USA > Ohio > Putnam County > A Portrait and biographical record of Allen and Putnam counties, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Ohio, pt 2 > Part 14
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Elijah Ford was married to Jerusha Kil bey, August 8, 1811, and had twelve children, six boys and six girls. Elijah died January 19, 1831, and Jerusha died February 26, 1843. The children of Elijah and Jerusha Ford come in rotation as follows: Phebe, born August 13, 1813, and married Jolm Ferman; Richard, born April 2, 1815, and married Ehzabeth Ann McFerren; Julia Ann was born February 24, 1817, and married William Penquite; Jemima, born March 16, 1818, and married James McFerren; Ephriam, born December 1, 1820, and married Sophia Chine; Sarah A., born May 13, 1821; Samuel D., born May 31, 1823, and married Margaret E. Wells: Har- riet P., born October 11, 1824; Claudius W., born March 1, 1826, and married Elizabeth Hale for his first wife, second not known; John P., born October 11, 182;, and married
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Emma Hewitt; Mary E., born May 17, 1829, and married Preston Bishop, and Elijah G., born January 27, 1831, and married Sarah Moon.
Amelia was married to Daniel O'Donnell, and whether they had children is not known. Jonathan was married and had two daughters. The father of our subject, Joseph, was mar- ried to Phebe, youngest daughter of Capt. Ephraim Kibbey and also sister to Jerusha Kibbey, mentioned above. He and his wife had ten children, as follows: Jerusha Ann K., born June 2, 1821; Jonathan G., subject of this sketch, born April 28, 1823; Alexander B., born September 11, 1825, and died in August, 1845; Julia Ann Lucinda, born Octo- ber 16, 1827, died February 1, 1894; John M., November 26, 1829, Elijalı C., May 6, 1832; Joseph R., born February 17, 1835, and died March 18, 1838; Ephraim K., born Oc- tober 13, 1837, and died in Kansas; Joseph H. H., born September 20, 1840, and Benjamin F., December 25, 1843. Joseph Ford, Sr., died September 25, 1845, and Phebe, his wife, died April 21, 1856.
Jerusha A. K. Ford was married to Aquila Guffy, November 1, 1838, and leaves five children living at this time, as follows: Joseph, Nancy Jane, Phebe A., Sarah Lucinda and Mary Marinda.
Joseph Guffy was married to Elizabeth Sheets, July 4, 1869, and has three children, viz: Alpha, Ada E., and Ida M. Nancy Jane was married to Jesse Sheets, June 7, 1860, and has seven children, as follows: Lillie, (deceased) Eva Ann, Scott C., Olive D., Loretta, Mena M., and Myrtle.
Phebe A. Guffy was born July 23, 1842, and was married to Andrew A. Burk, April 16, 1866. They have three children living as fol- lows: Alnira, Annie, and Clyde. Aquilla Guffy, ched April 4, 1862. Jerusha A. K., his wife, moved with her family from Putnam
county, Ohio, to Nemaha county, Kan., in the fall of the year 1864. Her family still re- main there but she came back and married Michael Weaver of Van Wert county, Ohio, in the year 1874. Sarah Lucinda was married to David Funk, Angust 28, 1863, and has three sons, names forgotten. Mary M. was married to WV. A. Shaffer, February 22, 1872, and has three children as follows: Laura J., Joy and Ira.
Jonathan G. Ford. (See sketch preced- ing). Following are the names of his children:
Joseph, eldest son of Jonathan G. Ford, was married to Sarah Elizabeth Hunt, August 16, 1868, and went to Kansas the same fall. They have five children, as follows: Benjamin F., born November 29, 1869; Clara E., Oc- tober 9, 1874; Amanda Edith, September 4, 1877; Lula and Jonathan Mason. Ezra was married to Margaret E. Evans, July 24, 1873 and had no children.
Julia Ann Elizabeth was married to Jona- than W. Poast, Angust 30, 1868, and has three children; as follows: Willie, born December 27, 1871, Myrtle, January 13, 1874, and Mary A. William Ford was married to Mar- garet A. Evans, December 14, 1876; they have five children, viz: Joseph W .. Mabel. Russell, Bessie, Clifford.
Julia Ann Lucinda Ford was married to Isaac H. Clevenger March 14, 1874. They have seven living children, as follows: Benjamin L., born February 16, 1848; Elizabeth, August 29, 1850; William H., December 22, 1853; Joseph F., April 13, 1856; Richard E., May 2, 1858; Mary J., March 2, 1860, and Amanda M., January 1, 1862.
Benjamin L. Clevenger was married to Mary Rimer, and they have four children, one son and three daughters, names and ages not known.
Elizabeth Clevenger was married to Abra- ham Funk December 15, 1869, and they have
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two children Jiving, viz: Edna V., born Octo- ber 7, 1870, and Lowell, October 4, 1877.
William Clevenger was married to Ellen Griffith, and has one boy, named Carl. Joseph Clevenger was married to Clara Sarber, and has one boy. John M. Ford was married to Margaret Huffman April 14, 1849; they have three children, as follows: Arminda, married to John Coler, and living in Iowa; John A., and Joseph F.
Margaret, wife of John M. Ford, died in December, 1859. John M. was married to Eliza Shaffer May 6, 1860, and has one daugh- ter, Jennie, born February 22, 1861. He moved his family from Putnam county, Ohio, to Nemaha county, Kan., in the year of 1860, and remains there. John A., son of John M., was married to Lizzie F. Gravatt December 16, 1873, and they have two daughters, as follows: Blanch, born July 31, 1875, and Edna, March 1, 1877.
Elijah C. Ford was married to Elizabeth Pyers, December 27, 1857, and has children as follows: W. W., born October 27, 1860; Julia Alvin, January 1, 1862; Joseph G., De- cember 21, 1863; Franklin W., October 18, 1865; Lewis M., October 21, 1867; Mary E., March 3, 1870, and Phebe Dora, September 18 1872.
Joseph H. H. Ford went to Kansas, and was married to Mary J. Shaffer December 30, 1866, and has four children living, viz: Edwin Van Loo, born Jannary 19, 1869; Myrtle May, April 17, 1871; Roy, March 30, 1874, and Maud Edith, December 28, 1875.
Benjamin F. Ford was married to Mary A. Good February 3, 1867, and has five children, as follows: Emma J., born November 19, 1867; Ulysses C., April 26, 1870; Alfred R., April 27, 1872; Lulie B., September 25, 1874. and Sarah, January 15, 1878.
Lewis A. Ford married Martha Knowsburg, and lives in Nemaha county, Kan. Benjamin
married Olive Deffenbaugh, hves in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, and has four children. Amanda married Lew Lee, a farmer of Allen county, and has two children. Phebe married Albert Mohler, a school-teacher at Middlepoint, Van Wert county, and Marinda married William Clawson, and has one child.
J AMES FOLEY .-. The Foley family has long been identified with American his- tory, the original ancestor, John Foley, grandfather of James and Robert Foley, of Kalida, having been born in Ireland, and having come to the United States shortly after the war of the Revolution, taking up his abode in Virginia. There he espoused, in mar- riage, Chloe Whitley, a native of the Old Do- minion, and a daughter of James and Chloe Whitley. The mother of Mrs. John Foley lived to attain a remarkable longevity, her death occurring at the age of 112 years. John Foley became one of the elderly pioneers of Franklin county, Ohio, having emigrated from Virginia, in 1808, and having conveyed his family and effects to the Buckeye state through the medium of the primitive modes of conveyance then in ase-making the long journey by the means of wagons. He was en- gaged in farming in Franklin county four years, and in 1812 he embarked in the tannery business in the village of Franklin, continuing in this line of enterprise for a number of years, after which he resumed agricultural pursuits in Norwich township, in which he passed the remainder of his life. In his political adher- ency he was an old-line whig, was a man of influence in his party and held many import- ant offices of local trust, he was an active member of the Baptist church, while his wife held to the Presbyterian faith.
William Foley, son of the above, was reared to farm life, and upon attaining matur-
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ity continued to follow the same important line of industry. He was educated in the common schools of his native state, and his patriotism and loyalty are shown in the fact that he bore arms in defense of the Union dur- ing the war of 1812. During a portion of his service he was engaged in transferring ammuni- tion and arms from Circleville, Ohio, to De- troit, Mich., for the use of troops stationed there and in the vicinity. At the close of the war he was united in marriage to Susan Bur- man, daughter of Henry and Eve Burman, and of this union nine children were born, seven of whom grew to maturity, viz: Mrs. Ellen Keller, deceased; Aaron; James, subject of this sketch: John, who was among the first settlers of .Portland, Ore., where he still resides; Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Garrett, of Franklin county, Ohio; Chloe, deceased; and Robert, of Kalida. After his marriage William Foley settled on a dfarm in Franklin county, Ohio, and during the residue of his life he continued to be conspicuously identified with agri- cultural interests. Like his father he was al- lied with the whig party, and he was a loyal soldier, a useful citizen, and a man who was honored and respected. Religiously he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Foley entered into eternal rest in March, 1834, and her husband in October, 1837.
James Foley, the immediate subject of this review, was born in Franklin county, Ohio, October 29, 1820, and received his education in the public schools. When only twelve years of age, Mr. Foley assisted on the work of the National turnpike road, extending be- tween Washington, Baltimore and St. Louis, being engaged on that section which traversed Franklin county. In his early youth he was apprenticed to learn the gunsmith's trade, which he followed for two or three years. At the age of twenty years he bade adien to the parental home and for about five years tras-
eled over the United States, after which he returned to Franklin county, and was here employed at the mason's trade for a number of years. In March, 1846, occurred his mar- riage to Reoda Grooms, a native of Franklin county, and a daughter of Harmon and Rhoda Grooms. The offspring of this union was six children, viz: John Taylor, a farmer at Kalida; Louis, farming in Michigan; William, a farmer of Dupont; Lavona, deceased; Mrs. Elizabeth McClure, deceased: and James W., a painter a Kalida. After his marriage our subject retained his residence in Putnam county until 1853, after which he came to Kalida, where he effected the purchase of over 300 acres of land, the greater part of which tract was practically uncleared. By well direct- ed labor he has cleared and improved the farm, which is now considered to be one of the finest in this section of the state, the family residence being one of attractive character. His first wife died in 1862, and in January, 1864, Mr. Foley consummated his second mar- riage, being then united to Mrs. Lavina (Coit) Bedine, daughter of Edwin and Hulda (Wood- ruff) Coit. She was born near the line of Franklin and Fairfield counties, was educated in the public schools of the former county, and on the 22d of February, 1848, was united in marriage to John Bedine. They became the parents of two children, of whom one survives, Jennie, wife of Morris Ayers, a resident of De- troit, Mich. In 1853 Mr. and Mrs. Bedine located near Columbus, this state, where they resided until 1856, when they came to Kalida, where the husband's death occurred in 1861. After his second marriage our subject continued his residence at Kalida.
In his political adherency Mr. Foley has ever been a stanch supporter of the republican party, having cast his first presidential vote for William Henry Harrison, and also having had the satisfaction of voting for the illustrious
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grandson of that famous hero. Our subject has served for a number of years as township trustee, while he was also one of the incorpo- rators of the town of Kalida. Mr. Foley was present at the laying of the corner-stone of the magnificent new state capitol, and was one of the sub-contractors in its erection, and was identified with the work for a period of some fifteen years, furnishing material, supplies, etc. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has always been known as an np- right, progressive and public-spirited citizen. Mr. Foley has been signally alive to the inter- ests of this state, and has assisted in the rais- ing of money for the carrying through of four different railroad lines, being ever ready to lend both influence and tangible assistance to any worthy cause.
In 1855 Mr. Foley engaged in the mercan- tile business, with which he was connected for five years, after which he consecutively de- voted his attention to farming until 1861, when he became prominently identified with the handling of live stock, at the same time con- ducting a profitable business in the manufac- ture of brick and lime. His retirement from active business life occurred about six years ago. He has lived at his present home for the past forty-one years, and is one of the honored pioneers of this section of the state.
J OHN W. FOX, a popular and thriving merchant of Glandorf, Putnam county, Ohio, is a native of the place, and was born October 31, 1855, a son of An- thony and Catherine (Halker) Fox, of whom both are deceased, the father having died in September, 1893, preceded by the mother in September, 1868. The father was a native of Alsace, France, and came to the United States when about thirteen years of age; for some years he lived in Canton, Ohio, where he
learned the shoemaker's trade, and then came to Glandorf, where he married Miss Halker and continued to follow his trade until death called him away. Mrs. Catherine Fox was a native of Germany and came to America when a young girl. She bore her husband six chil- dren, as follows: Henry Anthony, deceased; John W., our subject; Anthony, a merchant tailor of Ottawa; Lena, wife of Joseph Halker, of Glandorf; Anna, married to F. Kuhlman, also of Glandorf, and Mary, still single.
John W. Fox, our subject, at the age of twelve years, went to Toledo, Ohio, where he was employed as office boy, clerk, etc., until nineteen years old, when he began learning book-binding with B. F. Wade & Co., vith whom he remained six years; he then went to Pittsburg, Pa., worked at his trade a year, then visited Colorado, New Mexico and other parts of the west, spending a year, and then went to Washington, D. C., where he was em- ployed in the government printing offer for nine years in the binding department, and then came to Putnam county, Ohio, where he has since made his home. For two years he sold agricultural implements through the county, and was then appointed postmaster of Glan- dorf, an office he filled to the satisfaction of all concerned; he embarked in the grocery trade, also, a business he still profitably fol- lows, carrying a full line of staple and fancy groceries, confectionery, fruits, cigars. to- bacco, etc.
The marriage of Mr. Fox took place at Cincinnati, Ohio, January 13, 1881, to Miss Bernardina Halker, and to this union were born two children-L.nella and Margherite. The mother of these children was called away November 3, 1894, at the age of thirty-two years, deeply mourned by her husband, who has since remained single. Politically Mr. Fox is a stanch republi an, and in religion is a Catholic, being a member of Saint John's
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church at Glandorf. He has made hosts of friends in the community in which he has . passed so many years of his life, and as a busi- ness man his reputation is without a blemish.
ENRY FRIEND .- On February 9, 1800, there was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, Jacob Friend, who was given the usual education of youths of Germany, and then he learned the weaver's trade. This he followed until he reached the age at which his fatherland called him to enter the army. He served his country faithfully for three years, and after being honorably dis- charged he, in 1832, emigrated and came to America, and located in Pennsylvania, where he followed for two years the trade he had learned in his native land. In 1833 he mar- ried Catherine Hettrick, who was born in Ger- many in 1802, and had come to Pennsylvania in 1832. . This young married couple dared to brave the wilds of the west, crossed the Alle- ghany mountains, and in 1834 settled on a farm in Putnam county, Ohio, near Fort Jen- nings, where they lived for two years, when they purchased the place on which Henry Friend, the subject, now lives. Their labor prospered, and they were soon able to pur- chase and clear more land. This he farmed until 1869, when he retired from the active cares of farming and moved to Fort Jennings. where he lived sixteen years, and was respected by all. Death called him in 1885, but his good wife had preceded him fourteen years. He was a democrat in politics, and served one term as justice of the peace. He also held the office of school director, and served in other like capacities. He and his wife were faithful members of the Lutheran church. Their union was blessed with five children: Refenie, the faithful wife of Ferdinand Lininger, who lives
on a farm in Jackson township (see sketch); Savilla, the wife of Christian Wagner, of Fort Jennings; Henry and Mary were twins (the lat- ter is the widow of M. Redman, of Delphos); John, who is a farmer in Jackson township.
Henry Friend, the elder son, was born March 25,- 1840, in Fort Jennings, and was reared on his father's farm and given a good education, and February 28, 1865, he married Catherine Allemeier, who was born in Ger- many May 8, 1839, and in 1844 had come to this country with her parents, Henry and Mary (Fordegle) Allemeier, who settled in Putnam county. Her father was born in 1810, and served three years in the German army, and died in 1893. Her mother was also born in Hanover, Germany. December 22, 1800, and still lives with her daughter and son, and has the distinction of being the oldest settler in the county, and enjoys life at the advanced age of ninety-five years. She has one brother, William, yet living in Jackson township. After marriage Henry Friend and his young wife located on the farm where they now live, but they only remained here one year, when they were drawn back to the farm they had com- menced life together on. He now bought the place and continued to clear it, and m 1888 built their present dwelling, and has since built a fine barn and added many other improve- ments. He is a democrat in politics, and has been a school director, and is a member of the Fort Jennings Lutheran church. He is noted for being progressive and prosperous. His family consists of six children, namely: Annie, who lives at home; Mary, the wife of Joseph Mauch, the cigar manufacturer of Delphos; Julia, wife of A. Kortier, barber in Fort Jen- nings (see sketch); Jacob, Mena and Frank, who are still at home, the latter being a youth of fifteen years. These children have all been well educated, and have been taught to become useful members of society.
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R EV. LEWIS GANDER, a native of Putnam county, Ohio, and a sub- stantial farmer-citizen, was born Angust 1, 1835, and has always lived within two miles of his present home in Sugar Creek township, with the exception of two years during his infancy, when his father sold the home farm, went to Franklin county, but at the end of the period mentioned returned and bought back his old home. The parents of our subject were Samuel and Lydia (Gray) Gander, the former a native of Virginia, but a resident of Ohio from three years of age, and the mother a native of this, our Buckeye state. The parents of Samuel, on coming to Ohio, settled in Franklin county, where the latter grew to manhood, was married, and in 1833 came to Putnam county, started some improvements on the land he had entered, then sold his interests and returned to Frank- lin county, where he passed two years. Then, like the wise man that he was, he came back to Putnam county; here made an exchange of farms in 1846, residing on his last place until 1863, when, having been worn out with labor- ions efforts to sustain his reputation as one of the best farmers in the county, he retired to a point near Vaughnsville, where his death took place in 1885, an honored and greatly respected gentleman. He had always held the confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens, and as a dem- ocrat faithfully served them as township treas- urer and justice of the peace for a few years.
at Columbus, Ohio, but in November of the same year (1864) was drafted and hired a sub- stitute. In 1865 he settled on sixty acres of his farm, which was then all raw land, but which he has reclaimed, placed in a good state of cultivation and improved with a handsome divelling and commodious out-buildings. In this task he has been largely assisted by his eldest son, Enoch, who still carries on the farm, the health of Mr. Gander never having been very good. January 14, 1860, Mr. Gan- der joined the Christian church, for a namber of years was a bible student and Sunday- school teacher, and in 1869 began prev hing; in the fall of 1873 he was ordained a minister, and with the exception of a very few years has since had charge of some congregation, his present charge being in Paulding county.
The marriage of Mr. Gander took place in 1856, as stated, to Miss Anna Jones, who was born in Wales, October 29, 1833, a daughter of Enoch and Margaret ( Michael) Jones, who came to this country in 1849, and bought a farm in Sugar Creek township, where the father died in February, 1874. and the mother in May, 1878. They were the parents of fom children, viz: Elizabeth, Sarah (deceased), Ann (deceased), and John M. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Gander were born five children, as follows: Lydia A., who died at the age of twelve years; Enoch E., in charge of the home farm; Margaret, wife of John Evans, a farmer; Anna, twin of Margaret, still at home, and Lewis J., of Lima, Ohio. The mother of these children died January 19, 1894, a con- sistent member of the Congregational church and greatly mourned by her many relatives and friends. Mr. Gander was reared a demo- crat, has filled the office of township clerk and several other minor positions, but after the breaking out of the late war he withdrew his
Lewis Gander was reared on the home farm until of age, after which he worked at carpentering for a few years, marrying in 1856. and in 1858 moving to Vaughnsville, where he carried on a general mercantile business for six years. In 1864 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-first Ohio volunteer in- fantry, for too days, served his full term on the fortifications around Washington, D. C., { allegiance to the democracy and besten if it and was honorably discharged, in September, I upon the prohibition party.
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John Gander, grandfather of our subject, reared a family of eight children. Samuel Gander, father of our subject, had born to him by his marriage with Lydia Gray eight chil- dren, viz: Thomas, John S., Lewis, David W., George S., Samuel W., William F. and Mary. Of these, five of the sons served in the late war. The mother died in July, 1859, and the next marriage of Samuel Gander was with Nancy Sneary, and to this union were born four children, namely: Amos J. (de- ceased), Maggie, Jacob and James. Mrs. Nancy Gander is still living. Lewis Gander has lived a long and useful life and has won for himself the love and respect of the entire com- mmunity, while his children share to a great ex- tent the esteem in which the father is held. Associated with Robert W. Roberts, Mr. Gander was one of the originators of the popu- lar annual picnic which is held at Robert's Grove and other places.
EORGE S. GANDER, the leading lumber manufacturer of Ottawa, Put- nam county, of which he is a native, was born near the village of Vaughns- ville, January 23, 1847. The Gander family were among the pioneers of Putnam county, moving to the same in the early 'thirties and settling a short distance south of Kalida, where the subject's grandfather, John Gander,'a well- to-do farmer and capitalist, entered several tracts of government land. John Gander had a large family, all of whom became residents of the county and did much towards its devel- opment. He died in 1858, aged seventy-eight years, and his wife followed him to the grave in 1865, at the age of seventy-eight. The fol- lowing are the names of their children: Samuel, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Lucinda, David, Mrs. Nancy Clevenger, Ariah, John, Jacob and George.
Samuel Gander. father of the subject, was
born in the year 1809, in Rockingham county, Va., and grew to maturity in Franklin county, Ohio, in which part of the state his parents settled in an early date. He came to the county of Putnam in 1833, and settled in Sugar Creek township, on a tract of 160 acres of land which his father had purchased from the government. Later he erected a water- mill on Sugar creek, which he operated until about 1863, from which time until his death he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. He served as justice of the peace in an early day, but resigned the office by reason of the unpleasant duties connected therewith, but subsequently filled various other local offices of his township. He was a very popular man, had many friends in the community where he resided, and is remembered as one of the sub- stantial pioneers of Putnam county. By his marriage with Lydia Gray, daughter of Thomas and Mary Gray, Mr. Gander had the follow- ing children, besides our subject: John, de- ceased; Lewis, farmer of Sugar Creek town- ship, also a well known minister of the Chris- tian church; David died in 1863, while in the service of his country; Mary, widow of Jacob Sneary; Elizabeth, deceased, Samuel W. and William. The mother died July, 1859, at the age of forty-six years; Mr. Gander afterward married Nancy J. Sneary, who bore him four children and who is still living; the following are the names of the children born to the, sec- ond marriage: Margaret, wife of Clint Fruchey: Thomas J., deceased, Jacob B. and James. The father died April 11, 1885.
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