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 31
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Mr. Lehmkuhle is a stanch democrat. He is one of the most enterprising citizens of the township and is universally esteemed for his integrity and many excellent social and busi- ness qualities.
p ROF. A. L. BELCH, superintendent of the Columbus Grove public schools, is a native of Ohio, having been born in Tuscarawas county, on July 24, 1852. He is a son of Joseph and Rebecca (Alford) Belch, both of whom were natives of Ohio, the father having been born in Jefferson county in July, 1812, and the mother in Car- roll county in 1817. The ancestors of Prof. Belch came to Ohio from Virginia and were among the pioneers of the state. The parents lived in Tarcarawas county until 1864, and then came to Allen county, locating in Sugar Creek township, where they purchased a farmi of 160 acres. They resided in Allen county until the spring of 1874, when they moved to West Cairo, and there remained until 1893, when, the mother dying, the father broke np housekeeping and went to Van Wert county, and made his home with his daughter until his death, which occurred on December 23, 1894. Both parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and had born to them ten children, five of whom-three boys and two girls-are living.
Prof. Belch was twelve years of age when his parents moved to Allen county. Before leaving Tarcarawas county he attended the district school, and continued to attend the same school in Allen county until he was six- teen years old. The first school away from home which he attended was one select term at West Cario; the same year he entered the Normal school at Ada, where he attended also one term. The same winter he taught a school in district No. 3, Momoe township,
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Allen county. The next spring he attended school one term, worked on the farin that sum- mer, and again taught during the winter terin. The next spring he took a position in the store of Watt Bros., of Lima, where he contracted to remain for a year's time. But the follow- ing fall the school directors of the district where he had taught the previous winter urged him to again take charge of their school, and finally prevailed upon his employers to grant him permission to do so. This they did with the understanding that he would give them his service on Saturdays, and would also give them one week's time in February, when they would invoice. Upon these conditions he took charge of the school, and conducted it during the winter, and at the expiration of the term he entered a store at West Cairo, and the fol- lowing winter he taught the West Cairo schools. For the following four winters he did not teach, but continued in the store at Cairo, with the exception of one month, which he spent in teaching in his old district, finish- ing up a term. After this he spent two years in teaching in district schools near West Cairo, and then taught one year in the intermediate department of the Cairo schools. He next spent two years as superintendent of the Mid- dlepoint (Van Wert county) schools. While at Middlepoint he passed his vacations in the Normal school at Valparaiso, Ind., and next moved to a farm in Monroe township, Allen county, about two and one-half miles south- west of Columbus Grove, where he remained several years, farming during the summers and teaching during the winters, three years of which time he was superintendent of the West Cairo schools. In September, 1885, Prof. Belch took the position of teacher of the high school at Columbus Grove, which position lie hield for two years. In 1887 he went to the country and tanght two years, returning to Columbus Grove in 1890 as teacher of
the high school. In 1891 he was elected superintendent of the Columbus Grove schools, and in 1892 was re-elected for one year; in 1893 he was re-elected for two years, and in 1895 was re-elected for a term of three years, at an increased salary.
Prof. Belch was married on April 8, 1875, to Miss Sarah I. Porter, who was born in Mon- roe township, Allen county, and is the daugh- ter of the late James C. Porter, who died in 1877, leaving a widow and two sons and one daughter. Two sons and two daughters have been born to Prof. Belch and wife, as follows: Elsie, born on November 27, 1880, Joseph Earl, born July 17, 1883; Golda A., bori: February 21,. 1886; and James C., born De- cember 15, 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Belch are members of the M. E. church, and Mr Belch is a republican in politics; fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order, Rufus Putnam lodge, No. 364, of the K. of P. lodge, No. 376, and Royal Arcanuni, No. 409, all of Colum- bus Grove, Ohio.
ON. JAMES BELFORD, mayor of Columbus Grove, Ohio, and one of the leading citizens of the place, was born within one-half a mile of the corporate limits of Columbus Grove, on May 6, 1837. He is a son of Joseph Belford, who was one of the pioneers of Putnam county. Joseph Bedford was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., October 1, 1806, and was the son of James Belford, a native of Virginia, who re- moved from that state to Pennsylvania, and from the latter state to Licking county, Ohio, in 1816, and there died.
Joseph Belford was married in Marion county, Ohio, on June 5, 1835, to Eleanor Geyer, who was born near Zanesville. Mus- kingum county, Ohio, October 1, 1817, and was the daughter of John Geyer, who was of Ger-
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man parentage. In the first week in March, 1836, he removed with his wife to Putnam county, and settled on a farm of 160 acres, which he purchased in Pleasant township, on which our subject was born. In 1853 he met with an accident which left him a cripple for life, and finally caused his death. During his younger days he had learned the shoemaker's trade, and about two years after his accident he engaged in the boot and shoe trade and also ran a shoe shop in Columbus Grove until 1868, in which year his death occurred, on March I. Up to 1865 he made his home on his farm, though engaged in business in Columbus Grove, and in that year he moved to town, where he was living when he died. His widow survived him, dying on August 1, 1886. Joseph Bel- ford was justice of the peace of Pleasant town- ship for twenty-one years. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church, and was one of the original members of that church at Columbus Grove. To these parents six children were born, four of whom survive. Of the children Mayor Belford is the eldest. He was reared on his father's tarm, and attended the old log school-house of his day and neighborhood. He did not attend school after he reached his sixteenth year, but he applied himself dili- gently and took advantage of every opportu- nity to improve his education, and succeeded so well that by the time he was twenty years of age he passed an examination and secured a certificate to teach school, and the same year he taught a district school in Pleasant township. He taught school altogether, five terms. In the fall of 1867 he removed to Columbus Grove and engaged in the planing- mill and saw -mill business, and was then ac- tively engaged until 1893. He still owns the mill property but does not operate it. In 1879 he was elected justice of the peace, which of- fice he held for nine years; a short time before his election as justice of the peace he took up
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the study of civil engineering, which profession he mastered by himself, and, purchasing a set of instruments, he was engaged in surveying more or less, during all the time he was justice of the peace, and continues the same at the present time. When the streets of Columbus Grove were graded he did the civil engineering of the same. For a number of years he served as corporation and township clerk, and in 1886 was elected mayor of Columbus Grove, served two years, and in April, 1894, was again elected for a term of two years. Mr. Belford was married on October 6, 1864, to Elizabeth Elwell, who was born in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, on November 1, 1840, and is a daughter of John H. and Nancy J. Elwell, pioneers of Putnam county. To this union the following children have been born: Clara A., now the wife of Benjamin Hiner, of Columbus Grove; Annie C., wife of Lewis Bagley, of the same city; Nellie, Eliza- beth E., and James N .- the latter deceased.
Mr. Belford is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is at present secretary of Rufus Putnam lodge, No. 364. He is also a member of the Presbyterian church, of which he is treasurer and chorister. Mayor Belford has seen Columbus Grove grow from its very foun- dation to its present size, as he was here be- fore it was laid out.
ICHAEL LEIDY, a prominent and highly esteemed farmer of Jackson township, Putnam county, Ohio, was born in Franklin county, Pa., March 27, 1820, and is the son of Michael and Jane (Inglebright) Leidy. The father was born in the same county in the year 1790, but the grandfather, also Michael Leidy, was born in Germany and came to America in his youth and located in Pennsylvania The grand- mother, Mary, was born at sea. To the grand-
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parents of the subject of this sketch eight children were born; the father of Michael, of this review, was the second youngest son, was reared on a farm in Pennsylvania, and in 1815 was united in marriage to Jane Inglebright; to them twelve children were born, of whom eight were named as follows: Mrs. Charlotte Geis, deceased; Michael, William Henry and Ann, deceased; Sarah Jane; John, deceased, and Benjamin F. The mother of these chil- dren, Jane (Inglebright) Leidy, was born in Franklin county, Pa., in the year 1795, her father being Samuel Inglebright, of English ancestry, and her mother, Jane, of Dutch de- scent. In 1842 the parents of our subject came to Franklin county, Ohio, where, after living a year, the father died, August 13, 1843. He was an old-line whig and a member of the Lutheran church. The mother was also a member of the same church, and died in Au- gust, 1854.
Michael Leidy, the third, and the subject of this memoir, spent his early years on the farm, and at the age of seventeen learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed in Penn- sylvania until 1842, when he came west to Franklin county, Ohio. In August of 1840 he was united in marriage to Matilda, daughter of John and Mary (Cobler) Ashway, and to them four children were born, viz: Mrs. Eliza Clarkson, of Paulding county, deceased; Mrs. Mary Donnell, deceased, of Union township (see sketch of William Donnell); William and John, living on part of the homestead. The wife and mother was born in Franklin county, Pa., September 11, 1822, and died November 11, 1867. She was a woman of sterling worth and died a member of the United Brethren church. After locating in Franklin county, in 1842, Mr. Leidy began farming in connection with blacksmithing, continuing m this until 1855, when he came to Jackson township, Putnam county, and here bought a farm of
112 acres, on a part of which he at present lives. On January 1, 1857, while attending dinner services, his house was destroyed by fire, burning the lumber stored for the erection of a new house, and $1, 100 in money. The fire was the work of incendiaries and the rob- bers secured $63 in gold and silver. After this serious misfortune he followed his trade for the next five years, and afterward farmed and blacksmithed, when, on August 6, 1862, he entered, as orderly, company I, Ninety-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, and valiantly served his country two years and nine months, when he was mustered out on account of consolida- tion of troops. He participated in all the bat - tles between Louisville and Atlanta, with but one exception. June 9, 1868, he was married to Mrs. Mary (Barker) Faler, the widow of Henry Faler, and in this union five children. were born, viz: Ella, wife of Edward Holmes, a blacksmith; Melinda Anu, wife of Frank Holmes, of Seneca county; Ida; Bennie and Samuel, deceased. The mother was born in Shelby county, Ohio, October 28, 1841, and is the daughter of Stephen and Mary Barker. In 1855 Mary Barker, the present Mrs. Michael Leidy, was married to Henry Faler, and this union resulted in the birth of four children, viz: Lucinda, of Union City, Ind .; David, of Utica, Ind .; Eliza, wife of William Leidy, and Joseph, in the west. The father of these children, Henry Faler, was born in Logan county, Ohio, January 30, 1833. He was a soldier in the late Civil war and a member of company I, Ninety-sixth regiment Ohio volun- teer infantry, and died in the service, January 11, 1863.
After his second marriage Mr. Leidy took his wife to the farm on which he row lives, which is not his forest home on locating in this county, but a part of the same, and the home- stead is now occupied by his son John. The grandfathers of both Mr. and Mrs. Leidy were
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
in the war of 1812, and their children have apparently inherited the same patriotic spirit in the defense of their country. Mr. Leidy is pre-eminently a self-made man, as he made for himself an honored name, a good home, and a stainless reputation for honesty and in- tegrity, and no citizen of Jackson township stands higher in the estimation of the people than he. He has filled numerous public offi- ces of the township and school district to the satisfaction of all concerned. Both husband and wife are prominent and worthy members of the United Brethren church, in which Mr. Leidy has been class leader and steward. Po- litically he is a republican and of the kind that makes the party better for their support and affiliation.
a ILLIAM LEIDY, who is one of the most prominent and progressive of the young farmers in Jackson town- ship, was born in Franklin county, Ohio, June 9, 1852. His parents were Michael and Matilda (Ashway) Leidy, of whom mention is made in detail above. When quite young his parents moved to a farm in Putnam county, where William learned to farm and attended the common schools. On June 29. 1875, he was married to Eliza, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Barker) Faler. This lady was born in Logan county, Ohio, on April 20, 1858; when but seven years of age her father died and she was bound out to a Mr. Bruner, with whom she lived until she was sixteen years of age, when she returned to the home of her mother, who is now married to Michael Leidy. Here she met Mr. Leidy, her present husband.
After marriage the young couple located where Michael Leidy now lives, but in a year they moved across the river where they re- mained two years. In 1888 they moved onto
a piece of uncleared land, the site of their present home, worked industriously and soon had a place cleared and a modern house erected, and here our subject has ever since continued to improve his farm. Three chil- dren have been born to William Leidy and wife, as follows: Eleanor, born February 28, 1878; Emma Alice, born November 20, 1881, but who died February 25, 1884; and William B., born August 24, 1885. Mr. Leidy is a republican in politics, and in religion is an active member of the United Brethren church, in which he has been steward for several years, and has also held the office of trustee. His wife and daughter are also members of this church, and all three are active workers' in advancing its prosperity. Mr. Leidy is a public-spirited man, a good neighbor, is pro- gressive, and is honored and respected by all who know him. His present prosperous cir- cumstances, as will readily have been per- ceived, are entirely the result of his own industry.
J OHN LEIDY, a brother of William Leidy, whose biography can be found in conjunction with this memoir, is, as will be seen by a persual of that sketchi, a son of Michael and Matilda (Ashway) Leidy, and was born in Franklin county, Ohio, Au- gust 27, 1854. His childhood, however, was passed on his father's farm in Putnam county, where his father had moved, and where, dur- the winter, he attended the common school. The 26th of October, 1879, he married Al- berta Captold, the estimable daughter of Lelah and Isabel M. (Taylor) Barnard; this lady was born in Morrow county, Ohio, Feb- ruary 29, 1860, and died September 11, 1895.
After their marriage John Leidy and wife located in Paulding county, where they lived three years on a farm. In 1882 Mr. Leidy
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returned to Putnam county and lived on a farm in Jackson township one year, and then on his father-in-law's farm in the same town- ship two years, and on another farm two years, and in 1887 moved upon the old home- sread farm, where he now lives and prospers and is respected by all. In politics he is a republican and has held the office of super- visor one year. He is a prominent and suc- cessful young farmer, always progressive and active. To his marriage have been born ten children, as follows: Infant son, deceased; Emma Myrtle, who died when four years old; Michael, born July 9, 1882; Sylvester, who was four months and four days old when he died; Frank Earl, born March 12, 1885; Ola May, born September 4, 1886; Matilda Belle, born December, 1887; Curry Abraham, born June 15, 1889; Annie Elwood, who died, aged eight months; and Chester Ansel, born March 2, 1894. The living children of this family have all been educated in best manner possi- ble, and are to-day a credit to the community in which they live.
ERDINAND LEININGER, of Jack- son township, Putnam county, Ohio, is a man who has had many experi- ences, having served in two wars on two continents. He was born October 5, 1830, in Schwartzburg, Sondershausen, Ger- many. His parents were Adam and Amelia (Levy) Leininger, the former of whom had been born in the same place, and had died eighteen months after his son's birth, who, on his father's death, was taken and reared by Christian and Elizabeth Leininger, his grand- parents. Christian was an office holder for life, serving in a capacity somewhat similar to that of sheriff in this country.
Ferdinand Leininger was educated in Ger- many and was apprenticed to the trade of
ship-carpenter when he was fifteen years old. He worked at this for five years, and in 1851 enlisted in the German army, and for eighteen months served in the Crimean war against Turkey. On peace being declared, he was honorably discharged. He again followed his trade until 1861, when he came to America and enlisted in the Union army, in which he served faithfully three years, and then went into the United States navy, in which he served three more years, and was honorably discharged at Annapolis in July, 1867. In the same year he came to Putnam county, Ohio, and in April, 1868, married Mrs. Phena (Friend) Allemeier (see sketch of Henry Friend), who was born July 18, 1833, in Pennsylvania; her parents were born in Germany. In 1850 she had married Frederick Allemeier, who was born in Germany in 1823, and died in: 1862. To that union there were born six children: Jake and William, carpenters in Fort Jen- nings; Henry, a carpenter living in Illinois; Mary, the wife of H Yuner; Caroline, wife of Otto Naustner, of Spencerville; and Louisa, wife of Frank Lye, of Delphos. After his mar- riage to Mrs. Allemeier, Mr. Leininger settled on the place where he has ever since lived, happy in enjoying a home after the many vicis- situdes of his earlier life as a soldier and sailor. Two sons have been born to him, to lighten and make happy his old age: John, twenty- seven years of age, and Fred, twenty-five years old, both of Jennings township. Politically Mr. Leininger is a republican, and he, with his lovable family, are highly respected mem- bers of the Lutheran church. Since settling here he has followed farming industriously and has been very successful. The habit formed on shipboard of "a place for every- thing and everything in its place," still clings to him, and his farm is neatly kept. He is a well-educated and intelligent citizen, and is held in high esteem by all his associates.
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
EROY J. LEMLEY, a native of Mo- nongalia county, Va. (now West Va.), was born July 10, 1837, and was reared to farming by his parents, of whom fuller mention will be made further on, and with whom he remained until he reached his majority. In the interval between this event and that of his marriage, in the year of 1861, the details of which are given below, he made some money for himself and settled on his newly bought farm. The war of the Re- bellion opened in the year he was wedded, and as he did not care to join the forces marshaled for the defense of the Union, he paid a good round sum for a substitute, though he was at heart a Union man. Nevertheless, every abled-bodied man in the county was enrolled as a. member of the home guard, and Mr. Lem- ley was frequently called to aid in repelling an invasion of his state by the enemy. He lived on the farm he first purchased until 1871, when he came to Riley township, Putnam county, Ohio, and purchased, at first, 160 acres of land, to which he added eighty acres, 210 acres of which are now under cultivation, and this is the farin on which he now lives, and which is improved, as every good farmi should be, with excellent buildings and under drainage. He formerly gave a great deal of attention to stock breeding, but of late years has devoted his attention exclusively to general farming, in the prosecution of which he accu- mulated more wealth than was necessary to defray expenses, and wisely invested his sur- plus in banking, being now vice-president of the People's bank at Columbus Grove. In politics Mr. Lemley is a republican, and as a good citizen has served in several minor town- ship offices, but he has never been an aspirant for political honors.
The parents of L. J. Lemley were Asa and Elizabeth (Evans) Lemley, both natives of Greene county, Pa., but who, after marriage,
removed to West Virginia (then part of Vir- ginia), the removal taking place about the year 1830. The children that came to bless the union of Asa and Elizabeth Lemley were five in number, and were named in order of birth as follows: Martha, who was married to Alford Morris, of Virginia; Lewis, residing on the old - homestead; Leroy, jr., the subject of this sketch; Alexander, farming near the old home, and David, still living on the old home- stead. The mother of this family died in 1874, and the father in 1878, both within the pale of the Methodist Episcopal church.
The first marriage of Leroy J. Lemley, our subject, was with Miss Sarah Layton, daugh- ter of Peter and Catherine (Linning) Layton, of West Virginia, Peter Layton being a tan- ner. The children of Peter and Catherine Layton were seven in number and were named as follows: Susan, who still lives in West Vir- ginia; Abraham, who died in 1867; George, whose death took place in 1858; Lewis, in the queensware business, in Pittsburg, Pa .; Sarah, who became the first wife of our subject; Louisa, married to a Mr. Postlewait, of Mis- souri; and Rebecca, wife of David Core, of Pleasant township, Putnam county, Ohio. To the marriage of our subject with Sarah Layton were born the following children: Two that died in infancy; Alice, wife of William Alkire; Charles, a farmer; Mary and Eliza- beth, yet at home. In 1877, Mrs. Sarah Lemley was called away from her sorrowing husband and children, dying in the faith of the United Brethren church. The second mar- riage of Mr. Lemley took place in 1885, to Miss Abiah Day, daughter of Elam Day, a lawyer of Ottawa, Ohio, who died in 1889, his wife having died in 1880, leaving five chil- dren, viz: Emma, wife of Burt Clippinger; James, a carpenter of Toledo, Ohio; Lewis, of Ottawa; Amos, of Toledo: and Abiah, wife of Mr. Lemley. To this second marriage of
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our subject have been born four children, named Laura, Peter, Mabel and Lewis. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lemley are members of the United Brethren church. and socially stand among the most worthy members of the com- munity.
S. LENHART, ex-county treasurer of Putnam county, Ohio, is one of the leading citizens of Ottawa, and has been prominently identified with the growth and development of the county since the year 1860. Mr. Lenhart was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, February 13, 1837, and is a son of Jacob and Lydia (Sprinkle) Lenhart. These parents were both natives of Lancaster county, Pa., and for many years Jacob Lenhart was a minister of the River Brethren church, to which he devoted the best energies of his life. His house was used as a place of worship, and services were held therein every alternate week for years while he re- sided in Mahoning county, and later his place served the same purpose in the counties of Hancock and Putnam. Jacob and Lydia Len- hart had a large family consisting of sixteen children, two of whom died in infancy; the fol- lowing are the names of those who grew to maturity: Harriet, deceased wife of Jacob Metzler; George, Peter, David and Henry, twins; Catherine, deceased wife of William Green; John; Lydia, wife of Caleb Bckerman; Reuben S .; Martha, wife of John Cartwright; William S. ; Anna, deceased wife of William Green, and Jonas.
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