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 5
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
age of eighty-five years. His five children were born and named in the following order: Jaines E., William H., Oscar E., Frank P. and Mary E.
William H. Chandler, our subject, was about sixteen years of age when he camne to Put- nam county with his father, and here worked on the old farm until he enlisted at Kalida, un- der Capt. A. V. Rice, in company A, Fifty- seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve three years. With his regiment he took part in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, but on account of disability was furloughed home from April to July, On his return to his regiment he took part in the Yazoo bottom campaign, the expedi- tion to Arkansas Post, worked at digging the canal opposite Vicksburg, was at the siege of Vicksburg, in the fight at Champion's Hill, in the battle of Jackson, Miss., on the Atlanta campaign from Dalton to Jonesboro, was at Dallas, Resaca, Pumpkin Vine Creek, Smoky Creek Gap, Kenesaw Mountain and at the fall of Atlanta, when his term of service expired, and he was mastered out at East Point, Ga., September 11, 1864, receiving an honorable discharge. On his return home Mr Chandler engaged in farming on the old place until Jan- uary 28, 1869, when he married Miss Lydia Brenneman, who was born April 14, 1850, in Perry county, Ohio, a daughter of David and Leah (Stemen) Brenneman. The father, David Brenneman, was a native of Pennsyl- vania, who came with his father, John Bren- neman, to Ohio; he was married in Perry county to Miss Stemen, and soon afterward, about 1852 or 1853, came to Allen county; he here became a prominent farmer, and at his death, February 11, 1868, was able to leave $4,000 to each of his four children, who were named Lydia, Elizabeth, .Catherine and Summuel.
After his marriage, Mr. Chandler lived ou the old Davel Brenneman farm for four years, and then, in 1873, moved to his present farm
of 120 acres, which was then all in the woods. This woodland he has transformed into a fruit- ful field of cereals, and here has laid the foundation on which, being still a young man, he is raising the structure that is destined to culminate in a handsome fortune. To Mr. and Mrs. Chandler have been born three chil- dren-Lucinda, Leah and Orpha Ruth. Of these, Lucinda is married to Joseph Wilson, who is farming forty miles north of Denver, Colo. Mr. and Mrs. Chandler hold meniber- ship with the United Brethren church, mn which Mr. Chandler is a trustee, and socially they mingle with the most respectable people of the neighborhood.
RANK CHANDLER, a thrifty farmer of Jackson township, Putnam county, Ohio, is a son of Truman and Ruth (Gillett) Chandler, and was born in Knox county, Ohio, October 30, 1849. Tru- man Chandler was a native of New York, born May 18, 1808, and a son of Absalom Chand- ler, also a native of New York and of Scotch- Irish descent. Absalom Chandler, who had been a patriot of the Revolutionary war, and also a soldier in the war of 1812, married Polly Woods, and became the father of seven children. Truman Chandler was reared on a farm in New York and in 1838 married Ruth Gillett, a daughter of Russell Gillett; to this union were born six children, as follows: James Edwin, a farmer of Allen county, Ohio; William Henry, farmer of Jennings township, Putnam county; Oscar Edson, of Nebraska; Frank, our subject; a deceased son and Mary Elizabeth (twins) -- the latter the wife of George Schindler, a farmer of Nebraska. Mrs. Chand- ler was a native of Vermont, born November 28, 1818, and died April 30, 1885, a member of the Christian church. In 1842 Truman Chandler came to Ohio, resided in Knox
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county until 1851, then went to Delaware county, where he was engaged in the manu- facture of saleratus until October, 1857, when he came to Putnam county and entered eighty acres of land and bought forty additional acres, making a good farm, on which our subject now lives. In 1880 he retired from active life, and, enjoying the respect of all who knew him, died April 27, 1894.
Frank Chandler, whose name opens this sketch, was reared and educated in Putnam county, and October 2, 1873, married Mary Schindler, daughter of Andrew and Susanne (Thompson) Schindler, the union resulting in the birth of six children, as follows: Francis Truman, born September 30, 1882; Lillie E., December 10, 1884; Hiram Leroy, May 9, 1886; William Artie. August 10, 1888; Annic Elmora, January 20, 1890, and Albert Andrew, March 21, 1892. Mrs. Mary Chandler is a native of Allen county, Ohio, born September 29, 1853, her father being a native of Baden, Germany, and her mother of Carroll county, Ohio. Mrs. Chandler is a member of the Christian church. In politics Mr. Chandler is a democrat; he has been a school director for nine years, and is one of the most highly respected residents of the township. His brother Henry served three years in company A, Fifty-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, thus giving evidence that the family is patriotic as well as progressive, and well deserving of the high esteem in which they are held.
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EORGE COLLERT, one of the best agriculturists of Union township, Put- nam county, Ohio, was born in Ba- varia May 25, 1834. a son of Chris- topher Collert, a native of the same country and fatho of eight children, viz: John, who died in Germany; Charles, who died in Column-
bus, Ohio, about 1860; Margaret, deceased ; Conrad, also deceased; Dorothy, deceased ; Effie, and George, the last named being the subject of this sketch. The father of this family died in 1859.
George Collert, at the age of fourteen years, began working out at farm labor in Germany and followed the calling for six years, when, in 1854, he came to America, and located near Columbus, Ohio, where he was employed as a farm hand for two years, and in other parts of the country for about six years. December 13, 1862, he married Emma Gott, daughter of Charles and Ellen Gott, both natives of England. To this marriage nine children were born, viz: Lucy, wife of I. Harter, of Fostoria, Ohio; Ellen, married to John Havelain, of the same place; Sarah J., who died in 1894, at the age of twenty-five years; Lizzie, wife of George Watterson, of Jackson township, Putnam county; Katherine, now Mrs. Michael Klose, of Union township; May, Cora, George and Charles, all four at home. The mother of these children was born in Lincolnshire, England, April 6, 1842, came to America in 1852 with her parents (who settled in Franklin county, Ohio) and died in Union township July 27, 1892. Her father came to Putnam county in 1862, bonght a farm, and followed the pursuit of agricnl- ture until his death, which took place April 13, 1895.
Mr. Collert, after his marriage, located in Franklin county, Ohio, where he farmed for nearly seven years, and in that space of time accumulated $1,300. In 186; he came to Putnam county and bought his present farm, part of which he has cleared from the woods and made into a comfortable home. He is a member of the Lutheran church, in politics a democrat, and has held several minor offices. He is a good, solid citizen and is greatly re- spected as a self-made man. His daughter,
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Sarah J. (deceased), was also a great favorite with the community and was especially beloved by the bereaved father.
HARLES R. COMER, an enter- prising and rising young farmer of his native township of Jackson, Putnam county, Ohio, was born April 26, 1872, and is a son of John and Mary Louisa (Holden) Comer. The father, John Comer, was born in Pennsylvania in 1819, and was a son of John Comer of old Pennsylvania-Dutch stock. John Comer. the grandfather of Charles R., our subject, came from the Key- stone state, in 1830, to Putnam county, Ohio, and entered a large tract of wild land from the government, on which he erected a log house, established his family, and from that time was identified with the pioneer industries of the township until his death-an honored and truly venerated frontiersman.
John Comer, father of Charles R., was but a boy when he accompanied his father to Put- nam county, and with him endured all the hardships and privations of pioneer life. In 1856 he married Mary 1 .. Holden, who was born in Umon township, Putnam county, March 20, 1837, a daughter of Pearson B. and Samantha (Neisley) Holden, natives of the Buckeye state. To this marriage were born the following children: Priscilla, wite of Ben- jamin Andrews, of Perry township: John, of Michigan; Pearson, of Dupont, Ohio; and Charles R., our subject. Pearson B. Holden, father of Mrs. Comer, was a well-known min- ister of the Christian Union church, and died March 24. 1867; Mis Comer was always a prominent member of the same church, and her death occurred November 7, 1891. After marriage John Comer settled on a farm in Jakson township, when he devoted the re- mainder of his life to agriculture, dying August
16, 1884, in the faith of the Christian chuch, to which he contributed liberally. In politics he was a democrat, and as a farmer he was very successful-clearing up his land and bringing it under an excellent state of cultiva- tion. He belonged to the class of pioneers who have done so much to bring the county out of its primitive condition and convert it into its present enviable state of civilization, and his death was universally lamented by the community.
Charles R. Comer, youngest son of John, last mentioned, was educated in the common schools of his native township, and was reared on the old homestead. March 20, 1894, he married Dottie McClure, daughter of George McClure, and still lives on the old home place, highly respected, and recognized as one of the most enterprising and skillful young far. ers of the township. His integrity has never been impugned, and he has the credit among his neighbors of being as honest as he is indus- trious.
Pearson Comer, an elder brother of Charles R., was born June 19, 1864, was reared on the old home farm and educated in the common schools. August 18, 1858, he married Miss Cornelia Alexander, who was born in Dupont, Ohio, in 1867, a daughter of William and Jane (Worline) Alexander. This union has been blessed by the birth of two children- Hazel and Jason. Mrs. Comer was educated in Dupont, and learned the milliner's trade in Ottawa, and achieved a high reputa- for her skill and taste in that vocation. After marriage Mr. Comer engaged in teaming at Hedges, Panlding county, but soon returned to the home farm in Jackson township, Putnam county, where he resided until 1892, when he moved to his present home in Dupont. In politics he is a stanch democrat, and, like his brother Charles, enjoys the respect of as who know him
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
ILLIAM CONN, a most respectable farmer of Blanchard township, Put- nam county, was born June 4, 1821, in Muskingum county, Ohio. His grandfather, also named William, was of Scotch-Irish extraction and came from Fayette county, Pa., to Ohio, about the year 1800, entered and cleared up a farm in Muskingum county; he had married Sarah Pierce, and with her passed the remainder of life on this homestead. They were the parents of six children, named Thomas, Lydia, George, Peggy, Betsey and Sarah.
Thomas Conn, the eldest son of William and Sarah Con, was born in Pennsylvania about the year 1773 and came to Ohio with his parents. In November, 1812, he settled on the farm his father had entered in Mus- kingum county, which he cultivated until his removal to Putnam county. In September, 1845, he purchased 160 acres in Blanchard township in section 13, and also entered 160 acres in section 12. Half of this tract he gave to his son William, our subject, and the other half he sold; on the first tract be built a dwell- ing, and cleared np a fine farm, on which he lived until 1859, when he retired from active business and passed his declining years in Gilboa, where he died in 1868, a highly hon- ored citizen. He married Annie Coe, and to their union were born ten children, viz: Har- riet, wife of James Patrick; John, deceased; Eliza, now Mrs. William Baxter; William, our subject; Isaac; Rebecca, wife of John P. Conley; Benoni; Mary, now Mrs. V. B. Jolin- son; Thomas B., of Ottawa, Ohio, and Mel- vina, wife of William Cook.
William Con, the third child of Thomas and Annie Conn, was reared a farmer and was educated in the primitive log school house on the frontier of Muskingum county. . In 1845 he came to Putnam county and worked for his brother John, in Blanchard township, until
1850, when his father presented him with a forty-acre tract of land. This land our subject cleared, improved, cultivated and converted into a blooming farm, on which he resided until 1879, when he relinquished agricultural pursuits for a season and retired to Gilboa, where he passed his years in peaceful rest until 1885, when he purchased his present farm of forty acres, partly cleared, the farming instinct being still strong within him. Mr. Conn was and still is a patriot to the core, and in 1864 en- listed in one of the lately raised regiments, Ohio volunteer infantry, and served 100 days, and still votes as he shot, although, before the formation of the republican party, he had been a whig. He married Amanda Haskins, who died in 1887, leaving no offspring. Mr. Conn is a representative citizen, being always fore- most among those engaged in the promotion of projects designed for the public good, and is universally esteemed and honored through- out liis township and county.
PILLIAM MITCHELL COOK, trns- tee of Pleasant township, Putnam county, Ohio, and one of the lead- ing citizens of the township, is a native of Ohio, and was born in Monroe town- ship, Allen township, September 2, 1849. Mr. Cook's father was Stephen Cook, who was born in Richland county, Ohio, April 3, 1819, and was a son of William Cook, a native of Pennsylvania, and one of the early set- tlers of Richland county, Ohio. In his old age he removed to Columbus Grove, where he died.
Stephen Cook came to Monroe township, Allen county, in 1842, settled on land which had been entered by his father, and given to him and his brother. He followed farming and also dealt in stock, buying and shipping cattle and hogs. He was married in Richland
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
county to Amanda Mitchell, who was born in Richland county, Ohio, December 17, 1818, and to them eight children were born, viz: Ann Jerusha and Martha Lucretia (twins) -- Ann J. being deceased, and Martha L. being the wife of Enoch Trumbo, of Monroe town- ship, Allen county; Eunice, deceased; Isabelle Amanda; William Mitchell; Robert Calvin, now living in Richland township, Allen county, Stephen Wright, deceased; Albert Brice, now living on the old homestead in Monroe town- ship, Allen, county. The father died May 22, 1887 and the mother on August 20, 1894. They were both members of the Presbyterian church. William M. Cook was reared on the farm, and attended the district schools, secur- ing a fair education. He remained on the old . home place, until he was twenty-six years of age, except six months he spent in Iowa. On April 6, 1876, he was married to Mary S., daughter of John and Jane (Prouty) Trumbo, and born in Noble county, Ind., Decem- ber 31, 1853. John Trumbo was a native of Pennsylvania, born March 21, 1816, and his wife was born in New. York state June 22, 1863. The father came from Pennsylvania to Richland county, Ohio, and thence to Noble county, Ind., where he died January 8, 1876. The mother came to Ohio with her parents and lived in Richland county until that county was divided, when they lived in Knox. The great- grandfather of Mrs. Cook on her moth- er's side was a Revolutionary soldier and also fought in the Indian wars. Her maternal grandfather lived to be uinety-three years old, which age his wife also lived to reach. Seven children were born to the parents of Mrs Cook, as follows: Edward, deceased; - Uriah, de- ceased-was a Baptist minister and died at the age of forty-six years; Wilhelmina, deceased; Ehzabeth, deceased; james, living on the old homestead in Noble county, Ind; Mrs. Cook, and Rebecca, now the wife of Albert Marshall,
of Allen county Ohio. The mother is still living, making her home with her two daughters, Mrs. Cook and Mrs. Marshall. The parents are Baptists.
Previous to his marriage Mr. Cook pur- chased forty-two acres of land joining the corporate limits of Columbus Grove on the southeast, to which he subsequently added until he owned seventy-three acres, off of which he sold some town lots; now he has sixty- eight acres of as fine farm land as can be found in the county. He has a handsome two-story residence, and a large barn, which was erected in 188r. Mr. Cook has always been a republican in politics. In the spring of 1891 he was elected one of the trustees of Pleasant township for a term of three years, and in the spring of 1894 was re-elected for another term of three years. To Mr. and Mrs. Cook have been born Effie J., January 18, 1877; Thurlow T., November 25, 1878, and died January 1, 1882; Harley S., born Perem- ber 4, 1882; Mary A., October -, 1892, and Wilton M., February 5, 1895. Mr. Cook owns a half-interest in the livery barn now run by William Watkins in Columbus Grove
INOR CORRON, an old reliable and much respected farmer of Blanch- ard township, Putnam county, Ohio, was born October 24, 1818, a son of James and Elizabeth (McDougal) Corron. The paternal grandfather was Robert Corron, and was of Scotch-Irish extraction. The father of Robert Corron, on coming to Amer- ica, located in Rappahannock county, Va. Robert moved to Greenbrier county, where he died, being the father of three sous and two daughters.
James Corron, the father of Minor our subject, was born October 16, 1785, in Rap- pahannock county, Va , served m the west of
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
1812, and passed his life in his native county, dying October 12, 1863, the father of the fol- . lowing children: Rachel, now Mrs. Wash- ington Compton; Alfred, who married Mary Compton; Minor, the subject of this sketch; Presley, who married Anna Hays; Jackson, married to Martha Duke; George, husband of Mary Compton; Elizabeth, wife of George Compton; Polly, now Mrs. William Wellis, and Henley, who married Nancy Remey.
Minor Corron received the ordinary educa- tion of farmer lads and was early inured to the hard labor of the agriculturist, a vocation he has never ceased to follow. About 1839 he Come to Ohio and for five years worked out at farm labor in Warren county; he then moved to Licking county, where he followed the same mode . of life until 1853, when he bought eighty-five acres of land in Blanchard town- ship, Putnam county, to which he subse- quently added, as his means would justify. eighty-four acres. This land he has himself cleared up and improved and converted from a howling wilderness into a fruitful farm that will compare favorably with any in the township.
In his political affiliations Mr. Corron was first a whig, but, with the change of the party lines, fell into the ranks of the republicans, and has filled all the minor offices of the town- ship. He was one of the earlier members of the United Brethren church of the township, and his life has been one of true uprightness, in conformity with its teachings, and he has been honored with the office of trustee in this denomination. Mr. Corron is a representative citizen and is much respected in the com- munity for his steady habits of industry and quiet demeanor. Mr. Corron was joined in matrimony with Elizabeth, daughter of William McDougal, of Rappahannock county, Va., who died in Delaware county, Ohio, after a resi- dence of some years in Blanchard township.
ENRY M. CRAWFIS, the leading events of whose life are herewith set forth, claims the distinction of being the oldest living settler of the eastern part of Putnam county, Ohio, to which he re- moved as long ago as 1831. Mr. Crawfis is descended paternally from German ancestors, and his mother's family were among the early · settlers of western Pennsylvania, locating near the city of Pittsburg, a great many years ago. Nicholas Crawfis, the subject's father, was brought to the United States by his parents, when nine years of age. His father, also named . Nicholas, located on the Potomac river, near the Virginia line, and was, by pro- fession, a school-teacher. Nicholas Crawfis, Jr., had a family consisting of eleven children, several of whom. became widely and favorably known in different parts of Ohio, where they settled in an early day. The oldest member of the family, Otho W., was one of the pio- neers of Putnam county, moving thereto in 1831, and taking an active part in its material development; he served as county commis- sioner for nine years, discharge 1 the duties of county treasurer for four years, and was an honored resident until his death in 1883. The second child, Maria, died a number of years ago; Jacob is also deceased; and Mary Ann, who' married Benjamin Radabaugh, is no longer in the land of the living. The next in order of birth was John Crawfis, who became one of the leading and wealthy farmers of Put- nam county; he gave liberally of his means for the promotion of education, erected what is known as Crawfis college in Fairfield county, also built an educational institution by the same name in Putnam county. and made a liberal gift of $1,000 to the F. & A. M lodge of Ottawa, of which he was an honored mein- ber. The death of this excellent man occur- red in 1880. The following are the names of the other members of the family: Mrs. Eliza
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Guysinger, deceased; Henry M .; Hannah, de- ceased, and Lewis, also deceased.
Henry M. Crawfis first saw the light of day near Lancaster, Fairfield county, Ohio, on the 19th day of March, 1814, and spent his youth- ful years amid the. stirring scenes of the pio- neer period. He remained in his native connty until seventeen years of age, at which time, in company with his elder brother, Otho, he came to what was then the wilder- ness of Putnam county, locating in what is now Blanchard township. For some time after his arrival he was employed by his brother and took, as pay for his services, twenty acres of land, upon which he erected, in 1832, a small cabin, preparing the same for the reception of his mother and other mem- bers of the family who came later. Mr. Crawfis takes much delight in recalling the scenes of his early life in the woods, when neighbors were few and widely separated, and when they had to rely upon wild game and grated corn as the chief articles of food for the funily. His early hardships were many; he worked early and late in order to fit his land for cultivation, and knew not what it was to eat the bread of idleness. His first purchase of land consisted of twenty acres adjoining the place where he settled, and later he purchased other tracts and became the owner of valuable lands in the township of Blanchard.
Mr. Crawfis was married November 15. 1837, to Sarah Ann Galbreth, and one year later he located on a farm consisting of 160 agres about one mile north of Ottawa, upon which he lived for a period of forty-four years and six months. In 1883 he quit the farm and moved to Ottawa, where he has since re- sided. Mr. Crawfis has led a long and useful life and has seen the county of Putnam emerge from a wilderness state to its present position among the advanced counties of northwestern Chio; he has held the office of township
trustee, served as member of the school board, and in every position to which he has been called has proved most efficient and capable. To his marriage referred to above, were born twelve children, only three of whom grew to maturity-Mary, the deceased wife of G. M. Curtiss; Elizabeth, born June 15, 1852, died June 4, 1862; and Eliza J., deceased wife of Dr. William Ernest. Mrs. Sarah Ann Crawfis was the daughter of William and Mary (Morris) Galbreth; she was born in 1818, and departed this life in the year 1862. The sec- ond marriage of Mr. Crawfis was solemnized September 16, 1863, with Mrs Nancy Thropp, widow of Lilburn Thropp. She was born in the year 1817, and was called from the scene of her earthly labors on the 20th day of June, 1892.
ERMAN L. CRAWFIS, one of the firin of Crawfis & Pope, Ottax", is a native of Putnam county, Ohio, born November 22, 1858, in the township of Blanchard. His father was Lewis Nicholas Crawfis, and the maiden name of his mother was Mary A. Henderson. The subject was reared on the home farm and attended the district schools at intervals, until attaimng his majority, at which time he began the pursuit of agriculture upon his own responsibility. In 1884 he purchased a farm of eighty-four acres in Blanchard township. upon which he erected good buildings, and made other improvements, and some years later exchanged this place for a farm in the township of Pleasant, residing upon the latter for a period of three years. In 1891, Mr. Crawfis moved to Ottawa, and en- gaged in the furniture business as successor of Henry Ayers, and continued the trade alone until effecting a co-partnership, in February, 1895, with Benjamm F. Pope, under the firm name of Crawfis & Pope. Messrs. Crawlis &
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