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 38
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J OHN HENRY MILLER, a deceased fariner of Blanchard township, Putnam county, Ohio, was born in Wurtem- berg, Germany, near Stuttgart, about the year 1795, and was reared a gardener. Upon coming to the United States he located in Bloomsburg, Pa., and in 1856 came to Ohio and entered 160 acres of land in section 19, Blanchard township, Putnam county. He had married Mrs. Sophia Cook, nee Egler. a native of Bloomsburg, Pa., and their union was blessed by the birth of one child-Joseph H., who was born on this farm March 11. 1838. John H. Miller died here in 1850, and his re- mains were interred in Poplar Ridge cemetery; his widow was called from earth in 1866, and her remains were buried in the Hmmmen grave- vard. Joseph I. Miller was reared on the home farm on which he was born, and assisted ;
in clearing up as he acquired strength, and in bringing to its present state of cultivation. He was educated in the log school-house of his neighborhood, and acquired a fair knowledge of books. After he had succeeded to the own- ership of the homestead he built the present brick residence and added to the farm until he now owns 204 acres, all of which is finely improved.
Mr. Miller was joined in matrimony, in 1861, with Sarah, a daughter of Jane and Elizabeth Clark, and to this union were born twelve children, of whom eight reached ma- turity, as follows: Mary A., wife of George E. Krush; Elizabeth, wife of Alva Maidiow; John W .; Margery, wife of William Harris; Lucy E., wife of Fred Heffellmyer; James E. ; Clara E., wife of Clayton Hummon, and Jo- seph L. The mother of these children died in 1890, and her loss was a great blow to her husband and surviving children. In poitics Mr. Miller is a democrat, and in 1887 was elected infirmary director, in which capacity he served six years; he also served as township trustee two terms, and was several years on the school board. He has long been a mem- ber of the Lutheran church, in the faith of which his lamented wife was called to rest. He has always been a prominent man in his township, noted for his industry and urbanity, and he is now living in retirement on a well- earned competency.
ENRY MILLER, one of the most enterprising and thriving farmers of Umon township, Putnam county, Ohio, is a son of Joseph and Barbara , Ra- der) Miller, and was born in Auglaize county, Ohio, March 15, 1840. Joseph Miller, the father, was born in Maryland in August, 1784, and was a son ot Venga Miller, a natis . of Germany, who served three years in the army
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
of his native country and at an early date set- tled in Maryland, where he passed the re- mainder of his days. Joseph Miller was a farmer and a carpenter and about 1836 mar- ried Barbara Rader, who was born in Germany, October 7, 1805, and at the age of thirty years came to Ohio with her father, who set- tled in Allen county. To the marriage of Joseph and Barbara were born four children, viz: Mary, born August 20, 1838; Henry, our subject; Louisa, born April 3, 1842, and Bar- bara, November 8, 1846. The father of .this family died about 1846: the mother remarried in 1848 and survived until abont 1883, when she expired at the home of our subject.
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Henry Miller, our subject, was kept in school, in Auglaize county, until fourteen years of age, when he began working out for weekly or monthly wages until his enlistment, in Au- gust, 1862, in company H, Thirty-second Ohio volunteer infantry, serving with his regi- ment at the battles of Champion's Hill and Harper's Ferry. At the latter fight he was wounded in the head, was taken prisoner and confined in hospital two weeks, and after being exchanged was in the siege of Vicksburg, in the Atlanta campaign, in the march to the sea with Sherman, and thence on to Washington, D. C., where he participated in the grand re- view. He was, in fact, in all the numerous engagements in which his regiment took part, was mustered ont at Louisville, Ky., and honor- ably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, July 20, 1865.
The marriage of Mr. Miller took place February 24, 1867, with Miss Ruth A. Watt. laughter of John and Frances (Beckham) Watt. Mrs Miller was born in Auglaize connty March 17, 1845. where she resided un- :il her marriage. Her father was a native of ' Urbana, Ohio, born about 1815. He was 'cared on a farm and in youth came to Aug- aize county, where he married Frances Beck-
ham in 1841 and became the father of two children -- William H., deceased, and Ruth A. (Mrs. Miller). Mrs. Frances Watt died in 1847, and Mr. Watt next married Jane Fischer, and of the two children born to this union, one is living-Sarah, wife of Willis Brackney, a farmer of Auglaize county. Mrs. Jane Watt was also called away by death, and for his third wife Mr. Watt married Susan Clevenger, who bore him three children: James, of Au- glaize county; Allie, wife of Jackson Black, and Margaret, wife of Frank Carter, both, also of Auglaize county. Mrs. Susan Watt dying, Mr Watt married Annis Clevenger, who bore him one child (deceased), and she, her- self, was called from earth in 1887 -- Mr. Watt surviving until April, 1892, when he, also, died, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics a republican.
After marriage Henry Miller, our subject, lived in Auglaize county two years, and in 1870 came to Putnam county and purchased his present farm of eighty acres, then in the deep woods, but now all cleared, cultivated and transformed into one of the neatest and most profitable in the township for its size. In 1887 he displaced his log cabin and erected the comfortable dwelling in which he still lives. To the union of Henry and Ruth A. Miller have been born ten children, viz: Leroy, farmer of Auglaize county; Joseph, at school in Findlay, Ohio; an infant son, deceased; John, a farmer at home; Martha, wife of Dan- iel Hunt, a farmer of Jennings township; an infant daughter, deceased; James, born April 12, 1879; Henry L., born May 4, 1881; Law- rence E., born June 25, 1885, and died Oc- tober 2, 1886, and Ida E., born December 18, 1886. In religion Mr. and Mrs. Miller, with three of their children -Leroy, John and Mar- tha-are members of the United Brethren church. Mr. Miller has been a commumeant for the past thirty years, and for many years a
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trustee, an office which he still holds. In 1892 Mr. Miller made an additional purchase of land in Jennings township, where his daughter now resides. Mr. Miller is an honored and re- spected citizen, and is ever ready to perform his duty as such, never being behind in his aid of any cause calculated to be of any benefit to the township or the county. Politically he is an ardent republican, but has never sought or cared to fill public offices.
J OHN J. MILLER, postmaster and one of the leading business men of Otto- ville, Putnam county, Ohio, in the town- ship of Monterey, was born at Fre- mont, Ohio, April 14, 1854. His father, John Miller, was born in Germany June 14, 1820, and when a young man came to America in 1848, and settled in Sandusky county, Ohio, where he engaged at his trade of tailoring. in the town of Fremont, and was married there. In 1863 he came to Ottoville, Putnam county, bought a farm near the village, is now one of the most prosperous farmers, and owns 240 acres of the best land in the county. His marriage took place in 1853 to Johanna Flatz, who was born in Austria in 1828, and to this union were born seven children, viz: Jolin J., Johanna, Annie, Edward, George, Josephine and Kate. The father of this family is a devoted member of the Catholic church and was most liberal in his contribution to the erection of the splendid edifice of Saint Mary's, at Ottoville.
John J. Miller, the subject of this sketch, was quite well educated in the public schools of Fremont and of Ottoville and Delphos. He was reared a farmer, but his first business en- terprise, outside of agriculture, was in the drain tile business for seven years Next he became one of the proprietors of the Beckman House, in 1890, but a year and a half later
sold out and entered the mercantile trade. In 1895 he was appointed postmaster, under Cleveland's second administration, he being politically a democrat, and he has proven himself to be a most popular and efficient official, as well as an honest one. He has been a member of the town council since its first organization, and served as such until he was elected mayor. He has also served as township clerk a number of years, and was always a warm advocate of pub- lic schools, having been for a long time a member of the board of education. In re- ligion he is a most devoted member of the Catholic church, and no man is more faithful than he in the observance of the duties pertain- ing thereto.
The marriage of Mr. Miller took place at Ottoville, August 28. 1879, with Miss Mar- garet Laner, who was born in the province of Alsace-Lorraine, in 1855, a daughter of Alex- ander and Elizabeth Lauer, and to this happy marriage six children have been born, named as follows: Elizabeth, Alexander, Mary, Eddie, Katie and Maggie. Mr. Miller is one of the most substantial citizens of Ottoville and owns his business establishment and other property in the city. He has been foremost in all pub- lic enterprises and has never been lacking in his aid to all projects that tend to the public good. His aid to the building of Saint Mary's church was nowise a weak one and his carriage through life has been such as to win the re- spect and esteem of all who know him either in private or public associations.
ON. JOHN J. MOORE, eminent as jurist and judge, has been a resident of Putnam county since 1866, and is one of the most widely knowa and successful attorneys of northwestern Ohio.
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
Judge Moore is descended paternally from Scotch-Irish ancestry. According to the most reliable information, his grandfather, James Moore, appears to have been born in the north- ern part of the Emerald Isle. When a young man James Moore came to the United States and located in Westmoreland county, Pa., where he engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. He served under Wayne during that general's celebrated campaign against the Indians, and saw much of military life on the frontier dur- ing the early history of Ohio. He married in his native state, and became the father of seven children, whose names were as follows: James (the subject's father ;. Alexander, William, Jo- seph, Robert, Jane (married John Hepburn), and Sarah (wife of Eli Miller), all of whom left families which are scattered throughout the country.
James Moore, the judge's father, grew to manhood in Pennsylvania, but came to Ohio i. 1825, settling in the county of Trumbull, where he married Margaret Johnston, who came with her parents to the Buckeye state as early as 1811 .. The parents of Mrs. Moore were John and Margaret (Robinson) Johnston, both of Scotch-Irish descent, but natives of Pennsylvania. James Moore, was for many years a man of prominence in the community where he resided, and represented his county in the state legislature in 1849. He was a democrat in politics, and while in the legislature was a leader of his party, and promoted much important legislation. He was a man of more than ordinary intellectual abilities, a great reader of the best hiterature, a deep thinker, and did much as an adviser for his many neighbors and friends. James and Margaret Moore had a family of six children, two sons and four daughters, viz: Elizabeth, wife of Rodney Orr, of Mahoning county; Margaret. who died in early life; Mary J. deceased wife of Deforma Thurston; Sarah, deceased
wife of George Gilmore; James, who died in childhood, and John J., the immediate sub- ject of this biography.
Judge Moore was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, now a part of the county of Mahoning, August 3, 1835, and was educated in the com- mon schools and at Mount Union college. He early began the study of law, under the able instruction of Hon. S. W. Gilson, of Canfield, Mahoning county, was admitted to the bar in 1863, and immediately thereafter effected a copartnership in the practice with his pre- ceptor, with whom he was associated until 1866. In the latter year Mr. Moore located at Ottawa and entered into a partnership with C. J. Swan, under the name of Swan & Moore, a firm which continued until Mr Moore's elec- tion to the common pleas bench, in the fall of 1878. In the meantime he built up a large and lucrative practice in the courts of Putnam and counties adjoining, and earned the reputa- tion of one of the ablest and most successful attorneys of northwestern Ohio. Mr. Moore held the office of common pleas judge from 1878 until 1884, at which time he was elected judge of the third judicial circuit, which at that time comprised nineteen counties, but later was reduced to sixteen. Judge Moore's judi- cial career was eminently honorable and satis- factory, and as a judge he was the peer of any in the state. While on the bench he tried many important cases, in which his legal acumen, impartial rulings and thorough knowl- edge of the law earned him a widespread rep- utation, and but few of his decisions suffered reversal at the hands of the supreme court. Among the noted cases tried in his court was that of R. K. Scott, for the murder of young Drury, and Wesley Johnson, for the murder of the Williams family, the latter of which was one of the most cruel murders ever perpetrated in the state of Ohio. As a lawyer, Judge Moore is clear and methodical, manages his
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cases with consummate skill, is honorable in his treatment of opposing counsel, and never stoops to disreputable practices. He has been a member of the State Bar association ever since its organization, and in 1889 was elected president of that honorable and dignified body. In 1869 Judge Moore was appointed to fill the unexpired term in the state legislature of H. W. Boehmer, and in 1872 was elected a rep- resentative from Putnam county. His career as a legislator was replete with duty well per- formed, and while a member of that body he acquitted himself with satisfaction to his con- stituency. In politics he has always affiliated with the democratic party, and has been chosen delegate, at different times, to county, con- gressional and state conventions. Fraternally, he is a member of the F. & A. M., in which he is highly esteemed. The judge is identified with the mercantile interests of Ottawa, being a member of the clothing firm of Moore & Moore, the business at this time being person- ally conducted by the judge's son, Gilson H. Moore. Judge Moore was married in Mahon- ing county, in 1859, to Elizabeth C Patterson, daughter of Hugh and Anna (VanEtten) Pat- terson, a union blessed with the birth of two children-Gilson H., who, as above stated, is a business man of Ottawa, and Douglass E., whose death occurred in 1869, when he was eight years of age.
LFRED MORRIS, who is descended from a family the members of which were noted for their intelligence, re- finement and excellent capabilities, has inherited these traits to a remarkable de- gree, and to-day he stands as a representative citizen of Continental, Ohio, being counted as one of her bustling business men and an influ- ential and honored citizen of the town. He is the proprietor of a saw-mill and planing-
mill, and does a large business in hard and soft lumber (rough and planed), lime, lath, shingles, etc., the institution being counted as one of the leading industries of the place.
Alfred Morris, our subject, is of Welsh de- scent, his paternal grandfather, Henry Morris, being a native of Pennsylvania, where he mar- ried Miss Margaret Weaver, of Philadelphia. They came to Ohio in 1842, settling in Allen county, where they entered new land from the government and developed it into a fine 200- acre farm. It was in an early day, with Indians still on the trail, and for four months the wife never saw the face of a white woman. For many years the grandfather engaged in suc- cessful ministerial work, being of the Regular Baptist church, his field of labor lying in this and surrounding counties. He was one of the leading men of the day and an authority in all matters of importance in that section. Politically he was a Jacksonian democrat, and was elected as the first probate judge of Allen county.
Joseph Morris, our subject's father, was born in Allen county, where he was reared upon a farm. He received a liberal education for those days, and taught school successfully for many years. In 1861, after pursuing a course of study in medicine and surgery, he graduated with honor from the medical de- partment of that noble institution of learning, the university of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and located at his old heme, where he practiced for ten years. Then he purchased a small farin one mile from Columbus Grove, and afterward removed to the city. He was emi- nently successful in his profession and busi- ness, and accumulated a large property, all the result of his own efforts. In politics he was a democrat, but devoted his time to his profession, family and business. He was united in marriage, about 1860, to Miss Sarah Smith, daughter of James and Mary Smith.
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
She was a noble christian woman and a devout member of the Christian church. Her death occurred July 14, 1875. Later the father married Miss Diana Seitz, of Fairfield county, Ohio, and to them two children were born --- Robert D. and Elizabeth.
Alfred Morris, om subject, was born in Allen county, Ohio, October 1, 1862, He lived upon the home farm until he had at- tained the age of sixteen years, and received a good education in the schools of Columbus Grove. Before he had reached his majority his father engaged in contracting and building macadamized roads, making our subject his foreman and superintendent, in which position he developed an excellent business capacity and a general knowledge of affairs. After- ward, our subject entered a machine shop at Lima as an apprentice, but after six months it became apparent that his health would not permit of such occupation. He now engaged in the saw-mill business at Randolph, Mo., for one year, then in the ice business at Columbus Grove for one year. After this he purchased a farm and lived thereon for four years, and after this engaged in the saw-mill business at Rimer, Ohio, for a similar length of time. In 1892 he came to Continental, where he has since done an extensive business. His plant is valued at $3, 300, and besides, he owns vari- ons pieces of village property. Connected with his business is the Nickle Plate stock yard, which he controls and operates, and he also deals extensively in coal. He has made the major portion of his possessions himself by energetic and honorable business methods. Lui polities he is a republican, and has held the office of city clerk, and is a member of the school board. He has officiated as superin- tendent of the Sabbath-school, is at present a teacher, and has aided most liberally in the erection of the United Brethren church at Continent d, of which society he and his wife
1
are members, as also they are of the Good Templars' lodge.
He was united in marriage, January 1, 1884, to Miss Maggie A. Billheimer, who was born in Putnam county, she being the daugh- ter of Joseph and Loraine (Beardsley) Bill- heimer, who were early pioneers of the county and who lived to become leading agriculturists of the section. Mr. Billheimer was a strong republican, and both were prominent members of the United Brethren church Four chil- dren have been born to onr subject and his wife, they being, in order of birth, Joseph, Clarence A., Glaydus, and Homer. They form a happy circle and take great comfort in their home.
3 ACOB CROUSE MYERS, one of the leading farmers and citizens of Perry township, Putnam county, Ohio, was born in Putnam county, January 11, 1839, on the farm on which he now lives and owns, and is a son of Peter and Anna (Crouse) Myers. Michael Myers, the great-grandfather of our subject, was born in Germany and there married; he later came to America and settled in Maryland, being among the early settlers, and here he spent his life on a farm. His son, John Myers, was married to Mary Dillon, of English ancestry, but who had been reared by German Mennonites. After marriage he set- tled in Washington county, Md., and became a very wealthy distiller, and very prominent in public affairs of his county. He was an old-line whig, and during the famous whisky rebellion he espoused the cause of the govern- ment. Both he and his wife were members of the Mennonite church, and to them were born thirteen children: Elizabeth, the wife of Chris- tian Shenk; Abraham, who die i in California : John; Samuel (see sketch); Jacob; Maria, the wife of Christian Skenk; Peter, born October
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
16, 1800, the father of the subject of our sketch ; Anna, the wife of John Stauffer; Joseph; Bar- bara, married to Henry Shenk; Christian, of Maryland; Henry N., and Fannie, the wife of Jonas Shenk. The father died about 1841.
Peter Myers was given an education in the common schools of Maryland, and when grown to young manhood learned the blacksmith's trade. On January 12, 1833, at Lamberts- ville, N. J., he married Mrs. Anna (Crouse) Whiting, who was born in New Jersey on June 14, 1798, had been married on June 20, 1819, to Nathan Whiting, and was the mother of six children by this first marriage, viz: Charlotte. deceased; Mrs. Mary Cooley, of New Jersey; Mrs. Hannah Harmon, of Oakwood, and three children who died in infancy. After his mar- riage Mr. Myers followed his trade at Lamb- ertsville, N. J., until 1835, when he came to Putnam county, Ohio, and settled on the site of the present homestead, where one Kendall had secured control of a section of land on which he laid out a town and called it Fran- conia; formerly a post-office called Forest Grove, had been at that place. Here he erected a two-story frame building 26x36 feet, which was considered very large and fine in those days; in this building he kept an inn, and from 1850 to 1865 was postmaster. He was a member of the whig party until the re- publican party was organized, when he joined it and became an active worker in it. He was very prominent in all public affairs of the com- munity and for twelve years was justice of the peace. He also held several other offices, holding that of township trustee for several terms and that of land appraiser in 1860. Death called him away on August 9, 1879, his wife having died in 1860 -- both members of the Mennonite church. Their children were hve in unmber, viz: Anna E., widow of War- ren Lee, of Oakwood; John W, a soldier of the Seventh Kansas cavalry; Thomas, who
was killed at Independence, Mo., November 9, 1861; Peter, who died in infancy, and Jacob Crouse.
Jacob Crouse Myers was reared on the farm where he now lives and was educated m the common schools. In June of 1862 he enlisted in company C, Eighty-seventh Ohio volun- teer infantry, and after four months' services was captured by the enemy and paroled at Harper's Ferry, Md. Here turned home, and, after being exchanged, he re-enlisted in Janu- ary, 1864. in company L, Second Ohio heavy artillery, in which he served until the close of the war, most of the time on garrison duty in Tennessee. On August 29, 1865, he was hon- orably discharged at Nashville, Tenn. He immediately returned home and resumed farm- ing during the summer months and during the winters for seven terms he taught school in Putnam county. On March 17, 1872, he mar- ried Frances, the daughter of Dr. Zachariah and Susan (Jemison) Metcalfe, of Delphos, Ohio; to them two children were born: Florence, the wife of Ed. Beck, of Dupont, and an in- fant, Charles A., who died with the mother, March 17, 1875. On January 9, 1876, Mr. Myers married Maggie D. Wilcox, who was born in Kalida August 8, 1856, a daughter of Richard and Diana (Whiters) Wilcox, her father being a native of England, who came to America when twenty-one years of age. He was a tanner by trade, but tanght school at times. The mother was of Welsh descent.
In 1865 Mr. Myers purchased the fann on which he was reared. After marriage he took his wife there and since then they have pros- pered, and five children have been born to them, viz: Laura B., born February 20, 1877; Morton P., born July 13, 1878; Daisy, born June to, 1881, John C., born Janmary 22, 1885, and Warren, born October 24, 1893. To this farm Mr. Myers has added until now he has 190 acres, most of which is cleared and
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MRS. MARGARET MYERS.
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
under a fine state of cultivation. In politics he is a republican, and cast his first vote for Abra- ham Lincoln. He served as constable for seven years, and as notary public for fifteen years. Since 1891 he has been pension attor- ney and is a member of the Wisor post, No. 93, G. A. R., of Dupont, of which he has three times been commander. His wife is president of the Women's Relief corps. Mr. Myers is an excellent and successful farmer, and an npright, public-spirited citizen, and is honored and respected by all who know him.
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