USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > A Biographical record of Fairfield County, Ohio, illustrated > Part 4
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
before his glass to adjust some personal toilet requirement, the supernal mandate came to call him home; he sank suddenly
into the arms of his wife and daughter, and, unruffled and painless, he passed gently and rapidly away."
GEORGE W. BOERSTLER, M. D.
The world instinctively pays deference to the man whose success has been worthily achieved, who has attained wealth by hon- orable business methods, acquired the high- est reputation in his chosen calling by merit, and whose social prominence is not the less the result of an irreproachable life than of recognized natural gifts. Greater than in almost any line of work is the responsibility that rests upon the physician. The issues of life and death are in his hands. A false prescription, an unskilled operation may take from man that which he prizes above all else-life. The physician's power must be his own; not by purchase, by gift or by influence can he obtain it. He must com- mence at the very beginning, learn the very rudiments of medicine and surgery, con- tinually add to his knowledge by close study and earnest application and gain reputation by merit. If he would gain the highest prominence it must come as the result of superior skill, knowledge and ability, and these qualifications are possessed in an em- inent degree by Dr. Beerstler. He has at- tained marked distinction as a representa- tive of the medical profession in Lancaster,
A native of this state, he was born on
the 24th of November, 1846, and is a son of Dr. George Washington Boerstler, whose sketch precedes this. In the public schools of Lancaster the Doctor acquired his ele- mentary education and later attended the private school of Dr. John Williams. On putting aside his literary text books he be- gan reading medicine in his father's office and was graduated in the medical depart- ment of Wooster College with the class of 1869. Very desirous of attaining a high degree of proficiency in his chosen calling. he took a post graduate course in New York and then returned to Lancaster, open- ing an office and entering upon the prac- tice which has steadily increased in volume and importance. He has kept in touch with the most advanced thought of the times through the perusal of the leading medical works that have been written and through his membership in the Ohio State Medical Society and the American Medical Associa- tion, where the interchange of thought and knowledge constantly broadens the minds of those who attend the convocations.
In 1872 Dr. Boerstler was united in marriage to Miss Sally Reever Camp. of Lancaster. The lady, however, was born
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THIE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
in Sandusky, Ohio, and is a daughter of John G. Camp, a prominent resident of this city, and a granddaughter of one of the Revolutionary heroes, who served in the war for independence with the rank of major. Unto the Doctor and his wife was born a daughter. Elizabeth, who is now the wife of B. J. Swinnerton, of Stone, Staf- fordshire, England. The wife and mother died in 1886 and her death was mourned, not only by her immediate family, but by a large circle of warm friends who enter- tained for her the highest regard.
Fraternally the Doctor is connected with Lancaster Lodge, No. 27. F. & A. M., and also with the chapter and commandery of this city. In his political affiliations lie is a Democrat, earnest and unfaltering in his advocacy of the principles of the party. For several years he was a member of the
board of United States pension examiners and for four years was a member of the board of trustees of the asylum at Athens. He is a gentleman of broad culture, of genial disposition, and has a deep interest in his fellow men. Whatever tends to pro- mote the interests of his profession and place before man the key to the mystery of that complex problem which we call life at once attracts the interest and co-operation of Dr. Boerstler. He is an extremely busy and successful practitioner. He is a man of the highest and purest character, an in- dustrious and ambitious student, and a gifted teacher of surgery. Genial in dis- position, unobtrusive and unassuming, he is patient under adverse criticism, and in his expressions concerning brother practi- tioners is friendly and indulgent.
SAMUEL S WEIST.
The name of Samuel S. Weist is indel- ibly engraved upon the pages of the history of Baltimore, Ohio, where he has served as mayor for eighteen years, while for a long period he was actively associated with its business interests and along all lines of progress he has borne his part. He is pop- ular and honored and is respected by all who know him by reason of his genuine worth of character and value as a citizen.
Mr. Weist was born September 1, 1834,
and comes of a family of German lineage. The ancestry can be traced back to Jacob Weist, his great-great-grandfather, who was born in Germany and came to America in 1751, taking up his abode in Philadel- phia, but the following year settled on a farm in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. In 1752 he paid the passage of a young German girl who came to this country in a sailing vessel and later he made her his wife. They had two children and became
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the founders of the Weist family in Amer- death. In 1830 he was united in marrige ica. Christian Weist, the great-grandia- ther of our subject, was a Revolutionary soldier who served with the rank of cap- tain, and the sword which he carried during the war for independence is now a cher- ished heirloom in the possession of our sub- ject. He passed his entire life in Land caster county, Pennsylvania, where he mar- ried Catherine Goskley, and they had six children. One of this family, Jacob Weist. became the grandfather of our subject. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. serving as a private. In 1820 he came to Fairfield county, Ohio, accompanied by his wife. Catherine Hostler, and in 1821 settled in the eastern part of Greenfield township. where he lived for more than a half cen- tury, passing away upon the old homestead there in 1872 at the very advanced age of eighty-nine years, his remains being in- terred near his old farm. He was the fa- ther of eleven children, ten of whom reached years of maturity, were married and had large families.
to Elizabeth Bowser and unto them were born eight children: Samuel S. : Jeremiah, who died in 1850: Mary, wife of Dr. B. K. Thomen, a resident of Baltimore, Ohio; Benjamin and Jefferson, who have passed away: Caroline, who became the wife of Daniel Fisher, but is now deceased, while her husband died in the army when serving as a member of Company I, Seventeenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in the Civil war: 'Sarah P., deceased wife of Philip Hatter : Elizabeth, wife of M. M. Benjamin, a resi- dent of Baltimore, Ohio; and Priscilla, wife of Charles Hedges, of Delaware, Ohio. The father of this family died on the List of January, 1893, and his wife passed away March 25, 1880, at the age of sixty-nine years, their remains being interred in Bethel cemetery, Greenfield township. She was a daughter of Jacob Bowser, who came to this country from Germany in 1818 and settled on a farm in Greenfield township ad- joining that of Mr. Weist, where he lived until 1850. He died in that year while on a visit to his son in Fort Wayne, Indiana. llis wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Snyder, passed away in 1825. Mr. .and Mrs. Weist were members of the United Brethren church and took a very active part in its work. He served as cap- tain of a company in the state militia and with his command was called out to salute the first canal boat that floated on the Ohio canal. lle led a life of industry and some of the houses which he built in this county are still standing.
Benjamin Weist, the father of our sub- ject, was the second in order of birth. He first opened his eyes to the light of day . April 28. 1808, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and was a youth of twelve years when brought to Fairfield county, Ohio, by his parents. He was reared upon the home farm and ac quired a limited education, having little up- portunity to attend school, for his services were needed in the work of the field -. While yet a boy he also began learning the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1850, when he purchased a part of h's fa- Sammel S. Weist of this review was born ther's farm, upon which he lived until his and reareJ upon his father's farm in Green-
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
field township, where he remained until he of his excellent workmanship and the dur- was nineteen years of age. In the mean- ability of the products which he turned out, and as the years passed his financial re- sources were thereby increased. time he had become conversant with the common branches of English learning taught in the district schools. The temple of learning in which he was a student was a log building and methods of instruction were almost as primitive as the school house. At the time he left home he began learning the carriage maker's trade, serving a two years' apprenticeship, after which he pur- chased a shop in Greenfield township, con- ducting it until 1863. The country was then involved in civil war. The question of slavery in the south had brought about a desire for secession in some of the southern states and the Union needed the aid of its loyal sons to preserve the country intact. Accordingly in January, 1863, Mr. Weist put aside his business cares and joined Com- pany I, Seventeenth Ohio Volunteer Infan- try. He participated in all the engagements with his regiment until the fall of Atlanta, when he was detailed and served at the headquarters of General Thomas, there continuing until the close of the war. For three months he was daily under fire and took part in some very important and sanguine engagements, but at length was honorably discharged at Louisville, Ken- tucky, on the 16th of July, 1865. Return- ing to his home he resumed carriage mak- ing in the spring of 1865 in Baltimore, Ohio, and followed that business continu- ously until 1895, when on account of his health he retired from business cares. Hle had received a liberal patronage on account
On the 15th of December, 1859, Mr. Weist was united in marriage to Miss Re- becca A. Brandt, a native of Greenfield township, Fairfield county, and a daughter of Adam and Rebecca (Cooper) Brandt. The first representative of the Brandt fam- ily in America was Ludwig Brandt, who crossed the Atlantic from his native country -- Germany-in the year 1745 and took up h'is abode in Pennsylvania. The first of the name to seek a home in Fairfield county was also named Ludwig, and the year 1800 witnessed his arrival in Greenfield town- ship. He was the great-grandfather of Mrs. Weist. The family has a record for patriotism and devotion to the old flag of which its members have every reason to be proud. Its history in this direction is cer- tainly remarkable. In the war of the Revo- lution two brothers of the name joined the army, serving under General Washington. In the war of 1812 a number of the name served under Generals Harrison and Wayne, and in the third generation we find mem- bers of the family with Generals Tay- lor and Scott in the war with Mexico in 1846. From ten different northern states representatives of the family went to join the Federal army and took part in a large „number of the most important battles of the long conflict. Again we find soldiers of the name of Brandt defending the stars and stripes in the Spanish-American war,
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so that in every important war in the history of the country the family has been repre- sented by loyal men, who have rendered valuable aid to the nation. In the Civil war six brothers of the name of Brandt and three of their brothers-in-law went from Fairfield county to the seat of war. The mother of Mrs. Weist bore the maiden name of Rebecca Ann Cooper. Her father was a slave owner in an early day, but believing that such a policy was wrong he emancipated his slaves and on this account so aroused the ire of his neighbors in Virginia that he was obliged to leave that state and accord- 'ingly with his family he came to Lancaster, Ohio, in 1806. Here he followed his trade, that of harness making. Adam Brandt and his wife, the parents of Mrs. Weist, had seventeen children, and six sons, as before stated, were loyal defenders of the Union cause in the Civil war, including Captain Brandt, of Carroll, Ohio, whose sketch ap- pears elsewhere in this work.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Weist have been born two children: Eldon Orlando, born April 10, 1862, married Miss Loretta Lit- tlejohn and is living in Baltimore, Ohio, where he is editor of the Twin City News. a paper of that place. Ara B. is the wife of Rev. Walter Kling, a Presbyterian minister now living in Canton, Ohio. They have one child. Ruth Pauline.
Mr. and Mrs. Weist hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which they are leading and active workers, and he takes a very active part in temperance work and while mayor of the city allows no sa- loons or liquor sold here. In 1895 he was
census enumerator. In 1881 he was elected mayor of Baltimore and has held the office altogether for eighteen years, filling the posi- tion at the present time. It is a record al- most unparalleled in the history of the coun- try and certainly no higher testimonial of his capability in office and his faithful dis- charge of duties could be given than the fact that he has so long been retained as the chief executive of the city. He is a char- ter member of Cupp Post, No. 263. G. A. R. ; acted as its first commander and after- ward served as adjutant until January, 1902, when he again became commander. He has three times served upon the staff of the state department commander. His wife is a leading and active member of the Wo- man's Relief Corps, in which she is serv- ing as the president. In 1866 Mr. Weist became a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has filled all the offices of the local lodge and has also been district deputy for several terms. Hle has served as recording steward in his church for the past ten years, has been a member of the school board for sixteen years and was serving in that capacity at the time the new school house was erected. Such in brief is the history of Samuel'S. Weist. The record is one over which there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. Reliable in business, kindly and genial by nature, faithful in citizenship and trust- worthy in friendship, it would be difficult to find one who is more widely or favorably known in this portion of the state than Sam- nel S. Weist.
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GEORGE W. LAMB.
One of the distinguished citizens of Fair- field county is the Hon. George W. Lamb, of Hooker, who has been called to aid in enacting the legislation of the state and who as a merchant has shown the possibilities of accomplishment which lie before the young men of the nation. Everywhere in our land are found men who have worked their own way from humble beginnings to leadership in the commerce, the great pro- ductive industries, the management of fi- nancial affairs, and in controlling the veins and arteries of the traffic and exchanges of our country. It is one of the glories of our nation that it is so. It should be the strong- est incentive and encouragement to the youth of the country that it is so.
Prominent among the self-made men of Fairfield county is the subject of this sketch -a man honored and respected wherever he is known, and most of all where he is best known. He was born in Bloom township, this county, December 24. 1845, and is a representative of a pioneer family here. His grandfather, Philip Lamb, was one of five brothers who came to this county about 1780, and he located in Bloom township, while the others settled in Pleasant town- ship. All built log cabins, and cleared and developed farms in the midst of the forest. They were of German descent and mani- fested many of the sterling characteristics of the people of the fatherland. The grand- father of our subject was a native of Penn- sylvania, while Peter Lamb, the father of our subject, was born at the old home farm
in Bloom township, and there spent his en- tire life, devoting his time and energies to agricultural pursuits. He was a Demo- crat in his political views, never failing to vote for the men and measures of the party. H'is death occurred when he was in his eighty-sixth year. His wife, Mrs. Cather- ine (Lane) Lamb, was a daughter of James Lane, who was of Welsh lineage and re- moved from the Keystone state to Fairfield connty at an early epoch in its history. Mrs. Lamb was born in Amanda township, this county, and lived to the advanced age of eighty-eight years. By her marriage she be- came the mother of eight children, five sons and three daughters, all of whom reached adult age, while all are yet living with the exception of one brother, William.
George W. Lamb is the fourth child and third son. He was reared on the old home farm, where he remained until eight- een years of age, assisting in the work of plowing, planting and harvesting until the labors of the field were over, and then spend- ing the winter months in the acquirement of an education in the district schools. He later went to the Fairfield Union Academy, where he spent two years. Subsequently he engaged in teaching school for a number of years and was elected principal of the Carroll school, filling that position for four years. On the expiration of that period he turned his attention to merchandising in Carroll, and after two years removed to Hooker, where he has since engaged in grain dealing and general merchandising,
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covering a period of twenty-two years. He is the oldest merchant in the town in years of continuous connection with commercial pursuits, and the years have witnessed a successful career for his enterprise. sound business judgment and diligence have brought to him prosperity.
Mr. Lamb has been twice married. He first wedded Carrie Brown, in August, 1871. She died leaving two children-Edward Wort and Odessa, the latter the wife of James Brandt, a son of Captain O. B. Brandt, of Carroll, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in our work. For his second wife Mr. Lamb chose Carrie Peters, a daughter of Silas and Anna Peters. She was born in Greenfield township, Fairfield county, and is now the mother of three chil- dren: Leona. Catherine and AAlberta, all of whom are at home.
In political affairs Mr. Lamb takes an active part and is an unfaltering advocate of the Democracy. Elected to the office of
treasurer of Greenfield township, he was continued in that position by re-election for five consecutive terms, and in 1872-3 he was chosen to represent his district in the state legislature. In 1894 he was elected to the state senate and served so capably and with such loyal regard to the best in- terests of his constituents that he was re- elected in 1896. He has been postmaster and has also been railroad station agent at Hooker for about six years. Fra- ternally he is connected with the Ma- sonic fraternity, belonging to Napthalia Lodge, No. 262, F. & A. M., of Car- roll, and to the chapter of Lancaster. He is widely known as one of the lead- ing business men of the county. the ex- tent and scope of his grain trade and mer- cantile interests indicating his marked abil- ity. enterprise and unfaltering resolution. In citizenship he is loyal and progressive and his life record well deserves a place on the pages of the history of his native county.
JACOB K. BECK.
Jacob K. Beck owns and operates one States when about eight years of age with hundred and twenty-five acres of land in Fairfield county and is an energetic and progressive farmer, whose methods are in keeping with the most advanced thoughts and ideas concerning agriculture. He was born in the city of Lancaster, June 28, 1834. his parents being Jacob and Susan ( Kerns) Beck. The father was a native of Baden Baden. Germany, and came to the United
his parents, Jacob and Anna Beck. Both of the grandparents were natives of Ger- many and it was about 1805 that they bade adieu to the fatherland and sailed for the new world. After landing upon the Ameri- can coast they made their way direct to Ohio, settling in Lancaster. The grandfa- ther was a blacksmith and followed that business in the county seat of Fairfield
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
county throughout the remainder of his life, his expert workmanship and reliability in trade winning for him a comfortable competence. He died when about sixty-five years of age. In their family were four children, two sons and two daughters, but all are now deceased.
Jacob Beck, Jr., the father of our sub- ject, was educated in Lancaster and under his father's direction learned the black- smith's trade, which he followed for a num- ber of years. He was also prominent in public affairs and his fellow townshen. recognizing his worth and ability, called him to public office. He presided as county treasurer from 1830 until 1836. and was a faithful custodian of the public exchequer. The trust reposed in him was never betrayed in the slightest degree and his word was a synonym of integrity. He was held in the highest esteem by his fellow men and often was called by them to settle estates, and was frequently appointed administrator or ex- ecutor by the courts of the county, his hon- esty being proverbial. Over the record of his public career as well as his private life falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. Abont 1836 he removed from the city of Lancaster, taking up his abode upon a farm which he purchased in Hocking town- ship, comprising three hundred acres of Our subject was only two years of age when his parents removed to the farm, but he acquired his education in the schools of Lancaster. He was early inured to the work of cultivating and improving the fields. and through the summer months largely assisted in the raising of the crops. After his marriage he continued to live upon land. This he improved, making it his home until his death. His attention was devoted to the raising of cereals best adapt- ed to this climate and also to the raising of stock, and in both branches of his busi- ness he met with creditable success, which he well deserved. It was on the 3d of De- cember, 1898, that his life's labors were the home farm for a short time and then
ended in death, at the age of ninety-four years, five months and eight days. He was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and for many years was one of its officers. His political support was given the Republican party, but he never sought or desired office, althoughi lie filled some po- sitions. His wife passed away about eight years previous to the death of her husband. She was born in Pennsylvania and was also a member of the Lutheran church, living an earnest. Christian life, characterized by many acts of kindness. This worthy couple became the parents of five sons and three daughters, six of whom are yet liv- ing, namely: Mary Ann, wife of Z. Peters, of Hocking township : George W., who mar- ried Sarah McClarry and also resides in Hocking township: Jacob, our subject ; . H. S .. who married Julia Wilson, now de- ceased, and is engaged in the banking busi- less in Pierce, Nebraska; Rev. J. Beck. of Richmond, Indiana, who married Lizzie Ziegler, of Columbus, Ohio; and Dr. J. S., of Dayton, Ohio, who married Sally Work, of Lancaster. Those deceased are Eliza- beth, who died in infancy; and Clara Jane, who married William J. Hughes and died February 5, 1894, at the age of thirty-eight years.
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1
removed to the farm which his father had given him. He now owns and operates one hundred and twenty-five acres of rich land. It is a model property for he has made many improvements upon it, has modern ma- chinery and all the equipments necessary to facilitate the work. Diligence and enter- prise are numbered among his character- istics and have been the foundation of his success.
Mr. Beck was united in mrriage in De- cember, 1859, to Mary E. Wolf, a native of Fairfield county, and they became the par- ents of three children, but their first born, Carrie, died at the age of one year. Estella May is the wife of C. M. Crumley, an in- surance agent of Lancaster, Ohio; and Alice May is the wife of W. L. Kiger, of Bluff- ton, Indiana. Her husband is a hardware merchant there, and they have one living son, Bruce. The mother of this family was called to her final rest in 1874 at the age of thirty-two years, dying upon the old home place. She was devoted to her family, do- ing everything in her power to enhance the happiness and comfort of her husband and children. For his second wife Mr. Beck chose Ruth Alice Shellenbarger, and their marriage was celebrated on the 23d of March, 1876. The lady is the daugliter of Reuben Shellenbarger, a native of Fair- field county, born in Berne township. He,
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