
C.\SPER H. ScHROEDER. When Casper H.
Schroeder died at his home in Toledo October
13, 1903, he left behind an institution, one of
the oldest' and most substantial manufactur-
ing concerns, that was in the nature of a mon-
ument to his patient and persevering endeav-
ors covering nearly forty years, and contin-
ued to this day by members of his family is
one of the largest enterprises of its kind in
the Middle West. It was the skill, the consci-
entious care, the personal integrity inwrought
by this sterling old Toledoan into the early
stages of his business that proved the endur-
ing foundation for an industry that outlasted
a lifetime and contributed to the prosperity of
his home city and constituted a splendid man-
ufacturing service to the world at large.
About a month before his death Mr. Schroe-
der had returned with his wife from a trip
abroad, where they had spent ten weeks in
the hope of recovering his failing health.
Casper H. Schroeder was of rugged German
parentage. He was born in Westphalia, Prus-
sia, October 5, 1837, and was therefore sixty-
six years of age when he died. In 1852 he
came to the United States with his parents,
having in the meantime received the common
school training given to all German youth.
The family settled in Wood County, Ohio, and
from there Casper H. Schroeder moved to
Toledo in 1861. For the first six years he
was engaged in the furniture and undertaking
business.
In 1867 he began the manufacture of sash,
doors, blinds, etc., and his first factory was on
the same ground now occiipied by the great
plant of the C. H. Schroeder Company, from
339 to 345 South Erie Street. At the begin-
ning it was a limited institution in output and
trade connections. A small mill was built
by Mr. Schroeder in 1867, and for twenty
years he conducted the business under his own
name. In 1886 the business had reached such
proportions that a stock company was organ-
ized consisting of Mr. Schroeder, Henry Auf-
derheide, and Charles Dreyer. The authorized
capital stock was placed at $70,000. Twice
the business suffered the disaster of fire, in
1880 and again in 1887.
From the beginning Casper H. Schroeder
was the leading spirit in the growth and de-
velopment of this magnificent concern. He
was its president at the time of his death.
C. H. Schroeder Company are wholesole man-
ufacturers and dealers in lumber, sash, doors,
blinds, moldings, etc. The office, factory and
warehouse are on South Erie Street, and they
also have extensive yards and shipping and
dock facilities along South Erie Street. The
principal lumber materials utilized in their
products are white, yellow and Norway pine,
hemlock and oak. It is by no means a local
business. The company fill orders in all parts
of the United States, and in past year ship-
ments have been made to foreign countries.
In 1902 for instance the company shipped
forty-two carloads of sash, doors, etc., to the
Westinghouse people of Manchester, England.
The present officials of the company are :
William H. Schroeder, son of the late Cas-
per H., president and treasurer; Mrs. M. A.
Schroeder, widow of Casper H., vice presi-
dent ; and Charles H. Schroeder, another son,
secretary.
For the purpose of handling the local trade
in sash, doors, etc., William H. Schroeder and
his brother, Charles H., establi.shed a part-
nership in 1908 under the name William H.
and Charles A. Seliroederj^as wholesale man-
ufacturers and dealers in lumber, mill work
and interior finishings, and also window glass
and other building materials. Their plant
was formerly located at the corner of Ne-
braska Avenue and Fifteenth Street, but in
1910 they moved to quarters just below the
factory of the C. H. Schroeder Company on
South" Erie Street.
The late Casper H. Schroeder was an active
member of the German Pioneer Association,
from the time of its organization, at one time
was president, and for twenty years before his
death was its treasurer. He enjoyed a host
of friends and loyal associates throughout his
career in Toledo and was everywhere recog-
nized as an honest, charitable and hospitable
gentleman, distinguished alike for his great
ou^ o6l^
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1379
business ability and his devotion to family and
friends. His body was laid to rest in Wood-
lawn Cemetery.
Surviving Casper H. Scliroeder were Mrs.
Schroeder and two sons and three daughters.
The son William H. and the son Charles H.
are now the executive officers of that great
business founded by their father. The daugh-
ters are : Mrs. H. W. Dachtler of Toledo ; Mrs.
D. C.-Hemley of Toledo; and Miss Helen M.
of Toledo.
Thomas B. Alexander is one of the most
interesting personalities of Northwest Ohio.
It is given to few men to live a career of so
many interests and activities as Sir. Alexan-
der. People who know him as a leading citi-
zen of Put-in-Bay are familiar with the fact
that he has been one of the builders of that
town, and that he is proprietor of the Crescent
Hotel, the leading hostelry on the islands of
this historic harbor. His more intimate ac-
quaintances know that he trod the stage for
many years, and that his abilities as an actor
were sufficient to make him a very popular
figure before the footlights in his time. Mr.
Alexander has been identified with Put-in-Bay
more or less continuously for the past quarter
of a century, and he was married here. Mrs.
Alexander, a woman of quiet and unassuming
culture, is a granddaughter of the famous
Jolm Brown of Osawatomie.
Mr. Alexander was born in Richmond,
Indiana, May 25, 1866. When he was a few
mouths old his parents removed to Springfield,
Ohio, where he spent his early years at home.
Since he was about ten years of age he has
made his own way in the world. As soon as
old enough his remarkable talent for dramatic
performance placed him upon the stage in
various roles, and that was his profession con-
tinuously until he retired a few years ago. At
one time he had a couple of companies of his
own on the road. During the last six years of
his stage career he was leading man in stock
companies, and much of the time was known
to the theater public of Chicago.
Mr. Alexander first came to Put-in-Bay on
July 1, 1890. Thereafter he spent his sum-
mers there, and was absent during the theat-
rical season. On retiring from the stage in
1911 Mr. Alexander devoted all his time to
his hotel and other business interests. In the
fall of 1905 he was the leading spirit in the
organization of the Put-in-Baj' Improvement
Company. This company erected the Colonial
Casino and hall and the electric light plant.
ilr. Alexander was president of this company,
which as much as any other thing has been a
big factor in the development of Put-in-Bay
as a i^opular resort. While the company was
organized in the fall of 1905, the Casino and
electric light plant were completed for the
1906 season.
On June 1, 1908, Mr. Alexander became
proprietor of the Crescent Hotel. He has
since made it the leading hotel at Put-in-Bay
and the best one now on the Bass Island. It
has eighty-five rooms, is thoroughly modern
and up-to-date, and most of the rooms have
facilities of hot and cold water, telephones and
private baths.
A public spirited citizen in every sense of
the word, and a loyal republican in politics,
]\Ir. Alexander has been called to various
places of trust during his residence at Put-in-
Bay. He served as justice of the peace two
terms, and as mayor two terms. Prom 1895
until December 31, 1915, he was member of
the council continuously except while mayor.
He is affiliated with Commodore Perry Lodge
No. 730, Independent Order Odd Fellows at
Put-in-Bay, and the Loyal Order of Moose.
On September 10, 1893, Mr. Alexander mar-
ried Miss Edith Brown. Her grandfather was
the immortal John Brown of Kansas, whose
name will always live in American history
as a martyr to the abolition cause. Mrs. Alex-
ander's father was John Brown, Jr., who
was much of the same mold as his father and
was a prominent resident of Put-in-Bay from
1862 until his death. All the time of the Har-
pers Ferry raid he was in Canada engaged in
drilling negroes. Returning to his home in
Ashtabula County, Ohio, he organized a com-
pany of cavalry sharpshooters. When the war
broke out he went to Kansas and joined the
7th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, being captain
of Company K. Before he got into actual serv-
ice his health failed, and he was discharged on
account of disability. By this time the entire
North was marching to the tune "John
Brown's Body," and being unable to bear the
part which he craved in actual hostilities, John
Brown Jr. sought a place of retirement from
the conspicuous attention which his name pro-
duced. Locating on South Bass Island, he
made it his home until his death on May 2,
1895, at the age of seventy-three. His wife,
Mrs. Wealthy C. Brown, died July 21, 1911,
at the age of eighty-four. They were the par-
ents of two children : John and Mrs. Alexan-
der. Mrs. Alexander was born on South Bass
Island, but her brother John was born in Ash-
1380
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
tabula County, Ohio. He is known among his
family as John Brown VIII, being in the
eighth generation from Peter Brown, who was
the first American ancestor of the family and
who came to New England with the Plymouth
colonists. When John Brown Jr. located at
Put-in-Bay in 1862 there were only three or
four other faiuilies on the island. He possessed
many of those puritanical virtues for which
liis father was noted, and naturally took a
leading part in affairs. He seiwed as justice
of the peace and was one of the incorporators
of the village of Put-in-Bay. A surveyor by
profession, he was employed in performing
most of the surveys of the islands as deputy
to the county surveyor of Ottawa County.
His thoroughness as a surveyor became pro-
verbial, and he was a man of absolute honesty
and integrity. The only other member of the
family to live on Bass Island Was Owen
Brown, a younger son of John Brown, Sr.
Owen came here in 1881, and it was his home
for many years. For a long time he was man-
ager of the Gibraltar property for Jay Cook,
the great Philadelphia capitalist. Later he
removed to California and died and was
buried near Pasadena on Brown's Peak, which
he and his brother Jason of Akron, Ohio,
owned.
Frank D. Butler has in many ways proved
his judgment and resourcefulness as a Toledo
business man and financier. Though still
young, not yet thirtj'-five, he has been work-
ing in diiferent business lines since early boy-
hood, and has thus accumulated a great fund
of experience.
He is now one of the assistant cashiers of
The Dime Savings Bank Company of Toledo,
one of the largest institutions of its kind in
Northwest Ohio, with an aggregate of re-
sources totaling more than $4,000,000. Mr.
Butler has active charge of the branch of this
bank at 1121 Broadway. That location was
formerly the home of the old Broadway Sav-
ings Bank. That institution failed, and the
location was then taken over by The Dime
Savings Bank Company and was made a
branch of the central institution. That was
in the fall of 1909, and Mr. Butler was selected
by the bank officials to take charge of the
new branch. Since then Mr. Butler has built
Tip more business for the Dime Savings Bank
at this location than the old Broadway Bank
ever enjoyed in its most palmy days.
Frank D. Butler was born on a farm in
Fulton Township of Fulton County, Ohio,
March 27, 1882, a son of Thomas and Bridget
(McTigue) Butler. Both parents were born
near Sligo, Ireland, but were married in To-
ledo. Thomas Butler came to this country
alone when about nineteen j^ears of age. The
mother came over when afjout five years of
age with her parents, and the vessel which
carried them was shipwrecked and they were
saved by the crew of another ship. Both fam-
ilies landed in New York and subsequently
settled in Ohio. Thomas Butler had a long
and very active business career. From 1851
until the early '70s he was in the grocery
business at Toledo and his grocery store occu-
pied a site near the old Oliver House. After
leaving the grocery business he removed to
Fulton County and located on the farm where
his son Frank was born. Thereafter he fol-
lowed farming, and cleared up a place of forty
aci-es. This farm was sold and since 1903
both parents have lived retired in Toledo.
Thomas Butler was a gallant soldier in the
IJnion army during the Civil war. He served
as a private for about eighteen months in the
Twenty-fifth Ohio Infantry. He and his wife
became the parents of ten children, two daugh-
ters dying in infancy and four sons and four
daughters growing to maturity. At the pres-
ent time the surviving children are four
daughters and two sons.
The youngest in the family, Frank D. But-
ler, received his early education in the pub-
lic schools of Fulton County and at Toledo.
In this city he attended the Tri-State Business
College. The first fifteen years of his life
were spent on a farm, and then coming to To-
ledo secured employment while attending
school. For one j-ear he was with the Wool-
son Spice Company and for seven years was
with the Crescent Fuel Company. As cashier
of the Fuel Company he had charge of the
various yards about the cit.y and it was the
ability he showed in this position which
caused his selection seven years ago by the
officials of The Dime Savings Bank to take
charge of the newly opened branch on Broad-
way.
Mr. Butler is financial secretary of Justice
Council of the National Union, the largest
council of that order in Ohio. He succeeded
pn January 1, 1911, J. B. Thomas in that
office. Mr. Thomas had been financial secre-
tary for twenty-three years, and he urged and
nominated Mr. Butler as his successor for the
office. Mr. Butler is also a member of the
Knights of Columbus, is secretary of the South
Toledo Commerce Club and is a member of
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1381
the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Con-
ception Parish, Toledo.
June 12, 1912, in the Immaculate Concep-
tion Church Mr. Butler married Anna M. Lar-
kin of Toledo, daughter of Timothy and
Margaret (McGuire) Larkin. Mrs. Butler
was born at. Marblehead, Ohio, but was edu-
cated in the parochial and public schools of
Toledo. Her parents still live in Toledo, and
Timothy Larkin, her father, is now one of
the oldest active engineers with the Lake Shore
& Michigan Southern Railway. He has a run
out of Toledo. Mr. Butler and his wife are
well known socially in Toledo and his favorite
diversion is a baseball game when his busi-
ness duties permit. He and his wife are the
parents of two sons: "William F., born Sep-
tember -11, 1913, and Robert L., born April 11,
1916, both natives of Toledo.
Clark D. Hoaye has been an active figure
in Toledo's business and public affairs for
many years. His principal connection now,
and for the past seven years has been, as man-
ager of the lapse department of The National
Union. This great mutual insurance order
has a fine building of its own in Toledo, lo-
cated on Michigan Street opposite the Lucas
County Courthouse. Mr. Howe has long
been prominent in The National Union, and
he has many other relations with the frater-
nal, civic and business life of his native city.
Mr. Howe was born in East Toledo August
14, 1864. a son of David and Hannah M.
(Thorp) Howe. His maternal grandparents,
Peter and Phoebe (Young) Thorp, were early
pioneers in Sylvania, Lucas County, where
Hannah Thorp was born. She survived her
husband many years and resided in Northern
IMichigan, where she died and was buried.
.David Howe, who was born near Schenectady,
New York, came to Ohio when he was about
twenty-one years of age, and passing up the
Maumee River on a boat he located in the
vicinity of Sylvania, where he married, and
,where he lived until his death. By trade he
was a carpenter, and volunteering for service
in the Union army he was assigned to work
as a carpenter, bridge builder and mechanic.
Later he became a building contractor, and
he died at the age of seventy-four, while his
wife passed away at the age of seventy-two.
David Howe was noted for his robust physique
and never knew what sickness was until his
last illness. Blood poisoning resulting from a
slight injury caused his death. He was a
splendid citizen and a fine moral upright man.
He was quite active in politics in his day, and
at different times was candidate for such of-
fices as assessor. He was widely known as
Deacon Howe, and both he and his wife were
charter members of the Second Baptist Church
on the east side. He was one of the most
active workers in that denomination, being
one of the members of the church board. His
political affiliation was republican practically
from the beginning of that party. He is laid
to rest in the Woodlawn Cemetery at Toledo.
In the family were eight sons, two of whom
died in infancy, and five are now living. The
oldest, Samuel T. Howe, is one of the fore-
most men of Kansas, living at Topeka, where
he is chairman of the State Tax Commission
and president of the National Tax Associa-
tion. He has filled the office of state treas-
urer of Kansas, was sheriff of Marion County,
Kansas, and his name is well known all over
that state. The next in age, Hiram, died in
infancy. Julius 0. is a resident of Toledo.
Charles E. died at the age of fifty-three.
George A. is also a Kansan, and has served
as clerk of Kingman in that state for a num-
ber of years. James E. is the next in order
of age.
The youngest of the children, Clark D.
Howe, like the others, was born in East Toledo
and received his education in the local schools
and took the public school course until within
a year of graduation. Leaving school, he be-
gan work for the old firm of Worts, Kirke &
Biglow, manufacturers of crackers, cakes and
candies. He was with that firm consecutively
for seventeen years, most of the time as out-
side man and city salesman. With that long
and thorough experience he next engaged in
the bakery business for himself on Main
Street in East Toledo, and followed that for
three years.
After leaving the bakery business Mr. Howe
spent three years in the county auditor's of-
fice under W. M. Godfrey. Then for ten years
he was a deputy internal revenue collector
being cashier of the office for five years and
outside man five years. The collectors dur-
ing that time were George P. Waldorf and
Col. William V. I\IcMaken. In 1909, on leav-
ing the internal revenue department, Mr.
Howe took the management of the lapse de-
partment of The National Union and has since
directed the affairs of that office and is also
national representative or senator of the na-
tional organization.
Mr. Howe has long been well known in re-
publican circles of Toledo, and in August,
1382
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1916, was one of the candidates for the office
of county auditor. He is a member of the
Business Men's Exchange Club, which meets
at the Boody House every Tuesday, and has
just finished a term as vice president. He is
also a member and director of the East Side
Commercial Club. Other local organizations
with which he is identified are the Toledo
Young Men's Christian Association and the
Toledo Amateur Athletic Association..
In the National Union Mr. Howe has held
all the various chairs. For the past twelve
years he has been handling the finances as
clerk of East Toledo Camp No. 5797 ]\Iodern
Woodmen of America, and he is affiliated with
Toledo Lodge No. 402, Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, and in Masonry has taken both
the Scottish and York Rite degrees, being a
thirty-second degree Mason. He is a member
of Sanford L. Collins Lodge No. 396, Free
and Accepted ]\Iasons, Toledo Chapter No. 161,
Royal Arch Masons, Vistula Council, Royal
and Select Masters, and has been re-
corder of Utah Commandery No. 66, Knights
Templar, since it was organized eight-
een months ago. He belongs to all the Scottish
Rite bodies, and is a member of Zenobia Tem-
ple of the jMystic Shrine and of 0-Ton-Ta-La
Grotto No. 40.
Mr. Howe and his family are among the
working members of the Second Baptist
Church on the East Side, and for many years
has held the position of trustee. His wife has
a class of twenty-five young ladies in the Sun-
day school, and his daughters are also leaders
in church affairs. On October 9. 1889, Mr.
Howe married Miss Alice R. Ryan. They
were married in the Second Baptist Church.
Her father, Capt. W. T. Ryan, who died in
1911 and is buried in the Willow Cemetery on
the East Side, was long an active figure in
public affairs of Toledo and at one time served
as street commissioner. Mrs. Howe's mother
is Aurelia (Kirke) Ryan and is still living in
East Toledo. Mrs. Howe was born in East
Toledo and received her education there.
There are three daughters in the family, all of
whom are graduates of the Toledo High
School and all are now wage earners. IMartha
A. is in the city purchasing office; Lsabelle is
with the Ben L. Stevens Lumber Companj' in
the Spitzer Building ; Charlotte A. is with the
Roulet Company, manufacturing jewelers of
Toledo. Martha and lsabelle are both grad-
uates of the old Central High School, while
Charlotte graduated from the East Side High
School. Martha is clerk of the Second Baptist
Church and secretary of the Sunday school,
and has filled those positions for a number of
years. The other daughters, lsabelle and
Charlotte, are members of the church choir
and teach in the primary and kindergarten
1 of the Sunday school.
Leon.\rd E. French. The valley of the
Maumee, in Henry County, is one noted for
the excellence and fertility of its farms, no
less than for the progressive spirit and ability
of its agriculturists. Here are found proper-
ties on which are crops of various kinds, all
alike in their abundance, and model home-
steads that reflect credit upon the thrift and
good management of their owners. Standing
out prominently among these Ohio farms is
that belonging to Leonard E. French, -a 253-
aere tract lying in sections 23 and 25, Napo-
leon Township, on the south bank of the
Maumee River, and known as ]\Iaumee Aveniie
farm. Mr. French is an agriculturist of
ability who has passed his entire life in the
vicinity of his present home, and who has de-
voted his activities to the pursuits of the soil.
He was born in Napoleon Township, January
15, 1868, and is a son of William and Sarah
(Miller) French.
The father was born in Licking County and
the mother was born in Morrow County, Ohio,
and were children when they came to Henry
County with their respective families. Here
they were educated, reared and married, and
after their union settled down to housekeep-
ing on a farm located in Napoleon Township,
on Holgate Pike, south of the City of Na-
poleon. Their start was a modest one, but
they were industrious and persevering, and
after the passage of some years they succeeded
in accumulating a valuable property. On this
they made modern improvements from time to
time and here rounded out full and useful
lives, respected members of their community
and the center of a group of sincere friends.
They were members of the best of society, and
leaders in good works in their community, al-
though their numerous charities were hid-
den under a desire for unostentation. Mr.
French was a .stanch supporter of the prin-
ciples of the republican party and took an
active interest in local affairs, although he
did not aspire to public office, preferring to
confine his public services to a support of
good men and measures. He died November
29, 1914, at the age of sixty-seven years, Mrs.
French having passed away on the 7th of the
same month, being four years the junior of her
MR. AND MRS. LEONARD E. FRENCH
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1383
husband. She was a pronounced artist in oil
and china painting. They had two children:
Leonard E., and Olive, who is the wife of
Joseph McCallister, lives on the old French
homestead in Napoleon Township, and has two
sons and one daughter.
Leonard E. French was given a good edu-
cation in the public schools of Napoleon
Township, and grew up to sturdy manhood,
dividing his time between securing mental
food at the schoolhouse and developing his
physical body in the hard and healthful work
of the home place. Under his father's instruc-
tion and through his own experience and
observation he developed into a practical agri-
culturist, with an appreciation of the benefits
to be derived from a use of modern methods
and machinery, and this, in large part, has
been the secret of his success. He was indus-
trious and enterprising, and finally determined
to start upon a career of his own. Like his
father, his start was modest, but he soon began
to add to his equipment and acres until he now
has one of the best farms in his township. In
section 23, Mr. French is the owner of fifty-
four acres. In addition he owns 253 acres,
located in section 25, Napoleon Township, all
under a high state of cultivation with the ex-
ception of thirty-five acres in timber. Mr.
French raises the finest crops of grain, and
finds a ready and instant market for his prod-
uct. His methods, as has been noted, are
modern in character and he is always ready
to give each innovation a trial. His property
has been enhanced in value by the erection of
a number of up-to-date buildings, these in-
cluding his handsome residence, located on his
home farm, a home which contains twelve
rooms, with bath and basement, an excellent
water system and lighted by electricity. This
two-story brick structure is modern in its ap-
pointments and comfortably furnished, reflect-
ing alike the good taste and prosperity of its
owner. The barn is a tall, commodious build-
ing, 40 by 56 feet, with all up-to-the-minute
appliances, and including a large lean-to, and
the other buildings, such as the granary, tool
house, garage, etc., compare favorably with
the barn. Mr. French is an enthusiastic auto-
mobilist, having found his machine not only
a means of pleasure but a great help to him in
a business way. He has not, however, neg-
lected his live stock, and his cattle are sleek,
well-fed and contented. All in all, Maumee
Avenue Farm is one of the model properties
in its part of Henry County, and Mr. French
is to be congratulated upon the possession of
qualities that have made its development pos-
sible.
Mr. French was married in Henry County
to Miss Freda Stroeh, who was born near
Hamburg, Germany, June 6, 1874, and there
grew to young womanhood and was educated.
She came to the United States with her
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Stroeh, the family
locating on a farm in Harrison Township,
Henry County, where Mr. Stroeh is still liv-
ing. Although past seventy years of age he
is still engaged in agricultural pursuits, and
is known as one of the able farmers. In
political matters ^Ir. Stroeh is a democrat.
He belongs to the Lutheran Church, of which
his wife, who died some ten years ago, was
also a member, ilr. and Mrs. French are the
parents of three children : ^Margaret, who is
a graduate of the City High School, Napoleon,
class of 1916, and Inez, who was also a member
of the same graduating class, and both are
attending the College of Art at Athens, Ohio,
and Ernest, who is attending the graded
schools, and now is .in the sixth grade. The
children are all liright and talented, excellent
examples of the sturdy life of this part of the
state. The daughters are members of the
Presbyterian Church and Mr. and j\Irs. French
attend services there. He is a republican in
his political views and a .steady worker in
behalf of his party, although he votes for the
man rather than the party. All progressive
movements launched in his community have
his eager and willing support, and his good
citizenship has never been doubted.
Joseph M. Murphy. If there is one busi-
ness institution in Toledo which deserves spe-
cial mention on account of its live and pro-
gressive organization and rapid but substan-
tial growth it is The Citizens Ice Company.
The moving spirit in its organization was
Joseph M. Murphy, a prominent Toledo citi-
zen, who is secretary and general manager
of the company. Some of the important facts
regarding this company raa.v well be used as
an introduction to a brief sketch of the career
of Mr. Murphy.
When it was organized in 1906 The Citi-
zens Ice Company had only $22,000 in capital,
and its equipment comprised five wagons. 20
horses, and every detail of the business had
to be worked out new. At the present time
the company has an authorized capital of
$200,000, divided equally between the com-
mon and preferred stock. Of the common
stock $100,000 have been issued and paid for
1384
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
and also $47,000 of preferred stock. This
$147,000 capitalization is now all paid in cash,
and the total assets of the organization are
$262,000. During the first year the assets
were only $57,000. At the beginning the
company operated over the entire Toledo dis-
trict, including Ironville, Casino, Air Line
Junction and the Waterworks. Now they de-
liver to their customers within a restricted
city district between Dorr Street and Ver-
mont Avenue. The equipment now consists
of fifty-five wagons and automobile trucks,
with fortv-seven horses and with two main
plants, one at 19-23 South Erie Street and an-
other on Council Street. The main office is
at 25 South Erie Street and there are thirteen
ice stations in the city and they also have
four natural ice plants and properties in
Michigan at Whitmore Lake, Lake George and
Island Lake. About 40 per cent of the ice
delivered to their customers is natural ice,
while the rest is distilled water ice. At the
beginning the output of manufactured ice was
only fifty tons a day, and now their plants
have an output of 175 tons daily. At first the
company had no ice storage capacity, while
now they have refrigerated storage houses of
6,000 tons capacity. From a list of custom-
ers aggregating 982 the business has grown
until they now supply more than 11,000. The
first year only 8,000 tons of ice were sold,
while" in 1915'the business aggregated 30,000
tons. Beginning with only a small percentage
of family trade, that branch of the business
has practically monopolized their entire at-
tention and they now supply more than 90
per cent. In 1915 the company installed six
".iitney" stations, and it is now planned to
have fifteen more. Every year since the com-
pany was organized in 1906 until the present
7 per cent dividends have been paid on the
preferred stock and 6 per cent on the common.
A notable increase to the business organiza-
tion was made in May, 1916, when the com-
pany bought The Toledo Ice and Coal Com-
pany and The Toledo Ice Delivery Company,
placing one large organization in control of
the entire biLsiness. The stockholders of this
company are made up of the very best people
in and around Toledo, and the organization
has as heads of departments young, enthusi-
astic and capable men. The company has also
emphasized the character of the personnel of
all the employes. They make a strong point
of employing drivers who are neat, polite and
transact business in uniform, and it should be
mentioned that the employes are now taking
a Sheldon course in salesmanship.
The officers and directors of the company
are : Jay K. Secor, president ; George W. Saw-
kins, vice president; Joseph M. IMurphy, sec-
retary and general manager; Isaac E. Knise-
ley, treasurer ; and Thomas J. Marlowe, credit
manager.
A native son of Toledo, Joseph M. Murphy
was born July 14, 1868, and is a son of James
and Bridget "(McGrath) Murphy. His father
was born in County Clare and his mother in
Tipperary, Ireland, and both came to the
United States with their respective parents.
They were married in New York, and in 1854
located in Toledo. James Jlurphy died in
this city in 1901 at the age of seventy-eight,
while his wife passed away in 1896, aged
sixty-nine. Both are now at rest in Calvary
cemetery. Like many of the Irishmen who
came to Northern Ohio in the early days,
James Murphy was a railroad laborer and for
many years a section foreman. In the early
days his wages amounted to only 50 cents a
day, and even when promoted to foreman his
.stipend amounted to 75 cents a day. Through-
out his long active career he continued as sec-
tion foreman, and though his income was
never sufScient so that he could be called a
wealthy man, he reared a family of ten chil-
dren and provided for them well, demonstrat-
ing the truth that a thrifty use of money is
more important in the long run than a large
income. Of the twelve children in the fam-
ily, five sons and seven daughters, two sons
and two daughters reached maturity. Joseph
M. was the youngest of the family and the
only others still living are his two sisters,
Mrs. George W. Sawkins of Toledo, and Mrs.
Anna Henry, a widow, living in Toledo.
Joseph M. Murphy while a boy attended the
Immaculate Conception parochial school,
which was then located on the corner of Dix
(now known as Courtland) Avenue and Jer-
vis Street. Many of the young pupils called
this school Darby College for short, and the
old residents of that section of the city still
refer to the school by that name. After leav-
ing school Mr. Murphy began life in a hum-
ble capacity as water boy for a railroad section
gang. He next took another .job carrying
water for the men in the Mitchell and Row-
land lumber yard. He worked as messenger
for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Rail-
way for more than a year, and then became
bill clerk and was in the employ of that rail-
road system for a number of years. After-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
wards he was clerk in the general offices of
the Michigan Central for several years, and
then became bookkeeper for The Gendron
Wheel Company. For about six years he was
employed as bookkeeper and part of the time
as manager of the branch house of Swift &
Company. Then followed employment as
bookkeeper with Berdan & Company, whole-
sale grocers. His first independent venture in
business was not financially successful. For
a time he sold bicycles, but when that proved
an unproductive enterprise he engaged in the
meat business on Ashland Avenue in 1900.
It was in that line of work that he laid the
foundation for his subsequent success. He
gave it up in 1906 in order to organize The
Citizens Ice Company, and has been manager
and secretary of that company ever since.
Politically he was born a democrat. His
father was one of the most ardent followers of
the democratic party in Toledo, and though
Mr. Murphy has gravitated into the ranks of
the republican party he states that if his fa-
ther knew that he voted anything but the
democratic ticket he would turn over in his
grave. Mr. Murphy is very popular among
Toledo business men and his genial personal-
ity has been a factor in a number of organi-
zations. This is indicated by the fact that he
is chairman of the entertainment committees
in the Toledo Commerce Club, the Rotary Club
and the Toledo Yacht Club. He also belongs
to the Toledo Automobile Club and his favor-
ite recreation is automobile touring. He is a
member of the Knights of Columbus and he
and his family worship in the Cathedral
Chapel parish.
The home of the Murphy family is at 614
Virginia Street. On October 4, 1894. in the
Immaculate Conception Church :\Ir. :\[urphy
married Miss Lillie Bourdette of Toledo,
daughter of Oscar and Mary (Lawless) Bour-
dette, both now deceased. Mrs. Murpby was
born in Adrian, Michigan, but was educated
in Toledo in the Immaculate Conception paro-
chial school and in the Ursuline Convent. She
also attended the public schools, including the
high school. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy became
the parents of five children, and two daugh-
ters and one son are now living : Cecile Marie ;
Claire Marie ; and Robert Arthur. The oldest
child was Irma, who was killed by a street
ear on Broadway when six years of age. An-
other daughter died in infancy. The daughter
Cecile graduated from the Ursuline Convent
in 1914 and from the Thomas Normal Train-
ing School at Detroit in 1916. Claire M. is
now a student in the Ursuline Convent.
Najib N. Sallume, M. D. During his
twenty years of practice as a physician and
surgeon, the people of Toledo have come to
know Doctor Sallume not only as one of the
able members of his profession but as one
of the most gifted personalities and most bril-
liant intellects that the old world of the East
has given to New America. Doctor Sallume
is a master of both the ancient and modern
learning, is an erudite scholar, a writer who
has secured his niche of fame and was skilled
in all the intricacies of European and Asiatic
politics and diplomacy before he sought a
quiet haven in Toledo.
He was born September 10, 1868, in the
family suburban home near the ancient city
of Damascus, being fourth of the eight chil-
dren of Rev. Nassif N. Sallume, who was a
minister of the Presbyterian Church. Of the
five sons his father selected him as best fit-
ted, by endowments and inclinations, for the
ministry. When Doctor Sallume was ten
years of age his father died, but mindful of
the latter 's wishes he determined to prepare
for the ministry and continued his prepara-
tory course. At the age of thirteen he entered
the Syrian Protestant College, now Univer-
sity, at Beirut, and was afterwards given the
advantages of the Royal Universities at Con-
stantinople and Berlin and other centers of
education. For more than fourteen years his
life was spent in institutions of learning, eight
of those years as both professor and student.
Prom the age of sixteen he was frequently
employed to teach American and English mis-
sionaries file language of the land and initiate
them into the mysteries, of oriental life and
customs. At seventeen he was preaching to
large congregations. In the midst of a busy
life his talents for literature cropped out, and
at nineteen he wrote the Arabic Poems, which
gained current, and were considered of suf-
ficient merit to be translated into German
blank verse under the title "Trauer Ode und
Grabschrif t. " The Arabic text of the latter
poem is engraved upon the tombstone of the
late William I, Emperor of Germany.
When twenty years of age Doctor Sallume
was appointed to a professorship in English
and Semitic lansruatres and mathematics and
made an active member of the National Audju-
mani Danish — the authorized body to preserve
the purity of the language of the land. The lu-
cidity of his thought, his poetic tone, and the
1386
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
energy and elegance of diction and profound
sincerity which marked his utterances and
writings gave him a national fame. At twen-
ty-two he had written text-books and manuals
on Semitic languages, particularly on Arabic,
these books being in English and other
tongues. Doctor Sallume mastered sixteen
ancient and modern languages, and was an
authority on Comparative Philology and allied
sciences.
For all his attainments he was more than
the quiet scholar. He was a leader in the
life and times of his people, and it was for
political reasons that he finally had to sever
his connections with the land and institutions
he loved so much and come to America. Doc-
tor Sallume was the first and perhaps the only
Christian of his generation to receive military
honors from the Old Regime in Turkey. The
rank of general was conferred upon him by
the Turkish Government. With his learning
and his ability as a natural orator and de-
bater, and with a power of applying the imagi-
nation of a poet to the facts and business of
life, he was almost inevitably received into
the inner circles of statecraft and was given
the responsibility of many important posts,
as a military attache and envoy plenipoten-
tiary in European and Asiatic courts. For
the efficient and satisfactory manner in which
he discharged such duties he received further
recognition in being several times decorated
by Sultan Abdul Hamid II.
With all this his interest did not wane in
his scientific pursuits and cultural studies.
In 1893, comparatively a young man, he eon-
ducted an expedition of great importance for
the Royal Scientific and Geographical Society
across the great Arabian desert and through
all the country lying between the Mediter-
ranean and the head of the Persian Gulf.
Doctor Sallume became connected with what
was known as the ' ' Young Turkey Party, ' ' an
organization that stood for progress in gov-
ernmental affairs. Since then this party has
practically triumphed and come into control
of the Turkish Government, but at the time
now under consideration a swift vengeance
was meted out to those who were allied with
such interests. It was for this reason that
Doctor Sallume was compelled to leave his
native land in 1895. and on April 17th of that
year he arrived at New York. No sooner had
he arrived in this country than the news
reached him that the Imperial Turkish Gov-
ernment had confiscated all the family estate,
real and personal, and he had to fall back on
his education to earn a living, hampered with
the handicap of being hounded and shadowed
by Turkish Secret Service agents.
Having decided to follow the practice of
medicine, believing that this work afforded
the greatest opportunities for leading a quiet
and inconspicuous life, he spent the best part
of the first two years after his arrival in visit-
ing the great medical institutions of this coun-
try. January 18, 1897, Doctor Sallume reg-
istered in Toledo as physician and surgeon,
and has practiced his profession here ever
since. Jlay 5, 1900, he received in Lucas
County Probate Court the proper documen-
tary evidence that he is a naturalized citizen
of the United States.
In Toledo Doctor Sallume has attained high
rank in Masonry. On the occasion of his re-
tiring at the close of 1915 from the office of
Master of Sanford L. Collins Lodge, the
Monthly Bulletin published an interesting ar-
ticle reviewing Doctor Sallume 's career and
with particular reference to his Masonic con-
nections. From that article the following
sentences are quoted: "Dr. Sallume was
raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason
in Sanford L. Collins Lodge on May 22, 1900,
and woi'ked for a number of years on the Team
and as an officer pro tem. Later he served
in all the progressive elective offices, having
been elected and serving as Junior Deacon
for 1911. It was during 1915 while IMaster
of Sanford L. Collins Lodge that Worshipful
Brother Sallume was chiefly instrumental in
establishing the LTnited Masonic Employment
Bureau which has accomplished so much prac-
tical good for ]\Iasons in Toledo.
"While rather exacting as a ]\Iaster, he
never tired of giving unstinted praise to
worthy subordinates for the work they did and
his administration was especially conspicuous
for a punctilious regard for the ritualistic
work of the lodge and the propagation of true
fraternity. He is a member of Toledo Chap-
ter No. 161, Toledo Council No. 33, Toledo
Commandery No. 7, Ancient Accepted Scot-
tish Rite and the Mystic Shrine. In all these
bodies he has been an active, enthusiastic and
efficient worker."
Herman Alex.\nder Hebbster. In every
large center may be found valuable collections,
both public and private, of rare and curious
things, mainly the result of wide extended
travel. To a traveler far distant from home,
the beautiful and unusual wares and rare
objects he finds himself surrounded with make
A^^^r^iC^J^^^^^^d^
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1387
a strong appeal. He desires to carry with
him something more tangible of the pleasure
he has found than merely a memory. To view
these possessions of another land and another
people, perilous voyages are undertaken, long
journeys are made and hardships are cheer-
fully endured. Few such travelers pass on to
auotlier scene witliout bearing with them some
portable souvenir of the section visited. These
accumulations become collections, and in time
man_y form the nucleus of museums, and what,
sometimes, perhaps, was a purchase made to
gratify a passing fancy, because of fine en-
graving, perfect line, delicate carving or
enchanting color, may become in other sur-
roundings, an unpurchasable treasure and,
through sight, give delight to thousands who
can, practically, never leave their own fire-
sides. Visitors from far and near in the
vicinity of Put-in-Ba}% Ottawa County, Ohio,
have found one of the attractions of the place
to be the large souvenir and curio shop owned
and conducted by Herman Alexander Herbs-
ter, one of the substantial and highly respected
residents of the island. Mr. Herbster is also a
large publisher and dealer of souvenir postal
cards, which find a ready sale over a large
area.
Herman A. Herbster was born at Put-in-
Bay April 4, 1874. His father, Herman
Herbster, came to the United States from
Baden, Germany. In the early '70s he lo-
cated on Put-in-Bay Island and established
a hotel and also a saloon, being a fine business
man. In 1878 he purchased a vineyard and
went into the business of grape culture, and
had his life been spared no doubt would have
become a man of large fortune because of his
enterprise. He was accidentally killed in
1880, falling from a railroad train while re-
turning to his home from Dayton, ( )liio. where
he had been visiting his son, Herman A., who
was attending school at that place. For some
years, or until the vineyard was sold, Mrs.
Herbster and her children continued to con-
duet the business. This was the celebrated
Crystal Cave property, made notable by the
discovery in 1882 by a German geologist, of
the presence in the cave of depo.sits of the
mineral strontia. Of his parents' family Her-
man Alexander was the first born, the others
being : Frank J., who is interested in mining in
Alaska; Christina, who is the wife of C. A.
Bullock, now living in Nashua, New Hamp-
shire ; and Otto G., who is a photographer in
business at Put-in-Bay.
Herman Alexander Herbster was given ex-
cellent educational advantages, attending the
public schools in his native place and spending
one year as a student in St. Mary's Institute,
at Dayton, Ohio. After leaving school he
decided to learn the jewelry business, and
along this line spent two winters in Detroit,
where he perfected his skill in repairing and
in engraving jewelry, this branch of his pro-
fession having been a great aid in connection
with his curio business. Mr. Herbster has
worked at his trade in numerous cities, in-
cluding Columbus, but ever since he was
sixteen years old he has spent his summers
at Put-in-Bay and sold souvenirs and in this
way becanie thoroughly acquainted with the
tastes of visitors.
In 1896 Mr. Herbster established his large
curio and souvenir shop, finding ready sale
for the attractive wares he provides, these
including his own specimens of burnt leather
work, which are especially beautiful. All over
the country there are homes in which may be
found his wares, carrying with them memories
of delightful seasons on Put-in-Bay. In addi-
tion to his curio business and jewelry line,
Mr. Herbster manages five acres of land set
with choice fruit, this enterprise being more
for the sake of recreation than as a commercial
venture.
ilr. Herbster has a domestic circle, wife
and children. The family all belong to the
Roman Catholic Church. In politics he has
always been identified with the republican
party and at times he has served as a member
of the city council. He is one of the repre-
sentative men of Put-in-Bay.
Gen. Robert K. Scott, M. D. A career
of exalted distinction and usefvilness was that
of the honored Ohio pioneer to whom this re-
view is dedicated, and his ability and noble
character gained to him high honors in varied
fields of activity. He was one of the pioneer
physicians and siirgeons of Henry County,
Ohio; he gained marked distinction as a gal-
lant soldier and officer in the Union service
during the Civil war ; he was a prominent and
revered Government official in South Carolina
during the so-called reconstruction period that
followed the close of the war, and such was his
hold upon the confidence and esteem of the
people of the Palmetto State that he was
elected governor of that historic old common-
wealth, of which office he continued the incum-
bent for two successive terms; but such was
his loyalty to his old home State of Ohio that
he eventually returned to the same and he
1388
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
continued his residence within its borders un-
til the close of his life. General Scott acquired
large landed and other property interests in
the section to which this history is devoted,
was one of the influential citizens of Henry
County and aided greatly in its civic and
material development and progress, and it is
most consonant that in this publication be
entered a tribute to his memory and a brief
record of his remarkable and distinguished
career.
Robert Kingston Scott was a scion of fine
old Scotch-Irish stock and his paternal grand-
father, Robert Scott, was born in the North
of Ireland, where his ancestors had taken ref-
uge after the battle of Culloden. Scotland,
in 1746. They were representative of the his-
toric Scottish clan of Buccleuch, which had
taken part in that famous battle and had been
put to flight, the defeat having led to eventual
settling of many members of the elan in the
counties of Northern Ireland. Prior to the
War of the American Revolution Robert Scott
and three of his brothers came to this country,
and his brothers settled in Maryland, where
they passed the residue of their lives. He was
a youth of seventeen years when he espoused
the cause of the American colonies and went
forth as soldier in the War of the Revolution,
in which he served with marked fidelity and
valor. After the war he settled at Shamokin,
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, where
he and his wife continued to reside during the
remainder of their lives. Their son John,
father of the subject of this memoir, was born
and reared in Northumberland County and
later became an influential citizen of Arm-
strong County, Pennsylvania, where he estab-
lished his home after having served as a gal-
lant soldier in the War of 1812. In the earlier
years of his active career he followed the voca-
tion of civil engineer, but for many years he
was found numbered among the representative
farmers of Armstrong County, where he and
his wife, who.se maiden name was Jane Hamil-
ton, continued to maintain their home until
their death.
Gen. Robert Kingston Scott was born in
Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, on the
8th of July. 1826,' and in his youth he was
afforded full advantages of the really excel-
lent common schools of his native county. His
youthful ambition was to prepare himself for
the legal profession, and with this end in view
he came to Ohio and entered Central College
when he was a lad of sixteen years. He later
decided to adopt the medical profession, and
his preparation for this exacting calling was
bj' 1he medium of the historic Sparling Medi-
cal College, in the City of Columbus, an
institution that many years later was to
become the medical department of the Univer-
sity of Ohio. In 1850, within a short time
after the discovery of gold in California, Doc-
tor Scott made the weary and perilous jour-
ney across the plains to the New Eldorado.
He identified himself with gold mining and
also found demand for his service as a physi-
cian, with the result that he accumulated an
appreciable sum of money. Upon his return
to Ohio he became one of the pioneers in the
midst of the wilds of Henry County, and he
was one of the earliest and most influential
physicians and surgeons in this section of the
Buckeye State. Financial success attended
his well ordered activities and he became the
owner of a large landed estate in this section,
in the splendid future of which he had utmost
confidence. His exceptional ability and indom-
itable energj^ and progressivenes made him
a leader in popular sentiment and action and
to identify himself with all things tending to
insure social and material advancement. For
a number of years he diversified his activities
by conducting a prosperous general merchan-
dise establishment at Napoleon.
When the Civil war was precipitated on the
nation Doctor Scott was tendered by Gov-
ernor Dennison a major's commission, and he
promptly accepted the same and became an
officer of the state militia. He was duly mus-
tered into the service of the United States and
in November, 1861, he was given a lieutenant's
commission in this service. With his com-
mand he took part in the reduction of Fort
Donelson and in the two days' battle of
Pittsburg Landing, where his regiment, the
Sixty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, made
a splendid record of intrepid gallantry and
where his horse was shot from under him in
the midst of the fierce conflict. In 1862 he
took part in the siege of Corinth and Bolivar,
and in July of that year he was promoted to
a colonelcy, being the youngest of the colonels
in the division commanded by General Ross
and later being transferred to the command
of General Hulbert. In connection with the
fall of Corinth Colonel Scott received special
mention for gallantry, and similar distinction
was accorded to him in connection with the
battle of Hatchie River, where his command
was with the forces of General Price. Later
he was made brigade commander, in recogni-
tion of his special ability shown in the carrying
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1389
out of orders from general headquarters. He
took part in the battles of Port Hudson, Jack-
son, Raymond and Champion's Hill, later was
placed in command as second brigadier, and
he was with Sherman's forces in Big Shanty
and Kenesaw Mountain, during the vigorous
operations directed against the command of
Gen. Joseph C. Johnston. At nearly the point
and time that marked the death of General
MePherson, who fell mortally wounded at
Atlanta, General Scott was captured by the
enemy, and, with other prisoners, he was sent
forth to Macon, Georgia. He was placed' with
other officers in an ordinary box-car, in which
also were other soldiers from the ranks, and
all were guarded by a Confederate officer.
Colonel Scott sat in the open door of the car,
with his feet hanging outside, and when the
guarding officer was dozing he removed the
cap from the latter "s gun and at a favorable
moment jumped from the door of the car. He
rolled down an eighteen foot embankment and
.after recovering his breath he set forth to
make good his escape. For seven days he fol-
lowed the course of the Okmulgee River in the
direction of the Federal lines, and for three
days his only food was three army crackers, or
hard tack. After leaving the river he met a
citizen who, from fraternal motives, provided
him with food and with clothing that meas-
urably served as a disguise. The General had
nearly reached a point beyond the danger lines
when he was intercepted and identified as a
Union man when he was crossing a ferry, and
was again placed in captivity. He was taken
as a prisoner of war to Charlestown. South
Carolina, where with other officers and pri-
vate soldiers, his exchange was eff'ected in
September, 1864. He later rejoined his com-
mand at Atlanta, from which city he accom-
panied General Sherman on the historic march
to the sea and thence through the Carolinas to
the national capital, where he participated in
the Grand Review of the victorious Union
foroes. He was then sent with his regiment
to Louisville, Kentucky, where they were mus-
tered out on the 10th "of July, 1865. He had
been brevetted brigadier general in the pre-
ceding January, and during the major part of
his service in the office of colonel he had vir-
tually exercised the prerogatives and function
of brigadier general. Before the final muster
roll was called he was presented with a hand-
some gold watch as a mark of the affection and
esteem of the officers and men of his regi-
ment. He had been the dominant figure in
effecting the recruiting of the Sixty-eighth
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, of which Capt.
Charles E. Reynolds and many other Henry
County men formed a part.
On the 15th of December, ■ 1865, General
Scott was ordered by the Secretary of War
to report to Gen. 0. 0. Howard at Washing-
ton, and he was thence sent to relieve Gen-
eral Saxton as commissioner of freedmen, ref-
ugees and abandoned lands at Charleston,
South Carolina. He assumed the duties of
this exacting office on the 1st of January,
1866, and with such ability, diplomacy and
consideration did he discharge the duties of
the office as to meet with unqualified commen-
dation on the part of the Government authori-
ties and also to gain the unqualified esteem
of both the white and negro citizens of his
jurisdiction. In consonance with a request
made by the citizens in general in South Caro-
lina General Scott was not mustered out at
the time determined upon by the authorities in
Washington but was continued as the incum-
bent of the office until July, 1868, when he
resigned the' position. He had in the mean-
while acquired official residence in South Car-
olina, on account of his prolonged official
service there, and in 1868 he was given signifi-
cant evidence of his inviolable hold upon the
confidence and esteem of the people of the
state, in that, as nominee on the republican
ticket, he was elected governor of that com-
monwealth by the splendid majority of 45,000
votes. His careful and able administration as
chief executive resulted in his re-election in
1870, and he thus served two consecutive terms
as governor.
For six years after his retirement from the
position of governor of South Carolina Gen-
eral Scott continued his residence in that state,
and he then, in Jul.y 1878, returned to Napo-
leon, Henry County, Ohio, and assumed the
active management of his extensive real-
estate interests in this section of the state and
,in the City of Toledo. He continued his resi-
dence at Napoleon, one of the venerable, re-
vered and distinguished citizens of Henry
County, until his death, which occurred on the
12th of August, 1900, at the age of seventy-
four years. The general was a stalwart and
effective advocate of the principles and poli-
cies for which the republican party stands
sponsor, was prominent and influential in the
Grand Army of the Republic and was affil-
iated also with the Military Order of the Loyal
Legion of the United States.
While engaged in the practice of medicine
in the village of Florida, Henry County, Gen-
1390
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
eral Scott was united in marriage to Miss
Rebecca J. Lowry, who was born December 1,
1831, a daughter of John and Eleanor (Mc-
Kinley) Lowry, sterling pioneers of Henry
County, her mother having been a representa-
tive of the same family line as was the late
and lamented President McKinley. John
Lowry was born and reared in Warren
County, this state, a son of George Lowry, who
was a native of England and one of the early
pioneers of Ohio. John Lowry established
his residence in Henry County in 1831, when
this section of the state was principally rep-
resented by virgin forest and impenetrable
swamps, and here he continued to reside until
his death, which occurred in 1818, his widow
long surviving him and being summoned to
eternal rest in 1876. General and Mrs. Scott
became the parents of two children, of whom
the firstborn was Eleanor C, she having been
born at Columbia, South Carolina, on the 9th
of February, 1872, and her death having
occurred in the same year. Of the younger
child, Robert K., Jr., more specific mention
is made in following paragraphs. Mrs. Scott
still survives her husband and continues to
maintain her home at Napoleon, a venerable
and gracious woman who has the affectionate
esteem of all who have come within the sphere
of her gentle influence.
Robert Kingston Scott, Jr., only son of the
honored subject of this memoir, was born at
Huntington, Indiana, on the 10th of October,
1865, and he passed to the life eternal on the
7th of July, 1906. As a youth he attended
the Michigan jMilitary Academy at Orchard
Lake, an institution whose organization lapsed
a few years ago, and later he was for some
time the military instructor in historic old
Kenyon College, at Gambler, Ohio. He had
previously been a student in the United States
Militai-y Academy, at West Point, but he
resigned his cadetship in this institution at the
expiration of his freshman year. After his
return to Napoleon, where he became asso-
ciated in the management of the large family
estate, he served as captain of Company F,
Ohio National Guard.
At the home of the bride 's parents in Napo-
leon was solemnized the marriage of Captain
Scott to Miss Jeanette Elizabeth ITlrich, who
was here born and reared and who is a daugh-
ter of Adam J. LTlrich, a sterling citizen of
whom individual mention is made on other
pages of this work, so that a repetition of the
family record is not here demanded. Mrs.
Scott is a woman of education, culture and
gracious personality, and in her native city
and county her circle of fi-iends is virtually
coincident with that of her acquaintances. She
has become specially well known for her pub-
lic spirit, her generosity and her many chari-
table and philanthropic deeds. She has
proved herself a capable business woman and
is ably and carefully giving her personal
attention to the management of her large
property interests in Henry County. She was
one of the organizers of the Commercial Bank
of Napoleon and has been a member of its
directorate from the time of its incorporation
to the present. She is a popular leader in the
representative social activities of her native
city. Captain and Mrs. Scott had no children.
M.\URiCE Allen, junior member of the law
firm of Smith, Baker, Efifler & Allen, with
offices in the Smith & Baker Building at
Toledo, has during his brief career as a lawyer
and previously in college and university work
exhibited those qualities which would be ex-
pected of the son of a distinguished father.
Mr. Allen is the son of Dr. Horace N. Allen,
whose valuable service in foreign missionary
fields and as a diplomat and a prominent resi-
dent of Toledo has received attention on other
pages of this publication.
Shortly after Doctor Allen married Frances
Ann Messinger he went to the Far East, locat-
ing first in the City of Shanghai where he
engaged in the practice of medicine. It was
while here that Maurice Allen's only brother,
Horace E., was born. Horace is now assistant
general superintendent of the Michigan Rail-
way Company, with headquarters at .Jackson,
Michigan. In the year 1884 Doctor Allen took
up his residence in Seoul, Korea, and was soon
accorded a special position of dignity in the
Korean Court. It was while his parents were
at Seoul, Korea, that ilaurice Allen was born,
June 22, 1886. He has the distinction of being
the first white male child born in Korea. The
first white child, it should be noted, was Alice
Appenzeller, a daughter of Henry G. Appen-
zeller, a Methodist missionary. She was born
in Korea about a year before Maurice 'Allen,
and after an education in the United States,
completed in Wellesley College, she returned
to Korea as a missionary. Maurice Allen was
born in a dwelling house which stood on the
present site of the Royal Library at Seoul.
Both of these brothers on account of their long
residence in the Far East became proficient
in the Korean language.
Maurice Allen received his earlv education
HISTORY OF XORTIIWEST OHIO
1391
in St. John's Military School of Manlius, New
York, from 1899 to 1903, and during the fol-
lowing year studied under private tutors in
Geneva, Switzerland. Then entering the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he was
a student there until 1908, graduating as civil
engineer with the degree S. B. Instead of
engineering he determined to make the law
his profession, and with that purpose in view
entered the law department of the University
of Michigan where he was graduated with the
degree Juris Doctor.
Admitted to the bar of Ohio in 1911, Mr.
Allen at once located in Toledo, where he was
associated with the law firm of Smith & Baker
until made a partner on January 1, 1914. The
firm name was then changed to Smith, Baker,
EfHer & Allen. Mr. Allen is a republican, is
a member of Sanford L. Collins Lodge No. 396
Free and Accepted ilasons at Toledo, belongs
to the Delta Kappa Epsilon college fraternity,
to the Osiris Senior Honorary Society of the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and
while in the University of Michigan he was a
member of the junior honorarj' society "Wool-
sack and the senior society Barristers. He is
a member of the Toledo Commerce Club,
Toledo Club, Country Club, and of the First
Congregational Church. He is also a member
of Anthony "Wayne Chapter of the Sons of
the American Revolution, of which chapter
his father is now president.
November 1.5, 1911, in the old Fii-st Congre-
gational Church of Toledo the marriage of
Maurice Allen and ^liss Mildred Barton Smith
was one of the society events of that season
in Toledo. Mrs. Allen is a daughter of Bar-
ton Smith, senior member of the law firm of
Smith, Baker, Efiler & Allen. Mrs. Allen was
educated in Miss Smead's School of Toledo,
spent one winter in study in Geneva, Switzer-
land, was at Dana Hall in "Wellesley, Massa-
chusetts, and finished in Miss Gillman 's School
in Boston. She is a member of Ursula "Wol-
cott Chapter of the Daughters of the Ameri-
can Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Allen reside
at 2267 Robinwood Avenue.
Frederick Oswald is senior partner in the
Buckeye Electric Company of Findlay. This
is a company with the best reputation for ex-
pert service and the best facilities and organi-
zation for rendering that service of any simi-
lar concern in Hancock County. Mr. Oswald
has been in the electrical business for a great
many years and his success is due to the fact
that he followed his early inclinations and has
steadily kept at one pursuit since boyhood.
He was born at Findlay in 1882, a son of
Samuel and Mary (Schenk) Oswald. His
father, who was a building contractor and
merchant, came from Berne, Switzerland, to
America in 1872, first locating at Bluffton,
Ohio, and in 1876 moving to Findlay.
The common schools and two years in the
high school gave Frederick Oswald his start
in life so far as a literary education was con-
cerned. Then as a boy he began work for the
Toledo, Bowling Green and Southern Traction
Company, at first as a helper under General
Manager Charles F. Smith. He learned rap-
idly, was faithful and diligent, and in a short
time was promoted to mechanic. He also had
his eye on the future, saved his money, and
after getting a limited capital he formed a
partnership known as the Electric Construc-
tion and Motor Company. He had several
associates in that enterprise and it was contin-
ued for one year. In 1904, with others, ]\Ir.
Oswald established the Buckeye Electric Com-
pany. After a year he bought out his partner
and continued the business alone until 1911.
In that year the business was reorganized and
Fred B. Love became a partner, and these two
men, both expert and practical electi'icians,
»have continued the business with increasing
success ever since.
Mr. Oswald was married in 1903 to Marj-
Opperman, daughter of "William and Eliza
("Wingate) Opperman. They are the parents
of two children, Richard, born in 1905, and
Mary Louise, born in 1906, both now attend-
ing the public schools.
Fraternally Mr. Oswald is affiliated with the
Masonic Order, the Knights of Pythias, the Be-
nevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the
Modern Brotherhood of America. He is well
known both in social and business life in
Findlay.
Fred B. Love. "W^hen Fred B. Love was a
boy, like many other young men of his age,
things electrical had a peculiar fascination for
him. It was not a passing fancy with him,
however, and he has not only been interested
in that profession but has given it every energy
he possesses, and by hard work has made a
splendid success. He is now junior partner
in the Buckej'e Electric Company of Findlay
He was born in 1889 at Tapper Sandusky,
Ohio, a son of S. J. and Flora (AhlefeW)
Love. He is of Scotch and English ancestry
and his grandfather. Rev. B. C. Love, is still
1392
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
living at Perrysburg, Ohio, and is one of the
pioneer Methodist ministers of the state. He
is also noted as a local historian, and has com-
piled a history which for many years has been
recognized as a standard source of aixthority
on the territory it covers. Mr. Love's father
was a railroad man.
When Fred B. Love was nine years of age
the family removed to Findlay, and here he
attended the common schools and the Findlay
High School. He was eager to get into the
real work of life and left school to learn the
trade of electrician with the firm of Shanahan,
Darrow and Oswald. For three years he
remained with them, and when Mr. Oswald
started in business for himself Mr. Love went
along, and under him completed another three
years of training and practical work. Having
mastered the business in all its details he
formed a partnership with Mr. Oswald under
the name Buckeye Electric Company, and this
firm, during its five years' existence, has gained
a position second to none as general electric
contractors, with trade extended all over Han-
cock County. Their specialty is fine work,
and their contracts have always met the tests
of the most exacting inspection. The company
has fine headquarters in Findlay and they
carry a splendid display of goods.
Mr. Love is unmarried. He is very active
in the Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks, and in the local lodge has held the chairs
of esteemed loval knicrht and esteemed lectur-
ing knight. He is also affiliated with the Ma-
sonic Order and the Knights of Pythias, and
in matters of politics is independent. Besides
his active connection with the Buckeye Elec-
tric Company he is a stockholder, director and
vice president of the Varley Manufacturing
Company, a company manufacturing automo-
bile parts.
Stevens Warren Flower was one of Tole-
do's noblest citizens. Two spltendid institu-
tions in Toledo bear witness to his beneficence.
These are the Ellen B. Flower Deaconess
Home and the Flower Hospital. Toledo will
ever be indebted to Mr. Flower for his gift of
the Flower Hospital, which, although still in
its infancy, has already become one of her
greatest hospitals. Having been blessed with
no children of their own, and becoming deeply
impressed by an instance of the deaconess
work, Mr. and Mrs. Flower considered the
advisability of leaving their residue to be used
as a home for these self-sacrificing women.
After the death of his loving companion, Mr.
Flower decided to bequeath his residue, with
about two acres of land surrounding it, valued
at $50,000 to the Central Ohio Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church as a site for
a deaconess home as a memorial for Ellen B.
Flower, and as a site for a hospital to be
known as the Flower Hospital. A generous
endowment in money was also provided by his
will. A nurse's training school is maintained
in connection with the hospital. The first unit
of the hospital, with room for twent.y-five beds,
was opened January 19, 1910. The second
unit, with accommodations for thirt.y-five beds
was opened June 1, 1913. It has been crowded
with patients from the beginning. Another
valuable property was given by Mr. and !Mrs.
Flower during their lifetime as a rescue home
for girls. It is operated under the same man-
agement and is now a home where the deacon-
esses bring young women coming into the city
as strangers to make their own living. Here
they are sheltered and assisted until they suc-
ceed in getting suitable employment and
homes. The memory of ]\Ir. Flower and his
estimable wife will ever be kept green by these
gifts for the benefit of humanity. Stevens W.
Flower was a native of the old Empire State,
having first beheld the light of day in the
Town of Clayton, Jefferson County, New
York, August 21, 1832. He was descended
of highly honorable ancestry. His father,
Jo.seph Warren Flower, of Massachusetts,
served in the War of 1812, and his widow re-
ceived from the Federal Government a land
grant of 160 acres, and was also awarded
a pension. His grandfather, Timothy Flower,
of Connecticut, was a member of the Conti-
nental army during the Revolutionary war,
and the records show that twenty-five men of
the Flower name and ancestry, residents of
the states of Massachuetts, Connecticut and
New York, served their country honorably in
this conflict, which resulted in the annihila-
tion of British tyranny in the American colo-
nies. Mr. Flower's mother. Amy Stevens, was
a daughter of Gen. Elias Stevens, of South
Royalton, Vermont. A prominent and influ-
ential man in his day, serving in the Connec-
ticut militia in the war of the Revolution and
as a member of the Vermont Legislature for
twenty years. These facts, taken from family
and military records, show that patriotism, so
important an element in Mr. Flower's nature,
was an inheritance from both paternal and
maternal ancesters. When he was about two
years old his father was summoned to the life
eternal, and after about five years of widow-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1393
hood his mother married Augustus Ford, mas-
ter in the United States navy, who was a noble
father to the boy and young man, and who
went to his reward in 1855. Soon after the
marriage of the mother to Mr. Ford the fam-
ily moved to Sackett's Harbor, New York,
where Stevens W. lived until he entered the
military service of his country in the great
Civil war, enlisting September 12, 1862, as a
first lieutenant in Company H, Tenth New
York Heavy Artillery. He served with his
command in a variety of places, participating
in the defenses of Washington and in the
memorable campaigns of Sheridan. He expe-
rienced active service at Cold Harbor, Vir-
ginia, before Petersburg and Richmond ; in
the assault on Petersburg; in the battle of
Cedar Creek, Virginia, and in the fall of
Petersburg, and Richmond, April 2, 1865.
For fidelity to duty, and because of his
marked executive ability, he was appointed
quartermaster and served in this capacity, in
many important branches of the service, until
his discharge from the army at the close of
the conflict, in June, 1865. As quartermaster
he furnished supplies to General Sherman's
and Sheridan's commands as they passed
through Petersburg on their final return from
their triumphant invasion of the South to
Washington, and was complimented verbally
by General Sheridan for the prompt and effi-
cient manner in which he had supplied his
army with provisions. For his faithful and
exceptionally meritorious services wherever
assigned he was recommended by General
Grant for the position of assistant quarter-
master-general, but because of the commission
incident to Lee's surrender and the assassina-
tion of President Lincoln the commission was
not issued. He came to Ohio immediately
after the cessation of hostilities, and early in
the spring of 1866 associated himself with his
father-in-law, the late George W. Reynolds,
in the Reynolds Flour Mills at ]\Iaumee. in
which he retained his interest until 1873, when
the firm retired from the milling business.
But about five years previously the firm had
established a commission house in Toledo, un-
der the name of George W. Reynolds & Co., of
which Mr. Flower assumed the general man-
agement in 1873.
The firm of George W. Reynolds & Co. was
continued until 1876, when Mr. Reynolds re-
tired, and soon afterward the firm of S. W.
Flower & Co. was formed, its principal business
being that of dealing in seeds, especially clover
seeds. The business has grown steadily and
has been remunerative, is still carried on
by Charles S. Burge, the other member of the
firm. S. W. Flower was an honored member
of several patriotic and fraternal organiza-
tions, belonging to the ancient and honorable
order of Free and Accepted ]\Iasons, which he
joined shortly after attaining to his majority,
at Sackett's Harbor, New York; Ohio Post,
No. 107, Grand Army of the Republic; An-
thony Wayne Chapter, No. 739, Sons of the
American Revolution, and the Toledo Produce
Exchange, of which he was an active member
for over thirty years, and of which he served
as president for a term. His ancestors were
not only patriotic and highly honorable, but
were also of a decided Christian character.
His grandparents, parents and stepfather were
all Christian people. His most intimate
friends were Christian people. He gave his
heart to God in early manhood, and ever after-
ward his daily life was strictly in accord with
the tenets of 'the Christian faith. He carried
his religious principles into his business, and
often said that if he succeeded in commercial
pursuits it must be along the lines of strict
honesty, integi'ity and fundamental teachings
of the lowly Nazarene. He prospered in the
seed business because he handled good seed,
and the firm of which he was the head became
known far and wide as one that could be
depended on to buy and sell on the principle
of the strictest honesty. He loved to converse
on religious topics, especially those pertaining
to personal religious life and experience. Be-
ing of a modest and retiring nature, he often
felt troubled that he did not feel as keen reli-
gious emotions and personal assurances as
some Christian people experienced or pro-
fessed. He was both conservative and pro-
gressive. While clinging to the old doctrines,
and always loyal to the church, he took a
broad and statesmanlike view of the Kingdom
of God, and a better way presented itself. In
the spring of 1867 he united with the I\Ietho-
dist Episcopal Church at Maumee, in the
affairs of which he was very active until he
took up his residence in Toledo, in 1874, when
he transferred his membership to St. Paul's
Church of that denomination. By changes of
residence he became an attendant upon the
services of other churches, having been for a
number of years a member of St. John's
Methodist Episcopal Church, and frequently
attending, with Mrs. Flower, the church of
her choice, the Episcopal, at Trinity or St.
Mark's. Among yoiing people he was an
especial favorite, contributing to their enjoy-
1394
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
ment in all possible ways and assisting them
by kindly advice and example. Nearly all his
life he was a highly successful teacher of Bible
classes in Sabbath schools; and his Christian
activities, especially the study and teaching of
the Word of God and his many unostentatious
benevolences, became to him real means of
grace; and he always counted them among
the happiest experiences of his life.
In his later years Mr. Flower suffered
greatly from bodily infirmities, and he was
not able to attend religious services at St.
Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, of which
he was then a member. Nevertheless his spirit
ever remained sweet, something that earthly
suffering could not crush and his purse was
always open to the call of the church or any
public call. He gave as if giving was a real
pleasure to him. No solicitor for a worthy
cause needed to hesitate in approaching him
for a contribution. The domestic altar fire
was kept burning in his hnnie.
Morning and evening reading of the Scrip-
tures and prayer were regularly maintained,
and frequently in the household worship he
strengthened his body and soul by receiving
the Communion in sacred commemoration of
his dying but risen and ever-living Lord. Pos-
sessed of an intellect with the ability to grasp
things of a permanent value, he had a judicial
mind which gave weight to his opinions, and a
beautiful Christian spirit which made him as
fair with those who differed from him as with
those whose views were strictly in accord with
his own. Men trusted him because of their
profound faith in his integrity ; they followed
him because he possessed the qualities of lead-
ership; they loved him because he was an
humble follower of Jesus ; and those who knew
him best loved him most. He was hospitable
and charitable, he endured all with true and
unflinching Christian fortitiide. fully believ-
ing that, this painful life ended, there would
be for him, through the merits and mercy of
his crucified Redeemer; the bliss, the fruition
of a glorious immortality and eternal life: and
as he neared the end he looked back over his
long and exceptionally useful life of nearly
fourscore years, a large part of which had
been cheerfully given to the service of the
Kingdom, he patiently awaited the approba-
tion of the Master — "Well done, thou good
and faithful servant." He joined the "silent
majority" November 13, 1908, and all felt
that a leader whom it was thought could not
be spared had been called home to a well-
earned reward.
In September, 1865, was solemnized his mar-
riage to Miss Frances B. Reynolds, an adopted
daughter of the late lamented George W.
Reynolds, for several years associated in busi-
ness with Mr. Flower, and one of the most
influential and respected citizens of Lucas
County, who then and for many years resided
at Maumee. Frances (Reynolds) Flower was
taken ill in July, 1866, and gradually failed
until the last days of December of the same
year, when God called her home, and her body
was laid away in beautiful Riverside Ceme-
tery, at Maumee. amidst a vast concourse of
sorrowing friends and acquaintances only
about fift^een months after their marriage. On
October 8, 1874, Mr. Flower was happily
united in marriage with Miss Ellen Burge, of
Maumee, and in the following November they
removed to Toledo. Ellen (Burge) Flower
was born in Bampton, Devonshire, England,
April 21, 1847, and died in her home in
Toledo, April 24, 1903. after a happily wedded
life of twenty-nine years. ]\Irs. Flower was
a woman of rare excolleiiee of mind and heart,
one of those cliaraeti'rs that leaves its impress
upon every life it touches. Kind and sympa-
thetic, she was ever ready to contribute to the
comfort and good cheer of all who came within
the sphere of her influence, finding her great-
est happiness in earnestly endeavoring to make
others happy. More than any other one char-
acteristic that molded her life was her utter
unselfishness, and she exemplified the Chris-
tian virtues in her daily walk and conversa-
tion. Her well-rounded Christian character
and sweet, loving and gentle disposition en-
deared her to all and made her life a constant
benediction. A woman of perfectly trans-
parent character, a devout Christian, having
a positive experience of salvation by Divine
Grace through faith, sympathetic, useful and
beloved, she lived in fear of the Lord and died
a peaceful and happy death. Almost her last
conscious words were the beautiful benediction
of the Lord's prayer: "Thine is the King-
dom, and the power, and the glory forever.
Amen."
Although Stevens W. Flower is gone, his
impress still remains in the community. His
integrity in business is still remembered.
IVIany a man will perform his duties more
faithfully and more conscientiously because of
the influence of his unostentatious but force-
ful life. Those who are compelled to seek
hospital shelter will bless his name. Friend-
les.s girls who come to the great City of
Toledo will speak the name of IMr. and Mrs.
^"^.^/^^^^-^^
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1395
Flower reverently. Indeed it is good to have
lived, and to have lived to such good purpose.
Orra Eugene Monnette, now a prominent
banker and citizen of Los Angeles, earned his
early distinctions as a lawyer in Northwest
Ohio at Bucyrus and Toledo, and is identified
by many ties with this section of the state.
He was born near Bucyrus, Ohio, April 12,
1873, and in that city spent his boyhood and
early manhood. Here he received his first
business and financial training, having been
employed in the Second National Bank. After
graduating from the high school at the head
of his class in 1890, he entered the Ohio Wes-
leyan University at Delaware, and was gradu-
ated bachelor of arts in 189.5. While in col-
lege he attained high rank as a student, being
one of the fifteen honored students of his class,
and after graduation was given membership
in the honorary scholastic fraternity Phi Beta
Kappa.
While in the university at Delaware he be-
came a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fra-
ternity, and has always kept up an active in-
terest in that organization, and is one of its
prominent national reprcsnit.itivcs. Soon
after graduation he was eli'ctrd unicral secre-
tary of the fraternity, a position he filled for
eight years, being elected four times, without
opposition, during which period he visited a
majority of the universities, colleges a)id chap-
ter houses over the country. From 1912 to
1914 he was national president of the Phi
Kappa Psi fraternity. It is said that Mr.
Monnette probably has a larger personal ac-
quaintance among the individuals of the fra-
ternity than any other member.
On graduating from the Ohio Wesleyan he
took up the study of law, and was admitted to
the bar in October, 1896. While at Bucyrus
he practiced as a member of the firm of Beer,
Bennett & Monnette for several years, and
became one of the leading legal lights. Of
this firm, the Hon. Thomas Beer was known as
an able .iuri.st and the Hon. Smith W. Bennett,
now of Columbus, Ohio, the latter retiring, the
firm continued as Beer & Monnette for sev-
eral years. He then moved to Toledo in De-
cember, 1903, where he quickly attained high
position at the bar, and was a member of the
firm of Seiders & Monnette.
Since 1906 IMr. Monnette 's home has been in
Los Angeles, California. Being admitted to
the bar in that state after several years of
active law practice there, he was elected presi-
dent of the Citizens Trust & Savings Bank
in 1912, a position he still holds. He is also
a director in the Citizens National Bank, and
a director of the Bankers Oil Company. He
has actively concerned himself in a public
spirited way with the civic alfairs of that great
Californian city. He is a member of the Los
Angeles Municipal Annexation Commission,
by appointment of the mayor, and is a member
of the Board of Library Directors of the Los
Angeles Public Library, and of which he has
recently been elected its president.
The Monnettes are one of the oldest and
most honored families of Crawford County,
Ohio. His grandfather, Abraham Monnette,
was a pioneer in that county, and left a large
famil.v of descendants. Mervin Jeremiah
Monnette, father of Orra E., was for many
years president of the Second National Bank
of Bucyrus until he removed to Los Angeles,
where he is now a director and official in sev-
eral banks, has interest in important business
enterprises, and occupies a splendid home.
Mervin J. Monnette established the Monnette
Hospital at Bucyrus. The mother of Orra E.,
Olive Adelaide Monnette, was a daughter of
the late George Washington Hull, who was a
prominent and successful banker of Bucyrus.
She died in 1912.
Orra E. Monnette is a student of genealogy.
He has written a history of the Monnet, Mon-
nett and Monnette families, which is consid-
ered a model of genealogical history. Besides
many articles in magazines on genealogy, he
has also compiled the "Spirit of Patriotism,"
a history of the California Society, Sons of
the Revolution, and a Chronological History
of California, both of which are valuable
works and have been well received. He takes
a very active interest in and is vice president
of the Sons of the Revolution, and has been
both president and treasurer of the Ohio So-
ciety of Southern California. At the present
time he is governor of the Society of Colonial
Wars in the State of California. Politically
speaking he is a republican, is a Thirty-second
degree Scottish Rite Mason, Knight Templar
and Shriner, and a member of the Methodist
Church. He is also a member of the Cali-
fornia, Los Angeles Athletic, Los Angeles
Country and Scribes clubs of that city, Mr.
Monnette married Miss Carrie Lucile Jane-
way, a daughter of the late William Francis
Janeway of Columbus.
William Franklin Hosler, of Findlay, be-
gan his biisiness career early and has been
indefatigable in the constant pursuit of his
1396
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
varied interests and has long since won a
secure position in the business affairs of Han-
cock County.
He is now cashier of the Ohio Bank and
Savings Company, director, secretary and
treasurer of the Findlay Courier, a director
and president of the Buckeye Traction Ditcher
Company, and a director of the First National
Bank of Findlay, Ohio.
He was born in 1862 in "Washington Town-
ship of Hancock County, where liis father
was a contractor and farmer. His parents,
Peter and Susanna (Sherman) Hosier, were
of Swiss ancestry, the families coming origi-
nally from Berne, Switzerland. Peter Hosier
was elected county treasurer in 1874, for a
two-year term, and at that time the family
removing to Findlay. He was one of the pio-
neers of Hancock County and a very repre-
sentative man of his day.
William F. Hosier continued his education
in the public schools of Findlay and was also
employed in the treasurer's office under his
father. Early in his business experience he
became an employe of the Farmers Bank of
Findlay, and was with that institution six
years, part of the time as teller and in his
third year became assistant cashier. In 1887
he and his father organized the Citj^ Bank of
Findlay. l\Ir. William P. Hosier becoming
cashier. In 1898 the bank was reorganized,
but he continued as cashier. In 1912 its name
was changed to the Ohio Bank and Savings
Company. Peter Hosier died in 1897, having
been president of the City Bank at the time of
his death.
William F. Hosier has always been a demo-
crat, is a member of the Findlay Country Club,
of the Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks and the Independent Order of Odd Fel-
lows. In 1885 he married Helen M. Shafer,
daughter of Morgan D. and Mary L. (Bunts)
Shafer of Findlay. The Shafers are an old
and respected family of this city. Mr. and
Mrs. Hosier have one daughter. Mary Louise,
who was born in 1887 and is now the wife of
Raymond H. O'Brien, a prominent Toledo
lawyer. Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien have a daugh-
ter named Mary Louise.
In 1900 Mr. Hosier was one of the re-
organizers of the Findlay Courier and has
since been its secretary' and treasurer. A few
years ago he was elected president of the
Buckeye Traction Ditclier Company, an im-
mense plant employing over 200 men. Mr.
Hosier is one of a fine family, being one of
twelve children, all of whom have been pros-
perous and have had successful relations with
this community.
John Wesley Durham. In arrangement,
equipment, general fertility and productive-
ness, there are few better farms in all North-
western Ohio than that owned and occupied
by John Wesley Durham in Napoleon Town-
.ship of Henry County. His home farm is on
section 218, but he also owns extensive bodies
of land in other parts of that county. •
Mr. Durham is an old and prominent resi-
dent of Henry County. The foundation of his
success was laid of course as a farmer. His
influence, however, has spread to various busi-
ness affairs and he has also plaj'ed a part in
public life. He was one of the organizers of
the Henry County Farmers Mutual Insurance
Company and for some time acted as one of its
agents. He served as a county commissioner
for two years from 1906, and is a very active
republican. He and his wife eujo.y the com-
forts of their beautiful homestead known as
the Homestead Farm. They are generous, hos-
pitable and kindly people, and their lives have
been spent in doing good not only for their
children but for their neighbors and friends.
The Durham family is of German ancestry.
The grandfather, William Durham, was born
in Germany, came to the United States and
while living in Virginia married a Virginia
woman. ]\Iary Elizabeth Jeams. During the
early '20s they moved to Ross County, Ohio.
A few years later, in that county, on February
27, 1827, was born their son John, father of
John W. Durham. Six months after his birth
the family moved to Richland Township in
what is now Defiance County. At that time
that section was on the frontier, was covered
with dense woods, much of the land was under
water, and it was largely an impenetrable
wilderness. There the Durhams faced all the
dangers, privations and hardships of pioneer-
ing. Their first habitation was a log cabin of
the simplest type and with the simplest furni-
ture in the midst of the woods. They were
surrounded by Indians and wild animals, and
at that time there was no Town of Defiance
and their nearest mill and market were ten
miles away, with dense woods between, the
only path being blazed trails. William Dur-
ham acquired an extensive tract of land in
that vicinity. Six years after his settlement
there, in 1833, while carrying a log on his
shoulder his foot slipped on the ice and in
falling the log struck him in such a way as
to fracture his skull, resulting in his death.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1397
He was then in the prime of life. His widow
died a number of years later, after carefully
rearing her children. There were eight of the
children, and all of them grew up and mar-
ried except one, and all are now deceased.
John Durham, owing to the fact of his
father's early death, had to contend with the
serious problems of life at an early age. He
spent his childhood with his mother and also
in the home of James Moorhead, and early
started out to make his own way. His first
purchase of land was in section 36 of Adams
Township, Defiance County. This was in
1851. For forty acres he paid $100, and that
land was the scene of his industrious labors for
a number of years. Later he bought a farm
in Richland Township of the same county, and
he lived on it plying his vocation as an agri-
culturist until his death. He was a fine type
of the early settler. While his youth had
been passed in such circumstances as to pre-
clude his securing an education, it is said
that he could practice mental arithmetic in
figuring out problems to better advantage
than most men could with pencil and paper.
He married for his first wife Sarah Cragn,
who was born in Washington Township of
Defiance County and was about the same age
as her husband. She died in October, 1861.
Her parents were among the very early set-
tlers of that part of Defiance County. She
left five children: John We.sley: Manuel;
Isaac J., who is a retired farmer in Napoleon
Township; Ellen, unmarried: and (ieorge, a
farmer in Defiance County. John Durham,
Sr., married for his second wife Martha A.
Welder, and she also became the mother of
five children.
While growing to manhood on his father's
farm, John Wesley Durham secured such edu-
cation as was afforded in the country schools
of that time. He was taught the lessons of
industry and honesty and has practiced these
and has exercised a commendable business
.iudgment so as to place him far ahead in the
matter of material prosperity.
In Flat Rock Township of Henry County
he married i\Iiss Clara Brubaker. She was
born on the farm where she spent her child-
hood days April 28, 1853, a daughter of John
and Sarah (Wyandt) Brubaker, both of whom
were natives of Pennsylvania. Her mother
came to Ohio when a child with her parents
and located in Stark County, while her father
came to Ohio from Pennsylvania when a
young man. Thev were married at the home
of her. father, Henrv Wyandt, in Stark
Vol. in— 5
County, and they then located near the
Wyandt home in Wilmont, Sugar Creek
Township. While Mr. and Mrs. John Bru-
baker lived there five children were born:
Hannah, Mary, Francis, Christian and Al-
fred. In 1847 the Brubaker family started
with wagons and teams to a point further
west, in Flat Rock Township of Henry
County. John Brubaker in the preceding
year had walked the entire distance and had
selected a farm. Never a furrow had been
turned on the farm of his selection, and he
had all the tasks of the pioneer settler. The
Brubakers lived in a log cabin for some years
after they came to Henry County, and in that
humble abode were born the other children:
Daniel, Mrs. Durham, Jacob, who died at the
age of sixteen, and Emanuel. Of the children
born in Stark County three sons are still liv-
ing. In 1857 John Brubaker replaced the old
log cabin with a substantial frame house. He
lived the quiet and industrious life of the
capable farmer and died at the old home April
3, 1892, followed by his wife on October 23,
1900. The Brubakers were most kindly and
excellent people, and ]Mrs. Brubaker was
reared in the faith of the Disciples Church.
In February, 1874, not long after their mar-
riage Mr. and Mrs. Durham located on the
farm where he was born in Defiance County,
but in August of the same year they returned
to Flat Rock Township in Henry County,
where they resided three years. In" 1878 they
moved to section 28 of Napoleon Township
and for three years rented the land, which he
then purchased. Mr. Durham's homestead
there now comprises 176 acres. He also owns
36 acres in section 31, 80 acres in Liberty
Township, 34 acres in Flat Rock Township,
and the Angling Road Farm, which is in sec-
tion 31 of Napoleon Township and section 5
of Flat Rock Township, and contains 70 acres.
All these lands are excellently improved. On
his home farm Mr. Durham lias spent many
years of labor and has invested heavily in im-
provements. He has built two houses, one of
nine rooms and the other of five, and has a
large bank barn 40 by 60 feet, with an addi-
tion 40 by 44 feet, serving perfectly its pur-
poses for stock and grain. Like most success-
ful farmers, Mr. Durham combines stock rais-
ing with the growing of the staple crops. He
keeps high grade Hereford cattle and some
fine horses. He is a member of the Masonic
Order and Mrs. Durham belongs to the Metho-
dist Church.
They have been exceptionally happy in
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
their domestic life and have a fine family of
children. Carey is now giving a good account
of himself as a farmer in Flat Rock Township ;
by his marriage to Martha Gist he has six sons,
named Frederick, Willis, Julian, Herbert,
Henry and Harold. Ernest, the second son,
conducts his father's farm in the capacity of
manager; he married Bertha Bales, and their
children are Ray, Olive and Hazel. Eugene
is a farmer in Liberty Township and married
Irva Frederick, their children being Cleo,
Leverne and Burdette. Elsie, the oldest
daughter, is the wife of Edwin Hammond, and
they live on a farm near her father's place.
Chester, who now lives in Oklahoma, has two
children, named Robert and Arthur. Estella,
who in addition to completing the course of the
common schools as did the other children,
spent two years in college, is the wife of Rob-
ert Walters, a furniture dealer in Napoleon;
their children are Luther, Margaret, and
Dorothy Lucile. Laura is the wife of Walter
Leonhardt, a farmer in Defiance County.
Alta is the wife of E. P. Hollingshead of Napo-
leon, and their children are Geraldine, Marian
and Bernadine. Roscoe, the youngest of the
family, is now a student in the Napoleon High
School.
Arthur W. Ryan. One of the younger
members of the Toledo bar, Arthur W. Ryan
is associated in practice with ilr. Warren J.
Duffey, with offices in the Gardner Building.
Mr. Ryan is capable, proficient and hard work-
ing, has had splendid training, and is rapidly
making his way to a front rank in the Toledo
bar.
He is a son of William and Mary Ryan, both
of whom were born in Saginaw, ^Michigan. His
father has been through all the vicissitudes of
the lumberman's life, and is now secretary
and treasurer of The West Toledo Lumber
Company. William Ryan came to Toledo
about twenty years ago, and has enjoyed a
large and important position in business af-
fairs. He is also president of The Ohio Asso-
ciation of Retail Lumber Dealers. William
Ryan and wife had four children, Arthur W.
being the oldest. Harold T. is associated with
his father in the lumber business, while the
two younger are Genevieve C. and Gerald M.,
both at home.
Arthur W. Ryan was born in Saginaw,
Michigan, August 23, 1893, and like the other
children was reared and educated in Toledo.
He graduated from the Cathedral parochial
school in 1910, and then entered Notre Dame
College at South Bend, Indiana. He finished
his course there and received his degree bache-
lor of laws in 1914, and in December of that
year was admitted to the Ohio bar after exam-
ination before the Supreme Court at Colum-
bus. Returning to Toledo he became asso-
ciated with Warren J. Duffey in the general
practice of law.
]Mr. Ryan, who is unmarried and resides at
the family home at 366 West Central Avenue,
is a member of the Knights of Columbus, and
of the Toledo Bar Association.
Richard V. Kennedy is now concluding his
second term of service as sheriff of Hancock
County. During the last generation it is
doubtful if any man has become better known
in public affairs in that county than Mr.
Kennedy. He is a man qualified in every
particular for efficient and competent public
service. He has himself been on intimate
terms of fellowship with poverty, with hard
work, and he knows both the classes and the
masses and is a thorough believer in the es-
sential principles of democracy.
It was kindness more than mere efficiency
which characterized his administration as
sheriff. He is a man of humanity, and in no
circumstances does he allow himself to lose
sight of the fact that lawbreakers and prison-
ers under his care are human beings, and
entitled to sympathy so far as consistent with
firm control. Some of the reforms which he
introduced in the management of the county
jail, distinguished chiefly by simple kindness,
attracted so much notice that they were writ-
ten up in the metropolitan newspaper press.
Sheriff Kennedy was born in Hancock
County November"?, 1863, and was one of a
large "family of thirteen children born to
James H. and Susannah (Oman) Kennedy,
whose home was in Orange Township of Han-
cock County. Mr. Kennedy is of Scotch-Irish
ancestry, and his grandfather came from Ire-
land.
With only a country school education, ac-
quired in the schools of Cannonsburg, Ohio,
Richard Kennedy became self supporting at
the age of thirteen. He was not ashamed to
accept any honorable means of earning his
living and getting ahead in the world. He
was both industrious and skillful. It is said
that some years ago, before he became promi-
nent in polities, he turned out. with the labor
of his own hands, 76,000 axe handles, the en-
tire output being sold to one firm. He was
also in the grocery' business for one year.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1399
When only a youth such confidence was re-
posed in his judgment and ability that he was
appointed to the office of township clerk, and
■he served 2i^ terms. Then for five years he
was clerk of the board of Orange Township,
was secretary of the agricultural society of
Hancock County, being elected without solici-
tation on his part for six years, and for 31/2
years was a member of the board of election.
He resigned from that office to become candi-
date for sheriff on the democratic ticket in
1912. It should be remembered that Hancock
County is strongly republican in its normal
political complexion and yet Mr. Kennedy
was the choice of the people against a very
able candidate by a majority of ninety, while
in his reelection in 1914 he had 600 votes over
his opponent. At the conclusion of his tenn in
1916 Mr. Kennedy intends to retire from
active politics, though he will always be found
working for the welfare of his party. He is
chairman of the executive and central com-
mittees of his party in Hancock County, and
succeeded in formulating a ticket that was
elected without losing a candidate in the fall
election of 1916.
Mr. Kennedy is affiliated with the Knights
of Pythias, the'lndependent Order of Odd Fel-
lows, and the Loyal Order of ]\Ioose, is past
dictator of the Moose, and in these fraternities
and in the general body of citizenship of Han-
cock County he has a host of loyal friends.
He is heartily in sympathy with Sunday
schools, was at one time vice president of the
St. Paul's Evangelical Sunday School, and
he won the prize in a campaign for securing
new members, his contribution being 350 new
recruits to the Sunday school. He is an active
and generous patron of the different orphans
homes, and has been greatly beloved because of
his thoughtful and kindly deeds.
In Orange Township in 1888 Mr. Kennedy
married Miss Elizabeth Fenton, daughter of
Thomas Fenton. They have one son, Clement
J., who is now thirty-one years of age and
married Lucinda Bower of Orange Township
Mr. Kennedy has close affiliations with
agricultural interests in Hancock County, has
held offices in the local Grange, and also be-
longs to the Farmers' Institute.
Howard Ion Shepherd, vice president and
a director of The Ohio Savings Bank & Trust
Company of Toledo, is a lawyer by profession,
came to Toledo in 1905 from Detroit, and in
this city has largely concerned himself with
important business, financial and public af-
fairs.
In 1910 he served as president of The
Toledo Chamber of Commerce and as a direc-
tor in the National Rivers and Harbors Con-
gress from 1910 to 1913. As chairman of the
River and Harbor Committee of The Toledo
Chamber of Commerce he obtained from the
United States Board of Engineers at Wash-
ington their approval for a 23-foot channel
for Toledo harbor, and also obtained the ap-
proval of the Rivers and Harbors Committee
of the House of Representatives for the appro-
priation aggregating $500,000 to carry out
that improvement.
Mr. Shepherd represents one of the fine old
pioneer families of Eaton County, Michigan.
His maternal ancestors date from the family
of John Aldrieh. who landed in Massachu-
setts in 1630, while his paternal ancestors go
back to the coming of Henry Shepherd to
America in the middle of the eighteenth cen-
tury. His grandfather, Hiram Shepherd,
went out to Eaton County, Michigan, in the
year that Michigan was admitted to the
Union in 1837, acquired 200 acres of govern-
ment land 214 miles south of Charlotte,
cleared a tract and built a log house, and in
1840 brought his family from New York and
domiciled them in an utter wilderness. A few
years later they moved into the then small
Village of Charlotte, where Hiram Shepherd
establi.shed a country store.
The late Hon. Elisha Shepherd, father of
the Toledo banker, was for many years recog-
nized as Charlotte's grand old man, and as
much as any other individual was the prime
mover in the progress of that Michigan city.
At the time of his death, which occurred in'
December, 1913, he was the oldest pioneer of
Eaton County, which had been his home for
about seventy-two years. He was born March
9, 1831, in Oneonta, Otsego County, New York,
and was about nine years of age when he came
with other members of the family to Eaton
County, Michigan. There he grew up in fron-
tier surroundings. His early ediication came
from the common schools of Charlotte and he
also attended Olivet College in ^Michigan for a
short time during the first two years of its
existence. Among other early experiences he
drove the stage from Jackson to Charlotte be-
fore the time of railroads, part of the time
with ox teams, and he also carried mail horse-
back between Marshall and Charlotte, a por-
tion of the distance over Indian trails. He
had excellent business ability and was as unsel-
1400
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
fish and public spirited as he was successful
in the management of his various enterprises.
On October 17, 1852, Elisha Shepherd mar-
ried Miss Huldah Elizabeth Ion, who was born
near Northville in Oakland County, Jlichigan,
January 2, 1835. Her father, Launcelot
Henry Ton, was a gradiiate of Oxford Uni-
versity in England, and he and his wife were
among the first residents of Oneida Township
in Eaton County, and it was at their home in
that locality that Huldah Ion and Mr. Shep-
herd were married. Her father moved among
the pioneers as a prominent figure, due both
to his superior education and to his high char-
acter. He held various county offices and left
his imprint on many local institutions. In an
oration delivered at Charlotte July 4, 1846,
the original copy of which is now in Mr. H. I.
Shepherd's possession, Launcelot Ion, who was
the son of an English Episcopal clergyman,
set forth his reasons for leaving England and
coming to America. He came to the New
World largely inspired by our spirit of free-
dom and liberty, and in his speech he lauds
George Washington and refers to the curse of
slavery. From this ancestor, and in turn from
his mother, Howard I. Shepherd inherits a
most unusual collection of heirlooms and valu-
able books and documents, some of them well
over two hundred years old.
Soon after their marriage Elisha Shepherd
and wife started housekeeping in Charlotte,
and later they purchased the old Eagle Hotel,
Mr. Shepherd being associated with his father-
in-law, Mr. Ion, and together they operated it
for a number of years. This hotel stood on
the present site of the Phoenix House in Char-
lotte. The building was constructed of hewn
timbers, and Mr. Shepherd added a 60 by 40
foot addition to the old hotel, and the logs for
this addition were cut and drawn by him from
a tract of timber where the buildings of the
Charlotte Manufacturing Company and the
Grand Trunk Passenger Depot now stand.
At one time he was a director of the Penin-
sular Railroad, now a part of the Grand Trunk
System. After leaving the hotel business
Elisha Shepherd with his brother James en-
gaged in general merchandising under the
name E. & J. Shepherd. This mercantile
house branched out into the buying and sell-
ing of agricultural produce of all kinds, estab-
lished a private bank, and became one of the
largest mercantile houses in that section of
Michigan. The firm also built a number of
business blocks in Charlotte.
Elisha Shepherd was one of those who par-
ticipated in the organization of the republican
party in Michigan, having been a delegate to
the famous convention "Under the Oaks" at
Jackson in 1854. He was three times mayor of
the City of Charlotte and held a number of
other local offices. The Eaton County Pioneer
Society honored him in his later years by
electing him life president. His was a life of
signal honor and 'usefulness, and he passed
away in the fullness of years at the age of
eighty-two.
After he sold the hotel in Charlotte he and
his wife moved to a cottage which stood on the
site of the present Shepherd home in Char-
lotte. The present ^-esidence was built in 1865,
and the old home has seen many happy gath-
erings and social functions in the years gone
by. In that home in February, 1907, seven
years preceding her husband, Mrs. Elisha
Shepherd pa.ssed away after having spent
more than half a century in Charlotte. In her
earlier years she was a leader in both the social
and religious life of the community. These
honored pioneers were the parents of six chil-
dren, all of whom are still living : Mrs. Celia
Ion Dodge; Launcelot Henry Shepherd; Mrs.
Vina S. Mikesell ; Fred S. Shepherd, all resid-
ing in Charlotte ; Elisha Shepherd, Jr., of
Monroe, Michigan; and Howard Ion Shep-
herd.
Howard Ion Shepherd was born at Char-
lotte, Michigan, July 28, 1874. He graduated
from the Charlotte public schools in 1893, was
a student of Olivet College in Michigan, and ■
in 1898 took the degree bachelor of laws from
the University of Michigan. Admitted to the
bar before the Supreme Court of Michigan in
1898, he was in the active practice of law from
that date until 1904 at Detroit. Being in-
clined to a business career, he left the prac-
tice of law and conducted the Detroit office of
N. W. Halsey & Company of New York, han-
dling railroad and municipal bonds until
December, 1905.
Mr. Shepherd came to Toledo in December,
1905, as secretary and assistant treasurer and
director of The Toledo Shipbuilding Com-
pany. He was with that company until July,
1913, when he became vice president and direc-
tor of The Ohio Savings Bank & Trust Com-
panv. He was a director of The First Na-
tional Bank of Toledo from 1909 to 1913, is a
director of the Fifty Associates Company, and
has been active in all matters of public inter-
est, particularly those favoring the indu.strial
improvement of Toledo. He was one of the
prime movers in the consolidation of The To-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1401
ledo Chamber of Commerce and The Toledo
Business Men's Club, making the present
Toledo Commerce Club. Other interests that
from time to time have benefited by his
association are the Young iMen's Christian
Association, the Young Women's Christian
Association, and the Toledo IMuseum of Art.
He lias the reputation of being one of the
ablest after dinner speakers in Northwest
Ohio.
He is a republican, a member of the Toledo
Club, tlie Inverness Golf Club, the Toledo
Commerce Club, and Toledo Yacht Club ; is a
member of the Session of the Collingwood
Avenue Presbyterian Church: is also president
of the Alumni Association of the Micliigan
Chapter Delta Chi fraternity, and vice presi-
dent of The Trust Company Association of
Ohio.
On February 27, 1899, he married Miss Floy
A. Bush, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ransom
Bush, who are now living at Eaton Rapids,
Michigan, and whose parents were among the
early pioneers of Eaton County. ]\Irs. Shep-
herd's grandfather in 1837 took up land from
the Government and cleared it and made a
home on which his children afterward lived.
Mr. and ilrs. Shepherd have four children :
Henry Bush Shepherd, ^Marion Ella Slieplierd,
Helen Eli^ibeth Shepherd and Katherine
Louise Shepherd.
C.\PT. Jules Maurice Pimient.\. In Cap-
tain I'imienta. now professor of Romance Lan-
guages at the Toledo University, that city has
a distinguished representative of the lirilliant
and versatile Frenchman of the higher class.
Captain Pimienta, though only in the middle
period of his life, has been through a vast
range of experience. He earned his title by
many years of military service. He has de-
grees from several of the foremost institutions
of learning in Europe. He has been pretty
much all over the world, served his flag in
North Africa and China, and has held a num-
ber of scholastic honors in some of the leading
universities of America.
He was born in Paris, France, November 2,
1864. His parents were M. L. and Angeline
M. (Freycney) Pimienta. The record of the
family througliout has been filled with mili-
tary honors. His parental great-grandfather
was an Italian, was born at IMilan, and when
five years of age went to France with his par-
ents. Later he joined the French army, and
at one time he served under the revered Ameri-
can patriot Lafayette. Captain Pimienta 's
paternal grandfather was Albert H. Pimienta,
an officer in the French army during the civil
wars in France. M. L. Pimienta, father of the
captain, was born and reared within si.x miles
of Paris and also became a French military
officer find died in Paris in 1888 at the age of
fifty-nine. Captain Pimienta 's mother, who
was born and reared at Bordeaux, is now living
in Paris at the venerable age of ninety-seven
years. Neither of his parents ever came to
America. The maternal grandfather was
Jules ilaurice Freycney, after whom Captain
Pimienta was named. This ancestor, as also
his father before him, served as a paymaster in
the French army. Captain Pimienta was one
of a family of five sons and two daughters.
Leon, the oldest, is now a brigadier general
under the command of General Roque, and at
last accounts was stationed on the west wing
of the French army at Verdun. Captain
Pimienta is the second in order of birth.
Henri Robert is a military surgeon serving
along the French front in the present war.
Gustave is a lieutenant in the French navy.
Eraile is an officer in the Algeria cavalry and
now stationed at Saloniki. The two daugh-
ters, Helen and Camille, died in childhood.
Captain Pimienta attended the elementary
and high schools of Paris, the University of
Sorbonne, where he graduated with the degree
bachelor of science, and he also took a special
course at the military college. He then en-
tered the regular army of France. While on
a leave of absence he was graduated from the
University of Pisa in Italy with the degree
bachelor of arts. Captain Pimienta became
military attache to the French ambassador at
]\Iadrid, and while there attended the Gradu-
ate College of the University of Madrid, being
awarded the degree master of arts. For a
time he served as military attache to the
French ambassador to Germany, and then re-
sumed his place in the regular army.
Captain Pimienta participated in the
Tonkin war in China, also in the uprising in
Tunis, and in the Algerian war. Three times
he was wounded in action and received in
recognition for his valor the medals of Tonkin,
Tunis and Algeria, after which he was made
a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor "For order
of high seholarsliip and gallant military rec-
ord. " Altogether he saw nine years of con-
tinual service in the regular army of France
and was honorably discharged with the rank
corresponding to our rank of captain oi
infantry.
During the World's Columbian Exposition
1402
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
at Chicago in 1893 Captain Pimienta was
especially detailed to act as chief military at-
tache to the director general of the French
Republic. It was this visit to America which
committed him to a lasting love of American
institutions, further cemented by his marriage
to an estimable American woman whom he met
in the City of Chicago. In 1898 at Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, Captain Pimienta married Miss
Josephine E. DeLong, who was born and
reared in Wisconsin. Her father, now de-
ceased, was a Frenchman, and her mother, who
resides in Milwaukee, was born in Alsace.
Captain and Mrs. Pimienta have four children
as the fruit of their happy union : Lucy and
Albert, both of whom were born in Wisconsin ;
Leon, born in Mexico; and Alice, born in
Michigan.
After returning to the United States in
1900, Captain Pimienta spent two years in
Detroit, where he was associate professor of
Romance Languages in the University of Mich-
igan. Then followed a brief visit in Paris, and
returning to America he went to Old Mexico,
where he became professor of Modern Lan-
guages and a teacher in a military college of
Mexico. He spent five years there. From
Mexico his next place was in Montreal, Can-
ada, where he was professor of Romance Lan-
guages at McGill University for two years.
For a time Captain Pimienta taught lan-
guages in private clas.ses at Chicago, but alto-
gether was not favorably impressed with that
city, and he then spent a year as professor of
French in the State Normal School of Michi-
gan at Ypsilanti. Then followed another year
in Mexico as teacher, and on May 13, 1913, he
arrived in Toledo, where he has since been
professor of Romance Languages in Toledo
University. He is also employed as trau.slator
for the Overland, Toledo Computing Scale
Company and other local manufacturing con-
cerns.
Captain Pimienta is. a member of the Mili-
tary Club of France and of the French
Academy. He is a very eloquent orator and
is master of the Spanish, French, Italian,
Portuguese and English languages. He is a
very influential and active democrat, and has
done a great deal of service to that party dur-
ing campaigns. In the presidential campaign
of 1896 he delivered speeches for William
Jennings Bryan in both English and French,
and had the honor of drawing some of the larg-
est audiences that heard any of the orators in
that memorable campaign. He also took the
stump for Governor Ferris of Michigan, cam-
paigned for Bryan in his last race for the
presidency, and made speeches in Chicago for
Carter Harrison in the mayoralty campaign.
He speaks French and Spanish in many of his
campaign addresses, but is equally fluent in
the use of perfect English. In fact his meth-
ods of teaching language have lately been
adopted by many of our leading institutions of
learning. In the 1916 campaign Captain
Pimienta was one of the orators selected for
Ohio in support of the campaign of
Gen. Isaac R. Sherwood for Congress, and he
was also engaged to speak in the East for
President Woodrow Wilson. Altogether Cap-
tain Pimienta is one of the most interesting
and engaging personalities in Toledo citizen-
ship.
William James Frey. If the conscious-
ness of duty well, and unselfishly done, and of
possessing universal personal esteem in everj'
part of the city and county in which he has
spent over a half centuiy, can bring happiness
to an individual, such compensation for many
years of strenuous and conscientious striving
for the public welfare, must be enjoyed bj'
William James Frey, probably the most
prominent and public spirited citizen in Han-
cock County. To his public spirit both city
and county are indebted in many ways, par-
ticularly Pindlay, for largely through his en-
ergy, determination and perseverance was the
capital secured to install one of the finest water
supply systems in the whole country, and not
only was this accomplished but through his
foresight and promptness, in an epidemic, was
the source of the water uncontaminated, and
the public health protected. In some countries
a medal of public service would have been be-
stowed for work of such great beneficence.
Mr. Frey served as county treasurer two terms
of four years each.
William James Frey was born at Bellefon-
taine, Ohio, December 9, 1854. He is of Eng-
lish and Scotch ancestry and of revolutionary
stock. The earliest members of the family in
the United States settled at Cumberland,
Maryland. The parents of Mr. Frey, Samuel
Dunbar and Priscilla Bell (Slicer) Frey, re-
moved from Logan County, Ohio, to Findlay
in 1863, and here the father engaged in busi-
ness as a merchant.
In the public schools of Findlay young Wil-
liam J. Frey was an attentive student and
continued his studies in the high school where
he took the full course and was one of two
pupils of the first graduating class, the other
WILLIAM J. FREY
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1403
being Doctor Tritch of Findlay. After sup-
plementing this instruction with a commercial
course in the Felton and Bigelow Commercial
College at Cleveland, he entered his father's
drug store on the corner of Sandusky and
West Main streets (which was operated for
thirty years) and there, in the old way, learned
pharmacy. In 1874 Mr. Frey became a stu-
dent of law in the office of Judge Michael
Whitel}', and remained with him for ten years,
being admitted to the bar at Columbus, in
1879.
In the meanwhile Mr. Prey became inter-
ested in public matters and in politics. His
convictions led him into the ranks of the Jef-
fersoniau democracy and political office was
urged upon him almost from the beginning.
For two terms he was chosen chairman of the
democratic state central committee. In 1900
he was his party 's candidate for congress from
the Eighth District, a great republican strong-
hold, and although he was defeated at the
election he ran 600 votes ahead of any prede-
cessor. In other contests his personal popu-
larity gave him a large vote, notably for the
state senate, but the republicans on those occa-
sions carried every county. On one occasion
he had to take a determined stand to prevent
his party from making him a candidate for
governor. In 1913 he was elected mayor of
Findlay and gave the city an admirable ad-
ministration, practical, useful and honest.
When Mr. Frey was young his father owned
the land from beneath which emerges an
underground river and this water, through
artesian wells has been utilized in providing
Findlay 's magnificent water system. The
water is conveyed a distance of fifteen miles
from Lime Stone Ridge to the city line. For
many years William James Frey sought to
interest the people of Findlay in the un-
equaled water supply lying practically in its
back yard, but many interests, for various
reasons brought about contention and nothing
was done. Mr. Frey secured the capital to
purchase the necessary piping and during his
administration as president of the waterworks
board the system was completed, with the re-
sult that Findlay enjoys an abundance of pure
sweet water not excelled anywhere.
After all this effort there came a time when
the good .iudgment. the wise public spirit and
the legal knowledge of Mr. Frey were abso-
lutely demanded in order to preserve this bless-
ing for the people of this city. In the great
epidemic of cattle plague that swept away
the finest herds in manv sections of different
states, Hancock County suffered and over 600
diseased cattle were slaughtered, this happen-
ing in the vicinity of the water supply source.
It was a grievous lack of sanitary precaution
that led the officials in charge of this matter
to contemplate burying the diseased carcasses
where they were killed. No one seemed to be
particularly interested when Mr. Frey pro-
tested, and it was necessary for him to secure
an injunction to prevent this calamity. Other-
wise the whole water supply would have been
■polluted and death and disaster would cer-
tainly have followed. Such an exhibition of
real public spirit and humanitarian impulse
could not be lost on his fellow citizens as soon
as they realized the gi-avity of the situation.
On April 16, 1891, Mr. Frey was united in
marriage with Miss Mary Frances Gilcrist, of
Vermilion, Ohio, a daughter of Abraham and
Betsey Ruth (Clough) Gilcrist. Her ancestry
is English and Irish and they came early to
the American colonies and took part in" the
Revolutionary war. Her people came to Ohio
from Shirley Hill, New Hampshire. Her
father was a lumber merchant and ship owner
and operated the Gilcrist Transportation line
between Alpina, Michigan and Buffalo, New
York. She was educated at Ann Arbor, Michi-
gan and Oberlin College and is a cultured and
gracious lady. Mr. and Mrs. Frey have one
daughter, Florence Merriam who, with her
mother, enjoys the city's pleasant social life,
being interested also in serious things, Mrs.
Frey being president of the City Federation
of Women Clubs for two years. The family
belongs to the First Methodist Church.
Among the important business concerns to
which Mr. Frey still gives attention may be
mentioned the Cedar Point Amusement Com-
pany, of which he is a director; the Com-
mercial Bank and Savings Company, of which
he was one of the organizers and is a director ;
and the Majestic Theater, in which he owns
stock and is a director. He owns valuable
farm land in the vicinity of Findlay and the
Frey business block in the city. He is a thirty-
second degree Mason and belongs also to the
Knights of Pythias and the Elks and finds
social relaxation as a member of the Findlay
Country Club. He is a generous, whole-souled
man, led into many charitable enterpri.ses
through benevolent impulses. He is a loyal
friend, a genial host and an incorruptible
citizen.
Horace Holcomb. One of the most con-
spicuous figures in the financial history of
1404
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
Toledo was the late Horace Holeomb, who was
identified with banking and merchandising in
that city for nearly half a century, and who
became the founder of the Holeomb National
Bank, whose resources and splendid record
were combined a few years ago with the
National Bank of Commerce.
By his fine integrity of character no less
than by his commanding genius as a financier,
the late Horace Holeomb was one of the domi-
nating personalities in Toledo's commercial
history. He was born at Granby, Connecticut,
June 17, 1824. By inheritance and by his own
careful life he possessed an iron constitution,
an unbending will and an intellect of great
s'trength and breadth. He was nearly seventy
years of age when he passed awav at his resi-
dence in Toledo, March 9, 1894.
Reared under the wholesome influences of a
New England community, he early went to
New York City, and later became junior part-
ner in the wholesale grocery firm of Kent,
Pogue & Company. In 1858 he identified him-
self with the new City of Toledo, entering the
wholesale grocery business with Robert Bell,
under the name Bell, Holeomb & Company.
Subsequently Bell and Holeomb took over the
entire business and continued the firm as Bell
& Holeomb for many years. In 1862 Mr. Hol-
eomb became interested in the Fir.st National
Bank, of which the late Valentine H. Ketcham
was then president. Mr. Holeomb was made a
director and was elected vice president. In
1871 Mr. Holeomb with Salmon Keeler and
E. H. Norton founded the banking firm of
Keeler, Holeomb & Company. This new bank
was soon on a firm footing and in a flourishing
condition. On July 1, 1891, the firm took out
a charter becoming a national bank, and owing
to the fact that ^Ir. Holeomb had for a number
of years been the active head of the private
bank, the new corporation was named the Hol-
eomb National Bank, with Mr. Holeomb as
president. He continued as president of this
institution until his death three years later.
After his death his son-in-law, Dr. William
A. Hume, who succeeded to his interests as a
director, became active in the management of
the bank and the institution continued on its
old footing until 190.5. Doctor Hume then re-
tired from all participation in the bank's
affairs, and in 1907 the Holeomb National
Bank was merged with the present National
Bank of Commerce.
Besides his holdings as a banker the late
Mr. Holeomb owned extensive real estate in
Toledo, and was closely associated with all the
larger business and public interests of the city.
His was an unblemished business record, and
his success was largely due to the fact that he
scrupulously fulfilled every promise made.
Men of his character add much to any city,
and his life should be remembered as a part of
the city's history and also for the hosts of
friends such a career merited.
Ferdinand E. Welch. Thousands of citi-
zens not only in Toledo but all over the coun-
try recall with affection the late Ferdinand E.
Welch, who for twenty-two years was pro-
prietor of the Boodj' House in Toledo. Before
his retirement he had spent more than half a
century in the liotel business, and had made
the hotel keeping a profession. His ability to
render ample and satisfactory service and his
genial hospitality made him an almost ideal
boniface. He was also an excellent citizen, as
many people in Toledo will testify, and few
men lay down the responsibilities of life with
so much good to their credit as this splendid
hotel proprietor.
His death occurred at his residence in
Toledo October 31, 1911. He was born in East
Cleveland, at Euclid, Ohio, July 26, 1839. He
was one of seven children of John and Rebecca
(Merchant) Welch. His father, who spent his
early life in Dutchess County, New York, was
of revolutionary stock. The Merchant family
were from Jersey City, New Jersey. Ferdi-
nand Welch was survived by three of his
parents' children: C. M. Welch, of Detroit;
Mrs. Burlingame, of Teenmseh, ilichigan ; and
i\Irs. Randall Crawford, of Cleveland.
For many years Ferdinand E. Welch was
one of the most conspicuous figures in hotel
life in the Jliddle West. When only fourteen
years of age, in 1853, lie began his apprentice-
ship in what was known as the Welch Tavern
at Cleveland. His uncle was proprietor.
After three years he accepted the position of
clerk at the McHenry House in Meadville,
Pennsylvania. He also had some early expe-
rience in the Weddell House in Cleveland. In
1861 he began his real career as a boniface by
purchasing the restaurant and hotel at the old
Great Western Depot in Cleveland. When the
hotel was destroyed by fire two years later he
became manager of the I\IeHenry House in
Meadville. where he had previously clerked.
He operated that hostelry until 1868, when
he sold out and bought from Shadrach Groff
the Junction House in Lafayette, Indiana.
He was proprietor of that old and well known
hotel for fifteen years from 1872 to 1887. In
J
7f/^MC.^..^££..
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1405
the meantime he had made his first visit to
Toledo and for a short time operated the old
Oliver House in that city.
Returning to Toledo" in 1887 Mr. Welch
again succeeded Mr. Groff, who had been, pro-
prietor of the Boody House since it was first
opened for business in 1871. For some years
Mr. W^elch was associated with the late ilr.
Hardy in the Boody House. The career of
Mr. Welch during the twenty-two years he
remained lessee of the Boody House is still
fresh in the minds of the traveling public and
the people of Toledo. Under his able man-
agement the house enjoyed a great popularity
and became known from coast to coast. The
old Boody House is now almost a thing of the
past. It was erected in 1870 and for years was
one of the conspicuous landmarks of the city.
It is now about to be demolished to make room
for the new modern sixteen story Bond Hotel.
It was in July, 1906, after fifty-three years
of active hotel experience that Jlr. Welch
turned over the Boody House to Chris Wall
and Elmer C. Puffer and retired to private
life. Mr. Welch had the distinction of found-
ing the Ohio Hotel Men's State Association,
one of the strongest organizations of its char-
acter in the country. He was the first presi-
dent of the association and at the time of his
death was a member of its executive commit-
tee. He also served as president of the
Toledo Hotel Association. A successful busi-
ness man, he was at one time a director in The
Ketcham National Bank, now The First Na-
tional Bank of Toledo.
Ferdinand Welch was extremely popular
with the traveling public and was literally the
genial host. After his retirement he built a
splendid home on one of the principal streets
of Toledo and lived there until his death. The
residence is still the home of ]\Irs. Welch.
Mr. Welch was active in the Toledo Club, the
Knights of Pythias and the Royal Arcanum.
In 1863 he married I\Iiss ]\Iary Richardson of
Maumee. Their only child is Mrs. J. S. Me-
Hugh of Lafayette, Indiana.
NoRM.\N Lamont Maclachlan. :\I. D. a
resident of Findlay for more than a quarter
of a century, and one of the leading medical
men of the city. Doctor ilaelaehlan is perhaps
most widely known through his successful co-
operation and official conduct of various large
business interests. Without doubt he is one
of the foremost business men in this section
of Northwest Ohio.
A native of Ontario. Canada, where he was
born November 26, 1854, he was seven years
of age when his parents moved to Argyle
Township in Sanilac County, Michigan. His
mother's name was ]Mary Black, and both the
Blacks and Maclachlans were of sturdy
Scotch stock, coming to Canada from Argyle-
shire in 1842. Doctor Maclachlan attended
the common schools at Argyle in Michigan,
and in 1875 entered the University of Michi-
gan, where he was graduated in 1878. He
studied medicine under various private prac-
titioners, and for eleven years was successfully
identified with his profession in Cass City,
Michigan. Doctor Maclachlan moved to
Findlay, Ohio, in 1889 and has enjoyed some
of the more distinctive honors of his profes-
sion. For twenty-three years he has been
local surgeon for the Cincinnati, Hamilton
and Dayton Railway Company; from 1898
to 1906 he was surgeon of the Findlay
Home and Hospital : and is local medical ex-
aminer to the State Industrial Commission.
For sixteen years he was secretary and mem-
ber of the local United States Board of Pen-
sion Examiners. He is an active member of
all the medical societies.
During his residence in Cass City, Michi-
gan, Dr. JIaclachlan served as mayor in 1883-
1884. For six years he was a member of the
Findlay City Council and two yeare was its
president. He was a member of the school
board in 1894-1895. Politically he is a
republican and has always been an ardent
admirer of former President Roosevelt. He
was a Roosevelt delegate from the Eighth
Ohio district to the National Republican Con-
vention in 1912 at Chicago. He is a member
and president of the Findlay Commerce Club,
is also president of the Up-to-Date Club, a
member of the Findlay Country Club, and
is aiifiliated with the Masons, in wliicli lie has
attained the thirty-second degree of Scottish
Rite, the Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks, with the Odd Fellows and with the.
Maccabees.
His business connections are with a num-
ber of the best known industries of Findlay.
He was formally president of the Buckeye
Traction Ditcher Company, an office he filled
for six years, was formerly vice president of
the company two years, and has been a di-
rector for thirteen years. This is one of the
industries which gave place of prominence to
Findlay as an industrial city. He has been
a director in the Commercial Bank, Savings
and Trust Company since its organization in
1901 and is now vice president. He is also
president and director of the Adams Axle
Company, a concern employing 150 men. He
1406
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
is vice president of the Vaiilue Banking Com-
pany, and is president of the Findlay Pub-
lishing Company, publishers of The Morning
Republican, the leading newspaper of Han-
cock County.
On November 27, 1889, Doctor JIaelachlan
married Miss Emma Jackson of Blenheim, On-
tario, a daughter of John Jackson. Mrs. Mac-
lachlan died June 12, 1907, leaving one
daughter, who is now Mrs. H. W. ilaePhail, of
Raymond, Washington, and the mother of one
son, Norman C. IMacPhail. Doctor ]\Iaclaeh-
lan remarried, July 27, 1916, to Miss L«na
Gertrude Roling, of Columbus. Ohio, a daugh-
ter of Anthony and ]\rary Lena (Andres)
Roling. Mrs. ^laclachlan was for several
years engaged in educational work as super-
visor of primary methods in public schools,
and was also noted as a lecturer before educa-
tional institutes. She has contributed articles
to many of the educational magazines. She
is a graduate of Teachei-s College, Columbia
University, New York City.
Noah H. Swatne of Toledo is one of the
most widely known lawyers of Northwestern
Ohio, and his work has conferred additional
honor xipon a name which became distin-
guished in Ohio and throughout the nation
through his father, who was also Noah H.
Swayne, and who for many years was an asso-
ciate justice of the Supreme Court of the
United States. While Justice Swayne was
never a resident of Northwestern Ohio, there
is every reason and fitness for referring briefly
to his career in these pages.
Justice Noah Haynes Swayne was born in
Culpeper County, Virginia, December 7,
1804, and was nearly eighty years of age when
he died in New York Cit.v" June 8, 1884. He
was a descendant of Francis Swayne, who had
immigrated to this countiy in the days of
William Penn, accompanied by his family, and
settled near Philadelphia. Joshua Swayne,
father of Judge Swayne, retained his member-
ship in the Society of Friends. He removed
to Virginia, locating at the Town of Water-
ford, and gave his son a liberal education. The
early studies of the lad were directed toward
the medical profession and at one time he
served as an apothecary's clerk in Alexandria.
Through the death of his teacher this plan was
interrupted. His father died not long after-
ward, and his mother being unable to provide
for his support while pursuing a collegiate
course, he took up the study of law in Warren-
ton and was admitted to the Virginia bar in
1823.
In 1825 Judge Swayne came to Ohio and
opened an office at Coshocton. He served as
prosecuting attorney of the county in 1826-29,
and was then elected as a Jefferson democrat
to the Ohio Legislature. In 1830 President
Jackson appointed him United States district
attorney for Ohio, and he soon afterwards re-
moved to Columbus and filled the office until
1841. While in that office, in 1833, he declined
an appointment as president judge of the
Court of Common Pleas. He also served as a
commissioner to manage the state debt, and
as a member of a committee sent by the gov-
ernor to effect a settlement of the boundary
lines between the states of Ohio and Michigan.
In 1840 he was a member of the committee to
inquire into the condition of the State Blind
Asylum. Becoming interested in public chari-
ties, he ever afterwards took a leading part in
organizing and visiting asylums and institu-
tions for the blind, the deaf and dumb and
lunatics.
After leaving the United States district at-
torneyship, he resumed private practice. The
trial of William Rossane and others in the
United States District Court at Cohimbus in
1853 for burning the steamboat Martha Wash-
ington to obtain the insurance was one of his
most celebrated cases. He also appeared as
counsel in fugitive slave cases, and owing to
his anti-slavery opinions joined the republican
party on its formation. It was characteristic
of his essential kindliness of nature and his
views and principles on justice that as early
as 1832 he emancipated a number of slaves
acquired by his marriage.
His bold utterances upon public questions in
the trying years preceding the war made him
one of the many conspicuous Ohio leaders of
that time, and on January 14, 1862, he was
appointed by President Lincoln one of the
associate justices of the Supreme Court at the
most critical hour in the history of that tribu-
nal. He was appointed in place of John
McLean, deceased, and was commissioned on
January 24, 1862. He served on the Supreme
Bench until 1881, when he resigned on account
of advanced age. The degree doctor of laws
was conferred upon him by Dai-tmouth and
IMarietta colleges in 1863. and by Yale in 1865.
Carson's History of the Supreme Bench speaks
of him as follows: "A judge of unusual
capacity, familiar with adjudged cases, and
with settled habits of labor and research,
of genial and benevolent courtesy, singularly
amiable in disposition, and patient even with
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1407
the dullest, he won not only the esteem but
the warmest affection of the bar. ' '
Two of the sons of the late Jvistice Swayne
now reside in New York, Gen. Wager Swayne
and Frank Swayne, the latter for many years
a resident of Toledo. Gen. Wager Swayne
was a practicing lawyer in Ohio when the Civil
war liroke out, went to the front as a major of
the Forty-third Ohio Volunteers, came out of
the war a major general, and afterwards
joined the regular army and was brevetted
brig^adier general. Following his military
services in the South he was an active aid to
the Federal Government in the establishment
of schools and in cari-ying out the reconstruc-
tion plan in the southern states, and subse-
quently for some years practiced at Toledo.
Noah H. Swayne, of Toledo, was born in
JMaryland in 1847. The position of his father
gave him many opportunities and advantages
during his youth, and he graduated from Yale
University with the class of 1870. He also
took up the profession of his father, and was
prepared in the Colvmibian Law School at
Washington and admitted to practice iu the
Supreme Court in 1873. Returning to Toledo,
he has ever since for a period of forty years or
more occupied a foremost position in the Lucas
County bar. His practice has extended over
a wide range of territory. The firm of
Swayne, Swayne, Hayes & Tyler had for many
years a clientage probably not surpassed by
any other firm in Ohio, and including vast
interests of many leading corporations as well
as wealthy individuals.
The law library of Mr. Swayne is said to be
one of the most extensive private libraries in
the Northwest, and among other works it in-
cludes the only full and complete private col-
lection of legislative and judicial reports upon
and affecting the Northwest Territory, from
the beginning of legislation at Philadelphia
down to the present time, that there is in
existence.
While Mr. Swayne has taken an active inter-
est in politics as a republican, he has stead-
fastly refused to become a candidate for any
office, political or judicial, with the exception
that he was a member of the Sixty-fifth Gen-
eral Assembly. While in the Assembly he ren-
dered Toledo a most valuable service. As his
father had drawn the bulk of the laws up to
that time regarding the care and maintenance
of the insane, Mr. Swayne also took a great
interest in the same line, and made special
effort in their behalf while in the Legislature.
While the question of taking care of the over-
flow among the'patients of the various institu-
tions was being discussed, he defeated a bill to
add to the capacity of the assylums already
built and went to work to create the necessary
legislation for the establishment of a new insti-
tution. He wisely deferred bringing the ques-
tion of location into the original measure. He
first assured himself of the proper steps to
build the new asylum, and before the appoint-
ment of a commission to fix the location he
interviewed the various state officials and had
incorporated into the act the name of such
officers comprising the commission as would
favor Toledo. The result is best told in the
magnificent s.ystem of buildings for the insane
now found in one of Toledo's suburbs. This
city as well as Ohio in general owe a great debt
to Mr. Swayne for this work. Mr. Swayne was
a member of the Chicago convention of 1916
that nominated Charles E. Hughes for Presi-
dent. He is prominent iu Toledo financial
affairs, being a director of the Second National
Bank. For years he was a member and presi-
dent of the Toledo Public Library Board, and
that institution owes a great deal to his inter-
est and work. In younger years Mr. Swayne
was very, fond of athletics, and has always
retained that interest and there is today no
more devoted baseball "fan" than he. He
provided the magnificent ball park in Toledo
which is called "Swayne Field" in his honor.
This is the finest ball park in Northwest Ohio.
Socially Mr. Swayne is very popular and a
member of many different clubs including the
University Club of New York, the Country
Club, IMiddle Bass Club and Toledo Clubs of
Toledo, and he also belongs to the Toledo Com-
merce Club. On March 15, 1886, he married
Frances Sickles of St. Louis.
Chaeles Frederick Mather Niles. A
prominent banker, and until recently presi-
dent of the Security Savings Bank & Trust
Company of Toledo, Charles Frederick Mather
Niles inherited his taste and talents for bank-
ing. His father, Charles E. Niles, was presi-
dent and one of the founders of the First
National Bank of Findlay, Ohio.
His capacity for finance and business
organization has made him a notable factor
in Toledo commercial history. Probably more
than any other individual he has been en-
trusted with important receiverships, among
which were the Toledo Commercial and the
Toledo and Indiana Electric Railroad. He
also rendered some valuable public service
1408
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
during the four vears he was safety director
of Toledo.
Charles Frederick Mather Niles was born
at Hudson, Michigan, April 4, 1859, and has
enjoyed a very active business career for the
past thirty-five years. He received his educa-
tion in public schools and in the University
of Wooster, Ohio, where he graduated A. B.
in 1882, and in 1885 received the degree Mas-
ter of Arts. While in college he was Wash-
ington Orator and was editor in chief of the
University Index. Coming from a family of
means, he was able to gratify his tastes and
desires for culture, and after leaving Wooster
University he went abroad and was a student
in London, England, and Dresden, Germany.
Mr. Niles has always been an active demo-
crat. During his first administration Presi-
dent Cleveland appointed him Register of the
United States Land Office at Garden City,
Kansas. While in Kansas Mr. Niles was
admitted to the bar. but so far as known has
never handled any legal business except such
as has been connected with banking or other
private affairs. Mr. Niles served as presi-
dent of the Garden City Bank, of the Hodge-
man County Bank of Jetmore, was a direc-
tor of the First National Bank of Garden
City, and of a bank at Mead Center, all in
Kansas, and was also a director of the Kan-
sas Southwestern Railroad. After leaving
Kansas Mr. Miles was president of the Conti-
nental National Bank at Memphis, Tennessee,
and in 1897 was elected president of the Ten-
nessee Bankers Associations, but in 1898 came
to Toledo and organized the Security Trust
Company. Later a savings department was
added, and the Security Savings Bank and
Trust Company is now one of Toledo's lead-
ing financial and fiduciary institutions. Mv.
Niles served as president of the bank until his
retirement on January 1, 1916.
In addition to his services in connection
with financial institutions, Mr. Niles has util-
ized many unusual opportunities to associate
with and assist young men. While in Woos-
ter University he became a member of the
Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, and has always
kept up his associations with that body and
has received many honors from the national
fraternitv. He first attended the biennial
G. A. C. at Washington in 1880, and has
hardly missed a meeting of the body since
then, and it is said that he has a larger ac-
quaintance among Phi Kappa Psi men than
any other individual. For a number of years
he served as national treasurer and one term
as national president, and was long a member
of its executive council. Mr. Niles is also
active in Masonry, having attained the thir-
ty-second degree of Scottish Rite and is a
member of the Mystic Shrine.
He has enjoyed a delightful home life, and
has an attractive residence at 2062 Robin-
wood Avenue. Mrs. Niles before her mar-
riage was Miss Fannie I. Sneath. Her
father was the late Samuel B. Sneath, a well
known banker of Tiffin. Mr. and ilrs. Niles
had four children : Louise, wife of Samuel
E. Gates and living in Spokane, Washing-
ton; Fredericka, wife of Harry T. Loew of
Toledo; Sarah, at home; and Charles, who
had nearly completed his course at Purdue
University in Lafayette, Indiana, preparatory
to a promising career, when he was drowned
by the upsetting of a canoe near Monroe,
Slichigan.
Joi?EPH P.\RKER B.\KER, ]\I. D. There are
some individuals who always manage to find
the opportunity, or to create it, to attend to
good works whether of a public or private
nature. Dr. Joseph Parker Baker is pre-emi-
nently one of this class, and, fortunately for
the development of the best interests of Find-
lay, does not stand alone. He is a member of
the group of able citizens whose civic interest
and pride are equal to their business and pro-
fessional enterprise and ambition and who are
centering every possible energy upon the per-
fection of better conditions and the improve-
ment of the municipal service. Of broad edu-
cation and fine, sympathetic nature, as well as
of strength and courage, he is peculiarly and
admirably adapted to be associated with the
progressive guard of such a city as Findlay.
Doctor Baker was born June 9. 1864, in
Perry Township, Wood County, Ohio, and is
a son of Joshua Cope and Clarissa A. (Moor-
head) Baker. On his father's side he is of
German-English descent, and on his mother's
of Scotch-Irish ancestry, the progentitor of the
Cope family settling in Penns.vlvania with
William Penn. When Doctor Baker was one
year old the family moved to Allen Township,
Hancock County, and there he grew up on
the farm, his early education being secured in
the public schools of Findlay. After a course
in the Delaware Business College, he took up
school teaching at West Millgrove and later
followed the same vocation at Bairdstown, his
experience as an educator covering in all a
period of seven years. During this time he
had not relinquished his early ambition of a
a^iut^^ Ca KyJ^-f^CiLY /h^SiS.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1409
career in medicine, and when he found the
leisure from the duties of the schoolroom ap-
plied himself resolutely to his studies. Finally
he placed himself under the preceptorship of
Dr. Anson Hurd, the oldest physician of
Findlay, under whose instruction he remained
three years. With this preparation he entered
Sterling Medical College in 1888, and in 1890,
after a brilliant college career, graduated as
president of his class.
Immediately after his graduation, Doctor
Baker opened an office at Findlay and settled
down to a general practice. He was not con-
tent, however, to remain in the ranks of the
mediocre, and accepted every opportunity to
further himself in his profession. A con-
stant student, he took special courses at the
New York Polyclinic and the New York Post-
Graduate Hospital, and in 1911 and 1916 took
a post-graduate course at Harvard. From the
time of his entrance into professional ranks
his practice has grown and developed, until
today he is accounted one of the leading phy-
sicians of tlif city. Doctor Baker is S member
of the American .Mcili.-al Association, the Ohio
State Medical Sucicty, the Northwestern Ohio
Medical Society, and the Hancock County
Medical Society. His practice is general,
which, with a love of medical study, makes
him one of the most widely read members of
his calling in this part of the state.
While Doctor Baker is widely known for his
achievements in his profession, he is equally
so for his activities in civic affairs. He has
always been activel.y and unselfishly interested
in the betterment of social coiidifidiis for his
locality, a work which has licen facilitated by
his incumbency of the office nt' prcsiilent of
the Findlay Board of Health during the past
twenty years. He has worked faithfully and
continuously for better housing, better venti-
lation, better sanitary conditions and better
water, and in the last-named direction was the
most prominent factor, with ex-Mayor Frey,
in securing for Findlay its present unequalled
artesian water supply. A practical humani-
tarian, he is noted for his good deeds, and as
president of the Charity Association of Find-
lay has done much to aid the unfortunate of
the city. He takes a helpful interest also in
commercial affairs, as a member of the Findlay
Business Men's Association, and his fellow-
members therein are ever ready to give re-
spectful attention to his sound, practical sug-
grestions. Doctor Baker is a member of the
Findlay Country Club, and is prominent fra-
ternally, being a thirty-second degree Scottish
Rite Mason and a member of the Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks Lodge No. 75,
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and
the Knights of Pythias,
Doctor Baker married Miss Harriet
Schwartz, a daughter of Henry Schwartz, a
pioneer merchant of Findlay, in 1892. They
are members of the First Lutheran Church of
Findlay.
Eenest Bourneb Allen, D. D. Since Octo-
ber 1, 1901, Ernest Bourner Allen, D. D., has
been pastor of the First Congregational
Church of Toledo. This service, now covei'-
ing fifteen years, makes his one of the longest
continuous pastorates among the Protestant
churches of the city.
Doctor Allen is in fact one of the leading
Congregational ministers of the country. He
has specially distinguished himself by his
work among young people, and his church
has one of the largest Sunday schools in Ohio.
He is a minister of high ideals, of enthusiasm,
a good preacher, an organizer and leader of
men, and has identified himself closely with
all civic movements in Toledo during the last
fifteen years.
He was born at Kalamazoo, Michigan, June
2. 1868, a son of George Ladd and Harriet
(Bourner) Allen. During his boyhood up
to the age of fifteen he attended the public
schools and also Parsons Business College
at Kalamazoo, and then followed various com-
mercial pursuits for a livelihood from 1883
until 1888. With a higher education in mind
and a professional career to follow. Doctor
Allen then entered Olivet College in Michi-
gan, where he was graduated B. A. in 1895.
In 1903 he graduated Bachelor of Divinity
from the Oberlin Theological Seminary. In
1907 his alma mater Olivet College conferred
upon him the degree D. D.
Ordained in the Congregational ministry
September 19, 1895, Doctor Allen was pas-
tor at Lansing, Michigan, from that date until
1901, and has since been at the head of the
large church in Toledo. He was a trustee of
the Ohio Congregational Conference from
1907 to 1914, and during 1910-11 was mod-
erator of the church. He has been correspond-
ing editor of the Congregationalist of Bos-
ton since 1910, and contributing editor to The
Advance at Chicago since the same year. He
is a trustee of Olivet College, having held that
post since 1897, Doctor Allen has been a
member of the board of trustees of the Fed-
eration of Charities, is a trustee of the Toledo
1410
HISTOKY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
City Mission and a member of the Toledo Com-
merce Club.
Doctor Allen is a skillful writer of both
prose and poetry. It should not be neglected
to mention that he is author of "The Toledo
Creed," which has been adopted as defining
and stating the spirit of the City of Toledo,
Ohio.
Elihu Warner Tolerton. During his
thirty years of residence in Toledo the late
Elihu Warner Tolerton impressed his life and
influence on many individuals and institu-
tions outside of his own profession, which
was that of the law. He was one of the fore-
most lawyers of Northwest Ohio, and pos-
sessed the character, talents and varied learn-
ing which give dignity and value to the legal
calling.
His birthplace was Salem, Ohio, and there
he was laid to rest. At the time of his death,
which occurred at his home, 1704 Jefferson
Avenue, in Toledo, August 22, 1905, he was
fifty-six years old. He was born May 14, 1849,
a son of Hill Tolerton. As a boy he attended
country schools, but following the leadings
of an active ambition he entered Allegheny
College at Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he
was graduated A. B. in 1871. He was also
Greek salutatorian and prize essayist in the
Philo Franklin Literary Society. Soon after
graduation from college he was admitted to
the bar at New Lisbon, near Salem, which was
then the county seat of Cohimbiana County.
Coming to Toledo he opened a law office in the
old Anderson Block, but in 1875 moved to the
Produce Exchange Building. He was the first
tenant of that old landmark in Toledo, and
never moved his offices from the structure
during the thirty years of his active practice.
At the time of his death his office was in
room 43.
Mr. Tolerton . was practically without ex-
perience in the law when he came to Toledo,
but by diligent work and a conscientious devo-
tion to the interests of his clients he built up
and acquired a practice such as few of his
fellow members of the bar enjoyed. With
his increasing prestige as a lawyer, large
affairs were entrusted to his charge, and in
1887 he was appointed attorney for the Penn-
sylvania lines, a position he held until his
death. He was also connected with the Man-
ufacturers Railroad after that property had
been sold by Alex Backus and W. H. A. Reed,
its builders and owners, to Thomas H. Tracy.
At that time the railroad had tracks from
Locust to Olive Street and track right to the
north citj' line. Mr. Tolerton was foremost in
public affairs, and became prominent in com-
merce, being interested in the establishment
of many of the city's best known commercial
institutions. At the time of his death he was
a director and attorney for the National Bank
of Commerce, The Toledo Machine and Tool
Company, The Toledo Metal Wheel Company,
The Harris Toy Company, and a number of
others. It is said that he was probably the
most heavily insured man in Toledo. He car-
ried more than $100,000 in various companies.
There was that about the late ilr. Tolerton
which commended him to the respect and
admiration of his fellow men. He took great
pleasure in the fraternities of his college and
was in full membership of the Phi Beta
Kappa, and Phi Kappa Psi, having been initi-
ated in the former about two years before his
death while paying a visit to his old col-
lege. This honor was greatly appreciated by
him. Mr. Tolerton early united with the
Methodist Episcopal Church, apd was long
identified with St. Paul's Church at Toledo.
The present splendid edifice of that church
at the corner of Madison Avenue and Thir-
teenth Street, was largely due to his wise
planning ancl individual generosity. For
thirty years he conducted the Men's Bible
Class of the church, and many scores of Toledo
men attended that class and considered it one
of the most important events and occasions
of each week. Mr. Tolerton was not a rou-
tine teacher. He taught largely by talking
rather than asking questions, taking his sub-
ject or text from the regi;lar Sunday school
lesson. From the wealth of his experience
he was able to vitalize the talks, and all who
ever attended the class regarded such attend-
ance as a great privilege and recall with pleas-
ure the hours spent there under his instruc-
tion. For many years he also served as a mem-
ber of the board of stewards of St. Paul's
Church. After coming to Toledo, on May 4,
1875, ]\Ir. Tolerton married Miss Mary Wil-
bur, a Toledo girl. Their four children are
all living, as follows: Harry H. Tolerton,
now in business at San Francisco, California;
Lucy, wife of Richard W. Kirkley, formerly
an attorney at Toledo but now a resident of
Los Angeles, California: May W.. of Pasa-
dena. California; Wilbur D., of Pasadena.
Mrs. Tolerton is also now a resident of Pasa-
dena.
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
Otto Dewey Donnell. Among the young
men of Northwest Ohio who within the space
of a few short years have attained to positions
of prominence in the business world, a number
of those best known have found in the oil
business the medium through which their suc-
cess has been gained. This industry, which
is one of the leading ones in the life of North-
west Ohio, has constant and pressing need of
young men of ability, mechanical knowledge
and perseverance, who are willing to give
themselves whole-heartedly to the interests of
the business, and such a one is found in the
person of Otto Dewey Donnell, who, at the
age of thirty-three years, is vice president of
the Ohio Oil Company, of Pindlay, and one of
4;he most prominent business men of this thriv-
ing industrial city. Further, he occupies an
acknowledged place in the civic and social
life of the city and of recent years has done
much to advance its interests.
Mr. Donnell was born at Allentown, Alle-
gany County, New York, September 26, 1883,
and is a son of James C. and Sadie (Flinn)
Donnell. On his father's side of the family
he is of Irish descent, while his mother be-
longs to the Southern Randolphs, an old Vir-
ginia family whose members bear a distin-
guished position in the history of the South.
Mr. Donnell was still a child when brought
by his parents to Findlay, and here his early
education was secured in the graded and high
schools, from the latter of which he was duly
graduated. Being of a scientific bent, he was
next sent to the Case School of Applied Sci-
ence, at Cleveland, and was graduated from
that institution in the class of 1906, receiving
the degree of Bachelor of Science. Returning
to Findlay, he entered the employ of the Ohio
Oil Company, the largest producers of oil in
the Buckeye State, his first position being
that of mechanical engineer. Subsequently,
he was made manager of constiiiction, and
finally was advanced to the office of vice presi-
dent, the position which he now holds. His
father, James C. Donnell, is president of this
company, which owns 18,000 wells, of which
12,000 are producing at this time. Mr. Don-
nell is justly accounted one of the best in-
formed men "in the oil business in Ohio today.
His entire career, since leaving school, has
been devoted to his present line of work, and
he has thoroughly and systematically mastered
its many departments, so that he has a prac-
tical, working knowledge of every phase of
the business of oil production. He is also vice
president of the Electric Construction Com-
pany, another large Pindlay enterprise, and in
business circles is generally regarded a sound,
energetic and capable man of affairs, with a
keen foresight, sound initiative and a power
of resource.
If Mr. Donnell is well known in business
circles, he is equally so in civic affairs. Al-
ways a friend of the schools and a firm be-
liever in the necessity of thorough mental
training, on January 1, 1916, he was elected
president of the Findlay Board of Education,
for a term of two years. He is also chairman
of the building committee of the board, and in
this capacity has already supervised the oper-
ations on two new graded schools, known as
the "Washington and the Lincoln. His work in
this connection is of marked benefit to his
city. Politically he is an independent repub-
lican, but he has not allowed politics to inter-
fere with either his business or his civic affairs,
his principal interest in public matters lying
in his desire to see good men elected and good
measures passed. Fraternally he stands high
in Masonry, belonging to the Knights Templar
and to Zenobia Temple, Ancient Arabic Order
of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and is also a
member of the Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks. He was one of the principal
organizers and president of the Findlay Coun-
try Club, and is a golf enthusiast who plays an
excellent game. Mr. Donnell's religious affili-
ations is with the First Presbyterian Church,
of which he is now acting as a member of the
board of trustees.
In 1908 Mr. Donnell was united in marriage
with Miss Glenn McClelland, of Pindlay, and
to this union there have been bom tliree chil-
dren : James C. II, John Randolph and Otto
Dewey Jr.
Samuel Hildebrand. America is a coun-
try noted for its remarkable contra.st in the
material fortunes of individuals. There have
been so many eases to prove the point that
it is not regarded as extraordinary when the
poor and humble clerk of today becomes the
rich merchant of tomorrow, or the child born
in the log cabin becomes a man entrusted with
the destinies of a state or nation.
About the beginning of the year 1889 there
arrived at Castle Garden, New York, a little
party of a dozen Europeans, all French peo-
ple except one Swi.ss boy, Samuel Hildebrand
by name. Samuel Hildebrand was unable
to understand or speak a word of English. He
brought no capital with him, though he was
skilled in the mechanical trade of carpenter.
1412
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
He had been born of poor parents in Canton
Berne, Switzerland, March 17, 1863. A few
years after his birth his father died, and at
the age of five he was taken into the home of
his mother's sister, Mrs. Jacob Knuth. His
own mother died after he came to America.
He had limited opportunities as a boy, and
at the age of fifteen after finishing his school-
ing he began making his own way. For the
next ten years he visited various European
countries, learned the trade of cabinet maker,
and during some months in 1888 was employed
in Paris on the buildings and grounds where '
in the following year the Paris Exposition
was held. It was after that work that he
started for America.
Samuel Hildebraud arrived in Toledo in the
spring of 1889. He was a good workman in
spite of the handicap of lack of understand-
ing of English language, and was soon em-
ployed as a journeyman carpenter. After
working for various parties for two and a
half years he entered the furniture factory of
Valentine Ketchara. In the meantime he
attended night school regularly in order to
learn the English language.
It was coiirage and initiative which took
him out of the ranks of wage earner and into
a business of his own. He concluded that
there was no profit in working for some one
else, and having the skill and the experience
he embarked as a contractor on I\Iarch 1,
1892, and since then, for almost a quarter of
a century, has been steadily at work in the
contracting business at Toledo. Many sub-
stantial buildings in the city attest his skill
and thoroughness. Among those may be men-
tioned the Stamm Building, at the corner of
Thirteenth and Jlissouri streets, the ]Mohler
Block on the opposite corner of the same
streets, Capf's Hall on "Western Avenue, and
a number of the better residences. One of the
first contracts he ever took was for the erec-
tion of the Miller Club House in Oregon
Township of Lucas County. This Club House
was destroyed by fire in 1909. Mr. Hildebrand
also built iiis residence at 2456 Broadway.
Deserving of special mention is Hilde-
brand Terrace which he erected at the corner
of Broadway and St. James Court. This
building has the distinction of being the first
in Toledo to be constructed by what is known
as "the continuous hollow wall system," a
process for which Mr. Hildebrand owns the
exclusive right for Lucas. Wood and Ottawa
counties. The characteristic feature is double
walls of concrete with a dead air space be-
tween, and this feature eliminates the damp-
ness which is so common in most concrete con-
struction and also deadens noise, so that the
hollow wall system is especially adapted to the
construction of apartment houses and similar
buildings.
Mr. Hildebrand has platted and added three
additions to the City of Toledo and has dedi-
cated three streets to the city, Hildebrand
Avenue, St. James Court, Water Works Drive
and a part of Foraker Avenue and Hoffman
Street.
A bit of interesting mvmieipal history is
revealed in his connection with St. James
Court. Being the owner of all the abutting
property on that street he was awarded a
contract by the Board of Public Service to
pave the street with metropolitail block pave-
ment. This is probably the only case of its
kind in Toledo where the owner of the adja-
cent property has paid himself as the contrac-
tor for the paving of a street, and it is a sig-
nificant testimonial to the fact, that though a
contractor who had to pay himself for his
work, he in no wise slighted his performance,
and the St. James Court is even now regarded
as the best paved street in Toledo. Mr. and
Jlrs. Hildebrand deeded the City of Toledo,
Hildebrand Avenue. This avenue cost them
$1,500, but they received nothing from the
city for it.
Many years ago Mr. Hildebrand more out
of the essential honesty of his nature than as
a definite and practical policy, based his work
upon the principles of giving prompt atten-
tion to every contract, using good material,
high class workmanship, and making the job
satisfy his own expert criticism as well as
those for whom he performed the work. Thus
he has long enjoyed a reputation for honest
work and the fulfillment of all his promises.
From individual contracts he has perhaps not
derived as much profit as other men less con-
scientious, but on the whole he has been suc-
cessful, and his success is built vipon the solid
cornerstone of honesty and efficiency, and such
a reputation is worth more than money.
Mr. Hildebrand has became a prominent cit-
izen of Toledo, and has for years interested
himself in local politics. He has served as
precinct committeeman, and in 1908 was cho-
sen as a delegate to the National Convention
of the republican party that nominated Wil-
liam Taft for president. He has also repre-
sented the Tenth Ward republicans in the
State Convention. He is a member of the
Toledo Commerce Club, the Builders Ex-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1413
change, the Second German Reformed Church
of Toledo, has a host of friends in his adopted
city and his career is one that reflects honor
on the community.
May 9, 1891, he married Miss Eva M. See-
beurger. Her father, Jacob Seebeurger, was
one of the earliest German settlers of Riga,
Lenawee County, Michigan, where he and
his wife are buried. Mrs. Hildebrand was
born, reared and educated there. Mr. and
Mrs. Hildebrand 's four children, all of whom
have been educated in the Toledo public
schools are: Elmer, Raymond, Alice and
Florence.
]\Iatthew Bartlett is one of the veteran
merchants of Toledo. His has been a long
and successful career, and he has been iden-
tified with this city through all its important
developments and has witnessed its growth
from a place of a few thousand into one of
the metropolitan centers of the Middle West.
Frequent honors have been paid him. but his
real service could not be measured by such
distinctions. He has been a substantial busi-
ness man with the old fashioned type of integ-
rity, served his adopted country at the time
of the Civil war, has also held office under
the city government, and is one of the best
known Odd Fellows in the State of Ohio.
A native of England, he was born in the
parish of Somerset in the City of Bath, April
•19, 1841, a son of Matthew and Fannie
(Baker) Bartlett. His father was born in
Devonshire and was a cabinet maker and
builder by trade. Third in a family of ten
children, six sons and four daughters, ilat-
thew Bartlett early gave evidence of that
venturesome spirit and enterprise which sub-
sequently brought him to Toledo and made
him a leading factor in its affairs. When five
years of age he was sent to the Broad Street
School, an institution that had been founded
in 1744 and is still in existence. At that time
it was conducted under the auspices of St.
Michael's Church. He was a student there
five years. Soon after his return home he ran
away, led by his love of adventure and a
desire to see more of the world. That was
more than sixty years ago. and since then he
has reaped a rich fund of experience. For a
time he was employed as a messenger boy
between Bristol and Clifton and then going
to London took passage on an American ship
seventy-two days later landed him in New
York City. His westward journeying was
continued on board the Francis Skiddy up
the Hudson River to Albany, and from there
he went by stage to Troy, where his uncle
lived. Mr. Bartlett lived with his uncle until
1854.
In that year he came to Toledo, accepting
a position with Ralph Cross, a jeweler, and
was in his employ three years. The next three
years were spent in the office of Doctor Estill,
a dentist, and he acquired a thorough knowl-
edge of all departments of the profession as
it was then practiced. He also had some
experience as clerk in a dry goods store of S.
Smiley. In 1861 ilr. Bartlett engaged in busi-
ness for himself in partnership with James
Moore under the firm name of Moore & Bart-
lett, and they conducted a jewelry store on
Summit Street until 1864.
On New Year's Day of 1866 Mr. Bartlett
married Miss Josephine Holmes, who had lived
in Pittsburg prior to her marriage. Recently
the Toledo papers gave considerable space to
the event of Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett '.s celebra-
tion of their fiftieth or golden wedding anni-
versary. In an interview given a reporter of
the Toledo Daily Blade at that time Mr. Bart-
lett described some of his early experiences in
Toledo. Among other things lie is reported to
have said : ' ' Toledo was known as Mud Town
when I came here. It had about five thousand
people. Huron street was out of town, the
principal busines.s being on Summit and ]\Ion-
roe streets. The site of the building where
I have been located for years in the furniture
business at Jefferson and Erie streets was then
under water, and beyond that was hazel brush.
The largest part of the city's business was
done on Summit street below Cherry. The
best hotel in the city was the American hotel
at Summit and Ehn streets. The most promi-
nent man in the city then was Major Stick-
ney, who owned a bank at Manhattan."
He then described his military service:
"About this time a provisional regiment was
raised in Toledo to prevent the burning of our
elevators, which had been threatened. We
remained on duty here until President Lin-
coln asked Governor Tod to furnish a well
drilled and equipped regiment to guard Con-
federate prisoners at Johnson's Island. There
were twenty-five hundred prisoners none
below the rank of second lieutenant. We
remained on guard until we went out as the
130th Ohio Volunteer Infantrj' and faced
General Longstreet's Corps at Petersburg.
The resriment continued in service until the
close of the war." In command of the regi-
ment was Colonel Henry Phillips, and Mr.
1414
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Bartlett was a member of Company B. He
was in many engagements including the siege
of Petersburg, and in September, 1864, was
discharged and returned to Toledo. During
his service on Johnson's Island he was one of
the men who discovered the plot of the Con-
federates to escape. One of his duties was
the reading of letters written by prisoners
to their homes. Noticing one day that the
letters looked wrinkled, he held them up before
a fire until they were thoroiighly dried out
when it was found that the prisoners had
written in milk details about the island and
telling friends in the South how to release
them. The heat from the fire turned the milk
black. Thus it was an extensive plot was
foiled, and the story of how the plans were
frustrated has often been told and it is a mat-
ter of special interest that a Toledo man was
instrumental in preventing the escape of a
larsre number of Confederates.
After the war Mr. Bartlett became head
clerk for LaSalle & Epstein, now the firm of
LaSalle & Koch, dry goods merchants, with
whom he was associated until 1868. Then
with S. Smiley he bought the furniture busi-
ness previously owned by Rigby Brothers,
and thus became established in the furniture
trade, and is in point of continuous service
the oldest merchant of that class in Toledo.
Four months after the partnership was formed
Mr. Smiley died, and the business has since
been conducted through the organization built
up by Mr. Bartlett. In 1890 he erected a fine
business block, five stories high, of brick with
stone front, and the entire space is now util-
ized by the business.
Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett have one son, Charles.
Politicallv he is a republican. He is a mem-
ber of the Board of ^Memorial Hall Trustees,
and he served the city well as a member of the
board of police commissioners under Mayor
Guy Major and during the first term of Mayor
Jones.
In Odd Fellowship Mr. Bartlett has had
every honor that the state could bestow, and
is now a member of the staff of Gen. John
Reeves of the Patriarchs Militant with juris-
diction over Ohio and Virginia. He is the
oldest member living of "Wai;pakoniea Lodge
No. 38. Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
and has filled all its chairs and has been grand
master of the State of Ohio. He organized
and drilled Canton Imperial, of the Patriarchs
Militant, and has instituted or assisted in
instituting every Odd Fellow Lodge in L\icas,
"Wood, Ottawa, Williams and Fulton coun-
ties. He has the finest grand master's jewel
in the state. He celebrated his fiftieth anni-
versary of service in the Odd Fellows Lodge
in May, 1916, at the same time that he and
his wife celebrated their golden wedding. He
was one of the original members of the Patri-
archal Circle, organized in Toledo, this sub-
sequently being succeeded by the Patri-
archs Militant. He is also one of the organ-
izers of Concord Lodge No. 149, Knights of
Pythias, and is a past chancellor. He is also
a member of Forsyth Post No. 15, Grand
Army of the Republic, at Toledo.
Willis J.vckson is one of those prosperous
and contented men who live on some of the
fine fai-ms of Henry County. The years have
brought him a wealth of experience and of
those comforts and material things that give
a retrospect of j^ears a pleasing aspect to a
man now past the prime of life.
This branch of the Jackson family is of
Scotch-Irish stock and originated in Ireland.
Members of it emigrated to the United States
and settled in Pennsylvania before the Revolu-
tionary war. The first generation of the
family lived and died in Eastern Pennsylva-
nia. Mr. Jackson's grandfather, Joseph Jack-
son, was born in Pennsylvania about 1794.
He grew up there and married a Miss Watson.
Later he removed to Eastern Ohio and still
later brought his family to Seneca County,
Ohio, and settled in the woods near Green
Springs. He was a pioneer in that district,
and got his land direct from the Government.
Though quite well along in yeare at the time
he proceeded vigorously with the clearing and
development and in time had a substantial
farm.
In the next generation is Noah Jackson,
father of Willis Jackson. Noah was born in
Pennsylvania in 1820 and grew up on the
old farm in Seneca County. He was married
there to Miss Mary Shively. About 1848 Noah
Jackson came into what was then a perfect
wilderness in Harrison Township of Henry
County, and secured a tract of wild land in
section thirty-six. There was not a single im-
provement worthy of mention, and the first
home of the Jacksons was a typical log cabin,
bare of comforts and conveniences, and life in
such conditions were reduced to the bare and
primitive necessities. Noah Jackson was a
man of thrift and industrs' and in time cleared
up and improved a fine farm and erected a
substantial nine-room house which took the
place of the primitive log cabin. Some years
?K
-MRS. DKLLA JACKSOX WAIiXKli AND CHILD
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1415
after he came to Heniy County his father also
came and lived retired in Napoleon until his
death at the age of ninety-seven. Grandfather
Jackson after coming to Henry County took
up the faith of the iMethodist Church though
he had formerly been a Presbyterian, and
served as a local preacher. The family have
given their political allegiance to first the
whig and then the rep iblican party. Noah
Jackson lived on the old farm until his death
in 1896. He was a stanch republican and a
man of more than ordinary influence in his
community. His wife, who was born in 1822,
died in 1900.
The only one now living of six children,
Willis Jackson, was born on his father's home-
stead in Henry County September 15, 1856.
Early in life he became acquainted with toil,
and industry has been the ke3'note to his suc-
cess. He now has a fine farm of 200 acres in
Harrison Township and has given it many of
the substantial improvements that may now
be seen there. One improvement is a substan-
tial barn 40 by 70 feet. While most of his
land is under cultivation, he has a wood lot
of four acres of native timber. This is land
formerly contained in what was known as the
black swamp, and only by the exertions of
several successive generations has it been re-
deemed, tiled, drained and made fit for regu-
lar cultivation. The land owned by Mr. Willis
Jackson is now as fertile as any soil found
in Henry County, and will produce every
kind of crop, though corn is the most profitable
product.
In his home township and count.y Mr. Jack-
son married Miss Jennie Hoppes. She was
born in Seneca County, Ohio, April 29, 1858,
and when nine years of age came to Henry
County with her parents, August and Lydia
(Gooding) Hoppes, who settled in Damascus
Township. Her parents were born and mar-
ried in Pennsylvania, and from that state set-
tled in Seneca County, Ohio. In 1867 the
Hoppes family settled in Damascus Township
of Henry County, and Mrs. Jackson's father
cleared and improved a farm there. He later
retired to Liberty Center, and he and his wife
are still living there at the respective ages of
eighty-six and seventy-nine. The Hoppes fam-
ily have always been Lutherans in religious
belief, and Mr. Hoppes is of German stock,
while his wife is of English lineage.
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are active members of
the Methodist Church. He is a republican
and is affiliated with Lodge No. 239 of the
Knights of Pythias. He and his wife have
some very capable children.
Wiley M., the. oldest, is now manager of the
elevator at Holgate ; he married Virginia Un-
derwood and has a son Willis E. Dick is still
at home, unmarried, and assists his father in
the management of the farm. Bessie died
when nine years of age. Delia became the
wife of Walter Warner, and the mother of
two childi-en, Leota and Paul; her son Paul
was drowned, and it was the shock of his
death that killed Mrs. Delia Warner. Mary
is the wife of Burk Richards, a farmer in
Damascus Township, and they have two chil-
dren. Atlee is a graduate of the school of
electrical engineering at Washington and is
now following his profession in Chicago; he
married Margaret Smith. The beautiful
estate of Mr. and Mrs. Jackson is known as
"Maple Lodge."
Ir.v a. Richardson. Not only in business
affairs but in the performance of the duties
of good citizenship Ira A. Richardson has
been one of the honored men of Toledo for the
past half century. He represents some of
the old pioneer stock in Northern Ohio, and
is himself the product of a period when life
in the Middle AVest was reduced to its sim-
plest terms, and when young men faced the
world seldom with anything better than an
education acquired in th? fundamentals and
in the primitve old time schools. The greater
part of Mr. Richardson's active career was
spent in the real estate and insi;rance business,
and there is probably no man in Lucas County
who has greater information as to the many
changes in value effected by the passing of
fifty years. One of Mr. Richardson's sons
is now serving as county recorder of Lucas
County.
His birthplace, where he first saw the light
of day, February 14, 18.37, was a log house
on a farm at Northfield, Summit County, Ohio.
He still recalls some of the features of that
old house and also of conditions then familiar
and accepted by all residents in this part of
the Middle West. The only means of arti-
ficial lighting were tallow candles and the
light that came from the big fireplace which
was found in every cabin and mansion of that
day. One of the typical country schools that
existed in Summit County diiring the decade
of the '40s supplied his early training, and he
also attended what were known as select
schools and still later the high school at Cuya-
hoga Falls in Summit County.
1416
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
He comes of some of the oldest New Eng-
land stock. There were two Richardson broth-
ers who emigrated from Sweden in 1622 and
founded homes around Massachusetts Bay in
the vicinity of Boston. One of these was the
direct ancestor of Ira A. Richardson of Toledo.
Mr. Richardson's father, grandfather and
great-grandfather all bore the name Amos.
Grandfather Amos Richardson emigrated
from Boston in 1816, soon after the close of
the War of 1812 and founded a home in the
wilderness of the old Ohio Western Reserve
at Northfield, in the same locality where Ira
A. was born. Grandfather Richardson was a
man of much enterprise, and at one time he
took the contract for constructing an entire
section of the old Ohio and Erie Canal, but
was stricken down with a fatal illness and
died before finishing the contract.
Amos Richardson, father of the Toledo busi-
ness man, was born at Rowe, ^Massachusetts,
December 14, 1810, and was brought to Ohio
in 1817 at the age of seven. He spent all his
active career as a farmer in the vicinity of
Northfield in Summit County. He married
Phoebe Wood, whose father, Henry Wood,
served as an officer in the War of 1812, and in
181.3 removed from Schenectady, New York,
and located in Northfield, Ohio, about sixteen
miles out of Cleveland, and in that community
Phoebe was born.
During the latter part of his early man-
hood, while still attending school during fall-
terms, Ira A. Richardson began teaching, and
altogether taught fourteen terms of district
school and for three terms was a teacher in
the graded school at Peninsula, Summit
County. In the meantime he had attained the
years of majority, and in 1861 he was at
Ashland, Wisconsin, when the Civil war broke
out. He at once went down to Madison and
volunteered in Colonel Daniel's First Wis-
consin Cavalry and went into camp with the
recruits. When the surgeon examined him it
was found that an injuiy to his left knee, sus-
tained when he was seventeen years of age,
had caused a stiffness in the joint which dis-
qualified him for military service. He then
returned to Ohio, and in 1862 again volun-
teered to enter the army at Cleveland, but
the same reason was assigned for his not being
accepted in the service. However, during that
critical period in the nation's affairs he man-
aged to give some service to the Federal Gov-
ernment. At Madison, Wisconsin, in 1861 and
again in 186.3 his services were accepted by
the Government as bookkeeper in the tele-
graph department and he was assigned to a
post at Nashville, Tennessee. While there in
1864 he was stricken with typhoid fever, and
after recovering suflSciently to travel returned
home to Ohio and resigned his position.
Mr. Richardson first went into the life aud
fire insurance business in 1864 at Hudson,
Ohio. In 1866, having moved to Toledo, he
bought from John Lokey the agency of the
Aetna Life Insurance Company covering sev-
eral counties in Northwestern Ohio. He eon-
ducted the business actively until 1871 and
then expanded by adding real estate as another
branch of his activities.
Ever since he east his vote for the elec-
tion of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 Mr. Rich-
ardson has been a sturdy and loyal republi-
can. His only important office came when he
was elected by the members of the board sec-
retary of the Board of Elections of Toledo
under the new law. He served a year and a
half, and then the law was changed and the
secretary of the board instead of being elected
by the board of elections as formerly was
appointed by the governor of the state. The
board members at once volunteered to recom-
mend Mr. Richardson to the governor for
appointment, but as his business took up so
much of his time that he could hardly afford to
sacrifice it for the honors of office, he declined
gratefully this mark of regard shown by the
members of the board.
Mr. Richardson is an active Mason, being
affiliated with Toledo Lodge No. 144, Free
and Accepted Masons; Fort Meigs Chapter
No. 29, Royal Arch Masons ; and Toledo Coun-
cil No. 33, Royal and Select IMasters, all at
Toledo. He was a member of the Baptist
Church.
Mr. Richardson was married twice during
war times and has one son living, Judd Rich-
ardson, now in the real estate, loan and insur-
ance business, having succeeded his father
as active manager of the interests in April,
1910. Judd Richardson married Mary L. Rood
of Toledo. Burge Richardson, the younger
son, was for nearly twenty-five years travel-
ing representative for The R. H. Lane Com-
pany of Toledo, a wholesale boot and shoe con-
cern, but in the spring of 1915 was elected
county recorder of Lucas County for the term
of two years. He served in that position, for
which he was exceptionally well qualified,
until his death, which occurred August 12,
1916. Burge Richardson married Bertha L.
Gunn of Toledo, who, with a daughter, Mar-
cella, and a son, Ralph, survive him.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1417
Washington C. Thorp. By his work as a
farmer and gardener Washington C. Thorp is
contributing something of value to the world
and the people that live therein. He has a fine
place on the Monroe Street road in Sylvania
Township and in the course of thirty years
has managed to accumulate not only a satisfy-
ing competence but also the regard and esteem
of his community. He is now serving as
township trustee.
His birth occurred near Norwalk in Huron
County, Ohio, April 30, 1858. His parents,
Jeremiah and Rebecca (Brown) Thorp, were
early settlers of Huron County. In 1864 the
family moved to Fulton County, and Wash-
ington C. Thorp grew up in that locality and
acquired his early education.
In 1884 he moved to East Toledo, where
lie remained two years, then located on a farm
in Washington Township for seven years, and
in 1893 came to the place in Sylvania where
he still lives.
In 1884 in Fulton County Mr. Thorp mar-
ried Mary Ann Knepper, a daughter of John
and Rebecca Knepper, who were from Penn-
sylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Thorp have two chil-
dren : Pearl May, a teacher who lives at home ;
Orlo Rhodes, who is a farmer near his father
in Sylvania Township and by his marriage to
Isabelle Robinson has a son named Herbert.
Since starting out in life on his own ac-
count Mr. Thorp has put to vigorous use his
own abilities and such opportunities as came
in his way, and has well deserved all his
success. For some six or seven years he served
as a member of the school board, and was its
president for a considerable part of that time.
It was in 1915 that he was elected township
trustee. He is a democrat, an active member
of Sylvania Lodge No. 289, Ancient Free and
Accepted Masons, also a member of Sylvania
Chapter of the Eastern Star, and belongs to
the Grotto, a social organization of Blue Lodge
Masons. He is also a member of the Protec-
ted Home Circle.
Charles R. Clapp. A member of the To-
ledo bar for twenty years, Charles R. Clapp
contributed high personal character and abil-
ity to the local bar for a number of years,
but is now best known as secretary and treas-
urer of The National Supply Company, manu-
facturers of and dealers in oil and gas well
supplies, probably the largest corporation of
its kind in the country.
He is the only member of his family who
came West. He bears a name which has been
distinguished since the early colonial period in
New England, and the Clapp homestead at
Ballston Spa in Saratoga County, New York,
is one of those old estates which have passed
regularly from one generation to another for
more than a century.
(hiii-les R. Clapp was born at this home
in Saratoga County, New York, March 5, 1867,
was educated in the public schools and gradu-
ated from Colgate University in New York in
1891. In the town where he was born he took
up the study of law and was admitted to the
New York State bar in 1893 and to the Ohio
bar in March, 1896. Mr. Clapp came to Toledo
in January, 1896, having previously for three
years, from 1893, practiced in his old home
town, Ballston Spa, with Judge L'Amoraux,
ex-county judge in Saratoga County. On
moving to Toledo Mr. Clapp established law
offices in the National Bank of Commerce
Building, practiced alone for a time, and then
joined U. G. Denman under the firm name
of Clapp & Denman with ofHces at Mr. Clapp 's
former location. They were associated until
1898, and in 1900 Mr. Clapp formed a part-
nership with Ira C. Taber, Mr. Denman hav-
ing gone into the city solicitor's office as assist-
ant city solicitor. The tirni of Taher ^ Clapp
held a foremost position in the Toledo bar
until 1908, when Mr. Clapp practically gave
up general practice to accept election as secre-
tary and treasurer of The National Supply
Company of Toledo, his present place. He
now gives all his attention to the affairs of this
corporation whose relations are more than
nation wide.
Mr. Clapp is also a director of the Guar-
dian Trust & Savings Bank of Toledo, is a
member of the Toledo Club, the Toledo Com-
merce Club, Toledo Yacht Club, Inverness
Club, Country Club, Toledo Automobile Club,
the Toledo Lodge of Masons, and belongs to
the Ashland Avenue Baptist Church of To-
ledo. His chief recreations are golf and auto-
mobiling. W^hile in college he was a member
of the Delta Kappa Epsilon and was also a
Phi Beta Kappa, the scholarship fraternity.
He won many of the honors during his course
in college.
On October 23, 1901, Mr. Clapp married
Miss Gertrude M. Hardee, daughter of Wil-
liam and Adelaide C. (Nessle) Hardee of To-
ledo. Mrs. Clapp was a graduate of Wells Col-
lege. After a happy marriage of less than
six years she died at Toledo September 5, 1907.
While Mr, Charles R. Clapp is the only
member of his immediate family to be identi-
1418
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
fied with Toledo and Northwest Ohio, some-
thing should be said concerning the members
of the prominent family to which he belongs.
His parents were Russell Palmer and Madelia
(Hale) Clapp, both now deceased. His father
was for years secretary of the People's Line
Steamers running between New York City
and Albany, and prior to that had been with
the Citizens' Line running from Troy, New
York. He was identified with these two steam-
ship lines up the Hudson for more than forty
years. Russell P. Clapp was born in Ballston
Spa, Saratoga County, New York, July 31,
1820, and died in New York City in 1888. The
old homestead where he and his son Charles
R. were both born has been owned by the
family more than a century and it is now
owned by Charles R. Clapp of Toledo.
The ancestral record of the Clapps goes
back to Roger Clapp, who was born in Sal-
combe Regis, Devonshire, England, April 6,
1609. On March 20, 1630, a little before his
twenty-first birthday, he sailed from Plym-
outh for New England, and arrived at Nan-
tasket on May 30, 1630. He came on the ship
Mary and John, which was the second in a
fleet of sixteen vessels which left England
with passengers in 1630 under the patronage
of the Massachusetts Bay Company. The
passengers on the Mary and John were the
first to settle at Dorchester, Massachusetts,
where thev arrived about June 17, 1630. Con-
cerning Roger Clapp 's father nothing definite
is known beyond a few brief papers in Roger's
"Memoirs," where he is referred to as "a
man fearing God" and "whose outward estate
was not great."
Roger Clapp was married November 6, 1633,
to Johanna, a daughter of Thomas Ford of
Dorchester, England, both of whom were pas-
sengers on the same vessel with Captain Roger.
She was born June 8, 1617, and was sixteen
years five months old when she was married.
She survived her husband some four or five
years, and died in Boston June 29, 1695,
aged seventy-eight, being buried near her
husband. Captain Clapp 's life was a busy
and eventful one. He was noted for his works
of benevolence, his ability and energy of char-
acter, and a far reaching influence and leader-
ship in the colony and town. In 1637. at the
age of twenty-eight, he was chosen selectman,
and fourteen times afterwards was elected to
the same position. In 1665 he took command
of the Castle. In 1664 he was one of the com-
mittee of five to fi_x the rate of assessment for
building a new meeting house. Several times
he was chosen deputy from Dorchester to the
general court. In 1673, on being again chosen
deputy, the following record by Blake is
found : ' ' Afterwards, in this year, ye court
sent an order to choose another deputy in ye
room of Captain Clapp, his presence being
necessary at ye Castle, because ye times were
troublesome." To most of the petitions and
documents emanating from and relating to
Dorchester his name was signed and carried
with it a weight and influence probably greater
than that of any other local citizen. He was
one of the commissioners appointed to marry
persons, an office of especial dignity and honor
at that time. It is recorded that he had a hor-
ror of idleness and was himself remarkably
industrious, being continuously engaged in
some useful employment and his good .judg-
ment and business ability called him fre-
quently as overseer of wills and in other im-
portant business transactions. He was de-
scribed as "of the very quiet and peaceable
spirit, not apt to resent injury, but when he
thought the honor of God was concerned or
just and lawful authority opposed, he was
forward enough to exert himself. ' ' At the first
regular organization of the military of the
colony in 1644 he was lieutenant of the Dor-
chester Company. At that time the military
were obliged to parade eight days each year,
and the penalty of five shillings was exacted
for non-appearance and none were exempt
except "timorous persons," of which there
were exceedingly few in those days. He after-
wards became captain of Dorchester Company,
and on August 10, 1665, the general court
appointed him captain of the Castle, which is
now Fort Independence in Boston Harbor, to
succeed Captain Richard Davenport, who had
been killed in that place by lightning. He
remained a captain of the Castle for twenty-
one years, until he was seventy-seven years of
age and resigned in 1682 chiefly on account of
political troubles which were coming to a cli-
max under the administration of the unpopu-
lar Sir Edmund Andros. After he gave up
the command of the Castle Captain Clapp lived
in Boston until his death on February 2, 1691.
He was one of the founders of the church in
Dorchester, and a member thereof for sixty
years. His prominence in the community is
indicated by the fact that during a severe ill-
ness in 1672 the people of Dorchester held a
fast "to beg his life of God," and on his re-
coverv thev held a special thanksgiving serv-
ice. At his funeral his remains were followed
by the governor and the general court, and
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1419
a salute was fired at the Castle. He was a
member for many years of the Ancient and
Honorable Artillery Company of Boston.
Beginning with this Captain Roger Clapp,
the heads of the successive generation in direct
line to Charles R. Clapp of Toledo, Ohio, are
as follows: Captain Roger; Preserved;
Roger; Charles; Israel; Chester; Russell P.;
and Charles R. Thus Charles R. Clapp is in
the eighth generation from the vigorous and
eminent ancestor just mentioned.
Of the origin of the Clapp family the fol-
lowing account is supplied by a Massachusetts
genealogist: "This surname had its origin
in the proper or personal name of Osgod
Clapa, a Danish noble in the court of King
Canute (1017-36). The site of this country
place was known afterward as Clapham,
county Surrey. The spelling in the early
records varies from Clapa to the present
form, Clapp. The ancient seat of the family
in England is at Salcombe, Devonshire, where
important estates were held for centuries by
this family. Their coat-of-arms : First and
fourth three battle-axes, second sable a griffin
passant argent ; third sable an eagle with two
heafs displayed with a border engi-ailed ar-
gent. A common coat-of-anns in general use
by the family in America as well as England :
charged with the sun or, Crest : a pike naiant
proper. Motto: 'Fais ce que Dois advienne
que pourra.' The American branches of
this family are descended from six immi-
grants, brothers and cousins, who settled in
Dorchester, Massachusetts, whence they and
their descendants have scattered to all parts
of the country."
The mother of Charles R. Clapp died at
Ballston Spa, New York, in 1904. She was of
English ancestry. Mr. Clapp 's parents never
came to Ohio. They were very religious peo-
ple and Russell P. Clapp was especially so,
Church. In their family were eight children,
and long active as a member of the Baptist
six sons and two daughters, four of whom
reached maturity. William, the oldest, died
at the age of fifteen. Grandfather Chester
Clapp lived to be ninety-seven year's of age.
Charles R. Clapp has one brother still living,
George F., who lives on the old homestead at
Ballston Spa in New York, and is connected
with the People's Line Steamers of which his
father was secretary for so many years.
Peter Watson Ge.\t is now serving his sec-
ond term as sheriff of Henry County, and is
one of the most popular and esteemed citi-
zens of this section of Northwest Ohio. He
was first elected sheriff in 1912, and for
8^2 years has been town marshal of
the City of Deshler in the same county.
He has lived in Henry County for the past
thirty years, but was born in Wood County,
Ohio, in December, 1868. He attended the
public schools and completed his education at
Deshler, and has been a self reliant and vigor-
ous type of citizen in that county for many
years. Altogether he has served the public in
some capacity for more than a dozen years.
His parents, William and Susanna (Philo)
6ra3% were Pennsylvania people, his mother
of Scranton. They were married at Perrys-
burg in Wood County, Ohio, December 25,
1864, lived on a farm in Webster Township of
that county until early in 1868, when as a
family they moved to Deshler in Henry
County. At Deshler William Gray engaged
in the mercantile business for about eighteen
years, and then lived retired until his death
on August 16, 1905. His widow passed away
in September, 1909. In politics he was a dem-
ocrat and they were members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Of their children Peter
W. was the oldest. William Gray, Jr., is in
liusiness at Deshler operating a delivery sys-
tem and also has a contract for sprinkling the
streets; he has four daughters, Naomi, Fran-
ces, Grace and Nellie. The daughter Anna is
the wife of Charles Post, a machinist and
tool maker, and their two children are named
Parrell and Lucile.
Peter W. Gray at the early age of fourteen
began learning the baker 's trade and followed
that line until elected to the office of city mar-
shal. He was married in Paulding County,
Ohio, November 26, 1889, to Miss Nellie J.
•Straley. She was born in Belmore, Putnam
County, Ohio, January 4, 1872, was reared
and educated at Belmore, and is a daughter of
Jerome T. and Agnes (Kushmaul) Straley,
who were natives of Pennsylvania, were mar-
ried in Ohio, and died in Putnam County, her
father at the' age of fifty-nine and her mother
at fifty-two. They were members of the Pres-,
byterian Church, and her father was a repub-
lican. Mr. and Mrs. Gray have one child only
by adoption, Harriet McNalley, a niece of
Mrs. Gray. She was born May 4, 1907. Mr.
and Mrs. Gray attend the Evangelical Church.
Toledo Lodge No. 5.3, Benevolent .\nd
Protective Order of Elkp. IMembership in
the Elks Club of Toledo has long been con-
sidered an honor and the hundreds of promi-
1420
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
nent business men and citizens who during the
past thirty years have been connected with
that organization have in turn reflected the
highest credit upon the lodge. In order that
some of the chief points in the history of the
organization may be set down in permanent
form the following sketch has been prepared.
A select number of Toledo citizens gathered
together on Sunday afternoon, October 24,
1886, in a small room, and under the guiding
hand of Grand Exalted Ruler Daniel Kelley,
the Toledo Lodge of Elks was brought into
existence. Some of those who attended that
meeting declare that it was held on one of
the most beautiful Indian summer days and
that the inspiration of nature gave spirit to
the movement for organization. The lodge
•was instituted in what was then known as
Grand Army Hall, with Daniel A. Kelley in
charge of the ceremonies as grand exalted
ruler. He was assisted by District Deputy
Andrew Gilligan and Brothers Harry E. Block
and R. Strauss of Cincinnati Lodge No. 5;
Charles A. Chase of Detroit Lodge ; Randolph
Landman of Saginaw, Michigan, Lodge; E.
Anglin, P. F. Plummer, M. M. :\IcFarland,
M. Knapp and E. S. Beach of Adrian, Michi-
gan, Lodge.
The charter members of Toledo Lodge were :
Henry J. Richmond, G. Herbert Cole, Frank
E. Wright, Frank Lamkin, Louis G. Rich-
ardson, Prank E. Cole, Harry S. Dowling, Da-
vid H. Commager, Charles A. Garwood,
Andrew Farquharison, Charles A. Chase, E.
S. Reeves, P. P. Murray, Frederick C. Hitch-
cock, John P. Bronson, Fred J. Blakely and
Andrew Claypool. Of these seventeen char-
ter members only a few still remain.
After the installation of the lodge it organ-
ized by the election of the following officers : '
Exalted ruler, James il. Hueston; esteemed
leading knight, Frank E. Wright; esteemed
loyal knight. C. H. Garwood ; esteemed lectur-
ing knight. J. K. Ohl; secretary, G. Herbert
Cole; treasurer, Andrew Claypool; tyler,
Louis G.^ Richardson ; trustees, H. A. Chase,
Frank Lamkin and E. S. Reeves. After the
installation of officers Exalted Ruler Hueston
made appointments as follows : Esquire, Harry
S. Dowling; chaplain, Andrew Parquharson ;
inner guard, W. J. Ellis; organist, Frederick
C. Hitchcock.
A committee on constitution was appointed
consisting of Brothers Frank E. Cole, Andrew
Claypool and E. S. Reeves. The trustees were
ordered to select a meeting place and a night
for meeting, and the lodge then closed and.
although there is no record of the same in the
minutes, it is recalled that the business session
was followed by an impromptu social session
which accorded with the best standards and
traditions of Elkdom.
October 29, 1886, a special meeting was held
for the purpose of adopting the constitution
and by-laws of Cleveland Lodge, pending the
report of the committee on constitutions. The
following evening was held the regular com-
munication of the lodge on Saturday night,
the date temporarily fixed for the loclge ses-
sion. The Grand Army Hall had been secured,
and at the regular meeting it was decided to
apply to the Grand Lodge for a charter. The
next regular meeting, Saturday, November
6th, was adjourned by unanimous consent to
the following day, Sunday. On that day the
report of the committee on constitution was
adopted. Under the constitution the date of
election of officers was fixed and under a sus-
pension of rules the following officers were
elected for the first year: Exalted ruler,
David H. Commager ; esteemed leading knight.
Prank E. Wright ; esteemed loyal knight, C. H.
Garwood; esteemed lecturing knight, C. H.
Cole ; secretarj', Andrew Parquharson : treas-
urer, John P. Bronson; tyler, A. B. Brown-
lee ; trustees, H. A. Chase, Prank Lamkin and
E. S. Reeves. These officers were installed on
the meeting of November 13th, and the follow-
ing appointments were made : Esquire, Harry
S. Dowling; inner guard, W. J. Ellis; chap-
lain, Louis G. Richardson ; organist, Frederick
C. Hitchcock.
With these officers Toledo Lodge No. 53
started on its first year. That was a year of
mingled success and adversity. There was
constant anxiety as to the financial cendition
of the treasurj', but through a constant will-
ingness of the members to make any reason-
able sacrifice the lodge continued to live and
the membership grew, though slowly at first.
Later members came in more numerously, but
throughout the personnel of membership
remained on the high plane with which the
lodge was inaugurated. During the first year
the meeting night was definitely fixed on Sun-
day.
Before the first year was ended the trustees
were instructed to secure a new location, and
in 1887 quarters were furnished on Superior
Street over what was then known as the Nat-
ural Gas Office. Here the lodge entered a new
home, and that turned out to be an excellent
move on the part of the trustees. A distinct.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1421
impetus was given to the membership aud the
interest in the work.
At the meeting held Sunday, December 26,
1886, the by-laws were amended to make the
meeting night Thursday, and such it has
remained since.
Thursday, December 29, 1887, the nucleus
of Findlay Lodge was formed for the admis-
sion to membership in Toledo Lodge of ten
citizens of Findlay. They were active later in
forming findlay Lodge. Toledo is thus the
alma mater of Findlay Lodge. January 12,
1888, these members were initiated under a
special dispensation granted for that purpose,
and on March 15th the Findlay Lodge was
instituted by Toledo Lodge.
In November, 1888, the lodge received its
tirst visitation of the grand officer. Grand
Exalted Ruler Leach having made it a point
to be present. He was received in proper form
and was entertained by a grand social session
after the closing of the lodge.
Death at this time entered the lodge, laying
its hands on Past Exalted Ruler James M.
Ilucston, tlie first exalted ruler and the first
to be called to the Grand Lodge above.
With varying fortunes Toledo Lodge passed
its successive .years with all the vicissitudes of
Elkdom, making a brave struggle for existence
and at the same time steadily growing. Dur-
ing the trouble that threatened the grand
organization, Toledo Lodge remained loyal to
the faction that was eventually declared to be
the Grand Lodge de facto. After the Detroit
reunion and Grand Lodge meeting, when
troublous times appeared for Elkdom, Toledo
Lodge was loyal and refused to be drawn into
the contention in any way, recognizing the
grand officers that were elected in the regular
manner and refusing to attend the peace con-
ference called for Buffalo. The representa-
tives of the Grand Lodge that year attended
the meeting called at Atlantic City and wit-
nessed the surrender of the recalcitrant fac-
tion.
It was along about this time that Toledo
Lodge began its agitation for a new building.
The building committee was appointed with
instruction to prepai-e plans for a building and
incidentally suggest a plan for financing it.
■This committee was composed of Bros. C. F.
Wall, J. J. Stone, Charles Stager, L. G. Rich-
ardson, and Violet J. Emmick. After the first
report the committee was discharged and dis-
cussion then turned to the securing of new
quarters. As a result a floor was secured in
the Gates Building and fitted up for lodge
rooms, and that was the home of the Toledo
Elks until they moved into the Valentine
Building.
A short time before the session of the Grand
Lodge at Cincinnati in 1896 some of the
Toledo Elks advocated entering the competi-
tion for the street parade prize. A squad was
hastily thrown together, and with cheap uni-
form they went into the parade and carried
off the prize. Thus was the birth of the fam-
ous ' ' Cherry Pickers, ' ' the drill squad which
afterwards became known from ocean to
ocean. The Cherry Pickers were named by
John S. White, on account of the color of their
uniforms. The color of the imiform worn by
the Cherry Pickers was also selected by John
S. White, one of the local tailors. A peculiar
shade of red was used, the identical color of
uniforms worn by the First Regiment of Lan-
cers in the British army, known as the Cherry
Pickers Regiment. The Toledo Cherry Pick-
ers in their new iiniforms made their first
appearance at Minneapolis, ^Minnesota, where
after an exciting contest they were awarded
the first prize, a handsome silk banner. The
first captain of the Cherry Pickers was Gen.
W. V. McMaken, succeeded by W. H. Cook.
Louisville Lodge was the only competitor of
the Toledo squad in that event. Following
that at St. Louis the Cherry Pickers and the
Louisville squad had a downright contest, both
drill teams being trained to the minute. Capt.
William H. Cook was in command of the
Toledo company with J. Harvey Wylie as first
lieutenant and William H. Atwell as second
lieutenant. The Louisville squad was under
command of INIajor Leathers, one of the finest
drill masters the South ever produced. Before
the contest he announced in event of his
defeat it would be his last appearance on the
drill grounds. The teams drilled in the Coli-
seum on a tanbark floor and in a stifling du.st,
and the Cherry Pickers won by two points.
On the return of the Cherry Pickers a recep-
tion was given them and the streets were
thronged with a shouting and cheering human-
ity. At Milwaukee the Cherry Pickers were de-
feated by Chicago by a margin of seven-eighths
of one point. The Chicago squad was known as
the Purple Guard, but was in reality the crack
drill team of the Knights Templar, which had
been initiated in a body two weeks prior to the
Grand Lodge meeting. Toledo took second
in street parade and second in drill at Mil-
waukee, took first in drill and second in street
parade at St. Louis, first in drill at Jlinne-
apolis and first in street parade at Cincin-
1422
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
nati. First in competitive drill squad in
Buffalo and first in drill squad in Philadel-
phia. All the money won in these contests
was turned into the treasury of the lodge, and
became the foundation of the building fund.
To this money was added some $14,000 derived
from two carnivals. With this fund the build-
ing committee bought a piece of property on
Michigan Street opposite the Lucas County
Courthouse for $13,000. That is the site of
their handsome home which was erected in
1905 and dedicated June 15, 1905. Since the
lodge entered its new quarters its member-
ship has steadily grown until it now embraces
1,000 Elks.
It was estimated that fully 10,000 people
accepted the invitations and formed the bulk
of the great crowd participating in the dedi-
cation of the Elks Building on June 15, 1905.
From morning until midnight this throng
passed through the spacious structure. The
dedication service itself was a simple cere-
mony, merely the turning over of the build-
ing to the Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks for its use and purposes. This was
accomplished in a Grand Lodge session on
Thursday night, June 15th. About 450 Elks
participated. Charles Marshall, district dep-
uty of Sidney, Ohio, conducted the Grand
Lodge session. The following staff assisted
him: Grand esteemed leading knight, C. J.
Nolan; grand esteemed loyal knight, M. B.
Daly ; grand esteemed lecturing knight, N. D.
Cochran ; grand esquire, William M. Bellman ;
grand chaplain, John Leppelman: inner
guard, William Bartley; chairman building
committee, P. M. Jacoby. Mr. Marshall's ad-
dress was brief, consisting of a few well chosen
words congratulating the Elks on their enter-
prise in building the magnificent home. Prior
to the session the Elks formed a procession
which marched to the lodge room where the
services were conducted. All the furnishings
and tapestries were in place when the building
was turned over to the guests, and nothing was
left undone to make the event memorable.
Though it was strictly a home gathering. Elks
were present from many states in the Union.
On this happy occasion which meant so
much to the Toledo Lodge there should be
given a record of the membership of the recep-
tion committee. They were: F. W. Ayling,
J. W. Popp, A. H. Hessen, W. R. Davis,
Joseph Galloway, S. M. Lavin, Frank Mohr,
J. R. Greene, George E. Ryan, J. V. Newton,
Jacob Weier, Holland C. Webster, A. J.
Barsch, G. W. Dawley, Guy Cottington, A. L.
Hofman, J. C. Huber, J. C. Newton, W. F.
Donovan, W. P. Kohler, Lawrence Love, Dale
Wilson, L. E. Flory, W. H. Bork, J. D. Nolan,
W. H. AtwiU, RoUo St. John, John Solon,
W. A. Kelley, R. J. West, J. W. Beck, W. E.
Savage, J. P. Degnan and H. W. Leibius.
The Cherry Pickers organization which in
1898 gave the building its start by winning
several big money prizes, claims credit for the
final completion of the splendid home. From
their effoi'ts were formed the arch which
eventually sustained the building.
The exalted ruler of the lodge at the time
of dedication was William J. Albrecht. The
building committee consisted of the well
known Toledo men named as follows: James
H. Pheatt, P. H. Garrigan, F. H. Broer, P.
M. Jacoby, William McFarland, W. H. Has-
kell, Can D. Donovan, W. M. Bellman, L. E.
Flory.
The present secretary of the Elks Club is
J. J. Crowe, who was elected and has served
as secretary of the lodge since October, 1905.
The other official members at this time are:
Exalted ruler, Walter Rosengarden; es-
teemed leading knight, Lewis E. Mallow;
esteemed loyal knight. David Swinton ; es-
teemed lecturing knight, George P. Hahn;
secretary, J. J. Crowe; treasurer, L. E. Flory;
tyler, Charles Seymour (he has served as tyler
since the organization of the lodge) ; esquire,
C. R. Rex; inner guard, Dr. B. E. Leather-
man; organist, P. T. Germain; trustees, S. J.
Pickett, Richard Kmid, J. C. A. Leppelman
and E. E. Parks; chaplain, Louis Volk.
John Van Horn Hartman, M. D. Few
men in the medical profession in Northwest
Ohio have been more eager to attain all the
advantages of study and observation in the
great medical centers of the world than
Dr. John Van Horn Hartman of Findlay.
Doctor Hartman is still a young man, not yet
forty, and yet is recognized in his home
city and over Northwest Ohio as one of the
leading surgical specialists. His special field
of work is in gynecology, obstetrics and gen-
eral surgery.
He was born March 10, 1877. in Allen
Township of Hancock County, a son of Jasper
Xewton and Mary Ellen (Skinner) Hartman.-
He is of Pennsylvania German stock. Reared
on a farm, he attended the Findlay public
schools and spent two yeai's in Findlay Col-
lege. During his early life he was a teacher
in district schools in Hancock County for
about six years, and it was his savings from
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1423
teaching that enabled him to comph^te his first
course in medicine.
In 1900 he entered the Homeopathic Medi-
cal College of Cleveland, where he graduated
M. D. in 1904. While an undergraduate he
served as an interne for one year in the
Cleveland Maternity Hospital, and after grad-
uating spent six months in the Cleveland City
Maternity Hospital. Even at the time he be-
gan practice in Findlaj' in 1904 he was un-
usually well equipped by training and by
natural talents for successful work. Above
all he is progressive, and is constantly accept-
ing of every opportunity to improve his tech-
nique and gain wider experience by associa-
tion with the great surgeons of this country
and abroad. In 1907 he attended the New
York Post-Graduate School, in 1910 was in
the Harvard Medical College, and in 1914
went abroad and studied under the eminent
Doctor Wertheim and other specialists at
Vienna, Austria. He has also attended the
Policlinic at Chicago and for the past ten
years has made annual visits to the famous
Mayo brothers' clinics in Rochester, Minne-
sota.
For two terms Doctor Hartman served on
the Findlay Board of Health, and is an active
member of all^ the medical societies and asso-
ciations. Politically he is independent. In
1906 he married Mi.ss Zoe Codding, a daugh-
ter of John Quincy Codding of Findlay.
They became the parents of two children,
Mary Ellen, deceased, and Sarah Roe. Doctor
Hartman is a member of the Findlay Country
Club, the Court Club and is a member of the
Masonic Order, including the Scottish Rite.
George E. Crabb is proprietor of one of
the best farm homesteads west of Toledo in
Washington Township. His farm is situated
two miles north of West Toledo, and he has
shown a great deal of enterprise in its manage-
ment and in regulating its productiveness.
Mr. Crabb is now serving as town clerk of
Washington Township. He is a son of Ger-
shom and Sarah A. (Stevens) Crabb. His
father died in 1898 and his mother in 1912.
Their children were: Eliza Ann, widow of
William Jackman of Toledo: Mary J., de-
ceased ; Ada M., deceased wife of John Bald-
win of Toledo; Alice, wife of Abraham Kea-
gle; Susan Hannah, wife of Edrue Park of
Coldwater, IMichigan ; and Laura L., wife of
Arthur Ruple of Coldwater. Michigan.
The youngest of the family, George E.
Crabb, married Winifred Wendel, daughter of
Francis Weudel of Monroe County, Michi-
gan. Mr. and Mrs. Crabb have a fine family
of children named Helen, Gershom, Charlotte,
Lois, Frances E., Myron J., Walter, Olive,
Ada and George, Jr.
Politically Mr. Crabb is a republican. For
some twelve or fourteen years he served as a
member of the school board, and is now town
clerk. Fraternally he is affiliated 'with the
Lodge and Royal Arch Chapter of the Masons.
He and his family attend the Congregational
Church.
John A. Meheing. From a small incep-
tion Mr. Mehring has developed one of the
important industrial and commercial enter-
prises centered at Napoleon, judicial seat of
Henry County, and he may now consistently
be said to be one of the oldest business men
of this thriving little city, as he has here been
identified with the manufacturing of brick
and tile for more than thirty years. The
large and prosperous business of which he is
now the head had its initiation in 1884, when
modest operations were instituted under the
firm name of C. E. Mehring & Company, and
with his brother, Charles E., as a member of
the firm. The enterprise was represented
solely in the manufacturing of brick during
the first two years, and later the original firm
was dissolved, John A. Mehring, of this
review, then assuming control of the plant
and business, which under his careful,
straightforward and progressive administra-
tion have been developed to the present large
proportions. He admitted his only son to
partnership and since that time the enterprise
has been conducted under the title of Mehring
& Son. The firm has recently given a virtu-
ally entire new equipment to its plant, includ-
ing the installation of the Brewer tile machin-
ery and the Marin brick machinery, so that
the facilities in both departments are of the
best modern type and make possible the pro-
duction of brick and tile of the highest grade.
This impoi-tant manufacturing plant now has
a capacity for the output of 19,000 4-inch
tiles per annum, the while the facilities pro-
vide for the manufacturing of tile from 3
to 18 inches in diameter. The capacity of the
brick plant is for the manufacturing of from
2.").000 to 3.5.000 a day, and the product is
authoritatively pronounced to be of the very
best style and quality, including tap-
estry brick in various shades. A large
part of the output of this admirable estab-
lishment is used in this immediate section of
1424
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
the state, and it is worthy of note that from
the Mehring plant was supplied the brick for
the erection of the public library and ai-mory
buildings of Napoleon, two of the most mod-
ern and attractive structures in Henry
County, while similar service has been given
in connection with the construction of other
public buildings and many of the higher
grade of residences in this section of Ohio.
The beautiful home of Mr. Mehring himself,
at 925 Woodlawn Avenue, was erected in 1914
and is a most effective exposition of the excel-
lent quality and design of the brick manufac-
tured in his establishment, great care having
been taken in the selection of products that
would insure most perfect harmony in all
parts of the architectural scheme. This fine
house, with the most substantial and artistic
equipment and appointments throughout, is
heated by hot water, is supplemented by a
commodious garage of similar architectural
order, and constitutes as a whole one of the
most attractive residence properties in North-
western Ohio.
John August Mehring was born on a farm
in Defiance Township, Defiance County, Ohio,
on the 7th of September, 1862, and there he
was reared to adult age, in the meanwhile
making good use of the advantages afforded
him in the public schools and in his youth
becoming associated with the contracting and
building business, to which he continued to
give his attention until he engaged in the man-
ufacturing of brick, as noted in a preceding
paragraph of this article. He is a son of
Frederick and Dora (Schoekman) Moehring,
both natives of ilagdeburg. Germany, where
the former was born in October, 1822, and the
latter in February, 1832. Frederick IMoehring
immigrated to America within a short time
after attaining to his legal majority, and the
voyage across the Atlantic was made on one of
the old-time sailing vessels. Soon after his
arrival in the United States he made his way
to Ohio and established his temporary resi-
dence at Napoleon. Henry County. He
assisted in the construction of the old canal
that extended through this place to the
Wabash Railroad, and finally he became asso-
ciated with his brother-in-law, John Reik, in
the purchase of 120 acres of land in Defiance
County. There they continued to maintain
their residence for a number of years, and
then they divided the property and each insti-
tuted independent farming operations, besides
which each of them eventually added materi-
ally to the area of his landed estate. The mar-
riage of Mr. Moehring, who retained the orig-
inal German orthography of the family name,
was solemnized in Defiance County, and on
their fine old homestead farm he and his wife
passed the remainder of their active lives,
industrious, upright and .substantial citizens
who commanded the high regard of all who
knew them. Mrs. Moehring died on the old
homestead on the 1st of January, 1909, at
the age of seventy-three years, nine months
and twenty-two days, and her venerable hus-
band passed the gracious evening of his life
in the home of his daughter, Mrs. Mary Ben-
eke, of Ridgeville, Henry County, where he
died. He was a staunch supporter of
the cause of the democratic party and both
he and his wife were lifelong and devout mem-
bers of the Lutheran Church, in which con-
nection it should be noted that they assi-sted
in the organization of the first Lutheran
Church in the City of Defiance, besides con-
tributing liberally to the erection of the orig-
inal and the second church edifices. This
sterling pioneer couple became the parents of
three sons and two daughters. Besides the
subject of this sketch two others of the chil-
dren are still living, Charles E. and ilary,
who is the wife of Theodore Beneke, of Ridge-
ville, Henry County. The other sister, Annie,
became the wife of Frederick Beneke, and her
death occurred in July, 1913.
As a young man John A. Mehring married
Miss IMinnie Dannerburg, who was born in
Defiance County, on the 5th of ilarch, 1867,
and who died in April, 1892, at the birth of
her only child. She was but twenty-five years
of age and her funeral was held on the second
anniversary of her marriage. Left with an
infant son,"Mr. ]\Iehring, in 1893, married Miss
]\Iary Dannerburg, a sister of his first wife.
She "was born in Defiance County on the 25th
of :\larch. 1863, and is a daughter of Freder-
ick and Dorothy (Giihl) Dannerburg, both
natives of Germany, the former having been
born in Prussia, on the 28th of December,
1832, and the latter having been born in the
Kingdom of Hanover, and both having come
to America when young. Frederick Danner-
burg came to this country in 1849 and his
first wife, whose maiden name was Catherine
Rodemuth, died when comparatively a young
woman, her one surviving child being Fred-
erick, Jr., being still a resident of Defiance
County and being the father of one son and
one daughter. After the death of his first
wife, in Defiance County, Frederick Danner-
burg, Sr., wedded Miss Dorothy Guhl, who
^-c^^^^^e-^^l;;^!^
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1425
was born in Hauover, Germany, on the 17th
of April, 1836, and who came to the United
States in 185-4, her marriage to Mr. Danner-
burg having been solemnized July 27, 1857.
Both continued to reside on their homestead
farm in Defiance County until their death,
he having passed to eternal rest on the 8th
of February, 1903, and she having died Jan-
uary 30, 1912 ; both were devoted members
of the Lutheran Church and he was a demo-
crat in his political proclivities.
The only child of the first marriage of Jlr.
Mehring is Richard A., who is now junior
member of the firm of ]\Iehring & Son. He
was afforded the advantages of the public
schools of Napoleon and in 1911 was gradu-
ated in the International Business College,
in the City of Fort Wayne. He has been since
that time his father's effective coadjutor in the
conducting of the extensive brick and tile busi-
ness. He is still a bachelor. By his second
marriage the subject of this sketch has one
son. Otto, who availed himself of the advan-
tages of the public schools and also of those
of the celebrated International Correspond-
ence School at Scranton, Pennsylvania. He
is now associated actively with his father's
business and is one of the vigorous young men
of Henry County commercial and industrial
life. He wedded Miss .Anna Zenz and they
have one child, Delbert, who was born March
12, 1911.
John A. !Mehring is essentially liberal and
progressive as a citizen and takes lively inter-
est in all things pertaining to the welfare of
his community. In 1916 he is serving his
second term as a member of the city council
of Napoleon, and his political support is given
to the democratic party. He is a director of
the Napoleon State Bank and is known and
honored as one of the representative business
men and influential citizens of Henry County.
He and his wife and their sons are enrolled
as active members of the Lutheran Church at
Napoleon.
Cyrus Llewellyn Casterltne. The City
of Findlay has long been proud of the achieve-
ments and the complicated part Cyrus L.
Casterline played in business affairs. For all
his success, wealth and influence he was at
one time no better known than an ordinary
country boy.
His birth occurred in Angelica. Allegany
County. New York, April 8, 1851, and the
first twenty-five years of his life were spent
on a farm. He had onlv a country school
education. When he left the farm he was
attracted into the oil district of Western
Pennsylvania and for one year worked as a
teamster at Bradford. For ten years he was
engaged' in the manufacture of nitro-gly-
eerine and the exceedingly hazardous occupa-
tion of shooting oil wells in Penn.sylvania,
and was known as a moonlighter. He had
the grit, the hard working ability which made
it almost inevitable that he would rise from
the circumstances of an employe to an inde-
pendent bu.siness man.
Mr. Casterline came to Findlay in 1890.
Here with C. S. Corthell he established a
nitro-glycerine company, and became its
superintendent and overseer. That was a suc-
cessful business, but he disposed of this in-
dustry and established the Bradford Oil Com-
pany, which developed into a very succes.sful
business. In addition to that ilr. Casterline
has developed and extended his various inter-
ests until they now cover an exceedingly
broad field.
It' would be i?upossible to mention all his
varied relationships with business. A few of
them are as follows: Vice president of the
American National Bank of Findlay ; vice
president Buckeye Traction Ditcher Com-
pany; vice pi'esident The Electric Construc-
tion Company; secretary and treasurer Bel-
mont Oil Company; secretary, treasurer and
manager Genesee Oil Company ; treasurer In-
dependent Torpedo Company, which has
branches at Findlay, Robin.son, Illinois, Inde-
pendence, Kansas; Tulsa, Oklahoma, and is
the largest manufacturer of niti'o-glycerine
in the country; treasurer Goldie Oil and Gas
Company of Oklahoma. In addition he owns
at the present time sixty producing oil wells,
and has four fine farms aggregating 550
acres, each one improved with fine buildings
and operated to the limit of productiveness
and eiSciency. These farms are all in the
vicinity of Findlay, and he gives his personal
attention to the management of all except one.
Mr. Casterline 's French and English an-
cestors came to America in 1690, and some of
them subsequently helped to win American
independence for the colonies. Mr. Caster-
line is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite
Mason and a member of the Elks, is a republi-
can, a member and director of the Findlay
Country Club, and a chairman of the Finance
and a member of the Executive Committee of
the Findlay Y. M. C. A. He is also inter-
ested in the Findlay Associated Charities. A
man of large wealth, unmarried and therefore
1426
H-ISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
without a family of liis own. Mr. Casterline
ha.s been a liberal giver and a co-operative
factor with every movement for the good and
advancement of his community and fellow-
citizens. Those who are acquainted with his
generosity say that he has given liberally to
all worthy objects. He has served on the
executive committee of the Ohio Commission
for the Relief of European War Sufferers, as
chairman of the finance committee for the
Belgian Relief Commission for Hancock
County, Ohio, and took an active part in .se-
curing the carload of new clothing which was
sent to the afflicted Belgians. Mr. Casterline
owns a beautiful home in the country district
near Findlay.
Rev. George Gunnell has been rector of
Trinity Episcopal Church in Toledo since
1909. " This is one of the largest and wealthi-
est Episcopal congregations in Northwest Ohio
and Rev. Mr. Gunnell 's position is one of
corresponding heavy responsibilities and
importance.
For all its established position as one of
the oldest strongholds of this denomination
in Northwest Ohio, Doctor Gunnell has during
his service as rector brought about a notable
advance in church activities, in a strengthen-
ing of its tinancial resources and increased
power to its activities. The membership since
he became rector has increased more than
400, and in financial status Trinity Church
has an almost unique distinction in being
completely out of debt. In fact its property
represents a value of over half a million dol-
lars. During his rectorship he has presented
585 people for confirmation, and the Sunday
school has increased in membership from 225
to 800. Among parish activities has been the
creation of the Business Woman's Guild,
which provides for luncheon facilities and
rest rooms for 250 girls each day. The meas-
ure of good accomplished by this movement is
not confined entirely to what the people of
the guild accomplish, since several of the
larger stores in Toledo have copied the plan
and introduced lunch rooms for their work-
ing girls.
Born in Pittsburg. Pennsylvania, May 18,
1868, Rev. George Gunnell is a son of the
late George and Sophia (Cowling) Gunnell.
His father was a successful real estate dealer
for many years at Beaver, Pennsylvania.
George Gunnell, Sr., was born in Rumford,
Essex County, England, while his wife was a
native of Allegheny City, Pennsylvania. In
the family were three sons: Rev. George;
Louis, deceased; and Harry.
Preparatory to his chosen work in life, Rev. i
George Gunnell received liberal educational |]
advantages. He attended the public schools (
in Beaver, Pennsylvania, and the Hobart Col-
lege at Geneva, New York, where he was grad-
uated A. B. in 1891. He then entered the sen-
ior class of Harvard University where he was
given his A. B. degree by that institution with
the class of 1892. In" 1894 his alma mater
Hobart College conferred upon him the degree
Master of Arts.
His studies preparatory to the priesthood
were pursued in the General Theological Sem-
inary, where he graduated, and on June 9,
1895, was ordained a deacon by Bishop White-
head in St. Thomas Church at New York. His
first work was as a missionary to the Church
of Holy Innocents at Leechburg, Pennsyl-
vania. He remained there until July 1, 1896,
and on the 9th of June in the same year was
ordained to the priesthood in St. John's
Church in Franklin. Pennsylvania. This cer-
emony was also performed by Bishop White-
head.
'Sir. Gunnell was assistant pastor of Cal-
vars' Church at Pittsburg from August 1,
189*6, to November 1, 1897. He then became
rector of the Church of the Ephiphany at
Bellevue, a suburb of Pittsburg. On ]\Iarch
1. 1903, he was called to one of the largest
churches of Philadelphia, St. Andrew's
Church, and remained its pastor for six years.
Since April 4, 1909, he has been rector of
Trinity Episcopal Church at Toledo. His
assistant pastor is Rev. Edwin W. Todd.
Old Trinity Church in Toledo is situated
in the heart of the business district, just as
the still older Trinity Church of New York
City. The large and handsome structure of
stone, exemplifying the best lines of ecclesi-
astical architecture, was erected in 1863. It
stands at the corner of St. Clair and Adams
streets. In the fifty years since it was built
many improvements have been added from
time to time, and the church has one of the
finest pipe organs to be found in the city.
To his work Rev. Mr. Gunnell has brought
the highest enthusiasm, and is also a
man of great breadth of mind and of unselfish
devotion to the cause. He considers no effort
too great to be made in behalf of any individ-
ual member of his parish, however humble his
station.
For several years he served on the standing
committee of the diocese of Ohio and was
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1427
one of the deputies to the general convention
of the Episcopal Church in New York City
I in 1913. He has been a member of the Board
of Missions since taking charge of Trinity
Church at Toledo.
He is a member of Belleviie Lodge No. 530,
Free and Accepted Masons of Bellevue, Penn-
sylvania, Fort Meigs Chapter No. 29, Royal
Arch Masons, of Toledo, and all the Scottish
Rite bodies of Toledo, including the thirty-
second degree. He also belongs to the Toledo
Country Club and the Toledo Commerce Club.
On September 12, 1900, he married Miss
Caroline Hogg Sibbett, daughter of Richard
and Sarah (Hogg) Sibbett of Brownsville,
Pennsylvania. To their marriage were born
three children : George Trevor who was born
at Bellevue, Pennsylvania, and died at the
age of four months; Mary Brunot, who was
born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ; and Car-
oline Sibbett, born at Toledo. The daugh-
ters are now attending Miss Smead's School
in Toledo. •
Geoege W. Woodward. An important dis-
tinction attaches to George W. Woodward of
Richfield Township in Lucas County. This
is his ability as a crop grower. It is doubt-
ful if any other farmer in the county suc-
ceeds in getting larger and better yields per
acre from his land than Mr. Woodward. He
has a fine farm, all improved, known as Even-
dale, and has the satisfaction of knowing that
much of the clearing and work of improve-
ment was done by his own hands. His home is
IVn niiles southeast of Bcrkey.
He is of English birth and ancestry, and
was born in Warwickshire, England, Novem-
ber 18, 1867, a son of George and Sarah Ellen
(Aldington) Woodward, both of whom were
natives of the same shire. In 1873. when
George Woodward was about five years of age,
his mother died. A few years later, when
George was nine years of age, his father left
England on April"l9, 1877, and came to Amer-
ica. The boy remained behind in England
and soon afterward left school and started
to work out his own destiny. On coming to
this country George Woodward, Sr., bought
eighty acres in section 16 of Richfield Town-
ship, Lucas County. He bought this land
from Peter Waterbury, who had acquired it
direct from the State of Ohio. This is the
land that George W. Woodward now owns
and occupies.
In 1882, at the age of fourteen, George
W. Woodward left England, and made the
entire journey to Ohio alone. When he
arrived he found his father engaged in the
work of clearing the land in Richfield Town-
ship. There was no barn on the place at the
time and the son spent all the following win-
ter hard at work in the woods, and went with-
out overshoes or cap and without sufficient
clothing to keep him warm. However, there
was so much work to do that he experienced
no special hardship from this lack of cloth-
ing, and his energies even at that age made
him a very capable assistant. Much of the
farm was still in the woods, since its former
owner had done very little clearing. Since
then Mr. Woodward has made a special study
of farming, and through his own labors and
those of his father this work continued until
the latter 's death in 1898, practically every
acre is under cultivation and the improve-
ments constitute this one of the model farms
of the county. Where at one time they felt
satisfied to get ten bushels of wheat per acre,
Mr. Woodward now gets an average yield of
thirty-five bushels, and he produced forty-
seven bushels per acre for the year 1915. He
has similar results with other crops. His corn
land has produced 150 baskets of corn to the
acre and he is not satisfied with sixty bushels
of oats and about fifty bushels of barley to
the acre. Evendale also regularly produces
large crops of alfalfa. Any one who knows
farming and the growing of crops realizes that
this yield is much above the general average.
Besides the growing of extensive crops Mr.
Woodward also engages in dairying and rais-
ing pure-bred Berkshire swine.
Mr. Woodward married Alice Brimacombe,
daughter of Thomas Brimacombe, who was of
English and Canadian ancestry. Mr. and
Mrs. Woodward have three children : Arthur,
who is farming in Sylvania Township married
Clara Fink of Ottawa Lake, Michigan, and is
the father of three children; Ethel, wife of
Hugh Riches, a farmer at Wauseon, who has
one child Lorene, and Joyce, who married
Ford Sanderson, and they are now farming
in Richfield Township.
ilr. Woodward always takes an active inter-
est in affairs affecting his home community.
He is now serving as trustee of Richfield
Township, was township clerk seven years
and a member of the hoard of education four
years. He is a republican and is affiliated
with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows
and the Protected Home Circle.
1428
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
R. Clint Cole. While he has not lived an
extraordinary term of years, R. Clint Cole
has earned some distinctions that give a man
special prestige in American life. He is to
begin with an able lawyer. He also has
powers that make him a formidable debater
and is a well known orator. In republican
politics both in national and state campaigns
he has figured largely, and has also been heard
fi-om the public platform on various subjects
which he adorns with his originality of
thought and diction. Some of the topics of
his discourses have been politics, religion,
patriotism, philosophy, education, etc.
He is of Scotch-Irish stock. He was born
on a farm in Big Lick Township of Hancock
County, Ohio, in 1872. His father was a sub-
stantial farmer of Hancock County. Owing
to this early environment he grew up in the
country, attended the district schools, spent a
year in Findlay College, and on getting a
certificate started out to teach, a vocation he
followed in the country schools for eight
years. In the meantime he was studying law
and employing his opportunities for learning
men and many other subjects that cannot be
dealt with in books.
In 1898 he entered the Ohio Northern Uni-
versity, where he spent a year, and in 1900
passed a successful examination for the bar.
In 1901 Mr. Cole took up practice for himself
at Findlay, and after several years joined his
brothers Ralph and J. J. Cole under the name
Cole, Cole & Cole. He is now in active prac-
tice with his brother Ralph Cole and with
Elijah T. Dunn, under the firm name of
Dunn & Cole. This firm does a large general
practice, and is one of the ablest aggrega-
tions of legal talent in Hancock County. His
brother, Ralph D. Cole, has long been a man
of recognized prominence in republican circles
in Ohio. He was head of the Republican
Speakers' Bureau in the Hughes campaign
with temporary headquarters in New York
City.
Mr. Cole served as city solicitor of Findlay
from 1912 to 1916, for two terms, and was not
a candidate at the last election. He is a mem-
ber of the First Methodist Episcopal Church
and is affiliated with the Benevolent and Pro-
tective Order of Elks.
Gael F. Braun. In 1862 arrived in Toledo
a young German, named Carl F. Braun, whose
chief capital consisted of a sturdy heart, a
willing spirit, and an unconquerable ambi-
tion. Not long afterward he became a hard-
ware clerk, and in a few years was in busi-
ness for himself. When he died at his Toledo
home June 25, 1908, there was probably no,
better known figure in business circles in the
city. A man of remarkable business sagacity,
with a wonderfully systematic mind and a
great quickness of perception, his promotion
to increasing responsibilities had been rapid;
so that for years he was a controlling force
and directing head of several large business
affairs.
He was born at Gudensburg, Germany,
August 16, 1843. He received a technical
education in Germany, graduating from a
polytechnic school at Cassel. At the age of
nineteen in 1862 he came to the United States,
found his way to Toledo, and in 1866 entered
the hardware house of Roff & Company as a
clerk. He was alert, energetic, quick to grasp
business opportunities, and strictly faithful
to the discharge of his duties. Though his
salary was small, he managed to save a greater
part of it, having constantly in view a business
career for himself. In 1868 he was taken in
as a member of the firm of Roff & Company.
In the years immediately following the Civil
war Toledo had a great and rapid growth,
affecting not only the hardware business but
other lines as well. Thus Roff & Company
prospered and expanded its business from year
to year, and in 1876 a new concern was organ-
ized to take over the old house of Roff &
Company. The organizers of the Bostwick-
Braun Company were Carl F. Braun, George
A. Braun, a cousin, and Oscar A. Bostwick.
This new company opened a store at the foot
of Monroe Street on a part of the ground
now occupied hy the mammoth establislnnent
of Bostwick-Braun Company, which today is
one of the largest hardware houses in North-
western Ohio or the ^Middle West. For a num-
ber of years the company also occupied quar-
ters at the corner of St. Clair and Monroe
streets.
The late Carl F. Braun continued an active
participant in the management of this busi-
ness until 1904. In his time he was recog-
nized as one of the business giants of the city,
and along with great capacity for work pos-
sessed high ideals and unblemished reputa-
tion. The Bostwick-Braun Company's estab-
lishment of modern times really stands as a
monument to his industry.
It was not the only concern which bene-
fited by his energy and judgment. He was
a director and at one time vice president of
The Home /Savings Bank and director of The
7^ .<^A-f 4^
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1429
Citizens Deposit and Trust Company. In
1881 he bought the old Swan Creek Railroad.
This had been projected in 1876, but the pro-
moters encountered much trouble in secur-
ing a right of way. Mr. Braun succeeded
where others failed, not only in this under-
taking but in other matters to which he ap-
plied his attention. He reorganized the com-
pany, was elected president, and he soon was
gratified by having the road extended from
the intersection of Bismark and Hamilton
streets to the tracks of the old Toledo, Cin-
cinnati and St. Louis, now the Clover Leaf,
thus saving considerable time and labor in
operating in and out of the city.
On May 22, 1879, ]\Ir. Braun married Miss
Elise Lenk. Mrs. Braun is still living and
resides on Scottwood Avenue. There were
three sons, "Walter M., Arthur P. and Carl W.
Of these the only one living is Walter M.,
who is a member of the firm of Stacy & Braun,
dealers in municipal and railroad bonds, with
offices on the second floor of the Second
National Bank Building. The son Arthur was
a mining engineer in ^lexico and died sud-
denly May 17, 1910. The son Carl died at
Toledo in June, 1912, at the age of twenty-
six.
The late Carl F. Braun was by nature well
fitted for a business career, and was of that
type of business leader who carries other enter-
prises and the interests of many individuals
along with him in his success. He gave a tre-
mendous energy to every undertaking, as well
as splendid loyalty and enthusiasm and could
be counted upon for co-operation in any move-
ment which promised benefit to the commun-
ity at large.
Thomas J. Geeenaway, now living retired
at Sylvania, has during his active career of
about forty years been closely identified with
farming as a vocation in Lucas County.
Besides doing what was required of him as
a public spirited citizen and besides rearing
and providing well for a family, he has made
his efforts count toward a sufficiency for him-
self, and is now living on the fruits of his
well spent years.
He was "born January 17. 1858, a son of
Thomas and Harriet (Taylor) Greenaway.
His father was born at Cornwall, England,
and his mother in Devonshire, and from Dev-
onshire they took ship in 1852 and came to
America, settling in Sylvania Township of
Lucas County about four miles west of Syl-
vania on their farm. In that locality Thomas
J. Greenaway was born, and a number of
years later he inherited the old homestead and
still owns it. Thomas Greenaway, Sr., was
about twenty-five years of age when he came
to the United States. For a short time he
worked west of Toledo, and then bought the
land in Sylvania Township which he devel-
oped as a farm and where he resided until
his death in 1899. His widow passed away
at the old home in 1912.
During the yeai's of his minority Thomas
J. Greenaway lived at home attending the
country schools, and assisting as his strength
permitted in the farm duties. He then worked
at the old home place for a year, afterwards
rented the farm for another year, and the
following year was spent at employment in
Toledo. His next move was to buy a farm of
his own, where he remained three years, and
he then went to the farm owned by his wife's
mother and conducted it until the death of his
own father, Thomas Greenaway. He then
took charge of the old home place, and con-
ducted it as a first class farm for more than
fifteen years. In 1916 he retired to a home
in Sylvania and now rents his farm.
On February 18. 1879, ]Mr. Greenaway mar-
ried Elizabeth Ironside, a daughter of John
and Amelia (Watson) Ironside. Both her
parents were born and reared in Aberdeen-
shire, Scotland, came before their marriage to
Canada, where they lived about six months,
and were married in Buffalo, New York.
From there they came to Lucas County and
settled at Holland in 1856. Mrs. Greena-
way 's father was a renter for several years
and died in this county in 1864. Her mother
then moved to Richfield Township, where she
lived until her death in 1896.
Mr. and Mrs. Greenaway have three chil-
dren. Bessie is the wife of Charles Sander-
son, a farmer in Sylvania Township, and their
five children are named Elnah, Dale, Melvin,
Myron and Georgiette. Roscoe lives at Spring-
field, Ohio, where he is employed by the D.
T. & I. R. R. Company, and by his marriage
to Nora Brown has two children named Paul
and Pauline. Glenn, the youngest child, is
connected with the Overland Automobile Com-
pany of Toledo and married Nellie Keenan.
So far as politics is concerned Mr. Green-
away is independent though usually favoring
the republican candidates on national issues.
He has served as school director. For thir-
teen years he was township agent for the Lucas
County Farmers Mutual Insurance Company.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
He is a member of the Masonic Order and
attends the Methodist Church.
John M. Mills, D. D. Though now prac-
tically retired from the work which engaged
his attention for so many years and with such
benefit to himself and humanity, Dr. Mills still
has many interests to occupy his mind and is
one of the prominent men of Lima.
He is not only a man of attainments him-
self, but represents a family that have fur-
nished several generations of useful men and
women to the world.
Doctor Mills was born in Hocking County,
Ohio, November 5, 1850, a son of Robert and
Rachel (Geiger) Mills. His grandfather, An-
drew Mills, was a native of Scotland and came
with his parents to the United States about
1796 and soon afterward settled in Ohio. He
was one of the first settlers in Fairfield
County. As a contractor he helped to con-
struct the old Ohio and Erie canals. Andrew
Mills married Maiy Register Mills Irwin, who
attained tlve vmeralile age of ninety years.
Doctor iliUs' mati'i-nal grandfather was Mar-
tin Geiger, who was born in Pennsylvania, and
moved to Ohio in early days, following the
life of a farmer in Hocking County until his
death. He married Matilda McClaren, a
native of Scotland, who lived to be ninety-
eight years of age, her death occurring near
TamaCity, Iowa, in 1870. Both the parents
of Doctor Mills were born in Ohio. His father
was born in Fairfield County in 1817, and his
mother in Hocking County in 1826. They
were married at Somerset, Ohio, in 1844. the
ceremony being performed by James Mills, an
uncle of" Robert Mills.
Robert ]Mills in an early day was a.ssociated
with his father who was a contractor, but
subsequently became a farmer in Hocking
County, afterward moving to Fairfield, where
he was living when the Civil war broke out.
He enlisted on President Lincoln's first call
for volunteers, but was soon returned home on
account of disability. He died October 27,
1872, and his widow survived until December
15, 1902. Mrs. Mills in early life was an
active member of the Baptist Church, but in
later years she with her husband became mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Robert Mills was a democrat, a man of fair
education and very courteous, kind and gen-
erous. He and his wife were the parents of
twelve children, and the six now living are :
Dr. J. M. Mills; Andrew Jackson Mills, of
Lancaster, Ohio; Adam Mills, a retired stock
dealer at Sugar Grove, Ohio; Nancy, wife of
W. H. Shumaker, a farmer near Bremen,
Fairfield Coiuity, Ohio ; Charity, wife of Wil-
liam Moler, cement contractor, Newark, Ohio ;
and Rachel, wife of Abraham Miller, a farmer
near Lancaster, Ohio.
Dr. J. M. Mills grew up on a farm, attended
country schools, and at an early age attended
a private school to prepare for college. At
the age of si.xteen he entered Fairfield College.
Before completing the course, owing to the
failing health of his father, he turned aside
to assist his father, took up teaching and other
work to earn his own way and give him fur-
ther advantages. After a few years he ac-
cepted a position with A. J. Johnson & Co.
of New York, and traveled and sold books and
school supplies for three years.
Mr. Mills united with the Methodist Episco-
pal Church at the age of sixteen, but while
living in the home of Isaac Rinehart, whose
niece he afterwards married, he at Mr. Rine-
hart 's solicitation transferred his membership
to the United Brethren Church and became
the superintendent of the Olive Branch Sun-
day School near Bremen, Ohio. At the age of
twenty-six Mr. Mills had qualified and entered
the ministiy of the United Brethren Church,
but soon thansferred to the Methodist Episco-
pal Church, which he always regarded as his
church home. He continued to preach as pas-
tor and presiding elder for thirty years. His
first charge was a circuit of nine appointments
in Hocking and Vinton counties. He was
then pastor of the First United Brethren
Church of Circleville, Ohio, for three years,
was at Marion, Ohio, for two years, when he
transferred to the Central Ohio Conference
of the Methodist Episcopal Church and spent
two years at Columbus Grove, Ohio, three
years at Delta, and three years at Fremont.
While pastor at Fremont he was the officiat-
ing minister of the burial of Lucy Webb
Hayes, wife of ex-President Hayes, and at the
request of the ex-president, he delivered a
memorial address in the church on the follow-
ing Sabbath evening to perhaps as large an
audience as ever a.ssembled in the city on a
similar occasion. During his pastorate at
Fremont the church and parsonage was de-
stroyed by fire. Doctor Mills with the assis-
tance of ex-president and Jlrs. Hayes, raised
the funds and built the present fine church
and parsonage. His next call was to St.
Paul's Church at Defiance, where he remained
five years. While there he erected a fine par-
whieh still stands as a comfort- to
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1431
ministers and their families, and the pride of
Church and City. For three years he was at
Bellefontaine, and in the fall of 1898, became
the pastor of Trinity at Lima, and in the
midst of a very successful pastorate he was
appointed presiding elder of Defiance District,
and later was transferred to Lima District,
over which he exercised his supervision for
five years.
Resuming the pastorate Doctor ]\Iills served
St. John's Church at Toledo for one year,
when he took a supernumerary relation for
two years' travel. He then settled in his
home on West Market Street, Lima, Ohio, re-
tiring from the active ministry, though he has
been annually appointed as associate pastor
of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church and
preaches occasionally for Trinity and other
churches of the city, where he is always wel-
comed by the people.
On November 10, 1870, Doctor Mills mar-
ried Miss Mary M. Hufford. She was bom
in Fairfield County, Ohio. She was a woman
of great strength of character and always
popular in the churches her husband served.
She was especially active in the Sunday School
and missionary work of the church. She
passed to her reward August 7, 1902. Five
children were the fruit of their union : Wil-
liam S. Mills, of the City of Chicago; Anetta
E., the wife of Kimble Rakestraw, Lima,
Ohio: Irene Estelle, wife of Walter H. Jack-
son, Lima, Ohio: Marie M., who married Gib-
son P. Dildine, the grandson of Gen. W. H.
Gibson, and they also reside in Lima ; and
Charles H. Mills, the youngest son, is a resi-
dent of Conushatta, Louisiana.
On December 14, 1905, Doctor Mills mar-
ried Helen J. Innes. She was born at EUen-
ville. New York, a daughter of Adam Innes.
Adam Innes, who died in Pennsylvania, was
a tanner, started life as a worker in that trade
and rose to a position of conspicuous success,
so that for a number of years he was called
"The King of Tanners." He became the
first president of the First National Bank of
Canton, Pennsylvania, and before his death
his son, Daniel Innes, succeeded him in that
position and is still at the head of the bank.
Adam Innes and his wife were both natives
of Scotland.
Doctor ]\Iills has always taken an active in-
terest in Masonic affairs. He is affiliated with
the Free & Accepted ]\Iasons Lodge, the Royal
Arch Chapter, the Knight Templar Com-
mandery, Shawnee No. 14, Lima, Ohio, the
Ancient Accepted Scottish Rit© Valley of
Toledo. He is also a member of the Mystic
Shrine. He was a charter member of the
Garrett Wycoff Lodge, Free and Accepted
Masons, Lima, Ohio, and has been its
chaplain from the time of its institution to
the present. Doctor Mills served as Grand
Prelate of the Grand Commandery Knights
Templars of Ohio for nine years, and that
was the second longest consecutive term ever
enjoyed by any such official in the history of
the Ohio Grand Commandery.
In politics Doctor Mills is a republican, but
sufficiently independent to support men of
any party who represent the principles for
which he has contended during his entire pub-
lic life.
Doctor Mills received the honorary degree of
Doctor of Divinity from the American Tem-
perance University of Tennessee. He was one
of the original members of the Ohio Aiiti-
Saloon League, and the only member now liv-
ing of its first board of trustees. He was one
of the organizers of the American Anti-Saloon
League at Washington, D. C. in 1895, and is
at the present time a member of its board of
directors from Ohio.
He was for six years a member of the board
of trustees of Christ's Hospital of Cincinnati,
Ohio, and chairman of the committee at the
organization of the Methodist Home for the
Aged of Ohio. He is a member of the Metho-
dist Children's Home Association of Ohio, and
a member of its board of trustees. He is First
Vice President of the Board and member of
its executive and finance committees. Doctor
Mills has prospered in a business way, owns a
beautiful farm just outside the corporation
of Lima, and is a stockholder in the old Na-
tional Bank. He is also the owner of a good
home on West Market Street, where he re-
sides, and other Lima properties. Doctor
Mills leads a quiet but useful life and is held
in very high esteem not only in the City of
Lima, where he has long resided, but through
the state by reason of his connection with
reformatory and philanthropic work.
Leander Solomon Baumgardner. Manj-
interesting memorials of the commercial abil
ity and public spirit of the late Leander
Solomon Baumgardner stand in Northwest
Ohio. But one that is unusual in many ways
is the great wholesale dry goods house at the
corner of Jefferson Avenue and St. Clair
Street in Toledo, which bears the name L. S.
Baumgardner & Company, the same name
under which it was established just half a
1432
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
century ago. It is the ouly firm which
throughovit half a century of time has
endured in Toledo without a change of name,
and the policy of its founder is still the di-
recting spirit of those entrusted with its
management.
His was a lifetime of splendid achievement.
He was born in East Union Township of
Wayne County, Ohio, February 10, 1832.
His death occurred March 3, 1909, at Braden-
town, Florida, where he has been iu the habit
of spending his winters for about nineteen
years. His parents were Peter and Catherine
(Heller) Baumgai'duer. His father was born
in Baden, Germany, and came to the United
States in 1812 at the age of fourteen. The
mother, also of German descent, was a native
of Hellertown, Pennsj'lvania. In 1830 these
parents came to W^ayue County, Ohio, and
were pioneer settlers.
When the late L. S. Baumgardner was ten
years of age he was bound out to a farmer,
"following- a familiar custom of that time.
One of the provisions of the contract was
that the boy should be allowed to attend
school during the winter months. Unfortu-
nately that provision was not observed by the
master. However, in spite of this the youth
improved so wisely his limited opportunities
that before reaching his majority he was
qualified to teach in the common schools, and
that was his occupation for two .seasons in the
early part of his life. He had, however, a
special genius for practical affairs, and fi-om
his twenty-second year, when he left the
farm, he was almost continuously identified
with some form of commercial endeavor.
On leaving the farm he formed a partner-
ship with hrs older brothers, J. H. and T. P.
Baumgardner, and opened a store at Wooster
in 1854 for the sale of drugs, stationery, mu-
sical instruments, etc. This firm of J. H.
Baumgardner & Company was unusually suc-
cessful and three years later they erected a
building of their own called the Arcadome
Building, on the top floor of which was a
public hall, the first of its kind in Wooster.
After occupying the new building the firm
began the publication of a newspaper chiefly
as a medium for advertising, and Leander S.
and his brother J. H. had its editorial
management.
In 186.5, having sold his mercantile inter-
ests in Wooster. Tslv. Baumgardner moved to
a farm he had bought at Cuyahoga Falls in
Summit County. A year of experience in
rural life satisfied him that he was not
adapted to farming, and in 1866 he came to
Toledo.
In that year he established the house of
L. S. Baumgardner & Company, wholesale
dry goods, notions, men's furnishings, etc.
That firm is still in existence, and one of the
largest wholesale establishments in Northwest
Ohio.
Throughout his long and useful life, wher-
ever he lived, Mr. Baumgardner was deeply
interested in every movement for the ad-
vancement of the community. WTiile at
Wooster he was one of the organizers of the
Wooster Library Association. This in time
became a splendid and useful institution. He
was also one of the leaders in the establish-
ment of the Tri-State Fair Association, was
its first president, and though the association
began without woi'king capital Mr. Baum-
gardner displayed such executive ability in
its management that during the seven yeare
he was president the receipts of the associa-
tion amounted to over $260,000 and perma-
nent improvements were accumulated valued
at at least $60,000, without ajiy incumbrance.
An early Toledo institution with whose or-
ganization he was actively identified was The
Merchants and IManufacturers Exchange,
which in its time pei-formed the functions of
such later organizations as the board of trade
in promoting the commercial and industrial
pro.sperity of the city. Mi'. Baumgardnet
was at one time president of The Continental
Bank and Trust Company, was a director of
The Northeni National Bank, was president
of The Freemont Furniture Company, and
owned a large amount of Toledo real estate.
Much of his real estate comprised residence
property, but he also built and still owned at
the time of his death the Collingwood Hall.
By the terms of his will the Hall remains the
property of Mrs. Baumgardner until her
death, and then passes to the Old Ladies'
Home of Toledo.
Despite his active associations with com-
mercial affairs he was not without consider-
able interest in and influence in republican
polities. In 1879 he was his party's candi-
date for mayor of Toledo. The entire repub-
lican ticket was defeated that year. Mr.
Baumgardner received a large number of
democratic votes and at the same time lost
many supporters in his own party because of
his open and courageous opposition to the
saloon or liquor element in the city. In 1880
he was considered as a candidate for Con-
gress, but the choice of the convention fell
yY^/'n^-^'^^'^^^'^^ '
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1433
upon Hou. James M. Ritchie, wliom Mr.
Baumgardner actively supported iu tlie fol-
lowing campaign.
His public spirit and business ability were
splendidly exemplified in connection with
Ihe Citizens Electric Light Company. When
that concern became sei-iously involved iinan-
cially, he was called as president to reorgan-
ize its atfairs. As a result of his tact and
energy he elfected a consolidation of the
United States, the Brush and the Thompson-
Houston companies with a capital stock of
!j)150,000. As president of the new company
he soon had it on a paying basis and at the
same time gave the people better facilities for
lighting than thej' had ever enjoyed before.
On March 11, "l909, the directors of The
Northern National Bank adopted memorial
resolutions which paid a just and generous
tribute to Mr. Baumgardner 's talents and
energy as a business man and citizen, and
these resolutions are to be found in the per-
manent minutes of the meeting and as part
of the permanent records of the bank. Mr.
Baumgardner "s ' remains were brought to
Toledo for burial. On the day of his funeral
the late David S. Robinson, Jr. (elsewhere
referred to), spoke in memoriam of his de-
parted friend as follows: "It pained me
greatly to learn of the death of my old friend,
Leander S. Baumgardner. We were children,
boys and men together, both having been
born in Wayne County, Ohio, and there is no
person living whom I have known so long and
so intimately as him. I do not remember ever
having known any person who was so uni-
formly the same, whether in his social or
business life ; he had excesses, no extremes, he
was of unusual equipoise. In all his business
life he was fair and honorable, and I believe
would have preferred to suffer loss himself
than make an error whereby anyone should
lose through him in any transaction. He has
always the interests of the City of Toledo at
heart and manifested it in every way when
opportunity presented itself; and if oppor-
tunity did not offer, he would create the op-
portunitj\ He was always active in public
enterprises and a leader among leaders. It
cannot be otherwise than that he will be
greatly missed, not only by his family and
his immediate friends, but also by all who
knew him in his business and every-day life.
He has left too many monuments among us
of his perseverance, beneficence and industry-,
to city, church and state, to summarize them
and they cannot be forgotten. As we stand
today in the presence of his taking off and in
the passing cortege, the whole city acclaims
with one accord: 'Thou hast gone from
among us for ever! And 1 can say, Go
sainted friend, farewell, hail and farewell.' "
On April 25, 1858, Mr. Baumgardner mar-
ried iliss Matilda E. Miller, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. David Miller of Akron, Ohio. Mrs.
Baumgardner, who is still living, walked
lifes highways with her husband for more
than fifty years.
Rev. Alfred Edward Manning has for
twenty-three yeai's been pastor of St. Rose's
Catholic Church at Lima. Here he has labored
with the coJisecrated zeal and devotion that has
characterized him during his entire career
in his high calling. He has done much to
twenty-three years been pastor of St. Rose's
further the spiritual and temporal prosper-
ity of his present parish, and, in an unassum-
ing and modest way, he goes about doing good
and laboring for the uplifting of his fellow
man.
Beginning with 1830 the Catholic people
of Allen County were visited occasionally by
a missionary priest and there is a record con-
cerning the first celebration of mass in Lima
at a private residence in 1846. Many Catho-
lic people came to that city during the build-
ing of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago
Railway, and from 1850 to 1855 Lima was
attended by priests from Westminster and
Tiffin. In 1858 a brick church was constructed
on North West Street, and was given the
name of St. Rose in honor of America's first
canonized saint. This church was constructed
by contributions from Catholics and Protes-
tants alike, and two of the first members who
were especially generous in their work for
the establishment of the church were Nicho-
las Gunkel and John Goebel. The first resi-
dent pastor at St. Rose's was Rev. Edward
J. Murpliy, appointed October 19, 1861. He
remained until 1869. and his successors in the
parish have been : Rev. James 'Reilly, who
selected the present site of the St. Rose
Church ; Rev. A. R. Sidley, who sang the first
mass in the new church on New Year's Day,
in 1872; Rev. Francis J. Henry, who took
charge in 1876; Rev. James O'Leary, who
came in 1886; and Rev. Alfred E. Manning,
who came to his work as pastor of St. Rose's
parish. November 1, 1893.
During the administration of Father Sidley
a handsome church was constructed at a cost
of $30,000, and improvements were also made
in the parish .school. The church debt was
1434
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
cleared off during the administration of
Father Henry, in 1882. He also built the
Sisters' residence. Other improvements were
added to the church in 1887 by Father
O'Leary, and in 1888 a new schoolhouse was
erected. As a result of the great develop-
ment at Lima after the discovery of oil St.
Rose's parish came to include a very popu-
lous Catholic community. As a result, in
1891, about $12,000 was spent in enlarging
and improving St. Rose's, and in the follow-
ing year more than $3,000 was expended in
installing a fine pipe organ.
Rev. Alfred Edward Manning was bom
September 1, 1856, in St. Patrick's parish
at Cleveland, Ohio, a son of Thomas and Jane
E. (Murray) Manning. His father left Ire-
land at the age of fourteen and entered the
great machine shops at Glasgow, Scotland,
where he was trained to be a skilled engineer,
and subsequently was the engineer who
handled the engines of one of the first steam-
ers that crossed the Atlantic Ocean. On com-
ing to America he lived for a time at Bos-
ton, later at Cleveland, and was a well-known
manufacturer in that city.
One of a family of thirteen children. Father
Manning was educated in the parochial
schools, of St. John's Cathedral at Cleveland
and in St. Mary's Seminary of the "West at
Cincinnati. He entered the seminary of Our
Lady of Angels at Niagara Falls in Septem-
ber, 1874, and on finishing the classical course
entered, in September, 1876, St. Mary's Semi-
nary at Cleveland. He was ordained a priest
at Cleveland by Rt. Rev. R. Gilmour on July
2, 1881. Five days later he was appointed
pastor of St. Marj-'s Church at Antwerp,
Ohio, a pastorate that included attendance
at a number of missions. In 1883 he went
to St. Mary's at Clyde, leaving behind him
a record of splendid constructive accomplish-
ment as a pastor. This work was continued
at Clyde, where in two or three years he had
paid off a heavy debt, and in 1886 the corner-
stone was laid for the church of Our Lady
of Mount Carmel in Clyde. In February,
1890, after having completed the construc-
tion of the new church at Clyde, he was
called to be pastor of St. Ann at Fremont.
Father Manning said his first mass in the
church of St. Rose at Lima, November 19,
1893. Here he found a large and prosperous
congregation, and applied himself with all
characteristic energ>^ to further improvement,
and in many beneficent ways has extended
the power and influence of this old Catholic
community at Lima. During his first five
years he served the entire Catholic popula-
tion of Lima, but the parish was divided in
1910, resulting in the establishment' of St.
John's Catholic Church and in 1916 the north
end was formed into St. Gerard's parish by
the Redeniptorist Fathers. St. Rose's has
a high school to which was built an addition
in 1916, at a cost of about $50,000.
Rev. Robert L. Harris. Unless a man were
moved by the power and spirit of true Christi-
anity he would never be able to accomplish so
much in behalf of his church and humanity
as Rev. Robert L. Harris has done in his career
as clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal
Church. He is a great constructive worker
for righteousness, and nowhere has that -Work
been more manifest than during his rector-
ship of St. Mark's Church in Toledo.
Some of the zeal and other good qualities
of his character have doubtless come from his
worthy ancestry. His Harris ancestors came
originally from England and were colonial
settlers in New England. Members of the
family fought for American freedom during
the War of the Revolution. With the spirit
of the pioneer strong in them one branch of
the family later moved to Canada, settling
near Toronto, which was then a wilderness.
Some of this branch of the family live in To-
ronto today, and the grandfather of Doctor
Harris founded the Massy-Harris Harvester
Company at Brantford, Canada.
Lansing Harris, a son of the founder and an
uncle of Rev. Robert L. Harris, was at the
head of this -large biisiness for many years,
which business has now passed into the hands
of a younger generation of the family.
On the maternal side Doctor Harris is de-
scended from the Shaw family, an old Colonial
family which early settled in New York, where
many still reside. In the Colonial period
several members of this family were killed in
the Cherry Valley Massacre. Three escaped
from the Indians by night on Indian ponies
while the guards were asleep.
Through his Colonial ancestry Doctor Har-
ris is related to General Herkimer, General
Putnam and Captain Shaw, notable figures in
Colonial and Revolutionary days. He is also
descended from a line of clerg\-men, as both
his grandfather and great-grandfather were
clergymen.
Reverend Mr. Harris is one of the charter
members of the Wyoming Chapter of the Sons
of the American Revolution. This chapter
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1435
was organized while he was rector of St.
Mark's Episcopal Church at Cheyenne, Wyom-
ing. Like his ancestors, Mr. Harris is a great
lover of out door life. He has hunted big
game in the Rockies and on the western plains,
and spends part of every summer in the wilds
of Canada.
Robert L. Harris was born near Cleveland,
Ohio, February 12, 1874, a son of the late E. C.
and Susan (Shaw) Harris, both now deceased.
His father was actively engaged in the insur-
ance business for many years. Doctor Harris'
gifts for public life he inherited from his
mother, Susan Shaw Harris. She was a
woman of brilliant intellectual gifts and was
a pioneer in the suffrage movement, temper-
ance reform, and served on some of the first
boards of charities and correction for the
amelioration of the condition of prisoners ever
appointed in Ohio. Her rare literary ability
caused her to write extensively for the press,
and her charming personality and keen wit
made her sought for as a speaker on woman's
work. With all her gifts she was essentially a
home maker and first of all a mother.
In preparation for his chosen career Doctor
Harris was given a liberal education. He
graduated valedictorian of his high school and
afterwards attended 'Kenyon Military Acad-
emy of Gambler, Ohio, and continued his
higher studies in the Episcopal institution
founded by Bishop Chase, Kenyon College,
where he graduated with degree of Bachelor
of Arts in the class of 1896. Later Kenyon
College conferred upon him the degree of
Master of Arts, for his post graduate work in
psychology. Doctor Harris was a graduate of
Bexley Hall Theological Seminary of the class
of 1899.
In 1899 he was ordained in the college
chapel at Gambier by Bishop William A. Leon-
ard as a deacon, and later was ordained to the
priesthood in Trinity Episcopal Church, To-
ledo, in 1900, by Bishop Leonard. For several
months before graduation he was .sent, while
still a student, to take charge of Calvary Epis-
copal Church, Toledo. After his ordination he
came to Calvary Church as rector, and filled
that post two years. A few weeks after his
ordination to the priesthood he was called to
the rectorship of St. Paul's Episcopal Church,
Newport, Kentucky, the second largest church
of the Lexington Diocese. He remained there
2Vn years, where he built up a large institu-
tional work and founded St. Paul's Industrial
School for the poor children of the city.
For about li/o years he was Rector of Grace
Episcopal Church, Avondale, Cincinnati, a
very wealthy and aristocratic parish, where his
ability was immediately recognized and he
began a successful work that promised much
for the future.
It was on account of his wife 's ill health that
Doctor Harris resigned the rectorship of Grace
Church and went West. St. Mark 's Episcopal
Church at Cheyenne, Wyoming, soon after
welcomed him as its rector, and from 1906 to
1909 he had cHarge of St. Mark's, the largest
Episcopal Church in Wyoming. Among its
members were prominent federal and state of-
ficials, including Governor Brooks and Gover-
nor Carey, both of whom were active in the
parish and close friends of Dr. Harris.
Not only as the administrative and spiritual
head of his parish but as a leader in every
reform movement was Doctor Harris an im-
portant figure during his residence in Wyom-
ing. His life there meant much as a factor in
the moral uplift of the entire state. He led a
movement that resulted in new divorce and
temperance legislation, and he was elected
leader of the moral forces of the city to con-
duct a crusade against gambling, as a result of
which, the gambling houses of Cheyenne were
closed, and the leading gambler of the state as
a pledge of good faith and as an object lesson
to others burned five thousand dollars' worth
of gambling furniture and paraphernalia on
the public square. This gambler is today, it
should be noted, a prominent and respected
business man of Wyoming.
Doctor Harris has long been a trustee of his
alma mater, Kenyon College, having filled
such position as trustee from Kentucky and
southern Ohio, and in June, 1916, was again
elected by the alumni of Kenyon College.
Doctor Harris was one of the four deputies
elected in Ohio to the general convention of
the Episcopal Church held in St. Louis in
October, 1916. He was president of the
bishop's council of advice in the new diocese
of Wyoming, and while there was endorsed
for bishop oi^ Wyoming. Many personal let-
ters from the most prominent people of Wyom-
ing endorsing and urging his promotion to
that high .station in the church, were sent to
the house of bishops. More recently he was
nominated for bishop coadjutor of Ohio, but
withdrew his name and nominated another »
man for that office.
From Cheyenne, Wyoming, Doctor Harris
came to St. Mai-k's Episcopal Church, Toledo,
and took charge as rector February 21, 1909.
While St. Mark's Church is now one of the
1436
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
most prosperous parishes of Toledo, that con-
dition is due to the businesslike administra-
tion of Doctor Harris more than to any other
individual. Seven years ago St. Mark's Epis-
copal Church was virtually bankrupt. The
congregation had pa.ssed through five years of
constant struggle against a heavy burden of
debt. That struggle continued for some time,
but in 1912, after a decisive campaign lasting
sixty days there came a triumph and victory
such as no member of the cliurch will ever
forget. On Easter Day of that year the con-
gregation placed on tlie altar of God $41,300,
and by that act lifted the load of debt that had
so long threatened the prosperity and effect-
iveness, if not the very life, of the parish.
The story of this campaign is an inspiring
one. When the church was built in 1904 a
number of short time notes were issued to the
architect and builder aggregating over $36,-
000. Interest had been paid regularly to the
aggregate of nearly $20,000, but nothing had
ever been done to reduce the principal, and it
was under the burden of the principal that
the members of the church were staggering.
]\Iany had become discouraged, and at the be-
ginning of 1912 it was apparent that difficulty
would be found in raising the interest on the
debt in addition to the heavy operating ex-
penses of the parish. It was at this gloomy
time that a meeting of the vestry was called.
Doctor Harris in opening that meeting said:
"Gentlemen, we are face to face with a crisis.
If we cannot longer pay the interest it is time
to pay the principal. ' ' Those words contained
a simple solution of the problem. The people
had been discouraged as a result of paying
year after year money in interest, without any
promise of relief from the principal. But they
were inspired by the idea of actually clearing
away the debt, and were quite willing to make
sacrifices to that end. The rector's earnestness
moved the vestry to new hopes and enthusi-
asm. The parish was divided into seven dis-
tricts, and two vestrymen assigned to each dis-
trict.
A house to house visitation was inaugurated,
the plan of campaign covering .sixty days. All
pledges were to be in ca.sh. Forthwith the
rector began a series of powerful sermons call-
ing for the people to work and to pray and to
.sacrifice for the sake of God's Temple. The
keynote was struck in the words of Nehemiah
— "We biiilt the wall, for the people had a
mind to work." "Let the people have a mind
to work and a mind to pray. "' Every member
was pledged to work and pray every day for
the success of the undertaking. As the cam-
paign progressed the enthusiasm of the rector
and vestrymen spread throughout the parish.
The sum of $36,000 had to be pledged and paid
within sixty days. Every man, woman and
child was to have a part. One nine-year-old
boy brought the rector three pennies to help
pay the $36,000 debt, and by Palm Sunday
he brought $5.50, every cent of which he
had earned by shoveling snow and running
errands. Two little girls brought in over .$40
as a result of making and selling candy.
Wives of prominent men went out as sewing
women, working by the day. Others sacrificed
new hats and gowns that they might giVe to
God's church, while others sold their jewels.
Men borrowed money at the bank on their
notes that they might pay in cash. The spirit
of the days of the ancient crusades had seized
the people of St. Mark's Church. The chil-
dren of the Sunday School pledged $500 and
paid over $600. Two ladies' guilds gave $2,-
500. The volunteer choir contributed over
$250. Friends rose up on every side and asked
to help raise the fund. Donations from three
cents to $5,000 were received. Over .500 sub-
.scribers were pledged, and on Easter, 1912,
every single subscription was paid in full, and
scores of them were increased.
On Easter Day the result of this wonderful
campaign was known throughout the City of
Toledo. The church was crowded to the doors.
After the sermon by the rector expressing
joy and gratitude of all to God for this great
achievement, the fifteen wardens and vestry-
men marched slowly up the middle aisle bear-
ing the result of the prayers, the self sacri-
fices and the labors of the people of St. Mark's
parish and their generous friends. The rector
presented the offering of $41,300 amid absolute
silence. Tears of gratitude and joy fell
silently on every side. Then there rang out
like one mighty shout of triumph the Doxol-
ogy, the notes of which .shook the great build-
ing as they ascended from the lips of the
throng of happy worshipers. It was a memor-
able service, the culmination of a great under-
taking, and as a result St. Mark's Church
stands today on the financial rock of pros-
perity.
Doctor Harris is widely known as a preacher
and public speaker. He was special lecturer
at the University of Wyoming, and the Ma-
sonic bodies have published a number of his
^Masonic addresses which have had wide cir-
culation. He has labored to build up the Dio-
cese of Ohio and was recently elected the cleri-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1437
cal membei- of the Cathedral Chapter of the
Diocese of Ohio.
Doctor Harris is a firm believer in the value
of fraternalism and has been especially active
in Masonry. He is a thirty-second degree
Scottish Rite Mason, also a Knights Templar,
and Shriner. He is affiliated with Sanford L.
College Lodge No. 396 Free and Accepted Ma-
sons at Toledo, Toledo Commandery Knights
Templar, Toledo Council No. 33 Royal and
Select Masters. Toledo Chapter No. 161
Royal Arch Masons, the Valley of Wyoming
Consistory at Cheyenne, and Korein Temple
of the Shrine at Rawlings, Wyoming, on the
western side of the Rocky Mountains. While
in Cheyenne he was elected chaplain and life
member of Lodge No. 606 of the Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks. Doctor Harris
is a member of the Delta Tau Delta college
fraternity. He has served on the Arch Chap-
ter and has twice been president of the North-
ern Division.
On August 25, 1897,' Mr. Harris married
Miss Katheryn Brandon of Chicago, who at
the time of her marriage was professor of
music at Albion College, Albion, ^Michigan. ■
Her beautiful voice and charming personality
made her a favorite soloist on Chautauqua
programs, but she was happy to rplincfuish her
professional career and musical ambitions for
her home and the church. She died in Chey-
enne, Wyoming, August 12, 1908, being siir-
vived by two children : Katheryn Brandon
and Robert Brandon. The daughter was born
in Toledo and the son in Newport. Kentucky,
and both are living with their father. In To-
ledo, on' January 2, 1911, Doctor Harris mar-
ried Mrs. Annie Reynolds Macomber. Her
father, C. L. Reynolds, is a prominent banker
of Toledo, and reference to his career is found
on other pages. Her son, Charles Reynolds
Macomber, was born in Toledo and makes his
home with Mr. and Mrs. Harris. His father
was the late brilliant young reformer and serv-
ice director, Franklin S. Macomber, to whom
Toledo owes much.
Mrs. Harris is very prominent socially in
Toledo, and has done much since her mar-
riage to hold up the hands of her husband in
his work in St. Mark's parish. Mr. and Mrs.
Harris have a daughter Rosalind Susanne,
who was born in Toledo. The family reside at
2268 Parkwood Avenue.
Forrest L. Gunn has spent many years of
successful work as a farmer in Liicas County.
He is now living partially retired from agri-
cultural activities, his home being in Mon-
clova Township, a mile north and Vvvo miles
west of Monclova Village.
His is one of the very oldest families in
Northwestern Ohio. His great-grandfather
Martin Gunn arrived in the Maumee Valley
as early as 1818. There was still an earlier
settler of the family. This was Elijah Gunn,
cousin of Martin Gunn. Elijah came to the
vicinity of the present town of Waterville in
1815, about the close of the War of 1812, and
was the first white man to make a permanent
abode in that locality. Some years later he
sold his claim and left the country and settled
on Maumee River about forty miles farther
up the river. Martin Gunn came from
Buffalo to the Maumee River on the famous
pioneer steamer, "W^alk on the Water," the
first steamboat on the Great Lakes. This boat,
which has received a great deal of attention
in historical works, was a very small vessel
and very crude in its operation and appoint-
ments.
Martin Gunu's son Willard G. Gunn was
the grandfather of Forrest. Forrest is the
son of Alfred Gunn, who was about a year or
so old when the family came to this section.
Alfred was born in ^Montague, Massachusetts,
and grew up on Maumee River. He married
Emeline Shaw, who was born in Prescott,
Massachusetts, and was brought by her rela-
tives to Watei-ville. Alfred and his wife lived
for many years at Waterville. An engineer
by profession, he was employed in that ca-
pacity during the construction of the Maumee
canal. He also conducted a sawmill just
below Waterville on the race that came out
of the river there. He sawed the lumber
which entered into the construction of the first
Methodist church in Waterville. About 1840
Alfred Gunn moved to Fulton County, Ohio,
locating south of Delta. His death occurrecl
in 1880. He and his wife were the parents of
two children, Eugene, born in 1844 and died
in Topeka, Kansas, in i;il4, and Forrest, who
spent nineteen years in Missouri.
Forrest Gunn was liorn August 20, 1850,
and in Fulton County was married in 1872
to Ellen Elton, daugliter of John Elton, who
became a Fulton County resident in 1864.
In 1873. the year following his marriage,
Mr. Gunn moved to ilis.souri, locating in An-
drew County, northwest of St. Joseph. That
was his home for twelve years, and he spent
the next seven years in the Ozark country in
the southern part of Missouri. Returning
to Northwest Ohio, he bought his present farm
1438
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
in Lucas County and has since been actively
engaged in the cultivation of his valuable
acres.
Mr. and Mrs. Gunn have the following chil-
dren : Lavesta, who married Orel Wilcox, a
farmer in Michigan; Royl, who was married
in Denver, Colorado, and is now living in
Arizona ; Ethel, wife of Jesse Trapp, a farmer
at Whitehouse in Lucas County ; Annie, who
lives in Columbus ; Mattie, wife of Cha Coder,
a farmer at Whitehouse, Lucas County ; Jesse,
living in Kansas; Benjamin, who is employed
as a pipe fitter by the Clover Leaf railway;
Floyd, who is employed on the Great Lakes;
and Gladys, still at home.
Politically Mr. Gunn is a republican. He
has made himself a public spirited factor in
local att'airs and has served on the township
board ami the school board. His church is
the Free Methodist.
Clark Leonard Parker, a native of Han-
cock County, came off a farm several years
ago and began learning the dairy business,
as an employe of the Findlay Dairy Com-
pany. That was in 1909. He put in a year of
hard woi'k chiefly for the purpose of mas-
tering every detail of the business.
He and his brother, L. 0. Parker, then
leased the plant from its owner, H. R. Port-
man, of Cleveland. They had the business
under lease for two years and were success-
ful with its management from the start. They
then bought from Mr. Portman, and in 1916
L. 0. Parker sold his intere.st to others and
the firm was then incorporated as The Find-
lay Dairy Company. Clark L. Parker owns
fifty-one per cent of the stock and is secre-
tary and manager. It is the largest dairy
company in Hancock County and every year
has witnessed a large net increase in the
business. At the present writing the com-
pany plans to move from its present loca-
tion on North Main Street to larger quarters.
The company is incorporated with a capital
stock of .$30i000.
Clark Leonard Parker was born on a farm
in Marion Township of Hancock County in
1886, son of H. L. and Sarah J. (Graham)
Parker. He grew up in the country environ-
ment, attended the country schools, and also
*ook four years of work in the Findlay High
School, though he did not graduate. He pur-
sued the Latin and English and also the busi-
ness courses. After leaving school he farmed
for several years, but he had the talent and
the energy for a business career, and has
made his success in the line already indicated.
He has the reputation in Findlay of being
one of the most enterprising young business
men in the city. He owns considerable real
estate.- He and his family are members of
the Howard Methodist Episcopal Church, and
in politics he is independent. In 1907 he
married Miss Florence Bigley, daughter of
J. R. Bigley of Findlay. They are the par-
ents of four children : Alton, aged eight
years ; Lucile, six years old ; HoUis, aged four ;
and Lloyd, who was born in 1916.
Bernard Groenewold, public spirited citi-
zen and successful business man, has lived all
of his life in Toledo.
The son of John and Louis (Tingling)
Groenewold, who came to Toledo in the early
'60s, he was born here June 30, 1876. Mr.
Groenewold attended the Toledo Public
Schools, and, later, learned the trade of
plumber, following the footsteps of his father
in this regard.
In 1898 Groenewold enlisted as a private
in a Toledo regiment for the Spanish-Ameri-
can war. W^hen he saw that there was to be
no fighting for his regiment, he withdrew,
returned to Toledo and engaged in the plumb-
ing contract business. The firm name is
The Groenewold & Lang. Company, Mr.
Groenewold being the president, with a record
of .seventeen consecutive years in business.
The firm has handled some of the largest
plumbing contracts ever let in Toledo and the
surrounding country, much of his work in
many of the buildings of the Willys-Overland
plant showing the careful planning an'd super-
vision of the firm.
Because of the growth in the business the
firm has recently removed to its own plant,
300 South St. Clair Street, where there is
the opportunity for development that the
business required.
Mr. Groenewold is president of the City
Real Estate Company, and is secretary-treas-
urer of the Birwall Realty Company.
Mr. Groenewold was married, June 27,
1901, to Miss Emma Hoffman of Toledo, and
thev reside, with their son, Edward Bernard,
born May 31, 1903, at 527 Winthrop Street.
Bernard Groenewold has twice served the
city of Toledo in a public way. He was
elected and served as coimcilman at large in
1903, and in a much wider sphere made his
presence felt when appointed Director of
Public Safety by Mayor Carl S. Keller on
(Ula^Jht (J'oJkjLM
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1439
December 30, 1914. He served during the
remainder of Mayor Keller's term.
In this time, however, Safety Director
Groeuewold placed the police and tire depart-
ments of the city upon a plane that had never
been approached previously. There were over
400 men in these departments when Groeue-
wold took hold. Internal dissension, petty
jealousies and bickerings had marked some
of their activities. Safety Director Groeue-
wold stopped that. He let it be known that
neither politics nor religion had anytlMng to
do with the making of a good policeman or a
good fireman. Efficiency was all that was
necessary to insure the place of either police-
man or fireman upon the payroll. The organ-
ized and individual efficiency was so marked
and so noticeable that the public press was
moved to comment upon the good work per-
formed.
Safety Director Groenewold did much to
better the service outside of the work he did
in the personnel of the department. His busi-
ness training stood him in good stead in such
larger activities as the contracts for motor-
izing the Toledo Fire Department. It was his
business acumen that resulted in the saving
to the city of $10,000 on one motorization
contract.
His social and fraternal connections include
membership in the Toledo Lodge of Elks,
Tondota Lodge F. & A. M., Fort Lawrence
Chapter, R. A. M.; St. Omar Commandery,
Knights Templars; Knights of Pj'thias. The
Toledo Club, Old Sod Club, Maumee River
Yacht Club, Toledo Yacht Club, Svlvania
Golf Club, the Overland Club, the Toledo
Automobile Club, the Two Hundred Club, the
Folger Club and the Spanish-American War
Veterans.
Charles William Shoemaker, now re-
tired, represents that fine and substantial
stock of people who settled Waterville in the
pioneer times of Lucas County. He has made
his own life count for good in all its rela-
tions, and has been a farmer, school teacher,
land surveyor and civil engineer and a prac-
tical business man and is now, in his seventy-
second year, enjoying the fruits of his earlier
years of industry.
He was bom in the Township of Waterville,
Lucas County, Ohio, August 3, 1845. His
parents, Thomas and Catherine (Van Fleet)
Shoemaker, were married February 21, 1833.
Thomas Shoemaker, who was bom at Muncie,
Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, July 29,
1802, arrived in Lucas County in the spring
of 1829 ; settling in Waterville he became
one of the earlier pioneers of that neighbor-
hood. He assisted Ambrose Rice in making
the Government land surveys in Providence
Township and probably also in Oregon and
Jerusalem Townships in Lucas County. We
find his name among those who at various
times served the community as township
trustee, member of the board of education,
roacl supervisor and various other positions of
trust. He purchased state canal land, soon
after his marriage, about a mile west of
Waterville, where he built a log cabin in the
woods and there he and his wife raised a
family, cleared up a fai-m and lived until the
spring of 1869. He then rented the farm to
William E.sworthy and spent his last years
in peaceful and comfortable surroundings in
the Village of Waterville.
His wife 's father, John Van Fleet, who was
of Holland descent and was best known as
Esquire Van Fleet, and his wife, Mary (Hen-
derson) Van Fleet, were among the earlier
settlers in the Waterville community. They
also came from Muncie, Penn.sylvania, and
in the same party with which Thomas Shoe-
maker came; they came in covered wagons,
drawn by horses and were three weeks on the
way. The Van Fleets stopped at Pei-rysburg,
Ohio, but in the fall of the same year they
moved onto a farm about a mile north of the
Village of Waterville. Thomas Shoemaker
died April 28, 1873, in the seventy-first year
of his age, survived by his wife until De-
cember 21, 1903, when she was past eighty-
eight years of age.
Their children were: Isabelle, who died in
1838 when nearly four years of age ; James,
who died in 1896 in his sixtieth year ; Francis
Marion, who died at his home in Waterloo,
Iowa, in 1906, when nearly sixty-seven years
old ; William, who died in 1844 in his second
year; Charles W., and John Van Fleet, who
died in March, 1905, in his fifty-sixth year.
Of these six children, James and Francis M.
served as volunteers in the Union army in the
War of the Rebellion from 1861 to 1865;
their military record will be found elsewhere
in this work.
Charles W. Shoemaker was reared in a
good home, under infiuences that made for a
sturdy and honorable manhood. He worked
for his father on the farm until the spring of
1869, when he moved with his parents to a
home in the Village of Waterville. In the
meantime he had received an education in the
1440
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Waterville and Maumee high schools. After
leaving the farm he taught the Waterville
High School for three years, and then took
up the profession of land surveying and civil
engineering which he has followed more or
less to the present time. In 1877 he was
elected to fill the position of County Surveyor
of Lucas County. At the same time his efforts
have been directed toward farming, and hie
now owns the old homestead farm in the
present corporate limits of the Village of
Waterville, but occupies a fine residence in
that town.
In September, 1871, he married Susan
Huether. Mrs. Shoemaker was born in Nuen-
schweiler. Canton Zweibrueken, Kingdom of
Bavaria, Germany. She came to America
with her parents, who settled in Grand
Rapids, Ohio, when but six years of age, it
taking them twenty-one days to cross the
ocean. When about ten years of age she went
to Waterville, where she had a home in the
family of L. L. ]\Iorehouse and received an
education in the Waterville High School. Mr.
and Mrs. Shoemaker have two children :
Jennie C, wife of James L. Cook, treasurer
of the Ohio Oil Company at Findlay, Ohio;
and Alice L., who lives at home.
Politically Mr. Shoemaker is an independ-
ent republican. He was reared in that polit-
ical faith, and as a boy, in the stirring days
before the Civil war, he was found an enthu-
siastic member of processions, rallies, and
other gatherings that marked the political life
of that period. He was frequently among
those who carried lights for the music with
the "Wide-Awakes" organizations at the be-
ginning of the republican party. In his more
mature years he has filled various local ofifices
in addition to that of county surveyor. He
has been mayor and member of the council of
his home town and also has served 0!i the
school board.
His wife and daughter Alice are members
of the Methodist Church. Fraternally he has
been active in the Masonic Lodge at Water-
ville. He is a past master of that lodge and
for ten years was its secretary.
He has always been interested in the preser-
vation of local historical memorials and asso-
ciations. He was one of the incorporators of
the ]\Iaumee Valley Pioneer and Historical
Association and has been a director of that
association since its organization. He was
one of the three commissioners appointed by
the governor of Ohio to erect the Fort Meigs
memorial on Fort ]\Ieigs in Wood County,
Ohio, and he is now a member of the Fort
Meigs Commission charged with the mainte-
nance and care of this monument and the
grounds on which it stands.
Gus Levy, manager of the Findlay branch
of the G. R. Hopkins Company of Toledo,
was apparently a born salesman. He had a
better grasp of the fundamentals of selling
goods when he was a boy and a stranger in
a strange land than many men ever attain
after* the rigorous training of long experi-
ence. He is a master mind in his particu-
lar line, and for twenty years has been known
to the people of Findlay as the manager of
one of the most complete establishments of
its kind in that city. The Hopkins Com-
pany, through Mr. Levy, has built up a splen-
did establishment, dealing in a varied a.ssort-
ment of men's and women's suitings.
A son of B. S. and Sarah (Herz) Levy.
Gus Levy was born in Hamburg, Germany,
in 1860. He grew up in that great free city
and port of Germany, attended the public
schools, and came alone to America at the
age of sixteen. He made his start as an
American citizen by selling goods in New
York City from door to door. He peddled
clothes wringers, clocks and other articles of
merchandise. He sold goods where others
less determined would have failed miserably,
and he not only made money but saved it.
After that he transferred his activities to the
]\Iiddle West, and sold goods in various local-
ities for seven years.
Going" to Toledo, Mr. Levy engaged in the
jewelry business, and continued in that line
until 1893. Mr. Levy has always felt a de-
gree of satisfaction in forming a connection
with the G. R. Hopkins Company, but doubt-
less the heads of that company have felt even
more satisfaction in their acquisition of his
ability and experience. He started out as
salesman and traveling manager for the com-
pany, and for them established several branch
stores. In 1896 he opened the Findlay branch
and was made local manager. In that capac-
ity he has conducted the store ever since,
and it has long since become recognized as
the center of reliable merchandise for all
Hancock County. Mr. Levy has added hard
work and progressive-mindedness to his tal-
ents as a business getter, and his present
enviable position is by no means a matter of
chance. Politically he is a democrat, and is
affiliated with the Tril)e of Ben Hur.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1441
Adam "W. Bick. Long established as one
of the leading fai-mers of Richtield Township,
with his home on the Central Avenue road,
Adam W. Bick is also widely known for his
participation in public aft'airs and is now
serving as one of the county commissioners
of Lucas County.
He was born in Richfield Township May
22, 1857, a son of Jacob and Anna Mary
(Bettinger) Bick. His father was a native
of Prussia, Germany, and after coming to
this county located in 1855 in Richfield Town-
ship. He was a sturdy farmer and died in
that locality September 18, 1886. His wife,
Anna M. Bettinger, was bom in Bavaria,
Germany, daughter of John Bettinger, who
came to this country in 1849, living for a time
in Seneca County, Ohio, and afterwards mov-
ing to Lucas County, where he died. Mrs.
Jacob Bick died November 24, 1915, when
past eighty-three years of age. Their chil-
dren were : John, who lives in Kansas ; Adam
W. : Jacob N., who married Margaret Langen-
derfer; IMary S., widow of James Hogau;
Elizabeth A., living at Lansing, Michigan;
Barbara A., a resident of Toledo.
Adam W. Bick is married and has a family
of seven children : Joseph L., who lives in
Toledo; Frank J., a resident of Richfield
Center, and by his marriage to Florence
Cloutchure has two children. Merlin L. and
Elizabeth M. Nora L. married Don Tonson
of Richfield township, and their four children
are Ramona, William, Norbit and Hai-vey;
William W. is a resident of .Richfield Center:
Harvey E. lives in Toledo ; Arthur P. is con-
nected with the Goodrich Tire Company at
Akron; Beatrice A. at home.
Mr. Bick is a democrat in politics. He
served on the local school board eleven years,
has been treasurer of Richfield township, and
is now filling the office of county commis-
sioner with great credit to himself and to
those who supported him in his election. Mr.
Bick is a member of the Catholic Church.
Harry W. Cummings, a son of that old and
honored business man of Toledo, Robert Cum-
mings, referred to on other pages of this
publication, was a capable business man of
Toledo and until his death was engaged in
handling municipal bonds and other invest-
ment securities. The history of the family
has been told elsewhere, but it seems fitting
that a fine tribute paid to Harry Cumminffs
by his friend, W. B. Geroe, should be pub-
lished here. The tribute is as follows :
' ' 1875-1916 — only a span of forty-one years.
yet filled full of action, of business life and of
kind deeds.
"Asa man of afi'airs he stood in the front
ranks of the young business men of Toledo.
He was successful. He was clean in his deal-
ings. His word was a bond to be paid in full.
"Harry Cummings was an outdoor man.
He loved the fields, the wide expanse of marsh-
lands. He loved the mountain streams and
the quiet shadows of the forests. His great-
est joy was the woodman's camp, the fisher-
man's cabin and the hunter's lodge. He was
a man among the multitudes of men — as a
companion there was none better, as a friend
he was pure gold. Everyone who knew him
was a friend — he made no enemies. Gtentle
of speech, generous, kindly of manner, he
was beloved by all classes.
"While the shadows were just beginning to
fall toward the east, the crowning age of man,
while life held every charm, while the sun
shone and the langorous September days
shortened, he grew wearj- — and lay down his
burden beside the long white trail.
"In the death of Harry Cummings Toledo
loses a good citizen, his host of friends a most
charming companion, and those most dear to
him a beloved brother. Upon his tomb I laj'
this green wreath of love and respect."
George Scheets is a veteran business man
and one of the pioneer residents of the east
side at Toledo, where he located in 1865, soon
after returning from the war in which he
served gallantly and faithfully nearly four
years.
The east side was a village when he located
there, and he has since seen it grow and pros-
per until now it would be a city with a popu-
lation of more than forty thousand and almost
a metropolis in itself. Out of his personal
recollections and his experience Mr. Scheets
could write almost a detailed history of his
section of Toledo.
Some of the physical conditions of the east
side as he describes them in 1865 serve as a
basis from which to compute the remarkable
progress in that section during the past half
century. The population in that year was
about five hundred. Mr. Scheets says that the
only bridge across the river was the Lake
Shore railroad bridge, though the Cherry
Street toll bridge was then under construc-
tion. The main thoroughfares were Oak,
Woodville and the River Road, while Main
Street, Starr Avenue and East Broadway had
1442
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
not yet been opened. There was an utter
absence of any of those improvements which
are now considered fundamental even in Ohio
villages. There were no sewers, no sidewalks,
no street liglits, and in the absence of any
established grades the entire area of the east
side was made up of hills and hollows, and
naturally enough under these conditions there
■was an utter absence of observance of sanitary
laws, and in fact no such laws were in exist-
ence at the time.
If the physical conditions were bad, there
was no lack of sterling citizenship, and some
of the men whom Mr. Scheets recalls as his
neighbors and fellow citizens at the time had
in them and subsequently exhibited that pro-
gressiveuess and energy which are more im-
portant in a civic community than material
advantages. Some of these old time east
siders mentioned by Mr. Scheets as his neigh-
bors fifty years ago were James Raymer,
Alonzo Rogers, Joseph Garner, Dan and Still-
man Brown, Captain Sylvester Brown, Wil-
liam Mack, Dr. Squire, Dr. Wilson, John B.
Russell, S. Plumey, Louis A. Metzger, William
T. Ryan, the Howlands and others who were
as good citizens as ever blessed any new and
struggling community. All of them were un-
tiring in their zeal for the common good and
in a large and important respect the east
side is a monument to their efforts.
One of the worst calamities that befell
Northwest Ohio was the terrible cholera
scourge of 1854. One of the victims of this
dread disease was George Scheets Sr., who
died June 19, 1854. That event and tragedy
in the Scheets family had a very important
bearing upon the subsequent fortunes and
career of George Scheets Jr., who as a result
of his father's death had to leave school and
at the early age of thirteen became a wage
earner and contribute something to the sup-
port of his family.
The Scheets family had arrived in America
only about two years prior to this cholera
epidemic. George Scheets Jr. was born No-
vember 19, 1842, at the Village of Kirchehren-
bach near Forchheim in Bavaria. His father,
George Scheets, had married Barbara Scheets.
and though of the same name thev were not
blood relatives. On April 21, 1852, they left
the old country and crossed the Atlantic on
the American brig Onward, arriving in New
York City after a voyage of thirty-nine days.
Soon afterward they established their home
on a small farm in Middleton Township of
Wood County, three miles south of Perrys-
burg. They were living there when the father
died.
After coming to this eoiuitry George
Scheets had the advantages of the public
schools at Perrysburg for two years, but left
school with his education unfinished in order
to bear his part in maintaining the house-
hold. His first employment was in the book-
store of John Powers at Perrysburg. Later
he worked in the drygoods store of Powers &
Blinn, and for Major Hall and W. J. Hitch-
cock.
From the routine business of handling dry-
goods and satisfying the desires of the patrons
of a country store, George Scheets was called
into the sterner activities of warfare. On
September 19. 1861, he enlisted as a private
in Company C of the Twenty-first Ohio Vol-
unteer Infantry under Capt. Arnold Mc-
Mahau, with whom he was subsequentlj' a
business partner. After six months in the
ranks he was promoted to regimental quarter-
master's sergeant, then to first lieutenant,
then to adjutant, and finally to captain. His
regimental officers were Col. Jesse S. Norton,
Lieut. Col. James M. Neibling, Maj. Samuel
A. Strong and Col. Arnold McJIahan. His
division and department commanders, with
nearly all of whom he gained some personal
acquaintance during his militarv experience,
were William Nelson, 0. M. Mitchell, D. C.
Buell, W. S. Rosecrans, George H. Thomas,
William T. Sherman and U. S. Grant.
Though he has some recollection of these men
who were among, the foremost leaders pro-
duced by the Civil war, Mr. Scheets never
had the fortune to meet Mr. Lincoln.
His service in the army was largely in the
West and with the Army of the Cumberland.
He took part in the Big Sandy campaign in
Kentucky in 1861 ; the Northern Alabama
campaign resulting in the capture of Hunts-
ville April, 1862; the battles of Stone River
and Nashville, Tennessee, in 1862-63 ; the
TuUahoma campaign; the Battle of Chicka-
mauga September 20, 1863, and the battle of
Missionary Ridge ; the long service of forward
movements and constant battling during the
Atlanta campaign of 1864, including the siege
and various assaults upon that city ; the battle
of Jonesboro, Georgia, September 1, 1864,
and in the fall of that year the march to the
sea under Shennan, terminating with the
capture of Savannah on Christmas Day.
Then followed the campaigns up through the
Carolinas ending with the battle of Benton-
ville. North Carolina, the capture of Raleigh,
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1443
and the final surrender of Johnston's army
in April, 1865. The regiment then proceeded
to the North and in the mouth of May was
one of the units in the magnificent army
which marched in the grand review through
the streets of Washington.
Mr. Scheets had a very unusual record as
a soldier. Though he was gone nearly four
years, the only absence from his command
was a thirty days' veteran furlough when he
returned home and married. He was never
wounded and never sick in the hospital. He
was finally mustered out at Louisville, Ken-
tucky, July 29, 1865.
Only a few weeks after he returned from
the army he was established in business at
East Toledo. The date of the beginning of
his business career there was August 29, 1865.
He had formed a partnership with his old
colonel, Arnold McMahan, and they opened
a stock of drygoods, groceries, clothing, boots
and shoes and other general merchandise.
At the expiration of their contract Mr.
Scheets bought out his partner, who then en-
gaged in the real estate and insurance busi-
ness. Between these two men and old soldiers
a very close and intimate friendship existed
until the death of Colonel McMahan in 1891.
Mr. Scheets was in active business on the east
side until 1900, when he retired, and since
that date has largely concerned himself with
duties at the Courthouse. In 1902 he en-
tered the office of the county treasurer of
Lucas county, and has remained in that de-
partment of thg county government to the
present time. For eleven years he was
cashier, serving through three different admin-
istrations, and in that time he handled funds
amounting to about forty million dollars.
Since leaving tlie post of cashier he has been
chief accountant in the treasurer's office. Mr.
Scheets is well known in many business and
social organizations and is a member of the
Catholic Church. In 1872 he was elected a
member of the cit.y council, and while he was
on that body the Cherry Street toll bridge was
purchased by the city. The council elected
him mayor of Toledo in 1885 to fill out the
unexpired term of Jacob Romeis. who had
been elected to Congress. In 1886 he was
elected police commissioner, a position he
filled four years. The first vote Mr. Scheets
east was for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, when
he wa.s in the army. Since then for more
than half a century he has voted for every
republican presidential candidate. He is a
charter member of Ford Post G. A. R. of
Toledo, served as its commander in 1896, as
quartermaster for about thirty-five years, and
was quartermaster general to General Stead-
man while the latter was department com-
mander. Mr. Scheets is a life member of the
Toledo Memorial Association, a member of the
East Side Commercial Club, and he feels a
special sense of loyalty to that district of the
city in which his business successes and bis
home life have been spent.
In December, 1863, during his furlough
from the army. Captain Scheets married Miss
Mary Glennon of Maumee, Ohio. The chil-
dren of their marriage were : Josephine Alice,
who became the wife of John J. Kirby of
Toledo ; Ida Clara, who married Michael Sulli-
van of Toledo ; George Jr., who lives in Toledo
and married Mary Maynes. The mother of
these children died at Toledo September 13,
1873. On June 10, 1877, Captain Scheets
married Miss Ann Gleunon, a sister of his
first wife. Two children were born to this
union, Gertrude and Ford, both of whom are
unmarried and live at home. Mr. Scheets
also has four grandchildren and one great-
grandson, all of whom live in Toledo.
W. P. HuBBS, who had some of his first
experience as a world's worker in the role of
a farm hand, has as a result of many years
of close attention to business built up a .strong
position as one of the leading jobbers and
wholesalers of coal in Northwest Ohio. Mr.
Hubbs now does business over .several states
and handles hundreds of carloads every year
of anthracite and soft coal and eoke. His
home office is in the Spitzer Building at
Toledo.
He was bom March 18, 1862, a son of
Solomon and Elizabeth (Elrod) Hubbs. His
father, a native of Pennsylvania, came to
Ohio in 1850 and for the rest of his active
career was a merchant in Antioch this state.
The second in a family of three children,
W. P. Hubbs received his education in the
district and high schools of Antioch, and at
the age of nineteen began work as a farm
hand. He sought a wider field than that,
and at twenty-one he was a telegraph opera-
tor in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio
Railway. He remained at the telegraph key,
performing the duties assigned to him by his
superiors, seven years. In 1894 Mr. Hubbs
came to Toledo, and from that year his time
and energies have been continuously identified
with the coal business. He was at first a
traveling salesman for one of the leading
1444
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
eoal merchants of the city. During 1908-09
he was associated with Mr. Copeland in the
coal trade, and since then has been in busi-
ness for himself. Starting on a small scale
and handling only a few contracts a month,
he has extended his business eveiy year until
he now employs three or four salesmen and
ships coal by the carload over Ohio, Indiana,
and ilichigan. For some time he also oper-
ated one of the large coal mines in the Hock-
ing Valley.
Mr. Hubbs is one of the public-spirited
citizens of Toledo and is always ready to assist
in making that not only a greater but a bet-
ter city. He is a member of St. Paul's Metho-
dist Episcopal Church. Mr. Hubbs married
Miss Charlotte M. Willhauck of Toledo. Mrs.
Hubbs is of Germany ancestry.
William Backus Guitteau, Ph. D. Execu-
tive ability of high order and broad and ma-
ture scholarship are the qualifieations which
Etoetor Guitteau brought to his post as super-
intendent of instruction in the Toledo public
schools. Doctor Guitteau takes rank among
leading American scholars in the tield of
political science, and has been a constructive
force at Toledo not only through his work in
the schools but in behalf of a more efficient
municipal government. He has been identi-
fied with the local school system for nearly
twenty years, and has been superintendent
for the past seven years.
Born in Toledo November 27, 1877, a son
of Edward and Clara (Wilson) Guitteau, his
father a traveling salesman and his mother
a daughter of Hon. Joel W. Wilson of Tiffin,
Ohio, Doctor Guitteau as a schoolboy showed
those mental talents which have brought him
prominence as a scholar. In 1894 he grad-
uated from the Toledo High School, com-
pleting the four years" course in three years.
After spending the years 1894-95 at Ohio
State Univei-sity he was for one year a special
student of history and economics iu the T'ni-
versity of Michigan. Returning to Ohio
State University in the fall of 1896, he was
graduated Bachelor of Philosophy there in
1897, having again completed a four yeai's'
course in three years. He represented the
State University in the first annual debate of
the State Debating League, carried off second
honors in the fourteenth annual oratorical
contest, and was class orator at the commence-
ment banquet. Doctor Guitteau also completed
two years of the course in the law depart-
ment of the State University in one year, and
has since been admitted to the bar, though
he has never practiced.
In 1899 he was awarded the Emerson Mc-
Millin Fellowship iu Economics over several
competitors, but relinquished the scholarship
to accept a place as teacher of English iu the
Toledo Central High School. In June, 1900,
about the time he passed the State bar exam-
ination, he was awarded the President White
fellowship in political science iu Cornell Uni-
versity. Entering Cornell in the fall of 1900,
and pursuing courses in advanced polities
and economics under Prof. J. W. Jenks, he
received the degree Master of Arts iu 1901.
During the summer of the latter year he was
clerk of the United States Industrial Com-
mission at Washington, D. C, and the follow-
ing year was awarded the Hai-rison fellowship
iu political science by the University of Penn-
sylvania, from which institution he took his
doctor's degi'ee in 1904. The subject of his
thesis was "Constitutional Limitations Upon
Si^ecial Municipal Legislation."
Then returning to his position as instruc-
tor in the Toledo Central High School, he
resigned in the spring of 1905 to become sec-
retary of the Detroit ilunicipal League. The
principalship of the Toledo Central High
School was offered him in the fall of 1905,
and there he gained his first important ex-
perience in executive work. He acquitted
himself with credit as principal until the
death of Superintendent C. L. Van Cleve on
September 26, 1909, when he became acting
superintendent. A few weeks later, on the
18th of October, the board of education
bj^ a unanimous vote elected him superin-
tendent of instruction iu the Toledo schools,
and in 1914 he was re-elected superintendent
for the full term of five years. His adminis-
trative ability is largely reflected in the ad-
vancement and progress of the Toledo school
system during the last six years. There has
been a notable advancement in the general
efficiency of the teaching staff, and his influ-
ence is also reflected in the many material im-
provements. There are now two high schools
— Waite and Scott — nearly fifty ward schools,
while a third high school is soon to be added.
The entire school system, in all its depart-
ments, has been vigorously overhauled, modi-
fied, and strengthened by Doctor Guitteau.
An earnest student of municipal affairs.
Doctor Guitteau is not the typical scholar but
rather suggests the alert and progressive busi-
ness man. From college and university days
he has been a ready public speaker, and his
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1445
ability is recognized pretty well over the na-
tion as a tvriter on municipal and educational
topics. He was elected a member of the board
of thirteen to draw up the new city charter
under which Toledo is now operatiniar. This
charter has been pronounced by many author-
ities as a model for city government.
Doctor Guitteau is author of "Government
and Politics in the United States," a work on
civil government which has been adopted by a
large percentage of city and country schools in
many states. A special edition adapted to the
particular state has been issued in several in-
stances. It is recognized as an authoritative
work, based upon a new method of treatment
and plan of instruction. "Preparing for
Citizenship" is another book more recentl.y
issued for younger students, but along the
same lines as the preceding work.
Politicall.v Doctor Guitteau is a republican,
and is affiliated with Sanford Collins Lodge,
Free and Accepted ]\Iasons, and with the Beta
Theta Pi and the Phi Delta Phi college frater-
nities, the latter being a fraternity of law
students. He is also an active member of the
Toledo Commerce Club.
Doctor Guitteau was married August 11,
1916, in New York City, to Miss Nellie Heim.
The Toledo Club. Probably no social con-
nection in Toledo is more eagerly prized than
memliership in The Toledo Club. Like many
other important institutions of the kind it
started as a more or less impromptu meeting
of a small group of congenial spirits and
the dominating purpose of the organization
throughout has been to afford a place where
men of common interests as citizens of Toledo
could foregather and enjoy themselves socially.
At tlie present time the club has n mem-
liership of 600, and necessarily with such
growth there has been introduced a .system of
business management, an organization on a
business basis, and the club, while essentially
social, has played a varied and useful part in
the life of the city, and many important move-
ments havTe at least had their birth in the club
quarters even if the club has not been formally
sponsor for the plan.
The origin of The Toledo Club is traced back
over a period of forty years to some informal
social gatherings held by prominent Toledoans
of that time, including such men as D. R.
Locke, C. A. King, George E. Pomeroy Jr.,
Alf W. Gleason. Louis Wachenheimer, Frank
I. Young, Ed McNally and Will L. Hoyt.
Their place of assemblv was a small room in
a refectory on Jefferson Avenue near Summit
Street. These informal meetings went on for
some time until Mr. D. R. Locke finally sug-
gested that a regular club should be organized.
The plan was put into execution at once and
Mr. Locke was elected first president and
Ralph Osborne secretary. After various
names had been suggested the name Draconian
Club, offered by Mr. Locke, was accepted as
most applicable to an organization of just
men and true, animated by loyalty to each
other and to their fair city.
The Draconian Club became exceedingly
popular and its membership rapidly increased.
Ralph Osborne eventually resigned as secre-
tary, and was succeeded by Will L. Hoyt. The
first club headquarters were on Summit Street
near Madison. These quarters were soon out-
grown and the next home of the club was the
former residence of A. W. Gleason on Superior
Street near Jefferson. While there the club
entertained many prominent visitors.
On May 15, 1882, the Draconian Club was
formall}' incorporated by D. R. Locke, Frank
R. Young, William L." Hoyt, C. A. King,
George E. Pomeroy Jr. and John M. Fiske.
The membership grew until the role inchided
the names of nearly all the leading business
and professional men of the city.
Some of the older members having died, and
a wider field of activity being desired, some
of the Draconians organized and incorporated
in 1889 The Toledo Club. The incorporators
were John B. Ketcham second, William A.
Gosline, Walter N. Conant, William T. Car-
rington. Dean V. R. Manley and William L.
Hoyt. Thus the history of the old Draconian
Club was merged with and became the first
chapter in the annals of The Toledo Club.
The first officers of The Toledo Club were :
John B. Ketcham second, president; W. N.
Conant, vice president ; W. L. Hoyt, secretary ;
D. V. R. Manlev. treasurer. The first trustees
were John B. Ketcham second, W. T. Carring-
ton, Walter A. Woodford. I. D. Smead, A. L.
Spitzer. C. L. Revnolds, W. N. Conant,
D. V. R. Manley. George W. Davis, M. W.
Young, Fred J. Reynolds and W. L. Hoyt.
The first home of The Toledo Club was the
Stevens' property at the corner of Madison
and Huron streets. On that site a handsome
brown stone building was erected and it served
as the comfortable and for many years the
commodious quarters of the organization. The
club had its home there for practically a quar-
ter of a century.
Then in keeping with the growth of the
1446
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
club and the importance of the city, elaborate
plans were begun for the erection of a new
club home, and on June 19, 1915, its doors
were first opened and the magnificent building
on Madison Avenue and Fourteenth Street,
costing $500,000, became the permanent home
of this forty-year-old institution. The new
club house is a notable addition to the archi-
tectural beauty of Toledo. It is designed in
the style of the English renaissance, with walls
of Harvard brick and stonework of Indiana
limestone, and with all the elaboration of
exterior and interior there has been preserved
the simple and dignified beauty of the earlier
English periods of architecture and finishing.
The building is five stories high, and has a
frontage of ninety feet on Madison avenue and
150 feet on Fourteenth Street. To the main
rooms, the great living room and the main
dining room, run two full stories in height.
There are also billiard rooms, lounging rooms,
women's reception rooms, private dining
rooms, and the fourth and fifth floors are
divided into guest rooms, forty-two in number.
The building committee who carried out the
plans for this new home were Walter Stewart,
H. L. Thompson, M. J. Riggs, E. H. Close and
T. W. Warner. At the opening of the new
home the officers of the club were: John N.
Willys, president, whose generous public spirit
has made it possible for the club house to be
built; Isaac Kinsey, vice president; Bernard
Brough, secretary; and Walter Stewart, treas-
urer.
The present officers and trustees of The
Toledo Club are : President, John N. Willys ;
\nee president, Isaac Kinsey; secretary, Ber-
nard Brough ; treasurer, Walter Stewart.
Henry DeGr.\ff. One of the oldest men
engaged in active business in Toledo is Mr.
Henry DeGraflf, general agent of The New
Amsterdam Casualty Company, with offices
in the Spitzer Building. Mr. DeGraff is
eighty-four years of age. He has had a long
and active business career, is a veteran of
the Civil war, has been a merchant in differ-
ent localities, and for twenty-five years was
in the wholesale boot and shoe business at
Toledo before he entered the insurance field.
He was born in Ulster County, New York,
December 8, 1832, a son of Cornelius and
Marv- Caroline (Van Why) DeGraff. His
father was a native of New York State and
the remote ancestors were French Huguenots.
Cornelius DeGraff came from New York to
Palmyra, Michigan, in the early '40s, and
for many years followed his trade as a car-
riagemaker. He died in Palmyra in 1872.
He was an active member of the Presbyterian
Church, was a stanch republican, and filled
the office of postmaster at Palmyra for several
years.
Mr. Henry DeGraff was the oldest of five
children, only two of whom are still living.
He finished his education in the public schools
of Palmyra, Michigan, and in 1848 began an
apprenticeship at the cabinetmaker's trade.
The first year he was paid $35 and his
board. For a time he was a bank clerk at
Detroit, also was employed as clerk on one
of the lake steamers running from Detroit
to Buffalo, and at Detroit, he married and
made a home of his own.
Mr. DeGraff was married in 1853 to Miss
Martha A. Lord, a daughter of Ralph Lord,
who came to Michigan from Hartford, Con-
necticut, after her mother's death, settling
in Detroit, Michigan, with her uncle, a Mr.
Garrison. Mr. and Mrs. DeGraff had two
children, the only one now living being Flora,
who was educated in the Ursuline Convent of
Toledo, and is an active member of the Epis-
copal Church.
After his marriage Mr. DeGraff went west
to Davenport, Iowa, and in that city he fol-
lowed mercantile pursuits from 1856 to 1858.
Returning to his former home at Palmyra,
Michigan, he continued merchandising until
1861. In that year he left his store and in
1862 enlisted in the Seventh Michigan Cav-
alry. He was promoted to commissai-y ser-
geant, and later became second lieutenant.
He remained in active service until mustered
out in 1865, then returned to Palmyra, Michi-
gan, but in March, 1866, came to Toledo.
Mr. DeGraff for twenty-five years was in tlie
M'holesale boot and shoe business at Toledo,
and in 1902 he became general agent for the
New Amsterdam Casualty Company. He is
an active member of Toledo Post No. 107,
Grand Army of the Republic, and for the
past eighteen years has been quartermaster
of the Post. On January 13, 1917, he was
installed for the nineteenth time to that posi-
tion.
William Lewis Rhonehouse. A Toledo
specialist in eye, ear, nose and throat, Dr.
William Lewis Rhonehouse brought to his pro-
fession unusual equipment and training, and
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1447
a large practice has rewarded him since he
established himself at Toledo, October 28,
1912, with ofSees in the Ohio Building.
He is the son of one of the oldest and best
known homeopathic phj'sicians and surgeons
of Northwest Ohio, Dr. George W. Rhone-
house of Maumee. William Lewis Rhone-
house was born at Maumee October 9, 1886,
son of Dr. George W. and Tamerzon Waite
(Lewis) Rhonehouse.
His early education was acquired partly in
the public schools of Maumee and at the To-
ledo High School. He continued his prepara-
tory and literary education in Doane Academy
at Granville, Ohio, where he was graduated in
June, 1905. then spent a time in Dennison
University in the literary department, and one
year in the literary department of the Uni-
versity of Michigan. He then pursued the
full four years' course in the HomecJpathic
Medical Department of the LTniversity of
Michigan, where he was graduated in June,
1910. The two years following his gradua-
tion were spent as an assistant to Dr. Dean W.
Myers in the Homeopathic Medical College at
Ann Arbor. He specialized in the diseases of
eye, ear, nose and throat at the LTniversity of
Michigan, and had unusual opportunities for
a thorough preparation. He served as interne
and house physician at Toledo City Hospital,
was chief of the staff of internes in the Home-
opathic Hospital at Ann Arbor, and was senior
assistant to the chair of ophthalmology, otol-
ogy, rhinology and laryngology, in the home-
opathic medical department of the University
of Michigan during 1911-1912. While in uni-
versity he was president of the Alpha Chapter
of the Mu Sigma Alpha in 1909-1910, and in
1909 was delegate to the Grand Council at
Cincinnati.
Doctor Rhonehouse is a member of the Oph-
thalmological, Rhinological and Laryngologi-
cal Society, and of the Northwestern Ohio
Homeopathic Medical Society, and the Ohio
State Homeopathic Medical Society. He is
not only a man of very thorough and expert
knowledge of his profession, but has social
traits which make him a congenial companion.
He is a member of the Toledo Commerce Club,
of Northern Light Lodge No. 40, Free and Ac-
cepted Masons, Maumee, Fort Miami Chapter
No. 194 Royal Arch ]\Iasons, and belongs to
the Improvement Association of Maiimee,
where he has his home. Politically a republi-
can, he was elected in November, 1915. for a
term of two years in the council of the Village
of Maumee.
Doctor Rhonehouse was married to Miss
Edna M. Black on October 28, 1915, at Mau-
mee, where she was born and educated. Mrs.
Rhonehouse is a graduate of the Maumee High
School, and takes a very active part in the
Presbyterian Church, being a member of the
choir.
LovELL Bellknap Rhonehouse, son of Dr.
George W. and Tamerzon Waite (Lewis)
Rhonehouse, his father a prominent old time
physician of Maumee, has followed a business
career since he completed his education. He
was born at ilaumee February 7, 1884, was
educated in the public schools there and the
Toledo High School, and from high school he
entered at once upon his practical preparation
for a business career.
Since July. 1908, he has been cashier of the
State Savings Bank of Maumee and is one of
the well known younger bankers of Lucas
County. He has shown a very decided interest
in affairs of local improvement and advance-
ment in his county, is a member and secretary
of the Improvement Association of Maumee,
and is secretary of the Maumee Board of Edu-
cation. Politically he is an active republican
and was one of the county central committee-
men from Jlaumee in 1915. He also belongs
to the Toledo Commerce Club, and is a master
of the Northern Light Lodge No. 40, Free and
Accepted Masons at Maumee.
Nelson M. Messer represents one of the old
and prominent families of Oregon Township
in Lucas County. His fine farm estate is in
the southwest part of that township.
His father, James Curtis Messer, was a man
of special distinction in Lucas County. He
was born at Greenfield. Erie County, Pennsyl-
vania, February 1, 1834. Ten years later he
came with his parents to a farm that is now
within the limits of East Toledo. In 1858 he
started oiit for himself as a farmer, buying
land on section nine of Oregon Township.
There he spent his active years and on Sep-
tember 21, 1903, death claimed him. Though
a man of meager education, he gained wide
information and solid .judgment from his ex-
tensive experience with men and affairs. Dur-
ing the war he was not only a warm supporter
of the Federal cause but active in the organiza-
tion of the First Regiment of the Ohio Na-
tional Guard in 1863. On May 12, 1864, he.
was mustered in as second lieutenant in the
One Hundred and Thirtieth Ohio Infantry,
and was in active service until his honorable
1448
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
discharge in September, 1864. He then re-
sumed his place in the state militia, was pro-
moted to captain, and was identified with the
organization until it was disbanded in 1868.
In his home town.ship he was equally a man
of prominence, serving as trustee, assessor,
clerk, treasurer, and in 1887 and again in
1889 was elected a member of the state legis-
lature. He first filled the vacancy caused by
the death of Rus.sell C. Thompson. For many
years he was vice president of the Lucas
County Agricultural Society.
James C. Messer married Marion Lillelund,
who survives him. She is the daughter of
Nelson Lillelund, who was an early settler in
Toledo and for many years was immigration
agent at the Union Station. Nelson Lillelund
followed the sea for about forty years, and
came to Toledo from New Orleans. The chil-
dren of James C. Messer and wife were : Nel-
son il., Anna, wife of Clarence A. Tracy, a
farmer in Oregon Township : Jennie, deceased
wife of Ernest Tracy, an Oregon Township
farmer; and Mattie, wife of Ruby Kent, a
farmer in Oregon Township.
Nelson M. Messer grew up on the old farm
in Oregon Township, and married ]Mary Klag,
daughter of Rev. John Klag, who for twenty-
two years was pastor of the Martin Luther
Church in Toledo. Mr. and Mrs. Messer have
the following children: John J., who lives
at Ludington, Michigan, and has one son;
Mildred, wife of Fred Kester of East Toledo,
and mother of one son and one daughter ; Carl
and Loretta, both at home. Mr. Nelson Mes-
ser is a republican in politics, and has filled
most of the local offices. He is a member of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and
attends the Methodist Church.
S. E. Clark. A notable number of promi-
nent railway men, officials carrying heavy re-
sponsibility, made their debut in railroading
as telegraph operators.
At the age of twenty-one S. E. Clark was
a telegraph operator in a railroad station at
Sparta, Wisconsin. He went through various
grades of responsibility, and is now district
passenger agent of the Hocking Valley Rail-
way at Toledo, with offices in the Ohio Build-
ins.
Mr. Clark was born in the State of Maine,
at East Sumner, Oxford County, December
,30. 1857, but wa.s reared from infancy in
Wisconsin, where his parents were pioneer
settlers. He is a son of J. A. and Arraia
(Billings) Clark, his mother of a prominent
old New England family. His father was
born in Maine, and was descended from a
stock of original Puritans. In 1858 J. A.
Clark came West and settled on a farm in
Monroe County, Wisconsin, near Sparta, and
he reclaimed the land from the brush and
heavy timber in good old pioneer style. He
made it available for cultivation, he harvested
many successive crops, and gained a compe-
tence sufficient for all the needs of his declin-
ing years. He was one of the most highly
esteemed citizens of ilonroe Coimty. He
was a Christian in eveiy sense of the word,
and was a strong advocate of temperance at
a time when advocacy of such doctrines was
not popular as at the present time. He was
known as a ready worker for the benefit of
his many friends, and as he passed through
the world he did all the good he could eveiy-
where. Politically he was a rock-ribbed re-
publican, and enjoyed the complete confidence
of his fellow citizens who elected him county
assessor for many years. He and his wife
had three children, one daughter now de-
ceased, and two sons, still living.
Mr. S. E. Clark, the youngest of the family,
was educated in the grammar and high schools
of Sparta, Wisconsin, and afterwards gradu-
ated from Valentine's Commercial College
at Chicago. As above stated he was given
a post as telegraph operator at Sparta at
the age of twenty-one, having mastered teleg-
raphy as a result of a boyhood enthusiasm.
He remained at Sparta several years, and
was then assigned to different positions at
different places. For a number of years he
was a railway station agent, and in 1900
first came to Ohio, becoming city pa.ssenger
agent at Columbus for the Hocking Valley
Railway. In 1902 he accepted the place of
di.striet passenger agent of the Zanesville &
Western Railway, at Zanesville, Ohio, but
in 1904 resigned and became northern pas-
senger agent for the Hocking Valley Railway
at Detroit. In 1911 ^Mr. Clark was promoted
to his present responsibilities as district pas-
senger agent at Toledo.
He is a man of wide acquaintance and of
the highest social standing. He is a thirty-
second degree Scottish Rite !Mason, a Knight
Templar and a member of Moslem Temple
of the Mystic Shrine. He is a republican
and a member of the Congregational Church.
On August 12, 1892, at Sparta, Wisconsin,
Mr. Clark married Miss Carrie Nott. daugh-
ter of Dr. William Nott of Indianapolis. Mr.
and Mrs. Clark had three children, and two
^^^S^^Oc^-^-^^^K^
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1449
are now living. Ruth A. is Mrs. C. W. Ribble.
E. N. Clark has shown talent and proficiency
for work as a cartoonist and is now training
himself for that profession, in a technical
school in London, England.
James D. Coy. One of the old families of
Oregon Township in Lucas County is repre-
sented by James D. Coy, who is himself the
owner of a fine farm on Jerusalem Road in
Oregiin Township and has made himself a
prominent factor both in business and civic af-
fairs. For several years ^Ir. Coy has served as
secretary of Lucas County Farmei-s Mutual
Aid and Insurance Company, and has done
much to extend the usefulness of that impor-
tant organization as a financial bulwark of the
farmers of that county.
He was born in Oregon Township February
13, 1874, a son of Horace and Mary (Whitson)
Coy. His grandfather was Daniel Coy, an
early settler in Lucas County. Daniel Coy
died in 1854, during a cholera epidemic. Hor-
ace Coy was born in Oregon Township No-
vember 21, 1852, and he and his wife still
occupy their old home in that township. He
has also taken an active part in local affairs,
having served both as school director and
township trustee. James D. Coy is the oldest
of his parents' children. The others are : ]\Iil-
ton H., in the contracting business at East
Toledo; George B., who lives at East Toledo
and is employed by the Overland Automobile
Company; Earl W., a resident of Oregon
Township and superintendent of the Willow
and North Oregon cemeteries; Willis I., at
home; Jennie, wife of John L. Buesehen, a
coal dealer at East Toledo; Frank H., a resi-
dent of East Toledo and an employe of the
Overland Automobile Company.
Mr. James D. Coy married Anna Joehlin,
daugrhter of Gottlieb and Caroline (Fischer)
Joehlin. Her father came from Germany and
her mother from Switzerland. IMr. and Mrs.
Coy have four children: Mabel J., Mary C,
Beatrice A. and Wilma J.
In addition to the management of his farm
and his work as secretary of the County
Farmers' Mutual Aid and Insurance Com-
pany, Mr. Coy served fourteen years as town-
ship clerk, and was formerly a member of the
township board of education, and is now one
of the Lucas County Board of Education.
Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow. His family
attend worship in St. Mark's Lutheran
Cluirch.
Henry Lalendorff. One of the most prom-
inent citizens of Oregon Township in Lucas
County is Henry Lalendorff, whose home is
three miles east of Ironville. Mr. Lalendorff'
has lived in this section sixty years — in fact,
nearh' all his life — and by well ordered in-
dustry and honorable dealings has already ac-
quired an ample competency, though he is not
yet ready to retire and still retains the active
management of his farm and various other
business interests.
A native of Germany, born in Mecklenburg
August 16, 1851, he was brought to this coun-
try at the age of three years in 1854. His
parents, John and Sophia (Sahoon) Lalen-
dorff', arrived -in Toledo during a year when
that commimity was stricken with a cholera
epidemic. They lived in Toledo three yeare
and in 1857 moved to Oregon Township, estab-
lishing their home on the farm now owaied and
occupied by Henry Lalendorff. It should be
recalled that when the Lalendorff family came
to Toledo there were not more than half a
dozen small houses in East Toledo. Com-
munication existed between East Toledo and
Toledo by means of a ferry boat which could
carry three wagons and teams. Another inci-
dent that serves to show the march of im-
provements was that Summit Street in Toledo
was just being paved. When the family
moved out to Oregon Township fifty years
ago their land was in the midst of the woods
and swamps. There were no roads, and it
required actual courage as well as faith to
embark on such an undertaking as the im-
provement of such land. The progress of
years has completely changed conditions, and
now the Lalendorff farm is one of the best in
point of improvements and also in the fertility
of its soil to be found in the entire township.
John Lalendorff and wife both died in 1901.
Henry Lalendorff, the only child of his
parents, grew up on the old homestead in
Oregon Township, and many of its most
notable improvements are to be directly cred-
ited to his individual work and management.
Mr. Lalendorff married Minnie Koch. She
was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, daughter
of Heniy Koch, who was also numbered
among the early settlers of Oregon Township.
The Koch children were : Charles Koch, a
farmer in Oregon Township ; Mrs. Lalendorff ;
Elizabeth, widow of Henry Mathews of Ore-
gon Township : John, who was an Oregon
Town.ship farmer until his death.
Mr. and Mrs. Lalendorff have enjoyed not
only material prosperity but also the comforts
1450
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
which children bring, and have carefully
reared a large family. The first born to their
union were Edward, June 3, 1875 ; Charles,
February 23, 1877 ; Ida, September 14, 1878,
and Rudolph. March 13, 1880, all of whom
died during a diphtheria epidemic in 1882.
Since that tragic fatality overtook the family
all the children have lived except one. Louis,
born September 1, 1881, is still at home. Ru-
dolph, bom December 16, 1883, is a farmer
on the home place and is now serving as towai-
ship clerk of Oregon Township, and by his
marriage to Norma Sehmidlin has two chil-
dren named Edgar and Luther. Ida, born
August 19, 1885, married William Brugge-
man, an employe of the Wheeling and Lake
Erie Railroad at Ironville, and their children
are Richard, Wilma, Lora and Elda. Charles,
born October 1,- 1887, is a farmer in Oregon
Township, and by his marriage to Sophia
Joehliu has two children. Otto and Walter.
Edward, born March 15, 1889, is living in
Ironville and married Iva Nopper and has
one child, Bertha Thelma. George, born No-
vember 12, 1890, died at the age of twenty-
four. Bertha, born August 18, 1892, married
^Christopher Johnson.
As a republican Henry Lalendorff has
given freely and generously of his time and
influence, not only to promote party .success
l)ut also to render substantial service to his
community. He has serVed continuously on
the local school board for thirty years or
more, was trustee of his township for nine
years, and in every position has rendered con-
scientious and careful work.
For twenty years or more Mr. Lalendorff
has been a director of the Lucas County
Earmers Mutual Aid and Insurance Society.
For a number of years he was also one of the
directors of the Commercial Savings Bank
of Toledo. This position required so much
of his time that he finally resigned. As a
farmer he looks after the management of 120
acres. He is an honorary member of the
Grand Army of the Republic, and he and his
familv attend worship in the Lutheran
■Church.
Eur,ENE Carl Snyder, D. C, was the first
practitioner of chiropractic in Hancock
County. Before he could settle down to the
quiet routine of his work he had to overcome
mountains of prejudice and even endure the
active hostility of legal processes and re-
straint. A less determined man would never
have remained, but many people had faith
in him, he had implicit conviction in the
value of his methods and he finally scored a
triumph for himself and for his school.
Doctor Snyder was living in Michigan when
his wife was cured by a chiropractor. That
naturally aroused much interest in the new
school of healing and he attended the Michi-
gan College of Chiropractic, from which he
was graduated D. C, in 1911. In the same
year he came to Findlay. Few people in
Hancock County up to that time had ever
heard of chiropractic. Almost from the first
every difficulty was laid in the way of Doctor
Snyder's career. In October, 1912, he was
arrested for practicing chiropractic without
a license from the State Medical Society. He
was acquitted after a jury trial, but soon
afterwards was again arrested and fined $50
in money and given a sentence of sixty days
in jail if he would not agree to cease prac-
ticing. He declined to be intimidated and
accepted the alternative jail sentence. After
serving thirty days he was again offered free-
dom if he would cease practice and again he
refused. After serving his sixty-day sentence
he was released and resumed his practice the
day after leaving jail. In the meantime a
large number of people in Hancock County
had employed him and had come to set a high
value upon his services. For the past several
years he has practiced without opposition, and
he now holds a license from the state medical
board. Since beginning practice Doctor
Snyder has taken two courses of post-grad-
uate work in the institution at Davenport,
Iowa.
Eugene Carl Snyder was born in Michigan,
in March, 1881, a son of John and Marj'
(Schwartz) Snyder of Baton County, Michi-
gan. His father was a farmer and Doctor
Snyder received his early education in the
country schools near Charlotte, ilichigan. For
eight years he followed the business of clerk
in a hardware .store in Michigan, married
and settled down, and only the remarkable
cure of his wife by a chiropractor turned him
from that business to his present profession.
In 1903 he married Teresa E. Corr, daugh-
ter of Bernard and Rebecca Corr. They have
two children, Russell B., eleven years of age,
and a daughter, Eugena, eight years old. The
family are members of the St. Michael's
Catholic Church and Doctor Snyder is a mem-
ber of the Elks order and in politics is inde-
pendent.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1451
Henry N. Perkin represents a family that
has been identified with this section of Lucas
County for more than eighty years.
Maumee was the birthplace of Henry N.
Perriu, and he is a son of David Henry and
Mary (Deshanaway) Perrin. His mother was
born and reared in Maumee, a daughter of
Louis and ilaria (Mountler) Deshanaway.
ilaria Mountler came from Germany, while
Luuis 1 )c'sluina\vay was born on the Maumee
Kiver lictwccn the present town of Maumee
and Toledo at a settlement then known as
Marengo. His birth occurred there in the
year 1818, a date which establishes the ex-
tremely early settlement of this branch of the
Peri'in family in Northwest Ohio.
David H. Perrin was born near Pictou in
Nova Scotia in 1836, a son of David and Eliza-
beth (Perrin) Perrin. The Perrin family
ti-aces its ancestry back to a French count
named Perrine, who became a Huguenot and
who suffered the persecution of that sect
during the .sixteenth and seventeenth century.
He or his descendants emigrated to America
and settled in Nova Scotia. David Perrin
Sr., having heard reports of the opportuni-
ties around Lake Erie, set out for this counti-y
in 1836, when his son David H. was a few
months old. He brought his family excepting
one son to the United States, and landed at
Perrysburg, but soon removed to Maumee.
The senior David Perrin was a ship carpenter,
and followed that trade for some years, later
was a farmer, and died in 1869. His wife
passed away in 1844.
Growing up on the old home near Maumee,
David H. Perrin worked a year or two on tlie
canal, spent the next three years at Logans-
port, Indiana, and on returning to Lucas
County was again employed on the canal and
finally took up carpentry, a trade he had
learned as a young man. Though he made
that his regular occupation thereafter, he
was also in the hardware business five years
and for nine years was postmaster of Maumee.
He is now eighty years of age and for some
years has lived retired. He was the youngest
in a family of three daughters and five sons,
all of whom were born in Nova Scotia except
two, both of whom died in infancy. Four of
the boys went to the war. James M. lost his
life at Jonesboro, Georgia, and Benjamin at
Millikins Bend. "William returned after the
war and died in 1905.
David H. Perrin enlisted in the Fourteenth
Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1861, and after
the expiration of his term served a time in the
state militia and in 1864 again volunteered
and became a member of the One Hundred
and Fiftieth Ohio Infantry. In September,
1861, he married, and he is the father of three
children, William Wallace, who lives in
Toledo where he is connected with the ti-ac-
tion company, and by his marriage to Hannah
Virgiles has five children ; the second in age is
Henry X., ami Cliai-les Lewis, the youngest,
is deputy rullcrtdr df the port of Toledo and
married Xaiinal.cllr Jones and has two sons
and one daughter.
Henry N. Perrin married Edith Keeler, a
daughter of Coleman Keeler, a prominent
citizen of Lucas County mentioned elsewhere
on these pages, and granddaughter of Samuel
Isaac Keeler. Mrs. Perrin died May 4, 1907,
leaving two daughters, Helen A. and Adeline
Mary.
Throughout his active career Henry N.
Perrin has been as well known for his public
spirit as for his business ability. He owns
and operates a farm of 300 acres and deals in
buying and selling real estate. He was the
incorporator of the Northern Ohio Telephone
Company and served as its vice president and
director until it was sold to the Ohio State
Telephone Company in 1916. He also has
other interests that make him an active busi-
ness man. He is a republican, and has served
on the city council of Maumee and is now
president of the board of education.
Henry J. Kruse. The career of Henry J.
Kruse, a successful farmer in Napoleon Town-
ship of Henry County, illustrates what may
be accomplished by a man of purpose and
determination against heavy handicaps.
About ten years ago while operating a corn
shredder, he lost the use of one arm. To
many men this would have proved a serious
handicap. Not so in the case of Mr. Kruse.
He has gone ahead regardless of difficulties
and with the aid of his good wife is now
reckoned among the most successful and pros-
perous farmers of Henry County. He owns
two good farms, one of 120 acres and the other
of 92 acres, and both containing some of the
fine soil for which Henry county is noted.
Each of these farms have a complete set of
building equipment, and Mr. Kruse has a
great deal to show for his life of industry and
enterprise.
He was born on the farm he now owns in
Napoleon Township on February 17, 1859.
He grew up there, learned the art of success-
ful farming, operated his father's place until
1452
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
the latter 's death, and has since owned it in
his own right.
The father, Herman Kruse, was born in
Hanover, Germany, ^larch 30, 1818, being of
an old Lutheran family and his parents spend-
ing their lives in Germany. Herman Kruse set
out in 1848 on a sailing vessel and after many
weeks of stormy voyage landed in New York
City. From there he came on to Ohio, and
in 1850 went to Huntington County, Indiana,
where he was employed for a time in the lime
kilns. In 1850 he married Catherine Ritter.
She was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany,
December 15, 1825. Her parents being poor,
she set out as a yoi;ng woman in 1849, taking
passage on a sailing vessel and after a voyage
lasting from eighteen to twenty weeks, arrived
in this country and proceeded to Huntington
County, Indiana. There she met and married
Herman Kruse and immediately after their
marriage they came to Ohio and located on
forty acres of wild land in section seven of
Napoleon Township. Herman Kruse applied
himself thereafter to its improvement and
cultivation, and in time the old log cabin
home gave way to a substantial modern house,
and many of the improvements placed there
by his hands have served their purposes well
in a subsequent generation. He and his good
wife reared their family to usefulness and
honor and in time the father had improved a
farm of eighty acres in section six. The barn
on Henry J. Kruse 's farm was put up by his
father in 1880. It is one of a set of substantial
farm improvements. The barn stands on a
foundation 45 by 80 feet, and is surrounded
with other sheds for the housing of stock and
implements. The home consists of a substan-
tial nine room house, with a summer kitchen
and with a large basement. Herman Kruse
set out a number of friiit trees during his life-
time, and the orchard is still in excellent con-
dition. He died at the old place on January
9. 1881. Politically he identified himself with
the democratic party after coming to America,
and was very prominent in the Lutheran
Church. His" widow died October 12, 1905.
Both are buried in the cemetery in Napoleon
Township.
Their children were: Mary, who married
Henry Behnfeldt, and they now live in Free-
dom Township on the farm and have a son and
four daughters; Sophia lives in Freedom
Township, the widow of Herman Warnke. and
of her children two daughters are now de-
ceased and four sons and two daughters are
still living.
Henry J. Kruse was married in Napoleon
Township to Miss Mary Kruse. She was born
in Hanover, Germany, October 21, 1859, and
came with her brother Fred in ]\Iay, 1883, to
the United States. They settled in Napoleon
and on November 15, 1883, a few months after
Mrs. Kruse arrived in America, she and Henry
J. Kruse were married. Reverend Mr. Deman
pronounced the ceremony that made them man
and wife. Since then they have cooperated
loyally and faithfully together and have
reared children to lives of usefulness and
honor. Their son John is now operating his
father's farm in section eight of Napoleon
Township, and is still unmarried. Herman is
twenty-eight years of age and an active assist-
ant to his father. Albert A., aged twenty-
four, is working out by the month. Anna M.
was born October 18, 1895, and is still at
home. Henry was born May 15, 1900, and is
still attending school. All the children re-
ceived the best advantages in the schools, and
i\Ir. and Mrs. Kruse may take proper pride
in the young folks who have grown up about
them and are still in their household. All the
family are members of St. Paul's Lutheran
Church, and Mr. Kruse and his sons vote the
democratic ticket.
Un.\ Brown, D. C. Establi-shed only a
few years ago, the science of chiropractic has
made wonderful strides in popular favor and
in scientific appreciation, and is now recog-
nized as one of the most efficient means in
drugless practice of medicine and healing.
A prominent exponent of this school in
Hancock County is Miss Una Brown, Doctor
of Chiropractic. Miss Brown was born in
Jameson, Missouri, February 17, 1883, a
daughter of Austin G. and Winnie (Watson)
Brown. Her family is of English stock. Miss
Brown received her greatest influences toward
getting an education from her mother. Her
father was a man of mechanical turn of mind
and is a successful wagon builder and black-
smith.
Miss Brown was educated in the grammar
and high schools of ]Milan, ^Missouri, and was
a student in the literary coui-se at Howard
Payne College, the Southern ]\Iethodist school,
at Fayette, ^Missouri, where she specialized in
elocution and literary work. Miss Brown
worked herself through school, and was al-
ways willing to accept any honorable occu-
pation in order to pay her expenses. Even
while in high school she had won a gold
medal in an elocutionary contest, and while
ay
/Saoc<^^ cS. 'S
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
1453
in college she excelled iu elocution and ex-
pression besides receiving the highest marks
in the various other courses. She gave many
elocutionary recitals in Missouri and other
states in order to defray her expenses.
Attracted by the science of chiropractic
Miss Brown entered the Palmer School of
Chiropractic at Davenport, Iowa, in 1909.
She was graduated with the degree of D. C.
in 1911, and at once came to Pindlay and
has been in practice there very successfully
ever since. She has held public clinics in
various towns and has reason to be well satis-
tied with the progress she has made in her
work. She is a member of the Ohio State
Chiropractic Association and of the Universal
Chiropractic Association, and in passing the
state medical examining board received the
highest percentage of any person to take the
examination required by the "State of Ohio.
She has fine offices in Findlay and is not only
a successful practitioner but a highly cultured
woman.
It is only proper to say what others have
said and continue to say concerning Miss
Brown's achievements. As a chiropractor she
lias accomplished what may be termed several
miracles in spinal adjustments. During her
live years at Findlaj' she has effected many
other remarkable cures. She is an inde-
fatigable worker and her attainments are a
credit not only to the City of Findlay but to
the chiropractic profession. IMiss Brown is
an enthusiast in her work, and like most peo-
ple whose minds and efforts are directed
objectively, she is very unassuming and allows
tlie results of her skill to speak for them-
selves.
Detrick Wachtmann. One of the best
kept farm homes in Napoleon Township of
Henry County is the old Wachtmann place,
now owned by Detrick Wachtmann. a son of
the original settler. ]Mr. Wachtmann was born
there, and during his lifetime has developed
an excellent property and enjoyed all the pros-
perity and comforts familiarly associated with
the twentieth century farmer.
This homestead is situated in section six of
Napoleon Township. It was originally ac-
quired by his father, John Wachtmann, who
was born in Hanover, Germany, as was also
his wife, Mary Sash. They came as young
people to America, making the voyage on old
fashioned sailing vessels from Bremen to New
York, and they were married in Henry
County. John Wachtmann worked as a farm
hand for about seven years and then made his
first purchase of forty acres in section six. He
paid $40 an acre, but there was not a stick
of timber cleared. His first home was a log
cabin, and several of his children were born
in that humble abode, though Detrick first
saw the light of day in a frame house. Later
John Wachtmann bought fifty acres and again
thirty acres. One acre of this tract was taken
about thirty years ago for the schoolhouse of
District No. 3, and that school has been con-
tinued tliere ever since, and many members
of the Wachtmann family have received their
educational advantages there. John Wacht-
mann was a hard worker, and in time cleared
up all his land. He erected the splendid barn
that now stands on the home of his son Det-
rick, 40 by 80 feet, and Detrick has added to
this a shed for the keeping of stock 18 by 65
feet, and has put up a number of other build-
ings. It is some of the best land found in
Henry County and is suitable for the raising
of all kinds of crops and is largely devoted
to stock raising. There is also a wood lot of
six acres containing some fine native timber,
elm, walnut and black ash. After a fruitful
lifetime John Wachtmann died on the old
farm in June, 1900, at the age of eighty-three.
His widow passed away in December, 1902,
aged sixty-eight. They were among the early
members of the Lutheran Church in the county
and were people of sterling worth. Their five
children were named : William, now deceased ;
Fred ; John Jr., who lives in Defiance County ;
Detrick and Clara, deceased.
Detrick Wachtmann was born on the old
homestead November 29, 1862. 'He received
his education in the local schools, and has
devoted his years as an agriculturist to farm-
ing the old place. In Napoleon Township he
married Miss Emma Miller, who was born in
Mark Township of Defiance County, Novem-
ber 8, 1880. Her parents, W^illiam H. and
Catherine (Trimball) ^Miller, were born in
Germany and were married after they located
in :XIark Township of Defiance County. Her
parents have lived there for many years and
are substantial farmers and are not yet
seventy j^ears of age. In the i\Iiller family
were six children, and four of them are mar-
ried.
Mr. and Mrs. Wachtmann have four chil-
dren: Martin, born February 14, 1903, and
now in the sixth grade of the public school;
William, born August 17, 1905, and also in
the sixth grade ; and Minnie, born February
24, 1907, and Paul B., August 18, 1916. Ail
1454
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
the family are members of St. Paul 's Lutheran
Church, and Mr. Wachtmann has for some
time been one of the officials of that church.
Politically he is a democrat, and is always
ready to take a part in movements for the bet-
terment of the community.
Simon Harmon. One of the fine old coun-
try homes in section 4 of Napoleon Township,
Henry County, was owned by the late Simon
Harmon, whose death occurred in October,
1916. He lived in that community for fully
half a century. With his wife he went there
when it was wild and waste land principally,
and their own efforts contributed to the clear-
ing up and development of a portion of one
of Ohio's best agricultural counties. Mr.
Harmon had many interesting recollections
to relate concerning the early days in Henry
County, and as his own life was filled with in-
dustry and good deeds, he was coiTespond-
ingly held iu high esteem in that section.
He was born in Fulton County, Penn-
sylvania, in 1844. His family have bean
Americans for a number of generations. His
great-grandfather came from Germany, was
married and spent the rest of his life in Penn-
sylvania. Mr. Harmon's grandfather John
Harmon was bom in Pennsylvania, and spent
his life in Fulton County, where he died when
eighty years of age. All the generations of
the family have been members of the Lu-
theran Church, and they have all adhered
firmly to the principles and policies of the
democratic party. Grandfather John Har-
mon and wife had six sons and daughters.
Of these John Harmon, Jr., one of the older,
was born in the closing years of the eighteenth
century. He spent his early life in Fulton
County, and married there Mary Riggle. She
was born and reared in the same county.
Their children were all born in Pulton County.
In 1850 the family set out with wagons and
teams, crossing the intervening stretch of
country which was almost without railroads,
and arrived in Ashland Countj-, Ohio. They
located in Ruggles Township on a partly
cleared farm, and there John Harmon, Jr.,
spent the rest of his days, actively engaged
in farming. He passed away at the age of
eighty-three and bis wife was over seventy-
five when she died. They were hard working
and honest people, and active supportei-s of
the Lutheran Church in their community.
Simon Harmon was their only son, and he had
three sisters. IMary A., now deceased, mar-
ried John Rigabroad, and both died in Ash-
land County, Ohio, leaving three children.
Elizabeth married John Toman, and they
died in Licking County, being survived by one
son. Lucida is now living in Ashland County
and is a widow.
Simon Harmon grew up in Ashland Coun-
ty, Ohio, and married there Susanna Wait,
daughter of John Wait, who also came from
Pennsylvania. John W^ait located in Ashland
Coujity, but sub.sequently moved to Morrow
County, where he died when past sixty years
of age. The Wait family were also Lutherans
and the male members were democrats.
After his marriage Mr. Harmon lived for
two years in Ashland County. While there
the first child was born. Prank, who is still
unmarried and lives at home. Mr. Harmon
then brought his family to Napoleon Town-
ship in Henry County. He bought a tract of
land in a \vild and swampy district, and there
set up the log cabin in which he and his
family lived for some years. Oftentimes he
saw deer chasing through the timber, and he
and his good wife had their full share of
pioneer experiences. In section 4 Mr. Har-
mon cleared up eighty acres, and gradually
made it not only a good farm but also a home
of many comforts. It has excellent farm
buildings, including a large barn 65 by
40 feet for stock and hay purposes, and
also other buildings for the keeping of grain
and implements. His house of ten rooms
when built thirty-four years ago was one of
the best farm houses in the community and it
is still a very pleasant and stately home. Mr.
Harmon throughout his residence in Henr}-
County was noted as a successful grower of
staple crops and of good live stock. He was
long identified with St. Paul's Lutheran
Church, as has also been his wife, and he was
a democrat in polities. His son Frank is
affiliated with the same political party, as is
also the younger son, Henry. Henry married
Elizabeth Davis, and they live on a farm in
Napoleon Township. Their one daughter
Carrol is married and lives in Harrison Town-
ship and has two sons.
Edson D. Bishop. For a young man of
twenty-four Edson D. Bishop occupies a
prominent place in business circles as presi-
dent and manager of The Modern Light and
Power Company. What he has done so far
reflects his wide-awake enterprise and his
genius for handling complex responsibilities,
but his friends and associates say that he has
only well begun his business career and that
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1455
a great deal can be expected of him in the
future.
He was born in Findlay, Ohio, in 1892, a
son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Ralston) Bishop.
His parents were of Pennsylvania Dutch and
Scotch ancestry and for many years lived in
Eagle Township of Hancock County.
Edson D. Bishop had an education in the
public schools, concluding with the high school
and finished in the Oberlin Business College.
His fii-st employment was at Cleveland with
the Winton Gas Engine Works. He proved
himself a valuable man in that organization,
advanced himself to a place in the purchas-
ing department and also acted as confidential
man in various capacities. While there he
was constantly looking ahead to the future,
saving his money, and eventually becoming
tired of employment for others he returned
to Findlay, February 1, 1915, and with his
brother, R. C. Bishop, organized and financed
The Modern Light and Power Company. Mr.
Edson Bishop became president and manager
of the corporation while his brother is secre-
tary and treasurer. This company does a
general supply and construction business and
has a plant covering an entire block in Find-
lay and specializes in motor driven farm ma-
chinery and is also local agent for the Delco
Light Products and Willard Goods.
On August 24, 1916, Mr. Bishop married
iliss Bessie Cole, daughter of Ormel and
Blanche (Anderson) Cole of Big Lick Town-
ship, Hancock Count.y.
Geoege W. Slo.vn. For upwards of sev-
enty years the Sloan family has been closely
identified with the agricultural and civic in-
terests of Ottawa Coiuaty, and particularly
in the region around Port Clinton. George
W. Sloan is now one of the progressive busi-
ness men and farmers of that section, and has
spent all his life in this part of Northwest
Ohio.
He was born on the farm at Port Clinton,
where he still resides July 4, 1864. His
parents were William and Maria f Miller)
Sloan. The Sloans are of Scotch-Irish an-
cestry and the family emigrated from the
vicinity of Belfast and settled along the Ohio
River in the Southern part of Ohio about
1811. Grandfather John Sloan was a man of
great prominence in Southern Ohio, where at
one time he owned mills, stores, operated ex-
tensively as a stock dealer, and was consid-
ered wealthy. In 1853 he came from South-
ern Ohio to Ottawa Countv and bought a
farm of 160 acres. In about 1866 he went to
Iowa. John Sloan was frequently given
places of trust and responsibility in his com-
munity, and among other offices served as
county clerk.
William Sloan, father of George W., was
born in Harrison County, Ohio, in 1835, and
died at Port Clinton on March 16, 1881.
After his father went West William Sloan re-
mained on the farm in Ottawa County, grad-
ually improving it, and as his prosperity in-
creased he invested in further purchases of
land until he owned about 300 acres. He
was a very successful farmer and equally
public spirited in community afl'airs. He
married Maria Miller, a daughter of Henrv
Miller. She died in 1891. Her family
were among the pioneers of Ottawa County.
William Sloan and wife had two children,
George AV. and Anna. The latter is the wife
of James H. Smith, who is now professor of
geology in the city schools of Chicago. Mr.
and llrs. Smith liave children named Char-
lotte, Eleanor and Dorothy.
George W. Sloan grew up on the home farm
in Ottawa County, attended the common
schools of Port Clinton and also the college
at Berea. Soon after leaving college he mar-
ried Miss Mattie Gardner of Berea. He
brought his bride back to the old farm and
since then has been continuously identified
with the cultivation of the place on which he
was born and reared and which is situated
just at the south edge of Port Clinton. It is
a farm of splendid improvements and Mr
Sloan has prospered because of his up-to-date
and progressive methods.
He is a republican in politics though in no
sense a politician. Fraternally he is affiliated
with the Knights of Pythias.
E\'ERETT E. Fox. No family has been more
prominent in the history of Nortli Bass I.sland
than that of Fox nor more closely identified
with its leading industries. A maritime fam-
ily originally, some of its representatives still
follow the water, but others have important
interests entirely separated from that voca-
tion. Tlie first of the Fox family to settle
on North Bass and acquire land here were
Simon and Peter Fox, who were cousins of
Henry G. Fox, who was the father of Everett
E. Fox, who is one of the island's most sub-
stantial men.
Everett E. Fox was born at Bassfield.
County Essex. Ontario. Canada, in 1848, and
is a son of Henry G. and a grandson of George
1456
HISTORY OP NOETHWEST OHIO
Fox. The grandfather was a sailor and
moved from Canada to Peelee Island at a
very early day. He came of a family of
sailors and he met a sailor's death, being lost
with his boat in a storm off Peelee Island. He
had made plans in the late forties to purchase
the whole of North Bass Island and had come
to an agreement with Horace Kelley, who
owned it and was willing to sell for $500.
He made one payment of $50 to secure the
deal but his death came before the transaction
had progressed any further. His immediate
family transferred their claim to the cousins,
Simou and Peter Fox, who, in 1852, pur-
chased the unsold two-thirds of the island
from Mr. Kelley.
Henry G. Fox, father of Everett E., was
born on Peelee Island and became a sailor
like his father. In 1855 he came to North
Bass Island as a settler aud purchased land
from his cousins, Simon and Peter Fox, on
which he erected a cabiu and two years later
his family joined him and the island became
their permanent home. Henry G. Fox re-
tired then from lake traffic and applied him-
self to other vocations. He cleared and culti-
vated his land and erected a blacksmith shop
and for many years did blaeksmithing for the
whole island. He became a heavy producer
of grapes and later was made the Bass Island
representative for the Link "Wine Company,
of Toledo, aud did all the buying for this
company on the islands up to the time of his
death. His son. Everett E. Fox, succeeded
him as island grape buyer but more recently
has confined his activities to North Bass alone.
For over fifty years father and son, without
interruption of the business relations, have
been the buyers for the large company men-
tioned above.
The children of the late Henry G. Fox were :
Everett E. : Lavina, who married C. B. Dewey,
a farmer in Nebraska, and they have one son,
Henry, who is in the^ automobile business at
Bertram, Nebraska, where he married and has
four children; Arthur, who is captain of the
magnificent steamer, Put-in-Bay, of the Ash-
ley and Dustin Line, plying between Detroit
and Sandusky, has been a sailor all his life,
starting in boyhood with the Wheeler Line,
has no domestic ties as his \vife and only
daughter, Inez, are both deceased; Amelia,
who is the wife of F. B. Selemire, who for
many years was train dispatcher on the B. &
M. R. Railroad, in Nebraska, is now manager
for the Western Union Telegraph Company
at Omaha.
Everett E. Fox became a sailor as soon as
his parents were willing he should go on the
water and he had his first experiences under
Captain Orr. He enjoyed the vigorous out-
door life, the hard work and its dangers, and
by the time he was eighteen years of age was
eonsidei-ed so capable a seaman that he was
made captain of a tug, being then in the
employ of Mr. Clark, who established the
present Ashley and Dustin Transportation
Line. For eight years he continued a sailor
on the lakes and then decided to visit other
sections of the country, and, in partnership
with his father, bought 2,000 acres of land in
Nebraska, investing in this undertaking the
money he had saved from his earnings as a
sailor, the amount aggregating $1,060.
For four yeai-s Mr. Fox remained in Ne-
braska and during this time succeeded in
disposing profitably of his land and then
entered the employ of the Standard Oil Com-
pany. He had but three months of experi-
ence in this connection as he was called home
by the illness of his father. Since returning
to North Bass he has been active in carrying
forward work on his farm and vineyard. At
one time he owned 100 acres of land, but sub-
sequently sold and bought and now has about
seventy acres, thirty of which are in vineyard,
from which he realizes more than seventy tons
of grapes annually. Mr. Fox continues to
personally manage his properties and to look
after his other interests, which include sub-
stantial holdings in the Bass Island Vineyard
Company, of Sandusky.
Mr. Fox was married to Miss ilary Beech-
ler. In politics he is a republican and has
always been prominent in piiblic matters on
the island, has served many years on the
school board and at present is a justice of
the peace. He is a member of Perseverance
Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, at San-
dusky, and belongs also to the Odd Fellows
and the Knights of Pythias.
Other former members of this old pioneer
family of these islands were Robert Fox and
his son. Jay Fox. The former accompanied
his brother' the late Henry G. Fox, to North
Bass Island and lived here the rest of his life.
His son. Jay Fox, located at Put-in-Bay and
passed the remainder of his life in that section.
James A. Groves. The man who helps
himself is in the long run the man who also
helps others, and bears more than his indi-
vidual share of the burdens of community
life. Mr. James A. Groves, now the leading
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1457
grocery merchant of McComb, Ohio, lost his
mother when twelve years of age, and that
left him an orphan facing the world alone.
Even from that age he was not dependent
on the boitntj' of others, but paid his own
way, and seeing the need of an education, he
acquired it by much self-sacrifice and hard
woi'k, and has been pushing forwaz'd to suc-
cess ever since.
Though most of his life has been spent in
Hancock County, Mr. Groves was born on a
farm in Shelby County, Illinois, in 1869, a
son of John R. and Nancy (Lennox) Groves.
While Mr. Groves deserves much credit for
what he has accomplished in the world, it is
undeniable that good family stock and heri-
tage have also played their part. While it
has been proved that environment and indi-
vidual character may overcome the handicaps
of traits and defects derived from ancestry,
it is also true that "blood will tell" and there
is no better as.set than a heritage of rugged
and wholesome qualities. In the maternal
line Mr. Groves is a great-grandson of John
Dukes, who was born in England, and came
from that country to Virginia in 1791. In
the paternal line Thomas Groves was born
in Virginia in 1791 and died in 1881. He was
of revolutionary stock. There is authentic
record that members of the Groves family
were soldiers under the famous Oliver Crom-
well during, the English civil wars. A com-
plete genealogj' of the family has been care-
fully prepared by Mr. Groves with the aid of
his relatives, and the record indicates the vir-
ility of the stock from which he is descended.
In 1870 the Groves family removed to
Blanchard Township in Hancock County, and
James A. Groves spent his early life there.
He began his education in the local schools,
but with the death of his mother, when he was
twelve years of age, he was left without a
home of his own, and then became a farm
hand. From his earnings at hard manual
labor he was able to take one course of in-
struction in the Ohio Northern University
at Ada in 1889-90. He also taught country
school and for two terms, 1892-94. he paid
his expenses in the Ohio Wesleyan University
at Delaware, where he took the classical
course. After that he tauglit country schools
in Pleasant and Blanchard townships, but in
1896 resigned from the schoolroom and be-
came a clerk in the grocery firm of Lovell &
Kinsey at the southeast corner of ]\Iain and
Todd streets in McComb. He was with that
firm three and a half vears and there laid
the foundation of his experience as a mer-
chant. At the end of that time Mr. Kinsey
bought Mr .Lovell's interest, and in 1901 the
firm of Kinsey & Groves was established in
business. After a year Mr. Lovell acquired
the Kinsey interest and the firm for two years
was Groves & Lovell. At the end of that time
Mr. Groves became sole proprietor and has
since conducted this splendid grocerj' estab-
lishment under his own name. He keeps a
large stock, emphasizes the fre.shness of his
goods, and is a very careful buyer as well as a
successful salesman. One important feature of
the business is as a wholesale dealer in eggs,
and this is one of the important markets for
eggs in this section of the state. Besides his
merchandising Mr. Groves has other important
interests at McComb.
In 1894 he married Miss Dora Swartz,
daughter of George H. and Levina (Down-
ing) Swartz of Blanchard Township, Han-
cock County. Her parents were wealthy
farming people and were very warm-hearted
friends to Mr. Groves during the early
struggles of his career. To their marriage
were born the f oUomng children : James Rex,
who is now a sophomore in the Ohio State L^ni-
versity ; ]\label Estelle, who was born in 1898
and died in 1900, and Merrill S. The family
are active members of the First Methodist
Episcopal Church of McComb. Mr. Groves
takes much inerest in church affairs and since
1905 has been superintendent of the Sunday
School. In politics he is an independent re-
publican, and in 1914 was unsuccessful candi-
date on the progressive ticket for county
auditor. He was president of the board of
education of Pleasant Township three years,
having been elected as a republican. For
five years he has been president of ilcComb
Lyceum Coui-se, was chairman of the busi-
ness men's association and president two
years, and fraternally he is affiliated with the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having
passed all the chairs in the Home Lodge, and
is also a member of the Maccabees.
John Henry Rofkar. One of Ottawa
County's best known citizens is John Henry
Rofkar of Catawba Island, where he has been
one of the prime factors in building up the
great peach industry of that section. While
always very successful in his private business
affairs, 'Sir. Rofkar has not neglected the pub-
lie interest, and has been an active figure in
democratic polities for years. He has served
as member of the school board in his local
1458
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
district, put in several terms in the office of
township trustee, and a few years ago was
elected to the board of county commissioners,
and has been chosen president of the board.
This position, at the head of the county's fiscal
affairs is a well deserved honor and he has
thoroughly justified the support of his friends
and political followers by his creditable ad-
ministration.
Mr. Rofkar was born in New York State
March 9, 1864. His father, Henry Rofkar,
was one of the early settlers on Catawba
Island, locating there in the same year that
John Henrj^ was born. He was one of the pio-
neers in the culture of the peach, and in that
business he prospered, and is now living in
comfortable retirement.
It was on Catawba Island that John Henry
Rofkar spent his early youth and received his
education. After his marriage he bought ten
acres from his father, that constituting a part
of a large peach orchard, and he has since in-
creased his holdings until he and his son now
control sixty acres with between 4,000 and
5,000 bearing peach trees.
Mr. Rofkar married Anna Raehrs of Fre-
mont, Ohio. They have two children: "Wil-
liam, now twenty-four years of age and
farming with his father; and Florence. Mr.
Rofkar and family are members of the Lu-
theran Church and fraternally he is affiliated
with the Knights of the Maccabees.
Lee W. Byington, proprietor of the princi-
pal lumber and builders supply house at Lake-
side in Ottawa County, has made a success
in life by his own unaided efforts.
His birth occurred in Sanduskj', Ohio, in
August, 1863. A little later his father, Wil-
liam H. Byington, lost his life during the
Civil war. The widowed mother then took
her family to Wabash, Indiana, where Lee W.
had his early training and education. After
leaving the common schools he returned to
Sandusky and began as a boy apprentice to
learn the carpenter's trade. He put in a num-
ber of years of hard work in that line, and it
was his long employment at the trade which
gave him his real start in life.
In 1890 he came to Lakeside, worked for sev-
eral years as a .iourneyman carpenter and also
did considerable contracting. In 1910 he
opened a lumber yard, planing mill and began
handling a general assortment of builders 'sup-
plies and this enterprise has been so success-
ful that he is now praetieallj^ retired from the
contracting field and giving all his attention
to his lumber yards.
Mr. Byington married Miss Fannie South-
ard, daughter of John K. Southard, one of
the very early settlers in Danbury Townsliip
of Ottawa County. To their marriage were
born three children, Helen, Leota and Edward.
Mr. Byington is a democratic voter, was one
of the four or five men who organized the first
Knight of Pythias Lodge at Lakeside and is
also a charter mefcber of the Knights of the
Maccabees.
Hon. Benjamin F. Welty. What a high-
minded lawyer can accomplish as a factor in
the public welfare is well illustrated in the
career of Benjamin F. Welty, one of Lima's
foremost attorneys and a man whose disinter-
ested service and fearless citizenship have
marked him out as one of the prominent men
of Northwestern Ohio.
On November 7, 1916, Mr. Welty was
elected to Congress from the Fourth Ohio
District. He was the nominee of the demo-
cratic party, headed his ticket in the district
and was chosen by more than 4,000 ma-
jority. The presence of Benjamin F. Welty
in the Sixty-fiftli Congress means much
not only to the people of Northwest Ohio,
but to the nation. He is not only a lawyer
of exceptional ability, but in his professional
and public life he has come into close con-
tact with many of the great problems which
are now pressing for solution in our nation's
affairs. He knows thoroughly the workings
of the local, state and national departments
of justice and has more than a passing knowl-
edge of many of the great fundamental facts
that underlie the present American industrial
sj'stem. The many qualifications with which
he entered upon his term as congressman can
best be understood by a brief sketch of his
personal career.
Mr. Welty was born on a farm four miles
north of Bluffton in Allen County, Ohio,
August 9, 1870. He is a son of Fred and
Katherine (Steiner) Welty. His father was
a farmer and was also quite noted as a bee
man. Benjamin was the twelfth in a family
of seventeen children. Thus, though his
father was a man of prosperous circumstances
for the time, his means were not sufficient to
show special favor or advantages to any one
of the household.
In order to realize the object of his ambi-
tion, Benjamin Welty early chose the prin-
ciple of self-reliance and self-help. He at-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1459
tended country schools until he was sixteen
years of age. After that he taught during
the winter months to pay for a higher eduea-
' tion. He attended the Ohio Northern Uni-
versity at Ada, the Tri-State Normal at
! Angola, Indiana, was graduated in the liter-
' ary department from the Ohio Northern iu
1894, and in 1896 took his law degi-ee from the
University of Michigan.
Immediately upon his admission to the bar
Mr. Welty located at Lima. For seventeen
years he performed the duties of city solici-
I tor of Bluffton. He was elected to that office
I in 1897 and re-elected, but refused a third
I term. The council then abolished the elective
office and hired his firm continuously from
year to year until 1913. In 1905 Mr. Welty
I was elected prosecuting attorney of Allen
} County, and had 3,000 more votes than the
I lowest man on the ticket. In 1908 he was
re-elected, receiving nearly 8,000 votes, the
largest number ever given to any candidate
in Allen County. He received more votes
than either Bryan for president or Harmon
for governor. He was also special attorney
to the attorney-general of Ohio. Early in
the Wilson administration he was offered the
office of district attorney of Alaska, an honor
he declined, and in 1913 was appointed spe-
cial assistant to the attorney-general of the
United States to prosecute the plumbers'
trust.
Some special reference should be made to
Mr. Welty 's services as prosecuting attorney
of his county, as special counsel for the attor-
ney-general of the state, and as special assis-
tant to the national department of justice.
Soon after he began his duties as prosecuting
attorney of Allen County, information was
brought before the grand jury of a bridge
trust operating in the county. The various
companies constructing bridges had a ' ' gentle-
man 's agreement," by which bids were all
arranged beforehand, and the lowest bid was
fixed so high that 50 per cent of the contract
price could be divided among the other con-
tractors in the combination and 50 per cent
to the actual builder of the bridge. Thus
Ohio was paying twice as much for bridges
as would aflford a normal profit under actual
competition.
The bridge companies in Allen County were
indicted, and after a vigorous prosecution two
of their agents were convicted and sentenced.
One of the cases went to the Supreme Court,
which declared a clause of the anti-trust law
unconstitutional. Before a second trial could
be had the state attorney-general instituted
quo warranto proceedings, as a result of which
the companies were ousted from doing busi-
ness in Ohio. Eventually the proceedings
ended by the companies paying the fines and
costs. Another matter that came up before
Mr. Welty as prosecuting attorney was in
presenting the question as to the lumber trust.
As the operations of the trust were too ex-
tensive for a county or state to prosecute the
case, the matter was finally brought before
the department of justice at Washington, and
the tnist was enjoined and restrained from
doing business, a decision which was affirmed
by the United States Supreme Court in 1915.
As prosecuting attorney Mr. Welty brought
suit against various banks in the Lima dis-
trict to make them pay interest on public
funds deposited. It had become known that
such public funds were being used by the
banks to loan out to individuals at rates of
interest, though the banks were paying noth-
ing for the use of the public funds. It was
]Mr. Welty 's work that brought about a state
law covering the subject, and the custom and
practice has since spread to many other states.
In the six counties of the district banks now
pay for public funds on deposit annual inter-
est amounting to approximately $46,000.
As prosecuting attorney Mr. Welty cleaned
up the entire county, and conducted four of
the leading murder trials ever held in the
county. Many threats were made upon his
life because of his fearless and vigorous work
as prosecutor.
As special counsel for the attorney-general
of Ohio Mr. Welty was employed in the prose-
cution of a number of cases. One of them
was the corrupt practice cases at Steubenville
in Jefferson County. The probate judge, the
prosecuting attorney and the representative
were indicted for violating the corrupt prac-
tices act of Ohio.
However, Mr. Welty gained his chief repu-
tation as a prosecutor while special assistant
to the attorney-general of the United States
for prosecuting the plumbers' trust. Two
previous attempts to prosecute this trust hav-
ing failed, Mr. Welty was selected by the
attorney-general, established headquarters at
Chicago and made a thorough investigation
through special agents in every state of the
union, ancl secured information leading to the
indictment of thirty-six members of the Master
Plumbers' Association of Des iloines, Iowa.
The plumbers raised a fund of over $10,000
to defend the suit. On the advice of Mr.
1460
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Welty investigation was made in Pennsyl-
vania and also in Utah, special grand juries
were impanelled, and indictments were se-
cured against thirty-four men in Erie,
Pennsylvania, and seventeen in Salt Lake
CitJ^ The case was heard at Des iloines,
and Salt Lake City, the defendants were con-
victed as charged in the indictment. This
was one of the most impoi'tant cases prose-
cuted under the anti-trust laws during the
first administration of President Wilson.
After the successful conclusion of this case
Mr. Welty resigned as special assistant to
the attorney-general and has since been en-
gaged in a general practice as an individual
member of the bar of Lima.
He is a member of the Allen County and
the Ohio State Bar associations, is a director
and member of the executive board of the
Home Building Association, is a member of
the Ohio National Guard, and his name ap-
pears quite frequently in connection with a
number of organizations in Allen County.
Soon after Mr. Welty began the practice
of law at Lima, in 1896, he joined Company
C, Second Infantry, and was a member of
that company until after the close of the Span-
ish-American war. After the war he received
a commission as captain and commissary of
the Second Infantry, and later became chief
commissary of the Ohio National Guard with
the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was placed
on the retired list at his request on becoming
special assistant to the department of justice,
but is eligible for commission as lieutenant-
colonel of Infantry of Volunteers of the
United States of America, under general order
No. 42, issued by the war department, 1915.
During all his service he paid his own ex-
penses for training, except during the time
he spent in camp a few daj^s each summer.
He enlisted for service in the Spanish- Ameri-
can war on April 25, 1898, and was mustered
out October 7, 1898.
Mr. Welty has been affiliated with the
Knights of Pythias since he was twenty-four
years of age, with the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks, the ^Masonic Order, is a mem-
ber of the Lima Club, the Shawnee Country
Club, and is very active in church and Sun-
day School work, being a trustee of the West
Market Street Presbyterian Church. On Sep-
tember 28, 1908, he "married Miss Cora Gott-
schalk of Indiana. They have one daughter,
Jean Gottschalk Welty.
Alfred L. Duff. The present prosecuting
attorney of Ottawa County is one of the highly
successful lawyers of this district, has spent
all his life in Port Clinton, and has enjoyed '
more distinctions and honors than are usually ]
given to a man of his age. 1
Born in Port Clinton October 16, 1877, he j
is a son of William and Madeline (Quast)
Duff. His father was born in Scotland,
became a sailor, sailed on the salt sea for a
number of years, and in 1864 came to Amer-
ica and two j'ears later located around the
Great Lakes. He was captain of a lake ves-
sel for a good many years, and his death
occurred when an old man in June, 1915.
Reared in Port Clinton, Alfred L. Duff
attended the public schools as a boy, took his
higher education in the Ohio State University,
and first chose dentistry as a profession, and
graduated D. D. S. from the Western Reserve
University. However, he soon shifted to the
law, and after obtaining his degree in St.
John's University he was admitted to the bar
in 1911. Since "then five years have sufficed
to bring him a reputation as an able lawyer
and he is a member of the well known Port
Clinton firm of Graves, Stahl & Duff.
In 1914 ;\rr. Duff was elected prosecuting
attorney of Ottawa County and has since been
giving that office most of his time and atten-
tion. He is also a member of the Board of
Public Affairs of Port Clinton, belongs to
the State Bar Association, and fraternally is
affiliated with the Masonic Order, the Benevo-
lent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights
of Pythias, and with the Clinton Club and the
Colonial Club.
On June 22, 1908, Mr. Duff married Miss
Eleanor Magruder, of Port Clinton.
Peter Knudson Tadsen. For upwards of
half a century the name Tadsen has been
identified with' Port Clinton and for a greater
part of the time with some of the most impor-
tant business activities of that city. Peter
K. Tadsen is now head of the largest general
insurance agency in Ottawa County, has filled
the post of mayor of Port Clinton,_ and is one
of the most vigorous and enterprising citizens
of that section of Northwest Ohio.
Born November 6, 1874. at Port Clinton,
he is a son of Magnus and Doris Elizabeth
(Knudson) Tadsen. Magnus Tadsen was
born in Langenhorn. Germany, a son of Niss
and Seika Tadsen. He received his education
in the public schools of Germany, and in 1867
immigrated to America and soon afterward
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1461
took up contracting and building construc-
tion in Ottawa County. During liis active
career he erected a large number of fine resi-
dences in Port Clinton. He was a member of
the Lutheran Church. Magnus Tadsen was
married at Sandusky, Ohio, April 23, 1870, to
Doris Knudson, daughter of Peter and Kie
Knudson. Besides Peter K., the children of
that marriage are : Nick T. Tadsen ; Mrs. Anna
Wenger, wife of Albert Wenger ; Mrs. Sophia
Rof kar, wife of Henry Rofkar ; and Mrs. Dora
Zeis, wife of Fred C. Zeis.
Peter K. Tadsen attended the public schools
of Port Clinton, and though still a compar-
atively young man, he has a very long busi-
ness experience, since he started out to make
his own way when only ten years of age. He
worked as a delivery boy in a general store,
and followed different lines of employment
up to the age of twenty, when he engaged in
the fire insurance business. Subsequently he
bought an interest in the firm of True & Tad-
sen, and two years later acquired the entire
business and also the H. J. Rohrs Agency and
the Jacob McConkin Agency, and then organ-
ized the P. K. Tadsen Company, which now
handles a larger volume of general insurance
than any other local company in Ottawa
County.
Mr. Tadsen also has numerous other busi-
ness interests, is a director in the German-
American Bank of Port Clinton, is a director
in the American Gypsum Company, is presi-
dent of the Port Clinton Fruit Company.
Three terms he filled the office of mayor of
Port Clinton and made that office an oppor-
tunity for most energetic and public spirited
service. He is now president of the Port
Clinton Chamber of Commerce. A few years
ago he laid out the York & Tadsen Addition
to Port Clinton, a tract comprising ninety
lots adjoining the southern part of the city.
Fraternally he is identified with Masonry,
including the Knight Templar and the East-
ern Star, with the Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, and
the German Beneficial Union. He has long
been an active republican, and served as chair-
man of the Republican County Central Com-
mittee three terms and represented the Ninth
District in tlie National Republican Conven-
Nelson Willi.\m Kleinhans. Represent-
ing the sturdy stock of citizenship that has
been identified with the rural development of
Ot^tflwn County since the early davs. Nelson
W. Klf'inhans is himself a farmer bv occupa-
Vol. Ill— 9
tion, but his name is best known over Otta-
wa County as a strong and influential fac-
tor in the democratic party and through his
present official position as clerk of courts at
Port Clinton.
Born in Erie Township of Ottawa County
March 20, 1875, he is a son of Peter R. and
Rachel (Tucker) Kleinhans. Both parents
were born in Ohio, the father in Ottawa
County and the mother in Sandusky County.
The paternal ancestry is of German origin,
and the family has been identified with
Northern Ohio for a great many years. Peter
Kleinhans was a very industrious and capable
farmer in Erie Township.
It was in the community of his birthplace
that Nelson W. Kleinhans grew to manhood.
He attended the public schools and while lay-
ing the foundation of his business success
as a farmer also manifested from early man-
hood a great interest in public affairs. His
first important office was township assessor,
to which he gave three years of his time, later
served a term as township clerk, and for six
years as constable. On November 3, 1912,
he came into prominence over the county at
large by his election as clerk of courts. His
first term was characterized by such efficient
admini.stration as to deserve another, and he
was re-elected in November, 1914, and again
in 1916 he was re-elected a third time. This
is the first instance ever recorded where a
clerk of courts succeeded himself three times.
Mr. Kleinhans is one of the most active dem-
ocrats in Ottawa Coiinty. Fraternallj^ he is
identified with the Masonic Order, the Odd
Fellows, and has long been active in the
Patrons of Husbandry, and is past master and
deputy master of his local grange.
On January 22, 1898, he married Miss Glen-
nie I. Rymers of Erie Township, Ottawa
County. Five children have been horn to
them : Fern Ardelle, Ivan Clair, Mervel Faith,
Hazel Marian, and Mildred May, who died at
the age of 2}^ years. The family are members
of the United Brethren Church.
Hon. John Mitchell. Probably no citi-
zen of Ottawa County ever had a stronger
hold on the afi'eetion of its citizens than the
late John Mitchell, who was best known over
the county as "Captain Jack" a title and
term of endearment which had come to him
through his service as leader of a company
of Ottawa County soldiers during the Civil
war. He also representerl his county in the
State Senate, and was easily one of the fore-
most citizens.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Born at Ithaea, New York, October 14,
1833, he died at his home in Port Clinton,
April 29, 1903, in his seventieth year. His
■father, Patrick Mitchell, a native of Ireland,
was an English soldier and came to Canada
with his regiment. On leaving the army he
took up his home in Ithaca, New York, and
soon afterward enlisted in the regular United.
States army and was in service both in the
Seminole Indian and in the Mexican wars.
While in the Seminole campaign he was
accompanied by his wife and their young son,
who later became Capt. Jack Mitchell.
It was in his early manhood that the late
Captain Mitchell came to Ottawa County.
He was with a party of workmen engaged in
building a cement mill at Ottawa City on
Catawba Island. When that work was finished
he became a sailor on a lake boat, and also
engaged in fishing with pound nets around
Catawba Island. He was well known over
the county before the Civil war, and early in
1861 he raised Company I in the famous
Forty-first Ohio Regiment. His comrades
elected him captain of the con^pany, but
through some intrigue he was reduced to the
ranks. Colonel Hazen gave him the privilege
of coming home, but Jack Mitchell was never
a man to sulk, and instead he told the colonel
that the boys had come largely at his personal
solicitation and that he would not desert
them. Colonel Hazen subsequently learned
the truth of how he had unconsciously in-
jured the volunteer captain and was prompt
to make reparation. An order was issued
relieving him of all guard duty, he was ad-
vanced to lieutenant, and not long afterwards
was made captain of the company which he
had raised. He was a fearless and intrepid
leader, and his company was the very first to
scale the heights at the battle of Missionary
Ridge.
After the war Captain Mitchell bought a
farm and located on Catawba Island. He was
soon prominent in public affairs, was elected
sheriff in 1866 and re-elected in 1868. After
the second term he engaged in the lumber
business from 1870 to 1874, and in the latter
year was again elected sheriff and again served
two successive terms. He held many muni-
cipal offices at Port Clinton and in other
towns of the county. For a mimber of years
he was associated with A. Couche in the busi-
ness of exporting logs. He also operated a
flour mill at Oak Harbor, and a hotel in that
village, and for a time was proprietor of the
Lake House at Port Clinton. Toward the
close of his long career he was elected, in 1897,
a member of the State Senate and returned
to that body in 1899. As a senator his sup-
port and vote were always given to measures
that deserved them, and seldom does a man
in public life deserve more thoroughly the
esteem and admiration of his fellows than
was true of the late Captain Mitchell. His
last public seiwice was given as a member of
the Shiloh Battlefield Commission. Governor
Nash appointed him to that place at the
request of the entire Senate. He had a very
accurate knowledge of the Shiloh battlefield,
and was able to assist in marking the various
positions held by his regiment and brigade.
On February 8, 1858, Captain Mitchell
married Miss Nancy A. Napier. Captain
Mitchell was survived by Mrs. Mitchell and
eight children. The names of the children
are: Jennie, who married C. Hennessy;
John; Dr. Catherine (Bainbridge) Cass, a
practicing physician in the State of Wash-
ington; Delia, who married F. J. Highhouse;
Clarence; James; Alpha, who is the wife of
George P. Meyer; Frank J.; and Robert.
Captain Mitchell and family are members
of the Catholic Church at Port Clinton, and
his body was laid to rest in the Lake View
Cemetery.
From the columns of a local paper ai'«
quoted words that are in a measure a proper
tribute to the late Senator Mitchell: "Cap-
tain Jack was one of nature's noblemen.
Lacking a college education, he acquired one
of the world, and was easily a leader in all
movements for the advancement of his fellow
men. Personally courageous, he always
espoused the cause of the just and defended
the weak. His many acts of kindness to
people are told daily tlu-oughout the county,
and he did more than his share for his town,
his county and his country."
Frank J. Mitchell. In the banking busi-
ness and in public office Frank J. Mitchell has
made a name for himself in Ottawa County
and is now giving a very efficient administra-
tion to the office of postmaster at Port Clinton.
While one of the younger men in public
affairs, he has probably as large a following
in the democratic party in Ottawa County
as any other local citizen.
By some people the environment of his
birth might be construed as having had some-
thing to do with his career. He was born
in the building which had formerly been used
as the first courthouse at Port Clinton. His
birth occurred April 19, 1879, and his parents
were John and Nancy Ann (Napier) Mitchell,
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1463
of an old and well known family of Ottawa
County. As a boy he attended the public
schools at Port Clinton, and completed his
business education at Sandusky and Toledo.
His first contact with men in business life was
as a page in the Ohio Senate. For several
years he worked as teller in the German-
American Bank and as assistant cashier of the
First National Bank. When in 1909 he was
elected county clerk of Ottawa County he had
the distinction of being the youngest man
who ever was thus honored by a county office.
He filled the position for two terms and with
admirable efficiency. After that he was with
the First National Bank as assistant cashier
until February 1, 1915, and on February 22,
1915, received his commission as postmaster
of Port Clinton, having that office by appoint-
ment from President Wilson. He has served
on all the various democratic committees in
his section of the state. Mr. Mitchell is a
member of the Masonic order, being affiliated
with the Lodge and Royal Arch Chapter, and
is also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias
and the Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks.
Albert Hiram Herr, M. D. Doctor Herr of
Lima is a man of many successful interests.
Long years of practice and of extended study
and observation in the best schools of America
have given him exceptional standards of at-
tainment in his profession, and without ques-
tion he is one of the most expert members
of the medical profession of Allen County.
He is also a member of the present Ohio Leg-
islature, having been elected in 1916, over-
coming the usually formidable democratic
majority in Allen County. With all the de-
mands made upon him by his profession, he
ha-s a more than local reputation as a stock
breeder, and has one of the best appointed
stock farms in this section of Ohio.
Doctor Herr was born on a farm and grew
up in its atmosphere. His birth occurred in
Allen County, April 8, 1879, a son of John
and Mary (Shifferly) Herr. In the paternal
line he is of German ancestry. His maternal
grandfather Jacob Shifferly, was a native of
Switzerfand, and came to Allen County, Ohio,
about 1836. Doctor Herr's parents were both
born in Allen County, his father in 1840 and
his mother in 1843. The father spent most
of his active career as a farmer. He is a
democrat, has served as a trustee of his to\vn-
ship, and is a member of the Masonic Order.
They became the parents of thirteen children.
Ten are still living, as follows: S. P. Herr,
an inspector of federal revenue at Bluffton,
Ohio; Emma, who married Oswald Diuham,
and both are now missionaries in India ; Eliza-
beth, who is unmarried and resides at Cleve-
land, Ohio; Kate, wife of Ed Gardner of
Lima; William, who owns a ranch in Cali-
fornia; Albert H.; Huldah, wife of C. M.
Coutris, a capitalist at Lafayette, Ohio; Cal-
vin, a farmer in Allen County ; Walter, a mis-
sionary in Africa; and Charles, an Allen
County farmer.
Doctor Herr had a country school educa-
tion and then attended the high school at
Cairo, Monroe Center, and also the Ohio
Northern University at Ada. With this early
training he began his career as a teacher, a
vocation he followed two years. Entering
Starling Medical College at Columbus, he
was graduated M. D. in 1903 and immediately
afterwards began practice at Elida. In 1908
he interrupted his practice at Elida to take
post-graduate work in the Post-Graduate
School and Hospital at Chicago, and then re-
sumed his practice at Elida until 1912. Doc-
tor Herr has never been content with mediocre
attainments in his profession, and on leaving
Elida in 1912 he pursued various courses and
attended many clinics in the leading schools
and hospitals of Philadelphia, Baltimore and
New York. In 1913 Doctor Herr located at
Lima, and has since built up a large general
practice and is also interested in real estate
and oil business. He is a member of the
American A.ssoeiation for the Advancement of
Science, The National Masonic Research So-
ciety, and a life memlier of the Ohio City
Editors' Association. He is also a life mem-
ber of the Rochester Surgeons' Club, and his
membership admits him to the Mayo Clinic,
where he goes to get up-to-the-minute ideas in
his profession.
So far as his professional duties would per-
mit Doctor Herr has manifested a great deal
of interest in politics since early manhood.
Though he was brought up in a home of demo-
cratic influences, he is a loyal republican. He
was assistant sergeant-at-arms in the National
Republican Convention at Chicago in 1916.
In the fall of that year he was elected on the
republican ticket representative in the Eighty-
second General A.ssembly of Ohio, and that
was a signal personal triumph since Allen
county is democratic by a large majority and
most of the county officers on that ticket were
elected.
As a farmer Doctor Herr at one time con-
ducted two places. He raised both draft and
trotting horses of standard breeds, and has
1464
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
been one of the leading breeders of registered
Duroc-Jersey swine in the United States. In
his public sale in 1912 some of the highest
prices ever known were paid for stock. His
yearling boar brought the highest value paid
for any similar animal at auction in the world
that year. He also received the higliest price
for a four-months-old boar, and the highest
price for a weanling boar, and was also paid
the highest price for a litter.
Doctor Herr was married in 1899 to Laura
McGinnis. Mrs. Herr was bom in Kosciusko
County, Indiana, on a farm. Three children
were bom to their marriage, but the only one
now living is Ben, born Jaui;ary 4, 1907.
The family are members of the Trinity iletho-
dist Episcopal Church in which Mrs. Herr
takes an active part and is a member of the
church choir. Doctor Herr is affiliated with
the various branches of Masonry, including
the Blue Lodge, Royal Arch Chapter, Knight
Templar Commandery, Consistory of the Scot-
tish Rite and the Mystic Shrine. He also
belongs to the Grotto of Master Masons, is
affiliated with Lodge 54, Benevolent and Pro-
tective Order of Elks, with the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows and the Loyal Order
of Moose. Doctor Herr is a member of the
Lima Young Men's Christian Association.
When Congress declared that a state of
war existed between the United States and
Germany he volunteered his services to his
country as a first lieutenant in the medical
oflScers' reserve corps of the United States.
Judge Wm. C. Wierman. As teacher,
farmer, lawyer, and public ofiScial, William
Charles Wierman has had a long and active
career, and has been influeutially identified
with many important movements for develop-
ment and improvement in Ottawa County.
He took a progressive part while a farmer,
especially in the matter of ditching and drain-
ing, and his name is also associated with one
of the additions to the City of Port Clinton.
Judge Wierman has practiced law at Port
Clinton for twenty years, and is now filling
a place on the Conunon Pleas bench.
Bom at Beavertown. Union County, Penn-
sylvania, September 12, 1849, Judge William
C. Wierman is a son of Isaac and Malinda
(Kellar) Wierman, who were also natives of
Pennsylvania. In 18.52 the family moved to
Ohio, and in 1858 settled in Ottawa County,
where the parents lived on a farm until re-
mrvinsT to Indiana in 1871. The father died
in March, 1915, at the advanced age of ninety-
two.
Judge Wierman, who was nine years of age
when the family came to Ottawa County,
attended the public schools here and in 1867
■finished his early education with a course in
the Northwestern Normal School at Milan,
Erie County, Ohio. Altogether for portions
of twenty-two years he was engaged in teach-
ing. In 1870 he bought a farm in Harris
TowTiship, and by his own labor and manage-
ment cleared and developed it. He deserves
to be remembered in that section of Ottawa
County as the father of the ditching system
of Harris Township. Under his leadership a
large amount of fertile laud was drained,
beginning at Gibsonburg in Sandusky County,
and can-yiug the main ditch through Harris,
Salem and Bay townships into the Portage
River, a total distance of about fifteen miles,
the terminus of the main ditch being 51/2 miles
west of Port Clinton. Judge Wierman con-
struted about five miles of this ditch himself.
He developed his farm into one of the best
drained and most productive places in this
part of the state.
His career was spent in farming and in
teaching until he was elected elerk of courts
of Ottawa County, at which time he removed
to Port Clinton. He filled that office seven
years, from 1889 to 1896. In the meantime,
in addition to his public duties, he read law
under the tutorship of T. J. Marshal, and in
1896 entered the State University and was
graduated from its law department in 1897,
in the same class as the writer of this work.
Since then he has been an active member of
the bar in Port Clinton, and has had a large
general practice. For fourteen years he filled
the office of justice of the peace. Judge Wier-
man was elected to the Common Pleas bench
in 1914, and is regarded as one of the best
qualified men who have ever sat on that branch
of the state judiciary. Among other positions
he filled the office of township trustee in Har-
ris Township, township assessor, and president
of the school board. What is known as the
William C. Wierman Addition to Port Clinton
comprises nine acres of land which Judge
Wierman has subdivided, and he put in a
complete sewer and water system and other
improvements before disposing of the lots to
individual purchasers.
Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic
order, is a past noble grand of the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and a member
of the Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks, being affiliated with Toledo Lodsre
No. 53.
Judge Wierman married Miss Minerva V.
Kimball of Elmore, and a native of Ottawa
County. Her grandfather, Benjamin Kim-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1465
ball, was one of the first fifteen voters in
Ottawa County. Judge Wierman and wife
were married March 31, 1875. Their only
living child is Mada P., the wife of James E.
Seeley, a merchant at Detroit, Michigan.
Judge Wierman and wife lost one child,
Myrta Edith, who died at the age of twenty-
nine years.
Hon. John Bowland. There are few lines
of business that require more sagacity, good
judgment, sound, practical knowledge and
clear foresight, than that relating to the han-
dling of real estate. Fortunes have been made
and lost in real estate transactions from early
times to the present, changes in the ownership
of property often being one of the most help-
ful features of a community's continuing
prosperity.
For twenty-one years the leading dealer in
real estate and insurance, at Genoa, Ottawa
County, Ohio, has been Hon. John Bowland,
who not only has achieved success in the busi-
ness field but has distinguished himself in pub-
lic life, being one of Ottawa's prominent men.
Mr. Bowland was born in Harris Township,
Ottawa County, Ohio, August 3, 1853, and
is a son of John and Vianna (Parrot) Bow-
land, who came to this county in 1850 and
here the father followed an agricultural life.
John Bowland had comparatively few edu-
cational advantages in youth but attended the
country schools when his father could spare
him from farm tasks. From boyhood, how-
ever, he was ambitious and enterprising and
early formed the determination to do some-
thing worth while in the world.
In 1894 Mr. Bowland first established him-
self in the real estate and insurance business
at Genoa and has continued in this line ever
since. He entered actively into movements
that gave promise of benefiting the town and
through his enterprise and good citizenship
won so large a measure of public approval that
his fellow citizens elected him mayor of
Genoa, and in this capacity he served with
the greatest efficiency for five terms, at the
end rf which period he resigned and declined
to serve longer. He was, further, elected
probate judge and served on the bench for
full two terms, a period of six years. Once
more his appreciative fellow citizens called
him into public life, in 1914 electing him a
member of the State Legislature, in the
Eighty-first General Assembly and in 1916,
at the fall election, he was elected as a mem-
ber of the Eighty-second General Assembly.
His, whole course in life has been one to re-
flect credit upon himself and community and
his friends are confident that the wider field
into which he has entered will be benefited
by his honesty and integrity, his wisdom
and good judgment as a statesman.
^Ir. Bowland was united in marriage with
Mary A. Eyre, who, at death left three chil-
dren : Everett G., who is cashier for the Genoa
Banking Company ; Bertha, who resides at
home ; and Walter J., who is a contractor for
concrete, at Genoa. On September 8, 1910, at
Toledo, Ohio, Judge Bowland was married to
Anna C. (Lees) Cain, of that city. They are
members of the Cliristian Church. For many
years he has been idrntitir,! with the Odd Fel-
lows, in which 1m' i- ;i p.isr nnble grand and
belongs also to tiic Eucauipment.
John H. Petersen. Prominent among the
younger generation of business men of North-
west Ohio, who in recent years have contrib-
uted to the section's commercial prestige, is
John H. Petersen, of Elmore. The advent of
the automobile and its universal adoption have
created a business practically unknown a dec-
ade of years ago, which has attracted to' its
ranks some of the most talented business men
of the country. A very necessary adjunct of
this business is the housing of the cars and
their care and this need Mr. Petersen is now
fully capable of supplying as proprietor of
the modern and progressive establishment
conducted under the name of the Elmore Gar-
age.
John H. Petersen was born on a farm in
Bay Township, Ottawa County, Ohio, March
10, 1882, and is a son of John Christian and
Sophie (Kittelson) Petersen. His father was
born March 5, 1853, in Schleswig, Germany,
a son of Lawrence and Herrlieh (Bahnsen)
Petersen. The father came of an honorable
family, which however was in modest finan-
cial circumstances, and like thousands of oth-
ers of his countrymen he believed that in
America he could better his condition and
standing. Accordingly, in 1872, he gathered
together his possessions and made the jour-
ney to this country, arriving in April of that
year with a capital of $25. He was possessed
of sturdy industry and perseverance which
overcame in part the disadvantages of a lack
of knowledge of American customs and lan-
guage, and on locating near Port Clinton, in
Bay Township, Ottawa County, Ohio, secured
work on a farm. There he worked persist-
ently for seven years, making the most of his
opportunities and saving his earnings with
native thrift. At the end of that time he felt
1466
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
himself ready to establish a home of his own,
and in 1879 was married to Sophie Kittelson,
a native of Ottawa County, their union being
blessed by the birth of three children : Mag-
gie, who resides with her parents; John H.;
and Louisa, who is now the wife of William
Brindley, a farmer of Oak Harbor, Ohio, and
the mother of two children, Morton and How-
ard Petersen Brindley. After his marriage
John C. Petersen rented a large farm in Ot-
tawa County, and continued as a renter for
thirteen years, when he became the owner of
a property of his own. In June, 1895, he was
made superintendent of the Ottawa County
Infirmary, a position which he has since held,
this institution now having thirty inmates,
whose interests Mr. Petersen has faithfully
and conscientiously conserved. He has se-
cured excellent results from the farm of 130
acres, and has won the confidence and esteem
of his fellow citizens by the able manner in
which he has discharged the duties of his posi-
tion. Mr. Petersen served for some years as
trustee of Bay Township. He is past noble
grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fel-
lows and a member of the Knights of Pythias
Lodge, and with ]\Irs. Petersen belongs to the
Lutheran Church at Port Clinton.
John H. Petersen received his early educa-
tion in the public schools of Oak Harbor, this
being supplemented by a course at the Fre-
mont (Ohio) Business College. With this
preparation he secured a position with the
Bank of Elmore, where he spent two years in
the capacity of teller, following which he
became identified in a clerical capacity with
the Elmore Hardware Company. There, dur-
ing twelve years, he secured valuable busi-
ness experience, and January 12, 1915, re-
signed to become proprietor of the Elmore
Garage, which he founded, and which has since
assumed the proportions of a necessary com-
mercial ad.iimct. This business is housed in
a concrete block buildint;-, 46x100 feet, one of
the best in this part nf the county, where i\Ir.
Petersen is fully preiian-d to handle work of
all kinds connected with automobiles, having
modern equipment and a corps of skilled
assistants. Enterprising and energetic, he
has built up a trade that is as representative
as it is financially remunerative, and which
is rapidly carrying Jlr. Petersen to a position
of prominence among the business men of
Elmore. As a citizen Mr. Petersen supports
every good movement, and the confidence in
which he is held by his fellow-townsmen is
shown in the fact that for the past six years
he has occupied a position as a member of the
Elmore City Council. He is connected with
several fraternal organizations, and is per-
sonally popular as he is successful in a busi-
ness way.
In November, 1906, Mr. Peterisen was mar-
ried to Miss Zalia Ferris, of Elmore, and they
have become the parents of two children : Flor-
ence and Prances.
John Black. Nearly half a century ago
John Black came from Scotland to America
and was first employed in the machine shops
at Lima. He afterwards filled some of the
most important positions in the mechanical
department of railway service, with different
railway systems, but a number of years ago
returned to Lima to take charge of his father 's
large estate. His father was also a big man
in railway' and other affairs in Ohio, and the
family name is one that has. been intimately
associated with Lima's industrial develop-
ment.
Born in Clackmannon, Scotland, November
6, 1848, John Black is a son of the late John
and Jessie (Grant) Black. The elder John
Black was a machinist by profession, having
been trained in the thorough manner of old
Scotch industrial life, and he came to America
in 1850, beginning his career as a locomotive
builder in the Niles Locomotive Works at Cin-
cinnati. Later lie was a locomotive engineer
on the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad and
also with the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton.
He became master mechanic for the latter
road in the shops at Richmond, Indiana, and
with the absorption of the D. & M. Railroad
in 1863 he was appointed master mechanic
of the shops at Lima. He continued in that
work and as general master mechanic for a
period of twenty-three years until his death
in 1893. He became prominent in Lima, serv-
ing as a member of the city council and in
politics was a democrat.
The son, John Black, remained in Scotland
to complete his education and did not come
to America until 1869. He passed a thorough
apprenticeship as a machinist in Scotland'v
with the Hawthorn Company Leith Engine
Works, at Leith, Scotland. On coming o
America, in 1869, he joined his father 't
Lima and entered the shops of the Cincinnat",
Hamilton & Dayton Railway at Lima as i
machinist, and remained with that companj.
for a period of twenty years and two month^
from 1869 until January, 1889. He was pro-
moted to engineer, foreman, and in 1889 when '
O^MfJi^ ^ dla^.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
he left was general foreman of the local shops.
During the next year Mr. Black was general
foreman at Stony Island, Illinois, for the
New York & St. Louis Railway Company, and
then became master mechanic at Chicago for
the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway
Company, spending about three years in that
work.
He then returned to Lima to look after his
father 's estate. . Mr. Black in addition to
other interests is vice president of the Citi-
zens Building & Loan Association. In 1900-01
he put up the Black Building, a four-story
structure on a foundation 50x185 feet on
ilain Street, and one of the notable additions
to the business district in recent years. He
has constructed several other fine buildings
in the city, and also has Chicago real estate
and has been interested in local banking.
Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic
order.
He was married May 15, 1876, to Kate A.
Hardesty, daughter of Reuben and Elizabeth
A. (Henderson) Hardesty of Lima. ilrs.
Black was born near Lima, September 21,
1855, in a log cabin. Her parents came to
this county from Pennsylvania in an early
day, and her father was one of the farmers
and sawmill men of this section. Mrs. Black
was reared and educated in Lima and taught
school in the country at different places. She
is a member of the Trinity ilethodist Episco-
pal Church and was president of its foreign
missionary society for five years. Mr. and
Mrs. Black are the parents of four sons. Wil-
liam G., the oldest, was at one time general
foreman of the Nickel Plate Railroad Shops at
Fort Wayne, and is now master mechanic for
the same mad at Cliicago. John A., a gradu-
ate of the I'liivci'sily of Chicago, subsequently
a chemist with tlie Parke Davis & Company
of Detroit, and later a student of mechanical
chemistry at Cornell University, where he was
employed as an assistant instructor, is now
a practicing physician at Cleveland. Charles
H.. who graduated from the Englewood High
School of Chicago and served his apprentice-
ship with the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton
Railway, is now foreman for the Lake Erie
& W^estern Railway at Rankin. Illinois. Rob-
ert C. was graduated in mechanical engineer-
ing from Pui'due University with the class
of 1910, then served as a special apprentice
with the Chicago & Northwestern Railway
four years, and was foreman for the Chicago,
Rock' Island & Pacific at El Reno, Oklahoma,
until January, 1916, when he entered the serv-
ice of the Nickel Plate Railroad in the same
capacity and is located at the Chicago office.
Stevs^art Turbet Dromgold, M. D. For
almost forty years Dr. Stewart Turbet Drom-
gold has been a medical practitioner at
Elmore, Ohio, coming here fresh from school
and hospital training, with his youthful ambi-
tions and enthusiasms with him. He was well
prepared and more than willing to do his part
in alleviating the ailments that he found pre-
vailing in the village and very soon built up
a practice that extended far into Ottawa
County. He has witnessed mai'velous changes
in thirty-seven yeai's in this .section and has
ever done his part in advancing movements
for the general welfare. Few men in a com-
munity can be more useful than a conscien-
tious physician. His eiliii-alional attainments
are apt to be far above the umi-i-al average
and thus he has a wider outlook and a better
conception of a community's needs for civic
peace and contentment. His professional
training lias given him a better understanding
than others of the unyielding facts of life, and
his daily round brings him into contact with
people at their weakest moments, when the
armor is off. Hence a physician is natur-
ally led to the sympathetic in the broad sense,
and few there are who are not truly humane,
these qualities leading to the open-mindedness
that urges to progressive citizenship. Take
the country over and in every section where
it is evident that a public conscience has been
aroused and educational and moral environ-
ment prepared so that the future may be bet-
ter than the past, it will be found that men
of medical science have been actively inter-
ested. For fifteen years Doctor Dromgold
was president of the Elmore School Board and
lent his influence to many other organizations
of cultural intent.
Stewart Turbet Dromgold was born in
Perry County, Pennsylvania, March 26, 1852.
His parents were John and Bandina (Hench)
Dromgold, and his father was a farmer all
his life. He attended the public schools and
also the Bloomfield Academy and after com-
pleting his academic course began to teach
school and continued in the educational field
for six years, in the meanwhile devoting as
much time as possible to his medical studies,
sulwequently entering the Cincinnati School
of iledicine and being graduated from that
institution in 1877. Following his gradua-
tion he had some months of experience as an
interne in a Cincinnati hospital, and then, in
1468
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1878, came to Elmore, where he embarked in
a general practice and has continued ever
since. He is widely known in his profession
and the confidence placed in him by his pro-
fessional brethren is exemplified in the fact
that he is secretary of the Ottawa County Med-
ical Society, an office he has held ever since
the organization of the society. He belongs
also to the Lucas County, the Northwestern
Ohio, the Ohio State and the American Medi-
cal societies.
At Elmore, Ohio, Doctor Drumgold was
married to Miss Mary A. Becker of this place,
and they had two children, a son and daugh-
ter, John Howard and Dora. The former is
engaged in a laundry business at Cleveland,
Ohio. He married Miss Florence Witte, of
Elmore, and they have two children, Irene
and June. The only daughter was the wife
of Willett Dolph, who died July 20, 1916, and
they had three children-. Laura Dromgold,
Mary Becker and Margaret Louise. The
mother of these children, Mrs. Dolph, died
July 7, 1914.
Doctor Dromgold is serving as secretary
of the Farmers' Elevator Company of El-
more, a large business enterprise of this place.
Fraternally he has long been identified with
the Masons and has reached the thirty-second
degree and is a Shriner. He belongs also to
the Knights of Pythias.
Frederick Hiram Williams. The auditor
and assistant manager of the Ottawa County
Telephone Company at Elmore, Frederick
Hiram Williams, has been a resident of this
city since 1908 and has impressed himself
upon the citizens as a business man of energ>-,
foresight and judgment. He is one of the
self-made, well made men of the community,
and, while his business interests and respon-
sibilities have occupied his time practically to
the exclusion of other activities, has had a
hand in a number of the movements that have
been promoted with an idea of civic progress
and betterment.
Mr. Williams is a native of the Buckeye
State, having been born at Elyria, Lorain
County, May 1, 1871, a son of George D. and
Sarah (Stebbins) Williams. His father, who
was born in Massachusetts, was for many
years identified with the lumber industry,
carrying on operations both at Elyria and
Sandusky. In the public schools of these
cities Frederick Hiram Williams secured his
educational training, and when he was ready
to begin his career entered tlie employ of tlie
Kellys Island Line and Transport Company,
a concern located on Kellys Island, north of
Sandusky, in Lake Erie, and which carried
on a large transport business on the Great
Lakes, and Mr. Williams was at the Marble-
head office of that company. He was iden-
tified with this concern during a period of
fourteen years, the greater part of this time
occupying the position of cashier. In 1908
he i-esigned to accept the position at Elmore
that he now occupies, that of auditor and
assistant manager of the Ottawa County Tele-
phone Company. Mr. Williams is possessed
of the ability to keep abreast of the progress
of the day and its exactions, and in large
degree his success is due to his consideration
for his employes and his tact and courtesy in
dealing witli the general public. He has dis-
played executive capacity as a member of the
board of tru.stees of public aifairs and in the
capacity of clerk of the Village of Elmore,
and has wielded more than ordinary interest
in local municipal matters. Fraternally he is
a thirty-second degree Mason and a member
of the Knights of Pythias, of which latter
order he is past chancellor commander.
Mr. Williams was married, December 14,
1897, to Miss Elizabeth Clemons, of Marble-
head, Ohio, and one son has been born to
them : Clement Mortimer, liorn April 26,
1902.
Gen. Henry S. Commager. Of all the
brilliant soldiers produced by Northwest Ohio
during the great War of the Rebellion, one
whose memory should be longest cherished
was the late Gen. Henry S. Commager. He
had the qualities that made him a natural
leader of men in whatever station of life he
occupied. Unflinching courage and enthusi-
asm made him unusually conspicuous as a
soldier. But "peace hath her victories no
less than war," and General Commager also
distinguished himself as an able and promi-
nent lawyer, and in that profession his influ-
ence was widely extended over his section
of the state.
His parents were Gerard Jean Commagere,
who was of Huguenot French descent, and
Abigail (Steel) Commagere. General Com-
mager, who was born in Lanca.ster, Pennsyl-
vania, in 1815, moved to Nortluvestern Ohio
in 1827, when twelve years of age. and first
lived at Otsego on the Maumee River above
Waterville. In 1841 he entered the law
offices of Young & Waite at Maumee as a law
student. Under the preceptorship and with
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1469
the early association of those eminent men,
one of whom became the chief justice of the
United States Supreme Court, he diligently
prepared himself for the bar and was ad-
mitted in Lucas County in 1842. He shortly
afterwards married Hannah S. Hedges,
daughter of David Hedges of Otsego.
The achievements by which his name will
be commemorated were contained largely
within the following quarter of a century.
He began the practice of law at Maumee in
partnership with the late Judge Reuben C.
Lemmon, under the firm name of Commager
and Lemmon. In 1852 this firm moved its
offices to Toledo, where they were soon given
the large practice which their ability de-
served. General Commager was an old school
democrat. In 1854, a year momentous in
our nation's history, he was his party's can-
didate for Congress. His opponent was
Richard Mott of Toledo, who was the anti-
Nebraska or republican candidate. It was
in that year that the line became closely
drawn upon the issues of the extension of
slavery to the territories, and as the senti-
ment of Northwest Ohio was strongly opposed
to the Douglas policy Mr. Mott was elected.
During the years tliat followed General Com-
mager attended with characteristic diligence
and skill to his growing law practice, and the
next point at which particular attention
should be directed to his career was in the
first days of the Civil war.
On the night of April 15, 1861, a memorable
mass meeting was held in Toledo. Only a
short time before the news of the fall of Fort
Sumter has been received. An immense con-
course of people assembled at the main depot
and listened to the powerful and eloquent
speeches in behalf of the Union cause de-
livered by Morrison R. Waite, Gen. James
B. Steedman and General Commager. These
speakers pledged themselves, their influence
and their activities to the maintenance of the
Union, and they were only the leaders in
expressing a splendid loyalty felt throughout
the limits of the city.
Thus General Commager was one of the
first to volunteer for the defense of the
Union. Abandoning his law practice he
entered the Union army, and for more than
four years was one of its mo.st faithful and
efficient soldiers. His first enlistment was
as a private in the Fourteenth Ohio Regiment.
In the fall of 1861 the Sixty-seventh Ohio
Infantry was organized. He entered that
organization as captain of Company A. With
his command he left Columbus for the front
on January 19, 1862. The Sixty-seventh pro-
ceeded directly into Western Virginia, and
it was the first regiment to engage the enemy
at Winchester on March 23d. Subsequently
it was attached to the army of the Potomac
and participated in the Peninsular campaign
until the withdrawal of the Federal forces
from that portion of Virginia. The regiment
was next stationed at Sutfolk, Virginia, and
was then transfen-ed to the Carolinas, where
for seven months it heroically endured all
the hardships and dangers of the siege of
Charleston. It was part of the Union forces
that made the valiant attack on Fort Wagner.
Every American history contains an account
of that brilliant exploit, and while an entire
army distinguished itself it was given to an
Ohio man and Toledo lawyer. Colonel Com-
mager, to gain the conspicuous place in the
annals of that attack and receive the fame
of being "the hero of Fort Wagner."
In the meantime, on July 29, 1862, Captain
Commager had been promoted to major of His
regiment. On the 5th of August following
he was made lieutenant-colonel. After the
siege of Charleston the regiment was returned
to Virginia, and on May 10, 1864, participated
in the battle of Chester Station, and ten days
later was one of the units in a gallant charge
at Bermuda Hundred. The climax of service
of the Sixty-seventh came during the spring,
summer and fall of 1864. Duing that season
it is said that the regiment was under fire
200 times, and practically every day and hour
confronted the enemy and was within range
of the hostile guns.
For three years General Conunager re-
mained with this regiment until the expira-
tion of his term of enlistment. He was
always present for duty, was in the thick
of fighting many places, and was three times
wounded. Col. A. C. Voris, who commanded
in the battle .of Chester Station, in the course
of his report of that engagement says:
"Colonel Cyrus J. Dobbs, commanding the
13th Indiana Volunteers; Colonel John Mc-
Conihe, commanding the 169th New York,
and Lieutenant Colonel Commager, command-
ing the 67th Ohio, are deserving of great
credit for their efficiency and example on the
occasion and the ability with which they
commanded their respective commands." It
is only appropriate to add the comments of
Gen. Alfred H. Terry in his report of the
same engagement, in which he says: "Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Commager, Major Butler and
1470
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Adjutant Cliikk of the same (67th Ohio)
Regiment are especially deserving of notice. ' '
After the battle of Chester Station, in
which General Commager distinguished him-
self, the otKcers of the brigade presented him
a magnificent sword, gold hilt, solid silver
scabbard glittering with gems, on which was
inscribed the legend : "We honor the brave."
This sword is now in possession of General
Commager 's grandson, the present law
director of Toledo.
After leaving the Sixty-seventh Regiment
Colonel Commager undertook the organization
of the One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Ohio
Infantry, of which he was made colonel and
brevet brigadier general. This regiment was
organized at Camp Chase in February, 1865,
to serve one year. Being mustered in it was
ordered to Nashville, Tennessee, where it did
garrison duty a short time, and then pro-
ceeded to Chattanooga and on to Bridgeport,
Alabama, arriving about March 21st. Thei'e
General Commager commanded the army
line employed in protecting an important
railroad along the Tennessee River between
Steveuson, Alabama, and Chattanooga, Ten-
nessee, a distance of some thirty miles. On
July 25th, after the formal surrender of the
great armies of the Confederacy, this regi-
ment was sent to do garrison duty at Edge-
field, and on September 20, 1865, was
mustered out of service at Nashville.
More than four years had passed since the
night of the memorable mass meeting at
Toledo before General Commager was re-
leased and permitted to take up the routine
of his law practice. In 1866 he was again
the democratic candidate for Congress from
his district and though not elected had the
satisfaction of running 800 votes ahead of
the party ticket. Not long afterward he was
appointed by the Federal Government to
prosecute internal revenue claims, and while
at Galveston, Texas, engaged in the discharge
of his duties there, was stricken with yellow
fever, which then was devastating the entire
Gulf coast. He died in Galveston, August 14,
1867.
He was at that time practically in the prime
of his years and his usefulness, and it is
expressly regrettable that he did not live to
enjoy the fruits of his service and his talents.
Splendid as were his achievements as a sol-
dier, he was no less eloquent and skillful
as a lawyer, was courteous and earnest in all
of life's relations, and has been well called
"a gentleman of the old school."
Mrs. Hannah Sophia Commager, who had
been his devoted wife and companion since
he entered practice at Toledo twenty-five
years before his death, survived her husband
many years and died at Toledo, April 26,
1898, at the age of eighty-four years nine
months. She was a lovable and widely
esteemed woman. In the course of her long
life she accomplished great good both at home
and in church and benevolent affairs. She
was born at Morristown, New Jersey, Sep-
tember 24, 1813, and with her father, David
Hedges, came to the Maumee Valley in 1831.
Thus at the time of her death she was one
of the oldest residents of this section of Ohio.
For seventy-two years she was an active mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
was closely identified with its various activi-
ties. To a high degree she exemplified the
efficiency and beauty of the Christian religion
and her descendants prize the gentleness of
her character as they do the rugged military
valor associated with General Commager.
To General Commager and wife were born
four children: ilaj. Frank Y. Commager,
the oldest, is now deceased ; Judge David H.
Commager has long been a well known resi-
dent of Toledo; Mrs. Sophia E. Ecker is the
wife of John E. Ecker of Toledo; Mrs.
Harriet A. Hopkins is the wife of Livingston
Y. Hopkins.
Judge David H. Commager of Toledo, an
able lawyer and jurist, was born June 11,
1848, a son of Gen. Henry S. and Hannah
(Hedges) Commager. Judge Commager was
born in Maumee, attended the common schools
of Toledo, and was a student in the Ohio
Wesleyan University at Delaware when, on
June 19, 1863, he enlisted, at the age of fifteen,
as a member of the Fifth Ohio Battalion of
Cavalry.
He reported at Camp Chase, where the
command was mustered in. and moved im-
mediately to Kentucky to fight the guerrillas.
He served one year in Kentucky and Vir-
ginia and was mustered out on account of
expiration of term of enlistment. Deter-
mined to re-enlist, his father having in the
meantime being badly wounded, his mother
requested, if he must enlist, that he do so
in his father's command. Young Commager
went to the front at Richmond, defraying his
own expenses. Wlien he arrived he found
his father had returned north on account
of his wounds, and it was intimated that
the father would be given another command.
KjW^^i/^
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1471
Youug Commager volunteered himself as a
citizen soldier and served as such until ap-
pointed a lieutenant in the ranks of the
Sixty-seventh, under continuous general fire
and through two hard fought battles and
entirely at his own expense, waiting all the
time to learn from the war department as to
the final action it would take as to General
Commager 's future command and his power
to join such command.
This volunteer civilian service attracted the
attention of the commander of the brigade
and b}' reason of the boy's interestedness and
efficiency he was recommended to Gen. Jolm
Brough, then governor of Ohio, for a commis-
sion, which recommendation was approved
and acted upon March 15, 1865. Young Com-
mager was made second lieutenant in the One
Hundred and Eighty-fourth Regiment Ohio
Infantry. At this time he was sixteen years
of age. He reported to his connnand and on
the request of General Coon, cavalry eom-
mander of the Middle Division of the Missis-
sippi, became aide de camp on his staff', and
as sueh entered upon duties of staff offieer.
Later he was directed to and did organize a
company of detached dismounted cavalry.
By order, July 23, 1865, Lieutenant Com-
mager was detailed as commandant of the
above company of cavalrj', when he was just
past his seventeenth birthday, serving as sueh
commandant until mustered out of service
September, 1865. During his command of
this' cavalry company he attracted the atten-
tion of Gen. George H. Thomas by service
which willingly and spontaneously drew from
General Thomas a letter to the President com-
mending the young officer. Thomas says:
"Commager has always had the reputation
of a gallant, enterprising and efficient young
officer." This is in the handwriting of Gen-
eral Thomas before the days of the typewriter.
After the war Mr. Commager returned to
Delaware, where he resumed his studies until
the death of his father compelled him to re-
linquish them. He then entered the office
of Judge Lemmon, of Toledo, Ohio, and took
up the study of law and later was admitted
to the bar and entered upon its practice. In
April, 1868, prior to his taking up the law,
while on a visit to Michigan and while under
age, was nominated and elected to the office
of police commissioner on a non-partisan
ticket. Upon his return and learning of his
election he sent a letter of resignation to the
mayor, Charles A. King, saying that he was
not of age and could not accept the honor
conferred upon him. This caused an appoint-
ment to fill the vacancy. The Toledo Com-
mercial, commenting upon the fact of this
election and resignation, said: "That the
real value of the incident was the opportunity
given the people of Toledo to pay a tribufe to
General Commager and his military fam-
ily." General Commager and his two sons,
Maj. Frank G. Commager and Lieut. David
H. Commager, were soldiers in the Union
army.
Upon taking up the practice of law Judge
Commager pursued it vigorously and became
very successful. In 1877 he was elected a
member of the Toledo School Board and im-
mediately selected as its president, continuing
until his elevation to the Common Pleas bench
in 188.3. He served as judge of that court
until 1892, when he resumed the practice of
law. In 1895 he was appointed a member of
the board of election, serving on the same
four years. Upon several occasions Judge
Commager has declined positions of an
honorary character.
Judge David H. Commager was married
January 1, 1874, to Elizabeth Williams of
Toledo, a daughter of Elijah and Susan
(Belyea) Williams. The three children born
to their union are James W., a salesman;
H. S., an attorney and present law director
of Toledo ; and Anna, a teacher in the Toledo
High School. Mrs. Commager died October
1, 1914. Judge Commager 's .son, Henry S.,
was named in honor of his gi-andfather, Gen.
Henry S. Commager.
Judge Commager is a member of Forsyth
Post, Grand Army of the Repiiblic. In con-
clusion it should be stated that the above
army record of Judge Commager has been
verified by documents seen by the writer of
this article.
RoL.vND A. WiLLETT, il. D. There has been
something more tlian the ordinaiy achieve-
ment and attainment of the physician in the
record of Dr. Roland A. Willett at Elmore
during the past quarter century. Doctor Wil-
lett is a very .skillful ph.ysician. as hundi-eds
of families over Ottawa County attest, but
is also public spirited as a citizen, and has
done much to fill public offices acceptably and
with ci-edit to himself and benefit to the com-
nuinity. However. Doctor Willett is no office
seeker and has assumed such official duties as
have come to him from a sense of civic respon-
sibility and not fi-om ambition.
Born in Fremont, Ohio, April 14. 1866.
1472
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Six weeks after his birth his parents, Peter
and Maria (Augustine) Willett, removed to
Elmore in Ottawa County. His father was
also a physician, a native son of Ohio, and
practiced for many years in the northwestern
quarter of the state. Roland A. Willett at-
tended the public schools at Elmore, took a
literary course in the Oberlin College, at-
tended the medical department of the Uni-
versity of Michigan and was graduated in
1888 M. D. from the Bellevue Hospital
Medical College at New York City. Return-
ing to what was almost his native village, he
has continued to be engaged in general prac-
tice for upwards of thirty years. He is a
member of the Northwest Ohio and the Ohio
State Medical societies and the American Med-
ical Association. In a business way he is
vice president and a director in the Elmore
Bank.
Doctor Willett 's first wife was Marie
Quincke of Elmore. There are two sons to
this union. Gaillard Peter, who was born
July 25, 1892, and now a student in the
University of Michigan; and Rudolph Ed-
ward, born February 19, 1897, and a student
in the Elmore High School. After the death
of his first wife Doctor Willett married Emina
Bullimer of Elmore. In a public way Doctor
Willett has served as a member of the village
council and on the village school board, and
in 1915 enjoys the confidence of his fellow
citizens expressed in their gift to him of the
office of mayor, and he is making a very
admirable municipal administration. He held
membership in the County Republican Cen-
tral Committee and also on the Executive
Committee.
Christopher Henry Damschroder. This
veteran merchant, now retired, of Elmore
through his own career, that of his father
before him, and through his son as his suc-
cessor, has supplied much of the mercantile
enterprise to this section of Northwest Ohio
for almost a century. It is a long and
honorable record that has been en.ioyed by
the members of the Damschroder family.
They have been diligent at business, main-
tained a strict honor and integrity in all
their relations, have worked for the public
welfare both individually and through public
offices, and altogether it is a name worthy of
more than passing reference in the annals of
this section of the state.
It was in the City of Toledo that Chris-
topher Henry Damschroder was born January
1, 1S41. His parents were Christopher Henry
and Mary (Meyerholts) Damschroder, who
came from the Kingdom of Hanover, Ger-
many. His father was born there in 1812 and
the mother in 1813. The former came to
America in 1827 and the latter in 1830, and
they were married at Sugar Creek on the old
State Pike, in Northwest Ohio. Christopher
H., Sr., bought a farm and some extensive
tracts of timber lands, also conducted a stoi-e
on his farm, and was a man of varied affairs
and interests. For a great many years he
served his community as school director.
Christopher H. Damschroder, Sr., died in
November, 1892, and his wife in December,
1897.
Their son, Christopher, Jr., was reared on
a farm, and gained his initial business experi-
ence as clerk in his father's general store,
which was located on the old homestead along
the Stone Pike Road. Later he went to
Woodville, Ohio, was in business there for a
time, and in March, 1865, bought a clothing
store and two years later a general store.
This business at Elmore has been uninter-
ruptedly under the management of the Dam-
schroder famil.y now for more than half a
century. It is now conducted by his son,
John H., as the J. H. Damschroder & Com-
pany. Christian H. Damschroder remained
in active business affairs until January, 1908,
and has since lived in quiet retirement. He
and his wife enjoy the comforts of one of the
very attractive homes in Elmore. John
Damschroder served a number of years as a
member of the school board. .
John Henry Damschroder, who represents
the third successive generation in this section
of Ohio, was born October 10, 1876, at El-
more. He was well educated, first in the
public schools and then at Hiram College, and
quite early in his career joined his father in
business. In January. 1908, when his father
retired, he took over the business, and now
has as partner Elmer Damschroder. This is
the largest general store in Elmore, occupying
a building 24 by 115 feet and two stories, with
all its space given over to a large and well
selected stock.
John H. Damschroder served three terms
as a member of the school board, and is now in
his second term as corporation treasurer.
Fraternally he is affiliated with the Lodge
and Royal Arch Chapter of ]\Iasons.
On Januarv 9, 1902, he married Miss Emma
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1473
L. Moelmau of Elmore. They have five chil-
dren: Florence Ha, Amy Moelman, Paul
Henry and Ballard William, twins, and
Everett Rudolph.
William M. Thrasher. Few of the farm
homes of Hem-y County show better results
of cultivation and more of the real comforts
of rural life than that of William M. Thrasher.
This home is located on section 13 of Ridge-
ville Townsliip, and it is a part of the home-
stead acquired by his father in the early days
of settlement.
On the farm where he now resides Mr.
Thrasher was born Jauuaiy 12, 1857. Prac-
tically all his years have been spent in this
one locality. He secured his education in a
log sehoolhouse of District No. 1. This log
school was known as the "'Quail Trap." It
was the temple of learning in which many citi-
zens of Henry County secured their early
training, and its pupils were drawn from four
townships and two counties. Thus Mr.
Thrasher, though not an old man, has very
definite recollections of many pioneer things
in Henry County. His farm comprises forty
acres of veiy fertile and productive land.
In 190-4 he erected there a beautiful home, a
two-story eight room house, surrounded with
spacious lawns and with trees and flowers to
make a perfect picture of comfort and beauty.
He has also improved other buildings on the
farm and has kept the productiveness of the
helds up to the highest standard.
The house in which Mr. Thrasher was born
was built of hewed logs. In the early days he
assisted his father in clearing up the laud and
thus most of his associations and memories
are centered around this attractive home. It
is known as the Locust Shade Fann.
His parents were Timothy and Cynthia
(Porter) Thrasher. Both parents were of
New England ancestiy and were natives of
Massachusetts. His father was born about
1820 and his mother about 1825. His mother
had a twin sister, Eunice, and as their mother
died soon after their birth, they were reared
by their grandmother. After the marriage of
Timothy Thrasher and wife they lived in
Massachusetts for several years. He was a
mackerel fishernian and when not employed
in that occupation followed his trade as car-
penter. In 1817 he brought his family West
to Ohio. In Lorain County he was engaged
in farming for several years, and in 1853
started for Henry County. The family made
the .journey by way of Toledo and thence
down the canal to Napoleon. Prom Napoleon
they went out into Ridgeville Township and
found a tract of land in section 13, where
about the only improvement was the deaden-
ing of some of the forest trees. It was in that
locality that Timothy Thrasher and wife
spent the rest of their years. He died in
March, 1881, and his widow on May 29, 1897.
He was a democrat and while a member of no
church was an upright and moral man and
very favorably known in that community.
William M. Thrasher was the only son of
his parents. There were also five daughters,
but the only one of them still li\ing is Mary,
the wife of John Bailey of Ridgeville Town-
ship.
Mr. Thrasher was married in his native
township to Anna Kiefer. She was born there
June 17, 1862, and received an education and
early training to fit her well for the duties of
wife and mother. Her parents were Martin
and Anna (;Kutchley) Kiefer. Her father
was born in France and was bi-ought to
America when not yet three years of age,
while her mother was a native of Switzerland
and came with her parents to the United
States at the age of fourteen, being fifty-three
days on the oceaii between Ha\'re, France,
and New York. ilrs. Thrasher's grandfather,
Martin Kiefer. was a private soldier through
the Wai- of 1812 and one of the very early
pioneer settlers of Northwestern Ohio. Both
the Kiefer and Kutehley families located in
tlie wiJds of German Township, Fulton
Count\-. The families were members of the
Refoi-iiiril I Imivh. After their marriage Mrs.
Thrasliei's p:ii'ei!ts lived on a farm in Ger-
man Township, but later sold that and
removed to Ridgeville Town.ship in Henry
County and bought 120 acres of wild land in
section 17. By hard work they cleared tliis
up and made it a good farm, ami there her
father died. April 21, 1914, liaving passed his
eightj^-fourth birthday on December 6th of
the preceding vear. His wife had died in
1889' at the age of fifty-six. They were Re-
form Church people and he was a democrat.
Mrs. Thrasher was one of a family of thir-
teen chilflren, eight daughters and five sons,
and of the.se two sons and four daughters are
still living. The children of Mr. and Mrs.
Thrasher are: Timothy, who was born in
1883, was educated in the public schools and
in the Ohio Northern University at Ada and
about twelve years ago graduated from a
1474
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
Toledo business college, and since then has
been in the purchasing department of the
Toledo Traction ComiJan.y; he married Lottie
Ridenour of Toledo, and their children are
Tarlton, now in the fourth grade, Arthur, in
the sixth grade, and Ralph, in the tirst grade
of the public schools. Robert Thrasher, the
second son. is a prosperous young farmer in
Freedom Township of Henry County, and
by his marriage to Alma Inmau has two chil-
dren, named Dora and Donald. Abigail is
the wife of William Lather, a famier in
Ridgeville Township, and their children are
Orville L., Stella, and Elmer. The youngest
of the family is Almina, who is still unmar-
ried and living at home with her parents.
William Zipfel. Steady application to
the development of an idea has brought about
the success of W^illiam Zipfel, proprietor of a
general machine shop and garage and plumb-
ing, heating and gas-fitting establishment at
Oak Harbor, Ottawa County. He first en-
gaged in business here in 1895 and was well
on the highway to prosperity when misfortune
visited him in the shape of ill health, which
swept away his holdings and compelled him
to make a new start. Perseverance, however,
has been one of his strongest characteristics
and has enabled him to rise superior to his
discouragements, his present business, founded
in 1908, being one of the prosperous enter-
prises of the town.
• Mr. Zipfel is a native son of Ottawa County,
having been bom at the county seat. Port
Clinton, September 1, 1863, a son of Lawrence
and Hedwig Zipfel. His parents, natives of
Germany, came to the United States in 1858
and located in Ottawa County, where the
father passed the remainder of his active life
in working at the trade of shoemaker. The
public schools of Ottawa County furnished
William Zipfel with his education, and as a
youth he applied himself to learning the trade
of stationary engineer. ' He began working at
the age of fourteen years at the machinist's
trade, a vocation which brought him into con-
nection with millwrighting, and, having
accumulated some small capital in this direc-
tion, in 1895 he opened a machine shop at Oak
Harbor. Sickness compelled him to dispose
of his holdings after several years of hard
and energetic work, and when he had re-
covered, in May, 1900, he became superintend-
ent of the Michigan Headlining Company,
remaining in that position for eight years. In
1908 he again entered business at Oak Harbor,
establishing machine shops and an auto
garage, where he does all kinds of welding, in
addition to plumbing, heating and gas-
fitting. Mr. Zipfel 's business has grown and
developed, and at the present time he employs
eight people in his shops, having a fireproof,
concrete building, 50 by 110 feet. He has
undertaken some of the most important con-
tracts for plumbing and heating in this and
nearby to\viis, and his expert workmanship,
fair estimates, promptness and reliability in-
sure a continuance of his present gratifying
patronage. Mr. Zipfel has made a special
study of sanitation and never fails to estimate
its importance as an adjunct to his vocation.
Fraternally he is affiliated with the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, having numer-
ous friends in the local lodge. His public
service has been of a most important char-
acter, he having been for twenty years chief
of the Oak Harbor Fire Department.
In 1884 Mr. Zipfel was married to Miss
Frieda A. Meinka of Ottawa County, and to
this union there have been born six children-
Agnes, who is now Mrs. Charles Games and
resides at Fremont, Ohio; Mi.ss Ada G., who
resides with her parents; Arthur Carl, who
is a machinist and associated with his father
in business; twins. Leota E. and Leona A.,
and Edward W^illiam.
Henry William Nibman. The tendency
of men trained in the law to engage in voca-
tions outside of the profession results in
numerous advantages. The law equips its
followers for successful activity in other lines,
causing the profession to be justly accounted
as a means rather than an end, or as an
adjunct rather than an entirety. As a result,
commercial and financial standards are ele-
vated, complications are frequently avoided,
and the knowledge of underlying principles
and penalties makes for a general simplify-
ing of conditions. An illustration of this
modern type of lawyer is found in Henry
William Nieman, cashier of the First National
Bank of Elmore.
ilr. Nieman was born in Minden, Germany,
July 11, 1857, and is a son of Frederick and
Christina Nieman, farming people of that
country', who came to the United States in
1871 and settled on a property in Ottawa
County. Henry W. Nieman 's early educa-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1475
tion was secured in his native land, and after
coming to the United States at the age of
fourteen yeare he went to school in Ottawa
County at a private institution. Next he
entered the university at Ada, Ohio, where
he completed his preparatory coui'se, and
then, having shown a predilection for a pro-
fessional career, became a student of the law
department at the University of Michigan,
being graduated therefrom with his degree in
1886. After several years spent in teaching
school, Mr. Nieman began the practice of law
at Elmore and devoted his entire attention
thereto until 1903, when he became one of
the organizers of the First National Bank of
Elmore. Elected cashier of that institution,
he has continued to act in that capacity to
the present time, his well known integrity
and probity of character having done much
to increase the confidence of the people in
the institution's strength and solidity.
The First National Bank of Elmore was
organized March 5, 1903, and its doors were
thrown open for business on June 7 follow-
ing. The officers are Louis Frese, president;
J. G. Steinkamp, vice president ; H. W. Nie-
man, cashier; and E. H. Meyer, assistant
cashier. The capital is $25,000, the surplus
$12,500, and the deposits, attracted from all
over Ottawa County, $355,000. The bank
owns its own building, a two story brick
edifice, 20 by 60 feet, the main floor being
devoted to the business of the bank, while
the second floor is given over to offices. Mr.
Nieman, in addition to capably performing
the duties of his official position with the
bank, has been engaged in other enterprises,
and is at this time president of one of
Elmore's leading industries, the Multiplex
Concrete Manufacturing Company. He has
been a ver_y busy man, but has found time to
devote to the afi'airs of his community, par-
ticularly in the line of education, having been
a member of the board of county school
examiners of Ottawa County for twelve years
and a member of the school board of Elmore
for a long period. His hobby is farming and
at this time he carries on general farming,
the breeding of registered stock and sugar
beet raising on a 200-acre model farm in
Ottawa County, where he has buildings
valued at $25,000, and model improvements
of every kind. This farm has been in his
wife's family since 1823. Fraternally, Mr.
Nieman is a thirty-second degree Mason, a
Shriner, and past master of his lodge, and is
l^ast chancellor commander of the Knights
of Pythias. With his family, he belongs to
the Christian Church, in which he serves as
deacon.
Mr. Nieman was married in 1886 to Miss
Delia A. Boggs, of Elmore, daughter of
James and Susan B. (White) Boggs, and one
daughter has been born to this union : Amy,
who is the wife of Karl Hannaman, a
machinist of Tiffin, Ohio.
Leslie Edward Meyer. Few business men
are better known in that section of Ottawa
County of which Oak Harbor is the center
than Leslie E. Meyer, who not only enjoys
a successful position in banking and general
business affairs but has also given much of his
time and attention to the duties and respon-
sibilities of citizenship.
Born in Danbury Township of Ottawa
County October 24, 1874, he is a son of
Edward H. and Emma (Grey) Meyer. His
father was a merchiant. Educated in the pub-
lic schools, Mr. Meyer was himself a teacher
for two years, and from that he came into
the Oak Harbor State Bank as a clerk. Fidel-
ity to duty and a willing industry brought
him successive promotion, and since January,
1908, he has been cashier. He is also treas-
urer of the Oak Harbor Fruit Company.
For six years Mr. Meyer was postmaster
at Oak Harbor and resigned that office on
account of other duties. For ten years he
was clerk of the village, and is now a member
of the board of public service. He is affiliated
with the Ma.sonic Order, up to and including
the thirty-second degree of Scottish Rite, and
also with the Knights of Pythias.
On September 11, 1901, j\Ir. Meyer married
Miss Laura Luella Leow of Ottawa County.
They have three sons : Walter Dimsdale, Les-
lie Evan and Robert Bruce.
Russell Bordeaux. Some of the most sub-
stantial business interests at Oak Harbor
reflect the enterprise of Russell Bordeaux,
whose home has been in Ottawa County for
more than twenty-live years. Originally a
mason by trade, he made that a basis for a
contracting biisiness, and now has a large
plant for the manufacturing of builders'
materials and enjoys a niimber of substantial
relations with the flourishing little community
of Oak Harbor.
Born m ilaumee, Ohio, December 6, 1872,
he is a son of Noah and Eliza (Peltier) Bor-
1476
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
deaux. His father was for many years
engaged in merchandising. Russell Bordeaux
gained his early education in the public
schools, and in 1888 came to Ottawa County.
He learned the trade of mason, and has ever
since been engaged in mason contracting, at
first on a modest scale and in later years with
considerable capital and a trained staff of
men capable of undertaking almost any con-
tract in that line. One feature of his present
business is the manufacture of concrete build-
ing blocks, his plant having a large daily
capacity, and he also handles all classes of
builders' supplies, lime, cement, and other
products, and has about seven persons on his
regular payroll.
Mr. Bordeaux is also a director in the
National Druggist and ilanufaeturing Com-
pany of Oak Harbor, and is manager of the
Home Building Company, a building and loan
organization. He is now president of the Oak
Harbor Business Men's A-ssociation, and en-
joys the complete confidence of the entire
community. He is a member of the school
board and for two years served on the village
council. Mr. Bordeaux has been much inter-
ested in Masonrj-, is a past master of his lodge,
served as high priest of the Royal Arch Chap-
ter in 1915, and is a thirty-second degree Scot-
tish Rite Mason. In Odd Fellowship he is a
past noble grand, and is an elder in the Chris-
tian Church.
On May 31, 1889, he married Miss Ida Vin-
ing of Oak Harbor. Six children were born
to their union : Olive Emma, the wife of Harry
Wheeler, of Duquoin, Illinois; Opal ^Marie,
who married Oscar Zehner, of Oak Harbor,
Ohio; Hattie Odessa; Mrs. Charles M.
Schwartz, of Detroit, Michigan ; Mary Olelia ;
Ovivian Leone ; and Adelle Mayse.
William Jones. For many years Mr. and
Mrs. Jones have lived in a comfortable and
commodious home in the City of Van Wert.
It was nearly half a century ago that they
married and started out together, young and
ambitious, to make that success for which
their talents fitted them. They have gained
success and prosperity, and also that esteem
and admiration paid to people who have a
purpose in life, who perform their duties
and obligations without regard to the con-
sequences for themselves, and who have
arrived at that impressive point in their
mutual careers where they will soon — as
everyone hopes — celebrate their golden wed-
ding anniversary.
Mr. Jones is now one of the largest tax-
payers in Van Wert County. It is significant
of his career of industry when it is stated
that the first tax he ever paid to support
the local and state government was 48 cents.
Some of his thrifty virtues have doubtless
been inherited from his Welsh ancestry. Wil-
liam Jones was born in North Wales, August
10, 1845. His father, David Jones, was a native
of the same section of Wales, and the family
have been Welsh as far back as can be traced.
David Jones acquired a good education and
was a musician. He spent his active life in
Wales and died there about 1848. His wife,
Elizabeth Thomas, was also born in North
Wales, a daughter of Levds and Margaret
Thomas. Her parents came to America about
1852, , settling in York Township of Van
Wert County, buying land and making im-
provements, then selling it and purchasing
other land. From York Township Lewis
Thomas removed to Hoagland Township,
bought land there, and remained a resident
until his death. He was survived by the
following children : William, Richard, Lewis,
Elizabeth, Ann, Margaret and Ellen.
At the death of her husband Mrs. Elizabeth
Jones was left a widow with two sons. A
few years later she came to America with
her parents, and after living with them a
short time she went to Dayton, where she
found employment. Later she was married
in York Township to Robert Brown, and she
continued to live in that township until her
death in 1864. Her two sons were William
and David. David was a soldier in the Civil
war, a member of one of the regiments of
Ohio heavy artillery, and died of fever. His
remains are now at rest iu the National
Cemetery at Knoxville, Tennessee.
William Jrnes was about seve.i years of
age when he came to America with his mother
and grandparents. The voyage was made by
a sailing vessel, and the ship encountered
some severe storms, so that they were six
weeks before Landing in New York City.
From there they came on to Ohio and to
York Township in Van Wert County. The
date of their settlement it should be remem-
bered was sixty-five years ago. Northwest
Ohio was still a wilderness. Game of all
kinds was found in the woods and on the
prairies, including deer, wild turkey, coon,
porcupines, and numerous other kinds of wild
life, some valuable and some dangerous. Thus
.j/l^^^^-iJoS- . Q) . Q^v^4.
'.a^y7<i<
■7^;n't^~^i^u4,
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1477
it was a strictly frontier community in which
William Jones spent his early years. He
lived with his grandparents until his mother
married and then spent part of his time in
her home. The first school he attended was
taught in a log house. He attended school
in four different districts, but in each one
there was a log cabin school. His education
was not gained without considerable exertion
on his part. He worked to pay for his board,
would arise early in the morning and do the
chores, and after walking a mile and a half
or more to school and the same distance back
home, he would again work until after dark.
During one winter he husked corn every
Saturday.
His schooling over he started out to make
his own way by working at daily wages or
by the month. At first he was paid only 25
cents a day, and the first year he was em-
ployed by the month his .salary was $8 for
each month or $96 for the year. Even
then he had more ambition than most boys of
his age, looked ahead to the future, and saved
all he could spare from his meager earnings.
With these savings he made his first purchase
of land, forty acres in York Township, for
which he paid $450. An unfinished log cabin
stood on the land, but not a foot of the soil
had been plowed or was in cultivation.
The outbreak of the war in 1861 found him
a vigorous and hard working country boy,
with a little to show for his expenditure of
energy, and with ambitious plans and proj-
ects for the future. He willingly abandoned
these plans, and in September, 1861, enlisted
in Company E of the Forty-sixth Ohio Volun-
teer Infantry. With that regiment he went
South, and his first great battle was at Shiloh
on the 6th of April, 1862. Thousands of
brave men in both armies laid down their
lives that day, and Jlr. Jones was one of
those carried from the battlefield severely
wounded. He was sent to a hospital at
Paducah, later to Cincinnati, and from there
was returned to Delphos and was cared for
at home until he had recovered from his
wounds. He then rejoined his regiment in
Tennessee in season to participate in the
battle of Missionary Ridge. The following
winter was spent at Seotsboro, Alabama. In
1864 he and his comrades became a part of
Sherman's manificent army and participated
in the constant fighting during the fall of
that year between Chattanooga and Atlanta,
including the siege and capture of that city.
He was in the battle of Jonesboro, and then
Tnl m— 10
marched with Sherman to the sea and at
Savannah embarked on a steamer and was
taken to Hilton Head, South Carolina. From
there he and his command again proceeded
on foot through Richmond and into Wash-
ington. The war was over and at Washing-
ton was gathered the finest army of veteran
soldiers ever .seen in the Western Hemisphere,
and Mr. Jones was one of those who marched
in that splendid pageant up Pennsylvania
Avenue before the distinguished commanders
and in front of the White House from which
only a few days before the great President
had been removed by assassination. From
Washington he and his regii^ent were sent
to Louisville, thence to Columbus, and he
was given his honorable discharge.
He had hardly exchanged his uniform for
civilian garb when he 'was once more busy at
work in the hai-yest fields, at wages of $17 a
month. In the winter of 1865-66 Mr. Jones
bought 931/2 acres of land in section 33 of
York Township. The purchase price was
$1,800 and he could pay only a part and
assumed the obligation to pay the balance.
He continued working by the month until his
marriage in 1867, and he and his wife then
removed to his land and set up housekeeping
in a log building, which was chinked and
daubed with mud.
A very small portion of the land had been
cleared for cultivation. The rest was covered
with heavy timber. In the stupendous task
of cutting and clearing away the large trees
Mr. Jones was loyally aided by his good wife,
who went with him into the woods, and
learned to handle the axe and saw with the
expertness of a practical woodsman. For
many months they continued at their task.
Large logs that would now bring a big price
were rolled together and burned in heaps.
Mr. and Mrs. Jones not only put in the hours
of daylight in this work, lout even at night
continued to toil by the light of the burning
wood. Being young, in good health, and
with an ambition to get ahead in the world,
they found the work pleasant as well as
profitable. Some time later Mr. Jones suc-
ceeded in selling the forty acres which he
had bought before the war and applied the
proceeds in pa.\^nent of the land which he
was clearing. Along with the clearing he put
in ditches and drained out the low places,
and as the soil was exceedingly fertile his
fields produced what would now be called
"bumper" crops. Thus in a few years his
farm was paid for, and he at once bought
1478
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
more land. Thus he and his good wife con-
tinued working and thriving and they lived
together on their farm until 1889.
In December of that year they came to
Van Wert, bought city property, and since
then they have improved several places in
Van W^ert, including the pleasant home in
which they now reside on South Washington
Street. Besides his town real estate Mr.
Jones has more than 500 acres of land. It
is divided into five farms, and each one is
improved with good buildings, is tile drained,
and is worked to a maximum of yield con-
sistent with the proper conservation of the
resources of t^e soil. In spite of the fact
that he retired from his farm many years ago
Mr. Jones has never been idle, and in fact
idleness has no place in the character either
of himself or his wife. *
IMrs. Jones before marriage was Miss Annie
E. Spicer. She was born in Wayne County,
Ohio, May 4, 1-840, and they were married
March 27, 1867. Her father, Abraham Spicer,
was bom near Little York in York County,
Pennsylvania, January 6, 1810. He was of
German ancestry. He had four brothers
named Samuel, John, William and George,
and all were orphaned when children ; they
subsequently became separated and Mrs.
Jones' father lost track of them and nothing
is now known by her concerning their where-
abouts or their descendants. Abraham Spicer
learned the trade of miller. He was married
in April, 1834, to Rachel Harvey, and soon
afterward they settled in Cumberland
County, Pennsylvania, but in 1836 removed
to Wayne County, Ohio. There he followed
his trade, but in 1856 bought 160 acres near
Mendon in Mercer County, and continued to
live on this farm until his death on April 11,
1888. For a time after coming to his farm
he operated a mill at Mendon. His wife had
died several years before he passed away.
In the Spicer family were six children : Eliz-
abeth, Samuel, Anna E., Frances, Barbara
and Thomas. Mr. and Mrs. Jones had only
one child, Annie, who was born February 3,
1868, and died October 14, 1875. Mr. and
Mrs. Jones took a very active part in the
United Brethren Church while living in the
country but have not united with any church
in the city.
Charles Fr.\nk Dunn. The present owner
of the Hotel Dunn has conducted its affairs for
many years and under his management it has
steadily increased its patronage and high
standing among the leading hostelries of
Noi-thwest Ohio. Brought up in the hotel
business, his entire career has been spent
therein, and no more genial or courteous host
may be found in Ottawa County than Charles
Frank Dunn, of Curtice. However, while he
has devoted himself closely to the adminis-
tration of his house, Mr. Dunn's reputation
does not rest alone upon his connection there-
with, for during the last twenty years there
has not been a movement launched that has not
had his support, and it is largely through his
efforts and unselfish activities that Curtice has
grown so rapidly and developed so substan-
tially during recent years.
Mr. Dunn was born not far from Curtice,
in Lucas County, Ohio, May 8, 1877, and is
a son of Henry (Harry) and Lena (Misshler)
Dunn. His father was for many years one
of Northwest Ohio's best known hotel keep-
ers, and the lad was early instructed in those
things which go to add to the comfort and
convenience of the guest. As a youth he at-
tended the public schools, completing his edu-
cation at Curtice, to which place he accom-
panied his parents in 1887, when he was ten
years of age, and which place has continued
to be his home. Mr. Dunn continued to apply
himself assiduously to learning every detail
of the business of conducting a hotel, and in
1895 finally decided that he was ready to
embark upon a career of his own. Accord-
ingly, on May 2d of that year he secured by
purchase the Hotel Dunn, and his general
business experience, his knowledge of the
details of the business, and his natural qual-
ifications, have aided him to a well earned suc-
cess. The Hotel Dunn is a house of which
Curtice may be .justly proud, as it is con-
ducted along modern plans, is spacious and
finely equipped, and is first class in every
respect. In 1897 in connection with this
house, Mr. Dunn established a livery busi-
ness, and in 1911 fitted up a garage, having
taken over in that year the agency of the
Buick, King, Hudson and Dart automobiles at
Curtice. He is also the owner of a finely-
cultivated farm of seventy-five acres, on
which he has modern improvements and sub-
stantial and attractive buildings.
Mr. Dunn was the prime mover and orig-
inator of the idea of building the first stone
road, in this section, this becoming a part of
the State Road, and raised the first $500 for
this project. It was also through his enter-
prise and generosity that Curtice was placed
upon the way as a trolley terminal, he buying
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1479
a large lot in the center of the town for a sta-
tion and presenting it to the street ear com-
pany. He also raised the money to defray the
expenses of building a crossing for the W. &
L. B. Railroad, and in many other ways has
shown his public-spirited citizenship and his
desire to further the development of the city
of his adoption. Since its organization, in
1900, Mr. Dunn has been connected with the
building committee of the Knights of the Mac-
cabees, of which lodge he is serving as treas-
urer, and also holds member.ship in the local
lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose.
Mr. Dunn was married to Miss Agnes Cas-
tle, who died in 1898, and they became the
parents of two children, Wallace Charles and
Franklin. Mr. Dunn was again married, Feb-
ruary 16, 1904, being united with i\Iiss Sophia
Hoeflinger, and they have two children : Clif-
ford Edward and Donald Leo. Mr. Dunn is a
democrat in political belief but in local mat-
ters he votes for the man who is best qualified
to fill the office.
Samuel W. May. In the length and breadth
of Henry County there was no more popular
citizen than the late Corporal May. He was
an honored veteran of the Civil War, and for
three years he followed the flag on many a
hard fought Southern battlefield. He was a
useful citizen in every sense of the term, pros-
pered through his enterprise as a farmer, and
left a fine estate for his children. Though he
was affiliated with the political party which
is strongly in the minority in Henry County,
he at one time came within twenty votes of
being elected county commissioner. He held
nearly all the local offices in the school and
village, and even better than the results of
his material success he left to his descendants
an honored name. Mrs. May, who survives
him and lives in the Village of Florida, is
widely known socially in the county and is an
active member of the Woman's Relief Corps.
In Stark County, Ohio, Samuel W. Jlay was
born November 8, 1841. He lived almost
three-quarters of a century, passing away at
his home in the Village of Florida May 25,
1916. His father, Lewis May, and his mother,
Nancy Truby, were both natives of Pennsyl-
vania, but were married in Stark County,
Ohio. All their children were born in Stark
County and it was only a few years after the
birth of the late Corporal May that the fam-
ily came in 1845 to Henry County. Henry
County was then pretty much on the frontier,
and the roads thither were all unimproved
highways. The family journeyed with cov-
ered wagons and teams, and spent many days
in making the trip. Arriving here Lewis May
entered a tract of Government land, contain-
ing eighty acres, on the south side of the Mau-
mee River in Flatrock Township. The entire
country was wild, and the family like most of
the other early settlers had their first home in
a log cabin. Lewis May was a hardy and
rugged pioneer character and in the course
of time cleared up and developed a good farm.
He died at the age of fifty-five, and after his
death his widow located at a little home on
the ]Maumee River and pa.ssed away at the
age of seventy-two. Both were devout people
in their religious activities and were members
of the Bible Christian Church. All their
children are living except the late Samuel W.
May. The daughter ^lary married Jeremiah
Huston, who enlisted early in the war as a
member of the Sixty-eighth Ohio Volunteer
Infantry in Company F, and being taken ill
during the first year of his service was fur-
loughed home and died on the boat while
returning. He was about twenty-five or twen-
ty-six years of age when he diedi He left
three children, all of whom are living except
the daughter Louisa, who died as the mother
of three children. The two sons of Mrs. Jere-
miah Huston are Samuel D. and Lewis R,,
both of whom are married and have families,
and the former is a machinist at Danville,
Illinois, and the latter in Napoleon. Harri-
son May, the second child of Lewis ]\Iay and
wife, also served as a soldier in the Sixty-
eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and is now
a retired farmer at Defiance, Ohio, and has
four sons. The third in age was the late
Corporal May. Alcetta is the wife of Philip
Huston, a brother of the late Jeremiah Hus-
ton, and Philip was also a soldier, serving
in the Fourteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry
and is now deceased. His widow is living in
Liberty Center of Henry County and has two
daughters.
Samuel W. May grew up on the old farm
in Henry County and found ample employ-
ment for his youthful strength in assisting
in its clearing and cultivation. He was about
twenty years of age when early in 1862 he
enlisted in Company F of the Sixty-eighth
Ohio Volunteer Infantiy and went to the
front. He was in all of the thirty-two battles
of that gallant regiment, and after his three
years expired he veteranized and was with the
fighting armies until the close of the war. He
was never captured or wounded and came out
1480
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
with the rank of coi-poral. He participated
in the Grand Review at Washington and then
returned home.
This splendid veteran of the Union contin-
ued to live in Henry County, married in a few
years, and then bought forty acres of partly
improved land, on which he lived and followed
farming for about fifteen years. He then sold
his first property and bought nearly 118 acres
on the Maumee River near Girty Island. That
farm he developed into one of the finest in
Henry County. He erected a fine set of farm
buildings, and kept his land and the build-
ings up to the best state of repair and effi-
ciency. For a number of years he grew the
very finest crops, and before his death the land
was worth $200 an acre. In 1903 Mr. May
retired to the Village of Florida and resided
in a comfortable home on Main Street until
his death.
In October, 1868, he was married in Flat-
rock Township to ilrs. Catherine Kaylor,
widow of Samuel Kaylor. Samuel Kaylor was
also a veteran of the Civil war. having served
from the beginning to the end as a private in
Company P of the Sixty-eighth Ohio Volun-
teer Infantry, being a comrade of Corporal
May. He died five months after his marriage
in January, 1866, leaving no children. ^Irs.
May, whose maiden name was Catherine Dan-
cer, was born in Ashland County, Ohio, Jan-
uary 2, 1848, and when six years of age was
brought to the Village of Florida in Henry
County, by her parents, John and Margaret
(Huston) Dancer. Her parents were both
natives of Ashland County, Ohio, and were
married near Mansfield. Her father became
a stock buyer, but when Mrs. May was a young
girl the family moved to the Village of Flor-
ida, making the removal in covered wagons
and spending several days on the journey.
They located near the canal, where her par-
ents for several years kept a boarding house
for the canal men, and also provided quarters
for the horses employed an the tow-path. Her
father also conducted a store, but after some
years sold out his business and then bought
a farm of 160 acres in Napoleon Township
near the Village of Florida. He improved this
farm in many ways, built up ho\;ses, added
eighty acres to his first purchase, and there
his wife died in 1896 at the age of seventy-
two. Mr. Dancer subsequently lived with his
granddaughter, Mrs. Emma Shively and died
at the age of eighty-four. He was a very influ-
ential republican in this county, and he and
his wife were members of the Methodist
Church. Besides Mrs. May the children in the
Dancer family were George and Jeremiah, the
latter dying at the age of ten years.
Corporal and Mrs. May became the parents
of five children. The daughter Dora, who died
three years ago, was the wife of Philip Smith
and she left two sons, Howard and Arlie.
George, who is now a farmer near Westhope,
Ohio, married Rose Franz and has children
named Bernice, Paul and Dorothy. Madge
is the wife of Edward Grossman, who spent
twelve years as a school teacher and is now
on rural delivery service out of Napoleon,
where he resides ; he and his wife are the par-
ents of Audrey and Helen, both of whom are
well educated in the Napoleon High School
and the former is a successful teacher.
Charles, the next in age of Mrs. May's chil-
dren, is a farmer in Liberty Township, and
by his marriage to Nettie Heflinger, has two
daughters. Fern and Eva. Bessie, the young-
est child, married Frank Leonhai'dt, and the.y
own and occupy the old May homestead ; their
two children are Donald and Catherine.
Leo G. Kellermeyer. From farmer boy
to one of the responsible positions in the
courthouse of Auglaize County is in brief the
record of Leo G. Kellermeyer, who is now
serving with commendable efficiency in the
office of county recorder. He began his
duties in that office September 6, 1915, and
is successor of former Recorder James Killian,
who remained as assistant or deputy to Mr.
Kellermeyer.
Born in Auglaize County at New Bremen,
July 12, 1865, Leo G. Kellermeyer is a son
of Fred C. and Mar.y Anna (Buehler) Keller-
meyer. His paternal grandfather, Henry
Kellermeyer, was a shoemaker by trade and
spent his last years in Auglaize County. His
maternal grandfather, George Buehler, who
also died in Auglaize County, wa.s a cabinet
maker, and some of the furniture which that
skillful and methodical workman made is now
carefully preserved by his descendants.
Mr. and Mi's. Fred C. Kellermeyer were
married in Auglaize County. Fred Keller-
meyer was born in Germany in January, 1835,
and his wife in February, 1839. They were
brought to America as children. Fred C.
Kellermeyer worked as a laborer, learned the
trade of shoemaker, and afterwards owned a
shoe shop in New Bremen. From there, when
Leo Kellermeyer was a child, about 1872, he
moved his family to a farm in St. Marys
Township, and he lived in that town until
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1481
his death on December 12, 1916. Though he
started life poor, he acquired sufficient means
by constant industry to provide well for his
family and secure a home of comfort for de-
clining years. He had been honored by his
fellow citizens and from 1900 to 1907 served
as county commissioner. He was a demo-
crat, had taken an active part in politics,
and is a man of good education and of high
character. He and his wife were members
of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. They had
eight children : Mary, wife of William
Weasch, a farmer in St. Marys Township;
Edwin, a retired farmer at St. Marys; Leo
G. ; Irma, wife of Craig Quellhorst, a retired
farmer at New Bremen; Ewald, a farmer in
St. Marys Township ; Fred, Jr., formerly a
farmer and now a carpenter at St. Marys;
August, a farmer in St. Marys Township ; and
Lillian, wife of Benjamin Eisley, a farmer in
Logan Township. Mrs. Fred C. Kellermeyer
is still living in Auglaize County.
Leo Kellermeyer was reared on a farm.
He attended the district schools and St. Marys
High School, and after his education he spent
four years as a farm hand employed by Henry
Coop. In 1890 he left the farm to serve an
apprenticeship with the St. Marys Machine
Company, and learned that business in every
detail. He was connected with that old and
reliable industrial concern of Auglaize County
for almost a quarter of a century, and retired
from his responsibilities there only when his
fellow citizens called him to his present honor
as county recorder.
Mr. Kellermeyer is the type of citizen of
whom any community would be proud. He
has worked faithfully and intelligently in
behalf of local improvements in his home
town of St. Marys and in the county at large,
and for six years, from 1908 to 1912, he
served as member and president of St. Marys
Council. In the party primaries of 1914 he
was nominated by a majority of 450 votes
over five other candidates, in the November
election of 1914 he went into office with a
margin of 850 votes over his opponent and
at the election held November, 1916, he was
re-elected for a second term, leading the whole
county ticket.
Mr. Kellermeyer is a member of St. Paul's
Lutheran Church. He has been prominent
in Odd Fellowship and belongs to Shawnee
Lodge No. 75, Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, at St. Marys, and to Encampment
No. 40, and has passed all the chairs of the
Encampment.
William J. Gackel. About twenty-three
years ago William J. Gackel came from Deh-
ance County to the Village of Florida in
Henry County. Ever since he has been a
dynamic source of energy and enterprise in
that locality. Successful in business, he has
made his energy count in various other direc-
tions and any city might be proud to possess
such a live wire.
His principal business is general hardware.
He has a large double store 40 by 60 feet,
and that store carries everything in the hard-
ware line to supply the wants of the surround-
ing agricultural community. His shelves are
laden with hardware supplies, sundries,
paints, and he also cai'ries a complete stock
of heavy hardware, stoves and ranges, etc.
Outside is a warehouse 45 by 50 feet, stocked
with farm implements. He also has extensive
yards for lumber and building supplies and
he makes it a point to furnish everything
which the trade demands, and if he does not
have the article in stock he is more than will-
ing and ready to procure it promptly.
Mr. Gackel is what is familiarly termed a
"hu.stling business man." He established
his store in Florida largely on his own
account, though he succeeded a former hard-
ware merchant, Mr. Jones, in 1899. Mr.
Gackel several years ago perfected arrange-
ments with the Auglaize Power Company, so
that the village now has electric lights. In
^fact he is credited with having a hand in the
starting of every improvement in the village
during the past twenty years.
Mr. Gackel was born in Richland Township,
of Defiance County, Ohio, December 14, 1872.
He grew \ip there on a fann, receiving his
education in the district schools, and came
to Florida after reacliing manhood.
He is of French and German stock. His
father was Fred Gackel and his grandfather
was Henry Gackel. Henry Gackel came to
America from Alsace, then a French province,
when his son, Fred, was fifteen years of age.
The family left Havre, France, and spent
sixty days in a very ti-ying ocean trip before
arriving in New York. Coming on west they
located near Bryan, in Williams County,
Ohio, where Henry Gackel settled upon aiid
cleared up a tract of wild land. The family
in the early days lived in a typical log cabin.
Henry Gackel and wife spent the rest of their
years in Defiance County. He died at the
age of fifty-six years and she at the age of
sixty-five. They were of Lutheran stock and
were very substantial and active pioneers.
1482
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Fred Gackel, who was born in 1831, grew to
manhood in Williams County, saw much of
pioneer conditions when a boy, and then
removed to Richland Township of Defiance
County, where he married Elizabeth Deach.
She was born in Bavaria, Germany, and was
brought to America when quite young. Her
people also crossed the ocean on a sailing ves-
sel and spent many weeks in the voyage
between Hamburg and New Yoi"k. From
there they came to Defiance County, and her
father developed a new home in the wilder-
ness. Her parents died when quite old in
Richland Township.
After their marriage Fred Gackel and wife
located on a farm of 180 acres in Defiance
County, developed a first class home, and
lived there until about twenty-three years
ago when they retired to the Village of
Florida. Mrs. Gackel died there some years
later. William J. Gackel was one of a family
of three sous and two daughters.
In Florida Village he married Flora Bru-
baker, who was born and reared at Florida.
Her father, Frank Brubaker, is a prominent
old timer in Heniy County and is a veteran
of the Civil war, being now retired from the
active responsibilities of farming. Mrs.
Gackel 's mother died about twenty- four years
ago. Mrs. Gackel has one sister, Eva, the
widow of Edmund Reddig.
Mr. and Mrs. Gackel have a bright and
promising daughter. Alpha, who was born_
April 15, 1903. She is now pursuing her
studies in the seventh grade of the public
schools. Mr. and Mrs. Gackel take an active
part in the social affairs of the village, and
Mr. Gackel has served as corporation treas-
urer. Politically he is a democrat.
Charles W. Brinkman. The importance
of the Village of Florida in Henry County as
a trading center largely depends upon a gen-
eral store which has been conducted in that
village for half a century or more, and for
the past seventeen years its proprietor has
been Charles W. Brinkman. The business
was originally established by John Long, Sr.,
one of the pioneer merchants of Henry
County, and he was succeeded by John Long,
Jr., who conducted the store about eighteen
years. The successor of these merchants,
Charles W. Brinkman, has continued the busi-
ness very much along the same lines as his
predecessors, though with such moditicatidus
as changing circumstances demand. He car-
ries in his stock everything necessary to
supply the local market, his trade extending
over a wide radius around Florida.
The enterprising qualities of Mr. Brinkman
as a merchant were well illustrated a few
years ago. On July 28, 1912, his store, its
entire stock of goods, and also the postoffice,
which was conducted by his clerk, were
destroyed by fire and not a penny's worth of
goods was saved. Without an instant's hesi-
tation Mr. Brinkman laid plans for rebuilding,
and in a few weeks had a solid cement block
building erected on the original foundation,
30 by 50 feet, the building being thirteen feet
high at the eaves. Here he has continued to
serve the public with a well assorted stock of
merchandise.
Mr. Brinkman was born in Flat Rock Town-
ship, of Henry County, November 27, 1868.
He was reared on a farm on the south side
of the Maumee River, and acquired his educa-
tion in the local schools. His early training
as a farmer has kept him in close touch with
the agricultural community, and has been an
advantage rather than a handicap in his
business work.
His parents were John and Harriet
(Schull) Brinkman. Both were natives of
Crawford County, Ohio. His grandfather,
Christopher Brinkman, was of German par-
entage, was a farmer and cabinet maker.
Some very substantial ehaii's which he made
as a cahinet maker are still kept as valued
and useful relics in the family. After the
marriage of John Brinkman and wife in
Crawford County they lived there some years.
In that county were born three children:
Mary, Amanda and Louisa. About the close
of the Civil war the family removed to Henry
County, locating on an almost new farm in
Flat Rock Township. The children born in
this township were John A., born in 1865,
and Charles W. John Brinkman was a very
industrious farmer, and besides improving the
greater part of his own 137 acres he erected a
substantial house and barn. His death oc-
curred there September 28. 1886, when fifty-
six years of age. His wife died in September,
1896, and she, too, was fifty-six. They were
members of the German Reform Church and
he took a very active part in democratic poli-
tics, serving his township as trustee and in-
other offices. All the children have had chil-
dren of their own, and two of the daughters
are now widows and one son has lost his wife.
After reaching his ma.iority Charles W.
Brinkman married Daisy D. Hall. She was
l)orn and reared in Lucas County, Ohio, a
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1483
daughter of Eugene aud Fannie (Guyer)
Hall, both natives of Ohio, probably of Lucas
Couuty. They were married in Lucas County
aud afterwards moved to Henry County,
loeatiug at the Village of Florida. Eugene
Hall for a number of years conducted aud
owned a canal boat, but finally removed to
West Virginia, whei-e for the jiast twenty
years or more he lias liccii iiss-iiriatc<l with a
prominent company dl hiiiiln )• maiiiifaftui'ers
and dealers. He is uuw well kuuwii to the
lumber trade over that section, aud has been
greatly prospered. Mrs. Brinkman's mother
now lives in Toledo with her aged mother, who
is ninety-four years of age and quite feeble.
Mrs. Brinkman 's maternal grandfather Guyer
was very prominent in the early days of Lucas
Couuty. He served as sheriff of that coimty
when the courtliouse aud county seat were at
Mauiiice, and he met his death while in the
perfiii-iiianrc of his duties. He was protecting
a laiiil) licliiiiiiiiig to his daughter from the
attack of a inaihnan and was killed. That
tragedy occuri'i'd alioiit three scoi'e \ ears ago.
After tlK'ir maiTia-v Mv. and Airs, Brink-
man lived ou a ianii until IStiS, and he then
came to Florida and bought the Long store.
They are the parents of three children :
P^ugene, a daughter, is a graduate of the Mary
Hall Kindergarten aud Experimental School.
where she had two years of teaehinu experi-
ence, and completed her work theie in IUKJ.
Erma, now eighteen years of age. w^is 'jiadu-
ated from the Napoleon High School in ihe
spring of 1916, finished a course in the Deli-
ance Normal in the summer of the same year
and is now engaged in teaching. Doiudd.
born in December, 1902, is still attending the
grade schools. Mi-. Urinknnin and faiiiil,\- ai'e
active members nf the .Methodist H|iisi-o|ial
Church. For ten years lie served as a mem-
ber of the .school board, and also tilled the
office of corporation clerk one term. Politi-
cally he is a democrat. He belongs to the
National L'niou and the Knights of the
Maccabees.
T. A. Campbell, M. D. A wide circle of
patron.s and friends recognize Doctor Camp-
bell as one of the leading physicians of Wapa-
koneta and Auglaize County. He has prac-
ticed steadily there since his graduation from
medical college in 1897, and his professional
ability is as high as his professional standing.
He has been unusually successful in the treat-
ment of diseases of women, and that is his
specialty.
Doctor Campbell early in life determined
what he would do aud he was willing to risk
practically every hazard in order to complete
the requisite preparation for his medical
career. Thus when he began practice his
cash capital amounted to only 2 cents and he
was $5,000 in debt, a debt incurred largely
for his education and living expenses before
he graduated.
He was born on a farm in Auglaize County,
January 2, 1875, a son of George and Sarah
A. (Chiles) Campbell. His paternal grand-
father was Ambrose Campbell, who was born
in Virginia of Scotch parents. The maternal
gi-andfather, James M. Chiles, was born in
Auglaize County, Ohio, and his father was
one of the pioneers of that county. George
Campbell, father of Doctor Campbell, was
born in Virginia, in 1823, and was brought
to Ohio when three yeai's of age, the family
settling near Columbus. During his active
career he followed farming and dealing in
livestock, and was quite successful. He died
May 4, 1885. Most of his active career was
spent in Auglaize County, where he located
at the age of twenty-one, buying a farm.
By his marriage to Miranda Burton he had
six children, and two of the sons are still
living, Jerry, of Auglaize County, and George
W. For his second wife George Campbell
married Sarah A. Chiles, who was born in
Auglaize County in 1844 and is still living.
There was also six children by this union, and
the three now living are: Dr. T. A. Camp-
bell ; J. M. Guy Campbell, who lives on the
old homestead; and Zelia, wife of Clinton
Armstrong of Piqua, Ohio. George Camp-
bell and wife were faithful members of the
Christian Union Church, and in politics he
was a democrat.
Doctor Campbell was graduated from the
Wapakoneta High School in 1893 and soon
afterward entered the University of Cincin-
nati, where he completed his course in medi-
cine in 1897. He at once returned to Wapa-
koneta and began the practice which has
since grown to such large and profitable pro-
portions.
On August 8, 1895, he married Virgie
Williams, daughter of Judge J. S. Williams,
who for a number of years was probate judge
of Auglaize County. Mrs. Campbell died in
February, 1896. On October 26, 1897, he
married Blanche Jarman, who was born in
Maysville, Kentucky, and died June 18, 1911.
She was the mother of two children : Pera
N'. R. E., now in high school, and Zenith G.
1484
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
E., ako in high school. On February 14,
1912, Doctor Campbell married Emma Flory,
who was born in Pleasant Hill, Ohio. Mrs.
Campbell is an active member of the Pres-
byterian Church.
Doctor Campbell takes much interest in
fraternal affairs, is a member of the lodge
and encampment of the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows, having passed the various
official chairs in those degrees, and has also
filled the chairs in the Knights of Maccabees,
and is a member of the Woodmen of the
World, the Modern Woodmen of America,
the Modern Brotherhood, the Woodmen's
Circle and belongs to the Sehwaebiscber Unter
Stuetzungs-Verein. In politics he is a
democrat.
Fred A. Gunn. A representative of the
old pioneer stock in Noi'thwest Ohio Fred A.
Gunn has spent his active lifetime near
Napoleon, and over Henry County he is known
far and wide as proprietor of Brookside Farm
in section 28 of Napoleon Township.
He is a son of the late honored Edward
McCartney Gunn, who was one of the first
white children born in Henry County. He
first saw the light on the old Gunn homestead,
February 10, 1821, and died at a ripe old age
at his home in Waterville Township, March
9, 1914. There were few better known and
none more respected in his community than
Edward M. Gunn. His parents were Charles
and Elizabeth (Mattic) Gunn, both probably
natives of Ohio. The great-grandfather was
Elijah Gunn, a native of Massachusetts, who
had come to Ohio when it was still a part of
Northwest Territory, and lived for some years
near Cleveland when that was just starting
to grow. Later he moved to Waterville, Ohio,
and finally came to Henry County, purchasing
property in Napoleon Township from the
Government. All this country was then
sparsely settled, only here and there had set-
tlers placed their cabins' and begun the work
of development, and in this and surrounding
counties a few points had been selected as a
trading center or as sites of mills, and the
roads leading to such places were mere trails
blazed through the woods. Elijah Gunn made
some improvements on the Back Farm and
there he passed away at the venerable age of
ninety-six, being one of the true pioneers of
Henry County. Charles Gunn, father of
Edward M. Gunn, was still a young man when
his father came to Western Ohio, and had
spent a portion of his younger life near
Cleveland. He found his wife. Miss Mattic,
in Cuyahoga County, and they were married
about 1800. On moving to Henry County
they located in Damascus Township, where
he and his wife were among the first to make
a clearing in the wilderness, and when the
entire Maumee Valley was populated by
Indians and a few trader settlers. They died
within a few weeks of each other in the year
1832.
Edwai'd McCartney Gunn grew up in
Henry County and his playmates wei-e chiefly
Indians, and he was very popular among the
red men. A French-Indian halfbreed was
especially fond of this young white boy, and
gave him the name Edward McCartney Gunn.
After the death of his parents he lived with
Elijah Gunn in Flatrock Township until 1847,
when he located on a new farm in section 28 in
Napoleon Township and there worked out a
thrifty career, accumulating more than 200
acres of rich alluvial lands and becoming well
known as a successful and prosperous farmer.
On June 6, 1847, he married Miss Jane Stone,
who was boi-n in Onondaga County, New
York, July 20, 1828. daughter of Joseph and
Polly (Milliugton) Stone, both of whom were
of New England ancestry, the former a native
of Massachusetts and the latter of Vermont.
The Stone family came to Ohio in the very
early days and Joseph Stone, who was a stone-
cutter by trade, died from cholera when that
disease was epidemic in Defiance, Ohio, at the
age of sixty-five. His widow lived with her
daughter, Mrs. Edward Gunn, for twenty-
four years and died at the age of eighty-six.
She was one of the real pioneer women of
Northwest Ohio, and was always busy until
her last days. Even in later days she found
work for her fingers, and she long bore the
reputation of being the best cheese maker in
Henry County. Mrs. Edward M. Gunn died
October 19, 1909. Both were active members
of the Presbyterian Church. Edward M.
Gimn cast his first presidential ballot for
William Henry Harrison, and afterwards sup-
ported the whig party and still later the
republican organization.
A descendant of these worthy Ohio pioneers,
Fred A. Gunn was born on the farm that he
now owns and occupies July 5, 1866. He was
reared and well educated in local schools and
by practical experience, and has spent his
active career on the old homestead, and is
now owner of 133 acres of black loamy soil,
which grows every cereal known to Ohio and
also all kinds of vegetables. He has pursued
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1485
diversified farming, raising a number of good
grades of cattle, hogs and horses, and has
supplied his farm with all the necessary equip-
ment in the way of barns and machinery.
His principal stock and grain barn stands on
a foundation -10 by 60 feet, and there is an-
other barn 40 by 70 feet used exclusively for
the storage of grain and other farm products.
He and liis family occupy a roomy and sub-
stantial house of nine rooms. Mr. Gunn has
had control of the old homestead for a great
many years.
In Napoleon Township he married Rose
Shumaker, who was born, reared and edu-
cated in Henry County, and is a daughter
of Joseph and Mary (Wiler) Shumaker. Her
father was born in Wayne County, Ohio, and
her mother in Pennsylvania. They were mar-
ried in Crawford County, Ohio, and prior to
the Civil war located in Henry County, where
her father improved a good farm out of the
woods, and lived there until his death when
past eighty-five years of age. Her mother
died at the age 'of seventy-six. They were
reared in the German Reformed Church but
later were consistent Presbyterians, while Mr.
Shumaker was a democrat. Mr. Gunn is now-
serving as assessor of Napoleon Township,
being in his second term.
Mr. and -Mrs. (TUini are the parents of four
children: linward i... who married Helen
Rasmus of l-'latrork Township, is connected
with the Hollinshead Furniture Company of
Napoleon. Ortis E., now twenty-two years
of age, was reared and educated on the old
homestead in Napoleon Township and is still
with his father. Burdette is nineteen years
of age and has finished his education in the
local scliools. The youngest is Myron, now
nine years of age, and attending school.
Henry J. Riessen. As evidenced in a fine
country home, a productive and highly valu-
able farm, and all the improvements and com-
forts of country life, one of the most substan-
tial men of Henry County is Henry J. Ries-
sen. His home is on section 11 of Napoleon
Township, and the fine display of industry
and thrift shown there is entirely a result of
his well directed efforts through a purposeful
career beginning in early youth and contin-
uing to the present daj'.
He was born in Obendorf, Holstein, Ger-
many, March 2, 1857. His people had lived
in Holstein for several generations, first as
subjects of Denmark and later of Germany.
His parents were Henry and Dora (Jahn)
Riessen, also natives of Holstein. The mother
died in the old country at the age of forty-
two. Her first husband was a Mr. Redman,
and by that union there was one son, Charles
Redman, who is now living in Napoleon Town-
ship of Henry County. Henry Riessen, the
father, was a weaver by trade, an occupation
he followed in the old country until 1869.
Then with his three children, Charles Redman
and his son Henry and a daughter Matilda,
who died in Henry County unmarried at the
age of thirty-two, he set out for the New
World. The little family party traveled from
Kiel to Hamburg, thence took passage to Liv-
erpool, and from there on an English liner
crossed the ocean to Boston. From there they
went west to Detroit, then to Toledo, and they
arrived in Henry County June 2, 1869. After
a j'ear of miscellaneous labor at wages, the
father bought forty acres of wild land, and
devoted all his time and energy to its improve-
ment. His subsequent career was spent in
Henry County as a practical farmer, and he
died a number of years ago in Napoleon
Township at the age of sixty-four. He was
a Lutheran and a democrat in politics.
Henry J. Riessen, whose mother died when
he was nine years old, received his early train-
ing in German schools, and had only three
months of schooling after he came to this
country. He early learned to rely upon his
own efforts, and his independent vigorous
career has brought him the best of rewards
in material circumstances and also in the
esteem of his community. He has acquired
and improved a fine place of 123 acres in sec-
tion 11 of Napoleon Township, and has done
much to equip his farm with the best and most
up to date improvements. In his gi-oup of
buildings is a barn on a foundation 36x48
feet, a granary 24x36 feet, a cow shed
18x36 feet, and a garage 14x20. His home
is one of the most attractive in that part of
the township, a modern ten-room house. Mr.
Riessen finds his profit chiefly in the grow-
ing of good stock, cattle, hogs and horses and
his fields produce all the staple cereals raised
in this section of Ohio. Mr. Riessen was mar-
ried in Napoleon Township to Miss Mary E.
Snyder. She was born in Henry County Jan-
uary 12, 1855, and has spent practically all
her life there, being a woman of superior intel-
ligence and an excellent homemaker. Her
parents were Henry and Christiana (Meyers)
Snyder. Her father was born in Ohio or
Pennsylvania and her mother in Stark
County, Ohio, but of German parentage.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
They were married in Henry County. Mr.
Snyder served three years as a soldier of the
Union during the Civil war. He was once
wounded in the heel, and he spent three
months as a prisoner in Belle Isle. His years
after the war were spent as a farmer in Napo-
leon Township, where his wife died January
12, 1881, when about forty-one years of age.
She was the mother of nine children, five
sons and four daughters, and all are living
except one of the sons. With the exception
of one son, those still living are married and
have children of their own.
Mrs. Riessen, the oldest of the children, is
the mother of a son and a daughter. Charles
H., aged thirty-four, is a bachelor, and still
lives at home with his parents. Mary Chris-
tina, also at home, finished her education in
the local public schools. The family are all
members of Emanuel Lutheran Church, and
Mr. Riessen and his son are democrats.
Thom-vs E. Marshall. The work he has
done in business and public afi'airs has made
Thomas E. Marshall one of the best known
citizens of Auglaize County. A mark of this
fame in the August primaries of 1916, when
he was nominated by two votes over several
competitors a.s democratic candidate for the
office of county treasurer in Auglaize County.
Mr. Marshall has been very active in demo-
cratic politics since casting his first vote, and
has served as clerk of the town council of
St. Marys and on the ward committee.
He was born in St. Marys, Auglaize
County, March 27, 1882, and in both the
paternal and maternal lines represents some
of the very old and honored families of this
portion of" Ohio. He is a son of Samuel K.
and Priscilla ( Smith ) Marshall, both of whom
are now living at St. Marys. His paternal
grandparents were James A. and Nancy Mary
Marshall, the former born in 1822 and died
September 13, 1860, and the latter born in
1824 and died in 1877.- Smallpox was the
disease which carried both of them away.
They arrived in Auglaize County in pioneer
times, and James A. Marshall acquired land
from the Government during President
Polk's administration. Mr. Marshall's mater-
nal grandparents were Henry P. and Mary
Smith, both of whom were bom in Auglaize
County and are still living at the advanced
ages of eighty-two and seventy-seven, respec-
tively. The Smiths were among the very first
white people to locate and make homes in
this part of Northwest Ohio. Samuel K.
Marshall was bom in Auglaize County, Feb-
ruary 4, 1851, and his wife was bom there
October 22, 1860. The former followed fish-
ing for some yeai-s, afterward lived on his
farm in this county, but in 1900 removed
with his family to the Town of St. Marys.
He is a democrat in politics, has served as
democratic ward committeeman, as assessor
and on the school board. His wife is active
in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of the
seven children born to Samuel K. Marshall
and wife five are now living : Julius is private
secretary and manager in an oil concern at.
Tulsa, Oklahoma; Thomas E.; Belva L., a
school teacher; Nellie, clerk in a store at St.
Marys ; and Mary, a bookkeeper with the First
National Bank.
Thomas E. Marshall after graduating from
high school at St. Marys in 1899 entered a
machine shop to learn the trade. While there
he carried a course in the International Cor-
respondence School of Scranton, and thus
perfected himself in theory while his daily
work gave him abundant practical experience.
For six months he was employed in the Gas
Engine Supply Company at Muncie, Indiana,
and then returning home became shipping
clerk in a box factory at St. Marys. He has
proved a competent and efficient workman in
every capacity, and is now warehouseman
under Mr. Long in the Ohio Oil Company.
In 1904 he married Miss Neva Elizabeth
Baxter, whose former home was near Grand
Rapids, Michigan. They have a family of
three children : James B., Evelyn Irene and
George Kenton, all of them now in the public
schools of St. Marj's. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall
are members of the Presbyterian Church, and
fraternally he is affiliated with the lodge,
chapter and council of Masonry and with the
Fraternal Order of Eagles.
Gerhard H. Prior. The grotesque appear-
ing farmer with whom the comic artist has
made us familiar has gone out of vogue in
Northwe.stern Ohio, if, indeed, he ever existed,
and in his place has come a man who appears
well, thinks well, is informed on current
events, and has that sincere desire to elevate
himself to the top notch of his occupation
which cannot fail to secure him some measure
of success. He is prosperous and intelligent,
is a thorough master of the calling which
forms his life work, and commands respect and
attention wherever he goes. To this class
belongs Gerhard H. Prior, one of the prosper-
ous and progressive agriculturists of Henry
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1487
County, the owner of two fine farms in Har-
rison Township, and a man who has honestly
won his own way to his present success. Mr.
Prior was born at Sladenhauser, Hanover,
Germany, October 2, 1851, and is a son of
Louis and Louise (Filling) (Cook) Prior.
Louis Prior was a member of an old and
honorable German Lutheran familj^ of Han-
over, which could trace its ancestry back for
generations in its native land. He was a
farmer in a small way, and by his first mar-
riage had three children : William, Mary and
Adam, all of whom came to this country and
were married, and one of whom, Adam, is still
living in Sandusky County. Ohio, in advanced
years. After the death of his first wife, Louis
Prior was married to ^Irs. Louise (Cook) Fil-
ling, the widow of Herman Filling, who also
had three children: Henry, Fred and Eliza.
Of these, Eliza is living in Sandusky County,
Ohio, is married and has ten children. Fred
is a bachelor and a resident of Sandusky
County. Henry married and located in Napo-
leon Township, Henry County, where he
accumulated a large farm, on which he died
in 1910. He left six children, namely : Louis,
Fred, Henry, William, Mary and Carrie, all
single. But one child was born to the union
of Mr. and Mrs. Prior: Gerhard H., of this
review.
Louis Prior was an earnest, sober and indus-
trious workman, steady in his habits and hon-
orable in his dealings. He was able to make
a living for his family in the old country, but
his ambition reached out beyond that and he
finally decided to try his fortunes in the land
across the water where he had heard that
opportunities in profusion awaited the ener-
getic seeker. Gathering together all the means
that lay at his disposal, with his wife and chil-
dren he boarded a sailing vessel at Bremen,
Germany, in September, 1853, when his son
Gerhard H. was not yet two years old, and
.just six weeks later arrived at the harbor of
New York. From the metropolis the little
party made its way to Toledo, and then all
struck out on foot, through the woods, to
within four miles of Woodville, Sandusky
Coiinty, Ohio, where the father rented a farm.
They found American customs and -methods
different, but the father, with the adaptability
of his race, soon mastered these difficulties,
and after three years of renting was ready
to start on a property of his own. Thus it was
that he purchased a forty-acre tract of wild
land for $300, not a large sura as it would be
viewed now, but at that time representing all
of Jlr. Prior's capital. On this property he
erected a small log cabin, and in this primi-
tive dwelling the children, including Gerhard
H., were reared. In later years, as the family
finances permitted, more commodious and
comfortable buildings were erected, the
ground was cleared and improved, the farm
was brought to -a high state of development,
and there the parents rounded out well-filled
and useful lives, the father dying in 1882, at
the age of seventy-six years, and the mother
eighteen months later, in 1884, when seventy-
two years old. Throughout their lives they
were members of the Lutheran Church, and
their faith was lived every day. They were
charitable and kindly people who were highly
respected in their community, and in their
deaths their locality lost two who had helped
to lay broad and deep the foundation for the
coming generations. Mr. Prior was a dem-
ocrat, but politics played only a small part in
his life, which in the main was devoted to his
home and his family.
Gerhard H. Prior spent the greater part of
his boyhood and youth on the old family home-
stead in the vicinity of Woodville. His early
years were filled with hard, honest toil, for
when he was not assisting in the work of the
homestead, he was helping his father at the
trade of carpenter, and he was compelled to
devote his every leisure moment to study in
order to gain education. When he reached his
majority he was eager to embark upon ven-
tures on his own account, and made the first
move in this direction when he established a
home of his own by his marriage to Miss Mol-
lie Luebker, a resident of Sandusky County.
She was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1870,
and was a child of ten years when brought to
this country by her parents, William and
Anna (Coolman) Luebker, who first located
in Sandusky County. Some years later the
Luebker family removed to Henry County and
settled on a farm in Napoleon ' Township, a
tract of sixty acres. Here the mother died
in December, 1912, at the age of sixty-six
years, while the father still survives at seventy-
three. For many years Sirs. Luebker was
known as one of the devoted Christian women
of her community, a faithful member of the
Lutheran Church, to which her husband also
belongs. He is a democrat in his political
views, and is considered one of the substantial
men of his township, where he is held in high
esteem.
In about 1885, after the birth of two sons,
Mr. and Mrs. Prior left Sandusky County
1488
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
and came to Henry County. Here Mr. Prior
purchased eighty acres of land in section 31,
Harrison Township, which he immediately
began to cultivate. He now has a farm fer-
tile and productive, on which he raises fine
crops, and in addition grows a good grade of
horses, cattle, hogs and sheep. He is a keen
and far-sighted business man, secured a good
price for his product in the market, and has
won the friendship and esteem of his associ-
ates by reason of his honorable and straight-
forward methods. In line with his progres-
sive and enlightened views, he has erected a
good set of buildings on his property, includ-
ing a comfortable nine-room residence, and a
large grain barn and garage, 25 by 30 feet,
with suitable and attractive outbuildings. His
equipment has always been of the best,
and the whole property breathes an atmos-
phere of thrift and prosperity. In addition,
Mr. Prior is the owner of forty acres of highly
improved land located in section 28, Harri-
son Township.
Mr. and Mrs. Prior have long been members
of the Lutheran Church, and have reared their
children in that faith. He is a democrat in
his political views, but is not an office seeker,
preferring to give his time and attention to
his farm work. Six children have been born
to Mr. and Mrs. Prior: William, who is his
father's chief assistant in the work of the
farm ; Louise, who ably assists her mother in
the housework; Henry and Marie, who are
attending the Napoleon High School; and
Lucy and Walter, who are students in the
grammar school.
Joseph Russell McAllister. During the
past eleven years. Napoleon Township, in
Henry County, has been the scene of the agri-
cultural activities of Joseph Russell INIcAl-
lister. Formerly a railroad man, at the time
of his marriagej Mr. McAllister began farm-
ing and since then has developed into a prac-
tical and progressive agriculturist who is able
to hold his own among the more experienced
farmei-s of his locality. He is now engaged in
the cultivation of a handsome property located
just south of the city corporation of Napo-
leon, and while his homestead is not as large
as some of the others in the township, its
equipment and the manner in which it is con-
ducted make it a model Ohio farm.
Mr. McAllister was born near Ashland,
Kentucky, September 23, 1880, and is a son
of Joseph R. and Elizabeth (Hannah) McAl-
lister, natives of Kentucky and descendants
respectively of English and Scotch ancestry
His mother was a daughter of William Han-
nah, whose father was born in America and
his mother in England. William Hannah was
born in Kentucky, was there reared, educated
and married, and passed his entire life in the
Blue Grass State, his death occurring in mid-
dle life in the explosion of a boiler in a saw-
mill where he was employed. Joseph R. McAl-
lister died when his son, Joseph R., was. an
infant, leaving also another child, Bertha, who
is the wife of Otto Birkmaier, of Portland,
Oregon, and has two children. Otto, Jr., and
Elizabeth. After the death of her first hus-
band. Mrs. McAllister was again married, be-
ing united with Marion Canby. They now
reside at Tumwater, not far from Olympia,
Washington, and have no children.
When he was still a small child, Joseph
Russell McAllister was taken by his mother
and stepfather to Olympia, Washington, in
the vicinity of which place he was reared to
manhood and received a common school edu-
cation. He grew up an ambitious youth, and
when little more than a lad left home and
secured employment with the Northern Paci-
fic Railroad, the line of which ran near his
stepfather's dwelling, and the next fifteen
years of his life were passed in railroading.
First employed as a brakeman, he worked his
way up by successive stages until he was put
in charge of an engine and for three years
traveled through the West and Middle West
in an engine cab with his hand upon the throt-
tle. His journeyings finally brought him to
Ohio, but it was in St. Paul, Minnesota, that
he met and married the lady who is now his
wife and who prevailed upon him to give up
railroading for agricultural work. Mr. McAl-
lister had had but little experience in farm-
ing, but his adaptability demonstrated itself
in the manner in which he adopted his new
vocation. He applied himself resolutely to
mastering the principles of farming, and in the
short time that he has been a tiller of the soil
has achieved a marked success. At this time
he is the owner of a farm of 621,1; acres, in
section 24, Napoleon Township, just south of
of the corporation limits of the City of Napo-
leon, in the fertile valley of the Maumee River.
The greater part of this land is in a fine state
of cultivation and has grown as high as 100
bushels of corn, 40 bushels of wheat and 70
bushels of oats to the acre. Since his arrival
Mr. McAllister has constantly endeavored to
add to his buildings and equipment, and in
addition to his comfortable dwelling has good
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1489
outbuildings and a barn 30 by 86 feet, with an
"el" 36 by 44 feet. He uses modern machin-
ery and appliances in his operations and is
quick to realize the benefit of new ideas and to
use them in his own work. Mr. McAllister is a
Mason and a member of the Woodmen of the
World, having joined the latter lodge while a
.resident of the State of Washington. He has
_had no time for politics, but has supported
good men and beneficial measures and main-
tains an interest in things that affect his
community.
Mr. McAllister was married October 7, 1905,
to Miss Olive May French, who was born
September 23, 1872, on the farm on which
she now lives, and was educated in the local
schools and in an art school in New York
State. She is a daughter of William and
Sarah (Miller) French, who were born in
Licking County, Ohio, and were brought to
Henry County by their parents when they
were children. They were educated, reared
and married in Napoleon Township, where
they settled down to farming on a property
located on Holgate Pike, south of Napoleon,
the property on which Mr. and Mrs. McAllis-
ter now make their home. They were greatly
respected and esteemed in their community.
Mr. French died October 29, 1914, at the age
of sixty-seven years, Mrs. French having
pas.sed away on the 7th of the .same month,
when sixty-three years old. They had two
children ; Leonard E., now one of the pros-
perous farmers of Napoleon Township, mar-
ried Freda Stroeh and has three children:
Margaret, Inez and Ernest ; and Olive May,
now Mrs. McAllister. To Mr. and Mrs. McAl-
lister there have come three children : Wil-
liam L., who was born May 5, 1909; ]\Iarion
Francis, born September 2.3, 1910 ; and Eliza-
beth Ellen, born July 24, 1914.
L. C. Brodbeck is a very successful lawyer
at St. Marys. His membership in the local
bar covers ten years, and the service he has
rendered as a capable attorney has well .justi-
fied his choice of this profession as a career.
Nearly all his life has been spent in St.
Mar.ys and his parents Were also natives of
that town and still reside there. His grand-
fathers on both sides came from Germany.
The name of his paternal grandfather was
Mathias Brodbeck.
L. C. Brodbeck was born at St. Marys,
October 30, 1882, a son of Julius P. and
Paulina (Hoppel) Brodbeck. His father was
born November 28, 18.54, and his mother April
27, 1861, and they grew up and were married
at St. Marys. Julius Brodbeck is a contractor
and for some years was connected with the
oil fields as a rig builder. He is a republican,
and while his own church aifiliation is Luth-
eran his wife and children are Catholics. At
an earlier period of his career Julius Brod-
beck spent five years in Kansas, and when
he returned to Ohio he was at the bottom
financially, but by hard work has recovered
and is now rated as a successful man in his
community. He and his wife have seven
children : Agnes, wife of L. C. Hirsch, a St.
jMarys attorney; L. C. ; Walter, who is a rural
mail carrier: Ethel, employed at Piqua;
Helen, a trained nurse at Dayton; Stella, a
stenographer living at St. Marys; and Paul-
ine, still at home.
L. C. Brodbeck was graduated from the St.
Marys High School in 1900. Following his
liigh school course he taught two years, and
largely from his earnings in that occupation
he paid at least part of his expenses while in
law school. He attended the University of
Michigan in the law department, and was
graduated in 1906. Since then he has prac-
ticed in his native city, and has handled
business not only in the local courts but in the
federal courts of Ohio. For the year of
1914-1.5 he served as city solicitor. Through
the vacancy caused by the removal from St.
jVIarys of H. F. Wittenbrink, Mr. Brodbeck
was appointed to fill the vacancy.
In 1906, the year he graduated from law
school, Mr. Brodbeck married Olece Barkume.
She was born in Detroit, studied law, and she
and Mr. Brodbeck became acquainted while
in law school at Ann Arbor.' They are active
members of the Catholic Church and Mr.
Brodbeck is a republican.
Amos Bl.\nk. With the coming of Amos
Blank to Henry County in 1895 an element
of strength and purpose was added to the
upbuilding forces of a prosperous community.
For a number of years Mr. Blank had been
engaged in farming and in the sawmilling
Imsiness in Sandusky County, and when he
came to his new home he was prepared to
enter actively into the life of the community
and to contribute to its progress and well-
being. So strongly did he impress his per-
sonality and ability upon the agriculturists
of his locality that at the organization of the
Henry County Farmers Mutual Fire Insur-
ance Company they unhesitatingly elected him
its first president, and he remained at the
1490
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
head of the organization until his retirement,
a few months prior to his death, his soundness
of judgment and strong executive ability plac-
ing the company upon a sound and stable
foundation.
Mr. Blank came of good, sturdy Pennsyl-
vania ancestry and of Dutch stock. His
father, William Blank, was born in the Key-
stone State in the latter part of the seven-
teenth century, and was there thi-ee times
married. The name of his first wife is not
known. His second wife was Anna Hess,
who became the mother of David, Abraham,
Peter, Amos, Malinda, Matilda, Elizabeth and
Mary, all of wliom were married except Mary,
and all now deceased except Malinda and
Matilda, both widows. The latter now lives
in Toledo and is Mrs. Crisleb, and the former,
Mrs. McChristen, i-esides near Saint Johns,
Michigan. By his last marriage, to a Penn-
sylvania girl, William Blank had two chil-
dren : Emmeline, deceased, who was the wife
of Daniel Shively ; and William, Jr., formerly
a farmer of Washington State, but now living
with Mrs. Blank, a widow with one daughter,
Lena, who is married and has two children.
The youngest of his parents ' children, Amos
Blank was born at Gibsonburg. Sandusky,
County, Ohio, April 20, 1841. He was reared
in his native county, where he secured a public
school education, and continued to be engaged
in farming on the home place until about the
year 1885 when he left home to go into the
sawmilling business in partnership witli his
brother, each having a half interest in the
enterprise. After three years he disposed of
his holdings in the mill and resumed farming,
and continued to be so engaged until coming
to Henry County, in 1895. Here, in section
19, Harrison Township, he purchased a tract
of 260 acres of the very best land, which con-
tinued to be his home until the time of his
death. He made many improvements on this
property, including barns and outbuildings
and a fine ten-room residence, brick, of modern
architecture, and equipped the farm with
every up-to-date appliance in the way of
machinery.
When the Henry County Farmers Mutual
Fire Insurance Company was under organiza-
tion the founders of this enterprise had little
trouble in agreeing upon the man tp- place in
the chief executive position. Mr. Blank's
broad experience, his sound judgment, his
conservative views, his absolute integrity in
business affairs and strict probity in private
life, and the firm confidence in which he was
held by the people of Henry County, made
him the logical candidate for the position of
president, and in that post he was placed.
The officials had no reason to regret of their
choice, nor had the people. Under his able
administration of afl:'airs, the company fol-
lowed a policy of absolute fairness, of con-
servatism blended with progressiveness, and •
of principles founded upon the fundamentals _
of honesty, and the affairs of the organization
progressed and prospered to such an extent
that it became one of the soundest organiza-
tions of its kind in the state. If he had done
nothing else, the farmers of Henry County
would have reason to remember Mr. Blank
with gratitude for the work he did in building
up an institution which has been of such great
benefit to them. In January-, 1911, feeling
that he had done his duty in connection with
this compan,v, he refused re-election, and was
succeeded in office by H. S. Ilashbarger, the
present incumbent.
As a citizen Mv. Blank did his full share —
and more — in the promotion of public enter-
prises. He was never too busy to give of his
time, or his influence, his means or his abili-
ties, to the advancement of anything that
promised to be for the general welfare. For
years he had been a strong prohibitionist, and
had fought valiantly in the cause of temper-
ance. As a fratemalist, he belonged to
Napoleon Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons,
and Haly Chapter, Ro.val Arch Masons. No
one ever doubted his pure motives ; he was at
all times fair and above board, and in his
death the community of Napoleon lost a citi-
zen upon whose honor it could alisolutely rely.
About a month before his death, Mr. Blank,
accompanied by his wife, went to Bartlesville,
Oklahoma, to visit a son. There Mr. Blank
contracted a severe cold wliich turned into
pneumonia, and after an illness of but ten
days' duration he passed away April 2, 1911,
aged sixty-nine years, eleven months, twelve
days. The remains were brought back to
Napoleon for interment, and the funeral serv-
ices were held under the auspices of the
Masonic lodge. Rev. W. A. Mast officiating.
On August 30, 1868, Mr. Blank was united
in marriage with Miss Emma Clifford, who
was born at Wellington, Lorain County, Ohio,
August 20, 1848, and was brought as a child
to Sandusky County, Ohio, where she was
reared and educated. Mrs. Blank is a great-
granddaughter of John Clifford, who was born
at Providence, Rhode Island, in 1777, the son
of a soldier of the Revolutionary war. He
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1491
was one of the men who entered the wildei'-
ness of Lorain County. Ohio, in 1818, and
founded the Village of Wellington. There he
became a prosperous farmer, clearing up a
good property on Wellington Creek, where he
passed away September 17. 1869, at the age
of ninety -two years. While John Clitford was
a man of courage and decision, he was mild
mannered, quiet, sj'mpathetic and of loving
and lovable character, and these characteris-
tics have been inherited in large degree by
his descendants. He was a member of the
Methodist K]iisropal Cliurch, to which the
family ha\i' iiciici'iill.y belonged.
Among the children of John Clifford was
Daniel Clifford, the grandfather of Mrs.
Blank. He was born in Massachusetts, in
1799, and in 1818 came to Lorain County,
Ohio, with his father, there growing up in
the wilds and experiencing the vicissitudes and
hardships of life in an unsettled community.
He married a pioneer girl from Massachusetts.
Sarah P. Hall, their wedding being after the
manner of the times, a log cabin affair to
which the guests traveled by horse and ox-
team, Mr. Clifford using the latter means of
conveyance when he went after his bride.
Their honeymoon journey consisted of a four-
day trip by ox-team to their lonely hut in the
woods where they began life. Their entire
lives were passed on their farm, where they
built up a comfortable homestead, reared a
family that was a credit to tliem, and gained
the respect and estfcin of the entire com-
munity by their sti'jii^litt'oiwai-d and honor-
able lives. Mr. Cliflurd was about eighty
years of age at the time of his death, while
Mrs. Clifford was several years younger when
she passed away two years later.
Henry Sheldon Clifford, son of Daniel and
Sarah P. Clifford, and father of Mrs. Blank,
was born at Wellington, Lorain County.
March 3. 1827. He grew up on the old home
farm, and worked thereon until he was sixteen
years of age. at which time he started to learn
the trade of blacksmith, a vocation wliieh he
followed until within a few vcaj's- of his death,
August 5, 1899. In 1868 he had changed his
residence to Lemoyne. Wood County, and
there he resided for a period of thirty-one
years. Mr. Clifford was married in Lorain
County to Miss Sophronia Merrill, who was
born at Rochester, Lorain County, in 1824,
and who died in that county February 23,
1851, leaving two daughters: Mrs. Emma
Blank, and Josephine, the wife of Benjamin
Wice, living at Pemberville, Wood County,
with a family of sons and daughters. For his
second wife, Henry S. Clifford married Sarah
Colburn, who was born January 28, 1823, and
died without issue, June 23, 1908. She was
a faithful wife and Christian woman, and a
real mother to her step-daughters. Henry S.
Clifford is remembered as a man of sturdy
honesty and strength of character, who won
friends by his many fine qualities, and confi-
dence and esteem by his integrity and up-
right dealing.
To Mr. and Mrs. Blank there were born
eight children, as follows : Emma J., born in
1870, who died in 1871 ; Amos Byron, a suc-
cessful oil operator of Bartlesville, Oklahoma,
who married Bertha Vockman, of Napoleon,
and has one son, Freeman B. ; Myrtle M., who
is the wife of Sheldon Osborn, of Indianapolis,
Indiana, and has four children, Florence who
is married and has three children. May who
is married, Emma who is married, and Frank-
lin who resides with his parents; John Pal-
mer, who is now carrying on operations on
the home farm as manager for his mother's
interests, married Nettie Long, and has three
children, Frances, Catherine and Helen; Iva
B., the wife of Charles Hagerty, a successful
agriculturist of Liberty Township, Henry
County, has three children, Charles A., Clara
and Clarence, the last two twins; William
H., a well-known horseman of Napoleon, a
breeder of fine draft horses and the owner of
three registered thoroughbreds, is unmarried
and makes his home with his mother ; Bertha,
who is the wife of William Hincher, a plumber
of Napoleon, and has one son, Rockwell B.;
and Effa J., who is the wife of Samuel AUer-
ton, a well-known musician of Napoleon.
Walter H. L.\dd. There is hardly a bet-
ter known man in the Bass Islands than Wal-
ter H. Ladd. He has spent forty years in and
around Put-in-Bay.
He first became known in that community
in 1872, when he was about twenty-two years
of age. His early life had been spent in San-
dusky, where he was born in 1855. Coming
to Put-in-Bay he put in the summer of 1872
as an employe in the Put-in-Bay Hotel boat-
house. In the fall of the same year he re-
turned to Sandusky and was employed there
at different lines until 1878. In the summer
of 1878 he was again at Put-in-Bay and has
never left that community since then. He
resumed his services with the Put-in-Bay
House and until that old structure was burned
on August 3, 1878. The following year he
1492
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
started in business for himself with a boat-
house, his first location being in front of the
Grove. Later this was condemned by the
city and he then rented space on the Fox
dock. That was the location at which his
many friends and patrons found him until the
fire which destroyed the dock in 1914. Since
then he has continued his boating service at a
temporary location.
After coming to Put-in-Bay Mr. Ladd mar-
ried Elizabeth MeElroy of Elyria. Most of
their children are already established in busi-
ness or in homes of their own. Walter S. is
now postmaster of Put-in-Bay and also has a
shoe and notion store ; he married a daughter
of Rudolph Siefield of North Bass Island.
Mayme, the next in age,' lives at home. Georgia
who died in 1913 was the wife of Hal Frisbee
of Cleveland. Ed R. is in business at Detroit.
Harry is foreman for Charles Stenson of Port
Clinton. Nathan H. is still at home with his
father. Mr. Ladd's mother is still living, now
eighty-five years of age, and makes her home
with her son in Put-in-Bay. 'Sir. Ladd's
father was one of the early settlers and a well
known lake captain for many years around
Sandusky, locating at what was then known
as Blooming\'ille. He died in Hammot Hos-
pital, Erie, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Ladd has long been one of the stanch
factors in the republican party at Put-in-Bay.
In recent years he has not been so prominent
a party man as formerly. For a long time he
has held the office of presiding judge of elec-
tions, has served on the council, and every one
knows him for a sterling and upright citi-
zen. During the winter season he spends his
time at the United States fish hatcheries assist-
ing in the propagation of white fish.
His friends tell a story in which he is highly
commended for the heroic part he played in
the fire which destroyed Fox dock a year or
so ago. At tlie time of the fire a barge loaded
with oil and gasoline in barrels was alongside
the dock, and the fire communicated to this
cargo. Mr. Ladd recognizing tliat the only
wa}^ to save the shore end of the dock and the
Commodore Hotel was to get the dangerons
barge out of the way, rode out in a boat and
fastened a line to the burning scow, and while
the barrels were exploding and throwing
burning oil and gasoline in every direction he
towed the barge away out of the radius of
danger and thus prevented what might have
been a very disastrous conflagration, though
only at the expense of some severe burns
around the head and face from the liquid fire.
C. W. ScHMEHL. The resolute, enterpris-
ing man is never discouraged by temporary
setbacks and failures. There is a good deal
of truth in the old assertion that no one ever
succeeds unless he fails. When C. W.
Schmehl. now a leading lumber mill owner
at St. Marys, left the old farm on which he
was reared in Auglaize County, he made his
first serious venture as a general merchant.
He kept his store through ups and downs for
five years, and then came the failure. This
disaster put him back to the point of begin-
ning, with only his experience and some lia-
bilities to show for his five yeai's of earnest
effort as a merchant. He began working at
common labor, then found office employment,
and finally entered the service of the St.
jVIarys Wbeel and Spoke Company. He was
■with that concern for sixteen years. In that
time he did every kind of service in the office
and plant. He bought timber, sold the goods
on the road, and made himself .so generally
useful to the company that he was made
assistant treasurer, an office he resigned when
he left the firm in 1905. In that year he
made his start as a sawmill man. He had
only $200 to apply on the purchase price of
his sawmill, but he has long since paid out
on all his obligations and has one of the prin-
cipal mills in Auglaize County, cutting all
kinds of timber and with a large market for
the entire cut.
Mr. Schmehl was born at Erie, Pennsyl-
vania, March 11. 1859, but has lived in Aug-
laize County practically all his life. His
parents are John and Louisa Schmehl, both
natives of Mecklenburg, Germany, where his
father was born in 1832 in ilecklenburg and
his mother in Westphalia in 1829. Both the
grandfathers were killed while serving in the
German army. John Schmehl died in 1896
and his widow, now eighty-seven years of age,
is still living in Auglaize County. They were
married in Erie, PenusA'lvania, about 1855.
John Schmehl came to the United States at
the age of eigliteen, lived in Rochester, New
York, for a time, and then went to Erie,
Pennsylvania, and in 1860 brought his family
to Ohio and settled in Auglaize County. He
lived to clear up a farm and make a good
home for himself and family. He and his
wife were members of the German Lutheran
Church and in polities he was a republican.
There were fourteen children altogether, and
five are still living: C. W. Schmehl; Caro-
line, widow of Charles Koch : Magdalene,
widow of William Sterth and living in Colum-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1493
bus; Louisa, wife of Conrad Lechner, a
farmer; and William F., who is a truck
farmer at Alexandria, Louisiana.
C. W. Schmehl grew up on the old farm
in Auglaize County and received his educatiou
in the district schools. In 1879 he married
Mary Born, who was born in Lancaster, Ohio.
Seven children were born into their home :
Amelia, now deceased ; Bertha, wife of Charles
Rose, a manufacturer of New York City;
Clara and Louisa, both deceased; Carl W.,
Hazel and Enna, all living at home. The
son, Carl, has attained the thirty-second de-
gree in the Masonic order, though still quite
a young man. Mr. and Mrs. Schmehl belong
to the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Schmehl
has passed all the chairs in the Odd Fellows
lodge and in Masonry is senior warden in the
Blue Lodge and belongs to the Royal Arch
Consistory, the council and the various Scot-
tish Rite bodies. In matters of politics he is
a republican, but has never sought office and
gives all his time to the operation of his lum-
ber mills.
Hermann Ruh. One of the successful
grape growers at Put-in-Bay, Ohio, who has
grown up in the business and understands
both tlie proper cultivation of the vines and
the manufacture of wine, is Hermann Ruh,
whose father was one of the pioneer settlers
here. Hermann Ruh was born on the east
point of South Bass Island, Lake Erie, July
18, 1869. and is a son of Charles and Christian
(Brandt-Schmidt) Ruh.
Charles Ruh was born in Baden, Germany,
December 31, 1834, and in 1853 came to the
United States and located at Sandu.sky, Ohio.
There he was married April 17, 1854, to
Christain Brandt-Schmidt, who was born in
Baden, Germany, August 10, 1828. In the
year of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ruh
came to Put-in-Bay, where Mr. Ruh entered
the employ of Mr. Rivera, who was the o\vner
of this island. In his own country, Charles
Ruh had learned the tanner's trade but after
coming to America he was otherwise engaged.
When he reached Put-in-Bay there were three
other residents besides Mr. Rivera: Philip
Vroman, Archibald Jones and an old Indian.
The latter soon got into difficulties with the
white settlers through his thieving propensi-
ties and was forced to go elsewhere.
In the meanwhile Mr. Rivera had discovered
how admirably the island soil was suited to
the culture of fruit, partieiilarly grapes and
he had no difficulty in selling it in parcels ap-
propriate for the setting out of vines and
establishing a vineyard. About 1857 or 1858
Mr. Ruh had secured through his industry
enough capital to purchase a place on east
point. This exhausted his means and he had
no money left with which to buy gi-ape cut-
tings or roots that were being distributed by
Louis Harms, who is credited with being the
introducer here of the Delaware variety of
grape. Mr. Ruh was determined to secure
some of these roots and succeeded in getting
four, paying for the same by taking his ox-
team and ploughing two days for Jlr. Harms.
With these he started his vineyard.. At that
time grapes were mainly grown for the manu-
facture of wine and from his first grape har-
vest Mr. Ruh pressed out 500 gallons of juice.
Perhaps he had not yet learned every fact
concerning the fermenting of grape .iuice for
the cask burst in which he had put the liquid
and was a total loss. In the course of time
lie acquired a wine cellar where he could
equalize the temperature and he became a
large wine producer and continued in the
business as long as he lived. His death oc-
curred in 1895 and that of his wife in 1901.
They had two children : Hermann and Marie,
the latter of whom resides at home.
Hermann Ruh attended school at Put-in-
Bay. He assisted his father in the vineyard
and in wine-making and also in the latter 's
meat market, for Mr. Ruh, in common with
most of the other islanders, carried on several
business lines, he being a supplier of meat
to Put-in-Hay. Hermann Ruh is now success-
fully operating the home place of twenty-four
acres, sixteen of which are devoted to vine-
yard purposes and the rest to general farming
and orchards. Mr. Ruli cniitiiiued jn-essing
his own grapes until liH:; t)ut since then,
through excellent trade (■(innpctiDiis, he has
been selling his crop as it is picked. In many
sections the grape is yet a luxury but the
time is coming when people will surely regard
it as a necessity, a fragrant wholesome food
and medicine.
Mr. Ruh was married to Miss Wilhelmina
Ritter, who was born in Baden, Germany, and
is a daughter of Ernest Ritter, who came to
Sandusky, Ohio, in 1882, where he was a car-
penter and contractor.
Jlr. Ruh, like his late father, is a man well
posted concerning public matters. The former
is a republican and has never been willing to
serve in public office, but the latter was an in-
dependent democrat and on more than one
occasion was elected to local office, serving
1494
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
honorably and efficiently as trustee and as a
member of the board of education. Mr. Ruh
is one of the substantial men of the island
and one of the most highly respected.
Charles G. Riedling, a native of Put-in-
Bay, has been actively identified with the pub-
lic affairs and the business life of that island
for the greater part of his life. His father,
the late Frederick Riedling, came to the island
from Toledo in 1867. Frederick Riedling was
a high class German, scholarly, broadly ex-
perienced, and for years exercised more than
average influence in every community where
he lived. He was born in Germany. He was
a student in that country and like many of the
university men participated in the revolu-
tionary uprising of 1848. As a result he and
countless hosts of Germans found it necessary
to expatriate themselves and find a haven of
refuge in the United States. Frederick Ried-
ling settled in Ohio. Being one of the few
men in the United States at that time who
could interpret the complexities of the Chinese
alphabet, he was offered and accepted a place
in the Government postoffice and was in the
dead letter office at Washington during Lin-
coln's administration. After the war he went
to Sandusky, then to Toledo, and in 1867
to Put-iu-Bay. While living in Toledo he was
connected with the Humboldt Nurseries. At
Pnt-in-Bay he bought some land on the West
Side and began farming and grape growing,
an occupation which he followed steadily until
his death in 1904 at the age of seventy-one.
As an American citizen he was a steadfast
republican and for many years was a figure
in local politics at Put-in-Bay. He served as a
member and president of the board of educa-
tion and gave a capable performance in every
public or private capacity. His children were :
William, who died at Put-in-Bay in 1892;
Lizzie, wife of George lliller of Pnt-in-Bav :
Emma, wife of W. F. Mack of Toledo; Rose,
wife of E. L. Cook of Monroe, Michigan;
Charles G. : and Jennie, of Put-in-Bay.
After leaving home Charles G. Riedling
started out as a fruit grower. Later he was
entrusted with the management of the Riveria
Estate while it was being wound up, and that
task completed he removed to Port Clinton
and for two years was superintendent of the
Port Clinton Canning Company, in which
he held some stock. For several years Mr.
Riedling was in the service of a Sandusky
contracting firm, and in that time had charge
of several contracts at Put-in-Bay. It was this
experience which led him to start out for him-
self as a contractor, and since 1913 he has
been in business alone as a general contractor.
He does all kinds of cement work and also
general carpentry and building.
Mr. Riedling married Mrs. Caroline Ott
Dillenbeck of Sandusky.
A republican, as was his father, he con-
tinuously held office in some capacitj' or other
at Put-in-Bay for twenty years. He has been
a member of the school board, was supervisor
five or six years and is now township assessor,
a position which his fellow citizens have re-
turned him to again and again during the past
fifteen years. He also served in the town
council and was chairman of the Finance
Committee and treasurer of the Sinking Fund
Trustees. Mr. Riedling is a prominent Mason,
being affiliated with the Lodge, Chapter and
Knight Templar Cominandery and with the
Scottish Rite bodies, including the thirty-
second degree consistory at Toledo. He was
raised to the consistory degrees with the
Twentieth Century Club at Cleveland, but
when the new temple was erected at Toledo
he and others of this section became charter
members of that organization.
John H. Koenig, since starting his career
a comparatively poor boy thirty years ago,
has prospered in several different fields of
undertaking, especially as a lawyer and as a
real estate man. He is now identified with
St. Marys, where he has his office as a dealer
in real estate and from which point he directs
his various interests.
Nearly all his life he has lived in Auglaize
County and was born near St. Marys, May
29, 1868, a son of Jacob and Barbara (Hop-
pel) Koenig. His father, who was born in
Wuertemberg, Germany, June 6, 1844, came
to America when nine years of age with his
father, Charles Koenig. The latter died in
Auglaize County. Jacob Koenig grew up on
a farm, and though given only the advantages
of common schools made a splendid success
as a farmer. For a few years he was in the
butcher business at Celina. Though past
seventy years of age he is still living on his
old homestead in Auglaize County and has a
fine and well improved farm of 115 acres.
He is a member of St. Paul's German Re-
formed Church, a democrat, and has been
elected to various township offices. His wife,
Barbara Hoppel, was born near Dayton, Ohio,
February 23, 1845. They were married at
St. Marys, and have shared a common destiny
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1493
in life for nearly half a century. Their four
children were : John H. ; Rose R., wife of
Guy Heap, a farmer and oil man at St.
Marys; Laura, wife of Willis Armstrong, a
farmer; and Jacob F., who is probate judge
of Auglaize County.
John H. Koenig spent his early life on a
farm, completed his early education in St.
Marys High School, and largely by his own
efforts gained a liberal higher training. He
taught in the township schools for several
terms. For a time he was a student in the
Ohio Wesleyan University, and then entered
the law school of the University of Michigan
at Ann Arbor, where he graduated LL. B.
in 1893. For a number of years he was in
active practice at St. Marys and had a profit-
able and distinctive clientage. He then be-
came interested in the project of constructing
a traction line between Decatur and Fort
Wayne, Indiana, known as the Fort Wayne
& Springfield Railway Company. He was
largely responsible for the successful carrying
out of this undertaking, and gave it nearly
all his time between 1903 and 1915. In the
meantime he began dealing in real estate, aiid
has developed a large amount of property in
and around St. IMarys, both town and farm
property.
Mr. Koenig has taken quite an active part
in democratic politics, and liis ehureli mem-
bership is with tlie German Reformed (.'hurch.
On June 24, 1903, he married Clara Boesel,
who was born in New Bremen, Ohio, daughter
of Charles Boesel, a prominent resident of
New Bremen and at one time state senator.
Four children have been born to their union,
and the three living are : Anita, John Henry,
Jr., and Charles Jacob.
WiLLi.\M ScHNOOR. Hard work and many
difficulties have apparently been no obstacle
in the career of William Sehnoor, who has
steadily marched forward to success and is
now one of the leading merchants of Put-in-
Bay, being the principal stockholder in the
largest merchandise establishment there.
He was born at Oak Harbor in Ottawa
County, Ohio, in 1875, a son of Peter ]\I. and
Caroline (Buttenhagen) Sehnoor. His father
came from Germany at the age of fourteen
with his mother, and spent his early life in
Oak Harbor, where he finished his education.
He married there, his wife being a daughter
of Charles Buttenhagen, who also came from
Germany. Charles Buttenhagen was one of
the earlv settlers on ^Middle Bass Island, where
Mrs. Peter Sehnoor was born. Charles But-
tenhagen on coming to America lived for a
short time in New York, spent ten years in
Sandusky, and then settled on Middle Bass
Island where he died. Peter Sehnoor was an
active farmer until 1907, when he retired and
is now living at Oak Harbor. He and his wife
have the following children: Theresa, who
married J. A. Fought and lives in Oak Har-
bor; Frank, who died at the age of thirty-
six ; jMatilda, a resident of Toledo ; William ;
Edward, of Chicago; Henry, of Oak Harbor;
Albert, of Cleveland; Paul, of Toledo; Carl,
of Toledo ; Milton and ilarie, both at home.
Since he was twelve years of age William
Sehnoor has been depending upon his own
resources and energy to bring him success.
He received only a meager education before
leaving home. For three years he was em-
ployed by an uncle at wages of $3 a week.
That did not seem enough to him, and after
the conclusion of a harvest season he ran
away and found work at picking grapes at
$20 a month on Middle Bass Island. He was
On the island for six years, doing farm work
in the summer seasons and attending school
to improve his education in the winter. At
the age of twenty he began working on the
wharf of Mr. Fox. Until he was twenty-one
years of age ]Mr. Sehnoor sent most of his
earnings home to his father.
After leaving the wharf employment he was
clerk for John Holloway in the latter 's store
at Put-in-Bay, receiving as his remuneration
$12.50 for the first month. That was the start
of his successful career as a merchant. After
five years he liad reached a point in experi-
ence and in tlie careful accumulation of capi-
tal which enabled him to buy a fifth interest
in the store, and the title of the firm then
became Holloway & Company. Later he
bought another fifth interest. Next, in part-
nership with S. M. Johannsen he bought out
Mr. Holloway and each of the new partners
took a half interest. Upon the retirement of
the senior Mr. Johannsen in September, 1915,
^Ir. Sehnoor acquired a three-fifth interest in
the business, the other two shares being held
by Carl Johannsen, a son of S. JI. Johannsen,
and Frank Fox, who is a native of the island.
The firm is now known as Sehnoor, Johann-
sen and Fox. It is the largest general mer-
chandise stock kept on the island, and the
volume of business annually aggregates more
than $50,000.-
Mr. Sehnoor married Mi.ss Maime Weise, a
daughter of Joseph Weise of Sandusky. They
1496
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
are the parents of one son, Lynn, who was
born in 1907. Mr. Schnoor is an active repub-
lican and town treasurer of Put-in-Bay, is
afiSliated with the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows at Put-in-Bay and with the Lodge of
Elks at Sandusky, and is a member of the
Episcopal Church.
Parker B. Robinson, M. D. Since Doctor
Robinson located at Put-in-Bay thirteen years
ago, his abilities and his constant devotion to
his profession have won him the place of being
the leading physician and surgeon of the
island.
A native of Ohio, he was born in Fulton
County west of Wauseon August 19, 1874.
His father, T. R. Robinson, who is now living,
retired at Wauseon, was an early settler in
Fulton County and for many years followed
farming.
It was on his father's farm that Doctor Rob-
inson spent his early years. He attended the
common schools and the Wauseon High School,
and having no immediate means with which
to pay his expenses for medical training, he
taught school four years. He also completed
the scientific course in the Ohio Northern Uni-
versity at Ada, and in the spring of 1904
graduated M. D. from the medical department
of Northwestern University at Evauston, Illi-
nois. He is a well trained and broad minded
physician, and has shown unusual resourceful-
ness in meeting all the exigencies and prob-
lems which come up in a physician's practice.
The summer following his graduation he
spent at home partly for rest and recupera-
tion and partly to look after his mother who
was then in poor health. On September 8,
1904, Doctor Robinson located in Put-in-Bay,
and has since carried on a general practice as
physician and surgeon. He lives on the island
the year around, and besides his steady pat-
ronage among the permanent residents he has
a large practice during the summer season
among the visitors to the island. Doctor Rob-
inson is a member of the Ottawa County ]\Iedi-
cal Staff, the Ohio State Medical Society and
the American Medical Association.
He has been a vigorous and effective worker
in behalf of local improvement. He is a stock-
holder and director in the Put-in-Bay Im-
provement Company, is serving on the local
school board and town council, and has been
a member of the council continuously since
1905 with the exception of one term spent in
the mayor's chair. Dr. Robinson is a repub-
lican, a Mason, an Odd Fellow, and a member
of the Put-in-Bay Board of Trade.
He married Miss Eina J. Weisel of Mon-
roe, Jlichigan. Their five children are : Don-
ald, Irene, Parker B., Jr., Douglas and John
S.
Alonzo Conant during his active lifetime
was one of the men who by their enterprise,
foresight and business activities secured and
brought about a definite business and civic
distinction for the City of Van Wert.
AVhen he came to Van Wert in 1852 he
found only a village, and a large part of the
land now occupied by the city was then
covered with woods. All the surrounding
country was largely undeveloped and a scant
population had found homes in this now
populous and wealthy county. There were
no railroads. By its position on the canal
Delphos then had a dominating importance
as a trade and transportation center. It was
with a view toward the future and with
strenuous endeavor for the present that
Alonzo Conant and his ijublie spirited asso-
ciates laid the foundation upon which the
solid superstructure of the City of Van Wert
now stands. For a number of years he was
an active merchant, being engaged in the
grocery business with Simon Swinford. In
1868 the Eagle Stave Company was organized,
and he was elected as general mauager, a
position he filled three years. For many
years Mr. Conant was one of the leading
bankers in We.stern Ohio. In 1871 he be-
came a director in the First National Bank
at Van Wert and in 1878 was elected presi-
dent, an ofBce he continued to fill until his
death on August 3, 1896.
Mr. Conant represented the sturdy stock
of New England which in the early years of
the seventeenth century introduced civiliza-
tion to the rugged shores of New England,
and thus by ancestry he was well fitted for
the work which he found awaiting him in
Western Ohio. He was born on a farm in
Turner, Androscoggin County, Maine, March
17, 1817, and lived to be nearly eighty years
of age.
He was a lineal descendant of Roger Con-
ant, who was born in England and was
baptized at All Saints Chui-ch, the parish
of East Budleigh, Devonshire, England,
April 9, 1592, the youngest child of Richard
and Agnes ( Clarke ) Conant. His early years
were spent in England, and in November,
1618, he was married in London. In 1623
^ /ddyucO^^yh-
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1497
Roger Coiiant came to America. His firsrt
location was at Plymouth. The original Ply-
mouth colonists it will be remembered were
Separatists in religious doctrine and practice,
while Roger Conant represented that greater
body of Non-Conformists who a few years
later comprised the bulk of the population of
the Massachusetts Bay colony. It was on
account of diit'erences in religious belief that
Roger Conant remained only a short time in
Plymouth. In the winter "of 1624-25 Rev.
John "White of Dorchester chose him to govern
a if airs on Cape Ann. The company of which
he was the head made the first settlement in
the ^Massachusetts Bay colony, and thus Roger
Conant, though most historians have not so
recognized him, was entitled to the honor of
being the first governor of Massachusetts. He
performed a notable service in calling the
attention of prominent persons in England
to the advantages of Massachiisetts for pur-
poses of colonization. Those largely respon-
sible for the direction of emigration to
America from England had hitherto been
inclined to depreciate the Massachusetts Bay
situation, and it is said that but for Roger
Conant the colony might have been abandoned
on the bay. Hi.s home was at Old Salem,
and he built the first frame house erected in
that historic city. In 1628 he was succeeded
as governor by John Endicott. Many years
ago a statue of Roger Conant was erected on
"\Yashington Square in Salem.
But a better portrait of him and one more
familiar to Americans in general was drawn
by Hawthorne in "The Snow Image and
Other Twice Told Tales." In that clas.sic
Hawthorne writes as follows: "Roger Conant,
the first settler in Naumkeag, has bnilt his
dwelling, months ago, on the boi-der of the
forest path ; and at this moment he comes
eastward through the vista of woods, with
his gun over his shoulder, bringing home the
choice portions of a deer. His stalwart figure,
clad in a leather jerkin and breeches of the
same, strides sturdily onward, w'ith such an
air of physical force and energy' that we
might almost expect the very trees to stand
aside and give him room to pass. And so,
indeed, they must : for, humble as is his name
in history, Roger Conant is still of that class
of men who do not merely find, but make
their place in the sy.stem of human affairs ; a
man of thoughtful strength, he has planted
the germ of a city. There stands his habita-
tion, showing in its rough architecture some
feature of the Indian wigwam, and some of
the log cabin, and somewhat, too, of the straw
thatched cottage in old England, where this
good yeoman had his birth and breeding. The
dwelling is surrounded by a cleared s-pace
of a few acres where Indian corn grows thriv-
ingly among the stumps of the trees; while
the dark forest hems it in and seems to gaze
silently and solenmly, as if wondering at the
breadth of sunshine which the white man
spreads about him. An Indian, half hidden
in the dusky shade, is gazing and wondering
too. Within the door of the cottage you
discern the wife, with her riiddy English
cheek. She is singing, doubtless, a psalm
tune, at her household work; or perhaps she
sighs at the remembrance of the cheerful gos-
sip, all the merry social life, of her native
village beyond the vast and melancholy sea.
Yet the next moment she laughs with sym-
pathetic glee, at the sports of her little tribe
of children : and soon turns round, with
the home look in her face, as her husl)and's
foot is heard approaching the rough-hewn
threshold."
Of the Conant family in its various gen-
erations from this pioneer ancestor into recent
years a complete account is given in a family
genealogy that has been compiled and pxib-
lished by Frederick Odell Conant of Portland,
Maine.
The grandfather of the Van Wert pioneer
was Benjamin Conant, who was born at
Bridgewater, Massachusetts, August 29, 1756.
In April. 1775, as a youth of nineteen he was
one of Capt. Nathan Mitchell's Company
which marched to Cambridge at the Lexing-
ton alarm. About 1795 Benjamin Conant
removed to that part of Massachusetts now
included in the Town of Turner, Androscog-
gin County, Maine. He was one of the
pioneers there, and spent there the rest of
his years. His son Benjamin, father of
Alonzo, was born in Bridgewater, Massachu-
setts, September 24, 1794, and was only a
few months old when the family removed to
Turner, Maine. He grew up on a farm and
lived quietly and industriously in that section
all his days. In 1816 he married Althea
Staples, who was born in Massachusetts, July
8, 1793. They became the parents of nine
children. Benjamin Conant and wife were
members of the Universalist Church and
reared their family in the same faith.
It was from the environment of a typical
New England town that Alonzo Conant came
in 1839 to Ohio. He had been reared on a
farm, had been educated in districts schools,
1498
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
and was twenty-two years of age when, with
several companions, he started westward.
Northwest Ohio was then without railroads or
canals, and the first experience of Alonzo was
employment in a stone quarry near Columbus.
Six mouth.s later he began teaching in the
same neighborhood, followed that occupation
one term, and then became clerk in a general
store. From Columbus he removed to Sun-
bury in Delaware County, and was in the
grocery business with David Hayden until he
sold out and removed to Van Wert in 1852.
In Delaware County, November 22, 1849,
three years before coming to Van Wert, he
married Esther Clark. She was born at
Zanesville, Ohio, September 13, 1825. Her
father. Satchel Clark, was born at Sanborn-
ton. New Hampshire, in 1794. came to Ohio
in 1823, and from Zanesville removed to
Orange in Delaware County, where he was
among the pioneers in improving the land
and where he lived until his death. On
September 16, 1816, Satchel Clark married
Eliza Goodhue, who was born in 1795, and
who survived her husband but a short time.
Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Conant had four
daughters: Mary A., lone E., Myrtle A. and
Lida E., two of which are now deceased. The
fine old home which for many years has been
a landmark in Van Wert is now owned and
occupied by the two surviving daughters,
Myrtle and Lida.
The late Mr. Conant was a republican in
politics from the time of the organization of
that party until his death. He was not a
politician, but a man whose integrity and
ability were so respected that he was offered
various offices of trust both in the city and
county. He was a Universalist in religious
belief and a member of Van Wert Lodge of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. A
man of great practical energy, always able
to pull more than his own weight in the
world, he was generous, charitable, unostenta-
tiously doing much for those in misfortune,
and personally is recalled as a man mild in
manner and not only averse to contention
himself but becoming frequently a peace-
maker an^ong others.
LiTc.\s Meyer, who was born at Put-in-Bay,
is not only one of the native sons of the island,
but for years has had a prominent place in its
business and civic activities, and a great many
people have come to look upon him as a land-
mark and a mainstay of that community. He
is proprietor of the Park Hotel and in that
capacity is known to thousands of visitors
to the island.
He was born on East Point, Put-in-Bay,
April 23, 1869, a son of Lucas Meyer, Sr.
His father came from Baden-Baden, Ger-
many, located near Milan, Ohio, but in a little
while moved to Kelleys Island and was em-
ployed in the quarries. When the question of
grape culture on South Bass Island was first
being agitated, he and several others came to
the island to put the plan into practical execu-
tion. A necessary preliminary was the clear-
ing up of the land, which was covered for the
most part by a dense growth of timber. Lucas
Mej'er, Sr., thus became one of the pioneer
grape growers on the Bass Island, and he con-
tinued as a vineyardist on East Point until
his death at the age of eighty-one. He was
survived by three children : John, who re-
mained on the home place and is now de-
ceased ; Mary, wife of John Jacobs of Wood
County; and Lucas.
As a boy Lucas Meyer was attracted to the
excitement and incidents of town life rather
than the quiet routine of the home vineyard.
As soon as old enough he secured employment
in Put-in-Bay. He worked as a pin boy in
the bowling alleys and at such other jobs as
were suited to his age and strength. From
that humble employment he graduated into
a .substantial position in the commercial affairs
of the village, and for a number of years was
employed by some of the well known business
men and concerns of the town. In 1907 Mr.
Meyer bought the Round House and the Park
Hotel property, and has since conducted that
as one of the leading hostelries of the island.
It is without question one of the best hotels
in Put-in-Bay, and he operates it during the
winter as well as in the summer. He has sleep-
ing accommodations for seventy-five guests,
and excellent dining room facilities. Many
people who are well qualified to judge say that
the cuisine of the Park Hotel is unexcelled
anywhere on the island.
Mr. Meyer also owns and operates the old
homestead at East Point. He has taken a
prominent part in local affairs and is one of
the leading democrats in that section of
Ottawa County. He was a member of the
County Central Committee ten years, on the
city council of Put-in-Bay ten years, spent
five or six years looking after the interests
of the schools as a member of the school board,
and for one term enjoyed the dignity and re-
sponsibility of vice mayor. He is a member
of the Elks Lodge at Sandusky, lielongs to
HISTORY OB^ NORTHWEST OHIO
1499
Commodore Periy Lodge No. 730 Independent
Order of Odd Fellows at Put-in-Bay, and
Lake Erie Encampment at Port Clinton.
In 1895 Mr. Meyer married Mi&s Martha
Hinger, who was born and reared on this
island. They have two children: Carlton,
who is now a student in the Ohio State Uni-
versity, and Myron, still at home and attend-
ing high school.
Frank Rittman is the veteran merchant
and business man of Put-in-Bay, having been
identified with commercial affairs in that little
city for a longer time than any other man now
actively connected with that community. His
success and his standing have been in propor-
tion to the long years he has endeavored to
furnish a reliable and adequate service to the
people of the village and island. It was forty
years ago when he came to Put-in-Bay as man-
ager of a local meat market, and for over
thirty years he has been proprietor of that
business. He also owns and operates the
Perry Hotel, one of the popular smaller hotels
of the island. Mr. Rittman cares for a large
part of the winter hotel business in Put-in-
Bay.
He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 22,
1854, a son of Frank Rittman, Sr. When he
was a child the family removed to Sandusky,
and in that city he was reared and educated
and served his apprenticeship at the butcher's
trade with Dempsey & Spade. By the time he
had reached his majority he was not only a
skillful butcher but a reliable business man,
and the firm then sent him to Put-in-Bay to
operate their market. He arrived at Put-in-
Bay April 12, 1876, and has been in business
thei-e ever since. Up to 1885 he conducted
the market of his old employers in Sandusky,
and tlien bought out the business and took
personal supervision on September 12, 1885.
Throughout he has made it a rule to give first
class service, courteous, efficient, and also to
furnish the best available supplies to his
patrons. This policy has won and kept for
him the best trade of the town, and though
four different markets have been opened up at
various times, in competition, they have not
survived long, and he still holds the bulk of
the trade.
^Ir. Rittman married Miss Fannie Parker,
daughter of Alfred Parker. She was seven
years of age when her parents removed to
South Bass Island, and the Parkers were also
among the pioneers of this section of Ottawa
County. Jlr. and ^Irs. Rittman have three
children : George is associated with his father
in the meat business and married Miss Knapp
of Sandusky ; Lucy is the wife of Capt. Gran-
ville Heikle of Put-in-Bay ; and Mayrae is the
wife of Capt. H. Biekford, commander of the
S. S. Perry, which is used for the collection
of eggs for the Ohio State Fish Hatchery.
Mr. Rittman is a republican in polities and
has served as a member of the Put-in-Bay
council. Fraternally he is a member of Com-
modore Perry Lodge No. 730 Independent
Order of Odd Fellows at Put-in-Bay and of
Lake Erie Encampment at Port Clinton.
John J. Day. A gfeat host of people who
spend their summers around Put-in-Bay know
Mr. John J. Day in the capacity of a genial
and successful landlord. 'Sir. Day has been
identified with Put-in-Bay almost continudiisly
for more than forty years. He is proi)rit't(ir
of the noted Bay View Hotel and has made a
success of this and other institutions with
which he has been identified because of his
long experience and a close and careful study
of the needs and conditions of hotel keeping,
particularly of resort hotels.
Mr. Day was born at Minersville, Pennsyl-
vania, October 31, 1867, a son of Mr. and Mrs.
John J. Day, Sr. When he was a few months
old his parents removed to Detroit. Michigan,
where his father was a contractor and builder.
After a few years in the public schools John
J. Day had to start out in life on his own
responsibility. As a youth he learned the
trade of organ builder. In 1883 his father
came to Put-in-Bay for the purpose of work-
ing on the town hall which was then being
constructed. John J. Day came along, being
then twenty years of age, and this locality has
been his home ever since.
Not long afterward he learned that the
estate of John S. Gibbons, containing five
acres of fruit orchard and a fifteen room house
on the Bay Shore, was up for rent, and Mr.
Day took it and there made his start in the
summer hotel business. After a few years he
removed to Ballast Island, and for seven
years conducted a club at that resort. On re-
turning to Put-in-Bay he bought the Gibbons'
property, and from time to time has installed
new improvements and has brought it up to
the best standard of summer hotels along the
shore of Lake Erie. It is a very popular place
of entertainment during the summer months.
He has a fifty-room hotel building, especially
fitted for the summer trade. Its wide ver-
andas, its spacious lawns and its large outside
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
dining room, are among the features most
praised by the hundreds of patrons who have
been in the habit of spending a good part of
the summer there. For his hotel Mr. Day has
his own gardens, cows and chickens, and
everything is supplied fresh for the table.
Mr. Day married Miss May Belle Milieu of
Norwalk, "Ohio. Their one child Mildred is
the wife of Bernard MeCann of Put-in-Bay,
and they have a son "William Bernard Me-
Cann.
As a democrat Mr. Day has long been
prominent in local affairs. For eight or ten
years he served on the town council and was
mayor one term until on account of the
iirgency of his private business affairs he re-
fused to sei-\'e again. He was also a member
of the school board ten or twelve years, and is
now chairman of the Park Board and street
commission. Fraternally he is affiliated with
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. i\Ir.
Day gives much credit for his success in the
world to his capable wife and both of them are
active in supervising the Bay View Hotel.
For a great m^ny years Mr. Day has spent
his winters regularly on the island, but dur-
ing one winter season he was inside steward
in one of the large hotels at Hot Springs,
Arkansas.
J. H. Huntley, M. D. With years of prac-
tice and with an almost unequalled variety
of experience. Doctor Huntley of Lima has
attained that position where he is regarded
as foremost among the general sui-geons of
Ohio, and as an orthopedist has few peers in
the country.
It has been well said that the value of a
human life is measured by the benefits it has
conferred on the social community and the
extent of its contributions to the advance-
ment of the human race. Doctor Huntley's
career is a story of personal ambition and an
overwhelming desire to convert his individual
experience into a permanent gain for
humanity.
He was born in Hardin County, Ohio,
April 11, 1851. His father, Joseph Huntley,
was a farmer, and about 1853 removed to
Allen County. Largely as a result of a
neglect which in his own mature career he has
endeavored to repair in the cases of hundreds
of others, Doctor Huntley became a cripple
in childhood. For more than ten years he
was able to go around only by crutches. His
own deformity was cured only after the fourth
surgical operation. The class of surgery
which attempts to relieve and correct deformi-
ties in the lower extremities and feet is called
orthopedy. Thus it was as a result of his
individual suifering and experiences that
Doctor Huntley has found his chief life work
and success as an orthopedist.
The ambition for a surgical career came to
him when a child. The story is told that
when be was twelve years of age he crawled
up and looked through a window from which
point he could command a view of the operat-
ing table on which the late Dr. S. A. Baxter
amputated the leg of a Mr. Shockey, an old
resident of Allen Count}'. The great men of
history have often been those who have had
one overmastering passion or fixed idea. Doe-
tor Huntley carried the boyhood ambition to
become a surgeon through all difficulties and
adversities. He did not proceed smoothly
and without obstacles into a medical career.
As a boy he worked in a saddlery and harness
shop. He learned the trade and followed it
as a means of self support three years. He
also taught school. These occupations were
ouly stepping stones by which he endeavored
to realize his main ambition. From what he
had earned by his own 'exertions he finally
entered the medical department of the Uni-
versity of Michigan. No student ever worked
harder to master the varied opportunities
presented by a great medical .school. He
spent one year at Ann Arbor, and then trans-
ferred his student career to the Eclectic Medi-
cal Institute at Cincinnati, where he was
graduated in 1878. His first office was at
West Newton in Allen County. From there
he removed to Alger in his native Hardin
County. He was continuously a student dur-
ing those years, and in 1890, after another
course, graduated from the Starling Medical
College at Columbus.
Doctor Huntley again and again pursued
post-graduate courses, and has attended the
great clinics and hospitals of Chicago, New
York City, Boston, New Orleans and else-
where. In 1895 he located at Lima and from
that city his fame as a surgeon has gone far
abroad. For the past ten years he has de-
voted himself exclusively to surgery, though
in earlier yeai's he practiced both medicine
and surgery.
He has handled many cases described as
general surgery, but more and more his repu-
tation has come to rest upon his skill as an
orthopedist. He has performed some very
difficult operations in abdominal surgery. In
orthopedic surgery many of his cases have
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1501
attracted wide attention by members of the
surgical fraternity all over the world. No
surgeon has shown a rarer skill nor. a greater
adaptability of method to individual cases in
the treatment of club feet and similar de-
formities than Doctor Huntky. He has per-
formed more successful operations for the
deformity known as club-foot than any other
surgeon known in Northwest Ohio. His cases
have been widely reported in medical jour-
nals, and he himself has contributed the
results of his experience and observation to
the medical and surgical press. A few years
ago the International Journal of Surgery
published his article on ' ' Some Special Forms
of Orthopedic Surgery" in which he describes
with much particularity the methods of his
individual treatment for club-foot, knock-
knees and bow-legs.
He is a prominent member of the Allen
County Medical Society, the Northwestern
Ohio Medical Society, the State Medical
Society and the American Medical Associa-
tion. For a number of years he has been an
instructor in the Lima Training School for
Nurses, from the time it was founded. Fra-
ternally he is a Royal Arch Mason. Doctor
Huntley had the misfortune to lo.se a leg in
an automobile accident in 1909, but strangely
enough some of his greatest work as a surgeon
has been done since that accident, and he is
even now at the height of his success and is
one of the busiest men of Lima.
Doctor Huntley was married in 1885 to
Mary E. McClung, daughter of Hutchinson
McClung. Mrs. Huntley was a woman of
rare beauty in both face and character. She
was devoted to her home and family and was
widely beloved in the City of Lima. Her
death occurred May 7, 1916," and tliat has been
the most grievous blow from which Doctor
Huntley has ever suffered.
Doctor Huntley has one daughter, Grace
Darling. She graduated from the literary
department of Lima College in 1904 with
the degree Bachelor of Literature, and then
entered the Emerson School of Oratory at
Boston. She was then a student in the Le-
land C. Powers School of Oratory for three
years, when graduated. She has the char-
acteristics of her father of doing well what-
ever she undertakes and ha.s applied herself
with remarkable energy- and patience to the
mastery of various forms of the dramatic
art. As a young girl she made a reputation
as, a reader, and after her graduation from
the school at Boston she took up a stage
career and continued in it successfully until
her mother's death. Since then she has Lived
quietly at home with her father at Lima.
S. W. Downing is superintendent of the
United States Fish Hatchery at Put-in-Bay.
Of all the many employes of the Federal Gov-
ernment connected with the tish industry it is
doubtful if any man has a more widely varied
and successful experience than Mr. Downing.
He is an expert in practically every phase of
fish propagation, and he has worked on ]both
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts as well as
around the Great Lakes. Nearly forty years
of his life have been spent in this work.
He was born at Townsend in Sandusky
County, Ohio, May 10, 1849, a son of Ambrose
Milton Downing. His father in the earlj^ days
of the. last century owned a small farm in
New York State. At that time in our na-
tional history the money currency was not
standardized as it is now. Many articles were
current as a medium of exchange, and per-
haps none more so than whiskey. It is there-
fore not strange that when AmlDrose Downing
sold his farm in New York State he received
as payment six barrels of whiskey. After-
selling out he came with his family and with
his household goods, and with the six barrels
of whiskey, to Ohio, transporting the entire
lot with an ox team. He located as a pioneer
in Sandusky County, but later lived for a
time in Henry County, though his remaining
days were spent in Ottawa County. He was
the father of five sons, three of whom were
valiant defenders of the Union during the
Civil war.
S. W. Downing was the youngest of the fam-
ily. While his brothers were away at war,
and while his father was practically an inva-
lid, he and an older brother did all the work
required for the support of the household.
Then the older brother married, and when
only sixteen or seventeen the youngest son
had the entire responsibilities connected with
the care of his parents.
Up to the age of eighteen he remained at
home, and during that time had attended
schools two or three months each winter. He
then worked out at monthly wages on farms,
and from liis earnings paid for a term or two
of school at Milan. With these advantages
he qualified for teaching, and for fourteen
winters put in his time in that vocation. Dur-
iiisr the summer seasons he could earn more at
fishing or farm work than he could at teach-
ing.
1502
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
His experience in the fish industry began in
1877, when he was appointed field foreman
for collecting eggs at North Bass Island. He
was then employed for the United States Fish
Hatchery at Northville, Michigan. On Janu-
ary 1, 1894, he was appointed fish culturist
atthe United States Fish Hatchery in Put-in-
Bay. While his time for the greater part
has since been spent at Put-in-Bay in the
employ of the Federal Government, he has
also been called to work in various other fields.
For one season he was foreman at Green Lake,
Maine. On July 5, 1895, he was appointed
foreman at Alpena, Michigan, and remained
there five years. In the meantime the Gov-
ernment sent him to the Atlantic coast where
he broadened his experience by handling
mackerel, lobster, tautog and other marine
fish. In 1898 he was sent out to the. Pacific
coast on Chinook salmon work along the Lit-
tle White Salmon River in the State of Wash-
ington. While there he built a hatchery and
one year later another of the same capacity,
and although his experience in salmon fishing
was comparatively brief, the hatchery was
pronounced the best on the entire coast at the
time. On June 20, 1899, Mr. Downing was
transferred from Alpena and appointed super-
intendent of the Clackamas, Oregon, plant.
In 1900 Mr. Downing was again returned
to Put-in-Bay as superintendent for the Fed-
eral Government of the hatchery at that point.
The Put-in-Bay hatchery was established in
1890, with J. J. Stranhan of Chagrin Falls,
Ohio, as the first superintendent. For a time
]\Ir. Downing was employed at the Put-in-Bay
plant after its establishment, working as col-
lector and watchman. ]\Ir. Stranhan remained
as superintendent until succeeded by Mr.
Downing in 1900.
The United States Hatchery at Put-in-Bay
was built primarily for whitefish. The hatch
now includes also pike perch, known as gray
pickerel or wall-eyed pike, and also some lake
herring. The total of. the annual hatch is
.300,000,000. This is one of the important sup-
ply points around the Great Lakes for eggs,
and all in excess of the capacity of the Put-in-
Bay Hatchery are sent to other stations. Dur-
ing the several years the take of eggs has
totaled more than 1,000,000,000.
In 1875 Mr. Downing married IMiss Ida
Fox of North Bass Island, a daughter of
George Fox of Put-in-Bay. Mr. and Mrs.
Downing have a fine family of sons and daugh-
ters. Guv F. is in the storage business at
Lansing, Michigan ; Roy ]\I. is deputy collec-
tor of customs at Sandusky; Ivan H. is an
undertaker at Alpena, Michigan; Zoe is the
wife of Roland Schielle, who is a con.sulting
electrical engineer at Cleveland ; Russell is
superintendent of the Minnesota State Fish
Hatchery at St. Paul ; Rex is head bookkeeper
for the Owosso Beet Sugar Company at Lan-
sing, Michigan.
Mr. Downing is a Mason and an active re-
publican. For a number of years while living
on North Bass Island he served as trustee and
a justice of the peace, but since then has not
been active in local politics.
Nicholas Fox. Many of the improvements
and much of the business industry of Put-in-
Bay have had a close association with the name
of Nicholas Fox for the better part of a half
century. Mr. Nicholas Fox is now senior
member of the firm of Nicholas Fox & Sons,
and is living practically retired at Put-in-
Bay, the various business interests being car-
ried on under the active management of his
sons.
A native of Bavaria, Germany, Nicholas
Fox emigrated to America in 1863, and lived
for a time on South Bass Island. While there
he was employed in the fishing industry by
Lawrence Miller. He soon progressed so far
as to buy out his employer, and he was one
of the operators of a fishing equipment in and
around Put-in-Bay. Later in order to have
constant employment throughout the year he
bought a vineyard and combined the two occu-
pations. About 1879 Nicholas Fox gave up
the fishing industry altogether, and applied
himself exclusively to the growing of grapes
until 1886.
In that year he leased from Lemuel Brown
a dock which had been erected by Brown but
which for several years had not been main-
tained in good repair and was hardly available
for first class service. It was nothing more
than a pier of pilings. The purpose of I\Ir.
Fox in purchasing this dock was to erect a
building for the sale of refreshments and also
secure facilities so that he might realize a
better price for his vineyard products. After
leasing the dock for some years he bought it
in 1890 and since then for a period of more
than a quarter of a century it has been under
the ownership and management of members
of the Fox family. Many improvements have
been added and it has been practically rebuilt
throughout, now constituting a fine wharf.
Nicholas Fox and sons also carry on an exten-
sive business in the handling of coal, feed and
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1503
building materials. The Fox dock is now used
by the following steamship lines, D. C, C. and
B., and Asliley and Dustin. Since 1910 Mr.
Nicholas Fox has lived practically retired.
In September, 1869, he married ;\Iina Bud-
denhagen, daughter of Charles Buddenhagen
of Middle Bass Island. Charles Buddenha-
gen came from Mecklenburg, Germany, when
Mrs. Fox was an infant. For several years
he worked at Sandusky, but about 1865 moved
to Middle Bass Island. Mr. and Mrs. Nicho-
las Fox were the parents of the following chil-
dren : Henry, who was born in August, 1870 ;
George A., who married Julia Ingold and has
three children, named Maria, Vernor and
Anita: Andrew, a successful dentist at ]Mon-
roeville, Ohio, and the father of a daughter
by his marriage to Miss Asliton of Jloni'oe-
ville ; and Louise, still at home.
Tile sons, Henry and George, are now the
active partners in the firm of Nicholas Fox &
Sons. The son Henry married Anna ^I. Hal-
ler, a daughter of Jacob Haller, and has a
son Ethan Oliver. Both the brothers, Henry
and George, take an active part in local af-
fairs, and are republican voters, while tlieir
father is a democrat. Henry Fox served two
terms as mayor of Put-in-Bay and is now
president of the board of trustees of public
affairs. Fraternally he is afSliated with the
Masonic Order and the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows.
Both Henry and George, during their early
youth, were employed in the fishing and other
lines of industry about the island, and in 1889
they bought a 100 acre farm on Pelee Island.
They were actively engaged in farming this
for several years, then leased it, and finally
sold out a few years ago. Before buying the
farm Henry Fox had worked on the DoUcr
Dock, and was thus familiar with the opera-
tion of siich a plant when his father secured
the Brown "Wharf.
Thomas H. Jone.s. One of the best citizens
Allen County ever had was the late Thomas
H. Jones, who spent almost half a lifetime
as a merchant in that county, was an honored
veteran of the Civil war, and at one time was
county treasurer. His death occurred August
5. 1914. and marked the passing of one of
Lima's oldest and best known citizens.
He was born in Wales, February 18. 1835.
the son of Josiah Jones and Mary Hughes of
Llanbrynmair, North Wales. Part of his
education was acquired in his native country,
but at the age of fourteen he came to America
and located at Gomer in Allen County, Ohio.
He attended the common schools there, and
as a poor boy had to start out to make his own
way in the world. For a time he was em-
ployed in the dry goods store of W. W.
Williams at Columbus Grove, and was clerk-
ing in that store during the early months of
the war. He finally resigned his position
behind the counter and in 1863 entered the
army as a member of Company F in the One
Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio Infantry.
From that time forward until the close of
the war he was in active service much of
the time in the commissary department.
Following the war Thomas H. Jones re-
turned to Allen County and engaged in busi-
ness with W. M. Ashtou and Brothers, hard-
ware merchants. He continued in the same
business and in the same store for thirty-
seven years. Later he was a partner with
W. K. Boone.
On May 13, 1868, Mr. Jones married Susan
Francis, who survives him, and with the com-
petence acquired by her husband through
man.y years of activity is now enjoying the
comforts of a good home at 519 West North
Street in Lima. Mrs. Jones is a daughter of
Ellis and Catherine (Jones) Francis. Both
her parents were natives of Wales and came
to the United States in 1842. settling soon
afterwards as pioneers in Allen County, Ohio.
Her father was a substantial farmer. There
were eight children in the Francis family, six
of whom were born in Wales. The foui- now
living are : Owen Francis, president of a Lima
Building and Loan Association ; Mrs. Jones ;
Jane Francis, unmarried and living in Chi-
cago ; Kate, wife of W^illiam R. Jones, a farmer
in Allen County. Mrs. Jones was born in
Wales, January 18, 1843. She was nine years
of age when she came to the United States.
Her life has since been spent in Allen County.
Mr. and Mrs. Jones became the parents of
five children. Gwen. widow of D. A. Pence,
lives with her mother and is a teacher in the
Lima High School. Josiah F. Jones is now
serving as city treasurer of Lima. M. My-
vanwy lives at home and is also a teacher in
the high school. Harri 0. Jones is cashier
of the Old National Bank at Lima. Ellis E.
is a well known Lima business man and by
his marriage to Mae W^ard, has three children.
The family are members of the Presbyte-
rian Church. The late Mr. Jones filled all the
chairs in the Odd Fellows Lodge. He was
very active in church matters and served as
an elder of the local Presbvterian Church for
1504
HISTORY OF NORTHAVEST OHIO
fifteen years. In polities he was a republican.
He served the city as a member of the school
board and was also a member of the Grand
Army of the Republic. He was one of the
few republicans ever elected to county office
in Allen County, and for five years held the
post of county treasurer. He is also remem-
bered as a vigorous and interesting writer.
He wrote many articles for home papers and
also contributed much to papers published in
the Welsh language.
Charles Schneider. While the rich soil
of Middle Bass Island, Lake Erie, Ohio, is
favorable to general agriculture, the main and
most profitable industry is the growing of
grapes which has been brought to perfection.
For a half century the people here have grown
grapes and made wine and their product is
recognized as equal in many ways to some of
the finest distillations of foreign lands. Many
of the early settlers came here prepared to
engage in fishing or farming or to engage in
the practical trades in which they had been
trained but the larger number of them subse-
ciuently became the owners of vineyards and
prospered with their neighbors. Among these
was Charles Schneider, Sr., who was the father
of Charles Schneider, who owns and operates
his own vineyard and manages the property
of his late father, and is one of the repre-
sentative citizens of iliddle Bass and a useful
member of the school board.
Charles Schneider, the elder, was born
October 18. 1822, in Saxony, Germany, and
died in 1893, on Middle Bass Island, to which
he had come in 1864. In the spring of 1861
he had come to Sandusky, Ohio, where he fol-
lowed his trade of shoemaker, learned in Ger-
many, and when he came with his family to
IMiddle Bass it was with the expectation of
continuing as a shoemaker. The cultivation
of grapes as a business was then in its begin-
ning here and Mr. Schneider was foresighted
enough to see that indi^stry would be more
profitable than work at his trade. He soon
had become the owner of a small tract of land,
on which he set oiit grape vines which devel-
oped almost beyond expectation and insured
him a fine vineyard. He devoted himself
mainly to this industry until the time of his
death. His three children survive, two
daughters and one son : Louisa and Lena, who
live on the old home place, and Charles, his
father's namesake. The elder Mr. Schneider
was a prominent man in the democratic part.y
in Middle Bass, although he never consented
to hold any public office except membership
on the school board.
Charles Schneider remained at home with
his father and aided in the work of the vine-
yard, which can never be neglected and which,
during the bearing season, is a very busy
place. He carries on the grape business' very
successfully, having, as mentioned above, two
vineyards to manage. He is a democrat in
politics and at times has served in local offices
and on the election and school boards.
Mr. Schneider was married to iiiss Amanda
Runkel, who is a daughter of John F. and
Mary (Rehberg) Runkel. They have one son,
Clmrles Schneider, who is a resident of Middle
Bass Island.
John F. Runkel, father of Mrs. Schneider,
was a pioneer on Middle Bass Island. He was
born in Bavaria, Germany, but was brought
by his parents, when six years old. to the
United States and they settled on a farm in
Erie County, Ohio, near Sandusky. The death
of his mother when he was ten years of age
necessitated his leaving home and taking care
of himself. He worked for farmers in Erie
County until 1869, when he came to Middle
Bass Island and for a time worked for others
here. In 1871 he was married to ]\IisS Mary
Rehberg, who is a daughter of the late William
Reliberg and a member of a very prominent
family on Middle Bass. After marriage Mr.
Runkel bought a tract of land and went into
the business of growing grapes and continued
the operation of his vineyard until his death,
which occurred on January 1, 1900. Mrs.
Runkel has since resided with her only daugh-
ter, Mrs. Charles Schneider. Mr. Runkel was
known all over the island and was very highly
esteemed.
Chris P. Engel. When the great Civil war
broke out Chris P. Engel was between four-
teen and fifteen years of age. He was born
at Sandusky December 10, 1846. Like most
boys, he was thrilled with the idea of "sol-
diering" and his patriotism was not to be
deniecl, even though he was too young to be
accepted as a regular musket bearer. He
secured his father's permission to enter the
army as a fifer. He had never played the
fife. "but he thought he could learn if learning
would get him into the ranks. His father re-
luctantly consented, thinking that the war
would last only a short while. Thus Chris P.
Engel was taken into the army, with the
Seventy-second Ohio Volunteer Infantrj', but
insteaci of serving as a fifer he was made a
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1505
drummer boy. For nearly four long weary
years he shared all the experiences and hard-
ships of campaigning in the South. He had a
host of interesting experiences, and he also
endured the sufiferLugs of prison life in the
notorious Andersonville prison in Georgia. He
was captured with tifteen others from his
company in 1864, and was sent to that noto-
rious stocliade and kept there for eight and
a half months. Hundreds of brave men died
in that prison but young Engel escaped that
fate. In February, 1865, when the armies of
the North were gi'adually enveloping the
Southern Confederacy and following Sher-
man's march to the sea, the Confederates
moved the prisoners from Andersonville, and
during that removal Chris Engel m'ade his
escape. On reaching the Federal lines he was
furloughed and sent home to recuperate. In
April he started to rejoin his command, his
regiment being then stationed at Mobile, and
he went down the Mississippi River to New
Orleans and around the Gulf, and after that
continued in service in the South until dis-
charged in August, 1865.
It was in the fall following his release from
the army that Chris P. Engel gained his first
acquaintance with Put-in-Bay. He has been
one of the leading grape growers and promi-
nent citizens of that section for more than
half a century. His father was Chris Engel,
Sr., one of the early settlers at Sandusky.
He had a farm near Sandusky, but in 1867
followed his son to Put-in-Bay and bought a
vineyard. This vineyard is where Chris P.
Engel now lives, and the father built the old
home many years ago. Chris Engel, Sr., died
in 1896 at the age of eighty-two. His wife
died about ten years later, aged eighty-six.
The record of their children is : John, who is
a printer by trade ; Chris P. ; Louis, who
served in the regular United States army for
a few years after the war, and died at Put-in-
Bay in 1915: Charles, also a printer; Emma,
wife of Henry Pfeifer of Cleveland, who at
one time was superintendent of the Put-in-
Bay Wine Company; Hugo, living in Put-in-
Bay.
The veteran soldier, Chris P. Engel, though
he was at the time not yet twenty years of
age, on coming to Put-in-Bay found work
picking grapes in the vineyards. He spent
the following winter in Sandusky, but then
returned to the island and has remained ever
since. His father and family joined him in
the spring of 1867. After remaining at home
for a few years, he began growing grapes on
a rented place. He and his brother Louis
kept the first bar in the old Museum, and they
made it a paying proposition.
In 1892 Chris Engel came to the home place,
where he has since lived, and in addition to
the vineyard he has other fruit, including
peaches and quinces.
Mr. Engel has always been very progressive
and alert in all his methods and practices of
grape growing. An incident illustrating this
occurred many years ago. He learned from
some source of the new practice of girdling
and thereby introducing new strains on old
stock. He was the man who introduced that
method on the island, and his fine "Florence"
grapes, grown on some of the older vines,
created quite a stir among the vineyardists.
Some of his envious rivals surreptiously se-
cured scions from his vines, and they were
very much surprised and chagi-ined when,
after all their trouble, their fruit turned out
to be only the common Ives variety. By his
practice of "girdling" Mr. Engel reaped con-
siderable profit, but eventually the practice
became common among all the other growers.
In matters of politics he has always been a
sterling republican. He has served as road
supervisor, and also on the County Central
Committee.
Mr. Engel married Bina Link, and they
have one child, Herbert, who is connected with
the Morgan & Wright Rubber Company of
Detroit. He married Caroline Lehman.
Andrew Schiele. For many years one of
the landmarks around Put-in-Bay has been
what is known as " Schiele 's Castle." This
fine old residence was built and occupied in
1871 by the late Andrew Schiele, Sr., who was
one of the pioneer business men of Put-in-
Bay and long a successful vineyardist and
wine maker. The present occupant of the old
home is Andrew Schiele, Jr., whose home has
been on the island for half a centuiy.
The Schiele family moved from Toledo to
Put-in-Bay in 1865. Andrew, Sr., opened up
a refreshment place under a shed roof across
from the park on the 4th of July of that
year. Thereafter he continued his bar and
hotel until 1869, when he sold oUt. In the
meantime he had bought some land which he
cleared and planted in grapes and on which
he also built " Schiele 's Castle." He con-
tinued growing grapes and making wine in
his wine cellar until his death in 1880 at the
age of sixty-two. For a short time during
1506
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
the '70s he again resumed business at Put-in-
Bay, but then sold out.
Andrew Schiele, Jr., was born in Toledo in
1862 and was three years of age when his
family came to Put-in-Bay. He grew up in
this community, attended the local schools,
and early began supporting himself by work
for others. Afterwards he got into business
for himself and in that way continued for
about seven years. In the meantime both
parents had died, and he bought the old home-
stead from the other heirs and has since kept
it up in the original fine condition and has
added many improvements. He now owns
twenty acres besides the old home, and that
is planted in gi-apes. The products of his
vineyards are pressed out in his wine cellar,
and he makes a very superior grade of wine,
a private clientage taking all that he makes.
Mr. Schiele has also acquired some valuable
property in the Town of Put-in-Bay.
The people of the island have long come
to trust implicitly in his judgment and ability
as a citizen, and they kept him in the office of
township trustee for twenty-five years. Polit-
ically he is a republican. By his marriage to
Margaret Dennis of Sandusky he has one
daughter, Miss Elsie Marie.
E. B. HowAED. who is freight agent of the
Hocking Valley Railway lines at Toledo, is
one of the prominent men in railway circles
in this city, and has reached his present posi-
tion as a result of a steady progression
through various grades and responsibilities
of service beginning when he was a boy.
His father. Franklin Howard, is a veteran
railroad man, now living retired in Toledo
at the ripe age of seventy-six. Franklin
Howard was for twenty-eight years in the car
department of the Wabash Railroad. He "
married Ida Bishop, and they were the
parents of nine children, five of whom are
still living.
The third in age among his parents' chil-
dren, E. B. Howard was born at Sedalia,
Missouri. October 27, 1871. His early years
were spent in Toledo, where he attended the
public schools and Davis Business College.
The record of his sei-vice as a railway man
begins with his employment as a clerk in the
ear department of the Wabash Railway Com-
pany. He remained at that work four years ;
was next employed by the Northern Pacific
Railroad at Tacoma, Washington, as a bill
clerk from September 9, 1889, to June 18,
1890 ; from July 5, 1890, to 1894 he was rate
clerk with the Michigan Central Railway at
Detroit; returning to the Wabash Company,
he was clerk in the car department at Detroit
from September, 1894, to May, 1896; from
May to October, 1896, he was in the service of
the Lake Shore Railway, in October went to
the Pennsylvania Railway and remained with
that company until February, 1911 ; and was
then appointed chief clerk for the Hocking
Valley Railway Company, an office he filled
from";May to July, 1911. At the latter date
Mr. Howard was appointed freight agent of
this railway with headquarters in Toledo, and
has very successfully handled the large
volume of business that goes through his office.
Mr. Howard is a member of the Catholic
Church and is a republican in politics. In
Detroit January 17, 1900, he married Miss
Rose Downey, claiighter of Jeremiah Downej^
of Detroit. ^Irs. Howard was educated in the
public and parochial schools of Detroit. The
two children born to their marriage are both
deceased.
C.\PT. Elliot J.\mes Dodge. There is no
more interesting personality in and around
Put-in-Bay than Captain Dodge, captain of
the steamship Tourist and one of the promi-
nent old timers of this lake port. Captain
Dodge has had almost a lifetime of service in
these waters, first as a fisherman, and after-
wards as a boat captain and owner. He is
known as a rugged, courageous and cool-
headed sea-faring man, and one who will un-
dertake anything in the discharge of his duty
and with a generosity of mind and heart equal
to his physical courage.
Though most of his life has been spent
around the waters of the Great Lakes, he was
born in an inland village of Wisconsin, Wind-
sor, twelve miles north of Madison, on Febru-
ary 17, 1854. In 1876 the family removed to
Illinois, spent one winter there, and then
settled at East Point on South Bass Island,
Ohio. They lived there for years, and then
bought a place on Middle Bass Island, where
Captain Dodge's father died soon afterward.
The children were: Ellen M., wife of Leroy
Webster of East Point ; Jennie, wife of James
H. Crowley of St. Louis, Missouri; Louis C,
a grape grower on Middle Bass Island ;
Captain Dodge; Emma, wife of Louis Edlif-
sen of Los Angeles, California ; John B., who
was practicing medicine at St. John, Michi-
gan, at the time of his death in 1916 ; and
Edith, deceased wife of Robert Harris, who
lives in Detroit, Michigan.
Captain Dodge remained at home with his
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
ISC';
parents until he was sixteen years of age. In
tlie meantime he had secured all the education
he was destined to receive from schools, and
he then started out to make his own way in
the world. He became identified with the
fishing industry around the Great Lakes, aijd
that was his regular occupation for a quarter
of a century.
In the meantime he had taken up boating,
having purchased in 1882 the steamer Ina.
This vessel he conducted during the season
for about twenty -five years. The Ina was then
dismantled and he bought the old yacht Way-
ward, whose quarter deck he trod as captain
for six years. Captain Dodge then built his
present handsome boat, the steamer Tourist.
This is a stanch craft of forty-three tons net
and fifty-four gross tonnage, of steel construc-
tion, equipped both for passenger and trans-
port service, and for both summer and winter
use. The hull is so constructed that it can
be trimmed to lift the forward end out of the
water making it available for ice breaking.
In the summer months, as the thousands
of tourists who frequent this favorite section
of Northwest Ohio know, the steamship Tour-
ist is the favorite excursion boat between Port
Clinton and Put-in-Bay, making the regular
run between those places. It is also chartered
for special service. As soon as the fruit sea-
son begins, the Tourist is used for transport-
ing many tons of grapes and other products
to Detroit, Toledo, and other ports. In the
fall, when the summer lines are all laid up.
Captain Dodge keeps the Tourist going on
regular trips to Sandusky, and his boat is the
only means of shipping to and from the island
until the ice closes the lake completely. When
the Tourist finally ties up at the dock in late
fall or early winter, the i-sland remains prac-
tically isolated except for such communica-
tion as is established over the ice, until the
break up of the ice in the following spring.
The first trip of the Tourist in the spring is
an event eajrcrly ;i\vnitiM| -aui] nflciidcl with
almost a t;eiu'i-al i-i'li'lu-jit ion on the island.
On its first trip in tlic spi'ing the Tourist
brings to the island a cargo of provisions
which serve to relieve the monotony of the
island '.s winter stock.
For twenty-five years Captain Dodge has
also handled coal and builders' supplies, and
keeps two scows for that purpose.
He is not only one of the most successful
boat owners and managers along the south
shore of Lake Erie, but almost a book of inci-
dents might be written describing his service.
On this point Captain Dodge is rather non-
committal, as the modesty of his nature de-
mands, and many who know the quiet and
vigilant captain su])fificially are not aware
that a special act of Congress granted him the
beautiful large gold medal for his act of hero-
ism in taking his boat out from harbor on
November 7, 1907, during a terrific gale, and
rescuing three men from a capsized small boat.
The steamer State of New York was at that
time on the rocks near Rattlesnake Island, and
several men of its crew had attempted to leave
the vessel and get to Put-in-Bay, The boat
was overturned and the men were struggling
when Captain Dodge and his crew gallantly
put out and rescued them. The members of
the Tourist crew were each given silver medals
In' tite same act of Congress. Captain Dodge
lias rescued a great number of people from
watery graves, and considers such an act
nothing more than a commonplace perform-
ance of duty. As a matter of fact, such per-
formance is only the act that might be ex-
pected of so large and generous a heart, and
it is said that during the many years of his
residence on the island he has bestowed a
practical generosity and helpfulness upon
anyone in financial straits or needing the sym-
pathy of a strong and resolute character.
Captain Dodge married Miss Christine Jar
dine, of an old French family of Ontario,
Canada. Their children are : Mrs. Inez Ger-
trude Doller of Cleveland; Wilbur Leo, an
engineer at Put-in-Bay; Mildred Catherine,
wife of Bert Millen of Put-in-Bay ; Gordon
Archie, who is mate and clerk on the steam-
ship Tourist with his father; and Vivian, who
died wiirn fi\c years of age. Captain Dodge,
is a loyal rcpulilican and is affiliated with the
Tribe of lien llur. He has served ten years
on the city coum-d of Put-in-Bay. In matters
of religion he was reared a Methodist.
GusTAV Heinemann is one of the old time
residents of Put-in-Bay, a successful vineyard-
ist and wine and grape juice manufacturer,
and has also added one of the most startling
and interesting attractions to the thousands
of people who annually visit Put-in-Bay as a
summer resort.
]Mr. Heinemann is proprietor of the Strontia
Crystal Cave. Concerning this remarkable
natural feature of Put-in-Bay Island the fol-
lowing description is given: "In November,
1897, on the property of Gustav Heinemann,
a well was sunk some forty feet deep for water
for drinking purposes. Workmen in making
1508
HISTORY OF NORTITWEST OHIO
the excavation passed closely to a wonderful
cave, the earth tumbling in and disclosing to
them a stalactieal, startling cavern, more like
a fairy grotto than anything else — a more
appropriate name could not be applied. On
exploration it was found that there were
several rooms, some large and some small, and
an immense stratum of strontia, a solid mass of
dazzling mineral extending twenty-two feet
below the bottom of the cave. The side walls
of the different rooms are of solid strontia and
the ceilings are arch shape and hung with
prismatieally formed crystals emitting pris-
matic colors fascinatingly splendid with bril-
liancy and radiance, not unlike that of the
clearest cut diamond.
' ' The salts of strontia communicate a vivid
crimson color to flame, and are much used,
especially the nitrate of strontia in the manu-
facture of fireworks. It is also used in clari-
fying beet sugar. The commercial value is
about twelve dollars per ton (the weight is
much heavier than lead, but two ordinary bar-
rels being required to hold a ton), and this
discovery is said to be the first of any im-
portance in the United States."
Mr. Gustav Heinemann was born near Frei-
burg in Baden, Germany, in 1856. He was
reared and educated in his native country
and in 1880, at the age of twenty-four, arrived
in America. For several years he lived on"
Middle Bass Island, but in 1884 returned to
Germany. He was back in America in 1885,
and since then has been identified with the
country in and about Put-in-Bay. He worked
for wages until 1889, when he rented a farm
on the shares. In 1896 he bought a vineyard
of over six acres, and has since been engaged
in its cultivation. He uses all his own grapes
for making wine and grape juice, and during
summer seasons buys large quantities of
grapes for his plant.
Since the discovery of the Crystal Cave in
1897, Mr. Heinemann has developed it as one
of the attractions of Put-in-Bay, and many
thousands of excursionists and tourists have
visited it annually. Mr. Heinemann has vari-
ous other business interests, and is one of the
principal owners of the Put-in-Bay Resort
Company.
In 1886 jMr. Heinemann married Miss Fan-
nie Zeller. They are the parents of five chil-
dren: Hilda is the wife of Emil Schrait of
Put-in-Bay : Amelia still lives at home ; Ger-
trude is ^Irs. Fred Cooper of Cleveland ; Her-
bei't is a successful young attorney at Cleve-
land ; and Norman still resides at liome. The
family are members of the Catholic Church,
and in politics Mr. Heinemann is a democrat.
He has membership on the board of Park trus-
tees at Put-in-Bay.
John F. Mathias, one of the present board
of county commissioners of Lucas County,
is a well known contractor and though still a
comparatively young man is recognized as one
of the forceful business men of Toledo.
He was born in Lucas County, Ohio, August
12, 1879. His parents are Michael and Agnes
(Colchester) Mathias. His father, a native
of Germany, came to America in 1862, first
locating in Detroit, from there moving to
Defiance County, Ohio, where he followed
farming five years, and then came to Lucas
County. He bought and lived on a farm near
the City of Toledo, and from there removed
to another farm eight miles west of Toledo.
He remained on the farm seven years, and
coming into Toledo engaged in the teaming
business. Subsequently he became a contrac-
tor and was identified with that line of work
until he gave up an active business career.
He is now living retired in his eighty-first
year, and his wife is about eighty years of
age.
John F. Mathias was the sixth in a family
of seven children, all of whom are still living.
He was reared and educated in Lucas County
and as a youth he learned the concrete busi-
ness. From that he became a contractor and
in the past few years has built some of the
substantial bridges of Lucas County. He is a
democrat and resides at 1518 Vance Street in
Toledo. Mr. Mathias was elected county com-
missioner of Lucas County in 1916, and now
gives practically his entire time to the duties
of the office.
C.A.PT. R<3BERT ScHiELE. One of the veteran
mariners of the Great Lakes, whose home
has always been at Put-in-Bay, Captain Rob-
ert Schiele is now commander of the steam-
ship Shearwater, owned by the United States
Government and employed for the collection
of eggs for the United States Fish Hatchery at
Put-in-Bay.
Captain Schiele has spent nearly all his life
in and around Putin-Bay. His family were
among the pioneer settlers on that island.
Captain Schiele was born in Toledo, December
25, 1857. His father and mother, Mr. and
Mrs. Andrew Schiele, were natives of Wuer-
temburg, Germany, but were married in To-
ledo. While living in the old country Andrew
J
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1509
Schiele learned the trade of aail smith, manu-
facturing nails by the old hand process.
When he came to America machinery was
already displacing hand methods of making
nails and he had no opportunity to follow his
trade. Instead he worked at diffei-eut lines
of employment in Toledo, and for a time con-
ducted a saloon there. In 1863 he came to
Put-in-Bay and bought nine acres of land
then covered with a heavy growth of native
timber. He spent many months of hard work
in clearing it up, and finally had it planted
to a vineyard. In the meantime his family-
remained in Toledo, but on June 20, 1865,
they arrived at Put-in-Bay. The boat that
brought them was the Philo Parsons, which
had come into unenviable historical promi-
nence as having been employed by the plotters
for the liberation of the Confederate prisoners
on Johnson's Island. Andrew Schiele con-
verted the grape."? grown in his vineyard into
wine, and later he opened a hotel, restaurant
and saloon in Put-in-Bay. His was the first
saloon in the town. His death occurred there
in the late '80s. Of his ten children, seven
died in infancy, and the three now living are :
Robert: Andrew, who operates a vineyard on
the old homestead ; and Edward, who is in the
Club House, on Middle Bass Island.
The first eighteen years of his life Captain
Schiele spent at home, and gained his educa-
tion in local schools. The lake and its activi-
ties had a great fascination for him as a boy,
and on leaving home he became a sailor under
Captain Magel on the Golden Eagle. Later he
was on the American Eagle and subsequently
on various other boats. In 1882 he was given
his papers as a master, and now for a number
of years has been captain of the Shearwater,
attached to the Government fish hatchery for
the collection of eggs.
Captain Schiele married Amelia Fiester of
Sandusky, though she was born in Fulton
County. They are the parents of two chil-
dren :' Edith, 'the wife of Otto Herbster, a
photographer at Putin-Bay, and they have
a daughter Verda E. Fred Robert, who is era-
ployed on the Doller Docks at Put-in-Bay,
married Emma Misch and has a son Robert.
Captain Schiele has been affiliated with the
Indepfii.lpiit Onlcr of Odd Fellows since 1890.
He is a ri'iuililicau in politics and is now serv-
ing on tile I'ity council.
Henry Rehberg. The history of the Reh-
berg family on Middle Bass Island, Lake Erie,
Ohio, is rpallv the civilized historv of the
island itself, for members of this family were
among the first to settle here and have ever
since been identified with the interests of this
section. A wortliy representative of this
sturdy old family is found in Henry Rehberg,
one of the most prominent and substantial
residents of Aliddle Bass. He was born Oc-
tober 4, 1849, in Mecklenburg, Germany, one
of the sons of John Rehberg and a brother of
the late William Rehberg.
John Rehberg emigrated from Germany to
the United States in June, 1850, and made his
way to the shoi-es of Lake Michigan, establish-
ing himself in what is now South Chicago.
Illinois. He was a fisherman in Germany for
thirty-six years, but after locating in Illinois
followed farming. He then came to Sandusky,
Ohio, and for a time lived on Cedar Point. In
the meantime his son, William Rehberg, had
acquired property interests which included
part ownership of Middle Bass Island, and
among his other enterprises had determined to
start a fishery, and it was in order to give'
assistance in this undertaking that John Reh-
berg, about 1859, came also to this island
which, at that time was covered with big tim-
ber. William Rehberg, Joseph Miller, George
Calwell and Andrew Wehrle were the settlers
of the island.
About 1863 John Rehberg bought a tract
of thirty-six acres from Joseph Miller, his son-
in-law, who then owned the western part of
the island. He cleared off the timber on a
small hill or mound near the shore, selecting
the location as a desirable one on which to
erect his cabin. In the fall of the year, while
digging a pit on his land in which to store his
crop of potatoes for the winter, his workmen
unearthed human bones and when the mound
was thnrnughly excavated there were some
forty skeletons exposed in an excellent state
of preservation and indications were that
probably it had been the Indian burial spot
of at least two hundred bodies. Mr. Rehberg
decided to select another site for his cabin
and another spot, farther from the lake, was
cleared and there it was erected, and this
homestead has cnntinued in the family ever
since, now Ix'iiig the nrnperty of Henry Reh-
berg, whose modern residence stands on the
spot formerly occupied by the pioneer cabin.
During tlie fishing season, John Rehberg
was fully occupied in that industry every
year, but at other times he cleared his land,
cut the timber into cord wood, which he sold
to the lake boats, and, as his land was pre-
pared, put in the usual crops, including grain.
1510
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Before the land had been cleared, however,
another industry thrived. The timber was
mainly hickory and walnut, with sycamore in
the swamps. William Rehberg, with charac-
teristic business foresight, had joined with the
other island owners in the project of import-
ing pigs from the mainland, turning them into
the timber to fatten on the nuts. In the fall
the hunting of the pigs provided sport and
after the shooting the carcasses would be
dressed and the meat of fine flavor would be
bought by the boats. Another source of in-
come to the early pioneers was the trade in
wild pigeons and ducks which were so numer-
ous that it was said that the former in their
flights darkened the sun like clouds, and that
it was a common experience for a man to
stand in one spot and shoot twenty or thirty
ducks at a time.
When the first road was laid out across the
island, largely through the enterprise of the
Rehbergs, it wound through the woods and at
■ times was almost impassable, but as soon as
the timber was cleared off and a little drain-
ing was done, this land became dry and was
found rich in the chemical properties needful
for crop raising of any kind. When John
Rehberg first came here there were no horses
and but four yoke of oxen in the island. As
the land was cleared and the raising of grain
was begtm the four men purchased a thresh-
ing machine and it was generally used over
the island. It was in the '60s that the ma-
jority of the settlers began to actively engage
in the growing of grapes and in this industry
John Rehberg was particularly successful and
devoted his attention to it as long as he lived
afterward. He survived to be eighty-five years
of age. In many ways he was a remarkable
man.
Henry Rehberg was only a boy when the
family came to Middle Bass Island. He had
but meager educational opportunities before
this and at that time there were no schools
on the island. The nearest school was at San-
dusky and for a time his father did not pos-
sess the means to pay the youth's board in the
city on the main land, but entered him as a
pupil just as soon as he was able to do so. It
was no hardship for Henry when, several
years later his father decided to keep the
youth at home, -for he was at an age when
study was more of a task than a pleasure, and
he gladly took up farm work at home and
helped his fatlier through the fishing season
very contentedly. When his father died he
took over the management of his interests.
some of which, like the vineyard, he con-
tinued, but many years ago gave up the fishing
enterprise. Mr. Rehberg turned over the
management of the place in 1915 to his son-
in-law, John Messenburg, being now practi-
cally retired, although he retains the in-
dividual operation of his oil rights. In 1891
he leased the oil rights on his place and an oil
well was sunk that produced a substantial
flow. Later the company was dissolved and
the rights reverted to ;\Ir. Rehberg.
Henry Rehberg was married to Miss Minnie
Kaphagstt, who was born in Mecklenburg,
Germany, and died in 1915, on Middle Bass
Island. Mr. Rehberg has one daughter, Clara,
who is the wife of John Messenburg, of Per-
kins Township, Erie County, and they have
two children, Nellie and John.
In politics ^Ir. Rehberg has always been a
democrat and has served with the greatest
efficiency in many offices. He has been trustee
and supervisor and for eight years was deputy
sheriff and for twenty-five years has been a
member of the school board. He is interested
in everything that promises to be beneficial to
his fellow citizens and is particularly con-
cerned in everything pertaining to the public
schools. It was Mr. Rehberg who started the
agitation for a special school district on
Middle IBass and it was through his efforts
that others were interested and the result was
that the district was secured. This demon-
stration of public spirit showed how prac-
tical men like Mr. Rehberg may be and how-
sound are their opinions and unselfish their
demands for recognition. Mr. Rehberg be-
longs to both branches of Odd Fellowship,
being a member of Commodore Perry Lodge
at Put-in-Bay, and of the Encampment at
Port Clinton."
B. E. Cook. Since pioneer times New
Knoxville has had merchants and active busi-
ness men of the Cook family. Mr. B. E. Cook
is one of the younger generation, and for the
past thirteen years has conducted one of the
main merchandise establishments of the town.
He was born at New Knoxville March 30,
1869, a son of Henrj' and Elizabeth (Venne-
man) Cook. His grandfather Henry Cook
was born in Germany, where the name was
spelled Kuck. On emigrating to America he
located in the vicinity of New Bremen, Ohio,
and later moved to New Knoxville, Ohio,
where he bought land from the Government.
By the exercise of those thrifty qualities which
were inherent in his German ancestry and in
C^^<C^c
MRS. B. E. COOK
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1511
his own character he became very successful
lor his day and generation. He died near
New Knoxville. Besides farming he was also
one of the early manufacturers of sorghum.
The maternal grandfather of Mr. Cook was
Henry VeniiviiKiu. who was also a native of
Germany and was (inr of the first merchants
at New Kno.wilk'. He opened a stock of
goods in one room of his home, gradually
expanded, built a store, and at the time of his
death had a double store room completely
stocked with merchandise for the local
demand.
Henry Cook, father of B. E. Cook, was
born at New Bremen, Ohio, August 6, 1835,
and has now passed the age of fourscore, and
is still enjoying life. As a youth he learned
the trade of carpenter and for a time was
employed in building the locks on the Erie
(,'anal. AftPT'wai'ds lie farmed, and finally
engaged in tln' iiii'ivautilc husiin'ss at New
Knoxville and was aftivr in its management
until 1902 when he sold out to his son B. E.
Cook. He and his family have been German
Reformed people, and politically he is a
republican. For thirty years Henry Cook
served as postmaster of New Knoxville. His
wife, who was born in Ladbergen, Germany,
in 1836, died July 3, 1916, at the age of eighty.
They were married in Auglaize County. Of
six children only two are now living, includ-
ing B. E. Cook and his sister Elizabeth, wife
of L. C. Mahn, an engineer at New Knoxville.
Mr. B. E. Cook grew up in New Knoxville
and New Bremen, attended the public schools
and the high school of the latter town, and also
had two terms of instruction in the Northern
Ohio Universit.y at Ada. His first experi-
ence was as a farm laborer but in 1902 he
bought out his father and began merchandis-
ing at New Knoxville. He has a very large
store, and keeps his stock up to the best
standards, and has shown remarkable ability
in meeting the demands of the trade and in
carrying on a successful business.
In 1892 Mr. Cook married Anna Eversman.
She was born in Van Buren Township of
Shelby County, Ohio. They have no children.
Both are active members of the German
Reformed Church, in which he is a trustee.
He has served as treasurer of New Knoxville
and treasurer of the school district, and in
politics is a republican.
Peter J. Clark. An ideal country home,
both as a place of residence and as a profitable
business enterprise, is the Fairview Stockfarm
in Napoleon Town.ship of Henry County,
wdiose proprietor is Peter J. Clark. This farm,
comprising 200 acres of fine black loam soil
on clay subsoil, is situated on section tJiirty-
three of that township. In every detail it
reflects the enterprising character of its owner,
and is handled in such a way as to produce
the highest revenues and at the same time
maintain the fertility and increasing value of
everj^ acre. Mr. Clark and family occupy a
substantial nine-room house, only recently ^
built, and there is a large stock and feed barn
32 by 100 feet, with shed room 20 by 100 feet.
'Everything is provided with the best of equip-
ment for the raising and handling of cattle,
hogs and horses. All the farm buildings are
painted a buff color.
Mr. Clark has more than a local reputation
as a successful raiser of cattle. He ships
about three carloads of cattle every year and
feeds over 100 head of hogs, and has also
raised some for sale. He specializes in Short-
horn cattle.
This successful Northwest Ohio farmer was
born in Perry County, Ohio, April 20, 1882,
and is still a very young man for all his success.
He was reared and educated in Monroe Town-
ship of Henry County, having come to that
locality at the age of twelve years with his
paniits ill lsi)4. He is a son of William D.
and Ala.ujiii.' ( (.'ai'l) Clark, both of whom were
natives of IVrry County, Ohio, where they
were reared and married. They started there
in the country, William D. Clark being a
farmer and coal miner. All their children,
four sons and four daughters, were born in
Perry County not far from New Lexington.
On coming to Henry County William D. Clark
bought 160 acres of good land in Monroe
Township, and has since lived there en.joying
the comforts and profits of his good home and
extensive equipment. Both parents are still
living.
In August, 1905. Peter J. Clark married a
Henry County girl, ^Mi.ss Catherine Laughlin.
She was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, February
13, 1882, and a year later came to Napoleon
Township of Henry County with her parents.
and grew up on the farm she and her hnsliand
now own. Her parents were Joseph and Helen
(Kenney) Laughlin. Her father was a native
of Ireland and when a young cliild came to
this country with his parents, and afterwards
took up contracting in Napoleon, where he
married his wife. From here he moved to Cin-
cinnati, but subsequently returned to Henry
County and located on a farm in Napoleon
1512
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Township. Later he resumed contracting in
the West, where he died. His widow died on
the old farm sixteen years ago at the age of
tifty-seven. The Laughlin family were all
members of the Catholic Church. Mr. and
Mrs. Clark and children are communicants
of St. Augustine's Church in Napoleon. IMr.
Clark is a democrat in politics. They have
four children: K. Augeline, aged eight; M.
Geraldine, aged six; Robert William, aged
three, and John J., born November 7, 1916.
Lyman S. Gunn represents one of the earli-
est pioneer families of Northwest Ohio. His
grandfather established his home in Henry
County, in the wilderness along the Maumee
River, in the early days of the last century.
Few family groups have contributed more of
substantial benefit to a community. As a class
they have been farmers. The pioneers lived in
the woods, supplied their tables with meat
from the wild game that abounded, and were
on friendly terms of relationship with the
Indians who still claimed this section of Ohio
as their hunting ground. What the early
generation won from the dominion of the
wilderness, subsequent members of the family
have improved and continued to enlarge.
One of these is Mr. Lyman S. Gunn, who is
proprietor of the Hillside Farm in Napoleon
Township not far from Oklahoma postoifice.
He has resided there continuously since 1903,
but the farm was his birthplace, and scene of
his early adventures and experiences as a boy
and youth. He owns forty acres as his share of
the old Edward M. Gunn estate, and has an
additional twelve acres not far away.
The old family stock established their homes
more than a century ago under the leadership
of Charles Gunn near Damascus. Charles
Gunn was a typical pioneer, resourceful, cour-
ageous and daring, willing to share responsi-
bilities and hardships, and by his justness and
probity was never on anything but good terms
with his Indian neighbors. In fact his chil-
dren and those of the Indians played together
when this part of Ohio was a wilderness and
the woods were filled with game and the rivers
with fish. Charles Gunn and his wife died
more than eighty years ago within two or three
weeks of each other. At that time their son,
Edward M. Gunn, father of Lyman, was
eleven years of age. Other children of
Charles Gunn were Louisa, Minerva, Elliot,
and Lucian. all of whom married and had
families. They all became farmers except
Lucian, who was a lake and elevator engineer.
Edward M. Gunn took as his .share of the
old estate eighty acres, obtaining that from
his uncle, Elijah, and after improving this
eighty he increased his possessions to 200
acres, and lived in that community until his
death in April, 1914. His wife, whose maiden
name was Jane Stone, died about four years
before him. Further reference to this inter-
esting family will be found on other pages of
this publication.
Lyman S. Gunn is the oldest of a large
family, the other survivors being his brother
Fred and his sister Mollie, who is the wife of
Fred Dodd of Waterville, Ohio. Lyman S.
Gunn was born on the farm he now occupies
October 17, 1848. He grew up and was well
educated and as a youth learned the trade of
carpenter and cabinet maker. He became
especially skilled in those trades, and for
twenty-seven years he lived in the Village of
Maumee, where as a carpenter contractor he
built a great many houses and barns, especially
in the eastern part of Henry County. In 1903
he gave up his town home and returned to the
old farm, where he has found ample employ-
ment for his energies and is enjoying the com-
forts which should go with advancing years.
Here, in 1914, he erected a splendid bank barn
on a foundation 34 by 50 feet. This barn is
painted buff with golden brown trimmings and
is the center for his agricultural operations,
which includes the raising of good crops and
high grade stock. He and his family reside
in a good eight-room hovise.
Near his birthplace in Henry County Mr.
Giinn was married, November 20, 1870, to Miss
Elizabeth Jennie Davis. Mrs. Gunn was born
in Dorchestershire, England, llarch 14, 1850,
a daughter of George and Charlotte (Ham-
mond) Davis, natives of the same part of
England and of old English ancestry. Other
children born in England were William,
Henry and Harriet. In 1854 the Davis family
set out from Liverpool on the sailing vessel
St. John, went to Canada, up the St. Lawrence
River by Quebec and Montreal, then across
Lake Erie to Cleveland, where they landed
June 4, 1854. The Davis family lived for a
number of years in Lorain County, Ohio, and
then moved to Henrs' County, first in Ridge-
ville Township and later in Napoleon. Mr.
Davis died on his farm in the latter township
in 1888 at the age of seventy-two, and his
widow, who was born in 1818, died two years
later. They were members of the Wesleyan
]\Iethodist Church and he was a republican.
To the marriage of Mr. and ]Mrs. Gunn were
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
1513
born children named Aurelius, Hiram Seton,
John Henry and Nellie Leona. Aurelius, born
JIareh 15, 1872, died unmarried May 24, 1889 ;
Hiram Seton, born April 15, 1874, was acci-
dentally drowned while fishing in the Maumee
River May 25, 1890. John H., born October
13, 1875, was educated in the schools at Mau-
mee while the family resided there, also in the
college at Ada, first was a pharmacist, later a
farmer, and now a sales clerk in a hardware
store, besides owning a good farm of 100 acres ;
by his marriage to Grace B. Van Rensselaer
of Lucas County he has two children, Cath-
erine M. and Isabel Van R. Nellie Leona, who
was born November 19, 1878, married Eugene
L. Bridenbaugh of Lucas County, and they
lived in Toledo, where Mr. Bridenbaugh is
connected with the Overland Automobile Com-
pany; their two sons are John L. and Ed-
ward G. Mr. and Mrs. Gunn and family are
members of the Presbyterian Church, while
politically Mr. Gunn's associations have al-
ways been with the republican part}'.
Oea L. Hinton. In the August primaries
of 1916, among the worthy nominations made
by the democratic party in Auglaize County,
was the choice of Ora L. Hinton as candidate
for sheriff resulting in his election on Novem-
ber, 1917. Mr. Hinton has long been in the
public eye as a capable and competent official,
and practically every one realizes that the
duties of sheriff will be efficiently executed
during his term of incumbency.
In the line of official service Mr. Hinton
served as captain of the fire department in St.
Marys five years, and for three years was on
the police force. For a number of years he
has owned a pack of bloodhounds and has a
large kennel from which he has sold dogs all
over the country, and that in itself constitutes
an extensive business. He has been instru-
mental with his dogs in the apprehending of
many criminals.
Mr. Hinton was born in Mercer County in
Liberty Township August 2, 1876, a son of
Frank and Isabelle (Howell) Hinton. Grand-
father Thomas Hinton was born in Germany,
and was an early settler in Mercer County,
Ohio. From this county he went out as a
soldier in the Union army during the Civil
war, and was with his command in all its
engagements until the close of hostilities.
Disease contracted while in the army short-
ened his life and he died soon after his return
from the war. Mr. Hinton 's maternal grand-
father was also an earl> settler of Auglaize
County and a farmer by occupation.
Mr. Frank Hinton, who was born in Ross
County, has one of the finest farms of Mercer
County and his success is the more creditable
for the fact that he started out as a poor boy.
With the exception of four years given to
official responsibilities as an infirmary director
he had given the closest attention to his farm
work. He is a democrat and is a member of
the Friends Church. His wife Isabelle Howell
was born in Auglaize County, and died Janu-
ary 8, 1917, aged sixty-six years. They were
married in this county. Mr. Hinton still
resides on the home farm. Of their eight
children five are living: Ora L. ; Thomas
Hinton, a painter at Rockford, Ohio; Ollie,
wife of Lawrence Siler, of St. Marys; Pearl,
wife of Dillon Smalley, surveyor of Mercer
County; and Bessie, who resides with her
brotlier Ora.
Ora L. Hinton had the advantages of the
common schools of Mercer County during his
early life, and his early experiences were those
of the farm. A number of years ago, when
the bicycle was at the height of its popularity,
Mr. Hinton took up bicycle riding as a profes-
sion, and during the five years he followed it
he was noted as the best rider in Northwestern
Ohio.
In October, 1897, he married Lola Hodson,
daughter of John Hodson, an Auglaize County
farmer. After his marriage Mr. Hinton was
employed in the spoke works at St. Marys for
five years, and spent a similar period in the
spoke factory.
He and his wife have had three children:
Goldie, aged sixteen; Donald, aged five; and
Elda, who died when three years of age. He
and his wife are members of the Presb.yterian
Church, though his daughter belongs" to the
German Lutheran. Fraternally he is a mem-
ber of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and is
affiliated with the American Insurance Union.
William Heitman. In every community
are a few men whom all admire and respect,
not on account of their business ability and
worldly success, but because of their personal
characteristics. Such a man is William Heit-
man of Okolona in Henry County. Although
he is one of the most successful" farmers and
merchants in the county men do not speak of
him as "one of our big farmers," but as "one
of the finest men." He is especially repre-
sentative of the fine qualities of the "German
race. His genial disposition and his public
1514
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
spirit as well as his ability and practical com-
mon sense, have won him universal esteem, and
his is a career that is stimulating to read, since
he has made his success since coming to this
country from Europe as a poor boy, and has
risen from the humble employment of railroad
service to independence as a merchant and
farmer.
He was born in Hanover, Germany, June 20,
1845, and comes of old German stock of that
kingdom, a substantial family of Lutheran
people. His parents and also his grandpar-
ents spent their lives in Hanover. His father,
John Heitraan, died in 1858 when not yet
fifty years of age. He was a shoemaker by
trade and had served his full term in the
standing army. The maiden name of his wife
was Mary Eitzman, who was born and reared
and educated in Hanover and died there about
1883, after her son William had come to
America. She was married a second time,
though she had no children by her last hus-
band. William Heitman had an older brother
Henry, who spent his life in Germany and
left a" family there. A younger brother, Fred-
erick is a German farmer, a widower, and
has three sons and one son-in-law serving in
the Imperial armies of Germany.
William Heitman spent the first thirteen
or fourteen years of his life in the old country,
and while there gained a practical education
which is afforded German youth. It was
partly with an ambition to realize the op-
portunities presented by America and also to
escape the onerous duties of military service
and the restrictions of German laws and cus-
toms, that he set out for America. He was
alone so far as his own family was concerned,
and he took passage on tlii> City of Bremen
in, the harbor of that name and on the second
trip made by that vessel. The vessel left
Germany May 1, and fifteen days later landed
its passengers at Baltimore. Two days after
that young Heitman stepped from the train
of the Wabash Railroad at Okolona in Napo-
leon Township of Henry County. In another
two days he was working for the Wabash Rail-
way Company, and for five years he did the
heavy work re((uired of him, and also exer-
cised proper thrift in safeguarding his earn-
ings and making provisions for the future.
His first purchase was a tract of timber land
near Deshler, comprising 160 acres. About
two years later he traded this for a .smaller
piece of land near Okolona, and gradually
added by subsequent purchases until his farm
now comprises 140 acres. In improvements
and general attractiveness it is one of the most
valuable farms in that part of Henry County.
It lies in sections twenty-nine and thirty-one,
and presents an attractive feature in the land-
scape, not only by its well cultivated and im-
proved fields, but also by the substantial farm
buildings.
Thus for upwards of half a century Mr.
Heitman has been identified with the com-
munity around Okolona. In 1885, with the
late William Schlesser as a partner, he en-
gaged in merchandising at Okolona. Six years
later, on St. Patrick's Day of 1891, their store
and the two other business houses of the vil-
lage were burned. Mr. Heitman immedi-
ately rebuilt, on the opposite side of the street,
and since then for a period of a quarter of a
century has been the leading merchant of the
village. He has a large store, 40 by 50 feet,
well filled with merchandise of all classes and
divided into departments, and with a trade
drawii from a territory many miles around.
For a number of years he has had his son
associated with him in the management of
this store.
Several years after Mr. Heitman came to
this countiy he married Anna Koenemann.
She had been on the same shipload with him
in coming to this country, was born and reared
in the same neighborhood in Hanover, and
they were members of the same church. She
too had come to this country alone so far as
her immediate family was ooncerned. and as
they had been sweethearts in the old country
they .sub.sequently cemented their alliance in
marriage and have lived happily together for
forty-five years. To this union were born two
sons and one daughter. Fred H., born at
Okolona. is a well educated young business
man, and for the past fourteen years has been
postmaster of Okolona, tlie pnstoffiee being in
the store conducted by his father. Fred mar-
ried Helen Egger, of Henry County, but her
parents were from Hanover. Fred Heitman
and wife have four children : Laura, a promis-
ing young woman who is a member of the class
of 1917 in the Napoleon High School : Luella,
William and Julian, who are attending the
grade schools. Ida, the only daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Heitman, married Daniel Lowry,
an engineer on the Baltimore & Ohio and
living at Chicago Junction ; they have a son
Lester and a daughter Vernice. Alvin. who
is associated with his father and brother in
the store, married Carrie Long. All the
MR. AND MRS. WILLIA.M SHAFFER AND DAUGHTER .^lAHEL
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1515
family are members of the Bethlehem Lu-
theran Church, and the father and sons are
democrats in politics.
Charles E. Hatcher. As superintendent
of the Henry County Infirmary, Chai'les E.
Hatcher is rendering a public service second
to none in the county in the way of benefits to
those dependent upon state charity. He has
all rhe c|ualitications for such a post of respon-
sibility. He was a practical farmer before he
took charge of the infirmary in 1911, and his
experience in that line and his good business
judgment have enabled him to give a good
administration to the large farm maintained
by the eountj'. Both he and his wife are
kindly people who consider it a privilege as
well as a duty to do all they can for lightening
the burdens of those entrusted to their care.
The institution has about thirty inmates
throughout the year, and there is a large
building with fortj- rooms for the housing of
these unfortunate people. Besides a substan-
tial set of farm buildings, the farm itself com-
prises 236 acres of land, and it is all improved
and under cultivation except four acres of
native timber. Mr. Hatcher during the past
five years has always maintained a high stand-
ard in the administration of this department
of the county government.
His entire life has been spent in Heniy
County, and he was born in Richfield Town-
ship July 12, 1874. He was reared in the
country, received a public school education
and proved himself very capable as an inde-
pendent farmer until he was called to his
present post.
His father, William Hatcher, is an honored
veteran of the great struggle for the integrity
of the Union. He was born in Logan County,
Ohio, in 1844, was reared in this state, and
in the latter part of 1863 enlisted in the
Forty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, being
mustered in at Columbus. For over two years
he was a private in the ranks and acquitted
himself creditably in every duty he was called
upon to discharge. While he escaped wounds,
he suffered so much from exposure and hard-
ship that he lost hLs hair and beard. After
the war he was married in Logan County to
^faria Argo, and some years later he moved to
Henry County. There in 1881 his wife, and
the mother of Charles E., died before her
fortieth year. She died at the birth of her
seventh child, and nearlv all these children
were reared and are still living. William
Hatcher married for his second wife Adaline
Roberts and they now live retired at Weston
in Wood County, and this marriage has also
produced seven children. William Hatcher
has for many years been an active worker in
the ranks of the prohibition cause, and he and
his wife -are members of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church.
In Wood County, Ohio, Charles E. Hatcher
married Bertha Brown, who was born in
Henry County in 1880, was reared and edu-
cated in this county, and is a daughter of
Isaac N. Brown, who was also a veteran of the
Civil war and died in Henry County. His
widow, now past sixty-five, lives at Weston,
ilr. and ilrs. Hatcher are the parents of four
children : Elzina, who has finished the course
of the high school at Napoleon and is still at
home ; Oscar, aged fourteen and attending the
public schools; Gladys, eleven years of age
and in the grade schools ; and Burdette, who
was born January 3, 1916.
Mr. and Mrs. Hatcher are active members
of the ^lethodist Episcopal Church and he has
had his nicmlicrsliip in the church at Weston
for the jiast iwcnty ycurs. l'oliticall\- he is an
independent ilciiKM-rat and lie is a member of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at
Weston, Ohio.
William Shaffer in the course of thirty
years has succeeded in building up a business
second to none in its line in the Town of
( 'ridersville in Auglaize County. 'Sir. Shaffer
is an ttndertaker, a furniture dealer, and has
used such enterprise and has furnished such
reliable service that his trade limits are by no
means confined to the country immediately
around Cridersville. and he gets custom from
as far away as Lima and Wapakoneta. It is
noteworthy that every dollar that 'Sir. Shaflfer
has earned has been by his own efforts, and he
is one of the upstanding and prosperous men
of his section.
His birth occurred on a farm three miles
we.st of Cridersville. in Allen Cnuiitv, Ohio,
July 26, 1865. His |.;,ivnts uviv .Michael and
Sarah (Whetstone) ShatlVr. His y-randfather
Henry Shaflfer came to Northwestern Ohio in
1836, was a pioneer in Allen County, and
developed a farm of forty acres on which he
spent his last years. The maternal grand-
father Simeon Whetstone was also an early
settler in Auglaize County, and was both a
farmer and a minister of the Gospel. ^Michael
and Sarah Shaffer were married in Auglaize
County on May 28, 1847, Israel Johns per-
forming the ceremonv. IMichael was born in
1516
HISTORY OF NORTH\YEST OHIO
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, October 3, 1816,
and was twenty years of age when he came to
Allen County. He lived out a successful
career as a farmer in Allen County, and died
there February 10, 1889. His wife was born
in Auglaize County in 1827 and died Novem-
ber 19, 1912. They were members of the
Christian Church and he was a democrat in
polities. Of their thirteen children, William
was the eighth in order of birth and the nine
still living are: Simon, a retired farmer at
Spencerville, Ohio ; John, in the nursery busi-
ness at Lima ; Mrs. Justus Romshe, wife of an
Auglaize County farmer, living three miles
north of Wapakoneta ; Sallie, wife of J. D.
Ritchie, a farmer in Auglaize County;
Amanda, wife of C. F. Bowsher a farmer in
Auglaize County; William; Elza, a farmer
near Spencerville ; George, who is in the busi-
ness of drilling water wells at Cridersville ;
Mrs. Jacob Sands, wife of the foreman of the
Country Club at Lima, Ohio.
Mr. William Shaffer attended school at
Hume country schoolhouse, lived on the farm,
gained a practical acquaintance with agricul-
ture as a youth, but has always followed some
other lines of business. For a time he was in
the nursery business and he studied and
gained practical experience with the under-
taking profession at Sidney, Ohio, at Muncie,
Indiana, and Fort Wayne, Indiana. Thirty-
two years ago in 1884 he engaged in business
at Cridersville and from the first has studied
and applied his experience not only for the
purpose of rendering an expert service but
also one careful and satisfactorv in every
detail. On June 1, 1902, :\Ir. Shaffer added a
stock of furniture and stoves, and he has
developed these lines to an important extent.
His business was burned out in 1910 and he
then restocked his store and also erected a
substantial block in which he has his head-
quarters.
In 1890 Mr. Shaffer married Miss Luciuda
Mowery, daughter of George and Elizabeth
Mowery of Allen County. Her father was a
farmer. Mrs. Shaffer died November 12,
1891, and her only child is also deceased. In
1895 ]\Ir. Shaffer married Mary Banner,
daughter of George Banner, who with his wife
was a native of Germany and for many years
followed farming in Auglaize County. To this
marriage was born one child, Mabel, who is
now employed in a store at Lima. The family
are members of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church. Mr. Shaffer is a democrat and is
affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. Among
his other business interests he has half owner-
sliip of a farm in Allen County.
Henry Lange. For more than fifty years
one tract of land in Henry County has been
owned by and has been developed from a
wilderness condition to the greatest pro-
ductivity by members of the Lange family.
Its present possessor is Henry Lange. who for
years has been a well known farmer in Napo-
leon Township, and occupies the old home-
stead on which he was born. This farm lies
in section 19.
His father acquired the land, which was a
part of the canal land tract in 1854. There
Henry Lange was born Becember 25, 1855, his
birth being a Christmas gift to his parents.
In that one locality he grew to manhood, to
work in the fields when a boj\ acquired a sub-
stantial education in the local schools, and
later came to own the old place which he has
impressed with his own skillful management.
His farm comprises nearly eighty acres, and
it is all well improved and productive of the
standard crops, together with some good
stock. He has also a group of substantial
buildings, including a barn 40x80 feet, a
granary 22x34 feet, and a well appointed and
furnished home of eight rooms and basement.
His father, Fred Lange, paid 75 cents an
acre for the land more than fifty years ago,
and the labors of this family have contributed
a large share of its present high value. Fred
Lange was born in Hanover, Germany, about
1825, and came to this country in the early
'50s. For a time he worked at Kelleys Island
on Lake Erie, and in the meantime invested
in the timbered tract in Henry County, on
which he spent the winter seasons. Besides
clearing, he also erected a log cabin, and intro-
duced his bride to that location. He married
Mary Schulty, who was born in AVest Prussia
in 1832. She came as a girl to the LTnited
States and at Befiance, Ohio, was employed
for several years until her marriage. Her
parents were Henry and Mary (Snitkey)
Schulty, both of whom died in Henry County,
and this family is referred to on other pages
of this publication. Both the Schultys and
Langes were of good German stock and all
were members of the Lutheran faith.
Mr. Henry Lange chose his wife in Henry
County, her maiden name being Freda Kolby.
She was born in Hanover, Germany. October
29, 1862, and lost her mother when she was
quite young. Her father died only a few
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1517
years ago. In 1885 she set out alone for
America, and arriving at Napoleon lived witb
her sister, Mrs. Henry Arps, until after she
was grown. Mr. and Mrs. Lange are the
parents of four sons and two daughters, and
they have given them all a good education in
both the German and EngUsh schools. Mr.s.
Lange attends the Bethlehem Lutheran
Cluirch, while Mr. Lange is a democrat. A
brief record of the children is as follows:
Emma, still at home; Mary, who is employed
at Toledo ; Harmon, aged eighteen and now
living in Nebraska; Carl, aged sixteen;
Siefried, aged fourteen : and Henry, Jr., aged
eleven. Another child, Fred, died when four-
teen years of age.
Henry Panning. One of the most pro-
gressive representatives of the agricultural
interests of Henry County, Henry Panning
has worked his way to a position of independ-
ence and prominence solely through his own
efforts. He started in life with only a good
constitution and a resolute determination to
get to the front, and his successful career as a
farmer furnishes a strong incentive to the
aspiring element of the rising generation to
follow his example. His fine farm is located
on section 17 in Napoleon Township with
Okolona as his postoffice.
He is of German birth and old Lutheran
ancestry, and was born in Hanover August 11,
1852, a son of Henry and ^lary (Mueller)
Panning, also natives of Hanover. His father
spent three years in the regular service of the
German army, and later became a railway
watchman on the line between Hanover and
Bremen. He died when a little past middle
life, but his widow survived until she was
eighty-six years of age. The only children
were Henry and his sister Sophia, who mar-
ried and died in Germany, leaving one
daughter.
Mr. Panning was reared in Germany, was
well educated according to German standards,
and after leaving school became clerk in a
public house at one of the noted summer re-
sorts in Germany. Three years later he went
to Berlin, then spent some time along tlie
River Rhine, and was employed in different
parts of the German Empire until 1872.
In that year he took passage on the steamer
New York and crossed from Bremen to Castle
Garden and from there came on to Henry
CountJ^ Ohio, where he joined his iincle,
Henry Stockmann. Mr. Stockmann was one
of the early German pioneer residents of
Henry County, was a very prosperous farmer,
and died without issue, leaving a large estate
of improved land. For three years after com-
ing to this country Mr. Panning lived with his
uncle in Freedom Township, managing a farm
there, and then took po.ssession of the sixty
acres given him by his uncle in Napoleon
TowTiship. This land he has made the nucleus
of his determined efforts and plans and am-
bitions for the past forty years. Among other
improvements he has thoroughly drained it
all, has placed eveiy acre under cultivation,
and has increased it by the purchase of twenty
additional acres. The farm had a substantial
residence when he took possession, and it has
been his home ever since, though with some
re-equipment and remodeling. In 1S90 he
built a substantial barn on a foundation
35x84 feet and has all the conveniences and
equipment for high class farming and at the
same time has made the property an excellent
home.
In Freedom Township Mr. Panning mar-
ried Miss Anna Boeling, who was born March
1, 1850, at Neuenkirchen, Hanover, Germany.
When she was twenty-three years of age she
came to this country and to Napoleon, Ohio,
with her parents. Christian and Hannah
Boeling, who for some years lived on the farm
now owned by Mr. Panning, ilr. Boeling
died before he w-as sixty and his widow when
about sixty-seven. Both were members of the
Lutheran Church and fine, practical, whole-
some people. After marriage Mr. and ]\Irs.
Panning devoted themselves with steadfast en-
thusiasm to the work and improvement of
their farm and to the rearing of their chil-
dren. Mrs. Panning was a splendid helpmate,
a noble woman, thoroughly practical, a loving
mother, and her name will ahvays be revered
by her children and descendants. Her death
was a great loss to the family when she passed
away September 10, 1914. She was a member
of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Napoleon
Township, and Mr. Panning and the children
all are members there. Henry E., the oldest
child, was born in December, 1877. and is now
bearing most of the responsibilities of man-
aging his father's farm: he married ^Matilda
Gerten of Adams Township, Defiance County,
who died July 11, 1914, and there is one child
surviving, Ida, born July 24, 1913. Mary, the
second child, was born March 17, 1879. and is
the wife of Fred Bosselman a farmer in De-
fiance County, their children being Henry,
Fred, Josephine and Hildegard. Freda, the
youngest child, is the wnfe of Harmon Schutta,
1518
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
their home being on a farm in Napoleon
Township, and they have two sons, Paul and
Freddie. Mr. Panning and his son are active
democrats, and both take a commendable in-
terest in local affairs. Since the organization
of the Napoleon State Bank, six years ago,
Mr. Panning has served as one of the directors.
George Wade Ross. A reputation in the
law that extends beyond the boundaries of a
city or county is usually based upon some very
solid attainments and unusual success in the
profession. A member of the Findlay bar
during the greater part of his practice, George
Wade Ross is undoubtedly one of the most
widely known lawyers in Northwestern Ohio.
In the course of his practice he has handled
an immense volume of important cases, and is
especially home in the civil and corporation
branches of his profession. He has distin-
guished himself by hard work, a conscientious
fulfillment of all "the responsibilities of a pro-
fessional man. and has concentrated prac-
tically all his efforts upon the law rather than
polities.
He was born in Milton Township of Wayne
County, Ohio, a son of Joseph and Catherine
(Peckinpaugh) Ross. He is descended from
pure Scotch ancestry. His great-grandfather
was the founder of the family in America.
Mr. Ross' brother Hiram spent four years in
the Union army as a member of the Sixteenth
Ohio Infantry.
As a boy George Wade Ross attended
country schools his father being a farmer, and
after a four years course he graduated from
Lodi Academy. He then taught in the district
schools for a period of two years, and then
taught four years in the Creston High School
and two years in the Sterling High School.
It was while teaching that he applied himself
diligently to the study of law for one year
under H. B. Woodward, Medina, and for
several years later was with James C. John-
son, who in his time was one of the foremost
lawyers of Ohio and was' senior member of the
firm of Johnson & Graves of Seville, Ohio.
In 1879 ]\Ir. Ross was admitted to practice
by the district court at Medina, Ohio. In
1880, the following year, he married Carrie
E. Beardsley, a daughter of Daniel B. and
Jane (Hasington) Beardsley. Her father
Daniel B. Beardsley was a prominent lawyer
and historian, having written the best history
of Hancock County ever published.
After his admission to the bar Jlr. Ross
practiced for several years at Wooster, and
there laid the basis of his widely extended
reputation. Seeking a still larger field and
nearer his varied interests he removed to
Findlay in 1889, and has been one of the
bulwarks of the Findlay bar for more than
twenty-eight years. For four years he was a
partner with his father-in-law, Mr. Beardsley,
then for fifteen years was senior member of
the firm of Ross & Kinder until W. H. Kinder
was elected in 1908 to the bench of the Circuit
Court, now the Court of Appeals. Since then
Mr. Ross has practiced alone, and still has
his quarters in the office building which he
has occupied for many years.
He is general counsel of the Toledo, Fos-
toria & Findlay Railway Company, assistant
counsel of the National Refinery Company,
the Continental Sugar Company, The Toledo
& Southern Traction Company, the Western
Ohio Railway Company, counsel for the Ohio
Bank & Savings Company of Findlay and
for several other corporations. In 1892
he was elected city solicitor of Findlay
and by re-election filled that office four years.
Outside of that he has seldom participated in
politics, and that office was in direct line with
his profession. He is an active republican
and in 1900 was a candidate for congress. He
has been frequently urged to run for offices
but has found his true vocation in the profes-
sion of his choice.
Mr. Ross in the course of his practice has
assisted in financing and organizing a num-
ber of large concerns and is at present a
member of the advisory board and is stock-
holder in the R. L. Dolling Company, a
$3,000,000 coi-poration handling investment
securities with offices formerly at Hamilton,
Ohio, and now at Columbus. Mr. Ross is
treasurer of the Hancock County Bar Asso-
ciation, is an active member of the Findlay
Country Club, of the Royal Arcanum, the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and
has served as president of the SjTuposium
Literary Society of Findlay.
Mrs. Ross was a teacher in the public
schools before her marriage. She has contin-
ued her interests in educational affairs and
especially in philanthropic work in behalf of
the poor and friendless. For twenty years
.she was president of the County Board of
Visitors and has probably done more than
any single woman in Hancock County in
behalf of child welfare. Those wlio are in a
situation to know state that a great many
young boys and girls have been reclaimed
and have been made respecting citizens
^^A^xrfy^-^i^
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1519
through her efforts. With others she organ-
ized the Friendly Inn, an institution to take
care of delinquent boys and girls and keep
them from being made inmates of a state in-
stitution, ilrs. Ross kept up her active
charitable work for many years until poor
health intervened, and though that has re-
stricted her activities, her interest and sym-
pathy are as keen as ever.
Fred Panning, proprietor of the Plainview
Farm in section 19 of Napoleon Township,
has a long and honorable record that identi-
fies him with this section of Northwest Ohio,
where he has spent all his life from birth.
Though most of his .years have been spent
in Henn- County, he was born across the line
in Adams Township of Defiance County on
Decciiilicr s, ls.")2, only a few months after his
parents laiiic frnm the old eountrj'. His early
youtli to manhood was spent in Adams Town-
ship, but in 1886 he bought his present farm
of eighty acres in section 19 of Napoleon
Town.ship, and has devoted the subsequent
thirty years to the improvement and develop-
ment of this place, which now i-anks as one of
the model farms of Henry County. Many of
its valuable features are the fruits of his own
enterprise and labor. One is a large red barn
40x80 feet for his stock and grain, and he and
his family enjoy the comforts of a very at-
tractive and convenient nine-room hou.se built
of l)rick and located on a site that commands
an eiilraiiciim view of tlic surrounding coun-
try. llislan,i is of sii.-h cliaracter of soil as to
produce any of the standard crops of Ohio,
and for many years lie has exercised his .judg-
ment in bringing about the gi-eatest possible
yields and at the same time conserving the
resources of bis land. He has farmed on the
rotation principle of crops. At the same time
he has kept good grades of live stock. Besides
his home place Mr. Panning owns thirty-eight
acres adjoining in Defiance County and some
years ago he gave an eighty-acre tract to his
son, this also being situated in Adams Town-
ship of Defiance County.
Mr. Panning comes from old and substan-
tial German Lutheran stock, originally Han-
over people. His parents, Henry and ^Mary
(Brunce) Panning, were both bom in the year
1820 in Hanover. They were married in Ger-
many, and began their careers there as poor
but honest folk. While in Germany their fir.st
child Catherine was born in 1844. In 1852
this little family group set sail from Bremen
and after a tedious ocean voyage of eight
weeks, not without hardships and privations,
they landed at New York, and from there
came on west until they reached Adams Town-
ship of Defiance County. There they located
in the wilds and securing eighty acres of laud
which had perhaps never yielded a crop and
certainly had no improvements upon it, they
erected the typical log cabin of the eai-ly set-
tler and gircled themselves to the heavy task
of pioneering in the woods. They cleared off
the timber, drained the swamps, and there
they passed their honored and useful lives.
The father died in 1886, and the mother some
years later. They were devout Christian
people, were charter members of Bethlehem
Lutheran Church, and as long as they lived
contributed actively of their work and their
means to its support, Henry Panning serving
for years as one of its officials. Politically he
was a democrat. Their daughter Cathei-ine,
after coming to this country, married George
Freytag, and they became well to do farmers
of Napoleon Township and reared a large
family.
Fred Panning grew up in Napoleon Town-
ship and took up as a permanent vocation the
work to which he had been reared and trained,
farming. Pie was married in Henry County
to Dora Panning, who though of the same
name has no close relationship, though her
parents, Fred and Catherine Panning, were
also natives of Hanover, Germany, and were
early settlers of Henry County, where they
were among the substantial German Lutheran
people of that section. Mrs. Panning M'ns
born at the old home of her parents in 1855.
She was a devoted wife and mother, gave the
best of her character and ability to the train-
ing and rearing of her children, and her death
on November 9, 1908, was the hardest loss
Mr. Panning and his children have had to
bear. She was a confirmed Lutheran and was
always devoted to her church.
Mr. Panning and his family are all members
of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church. The
children are: Henry, who lives on his farm
in Defiance Count.y, married Doretta Gerken
of Adams Township, and their three children
are Olivine, Doris and Fred. Lenna is a
trained nurse living at Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Caroline is still immarried and looks after
the household duties for her father. Augusta
is the wife of Bernhardt Arps, and they look
after the farm for Mr. Panning, being the
parents of one child, Regina, who was born
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
May 4, 1913. The youngest child is Julia,
who is now at Milwaukee studying to be a
trained nurse.
Dietrich Panning. A native son of Henry
County, a resident still on the farm where he
was born in Napoleon Township, Dietrich Pan-
ning has long been known as an industrious,
painstaking and energetic farmer, a man of
progressive ideas, thoroughly alive to the
needs of his community and a citizen who has
always been ready to perform his duties and
responsibilities.
His labors have brought him a full measure
of success. He has a fine farm, has reared
and is rearing a household of children who do
him honor, and his name is always spoken with
respect in the community where he has spent
his life. He was born in section 18 of Napo-
leon Township, November 27, 1859. His pres-
ent farm comprises 120 acres, one acre of
which has been set aside for cemetery purposes
and is known as Breman's cemetery. JMr.
Panning has been constructive in his work, and
has a fine group of buildings. He built his
large red barn, which stands on a foundation
32 by 84 feet, and also has a substantial nine-
room house.
His parents were Henry C. and Dora (Oth-
mer) Panning, both natives of Hanover, Ger-
many. His father was born about 1822 and
his mother in 1834. Both were of Lutheran
stock. They came to this country separately
in sailing vessels, landing at New York.
Henry C. Panning first went to Kelley 's Island
near Sandusky, worked in the stone quarries
there, and finally came to Henry County,
.where he met and married his wife. They then
started to develop their new home in the woods,
the land they acquired being the farm now
owned by Dietrich Panning. There, being in-
dustrious and thrifty, they found their great-
est comfort in hard work and in providing a
home for their children. Thus in time they
had much to be satisfied with, and after their
death the old homestead went to their son
Dietrich, who has kept up its improvements
and members of the third generation of the
family are now living upon it. The parents
were among the organizers of the Lutheran
church in that neighborhood and the father
was long one of its officials.
Dietrich Panning was one of two sons and
seven daughters, all of whom grew up. One
daughter died unmarried and another died
leaving three children.
In his home township Mr. Panning mar-
ried Miss Amelia Sheele, who was born in Ger-
many December 20, 1863, and when five years
old came to the United States and to Henrj-
County with her parents, Christof Sheele and
wife, whose maiden name was Schroeder.
They spent their lives as farmers in Henry
County, and died when about seventy years
of age. Mr. Sheele was a democrat and he
and his wife were Lutherans.
Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs.
Panning one, Ella, died at the age of eleven
years. Those living are: Ferdinand, age
twenty-eight ; Emma, Arnold, Emil and Carl.
All received good advantages in the local
schools, and Carl is still a student. The family
are members of the Lutheran Church, of which
Mr. Panning is an official, and he and his older
sons are democrats in politics.
Scott Xeely. One of the best known resi-
dents of Allen County is Scott Neely. He
has been distinguished by a special genius for
ability to render service thoroughly and well
in every undertaking. That has naturally
kept his talents in demand, and there has
never been a time when he has not been able
to accept opportunities to keep himself busy
and to live profitably and usefully.
His family have been identified with Allen
County since the early settlement. His
grandfather, Thomas Neely, was born in
Hanover, Germany, and came to the United
States when a boy, his family locating in
Allen County, in Bath Township, prior to
1830. James Neely, father of Scott Neely,
was an auctioneer and farmer, and owned a
large amount of land in Allen County. He
was an honored soldier of the Civil war, hav-
ing served four years and eight months. He
died August 10," 1894. He also did consid-
erable business as a contractor, and was quite
prominent in German Towmship, where he
served as trustee and clerk. James Neelv
married Mary C. Barriek, a daughter of Wil-
liam and Mary Barriek, of German Town-
ship. They reared a family of seven children,
named Frank, William, Charles, Scott, Alice,
^largaret and Ida May.
Scott Neely was bom in Gei-man Township,
of Allen County. August 3, 1861. For some
time lie was associated with his father in con-
tracting work, and in the meantime acquired
an education in the public schools. For over
twentv years he was a teamster with the
American Straw Board Company of Lima,
and when the plant of that companv was
destroyed by fire he was selected out of many
applicants as foreman to oversee the work of
tearing down the ruins. He has also bought
Ki7,
C7^>9^^<^^^~lj;
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1521
and sold horses and 'for many years has been
considered one of the' best auctioneers in Allen
and adjacent counties. His most successful
enterprise in recent years has been the buying
of hay and straw on a large scale. He now
has an equipment of four hay balers and
employs from twenty to twenty-five men in
the work. His business as a hay baler and
dealer extends all over Allen County and
adjacent sections of Ohio, and he ships to
New York, Boston and other ea.stern markets.
In his native township he has a fine farm of
240 acres and has, of course, made the opera-
tion of this a source of profit.
Mr. Neely is now treasurer of Gennan
Township and for twelve years was a mem-
ber of the school board. He is a trustee of
the Methodist Episcopal Church of Allentowni.
a treasurer of the Epworth League, and for
years was treasurer of the Sunday school.
Fraternally he is affiliated with Lima Lodge
No. 783, Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
and also with the Encampment.
On December 31, 1883, he married Sarah
Bruner, daughter of Martin and Sarah
jBruner of Auglaize Countv. At her death
on October 30, 1886, Mrs. Neely left two chil-
dren. The son, Clem, who was born August
17, 1884, is now a partner with his father in
the hay business, and is a member of both
the subordinate and encampment degrees of
Odd Fellowship: in 1910 he married Delsie
Sears of Ada, Ohio, and their two children
are Fanella and Bernice. Neva Etta, the
second child, was born September 16. 1887,
and was married in June, 1903, to A. T.
Whyman, a business man of San Antonio.
Texas; their three children are Opal, Ola
May and John Ernest.
On Januarj' 5, 1897, Mr. Neely married
Lydia Cary, a daughter of Henry and Rebecca
Gary. Her father was bom in Hanover.
Germany, and came to America at the age of
six years, the family locating in Allen
County. Mr. and Mrs. Neely have seven chil-
dren : Gary May, Cecil Marie, Lester Lloyd.
all three of whom are students in the Lima
High School; Russell Earl, James Oliver,
Harry Clyde and Juanita.
V. 0. Moore, M. D. Since completing his
medical education Doctor ]\Ioore has been in
successful practice at Toledo, covering a
period now of almost twenty years. A physi-
cian of the highest standing, he is also known
for his participation in business and civic
affairs and is one of Toledo's bankers.
Doctor Moore was born January 11, 1870,
in Morrow County, Ohio, son of Royal and
Rachel (Evans) Moore. His father was born
in Ohio of English and Irish ancestry, while
the mother was of Welsh stock. Royal Moore
had a long and successful career, having been
a teacher, farmer and stock raiser. He had a
gift for business, and everything he did
seemed to prosper. Doctor ^loore, the
j^ounger of his father's two children, had
good home advantages when a boy and was
also the recipient of a liberal education. He
attended the public schools, afterwards the
Ohio Wesleyan University, and then the Ohio
State University, in wliieh he received the
degree of bachelor of science in 1895. He
took his medical course in the Starling Medi-
cal College. In 1898 he located at Toledo and
has been engaged in practice there ever since.
His home is at 1107 Starr Avenue and his
office is at 1105 Starr Avenue. He is a mem-
ber of the Lucas County and the Ohio State
Medical Society. Doctor Moore is vice presi-
dent of the People's Savings Bank at Toledo
and has financial interests in various other
business enterprises. He is prominent in
Masonry, has attained the thirtj'-second de-
gree of the Scottish Rite and is master of
ceremonies in the Consistory of Toledo. He
has served as master of the Blue Lodge, high
priest of the chapter and has held chairs in
the Commandery of the Knights Templar and
in the other branches of the York Rite. He
is a member of the Greek letter society Alpha
Chapter of Kappa Sigma.
Doctor Moore was married October 13,
1895, in Morrow County, Ohio, to Miss Ger-
trude B. Bliss. Her father was a successful
physician at Delaware, Ohio. Mrs. Moore,
who was one of a farail}^ of two children, was
educated in the public schools and was gradu-
ated from the Ohio Weslevan University with
the class of 1893.
George H. Drewes. Jlore than seventy
years ago the members of the Drewes family,
of German stock, came to Henry County and
established themselves in what was still a
wilderness. Here for three generations they
have lived, prospered, enjoyed to the full com-
munity esteem, and have left as monuments
to their labors and enterprise many acres
cleared, many buildings erected, and at the
same time have performed their duties and
upheld their responsibilities as citizens, so
that the name is associated with honest work
and upright manhood and womanhood.
1522
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
One of the well known members of this
family is now a successful farmer in Napo-
leon Township. George H. Drewes was born
in Henry County August 30, 1870, a son of
Henry and Wilhelmina (Freytag) Drewes,
both of whom were natives of Hanover, Ger-
many, where they were born in 1844 and
1845 respectively. When children they came
with their respective parents to America.
Grandfather William Drewes was a tailor, and
on coming to the United States located in
Henry County, where in connection with his
trade he also took up farming. He acquired a
large estate of 400 acres or more, and was one
of the vei-j' prosperous early settlers. His
death occurred at the age of seventy-eight
in Napoleon Township. His wife had died
there not long after coming to this country.
Both were members of the Lutheran Church.
George H. Drewes' maternal grandfather.
Fred Freytag, came with his family about
1850, and also secured and improved lands
in Napoleon Township, where he died when
past eighty years. The Freytags were also
Lutherans and both families supported demo-
cratic principles in politics. Henry Drewes
and wife both grew up in this wild timbered
country, were married in the county, and
eventually by their idustry secured 160 acres,
eighty acres in Adams Township of Defiance
County and eighty ad.ioining it in Napoleon
Township of Henry County. On that farm
Wilhelmina Drewes died in 1880, when in
middle life. Her husband married for his
second wife ]Mrs. Sophia (Imbroch) Rohrs,
who was born in Henry County of German
parentage. Henry Drewes and his second
wife a few years ago moved to Ridgeville and
are living there retired and in comfort. Both
are members of the Lutheran church and he
is a democrat.
George H. Drewes was one of five children,
three of whom died j'oung. His only brother,
William, is now married and a prosperous
farmer in Napoleon Township, the father of
two sons and a daughter.
Reared and educated in Henry County,
George H. Drewes finished his schooling with
the district advantages and early applied his
labors to making his own way. By thrift and
earnest endeavor he was able to make his first
purchase of eighty acres in 1898. This pur-
chase was in section thirty-three of Napoleon
Township. Later a subsequent purchase of
eighty acres gave him a farm of 160 acres,
and this is one of the well improved places of
that section of the county. He grows all the
staple crops including sugar beet, and he has
made that a profitable item of his agricultural
efforts, usually raising from fifteen to seven-
teen tons per acre. In 1899 he erected his
large barn, 80 by 40 feet, which constitutes
one of the conspicuous improvements along
the country highway in that section of the
county, and he has another barn 25 by 40
feet besides various outbuildings. He keeps
a luunber of good graded stock.
In Freedom Township of Henry County
Mr. Drewes married Sophie ^lahnke. She was
born in Freedom Township, where her parents
had settled on coming from Germany. Her
father died in 1903, while her mother is now
living with her youngest daughter, Mrs. Ida
Panning, and is sixty-seven years of age. This
family also are Lutherans, and her father was
a democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Drewes are the
happy parents of eight children. The three
oldest. Arnold, George H. Jr. and Lorena,
have all been confirmed in the Lutheran
Church at Flatrock, and are attending school.
The A'ounger children are Harold, Richard,
Edwin, Erna and Luther. ^Ir. Drewes takes
an active interest in local affairs, and is now
serving as a member of the school board.
Politically he is a democrat.
John J. Vollmayer. One of the leading
financial institutions of Toledo is the Market
Savings Bank Company, which in the past
twelve years has had a remarkable record of
growth and development and as a savings in-
stitution stands in the front rank of such or-
ganizations in Northwest Ohio. Active from
the very first as one of the organizers, and now
the first vice president of the company, John
J. Vollmayer has had much to do with the
success of this concern, though the active re-
sponsibilities of organization and management
have from the fii-st devolved upon his son,
William G. Vollmayer, who is cashier of the
bank, and to whom reference is made on other
pages.
For more than forty years John J. Voll-
mayer has been actively identified with the
mercantile, financial and civic life of Toledo.
In fact, most of his career has been spent in
this city, though he was born in Cleveland,
August* 14, 1848. He was the oldest of four
children, three sons and one daughter, whose
parents were Michael and Barbara (Opple)
Vollmayer. The latter were both natives of
Germany, where they married, and in 1846
emigrated to the United States, first locating
at Cleveland, which was their home for two
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1523
years, and from there they came to Toledo.
Michael VoUmayer was a farmer by occupa-
tion, and on moving to Toledo he established
his home on Detroit Avenue, where he died in
1857. His widow survived until 1894. Of
their children the only two now living are
John J. and Rev. Michael Vollmayer, who is
now pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church at
Massillon, Ohio. The other son, George, died
at Toledo in 1896. and the daughter, Mrs.
Mary Gluckstein, died at Baltimore, Marjr-
land, in 1895. Rev. Michael Vollmayer, it
should be noted, was graduated from Canisius
College, a Jesuit institution at Buffalo, New-
York, was educated for the priesthood at St.
Marj^'s Seminary in Cleveland, and for a num-
ber of years has been active as a priest and
pastor. All the children except John were
born at Toledo.
John J. Vollmayer grew up in Toledo, at-
tended the parochial schools, and first learned
the trade of woodworker. His business career
began in 1873 as proprietor of a modest retail
grocery establishment at the corner of Page
and Locust streets. He continued in active
busines.s there, serving a greatly increased
trade until 1898. In that year he embarked
in the wholesale and retail liquor business at
125 Superior Street, and that was his busi-
ness headquarters for about ten years.
He actively assisted his son in organizing the
Market Savings Bank Company, and since the
institution opened its doors for business. May
2, 1904, he has been the active vice president.
Mr. Vollmayer ha.s also acquired much val-
uable real estate in Toledo and is one of the
responsible and substantial business men and
public spirited citizens.
He wa.s very active in democratic politics
at Toledo and in Lucas County until the cam-
paign of 1896, when he refused to support the
party platform ahd the candidacy of William
Jennings Bryan. However, he is still a be-
liever in what he considers real democratic
principles, and in 1912 he supported the nomi-
nee, Mr. Wilson, for the presidency. In 1877
Mr. Vollmayer was elected a member of the
police board from the old Seventh Ward, and
in 1879 was elected to represent the same
ward in the city council. In 1881 he was
again chosen a member of the police force, but
was legislated out of the office by the Foster
bill. In 1882 he was elected member at large
for the four-year long term on the police
board, and his services justified his renomina-
tion, though he was defeated in the election.
He has identified himself with manv re-
ligious and fraternal movements. He is a
member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, of St.
Michael's Benevolent Society of the parish,
the Bavarian Benevolent Society, the Catholic
Knights of America, the Knights of Columbus,
the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
and the Toledo Commerce Club.
On May 21, 1872, while a resident of Balti-
more, Maryland, where he was temporarily
engaged in business, Mr. Vollmayer married
IMiss Emelia C. Becker of Baltimore. To their
marriage have been born five children : Wil-
liam G., cashier of the ^Market Savings Bank
Company; Dr. Robert H., a dentist at Toledo,
who is a graduate in the dental department of
tlie University of Michigan; Florence. Ger-
trude and Claude, all at home. William G.
wa.s born in Baltimore, but the rest of the chil-
dren are all natives of Toledo.
Henry Th.wer Niles. A man who pos-
sessed all the breadth and depth of New Eng-
land culture was the late Henry Thayer Niles
of Toledo. He was known as a scholar, lawyer
and educator, and for years commanded one
of the highest positions in the Urbana bar and
in the ranks of citizenship. Upon coming to
Toledo he formed a partnership with Morrison
R. Waite, later chief .justice of the United
States Supreme Court but Mr. Niles' health
failed and his partnership was abandoned.
When he died at his home on CoUingwood
Avenue in Toledo January 13. 1901, he was
seventy-two years of age. He had been born
in West Fairlee, Vermont. His early environ-
ment was one to stimulate and bring out the
best in his mmd and character. With the in-
dividual endowments of his own mind com-
bined many worthy qualities inherited from
his forefathers. It was in the early years of
the seventeenth century' that the first ancestors
of the Niles family landed at Block Island in
Connecticut. All the male ancestors of the
late Mr. Niles were college graduates, many
of them from Princeton and Harvard, and
one was a member of the first graduating class
from old Harvard. There were also members
of the family who took part in the Colonial
and Indian and later in the Revolutionary
war. His grandfather. Nathaniel Niles, was
born at South Kingston. Rhode Island, in
1741, gradiiated from the Princeton Uni-
versity in 1766. and durinsr the rest of his
life was a man of many distinctions. He took
up the ministry, and was a splendid pulpit
orator and writer. He published several books
of sermons. He also wrote a patriotic ode
1524
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
which was set to music and which was sung by
some of the marching companies in the war
of the Revolution. For twenty-seven years
he was a trustee of Dartmouth College, and
while serving in that capacity he prepared the
records and other data for the celebrated Dart-
mouth College case in which Daniel "Webster
gained enduring fame as an orator and estab-
lished precedents which are still vital in our
political and industrial life. Although he was
never admitted to the bar he was elected to
a place on the' Supreme bench of Vermont, and
filled that ofSce as admirabl.v as if he had been
a lawyer by profession and training.
The late Henry Thayer Niles was a grad-
uate of Dartmouth College, the institution
with which his grandfather had been so promi-
nently identified, and after leaving college he
traveled abroad for two years. Returning
home, he took the chair of Greek and Latin
languages in the college at Urbana, Ohio, and
while there studied law and eventually took
up its practice. From Urbana he moved to
Toledo, and thereafter in his practice he was
associated on equal terms of abilitj^ and success
with the leading members of the bar. At his
death his remains were taken to Urbana, Ohio,
and are now at rest in the family lot in that
city.
Though a New Englander born and bred,
he was an unswerving democrat in politics,
and alwa.vs ready to make any reasonable sac-
rifice to advance the principles of his party.
He was not a politician nor a radical partisan.
He studied politics and all political and social
problems with a breadth of comprehension be-
yond most men, and as his own convictions
were based upon reason, he could afford to
take a tolerant view of divergent opinions.
He was a citizen such as any community
should be proud to possess, and those who
knew him intimately had a great admiration
for his scholarship, his thorough and well
rounded culture, his purity of motive, and the
dignity with which he bore himself in all the
relations of life. He was a man of retiring
disposition, and for this reason was not known
intimately by a large circle of acquaintances.
Thoueh he po.ssessed some friends who were
bound to him by the ties of real and enduring
friendship and loyaltv. his bonks were liis
best and most constant friends and com-
panions, and when not engaged in work he
found his chief pleasure and recreation in the
midst of his library. He was not a collector
or buyer of books in the ordinary sense of the
term, since he bought onlv those books which
he knew or whose contents he desired to
master. It was said that he was practically
master of every book in his library. He took
enjoyment in a wide range of literature. He
was familiar with the poets and nearly all the
ancieht and modern standard authors, and he
had read such authors as Homer, Horace,
Shakespeare and Burns not only in his college
days but kept up his associations with those
great minds throughout his life. He was him-
self able to wield a facile pen, and some of the
verse which he wrote at different times pos-
sesses more than ordinary merit. One literary
distinction in particular should be noted. He
translated the Agricola of Tacitus in fewer
English words than are found in the original
Latin. This capacity for condensation was
somewhat characteristic of his style as an Eng-
lish writer, and there was a charm as well as
a forceful vigor about his prose writing.
Mr. Niles had a home life that was nothing
short of ideal. He had congenial domestic
relations, always enjoyed the confidence of his
children, and made their joys and sorrows his
own. He was survived by his widow, two
daughters and one son. The son is Hon.
Frank B. Niles of Toledo.
George Arps. A man who has accom--
plished as much as George Arps as a good citi-
zen, home provider and straightforward honest
gentleman has a just cause for pride. His
home is one of the fine farms in section nine-
teen of Napoleon Township in Henry County,
and he is now living with his children and has
surrounded himself with everything to make
life comfortable and enjoyable.
In business he has been a general farmer
and stock raiser, and owns 177 acres of the
farm where he was born December 25, 1868.
He grew up, receiving his education in the
local schools, and has lived on one farm since
early youth to the present time. For the past
eighteen years he has been owner of the old
place and his own contributions to its im-
provement include a large barn 40 by 90
feet, besides a grain and tool house. His
residence is a substantial house of eight rooms
and was built thirty-four years ago by his
father, Henry Arps. Henry Ai-ps also put the
first habitation on the land, a logj cabin covered
with clapboards and 16 by 28 feet in di-
mensions. This old building, which is still
standing and in a jjood state of repair, was
erected in 1852 and is an interesting landmark.
Henry Arps. who established this branch of
the Arps family in Henry County, was born
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
152;:
not far from the City of Hauover, Germany,
iu 1826, and was reared and educated there.
He was quite young when his mother died, and
about 1850 he and his father set out for the
United States, coming by a sailing vessel that
required eight weeks to make the ocean voyage
from Bremen to New York. From there they
came by the Hudson River, Erie Canal and
the lakes to Toledo, and then struck out
through the woods on foot until they arrived
at the home of a cousin, Herman Arps, who
about two years before had come to this coun-
try and located in section nineteen of Napo-
leon Township. Henry Arps' father died the
same year of his arrival. Henry then spent a
year or so working on the Wabash Railroad
and the canal, and then invested his meager
capital at the rate of 75 cents an acre in forty
acres of wild land iu section 19 near the home
of his cousin Herman. Not long afterward
he put up the log cabin already mentioned,
and to that humble abode brought his bride
when he married. The maiden name of his
wife was Melissa Gerken. She too was a
native of Hanover, Germany, and had come
to this country as a young woman with her
parents and by the same route and manner
as the Arps had made their emigration, though
she arrived about two years later. The Ger-
ken family located in Adams Township of De-
fiance County, but not far from where the
Arps had their home. After Henry Arps
married he and his young wife faced the seri-
ous responsibilities of life and undertook the
heaviest kind of labor in providing a home
for themselves and their children. Henry
Arps was a very industrious man and by his
long continued labors cleared the dense tim-
ber from his fields and developed a farm of
ninety-six acres including some of the best
and richest soil in Henry County. His career
of usefulness came to a close with his death
n 1898. The mother of George Arps died when
the latter was nine days old, and she was then
only thirty-two years of age. Henry Arps
married for his second wife Mary Badenhope
of Freedom Township, but a native of Han-
over. Germany. She had come to this coun-
try and to Henry County with her mother
and two brothers, Henry and Herman, the
little family locating in Freedom Township,
where her brothers are still living and have
fTmilies. The second Mrs. Henry Arps died
on the old homestead in 1905. She left no
children. Henrv and all his familv were
members of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church
in \(1-'tiis Township of Defiance County.
•Vol. TIT— 13
George Arps is one of five children by his
mother. Mary is the wife of Fred Scheele,
a farmer of Bartlow Township in Hunry
County, and she has four sons and two daugh-
ters. John lives on a farm in Monroe Town-
ship of Henry County and has three sons and
four daughters. Elizabeth died after her mar-
riage to the late Henry Panning, and they left
a family of three sons and two daughters.
Henry, Jr., is a farmer in Bartlow Township
and has five sons and two daughters.
George Arps was married in his native
township to Miss Katie Heldberg, who was
born in Hanover, Germany, in February.
1868. In 1875, when she was seven j'ears old,
she came to the United States with her parents,
Fred and Jlargaret (Norden) Heldberg, this
family locating on a farm in Adams Town-
ship of Defiance County, where her parents
spent the rest of their days, her father dying
at the age of sixty-five and her mother at
seventy-nine. Both the Heldberg and Arps
families have been loyal members of the Luth-
eran Church and in politics the prevailing
affiliation has been with the democratic party.
Mr. George Arps is one of the trustees of
Bethlehem Church.
To the marriage were born three children :
Ernest, who was born on the old homestead
August 9, 1896, received his education in the
local public schools and is still at home. Mary,
born April 7, 1901, is now in the seventh grade
of the public school, while Amelia, born Sep-
tember 6, 1905, is in the sixth grade. Mrs.
Arps, the devoted mother of these children,
passed away at her home May 1, 1907, when
her youngest child was two and one-half years
old.
Christian W. Beub.\ker, whose home is in
Napoleon Township on one of the fine farms of
that locality, represents some of the true pio-
neer stock of Northwest Ohio, and has himself
lived more than threescore and ten years and
in early youth experienced some of the primi-
tive conditions which prevailed in all this
region when his parents first settled there.
His birth occurred on a farm in Sugar Creek
Township of Stark County, Ohio, September
27, 1843, and when he was four years of age,
in September, 1847, his parents moved to
Henry County. His father, John Brubaker.
had come out to Henry County some years pre-
viously and had prospected all over the coun-
try. He made this journey on foot, and at
that time he erected the log cabin in the woods
which subsequentlv became the first habita-
1526
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
tion of the Brubaker family in Henry County.
This first home of the Brubakers was a mile
north of Florida Station, and few people in
the present time can imagine the extreme
wildness of the country at that time. There
was abundance of wild game in the woods,
very little of the land was broken or culti-
vated, and people confined themselves to the
barest necessities of existence. The first home
of the Brubakers was a typical log cabin, with
a clapboard roof, and with a stick and mor-
tar chimney and fireplace. All the cooking
was done at this fireplace, and the furnish-
ings of the home were extremely simple. It
required many days of hard labor to clear
up an acre of ground and put it into culti-
vation, and even when a surplus of crops was
produced a little market could be found. John
Brubaker had all the energy- and aggressive-
ness of the true pioneer. He was constantly
at work, and his enterprise showed itself in
bountiful fruits in later years. He developed
a fine farm, and his first purchase of eighty
acres was increased from time to time until he
owned 480 acres. He lived to see all of this
land improved in a general way and he left
it with substantial house and barn, strong
fences, and increased in value many fold over
the figures at which he had acquired it. He not
only raised crops but also did diversified
farming with stock raising. His death oc-
curred in April, 1894, just fifteen days before
his eightieth birthday. He was born in Lan-
caster County, Pennsylvania, and when a
young man went to Wilmot, then Milton,
Stark County, Ohio. When quite young he
learned the carpenter trade and conducted a
saw mill for several years in Stark County.
In that county he married Saloma Wyandt,
who was a native of Pennsylvania and a
daughter of Henry Wyandt. The Wyandt fam-
ily also joined the early settlers of Stark
County, Ohio, and all the older members of the
Brubaker and Wyandt families died there.
Mrs. John Brubaker died at the old home in
Flatrock Township of Henry County when
past eighty years of age. She and her husband
were highly respected people, were greatly
beloved by a wide circle of friends and should
be remembered among the loyal and thrifty
pioneers of this section. John Brubaker was
first a whig and afterwards a republican, and
for many years filled the ofSee of township
trustee. In the family were five sons and
three daughters, all of whom grew up and all
married except one, and all the sons and one
of the daughters are still living.
The second son and fourth child, Christian
W. Brubaker, spent his early life in Henry
County, and was at home with his parents
until past his majority. The first money he
ever earned was $70 paid him for cutting cord
wood for the Wabash Railway, which was built
about that time. He was verj- strong, handy
with the ax and with other tools, and in the
process of time he helped to clear up and
develop three different farms in Henry
County.
In 1876 Mr. Brubaker bought the southwest
quarter of section 33 in Napoleon Township,
and in 1882 established his family on that
home. In the thirty-five years that have since
passed he has developed a farm equal in
improvements and equipment to the best that
can be found in this section of Northwest Ohio.
Besides his own dwelling he has another resi-
dence on the farm, and also two large barns
and other buildings. The farm is well stocked,
year after year produces the staple crops of
Northwest Ohio, and in recent years the grow-
ing of sugar beets has been a feature of the
farm productivity. Mr. Brubaker also owns
135 acres comprising a well improved and val-
iiable farm, with house, barns and other build-
ings in Flatrock Township. As an owner of
real estate Mr. Brubaker pays annually $600
in taxes, and is one of the largest taxpayers
among the farming class of this county. He is
a stixdent of the soil and on his own farms
owns what is called burr oak and elm tree land,
a soil which is a black loam, and of almost
inexhaustible fertility when properly culti-
vated and conserved.
In Flatrock Township Mr. Brubaker mar-
ried Mis,s Martha A. Glore. She was born in
Ohio, was reared and educated in Henry
County. Her parents were John and Cather-
ine fZeiter) Glore, both of Pennsylvania,
though they were married and spent most of
their lives in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Brubaker
became the parents of eleven children. Two
of them died in infancy, one being scalded to
death when three years of age. Eight are
still living: Albert, who lives on his father's
farm in Flatrock Township, is married and has
five children named Daniel, Ola, Ethel, Nora
and Mina. Charles Edward is a bachelor, and
is assisting his father in the management of
the home farm. Irena is the wife of George
Thorn, a Harrison Township farmer, and their
children are Yance. Martha and Opal. Hat-
tie E. is the wife of ]\Iahlon Neff, a farmer of
Flatrock Township, and they have two chil-
dren named Harold and Howard. Logan is
^Jhie^diyu^f^ yy( /G^^^^^^^^/^'
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1527
still unmarried and helps run the home farm.
Lawrence E., who is associated with his
brother in conducting the homestead and lives
in the separate residence on the old farm, mar-
ried Ada Von Deyleu, and they have a son
named Vernon. Helen S., the youngest, is the
wife of Walter C. Box, a carpenter in Napo-
leon, and they are the parents of one daughter,
Evelyn.
Frederick H. Gautschi, D. 0. At Na-
poleon one of the physicians who can claim
a patronage of exceptional numerical strength
and value is Dr. Frederick H. Gautschi. who
is the representative of the osteopathic school
of medicine and has met with splendid suc-
cess. He is a representative of the sturdy
Swiss stock, and is himself a native of that
little republic.
Doctor Gautschi graduated from the Still
College of Osteopathy at Des Moines, Iowa,
with the class of 1913. After serving as an
interne in a hospital at Des lloines he came
to Napoleon and opened his office October
7, 191.5. His office is on Perry Street in one
of the best blocks of the city, and his practice
has already spread to the outermost limits of
Henry County.
He was born in Switzerland August 14,
1888, a son of Henry and Christina (Hager)
Gautschi. His parents were married in
Switzerland at the age of twenty-four. The
father was a cabinet maker by trade, and
when Doctor Gautschi was about one year of
age the family consisting of parents and four
children set out for America, embarking on
a vessel at Ha\Te, France, and after arriving
at New York coming on to Bluffton, Ohio.
The father followed his trade for some years
there and then located at Pandora, Ohio,
where the father and mother still live, he at
the age of seventy-two and she at seventy.
Both are still active, and by his skillful work
as a mechanic the father has been quite pros-
perous. They are members of the Reformed
Church and in politics he is independent.
The four children born in Switzerland were:
Alfred H., who is married and lives in the
State of Nebraska and has a daughter and a
son ; Polena, who died leaving two children ;
Sophia, wife of Menno Egly of Phoenix. Ari-
zona ; and Doctor Gautschi. After coming to
America two other children were born : Helen,
who died in young womanhood; and Marie,
who is a nurse.
Doctor Gautschi was reared and educated
in Ohio, graduated from the high school at
Pandora in 1909, and for several years' of
his early life worked on a stock farm. He
then took up the study of medicine, and
though less than thirty years of age is al-
ready securely established in his profession.
He is also a German scholar and speaks the
language fluently. Doctor Gautschi belongs
to the Methodist Church and in politics is
independent.
J. Albert Brown. While one of the most
progressive and enterprising farmers of Henry
County would hardly be known by the name
J. Albert Brown, his many friends in that sec-
tion would immediately recognize him when
he is referred to as "Doc" Brown. Doc
Brown inherited many of the sturdy charac-
teristics of his father, the late James K.
Brown. But he has not kept the talents
bequeathed him by his father under a napkin.
His has been a profitable stewardship, and his
enterprise is well represented in the splendid
country home he has in Harrison Township.
He is of Protestant Irish ancestry. His
grandfather, James Brown, was born in Ire-
land, was educated there, and when a young
man came to the United States. For a" num-
ber of years he taught school and farmed in
Morgan and Perry counties, Ohio. He was
away on a trip through the West when he was
accidentally drowned in 18.36. While the
details of his death have never been known to
his family it is probable that he lost his life
in the Mississippi River. He was then in the
prime of his years. He married a Pennsyl-
vania girl, Pallas Kriger, who was of German
Catholic parents. She survived her husband
only a year or two and died in Morgan County,
Ohio, when comparatively young. They were
the parents of twelve children, including sons
named Joseph, George, James K., Jacob, and
daughters named Mrs. Nancy Stump, Mrs.
Eliza Hughes, Mrs. Jane Thorp and Eliza-
beth. All these children are now deceased.
James K. Brown because of the early death
of his parents had to start life almost with no
advantages and his success is therefore all the
more remarkable. He was born in Morgan
County, Ohio, October 8, 1827, and grew up
and married there. His wife was Miss Debbie
Johns. She was also a native of Morgan
County and was a few years younger than her
husband. More than sixty-eight years ago
James K. Brown arrived in Henry County.
He was one of the early pioneers of Flat Rock
Township. He made "a rather humble start
there with only forty acres of wild land, and
1528
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
he and his wife not only worked hard but
denied themselves the simplest comforts in
order that they might get a home and bring
up their children to be worthy men and
women. The only active capital James K.
Brown had when he arrived in Henry County
was a yoke of cattle. He used these cattle
in clearing up his land and before the war
broke out he had a fine farm and was in pros-
perous circumstances. In 1867 he removed
to Harrison Township, where he bought 160
acres of partly improved land. From that
time forward his circumstances improved
almost with every year. After a few years
he bought another forty acres, later twenty-
five acres, then seventy acres, and finally forty
acres in Liberty Township. He also owned a
good house in Napoleon City, but he died at
the place of his first settlement in Napoleon
Township on March 6, 1916. His first wife
was the mother of all his children, and she
died in 1851, before she had fully realized the
prosperity which she had worked so hard to
attain. She was in the prime of life when she
died. For his second wife James K. Brown
married Rebecca McCormiek, a widow, whose
fir.st husband had died of illness while a soldier
in the Civil war, and for his third wife Mr.
Brown married Mrs. Pauline Knapp. She
is a resident of Napoleon, Ohio. James K.
Brown and his fii"st wife had the following
children : George, who entered the army when
a boy and died of the measles at Chattanooga,
Tennessee, being then a little past fifteen years
of age ; Daniel, who became a railway conduc-
tor and died at Fort Wayne, Indiana, unmar-
ried ; Mary, who died in young womanhood ;
Wilson, who lives in Napoleon and has a fam-
ily by his marriage to Jessie Randall: J.
Albert; and Millie, wife of David Hnffer of
Liberty Township and the mother of one son.
J. Albert Brown grew up in Henry County,
and has spent most of his life in Harrison
Township. He and his children now own 280
acres of some of the finest land in the entire
county. His home place has a handsome eleven
room house with basement and furnished
with all the modern conveniences which can
be found in the average city home. The lighting
is from an acetylene plant. There are two big
barns each 40 by 80 feet, and numeroiis other
buildings. Two silos, 14 feet in diameter and
40 feet high, with a capacity of 300 tons, are
an index of the kind of progressive farming
that goes on at the Brown homestead. He also
keeps some of the better grades of stock. The
Brown farm for a inimber of vears has been
famous for its large crop yields. As high as
forty -seven bushels of wheat have been
threshed from one acre, and 100 bushels of
corn have been gathered from a similar quan-
tity of land.
In Napoleon Township Mr. Brown married
Vina Bales, daughter of Mr. Jacob Bales by
his first wife. Jacob Bales was one of the
early settlers of Napoleon Township and was
long an honored citizen of that community.
Mrs. Brown grew up in Henry County, re-
ceived careful training both at home and in
the local schools, and has proved a most
devoted mother to her children.
Bessie, the oldest of their children, mar-
ried E. D. Meyers of Harrison Township.
Ralph is showing many of the progressive
qualities of his father in the business of farm-
ing and lives on one of his father's places
with a modern two-story eight-room brick
house and a barn 34 by 60 feet; he married
Helen Egler, and they have a daughter, Anna
B. Vernon, who was well educated in the local
grammar and high schools like the other chil-
dren, also completed a course in the business
college at Fort Wayne, and is still at home.
The two younger children, both at home, are
Alonzo and Eva, the latter still pursuing her
studies in the local schools. All the family
are members of the ilethodist Church and in
matters of politics Mr. Brown has been a
steadfast supporter of the i-epublican party.
Joseph Lochbihler. One of Lucas County 's
.successful representatives in the field of agri-
culture is Joseph Lochbihler, whose home with
its fine improvements is located a mile and a
half east of Richfield Center in Richfield
Township. He has prospered in his chosen
work and has made his influence count for
good in that locality.
He was born in Detroit, Michigan, Decem-
ber 11, 1862, a son of Joseph and Genevieve
(Shriner) Lochbihler. In 1865, when he was
three years of age the family moved to Rich-
field Center, where his father became a suc-
cessful farmer and took an active part in local
affairs. The homestead farm was at the edge
of the Village of Richfield Center. The par-
ents retired to that village in 1891 and the
father died there in 1906 and the mother in
1908. Joseph Lochbihler was a republican,
with independent tendencies, and in religion
was a Catholic. Seven of their children
attained majority and the four now alive are :
Charles, who is a Richfield Township farmer
and by his marriage to Ethel Green has five
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1529
daughters and three sons ; Joseph, who is next
of age: Jlathias, who lives retired in Rich-
field Center and married Elizabeth Miller;
Jacob, who lives in Toledo and married Cath-
erine Biek.
It was on the old home farm that Joseph
Lochbihler spent his childhood and youth,
gaining an education in the local schools and
when he married he started out for himself.
He now owns a fine farm a mile and a half
east of Richfield Center and by the revenues
produced through his enterprising manage-
ment has not only provided for his family but
has also constituted his farm a fine home with
model improvements.
In 1891 he married . at Richfield Center
Mary Woodward, daughter of Charles and
Jane Woodward. They are the parents of
three children, Genevieve. Leta, and Norman
J. Politically "Sir. Lochbihler is an independ-
ent republican and is affiliated with the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows.
Hon. James M. Ritchie. The lawyers of
tlie first several decades in the life of North-
west Ohio have passed away. Of those who
came to the bar in the stirring years before
the Civil war, practically all have long since
laid down their briefs. A few survive in
retirement, enjoying the ease and dignity
which lives of intellectual activity have earned.
It is a distinction unique possessed by Hon.
James M. Ritchie, who has been called "the
oldest living member of the bar, its oldest
practitioner, and most dearly beloved mem-
ber."
On April 19, 1857, just four years before
the outbreak of the great rebellion, James M.
Ritchie, then twenty-eight years of age, was
admitted to the bar at Toledo. Since then
nearly sixty years have passed and during
much the greater part of that time he .served
faithfnll.v and well both in the ranks of the
lawyers and in positions of trust.
James M. Ritchie was bora in the noted
Abbey Town of Dunfermline, Scotland, July
28, 1829. He recently passed his eighty-sev-
enth birthday. His father, Thomas J\I. Ritchie,
was a teacher by profession, and in later years
a merchant and farmer. In 1832 the family
came to the United States, settling near
Ogdensburg, New York, where both parents
died. The maiden name of the mother was
Ann Robertson.
Considering his time and opportunities,
James M. Ritchie received a liberal education.
He attended public school at Ogdensburg, also
the Academy, and for six years was a success-
ful teacher, spending three years in that occu-
pation in New York and three years in Ohio.
While teaching he studied law and both as a
student and youthful practitioner he came into
personal relationships with some of the distin-
guished lawyers and jui'ists whose names were
household words in Ohio fifty or sixty years
ago.
After his admission to the bar he practiced
a short time in Lorain County, but in 1858
returned to Toledo and formed a partnership
with Judge F. A. Jones. After several years
he became a partner of Hon. Henry E. Howe.
When his son, Byron F. Ritchie, now judge of
the Court of Common Pleas, was admitted to
the bar, the firm of Ritchie, Howe & Ritchie
was established and continued until 1881.
During those years the otifice of the firm was
in the old Lenk Block, corner of Summit and
Monroe streets.
The earliest ideas Mr. Ritchie entertained
concerning political questions were largely
those of the existing democratic party.
He never voted that ticket. In 1848, before
reaching his majority, he aligned himself with
the free soil movement and is one of the few
men still living who ever supported a free soil
candidate. With the organization of the
republican party in the early '50s he eagerly
accepted its creed and principles, and is one
of the few surviving veterans who worked for
and voted for the success of the party in the
first presidential campaign of 1856. Stead-
fastly' in all the fifty years that have followed
I\Ir. Ritchie has been a stanch republican, and
in earlier years he took a very active part in
the county, state and national politics. In
1880 he was a Blaine delegate to the national
convention which nominated James A. Gar-
field. In the same year he was republican
candidate for Congress from the Sixth Con-
gressional District, including Lucas. Fulton,
Williams. Wood. Ottawa and Henry counties.
He was elected and was a member of the For-
ty-seventh Congress. He was appointed to
several important committees, and was pres-
ent in all the deliberations of Congress during
the following two ^-ears. His opponent in the
election of 1880 was Frank Hurd. Mr. Ritchie
had previously served, by election in 1867,
for eighteen months as police judge of Toledo,
having resigned before the termination of his
term.
After he returned from Washington in 188.3,
Mr. Ritchie resumed private practice and con-
tinued to look after his professional affairs
1530
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
until comparatively a recent date. He is an
active and honored member of the Lucas
County and the State Bar associations.
In 1852 he married Miss Tirzah A. Foster
of Lisbon, New York, daughter of David Fos-
ter. She lived only two years after her mar-
riage, and at her death in 1854 left one son,
now Judge Byron F. Ritchie, reference to
whom is made on other pages. In 1855 James
M. Ritchie married Mant S. Jones of Grafton,
Ohio, daughter of Hon. John R. Jones of
Grafton. This wife died in 1866, leaving a
daughter Ada, who ' now resides with her
father and is a teacher in the Scott High
School. In 1869 James M. Ritchie married
Eugenia Jones, a sister of his second wife.
Mrs. Ritchie died in 1906. She was the mother
of two children: Carrie E., wife of Doctor
Grosh of Toledo ; and Maurice A. Maurice A.
Ritchie was admitted to the Ohio bar Decem-
ber 6, 1893. For ten years he was deputy
clerk of courts of Lucas County, and was also
associated with his father in law practice until
1899. Since January 1, 1910, Maurice Ritchie
has filled the position of assignment commis-
sioner at the Lucas County courthouse.
The members of the Toledo bar and many
people know Hon. James M. Ritchie as a poet.
He has written a large amount of poetry, char-
acterized by elegance of diction and dignity of
thought, and that he still retains his intellect-
ual powers in spite of the weight of years is
proved by the appearance of one of his latest
poems in the News-Bee of January 17, 1916.
These verses, published under the title "The
Old Court House to the New," represent a
dialogue between the venerable building where
so many of the old time lawyers of Northwest
Ohio pleaded their cases and which stood on
the Courthouse Square and near by the mas-
sive new courthouse. This poem, which has
considerable historic interest, is quoted as fol-
lows, beginning with a part of the address
made by the old courthouse to the new:
"And the Bench and the Bar that may come
to your shrine.
Will they hold up the standard as faithful
as mine?
Will your Judges the forum of Justice en-
rich
With the Conscience of Collins, the acumen
of Pitch?
Will time in its fulness bring back to your
Bench
The .iudgment of Rouse and the learning of
French ?
Four jurists whose records remain without
flaw,
Pit symbols of Equity, Justice and Law.
Will the Nation in seeking the grandest of
men
Come to you to select a Chief Justice again?
0, proud be the honor, your privilege great.
If you count in your numbers a jurist like
Waite,
So strong, just and pure, aye, so worthy the
place
Made famous by Jlarshall, Jay, Storj^ and
Chase/
So long he was with me, so close we had
grown,
That I feel like a part of his fame was ray
own. ' '
The reply made by the new courthouse
reads :
"The old pass away and their places are
filled
By the young and the new with fresh vigor
instilled.
And mighty the triumphs the future shall
herald ;
The young of today are the hope of the world.
With achievements in store which the past
never knew,
Else nature is false, and Time's promise un-
true.
Would you have us go back to the primitive
days,
With its primitive wants and its old fashioned
ways.
Because it produced the great men whom you
name?
All honor to them, all the brighter their fame.
That in spite of environments chaining them
down
They carved out their way to enduring re-
nown—
That a genius was theirs which the age could
could not chill,
Nor darkness extinguish their lights on the
hill.
But mighty the power of the press and the
pen,
The future is big with the promise of men;
The shadows are lifting, the dawn breaks
apace.
Refulgent and grand with new hopes for the
race.
And vaster and grander achievements are due
Than time in its circle of ages e'er knew.
And cheering indeed the fruition and hand.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1531
The spirit of progress pervades the whole
land.
Auspicious the hour, if the right we pursue;
May the young of today to that promise be
true."
Henry A. Tobey, M. D. For the following
beautiful tribute to a member of the medical
profession in Northwest Ohio whose life work
is now finished, this publication is indebted
to Dr. Park L. Myers of Toledo :
After fifty-six years of this "fitful dream,"
of this building up and tearing down of mol-
ecular temples, called life. Dr. Henry A. Tobey
passed from a creature of material to a crea-
ture of memory.
He took his degree in medicine from the
Miami ^ledical College with the class of 1877,
so the length of his professional life was thir-
ty-one vears. He was born in 1852 and died
in 1908.
His services were immediately taken over by
the State Hospital for the Insane at Colum-
bus, Ohio, and after three years transferred
to Dayton, Ohio, where he became superin-
tendent. After four years he started in gen-
eral practice in Lima, Ohio, where he labored
only two years till called to the work of or-
ganizing and developing the State Hospital
at Toledo, Ohio. Doctor Tobey gave the best
of liis life, for some twenty years to his work
in Toledo.
He developed as never before the policy of
giving utmost freedom to the unfortunates
consigned to his care.
Prolific inventor of mechanical things, he
was likewise an originator in the thinker's
realm. The plan of housing the insane in
numerous, moderately sized, home or cottage
like structures, witli surroundings of lawn,
flowers, shrubs and sunshine, was conceived
in his mind, and the architectural technicali-
ties necessary in such structures were worked
out in all details by him.
He led and others followed, in Europe as
well as in Aiiierica ; and today the care of the
insane has changed from cruelty to kindness.
Doctor Tobey was more than a prescriber
of pills and powders. He concerned himself
with the larger problems of human life.
He reached the heights of a philosopher —
not because he loved music passionately; not
because he admired and fostered art in paint-
ing and sculpturing: not heea^^se he had
money and time and wanted to attract at-
tention ; but because he grasped the wonder of
life, because he loved it in plant, in animal
and in man, and because his big heart yearned
to alleviate, as much as might be, the uni-
versal biological tragedy.
With Burns he hated pride, pretence and
vanity of place. With Holmes, Whitman,
Ingersoll and Gladden, he scorned the hypo-
crite. For though he never was a member of
any sect, he was reverently religious and ten-
derly tolerant of cherished beliefs. He never
got beyond learning, nor did he miss the dia-
monds at his feet, through looking for gems
in the rainbow.
He enjoyed the pure, the honest, the worthy,
and sought them even among the poor and
lowly, and to his infinite joy he found them.
And many a mind in many a home today
keeps a little violet green in memory of him
who spoke and let sunlight in.
His life was an inspiration, and his un-
timely death a warning. Oh, when will the
medical profession learn that doctors are but
men and that no man may safely dare the temp-
ter "Nai'cotic. "
Let me quote a poem from a "Gem" that
Doctor Tobey found and polished — Paul Law-
rence Dunbar:
The Debt
"This is the debt I pay
Just for one riotous day.
Years of regret and grief,
Sorrow without relief.
"Pay it I will to the end —
Until the grave, my friend.
Gives me a true release —
Gives me a clasp of peace.
"Slight was the thing I bought.
Small was the debt I thought.
Poor was the loan at best —
God ! But the interest. ' '
Doctor Tobey loved his protege (Dunbar),
and many a tear of joy or sorrow have I seen
course down his face as he recited the verses
he loved. Let me close this brief resume of a
great life by reading one of his favorite poems,
also by Paul Laurence Dunbar :
The Sum
"A little dreaming by the way,
A little toiling day by day:
A little pain, a little strife,
A little joy, — and that is life.
1532
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
"A little short lived summer's mom,
When joy seems all so newly born,
When one day's sky is blue above.
And one bird sings, — -and that is love.
"A little sickening of the years,
The tribute of a few hot tears.
Two folded hands, the failing breath,
And peace at last, — and that is death.
"Just dreaming, loving, dying so,
The actors in the drama go —
A flitting picture on the wall,
Love, Death, the themes; — but is that all?"
Henry Vixcent Hawkins. A long record
of upright living, worthy participation in
local affairs, and ample provision for himself
and his familj^ is that of Henry Vincent Haw-
kins, who is now past eighty and is living
retired at his home on the Bancroft Street
Road in Adams Township of Lucas County.
His home is two miles west of Richards Sta-
tion.
A resident of Lucas County half a cen-
tury, Mr. Hawkins was born in Troy, New
York, October 23, 1834, a son of Thomas and
Fanny (Miller) Hawkins. Three years after
his birth his parents moved to Sand Lake,
New York, where Henry V. Hawkins grew to
manhood and received his early training in
schools.
It was on March 9, 1866, Mr. Hawkins
arrived in Toledo. For two years thereafter
he lived west of that city and then located
on Dorr Street in Norwood, where he con-
ducted a dairy farm eight years. On Decem-
ber 16, 1876, he moved to Adams Township
and there for forty consecutive years has lived
on the farm that he now owns and which in
so many ways has responded to his industry
and management and has provided him with
an ample competence. For a number of years
he has turned over the active responsibilities
of farming to his sons, but though eighty-two
years of age is still following an active and
independent life, and reserves an acre from
his old faiTn on which his cottage stands and
where he employs himself in gardening.
While living in New York Mr. Hawkins
married Susan Lake. They are the parents
of four children : George, who married Martha
Reynolds and lives in Adams Township: Wil-
liam, who married Helen Cone and lives in
Adams Township ; Thomas, who is farming
at Hudson, Michigan, and married Ada Bum-
crop; Herbert, who married Ethel Shonke,
and has three daughters.
The mother of these children died in 1903.
In 1906 Mr. Hawkins mai-ried Harriet (Green-
away) Stebbins, widow of Edward A. Steb-
bins. ^Irs. Hawkins was born in England
and came to the United States in 1853 with her
parents, who settled in the west part of Syl-
vania Township. Her first husband, Edward
A. Stebbins, who died in 1899, was a son of
Solomon Stebbins, who came to Lucas County
about 1840 and for several years conducted
a sawmill where the Woodlawn Cemetery now
stands. Later he moved to IMaumee, and was
a very active and infiviential citizen of the
early days of Lucas County. Mrs. Hawkins
by her first marriage had three children :
Edward S., who is a traveling salesman liv-
ing at Toledo and married Mabel Manning;
Harrison T., who married Grace Wirewack
and has three sons and one daughter; and
Helen Hattie, who lives at home.
While the activities of the farm have en-
grossed his attention during all his active
career. Mr. Hawkins has shown a commendable
intei'est in local affairs. He served nine years
as justice of the peace, for many years was
on the school board and organized the Haw-
kins School on Bancroft Street Road. He is
a republican in politics. In point of age he
is now the oldest member of Rubicon Lodge,
Free and Accepted Masons at Toledo. He was
made a member of that lodge in 1867, nearly
half a century ago.
William Duhme has finished nineteen
years of continuous seiwice a.s postmaster at
New Knoxville. He has held the office so
long that the patrons could hardly imagine
any other man as a representative of Uncle
Sam in tliat community. That is not the only
interest of Mr. Duhme at New Knoxville,
where he has spent most of his life. He is a
veiy successful general merchant, and
throughout has been recognized as a good and
capable citizen and a worthy factor in the
town's advancement.
He came to Ohio when a child, having been
born at Osnabraeck, Germany, July 4, 1868.
His parents were Henry and Elizabeth (Kuhl-
man) Duhme, both natives of the same part
of Germany as their ,son. His father was
born in 1840 and died in 1914, and the mother
is still living. They came to the United
States and settled in New Knoxville in 1873.
Henry Duhme was a carpenter and contrac-
tor, and followed that occupation all his life
yhAuL^.,^
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1533
and did well, providing for his family and
having an ampk competence for his declining
years. He and his wife were active members
of the Lutheran Church while living in Ger-
many and became identified with the German
Reformed, denomination in New Knoxville.
The father voted the republican ticket after
becoming an American citizen. Of their four
children only two are now living, William's
sister being Elizabeth, wife of H. C. Schroer,
a farmer of Auglaize County.
William Duhme began attending school at
New Knoxville, and after his education he
worked at different occupation.s, in a cream-
ery for a time, and was also clerk in the store
of Mr. Kuhlman, the well known banker of
New Knoxville. Since 1896 he has been in
the general merchandise business for himself.
In 1890 he married Miss Wilhelmiua Lut-
terbein, who was born at New Knoxville in
1870. She died May 2, 1907, leaving three
children : Bertha, wife of Gust Prueter, a
carpenter at New Knoxville ; Edna and Ray-
mond, still at home. In 1909 Mr. Duhme
married Lena Hinzie, who was born in Shelby
County, Ohio. They have one child, Edith.
The family are members of the German Re-
formed Church, and politically Mr. Duhme is
an active republican. He has served on the
school board and town council. Besides his
store he finds recreation and profit also in the
raising of fancy chickens. His special strains
are the White Langshangs and the Golden
Wyandottes, and he has frequently exhibited
at fair.s and had a number of premiums
awarded his prize stock.
Rev. Allen Arthur Stockdale. In 1914
the First Congregational Church of Toledo
called to its pulpit Rev. Allen Arthur Stock-
dale, who had for eleven years been head of
one of the strongest churches in New Eng-
land, and he is now at the head of one of the
largest churches of that denomination in the
State of Ohio. With the union of the First
Congregational and the Central Congrega-
tional churches of Toledo his church has be-
come the strongest in Northwest Ohio, and
with the completion of its new edifice it has
the finest church home of any Congregational
society in the state. Rev. Mr. Stockdale also
has an assistant pa.stor, a social worker and a
secretary, and is thus at the head of an organ-
ization and institution with tremendous power
for good in Toledo.
This is the second regular pastorate that
E«v. Mr. Stockdale has filled. He was born
at Zanesville, Ohio, September 15, 1875, a
son of Stephen Edward and Susan Stock-
dale. He was liberally educated, graduating
A. B. in 1896 from Taylor University in Indi-
ana, and then pursuing special work in philos-
ophy and sociology in Boston University, and
in 1902 he graduated from the Boston Uni-
versity School of Theology, where he had made
a higii record for scholarship. Abandoning
his first intention to enter the Methodist min-
istry, lie was ordained in the Congregational
Church in 1904. In 1903 he was made pastor
of the well known Berkeley Temple in Boston,
and took a prominent part in the consolida-
tion of that church with Union Church. He
served as pastor of the combined churches
from 1907 until 1914. During that time he
was a director of the City Missionary Society
and the Berkeley Infirmary and chaplain of
Emerson College of Oratory. He was also
elected a trustee of Boston University, a Meth-
odist institution, and it is probable that he
was the only Congregational minister ever
so honored. Though a young pastor in the
great City of Boston noted for its churches
and great preachers, he found recognition for
his unusual talents in oratory and his thought
and philosophy, and none the less distin-
guished himself by his practical religious and
.social work. Whether in Boston or in Toledo
he has shown a readiness and willingness to
contribute freely of his time and talents to any
public cause. Thus he is not only a scholar
but one who mingles freely with people of all
classes, and has thus strengthened his per-
sonal influence and increased his usefulness
as a religious leader.
Rev. Mr. Stockdale is a past grand prelate
of the Domain of ]\rassachusetts, Knights of
Pythias. In Toledo he is actively associated
with the various interests represented by the
Toledo Commerce Club, being the only min-
ister to have been elected a trustee, is one of
the sustaining members of the Toledo Museum
of Art, belongs to the Toledo Young Men's
Christian Association, and is affiliated with
Sanford L. Collins Lodge No. 396, Free and
Accepted Masons, at Toledo. He is also a
member of the Sons of Veterans and the Bos-
ton Congregational Club.
As a lecturer Mr. Stockdale is known
throughout New England and the Middle
West, and his services are in greater demand
than he can accept. Two of his public lec-
tures are: "The Message of James Whitcomb
Riley," of whom he is a great admirer, and
1534
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
"Shall the Corners of the Mouth Turn Up or
Down?" He has also written verse.
In April, 1897, he married Ella Mae Rep-
pard of Fremont, Indiana. Their one son
Arthur W. is now in Dartmouth College, hav-
ing graduated from Scott High School in
Toledo. Mrs. Stockdale takes a very active
part in church work, and particularly among
girls of the high school age, a time in the for-
mation of girlhood character when her coun-
sel is of the greatest influence. Mrs. Stock-
dale is a member of the Woman's Building
Association, a director of the Toledo Hospital,
and in her home church teaches a large class
of high school girls.
William Dell Smith. The one staple
industry of the Lake Erie Islands included
within the limits of Ottawa County, aside from
fishing, has been fruit growing, especially
grape culture. Almost the entire story of this
industry on North Bass Island might be told
as part of the personal and family histoiy of
Mr. and Mrs. William Dell Smith, of Isle St.
George. Mrs. Smith's grandfather was the
real pioneer in fruit growing as he was prop-
erly considered the first permanent settler on
the islands. Mr. Smith himself has been
prominently engaged in gi-ape growing for a
great many years as was his father before
him.
Roswell Nichols, grandfather of Mrs. Smith,
was born and reared at Charmount, Franklin
County, Massachusetts, and from that state
brought his wife to Ohio, first settling at
Northfield in Summit County. IMay 22, 1844,
was the date of his coming to North Bass
Island. At that time William Edwards and
family had a small log house on the island,
but as they left shortly before Mr. Nichols
came they could not be considered permanent
settlers. Mr. Nichols and family were the only
family on the island for five long years. In
May, 1849, George W. Wires, Sr., moved to
North Bass. Mrs. Nichols remarked she was
glad Mr. Wires had come so he could kill rat-
tlesnakes, as they were very plentiful at that
time. Mr. Nichols kept his home on the island
for several years before he was able to pur-
chase land. The island at that time was
owned by Horace Kelley, of Cleveland, who
subsequently had it surveyed. Roswell Nich-
ols paid $5 an acre for liis purchase. As a
young man he had learned the trade of brick
mason, and that was his means of gaining a
livelihood while he was developing his land.
He had also acquired the trade of shoemaker.
and for years he made the shoes for the fam-
ily. When "store" shoes became more com-
mon his granddaughter, Mrs. Smith, preferred
the manufactured shoes but in deference to her
special fancy her grandfather inserted brass
eyelets and also brass tips for the toes. Ros-
well Nichols' wife was an adept in the old
housewifely arts of carding, spinning, weav-
ing and coloring the wool from which she
made all the clothes for the family. Roswell
Nichols was noted for his strict and upright
character and was a consistent member of the
Congi'egational Church. He was never known
to use any language stronger than ' ' mean old
rebel ' ' which was his favorite expletive.
The first planting of grapes on the island
made by Roswell Nichols was in 18.59. Those
vines are still flourishing stock and produce
every year for William D. Smith. Roswell
Nichols made his second planting of grapes
in 1862, and those vines gave him first crop, in
1865. As early as 1850 he had set out some
peach trees, but never got a crop from them
until 1874. The growing of all kinds of fruit
was a very haphazard performance in those
days. None of the growers made any use of
spraying and few of the modern methods of
culture were then in vogue.
Roswell Nichols was mai-ried in Massachu-
setts, his wife having been born and reared at
Lebanon, New Hampshire. Their only child
was David J. Nichols, who was born at Charle-
mont. ]Massachusetts, July 4, 1834. He was
reared in Ohio, partl.y on North Bass Island
and afterwards married in Sandu.sky, Cather-
ine 0. Becker, who was from Leroy, Ohio. In
1863 David Nichols was drafted and joined
the Fourth Independent Company in the Ohio
Sharpshooters. He died of sickness contracted
in the army at Nashville, August 20, 1864.
His widow lived to the age of seventy-two,
passing away December 27, 1910. Their only
child was Achsah Violanta or Imown briefly
as "Lanta" who was born on North Bass
Island September 17, 1856, and was the first
white girl born in Put-in-Bay Township, on
the islands in Ottawa County. She is now the
wife of William Dell Smith. Mrs. Smith
recalls much of the earlier condition of these
islands, especially the fact that they were
overgrown with dense woods and underbrush,
and the West Road during her girlhood wound
in and out among the trees.
William Dell Smith was born in Foxton,
Connecticut, February 3, 1853. His father,
Jacob C. Smith, came from Hartford, Con-
necticut, locating in Perkins Township, Erie
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1535
County. While living in Connecticut he was
in the oyster business. Competition in that
industry was very severe but Mr. Smith was
doing well. His principal competitor was a
Mr. iloltby, and the latter iinally induced
Smith to retire from the field and enter his
own employ at a large salary. Eventually
the Moltby brand became the leading one on
fresh oysters all over the country. Jlr. Smith
remained with him only a few years, and then
decided to come West. He was a resident of
Perkins Township in Erie County when grape
cultivation was first looked upon as a prom-
ising industry in the islands of Lake Erie.
That induced him to remove to North Bass,
where he bought land, having to pay .$300 an
acre for stump ground. He cleared this land
and set out six acres in a vineyard. In the
early days the price paid for his grapes i-anged
from 12 to 18 cents a pound, and consequently
he made a good deal of money. Both he and
his wife died on North Bass Island.
The youngest child was William D. Smith.
He made his first visit to North Bass Island
in company with his father in 1866, and has
lived there continuously since 1867, almost a
half century. He also became identified with
grape growing, and of his present seventy-
five acre farm he has thirty-five acres in vine-
yards. He has made experiments in peach
growing, and still has a few trees, but most
of his land outside the vineyard is planted
in general farm crops. Among other inter-
ests Mr. Smith is a stockholder in the Bass
Island Vineyards Company of Sandusky.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith were married in 1872.
Their children are : Angle, who married L. H.
Hollinshead of Buffalo, New York, and they
have two children, Harold and Helen. Ros-
well is agent for the New York Central Rail-
way of Norwalk, Ohio. Rolland D. is a trav-
eling man with home at Cleveland. Cecil
is the wife of George A. Wires of North Bass
Island. Lylith married M. W. Streeter of
Port Clinton, who is now engaged in grape
growing on North Bass Island, and their
children are Loren V., Alice C. and Wilson.
Though always giving close attention to his
private business affairs Mr. Smith has also
taken a prominent part in the public life of
his home community and of Ottawa County.
He is one of the leading republicans of the
county and at different times has allowed
i his name to be placed on the ticket as a candi-
f date for county ofSce, merely out of courtesy
i to his friends, since the county is strongly
democratic. For a number of years he served
as justice of the peace. He considered that
office a duty and not a source of revenue, and
in his court he settled sixty-five eases, and
never one was appealed to a higher jurisdic-
tion. He is affiliated with the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows and is a charter mem-
ber of the Order of Maccabees at Port Clin-
ton.
Edward Sonnenberg represents one of the
successful families of German origin in Napo-
leon Township, where they have been identi-
fied with farming and have made their names
significant of good citizenship for half a cen-
tury.
Born in the same locality that he now lives
in Napoleon Township December 17, 1875,
Edward Sonnenberg is a son of Christof and
Wilhelmina W. (Panning) Sonnenberg. His
father was born in Hanover, Germany, and
came to the United States by sailing vessel,
being sixty-seven days in crossing the ocean,
and landed at New York City alone, a stranger
in a strange land. His brother Henry had
come to America some time before, and the
two brothers .soon located in Napoleon Town-
ship. This was during the early '60s. Chris-
tof Sonnenberg did his first work at the trade
of carpenter, an occupation he had learned
back in the old country, but subsequently with
his earnings purchased sixty acres of land in
section 17 of Napoleon Township, and some
years later bought a farm in Adams Township
of Defiance County. One of his sons, Henry,
was born in Defiance County. After leaving
Defiance County he returned to Henry County
and bought a farm in Monroe Township, and
at that place three other children were boim,
Fred, Dora and Emma. In 1891 Christof
Sonnenberg sold his farm in Monroe Town-
ship and bought a place on section 2 of Napo-
leon Township, where his son Edward now
resides. His purchase there comprised 120
acres of fine land, and he kept that as his home
until two years before his death. He died at
Okalona ilay 21, 1914, aged sixty-nine years
five months and fifteen days. His widow, who
is still under sixty, has spent all her life in
Henry County, and now resides at Ridge-
ville. She, as was her husband, has been a
lifelong member of the Lutheran Church.
Christof Sonnenberg was a man of much
influence in the various communities where
he lived, and filled several local offices. Politi-
cally he was a republican.
Edward Sonnenberg and his brother August
now own the old homestead in section 2 of
1536
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
Napoleon Township. Edward's farm com-
prises fifty-seven acres, and it is completely
improved and cultivated and under his man-
agement has always furnished him a good liv-
ing and a little surplus besides, so that he is
now in comfortable circumstances. In the
earlier part of his life Edward Sonnenberg
worked for nine years at the trade of carpen-
ter, following that occupation in different
parts of the state.
In Adams Township of Defiance County on
March 19, 1903, he married Miss Henrietta
Salow. Mrs. Sonnenberg was born in Toledo
July 14, 1880. When she was nine years of
age her parents, Fred and Anna (Baden)
Salow, moved to Defiance County, where she
was reared. Her parents were natives of
Germany who came when quite young to the
United States and met and married in Toledo.
Her father was employed in a lumber plant at
Toledo. While in that city Mrs. Sonnenberg
and her sister Minna, the latter now deceased,
were born, and the family then moved to Syl-
vania in Liicas County, but a few years after
that moved to Defiance County, locating on a
farm in Adams Townsliip, where Mrs. Son-
nenberg 's parents are still living. They are
members of the Lutheran Church and her
father is a democrat. While the Salow fam-
ily lived at Sjdvania two other children were
born, Henry and Augusta. ]Mrs. Sonnenberg
and her sister Augusta are the only ones of
the family now living.
In religious matters Mr. and Mrs. Sonnen-
berg are members of the Lutheran Church. He
takes considerable interest in politics and is a
member of the Democratic Central Committee.
He and his wife have the following children :
Edwin, Carl, Alvina, Julia, Albert, who died
at the age of ten months, Alva and Amelia.
James Crawford, who died at his home in
Harrison Township of Henry County, Febru-
ary 1, 1911, had a long and honorable career,
marked with industry and with an integrit.v
of character which gained him the esteem and
affection of every one with whom he came in
contact. He lived in Henry County for a
great many years, and his widow and family
still reside at the old homestead in section 24
of Harrison Township.
He was born in Coshocton County, Ohio,
December 23, 1830, and was therefore eighty-
one years of age at the time of his death. His
parents were Thomas and Marv Crawford.
His father was born in Ireland of an old
Scotch-Irish Presbyterian family. He came
to America when a young man, locating in an
Irish settlement near Carlisle in Coshocton
County, Ohio. He married there and he and
'his wife soon afterward blazed their way into
a new and almost unsettled part of Coshoc-
ton County, erecting a log cabin and starting
to make a farm out of the woods. Thomas
Crawford was a man of great industry and in
time had cleared up about 300 acres of land.
This he improved with a fine brick house,
brick barn, with a large orchard, and for many
years he lived in affluence and comfort, dying
when about seventy years of age. His widow
survived him and was about eiglity when she
■passed away. She was noted for her hard
working ability and in the early days she spun
the yarn and made many of the clothes for her
household. They were active workers in the
Presbyterian Church and had to do with the
organization of a church of that denomination
in Coshocton County. In their family were ten
children, all of whom grew up and married
and all had families of their own. The two
now living are: Robert and IVIrs. Elizabeth
Clark, the former a resident of Napoleon and
the latter of West Carlisle, both of them being
past seventy years of age. Nearly all the fam-
ily remained in the faith to which they were
reared, the Presbyterian.
The late James Crawford grew up on the
old homestead and received a public school
education. He was married in Coshocton
County to Elizabeth ^Maxwell. She died in the
prime of life, leaving two children. Hannah,
the older of these two children, died in 1895,
leaving seven children by her marriage to
Clarence L. Fast, who passed away in 1905.
Jacob, the other child, is a resident of Cleve-
land, a former clerk of that city, and by 'his
marriage to Elizabeth Snyder has two sons.
In 1872 James Crawford married for his
second wife IMiss Catherine Lynch. They
were married near West Carlisle and Mrs.
Crawford was born in Coshocton County June
15, 1841. Her parents were William and
Elizabeth (Wolf) Lynch, both natives of
Pennsylvania. When William Lynch was a
small boy his father, who was a native of
Ireland, died, and the young man was thus
thrown upon his own resources. He learned
the trade of hatter, and moved to West Bed-
ford, Ohio, where he followed his trade and
where he married ]\Iiss Wolf, who was of
Pennsylvania Dutch stock, and had come to
Coshocton County with her parents. William
Lynch and wife located on a tract of wild
land, containing aho\it 300 acres, after their
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1537
marriage and while following his trade jMr.
Lynch cleared up most of this and made it a
fine farm. He also manufactured many of the
fine hats worn by the men of that time, most
of them of the very best material, silk and
beaver. A distinctive feature of his own
attire for many years was a tall hat which he
continued to wear even after the style had
become somewhat obsolete. JMrs. Crawford
was about two years old when her mother died.
She was the youngest of nine children. After
her mother's death her father married for a
second wife Miss Martha Thornhill. There
were no childi-en by that marriage and she
died at the age of seventy. William Lynch
died at the old home near West Bedford De-
cember 16. 1864, and had he lived to the fol-
lowing Christmas Day would have been seven-
ty-five years of age. He and his wife were
members of the Baptist Church and in politics
he was a republican.
Mrs. Crawford and her brother Absalom are
the only two now living of the family. Her
brother occupies a part of his father's old
estate in Coshocton County, and is now alone,
having lost his wife and children. Two of
Mrs. Crawford's brothers, John and Hugh
Lynch, were soldiers in the Civil war. John
was wounded in one of the battles around
Richmond, died there and had a soldier's
burial on the battlefield. He left a widow and
three daughters, one of whom is still living.
Her brother Hugh became captain of a com-
pany in an Iowa regiment, was promoted to
the rank of major, lost his health during the
later months of the war and died from con-
.sumption soon after his return, leaving a wife
and daughter.
In 1877 Mr. and Mrs. Crawford and their
one daughter came to Henry County, locating
i on the Ridge Road in Harrison Township.
Mr. Crawford bought the old Lemert farm and
thereafter was busy wath its cultivation and
improvement until he owned one of the best
! estates in that locality. It is a farm couspic-
I uous by its fine house, barns, its drainage, and
I its many evidences of thorough cultivation
, and .systematic husbandry. Besides this farm
I Mrs. Crawford also owns another place of
I forty acres.
1 Mr. Crawford was a Methodist and a demo-
I erat in politics, and Mrs. Crawford was also
: reared in the Methodist faith. She is the
■ mother of two children. Mary C. is the wife
: nf Lon Morgan Blue, a farmer of Bartlow
, Township of Henry County, and they have
two children, Consuela and Ford Blue.
Charles L., the only son, operates the old
homestead for his mother, and by his mar-
riage to Miss Lena Barton has four sons,
James, Gale, Ray and Byron.
Cheis H. Klug is one of the progressive
young farmers of Henry County, and repre-
sents a family that has been closely identi-
fied with agricultural affairs in Harrison
Township for a number of years. He resides
on the old homestead in section 10 of Harri-
son Township, and was born and reared there.
The old farm comprises 100 acres, and that
was the birthplace of Chris H. Klug on Jan-
uary 9, 1893. He grew up and received his
education, finishing in the Napoleon High
School. For the past three years he has been
in active charge of the home farm. <
His parents were Christoph and Catherine
(Sehumaker) Klug. His father was born in
Hanover, Germany, in 1840, and came to the
United States in 1876. He married in Ger-
many for his first wife JIaria Gerten, also a
native of Hanover. When they came to Amer-
ica they brought with them their four chil-
dren, Herman, Emma, Henry and Sophia.
After four years in Defiance Count.y, the fam-
ily came to Henry County and Christoph Klug
bought the farm now owned by his son, Chris
H. There he erected some good farm build-
ings, including a barn 40 by 80 feet, and a sub-
stantial nine-room house. All the land but
sixteen acres is highly improved and grows
excellent crops. In the way of livestock the
Chester White hog is specialized.
Christoph Klug died at this old home Jan-
uary 19, 1916, having celebrated his seventy-
fifth birthday October 1, 1915. He was a dem-
ocrat in politics. His first wife died in this
count.A' February 3, 1884. Both she and her
husband were confirmed German Lutherans.
Of their children Henry and Emma are both
married and living in Henry County.
For his second wife Christoph Klug mar-
ried Catharine Sehumaker, who was born in
Napoleon Township, on her father's old home
four miles we.st of the City of Napoleon. Mrs.
Kluff. who is still living, was born November
5, 1849, a daughter of Jonas and Esther (Spei-
gle) Sehumaker. Her father was born in
Pennsylvania and her mother in Columbiana
County, Ohio. In 1866 the Sehumaker family
came to Napoleon Township, and her father
improved a farm there. He died at the age
of eightv-three and his widow, who was born
December 22, 1829, died in the Citv of Napo-
leon at the age of eighty-seven. Mrs. King's
1538
HISTOKY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
father was a whig and republican, and all the
family were active supporters of the Lutheran
Church.
Mrs. Klug for her first husband married
Detrick Jost, who died in Ridgeville Township
of Henry County. To their marriage were
born five children: Dora, Henry, Rev. George
0., Emma and Freda. All these are still living
except Rev. George 0., who was a young min-
ister and attended a convention of his church
in Chicago, and while there disappeared and
nothing has since been heard of him. All
the other children are married except Freda,
who lives at home with her mother. Chris-
toph Klug and his second wife had two chil-
dren, Chris H. and Catherine, the latter dying
when six years of age. Chris H. Klug is still
unmarried, and lives at the old farm with his
mother and his sister Freda. He is a demo-
crat and all the family are members of the
Lutheran Church.
J. E. Bayliff, M. D. The medical fra-
ternity of Auglaize County is capably repre-
sented at Uniopolis by a physician and surgeon
who has had an especially honorable career.
Dr. J. E. Bayliff. Wlien Doctor Bayliff
started life he was not able to gain the ad-
vantages which are given to many when they
make a choice of a vocation, and in order to
j)repai"e himself for his cherished profession
he was forced to overcome a number of ob-
.staeles. His energy and persevering nature,
however, enabled him to gain his goal, and
for a number of years he has been accounted
one of his profession's able and skilled repre-
sentatives.
Born in Auglaize County, Ohio, Septem-
ber 3, 1861, Doctor Bayliff is a son of Lewis
P. and Christina Elizabeth (Waggoner) Bay-
liff. He is of English descent, and belongs
to one of the pioneer families of the county,
his grandfather, Joel Bayliff, having come
here at an early day and settled on wild land
taken up from tlie United States Government.
On the maternal side he likewise belongs to
an early family, his grandfather, Charles
Waggoner, having come to Auglaize County
as a pioneer from Pennsylvania. Lewis P.
Bayliff was bom in Clay Township, Auglaize
County, March 12, 1825, and died in Wapa-
koneta, Ohio, January 12, 1902. While the
greater part of his boyhood and yowth were
spent in -flie country, he was given a good
training and for several years attended An-
tioch College, Ohio. With this equipment he
started teaching, and for thirty-five years fol-
lowed that voeatiou and became one of the
well known educators of Auglaize County.
For sevex'al years he was an instructor in the
Wapakoneta High School. Mr. Bayliff' worked
out his own success in life in an honorable
manner, but in later years met with financial
reverses. He was a member of the Dunkard
Church, and in politics was a democrat. He
married Christina Elizabeth Waggoner, also
a native of this county, and they had five
children, of whom three are living: J. E.;
Elizabeth, who is the wife of J. J. Hay, ex-
mayor of Wapakoneta; and George Jacob, a
machinist of Slemphis, Tennessee.
J. E. Bayliff' received his literary education
in the district schools and the Wapakoneta
High School, and as a youth displayed a
predilection for the profession of medicine.
The family resources, however, were not such
that he could pursue a college course, and he
was forced to earn the means with which to
pursue his medical studies. For seven years
he taught school, sold books as an agent and
worked at wliatever honorable employment
presented itself, and at the same time gave
his .spare time to the study of his vocation.
After some preliminary work with a physi-
cian at Uniopolis, he entered Pulte Medical
College, from which he was duly graduated
in 1887 with his degi-ee of Doctor of Medi-
cine. Doctor Bayliff' began his professional
duties at Wapakoneta, but after two years
moved to Uniopolis, where he has since car-
ried on a general medical and surgical prac-
tice and has built up a good professional
business. He has followed closely the ad-
vancements made in his calling, and his skill
in diagnosis, his thorough knowledge of the
different branches of his calling, his ability
as a practitioner and his steady-handed sur-
ger.y have won him the confidence of the
people, while his respect for the ethics of the
profession has gained him standing and
esteem among his fellow-practitioners. He
belongs to the Auglaize County Medical So-
ciety, the Ohio State Medical Society and the
American Medical Association. Politically he
is a democrat. Doctor Bayliff 's only public
office has been that of township clerk, in which
he served two years, but he has always been
ready to give aid to public-spirited move-
ments. His fraternal connection is with the
Knights of Pythias, in which order he has
passed througli the chairs.
Doctor Bayliff was married in 1886 to Miss
Lucinda Howe, who was bom at Waynesfield.
Auglaize County, Ohio, a daughter of Rev.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1539
T. D. and Mary A. (Spry) Howe, the former
a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mrs. Bayliff is a member of the congregation
of that church at Uniopolis. Doctor and Mrs.
Bayliff have no children of their own, but
have adopted two bright boys: Walter E.,
who is nine years of age ; and Russell, who is
aged seven years.
John Fisher. One of the highly respected
families of Henry County is represented by
John Fisher, who is owner and proprietor of
one of the best kept and best cultivated farms
in Napoleon Township. His parents came to
this country poor and friendless, and by
sturdy industry, self-sacrificing labors in early
yeai"s, gained not only a material competence
but left honored names in the community.
John Fisher, their son, has likewise prospered.
He has the reputation of doing things thor-
oughly and well, and of getting things done
under his management. The land in his farm
is as valuable and fertile as can be found in
that section of Henry County, and for a con-
siderable part of it, he paid as high as $157
an acre. It is a high tribute to his ability
as a farmer that he has been able to take and
cultivate such high priced land and make a
profit of it.
He was born in Napoleon Township in sec-
tion 21 on the farm that he now owns Sep-
tember 7, 1867. His father, Frederick Fisher,
was born in Baden, Germany, on October 2,
1828. He wa.s left an orphan when a small
boy by the death of his parents, Godfried
Frederick and Rose (Walond) Fi.sher, and
was reared among strangers. While young
he learned the trade of brick and tile maker.
That was yeai-s before machinery was intro-
duced to manufacture brick and tile and his
I knowledge of the industry was confined to
! the manual trade. At the age of twent.v-four
i he set out for America on a sailing vessel.
; That was in June, 1854. He came to Napo-
1 leon City July 4, 1854, making the trip from
I Toledo in a canal boat. On the same boat
j that brought him from Germany to America
I was a young orphan girl, jNIary Eve Wolder.
1 They became acquainted on the boat and in
Napoleon were united in marriage by a priest
' August 26, 1854. Mrs. Fisher was born in
: Baden, Germany, September 24. 1825. With-
; out friends, without money, Frederick Fisher
: and wife started out to make their destiny
in the New World. For six years he found
employment on the Wabash Railroad, and
during that time they lived in a log cabin
near Napoleon. Being thrifty and earnest in
their life purpose they saved their money and
bought twenty acres in Monroe Towuship.
This land they subsequently sold and return-
ing to Napoleon Township in 1863 bough*^
forty acres in section 21. That forty acres
is now included in the fine farm of their son
John. Ten acres of this w^as cleared, but the
rest was heavily wooded. Both Mr. Fisher
and his wife worked early and late during
these years, and after tliey had improved
their first purchase of land bought forty acres
adjoining and before leaving off active work
they had improved all of this except ten acres.
Fi-ederick Fisher died in Napoleon Township
August 10, 1903, when he was seventy-four
years of age. His widow survived him until
November 4, 1912, when she was nearly eighty-
eight. Thus in spite of the hardships of their
early life they lived to be old, and spent their
last years in comfort. They were lifelong
members of the Catholic Church and in pol-
itics he was a democrat. Their children, four
sons and four daughters, grew up and mar-
ried, and six are still living.
John Fisher, who has never married, has
applied his energies for the last thirty years
to his work and profession as a farmer and
has also exercised shrewd business judgment
in all his transactions. He now owns 205 acres
situated in sections 19, 20 and 21, and nearly
every foot of it is imder perfect cultivation.
He also has his land well stocked with a good
grade of horses, ten in niimber, twenty head
of cattle and many hogs, besides 100 head of
fine poultry, chiefly the white leghorn stock.
His home is a modern eleven-room house. He
also has a barn 40 by 80 feet with an addition
of 26 feet and has all the appointments and
equipments necessary for thorough and effi-
cient farming. Mr. Fisher is a democrat and
a member of the Catholic Church of St. Aug-
ustine Parish.
Adam J. Ulrich. What all men aspire to
— a long and prosperous career, one filled with
satisfying accomplishments of a material na-
ture, the acquisition of standing and esteem
in the community, a good home and honorable
and useful children — is the achievement which
serves to give special distinction to Adam J.
Ulrich, a retired business man of Napoleon.
For half a century, since the close of the
Civil war in 1865, Mr. Ulrich has had his
home on the corner of Clinton Street and
Haley Avenue in Napoleon. He came to Napo-
leon as a tinsmith, a trade which he fol-
1540
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
lowed for ten years, and which was the basis
and foundation of his larger business enter-
prise. He opened up his first stock of hard-
ware on the east side of Perry Street. Some
years later he left his frame store and moved
into a brick block, and stiU later bought a
store of his own on Washington Street. In
the meantime his business had enjoyed a con-
stant increase and on Washington Street he
conducted for a number of years one of the
largest hardware establishments in Henry
County, his store being filled with all kinds
of shelf and hea\'y hardware, farm imple-
ments, wagons, buggies and tools and equip-
ment for various mechanical trades. As a
result of more than forty years of persistent
application Mr. Ulrich was finally able to
retire with a substantial competence, and in
1907 he sold his business to Rothenberger
Brothers and repaired to the comfoi'ts of home
and fireside in the large brick home at the cor-
ner of Clinton Street and Haley Avenue. He
had bought that splendid residence two years
before his retirement. Mr. Ulrich also owns
other good properties in the city, and he and
his son, Grant L., and his daughter, ]\Irs. Jen-
nie E. Scott, were all active in the organi-
zation of the State Bank of Commerce at
Napoleon, all became stockholders, and he and
his son. Grant L., are both directors.
Adam J. Ulrich was born at Wooster in
Wayne County, Ohio, June 28, 1842, being
of Pennsylvania German ancestry. His par-
ents were Jacob and Elizabeth (Shopp) Ul-
rich, both natives of Dauphin County, Penn-
sylvania. The grandfather was Jacob Ulrich,
Sr., who spent his life as a farmer in Penn-
sylvania, was a member of the Evangelical
Church and in politics a democrat. Jacob
Ulrich, Jr., moved out to Wayne County, Ohio,
when a young man, was married there, and
soon afterwards established himself on a farm
in the vicinity of Wooster. He was a man
of industry, thrift, and honorable in all his
relations, and died in Wayne County when
past seventy yeai-s of age. He and his wife
were members of the Evangelical Church and
in politics he was loyal to democratic princi-
ples. Of ten children two died in infancy,
and Adam is the second in age of those who
?rrew up. His brother, John, is married and
lives at Newark, Ohio-. Lydia is married and
lives in California. Jacob is also a resident
of California. William is a farmer near Napo-
leon on the Maumee River. Mary was acci-
dentally killed by a street car in Canton,
Ohio, being survived by husband and chil-
dren. Aaron and Fannie are both married
and live on farms in Wayne County.
Adam J. Ulrich grew up and received his
education in Wayne County. He learned his
trade of tinsmith with his uncle, Michael
Schopp of Berlin, Ohio. Later he followed
his trade as a journeyman for four or five
years and then in the fall of 1865 established
his permanent home at Napoleon, where as
already stated he was a journeyman worker
for some years and gradually developed his
trade iuto the extensive hardware business of
which he was proprietor for so many years.
After coming to Napoleon ilr. Ulrich mar-
ried Elizabeth Bails. She was born in Napo-
leon Township of Henry County, November
22, 1841, and has spent practically all her life
in this one community. Her parents were
Philip and Elizabeth (Fifer) Bails, both na-
tives of Pennsylvania but early settlers in
Henry County, where they spent their active
careers on their farm. Bails Road of Napo-
leon Township was named in their honor.
They were well known people and died when
quite old at their home in Napoleon Township.
Mrs. Ulrich 's father was a democrat. She is
the only surviving child of her parents. Mr.
and Mrs. Ulrich both take a leading part in St.
Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, in which
for a number of years he has served as an
official. He is still a member of the board.
He joined the ^Methodist Church when nine-
teen yeai-s of age and has never relaxed his
interest in its woi'k. He is also affiliated with
the subordinate lodge of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows at Napoleon and filled
minor offices therein.
Mr. and Mrs. Ulrich have five children.
Their son. Grant L., is a tinsmith and retired
farmer at Napoleon and has for years been
chief of the fire department of this city. He
has no issue. The son Frank is connected
with a wholesale hardware company of Toledo,
and his only child and son Harold was for
several years in a bank but is now connected
with an automobile company. The daugh-
ter, Jennie E., is the widow of Col. Arthur
Scott, who was a son of Governor Scott of
North Carolina, and she now lives in the same
house with her father at Napoleon. The
daughter, Hattie, is the wife of Frederick
Grochner, a commercial traveler with home at
Napoleon, and they have a son, Robert, nine
years of age and attending public school. An-
other daughter, Mrs. Anna Engelhart, lives at
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1541
Detroit where Mr. Engelhart is an insurance
auditor, and they have three daughters, Phyl-
lis, Helene and Clara Rose.
George Brecheisen. For more than half
a century George Brecheisen has lived in
Henry County. He came to America a Ger-
man youth, with no special knowledge of
the language or customs of the new world,
and without capital or influential friends. He
gained a foothold as a result of steady in-
dustry, married and established a home and
now for many years has enjoyed the comforts
of a very attractive and profitable farm in
Flatrock Township of Henry County in sec-
tion 11. He is one of the honored veterans
of the gi-eat war between the states, and that
part of his record will always be cherished by
his descendants.
He was born in Alsace, then a province of
France, at Lembach, on May 12, 1841. His
father was Philip, Jr., and his grandfather
Philip, Sr., Brecheisen. The grandparents
spent all their lives as farmei"s in Alsace, and
his grandfather was blind for twenty years,
but lived beyond the fourscore mark. They
were an old Lutheran family. Philip Brech-
eisen, Jr., was born in the month of January,
about the year 1810. He grew up in Alsace
and was married near his old home. His
wife, Margaret, was born in Alsace about
1815, and also represented old Lutheran
stock. The children born to these parents in
the old country were: Catherine, Louisa,
Philip, George and Jacob. In 1851 the fam-
ily party took passage on a sailing vessel
from Havre and were forty days in making
the voyage to New York. From there tliey
proceeded west as far as Bufi'alo and then
lived for eight years at Attica, New York.
During their residence in New York State
three other children were born, Ellen, Lewis
and Henry. In 1859 the family came to
Northwestern Ohio. Philip Brecheisen
rented land near Tiffin, in Seneca County,
for two years, but in 1861 brought his wife
and children to Henry County and bought
160 acres in Flatrock Township, l^o miles
northwest of Holgate. Their first home was
a log cabin, which stood in the midst of the
heavy woods on the land. Here Philip
Brecheisen undertook the heavy task of clear-
ing up a wild tract of land, and in the course
of time made one of the most productive and
valuable farms in Flatrock Township. Both
parents died there several years after the
war, the father at the age of sixty-eight and
Vol. Ill— 14
the mother at sixty-three. He was a demo-
crat and they were loyal members of the
Lutheran Church in their community.
George Brecheisen was about grown to
manhood when the family came to Henry
County. He had received his education partly
in German schools and partly in the public
schools of New York State and Ohio. From
an early date his time was used in the clear-
ing and improvement of his father's home-
stead, and being strong and vigorous he did
his share toward paying off tlie debt which
his father assumed when he bought the Henry
County farm. He also gave his services to
neighboring farmers and being very proficient
he received the top price for farm labor at
that day, which was $12 a month and board.
In August, 1862, Mr. Brecheisen volun-
teered his services to preserve the Union. He
enlisted from Fostoria, in Seneca County, in
Company I of the One Hundred and Twenty-
Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He went out
as a private and saw much active service with
his regiment. He was in several battles in
Western Virginia, especially Harpers Ferry,
at Winchester, and also did considerable duty
in lielping to guard railway lines. He was
taken a prisoner at Winchester, but was
paroled thirty days later at Staunton, Vir-
ginia. He fought in the Cedar Creek battle
in the Shenandoah Valley, and on June 15,
1864, was mustered out and given his hon-
orable discharge.
Soon after the war ]\Ir. Brecheisen began
farming on his own account and bought forty
acres of wild land in Flatrock Township. He
cleared up part of that land, and he and his
wife also lived in a log house for several
years. He finally sold his first purchase and
bought a farm in the southwestern part of
the township. In 1873 lie acquired eighty
acres of the old homestead of his wife's
parents in section 11 of Flatrock Township,
and that has now been the Brecheisen home
for more than forty years. Mr. Brecheisen
has proved as able in the occupation of farm-
ing as he was a soldier during the time of
war, and his land now has many improve-
ments to show for his enterprise and every
field is well cultivated. Mr. Brecheisen built
the large barn, 40 by 60 feet, and also the
substantial eight-room house.
On the farm that he now occupies Mr.
Brecheisen was married to Frederica Kemm.
She was born in Wurtemburg, Germany,
June 15, 1843, and when a child was brought
to America by her parents, Mr. and Mrs.
1542
HISTORY OP NORTHWEST OHIO
Christoff Kemra. The Keram family located
in Flatrock Township, clearing lap a new
farm in section 11, where Mr. and Mrs.
Brecheisen have lived for so many years. Her
parents died when quite old and are deserv-
edly remembered as substantial pioneer peo-
ple of this section of Northwest Ohio. Mr.
and Mrs. Brecheisen are active members of
the Lutheran Church, and politically he is
affiliated with the democratic party.
Their children are : Louise, wife of Prank
Reddig and the mother of three sons and one
daughter; George, Jr., who is employed as a
fireman in a Toledo factory; Charles, who is
still unmarried and runs the home farm for
his father; Rosetta, still at home; Elizabeth,
who died after her marriage to Fi*ed Stout
and left three children; and Ellen, who died
in young womanhood.
Milton J. Knipp is at the head of one of
the best managed farming estates and repre-
sents one of the oldest and most esteemed
families of Henrj' County. His farm is on
section 11, Platrock Township, and his pros-
perity has been won by the capable manage-
ment of the tirst class farms which he con-
ducts. For three generations the members of
the Knipp family have been identified with
the fai-ming, stock raising and capable citi-
zen.ship interests of Northwestern Ohio. Both
the paternal and maternal lines of Mr. Knipp
connect with staunch old Wurtembei-gers. The
family came to Northwestern Ohio some
eighty or ninety years ago, and for many
years lived in Crawford County. It was Mr.
Knipp 's great-grandparents who headed the
emigration to America. When they came
they brought with them their younger chil-
dren, but two of the Knipp sons, Tobias and
John, then young boys, were left behind.
These boys were not content to remain while
their families departed for the New World,
and they contrived means of working their
passage in an old-fashioned sailing vessel. As
a matter of fact the vessel on which they took
passage arrived in New York before the ship
carrying their parents. These enterprising
young men were standing on the docks when
the rest of the family landed, and they fur-
nished a joyful surprise to their parents and
brothers and sisters. For a time the family
lived in Pennsylvania, but then emigrated to
Crawford County, Ohio, where they began
life in the midst of the primitive wilderness,
with log cabin homes, with their table sup-
plied with wild venison and other game from
the forest, and with furnishings which would
seem extremely crude at this date. The
parents of John and Tobias Knipp spent
their last days there. From the time they
took their venturesome voyage to the New
World John and Tobias Knipp were closely
associated by many ties throughout the rest
of their lives. In 1848 both of these brothers
brought their families to Platrock Town-
ship, in Henry County. Henry County at
the time was partially settled and much of
its land was still owned by the Government,
and these brothers secured unappropriated
land in section 13 of Flatrock Township,
entering their titles in the land office at
Defiance. Each of them had a quarter section,
and they built similar homes, typical of the
times and conditions, log cabin dwellings
standing in the midst of the woods, and a
number of years passed before the coimtry
was sufficiently cleared up and settled so that
the howling of the wolves would not disturb
the slumberings of these settlei-s. In that
community Tobias and John and their wives
worked hard and spent the rest of their use-
ful lives. Tobias acquired an estate of 560
acres, while John improved a half section, or
320 acres. Tobias Knipp died in 1889, and
his brother, John, in 1891. Both were siir-
vived by their widows. Mrs. Tobias Knipp
died in 1901, when past eighty years of age,
aud Mrs. John Knipp was nearly ninety-
four when death came to her in 1915. These
good old people were all Lutherans, a religion
in which they had been reared in Germany.
Tobias and John were prominent men in the
early da.ys of Henry County and were not
only widely known for the enterprises which
enabled them to succeed as farmers but also
on account of their public spirit and kindly
neighborliuess. John was one of the early
township trustees. Both took a leading part
in the establishment of a Lutheran Church,
and both the church and the cemetery were
started on laud given by these brothers. To-
bias Knipp should be remembered also because
of his influence in introducing a number of
solid and substantial German families in
Henry County. He was a man of much prac-
tical wisdom, and his judgment was relied
upon by all his wide acquaintance and friends.
Mr. Milton J. Knipp is a gi-andson of both
of these brothers. This relationship comes
about because of the fact that his father,
John H. Ivnipp married his cousin, Mary
Knipp, John being a son of Tobias, while
Mary was a daughter of John. John H.
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
1543
Knipp was born in Crawford County, Ohio,
in 1844, and his wife and cousin Mary
was born there in 1846. Both were small
children when their respective parents came
to Flatrock Township in Heur}' County in
1848. They grew up on neig-hboring farms,
and after their marriage on May 27, 1869,
settled on the old home place of Tobias Knipp.
John H. Knipp received as his portion of the
inheritance eighty acres of land and in 1874
he sold that for $3,500. With the proceeds
he purchased 133 acres in sections 10 and 11
of Flatrock Township, located on the south
bank of the Maumee River and opposite
Girty's Island. There Mr. and Mrs. John H.
Knipp passed their greatest usefulness, and in
time they also acquired eighty-eight acres of
adjoining land and were prospered as they
well deserved. After a number of years they
retired from the f ann and moved to Napoleon,
taking a residence on Maumee Street, where
Mrs. John H. Knipp died on May 16, 1915.
Her husband is still living, and is still active,
taking an interest in local affairs in spite of
his advancing years. He is a democrat, has
always been a good citizen, and for several
years served as a township trustee. Both he
and his wife were members of the Lutheran
Church.
Milton J. Knipp was the oldest in a family
of five children. His brother, Charles A.,
lives on a farm in Flatrock Township, and by
his marriage to Catherine Austermiller has
two children. Earl and Luella, the latter being
unmarried. ' Eli T., a farmer in Napoleon
Township, married Julia Deimer, and their
children are Josephine, Paul aud Ferdinand.
Walter, who owns the old homestead in Flat-
rock Township, married Mary Audrew, and
his children are named Arthur, Helen, Harold
and Donald. Martha, the youngest of the
children and the only daughter, is the wife
of Henry Austermiller, a farmer in Monroe
Township, and their children are Russell and
Blanch.
It was on the old home farm in section 13
of Flatrock Township that Milton H. Knipp
was born January 29, 1870. The environ-
ments of his youth were not different from
those of the average Ohio farm boys, but he
received, perhaps, more than the average edu-
cation. In addition to the advantages of the
public schools he was graduated in 1891 from
the Defiance City Business College. That
training and eighteen months of work as a
clerk and bookkeeper he has always regarded
as valuable assets to his business career as a
farmer. Mr. Knipp owns seventy-two acres
of fertile and well improved land, and has
made more than an ordinary success out of
all his farming undertakings. Among im-
provements should be mentioned a barn 36 by
70 feet, painted red with white trimmings, and
he and his family enjoy the comforts of a
good modern home of eight rooms.
In his home township in 1894 Mr. Knipp
married Miss Ida H. Art, who was born in Tus-
carawas County, Ohio, April 9, 1874. When
she was two years of age she came to Henry
County with her parents, William and Eliza-
beth (Somheim) Art. They were both natives
of Germany, and had come to America with
their respective parents when about twelve
or fourteen years of age. Their families lo-
cated in Tuscarawas County, where Mr. and
Mrs. Art grew up and married, and in 1876
located on a farm in section thirty of Flat-
rock Township in Henry County. Mr. Art
was a capable farmer and a man of ability in
everything he did, and in time had an ex-
cellent farm and provided well for his chil-
dren. His death occurred November 16, 1907,
at the age of seventy-two, and his widow is
still living at the old home, being now seventy-
eight. Both had been members of the Re-
formed Church, and Mr. Art served as a town-
ship trustee, being a supporter of the demo-
cratic party.
Mr. Knipp has made himself useful to the
community. In addition to his contribution as
a practical farmer for five times he served as
township clerk and has also been clerk and
treasurer of the school board. He is one of
the directors of the Elery Grain Association.
Charles E. Osborn. The claim of Charles
E. Osborn upon the good will and considera-
tion of his fellow townsmen in Flatrock
Township of Henry County is based upon
many years of progressive and effective work
as a practical farmer and stock raiser and by
his efforts at all times to promote the welfare
of his community by the improvement of
roads, the maintenance of good schools, and
in the upholding of religion and morality.
His home is in section 15 of Flatrock Town-
ship.
Representing an old and prosperous family
of Northwest Ohio, Charles E. Osborn was born
in Richland Township of Defiance County
June 22, 1863. His people came to Defiance
County from Portage County in this state.
His parents were David and Catherine (Hull)
Osborn. David Osborn was born in Pennsyl-
1544
HISTORY OF NORTHWEST OHIO
vania, his people being natives of that state
and of Dutch ancestry. From Pennsylvania
the Osborns moved to Portage County, Ohio,
when David was a small boy. In that locality
he grew up, and married there Miss Hull, who
was a native of Portage County but of Penn-
sylvania parentage. The Hulls were among
the early settlers of Portage County, and Mrs.
David Osborn's parents died th 
