A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio, Part 1

Author:
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 864


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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65



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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02495 8222


Gc 977.101 Se5c


A centennial biographical history of Seneca County


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1


A CENTENNIAL


BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY


OF


SENECA COUNTY


OHIO


ILLUSTRATED


EMBELLISHED WITH PORTRAITS OF MANY WELL KNOWN PEOPLE OF SENECA COUNTY,


WHO HAVE BEEN OR ARE PROMINENT IN ITS HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT.


10.2018 CHICAGO V.N. THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1902


Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270


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1


Ic


369394


PREFACE.


UT of the depths of his mature wisdom Carlyle wrote, "History is the essence of innumerable biographies." Believing this to be the fact, there is no necessity of advancing any further reason for the compilation of such a work as this, if reliable history is to be the ultimate object.


Seneca County, Ohio, has sustained within its confines men who have been prominent in public affairs and great industrial enterprises for almost a century. The annals teem with the records of strong and noble manhood, and, as Sumner has said, "the true grandeur of nations is in those qualities which constitute the greatness of the individual." The final causes which shape the fortunes of individ- uals and the destinies of States are often the same. They are usually remote and obscure, and their influence scarcely perceived until manifestly declared by results. That nation is the greatest which produces the greatest and most manly men and faithful women; and the intrinsic safety of a community depends not so much upon methods as upon that normal development from the deep resources of which proceeds all that is precious and permanent in life. But such a result may not consciously be contemplated by the actors in the great social drama. Pursuing each his personal good by exalted means, they work out as a logical result.


The elements of success in life consist in both innate capacity and determination to excel. Where either is wanting, failure is almost


8361 63 030


4


PREFACE.


certain in the outcome. The study of a successful life, therefore, serves both as a source of information and as a stimulus and encour- agement to those who have the capacity. As an important lesson in this connection we may appropriately quote Longfellow, who said : "We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while we judge others by what they have already done." A faithful personal history is an illustration of the truth of this observation.


In this biographical history the editorial staff, as well as the pub- lishers, have fully realized the magnitude of the task. In the collec- tion of the material there has been a constant aim to discriminate carefully in regard to the selection of subjects. Those who have been prominent factors in the public, social and industrial development of the county have been given due recognition as far as it has been possible to secure the requisite data. Names worthy of perpetuation here, it is true, have in several instances been omitted, either on account of the apathy of those concerned or the inability of the compilers to secure the information necessary for a symmetrical sketch; but even more pains have been taken to secure accuracy than were promised in the prospectus. Works of this nature, therefore, are more reliable and complete than are the "standard " histories of a country.


THE PUBLISHERS.


1


INDEX.


A.


Adelsperger, John, 195 Albright, John, 710 Alcott, Roger, 192 Allen, Eugene W., 64 Alter, John K., 230 Ames, Charles, 689


Anderson, Anson A., 491 Anderson, John, 322


Ansberger, Albert, 717


Anway, Joseph L., 687


Anway, William H., 278


Arbogast, Michael, 344 Armstrong, Jacob S., 566


Artes, Thomas H., 327


Ash, Charles, 440 Ash, William, 464


B.


Bacher, Jacob T., 27 Baker, Grattan H., 680 Baker, William, 173 Balbian, Henry, 661 Ball, John, 571


Ball, Joseph, 614 Baltzell, Lewis, 357


Baltzell, Thomas, 125


Brown, Jacob, 98


Brown, Owen T., 272


Brown, Wilbur C., 288


Brundage, Henry H., 134 Buchman, Jacob, 138


Bemenderfer, William K., 14 Benham, George, 197


Berkey, John, 335, 756


Bunn, Jacob F., 128


Berlekemp, H. Bernhardt, 160


Berlekemp, Frederick W., 104 Bever, Joseph M., 232 Biggs, Joseph, 641 Bigham, John, 578 Bihn, Andrew, 24 Black, Harry P., IIO Blaine, H. G., 558 Blair, Thomas, 443


Blum, Joseph, 716 Bollinger, Daniel, 715


Bollinger, Louis W., 617 Bollinger, Phillip, 407 Bork, Francis J., 366


Bork, John P., 150


Bork, Minrad, 456


Bork, Philip H., 458


Borough, Michael, 267


Bowser, John, 254 Boyd, Catherine, 314


Boyd, David, 629


Boyd, Hiram, 315


Boyd, Levi, 477


Boyd, Levi F., 315


Bradner, Harry E., 271


Bradner, John A., 697


Bradner, John R., 82


Brauser, Rudolph, 162


Brayton, Peter, 600


Brendle, Jacob, 4II


Bretz, Philip, 657


Brewer, Edward A., 188


Brewer, Nelson L., 185


Brickner, George, A., 609


Briney, George, 574


Britt, John, 53 Brown, Daniel, 434


Brown, David W., 568


Bare, James M., 462 Barrick, William, 34 Barto, Elias, 748 Bealer, Andrew, 757 Beard, Eli F., 655 Beck, Felix, 60


Buchman, P. A., 376 Buckley, George, 589


Buckley, Michael, 589


Bunn, Otho A., 520 Butterfield, Isaac, 272 Byers, Henry, 494


C.


Caples, Philip D., 329 Caples, Robert F., 330 Carbin, James T., 96


6


INDEX.


Carle, Roscoe L., III Chamberlin, John W., 669


Chance, Henry, 393 Chappelle, Caleb, 197 Charlton, M. A., 99 Church, Earl, 223-4 Clark, Henry D., 637 Clouser, Lewis J., 319 Coffman, Joseph, 246 Cole, Harrison, 41


Dudrow, William, 325


Dunn, Arlington, 649


Dunn, Deroy C., 202


Dunn, Norman, 553


Dunn, William N., 637


E.


Eakin, Samuel, 451


Earl, Leroy, 83


Ecker, Jacob, 488


Egbert, Jeremiah, 410


Egbert, Newton U., 220


Einsel, Henry, 208


Cook, Harmon H., 673


Cook, Jacob, 518


Emerine, Andrew, 282


England, Frederick E .. 638


Eppler, Jacob, 118


Cookson, Isaac W., 303


Cooley, Frank, 55


Corfman, Dr., 50


Corfman, Levi, 323


Falter, Henry G., 609


Falter, John B., 646


Falter, Philip, 661


Feasel, Charles E., 563


Cramer, Frederick, 77


Feasel, Charles H., 551


Cramer, William, 505


Feasel, Isaac, 529


Creeger, Henry W., 336


Feasel, Samuel, 195


Crissel, W. J., 433


Ferree, Elijah B., 535


Crocker, Rawson, 328


Crockett, Edward, 326


Cromer, Ezra, 469


Crum, Daniel L., 416


Crum, Elias W., 300


Crum, Frederick, 203


Culler, Philip H., 173


Cunningham, Arthur A., 258, 260-I


Cunningham, George W., 156


Cunningham, Sylvester, 653


D.


Daniel, Valentine, 148


Davis, Levi, 259


Decker, Amos, 512


Deisler, Charles, 619, 716


Deisler, George, 384


Delaplane, Abraham H., 460


Derr, David H., 76


Detterman, Harrison, 205


Fritcher, Jacob, 284


Fruth, John, 621


Dewald, Peter, 544


Dewald, Philip, 469


Dick, Joseph, 22


Donaldson, Andrew J., 228


Doran, William H., 405


Downs, Lemuel, 635


Drenning, Samuel, 727


Droll, John G., 482


G.


Gangwer, Charles D .. 390


. Flack, Albert L., 663 . Flack, Jacob, 580 . Flack, Lewis, 552 ยท Flack, More, 606


Fleet, William, 682


Flicker, John, 201-2


Foos, Peter J., 19 Force, Alfred, 559


Force, C. A., 438


Forrer, John R., 714


Foster, Charles, 176


Foster, Charles W., 48, 177


Foster, Sampson, 442


Frederick, Frank J., 412


Free, Howard S., 330


Free, John, 333


Frees, Wesley B., 44


Freeze, Barney, 419


Dewald, Jacob, 95


Fruth, John F., 581


Fry, Franklin J., 707


Funk, Henry K., 428


Funk, Isaac, 408


F.


Corrigan, Peter, 494


Corthell, George, 169


Cramer, Daniel H., 360


Crocker, John, 177


Fiant, Martin, 555


Finch, Madison, 640


Fitz, George W., 226


Elliott, George W., 314


Cook, John H., 332


Cook, Solomon, 167


Cole, William, 98 Conaghan, Dennis, 218


Cook, C. G., 243


Cook, Fred, 161


1


7


INDEX.


Gault, Isaac, 138 Gerber, Michael, 237 Gerhart, E. V., 357 Geyer, Charles, 598 Gibson, John, 166 Gibson, William H., 102 Glick, John, 144 Good, J. H., 354 Good, Reuben, 213 Gooding, Josiah, 90


Gray, Edson F., 683


Gray, William, 37


Green, Owen P., 573 Griffin, Philip, 114 Grimes, Elias H., 685 Groff, Hezekiah, 13I Grove, William, 298 Guss, Casper, 594


H.


Haines, Owen, 339 Hall, Luther A., 398 Harmon, William, 347 Harter, Joseph, 750 Harvey, W. H .. 352 Hatfield, John, 639 Haverstick, David, 53 Haverstick, John, 132 Heath, Edward E., 274 Hedges, Josiah, 188 Heiserman, Jacob, 96 Hemming, Thomas, 425 Henzy, Albert J., 748 Herr, George W., 375 Hershberger, Jonas, 19 Hershiser, Henry K., 93 Hickman, Dr., 50 Hite, David, 352 Hoke, Jacob, 17 Hollenbaugh, Elias, 633 Holmes, David, 527 Holmes, John R., 261 Holtz, Charles D., 264 Holtz, Clay. 408 Holtz, John, 168


Honey, Christ, 55I


Hoover, Joseph F., 321


Horn, Samuel, 695 Hosler, Peter, 754


Hossler, Isaac N., 68


Hossler, Jacob, 293 Houck, Jacob, 154 Houck, William, 690 Hovey, A. B., 212


Huber, Eugene B., 153 Huber, Horace, 15I Huber, Uriah 144 Huffman, Josiah, 543 Hughes, Albert, 158


Hull, Abraham W., 147 Hunsicker, Michael, 743 Huss, Jacob S., 576 Huss, David, 265 Huth, Nicholas, 476


J.


Johnson, Joseph, 72 Jones, Junius V., 57


K.


Kaga, Rudolph, 78


Kagy, Isaac, 496


Kaufman, Samuel F., 542


Kaull, John, 379


Keller, Amos, 304


Keller, Peter, 62


Kelley, Charles, 284


Kennedy, Tohn, 191


Kenower, J. L., 157


Keppel, Guilford B., 12


Keppel, Henry D., 208


Kepple, George, 416 Kern, Eli, 521


Kibbler, Anthonv. 750 Kimmel, Henry, 31 King, Obediah, 668


King, William H., 417


King, William T., 189


Kintz, Thomas J., 217


Kirgis, Henry, 250


Kishler, George W., 72


Kissaberth, Philip, 480


Kistler, Herbert, 202


Kistler, Josiah, 280


Kistler, Monroe J., 199


Klaiss, Henry, 83


Knapp, James H., 432


Knepper, Benjamin F., 615


Knight, Thomas C., 276 Koller, Henry A., 116


L.


Lake, George C., 548 Lake, James L., 231 Lambright, Henry, 302 Lebold, Frederick, 505 Lee, J. C., 102


Lee, John C., 186 Leonard, Clark, 66 Leonard, Henry, 358 Leonard, William F .. Lepard, Ira H., 228


Lepard, Isaac, 148


Lewis, James, 659 Lichtle, Martin, 485 Lockwood, Alonzo, 364 Long, Adam, 480


8


INDEX.


Long, Benjamin L., 479 Long, Charles R., 509 I.ong, Michael, 255 Lonsway, Julius J., 712 Loomis, Wildman, 723


Loose, Daniel, 656 Loose, T. C., 308 Lutes, Nettie C., 13 Lynch, John A., 407


Neikirk, D. J., 230 Neikirk, John, 224 Newcomer, John, 588


Niebel, Elijah, 269


Nighswander, Lee, 746


Noble & Lutes, IIO


Noble, Warren P., 9


Noel, John, 225


Norris, Ephraim, 132


Norris, Lloyd, 74


Norris, William H., 244


Norton, James A., 422


Null, Jacob, 570


Null, William H., 312


Nyman, Philetus, 740


Marshall, Jacob, 738


Martin, Anthony McC., 291


O.


Martin, John, 475


Martin, John W., 333


Olmsted, Charles, 376


Martin, Joseph M. 623


Omwake, Jacob 312


Matthews, Henry W., 546


Oster, Jacob W., 650


Matthews, Scott J., 348


Overmeire, Hugh, 361 Owen, Alanson S., 584


McCray, J. R., 49 McCollum, Ephraim J., 651


P.


McDole, Ellsworth L., 238


McDonald, John M., 403


Paine, James, 93


Palmer, William, 165


Pankhurst, Jeremiah. 490


Pankhurst, John, 532


Park, George H., 523


Parker, James M., 559


Meeker, Commodore P., 483


Patterson, Daniel, 598


Mergenthaler, Gottfried, 623


Patterson, William H., 163


Mergenthaler, William, 728


Pennington, Adam, 461


Meyers, George W., 203


Meyers, Rudolph, 205


Michaels, Leroy J., 169 Miller, Adam, 210


Petticord, Daniel, 92


Miller, Joseph, 137


Philhower, Elias, 529


Miller, Paul, 736 Miller, Robert, 125


Phillips, Louis, 660


Miller, Wesley W., 350


Pillars, James, 240


Millhine, John, 564


Pittinger, Benjamin, 538


Mourer, James P., 392


Platt, James H., 109


Mumaw, W. S., 107


Portz, Nicholas, 47 Puetz, John P., 675


Musgrave, Elijah, 706 Myers, Benjamin F., 592 Myers Brothers, The, 42 Myers, David, 586


Myers, E. Bruce, 45


Myers, E. Shelby, 44 Myers, John M., 42


Myers, Joseph, 487


Myers, Leon B., 45


N.


Naylor, John M., 536 Neikirk, Daniel, 332


R.


Randell, Edwin. 700 Rawson, Abel, 102 Reber, Valentine, 153 Reed, Seth, 38 Reeme, William, 617


Reid, William L., 17


Reisz, Daniel, 436 Reynolds, Abraham, 578 Rex, Irvin N., 46 Rex, Jeremiah, 32


M.


Magers, James V., 34I


Manecke, Frederick, 752


Mansfield, Henry, 30


McDonel, James D., 19I


McDougle, Benjamin, 491 Mckinley, Abner, 290


McMeen. William S., 446 McNama, Morris, 714


Pennington, Robert G., 100 Peter, Jacob, 583


Peters, Abraham, 695


Phillips, John, 415


McCauley, John, 362


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INDEX.


9


Rhineberg, T. B., 566 Rhineboldt, Joseph. 96 Ricketts, Lorenzo D., 678 Ridgely, John H., 24 Rife, Abram. 67


Rigby, W. J., 235 Rine, Abraham, 201 Rine, Jacob, 201


Rine, Nathan, 14I


Rinebold, Abraham, 174


Rinebold, Henry, 487


Robertson, John. 726


Robertson, Robert, 604


Rock, Nicholas, 236


Rodegeb, Joseph, 479 Rohn, John K., 378


Rohrer, Silas W., 51


Rollins, William B., 658


Rosenberger, Eli L., 556


Rosenberger, Henry. 209


Rosenberger, John F., 719


Rosier, George W., 471


Rospert, John, 28


Ross, William, 693


Sneath, William, 307


Songer, John, 535


Souder, John. 335


Spaulding, Samuel D., 253


Speck, Peter, 321


Spitler, John K .. 596


Spraggins, John W .. 501


Stackhouse. David. 284 Stahl, Ephraim, 693


Stahl, Henry, 489


Staib, Jacob. 449


Staib, Lewis, 296


Starck, Melchior, 51I


Stearns. George. 666


Steinmetz, Balthasar. 648


Steinmetz, John C., 612


Stevenson, T. D., 738


Stinchcomb, James, 447


Stinebaugh, Isaac B., 254


Stoner, George. 430 Stoner. Henry, 345 Strauch, Charles A., 272 Strausbaugh. Jacob, 629 Stuckey, Philip. 521


Stucky, Henry. 263


Sutton, A. G., 309


Sutton, Lester, 539


Swope. Daniel, 556


T.


Tendick, Peter, 439 Thayer, Sarah J., 358 Thomas, Liverton, 199 Thomas, Mahlon A., 86


Seiger, Charles H., 297 Seiple, John, 675 Seitz, Aaron, 112 Seitz, John, 350 Seitz, Lewis, 597 Sendelbach, Joseph, 608 Seney, George E., 393 Shade, Samuel, 386 Shafer, Alfred L., 445 Shannon, George. 78 Shaull, John B., 569 Shaw, John W., 642 Shaw, Joseph, 364 Sherman, Lorenzo, 248 Shidler, Abram D., 691


Shireman, Aaron, 346 Shock, Jacob, 113 Shuman, Thomas G., 59 Skinner, Morris P., 377 Slaughter, - 585 Slosser, Vernon H., 430


Smeltz, Frederick L .. 503 Smeltz, Jacob. 383


Smith, Abraham, 536


Smith. Charles F., 85


Smith, David, 684


Smith, George E., 473


Smith, Henry L., 717


Smith, Jacob, 482 Smith, John H., 74


Smith, Matthias, 368


Smith, Philip, 562 Smith, Samuel B., 136


Smith, S. H. 267


Smith, William J., 386


Sneath, Ralph D., 260


Sneath, Robert. 307


Sneath, Samuel B., 256


Royer, Isaac, 524


Royer, John C., 122


Ruch, John, 122 Rule, Daniel C., 222


Rundell, William, 541 Ruse, Solomon, 418


S.


Saliers, Henry A., 39 Sankey, Joseph, 19 Saul, Stephen A., 590


Schatzel, Jacob M., 744, Scheerer, Henry F., 742 Scherger, Anton, 516 Schlink, Francis H., 631


Schmaus, M. R., 725 Seemuth, William D., 120 Seewald, Henry, 626


10


INDEX.


Thornburg, Harrison, 298 Tittle, William R., 70 Titus, J. Frank, 564 Titus, Rasselas R., 709 Tompkins, Isaac, 567


Tremaine, Warren, 279


Trott, Christian, 454


Trumbo, Enoch, 466, 533 Trumbo, Pliny, 603


Tubbs, Jane E., 366


U.


Unser, Joseph, 76 Unser, Julius, 414


V.


Valentine, John, 17 Van Natter, Moses, 405


Van Nest, Joseph, 730


W.


Wade, William H., 131


Wagner, Daniel, 705


Wagner, John, 166, 554


Wagner, Samuel, 721


Wagner, Winfield S., 755


Wall, Nicholas, 193 Walter, Michael. 421


Waltermier, James T., 554 Wannamaker, Samuel, 419


Washburn, William B., 80 Weeks, George R., 293


Wehrle, Xavier, 752


Weininger, Charles L., 388 Weller, Henry J., 363


Wenner, Edward, 105 Wenner, Henry L., 211 Wentz, James H., 46 Werley, Andrew, 561 Wertz, Jacob, 735 Whitman, George. 533


Wilhelm, David, 232 Wilhelm, John B., 619 Wilkerson, Charles, 574 Williams, Daniel, 507 Williams, John D., 643 Williams, Reuben, 643


Williams, Rollin K., 316


Williard, George P., 372


Williard, George W., 368


Wolf, Samuel, 331


Wolfe, Solomon, 35


Worm, Christian, 612


Y.


Yambert, Aaron, 452 Young, David, 270


Z.


Zarges, Frederick, 294 Zeigler, Benjamin, 69 Zeigler, Jacob, 162


Zeis, Godfrey, 61, 625 Zeis, William H., 466 Ziegler, Henry, 88


Zimmerman, John B., 310


Zirger, Marcus; 22 Zutavern, Conrad H., 382 Zutavern, Jacob B., 62 Zutavern, Paul W., 252


7


A


Tranen Proble


1


A CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY


OF SENECA COUNTY, OHIO.


HON. WARREN P. NOBLE.


For almost sixty years Hon. Warren P. Noble has been a practi- tioner at the bar of Tiffin. An enumeration of those men of the present generation who have won honor and public recognition for themselves, and at the same time have honored the state to which they belong, would be incomplete were there failure to make prominent reference to the one whose name initiates this paragraph. He holds distinctive precedence as an eminent lawyer and statesman, a man of high scientific attainments and as one who occupied a unique and trying position during one of the most exciting epochs in the history of our country, in which position he bore himself with such signal dignity and honor as to gain to him the respect of all. He has been and is distinctively a man of affairs and one who has wielded a wide influence. A strong mentality, an invincible courage, a most determined individuality, have so entered into his make- up as to render him a natural leader of men and a director of opinion. Although he has passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey, he is still an active factor in the business life of Tiffin, although it is his desire to rest from the more active duties of his profession.


1


Warren P. Noble was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, June 14, 1820, and is of English extraction on his father's side, with a strain of Irish blood from his maternal grandfather. His father, William No-


1


IO


CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.


ble, was a native of Connecticut, which state had been the residence of his ancestors for several generations. He removed to Pennsylvania when a young man, settling near Berwick, then in Luzerne county, but now in Columbia county. There he married Miss Rebecca Lytle, of that place. Her mother barely escaped being one of the victims of the Wyoming massacre, in 1778, by fleeing to a blockhouse. In the war of 1812 Will- iam Noble entered the army and rendered valiant service to his country. Unto him and his wife were born ten children; and during the infancy of our subject the parents came with their family to Ohio, locating first in Wayne county and afterward in Medina county, whence they came to Seneca county in 1836, settling in Jackson township. The father was a millwright by trade and was engaged in building mills in Pennsylvania and Ohio for many years. He owned a small farm in the latter state and thereon his family lived. He reached a venerable age and died at his home near Fostoria in 1864, at the age of eighty-one years. His wife passed away in 1872, at the age of seventy-one.


Warren P. Noble spent his childhood days in his parents' home, attending the pubic schools until eighteen years of age; but the facilities for acquiring an education in those days were not of the superior order that we find them to-day. He was desirous of mental improvement, how- ever, and became a student in the Wadsworth Academy .. in Medina county, then under the control of Professor John McGregor, one of the ablest educators of the time in Ohio. On several occasions Mr. Noble walked to and from that school, where he remained as a student for two years, supporting himself by teaching school through the winter months. Among the most pleasurable recollections of his early life is the school which he taught in Fostoria in the winter of 1840-1. Several of the boys then under his instruction have since become distinguished men, including the Hon. Charles Foster, congressman, governor and secretary of the United States treasury. The late Judge John Lawrence, of Tennessee, was also a pupil of his at that time, as was Colonel William E. Haines, distinguished both on the field of battle and in the field of public life. serving several terms in congress. Judge John F. Caples, of Portland, Oregon, was another of that number.


II


CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.


While engaged in teaching Mr. Noble began the study of law, and in February, 1842, he came to Tiffin, which was then a small town. Here he read law in the office of Rawson & Pennington, General William H. Gibson being a fellow student in the same office. This man's brilliancy in later years lent lustre to the Tiffin bar, and though unfortunate as state treasurer he made an enviable reputation as colonel of a renowned fight- ing regiment. On the 4th of July, 1843, Mr. Noble was admitted to the bar, and has since been engaged in practice in Tiffin, throughout the years enjoying a large and distinctively representative clientage. As a lawyer he is sound, logical, clear-minded and thoroughly trained. With the limitations which are imposed by the constitution on federal powers, with the long line of decisions from Marshall down, by which it has been expounded, he is familiar, though he is at home in all departments of the law, from the minutiae in practice to the greater topics wherein is in- volved the consideration of the ethics and philosophy of jurisprudence and the higher concerns of public policy. He has always prepared his cases with the greatest precision and care, has studied every point of law bearing upon his cause and has marshaled his evidence and his argu- ments with masterly skill.


In 1846-as soon as his age rendered him eligible-he was elected to represent his district in the state legislature, and at the close of his two- years' term was re-elected. In 1851 he was chosen by popular ballot prosecuting attorney of the county, but resigned after serving for three years. In 1860 he was elected to congress on the Democratic ticket, and so capably represented his district, so loyally upheld the Union cause and the soldiers that he was re-elected by a majority of twelve hundred, not- withstanding the fact that gerrymander work had been done, adding to his district Republican counties and taking therefrom those of recognized Democratic strength. His course in congress awakened admiration and respect, and during the entire war period he was an influential member of that body. He was what was known as a "war Democrat," and faithfully supported the administration in the conduct of the war, voting for all men and means called for from time to time ; and by his speeches and con- tributions he helped raise every company and regiment enlisted from his


12


CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.


district, while he was at all times ready to help by every means in his pow- er all soldiers who in any way needed assistance. This disposition, which made him popular with the soldiers and their friends, greatly aided his second election over an apparent majority of three thousand in favor of the opposite political power. He carefully and thoughtfully studied every question which came up for consideration during his congressional career, and gave his influence and support in the direction which he be- lieved would work the greatest good for the greatest number and advance the weal of the nation. Among his contemporaries in the house at the time were James G. Blaine, Roscoe Conkling, George H. Pendleton, Will- iam Windom, James A. Garfield and Thaddeus Stevens, all of whom had marked influence in shaping the policy of the nation during the most trying period in its history.


Mr. Noble returned from congress with a reputation heightened by able and patriotic service, and resumed the practice of law in Tiffin. Soon after he became a member of the bar he entered into partnership with his brother, the late Judge Harrison Noble, who had studied with him. This business relation was maintained unchanged for a quarter of a century, at the end of which time Nelson B. Lutes, one of their students, was admitted to the firm under the style of Noble Brothers & Lutes. After two years the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent and for several years Mr. Noble was alone in practice. About 1876 he formed a partnership with Perry M. Adams, a promising and able young attor- ney, who had been a student in his office, and who remained a member of the firm of Noble & Adams until his death, in 1891, while he was serving as president pro tem. of the Ohio senate. Mr. Noble then formed a part- nership with his son, Warren F., and Guilford B. Keppel, under the firm name of Noble, Keppel & Noble, a relationship that is still continued, although the senior member does not seek further practice, and only acts as counsellor to accommodate some old client who desires his services. Many of the decisions of the appellate courts bear the impress of his patient investigation and his logical argument. His careful and sys- tematic method of preparing cases has been a strong element in his suc- cess. In this respect he resembles the late Allen G. Thurman, employing


13


CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.


none of the arts and tricks of oratory, his speeches, however, being elo- quent in the clearness of statement, the broad common sense of reason- ing, the force of logic, earnestness and power. He always commands the strict attention of courts and juries and of his fellow practitioners, and has never been known to fail in that strict courtesy and regard for professional ethics which should ever characterize the members of the bar. His professional career is an inspiration and a noble example to the younger men who follow him.


Mr. Noble has served in many important positions of business, trust . and confidence outside the strict path of his profession. He was one of the directors of the Tiffin, Toledo & Eastern Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany from its organization until it was completed and turned over to the Pennsylvania system. He was a member of the board of trustees of the Ohio State University for about ten years, and the year after it was organized he was elected its president, being again chosen to that posi- tion, although the majority of the board members were Republicans. For many years he was president of the board of education of Tiffin, and the cause of education found in him a warm friend, as evidenced by his untiring efforts in behalf of the schools. He was the first president of the Commercial Bank of Tiffin and is now its vice-president. The first woman ever admitted to the Ohio bar-Mrs. Nettie C. Lutes-was a student in his office.




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