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 56
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
possessed of superior business and social at- tributes, that have won for him the respect of all his fellow-townsmen.
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J OHN STIRN .- In writing the biogra- phies of the many prosperous and en- terprising farmers of Jackson township, Putnam county, Ohio, who came here in early days and worked hard to make it the country it is, we must not omit that of John Stirn, one of the oldest settlers in Jackson township, who was born in Hessian land, Ger- inany, on February 4, 1831, the son of God- frey and Anna Catherine (Dille) Stirn.
Godfrey Stirn, the father, was born in the same place about 1794, and received the edu- cation usually given to German youths of the day. While working on the farin he learned the weaver's trade, and when arrived at man- hood he served seven years in the army. In 1827 he married Anna Catherine Dille, and their union was blessed with two children: Harry, deceased, and John, the subject of our sketch. In 1834 the father, with his small family, left the fatherland and came to Ameri- ca and settled on a tract of land which he had pre-empted near Fort Jennings. One year after their arrival in their new home the de- voted wife and mother died, mourned and re- spected by all. After remaining a widower awhile, the father married again, and became the father of five children by his second wife: Martha, the deceased wife of Joseph Wanne- macher; Mrs. Mary Gessner, living near Del- phos, Ohio; Gerhardt, deceased; Jacob, now living in Delphos, and Martin, who runs a tile factory in Wetzel, Ohio. The mother of these children died when sixty years of age. Godfrey Stirn lived awhile on his farm and then moved to Fort Jennings; where he lived until 1848, when he entered another tract of land -- this place being near Ottoville-which
was yet a virgin forest, but by patient and persevering work he soon had it cleared and converted into a good farm; he prospered here and was honored and respected by all, holding the office of supervisor for four years. In politics he affiliated with the democratic party. In religious affairs he was a faithful member of the German Reform church, in which he held numerous offices until his death on May 29, 1881.
John Stirn, the subject of our sketch, was reared on the farm near Fort Jennings and at- tended school in that town. On October 4, 1856, he married Anna Elizabeth, daughter of Christopher and Anna E. (Fender) Kriesher, and born in Germany on March 31, 1831; she came to America in 1837 with her parents, who located in Henry county, Ohio, and afterward moved to Putnam county. Her father soon dying, the wife married Frank Kessler. After marriage Mr. Stirn and his young wife located on the farm where he now lives, 120 acres of which he had entered two years before; he now set resolutely to work clearing and im- proving it, undergoing all the hardships and trials which attend the settlement and develop- ment of a new country. Fortune favoring him, he entered forty acres more, and soon was in a position to purchase forty more acres. Neighbors were few and far apart, his nearest one being more than a mile away, and to reach them they had to go through the woods, there being no roads cut out. Having located on this farm in his young manhood, he has never moved since, except to move into his new house, which he built in 1883. On this farm were born all his children, viz: Mary C., born on March 2, 1857, now the wife of J. Ladd of Elm Centre; Annie E., born June 19, 1858, now the wife of Shelby Harris, the gardener of Fort Jennings; Adam Godfrey, born Angnst 8, 1859. now living ou a farm in Jackson township; John Henry, born April 7,
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
1861; Alva, farmer in Jackson township; John Philip, born March 19, 1863, now a farmer in Jackson township; Fanny Lucille, born De- cember 12, 1864, and married to James Clay- pool of Jackson township; Gehardt, born Janu- ary 9, 1867, and died February 21, 1867; George F., born January 22, 1868, and died February 26, 1868; Charles F., born May 20, 1869, died March 21, 1873; Wilhelmina, born January 27, 1872, died February 1, 1874, and William B., born October 5, 1873, and died October 21, 1873. The sons living have set- tled near their father and help to make com- fortable his old age. He still takes a great deal of interest in farming, though doing very little of it himself. Having worked hard in his younger days, he can well afford to rest a little now and enjoy the fruits of a well-spent life. He is liberal and kind to all, and ever has at heart the interest of his family and the neighborhood. In politics he is a democrat, and has held the office of school director and supervisor. His wife and he are prominent members of the German Reform church of Delphos, in which he has held the office of elder for a number of years.
J OHN W. SUMMERS, of Union town- ship, Putnam county, is a son of Will- iam P. Summers, was born in Adrian, Seneca county, Ohio, August 15, 1861, and was but six weeks old when brought to Putnam county by his parents. Here he was well educated, was reared a farmer, and remained on the home place until 1882, when he went to Jackson city, Mich., and for a year was there employed as bookkeeper; at the ex- piration of this term he returned to the home- stead and resumed farming. August 27, 1885, he was united in marriage with Miss Rosa Clevenger, who was born in Putnam county
September 2, 1857, daughter of John and Frances (Long) Clevenger, and on September 1, 1887, this union was blessed by the birth of a child-Mary E.
John Clevenger, father of Mrs Summers, is also a native of Putnam county, and was born April- 21, 1832; he married, in Allen county, Ohio, about 1853, Frances Long, and to this union were born two children; Juliet, wife of David Beam, of Pleasant township, Putnam county, and Rosa, now Mrs. Summers. In politics John Clevenger was a democrat, and in religion a Baptist, in which faith he died February 20, 1858; Mrs. Frances Clevenger died a member of the Lutheran church March II, 1860. After the death of these parents Mrs. Summers lived, until her marriage, with grandmother, Mrs. Sarah Clevenger, one of the pioneers of Putnam county and still living. Several sketches of members of this respecter family will be found in other parts of this volume. After marriage John W. Summer: located on a farm in Union township, and after cultivating the place for five years removed to Kalida, where he was employed for two years by A. Freedman & Co., which firm has since been succeeded by A. L. Cline. Mr. Summers then settled on his present place, which he has thoroughly cleared and improved, and has placed under cultivation. In No. vember, 1894, he was elected by the democratic party, of which he is a stanch member, to the office of county infirmary director, and was in- stalled in January, 1895. He has proven to be a very efficient officer, as might well be ex- pected from a gentlemen of liis superior abili- ties and experience. Mr. Summers is not a member of any church, but is as liberal in his opinions as he is with his purse in aid of churches and all enterprises designed for the public good. A worthy son of a worthy sire, he has filled every duty, public or private, in a manner cred- itable to himself, his ancestry and the public
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
ILLIAM P. SUMMERS, a retired farmer of Union township, Putnam county, Ohio, was born in Kilidy- sart, county Clare, Ireland, April 20, 1823, a son of Thomas and Kate (Qualey) Summers. The father, Thomas Summers, was born in Limerick, near the river Shannon, about 18974, was one of seven brothers and was reared on a large farin-afterward becom- ing a contractor. The father of these seven boys was named Fitzgibbon and was a very wealthy gentleman, but during the rebellion of 1798 his large holdings were confiscated and the seven sons were compelled to flee the coun- try. The father of the subject of this sketch settled in county Clare, changed his name to Sminmers, and about 1821 married Miss Qualey, who was born in 1792, a danghter of John Qualey, and now lives in Dephos, Ohio, with her son, Michael Summers. To Thomas and Kate Summers were born nine children, in the following order: Margaret, (whether liv- ing or dead is not known); William P., our subject; Jolin, a railroad man of Delphos, Ohio; Thomas, who' for twenty-six years has been a stevedore in Liverpool, England; Mary, who died in Liverpool; Kate, who died in in- fancy; an infant son and an infant daughter, deceased; Michael, a merchant at Delphos. The mother and all her survivng children, with the exception of William P., are devont members of the Catholic church, in which faith the father died in 1858.
William P. Summers, at ten years of age. was sent to Rouen, county Clare, Ireland, to act as clerk to a Catholic clergyman and to be educated. There he received an excellent ed- ucation, attending school four consecutive years. After the expiration of about seven years in theological study he absconded, and shipped on board the "Barbara Allen," of Sunderland, England, and apprenticed him- self for five years. After making several
voyages, and being then at Quebec, Can- ada, he broke his engagement, ran away, and for seven days and nights hid on the plains of Abraham and nearly starved to death. He next wandered from place to place abont six years, when he left Kingston, Canada, for Dublin, Ireland, where he passed a week, and while there visited the celebrated Donnybrook fair; he then returned to Limerick, and at the first opportunity shipped for Gibraltar, where he remained nine days, and then sailed for the island of Malta, where he met with some ill treatment, jumped overboard, boarded a trad- ing boat and sought out the British consul, who assisted him; arriving in Liverpool, he shipped on an English sailing vessel, laden with salt, and in three months and six days landed in Charleston, S. C. There he again ran off and shipped on board of an American cotton-laden vessel for Havre, France. He next made two voyages to New York, and then shipped as second mate of a Nova Scotia vessel and held the position eighteen months. His next experience was on board a pilot boat, on which he had both legs and arms broken; four months later, after recov- ery, he shipped for San Francisco, Cal., via Cape Horn, at $5 per month. Thence he started for the mines, penniless, but formed the acquaintance of a German who had pro- visions, etc., and the two together opened a mine and "struck it rich." In 1852, sixty men from the mines chartered a vessel and sailed for Sidney, Australia, where they took team for the mining district, where they worked fourteen days, making $1.65, at a cost, on the part of Mr. Summers, of $700; they then sold out their claim for $100, and started, in great distress, on their return to Sidney, the expe- dition having cost the sixty men a total of $70,000, of which the pro rata of Mr Sum- mers was $1, 800. After a stay of six weeks in Sidney, Mr. Summers shipped again for
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
San Francisco, at the rate of $15 per month. The vessel laid up at Honolulu for nine days and then, after running 1,500 miles, ran out of water and provisions. When almost be- yond help, she was sighted by a Scotch ves- sel, and the famishing passengers and crew were supplied with food and water. From San Fran- cisco Mr. Summers and some comrades made for the mines, and within two months three of them had accumulated $20,000, which they divided equally. About this time Mr. Summers met with an accident which, with sickness, cost him considerable money to recover from. He then returned to the mines, and in one year cleared $5,000. He now united with Hiram lodge, No. 43, A. F. & A. M., at Mud Springs. He then, with $7,000 in cash, started for Mariposa, but stopped at Stockton and shipped for San Francisco, where he reshipped, as third officer, on a vessel bound for New York, but, accidentally breaking an arm and leg, on the voyage, was left for treatment at Norfolk, Va., in 1856, where he lay up for ten days, and then went via Baltimore to New York, where he lay in the city hospital nine days. Being now fully recovered, Mr. Summers made a trip to Ireland, and there, March 15, 1857, married Miss Mary Martin, daughter of John Martin, this union resulting in the birth of nine chil- dren, of whom John W. is a farmer of Union township and county infirmary director; Mrs. Ellen Powell, who for the past fifteen years has been a teacher in the public schools of Ohio; Ann, wife of J. W. Claypool, carpenter of Union township; Hiram, at Ottawa, Ohio; Kate, teacher in public schools; Margaret, teacher at Leipsic. Fifteen days after mar- riage, Mr. Summers and his bride arrived in New York, where they remained ten days, and then came to Ohio, where Mr. Summers bought a tract of land in Seneca county, wrought out a home from the woods, and also worked for a time on the railroad. In 1861, September
6th, he came to Putnam county, and for two year's lived in Kalida and then bought his pres- ent farm, on which he has resided thirty-three years.
In politics a democrat, Mr. Summers was for four years postmaster of Kalida, was town- ship clerk for four years and for seven years a constable. He is not a church member, but is a master Mason of Continental lodge, No. 576, which lodge he originated and was its first worshipful master; he had also been for six years master of the Kalida lodge, and is in all re- spects a very " bright " member of the frareril- ity. Primarily well educated, Mr. Summers has naturally acquired much supplemental knowledge in roaming the world over. He has met with many thrilling adventures, but has now settled down to pass the remainder of his in retirement and ease, and being a very pub- lic-spirited gentleman, in the enjoyment of the honor and respect of all his fellow-citizens.
J OHN H. STRAMAN, attorney and counselor at law, is a native of Ohio, born in the city of Cincinnati, on the 3rd day of July, 1856. His father, Theodore Straman, was born in Osnabruck, Germany, grew to manhood there, and in 1833 iminigrated to the United States, locating at Glandorf, Putnam county, Ohio, where, shortly thereafter, he was united in marriage to a Miss Wehri, also a native of Germany. She sur- vived her marriage sixteen years, and len four children, whose names are Theodore, Sophia, Mary and Louisa, all deceased except the first named, who at this time is a jeweler in Cin- cinnati, Ohio.
Theodore Straman afterward married Miss Anna G. Schulte, who was born in the town of Lorup, Germany, and whose death occurred February 7, 1857, at the age of forty years. She left two children -. William J., a resident
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
of Denver, Colo., and John H., whose name , introduces this biography. Mr. Straman's third marriage was with Miss Anna G. Voss, a native of Glandorf, Germany, who bore him three children: Henry B., Barney J., a farmer of Putnam county, and George R., superin- tendent of the Swift Meat company, Cincin- nati. By occupation, Theodore Straman was a contractor and builder, and was widely known in Cincinnati, where, for many years, he car- ried on an extensive business, His residence in Putnam county was of short duration, as he moved therefrom in 1836, from which year until his death, October 17, 1873, he lived in Cincinnati.
John H. Straman was twelve years of age when he came to Putnam county, and for two years thereafter he lived on a farm as a bound boy, and at the age of fifteen years began ' life for himself, working at whatever his hands found to do. He was variously employed un- til he attained his majority, at which time, on the 7th day of August, 1877, he married Miss Anna G. Reckfelder, daughter of Albert and Anna G. (Kaiser) Reckfelder, of Putnam county. Mr. Straman continued the pursuit of agricult- ure about one year after his marriage, and then entered the high-school of Ottawa for the purpose of preparing himself for the teacher's profession. Subsequently he took a general course in a commercial school at Cincinnati and afterward taught in the public schools of Putnam county for a period of fifteen years, a part of which time was spent as superintend- ent of the schools of Glandorf. In the mean- time, Mr. Straman began the study of law in the office of Haskell & Bailey, and in due time was admitted to the bar and opened an office in Ottawa, where he has since followed the profession with gratifying success. He is essentially a self-made man, acquired his edu- cation by the closest application and most rigid economy, and his life is a notable example of
what may be accomplished in overcoming ad- verse circumstances. Politically Mr. Straman is a democrat and in religion a Roman Catho- lic, to which church Mrs. Straman also be- longs. Mr. and Mrs. Straman's family con- sists of four interesting children: Anna G., who was born May 9, 1878, and who graduated from the Ottawa union high school in May, 1894, and is now a teacher by profession; Mary E., who was born January 10, 1880, and is a graduate of the Glandorf public schools; Catherine A., born September 4, 1882, and Albert H., born May 1, 1884-both of whom now attend school.
A LBERT STUMP, deceased farmer of Union township, Putnam county, Ohio, and a son of Joel and Catherine (Stump) Stump, was born in Picka- way county, June 22, 1818. Joel Stump, the father, was a native of Pennsylvania, and a son of Conrad Stump, who was also born in the Keystone state, of Dutch descent, and an early settler of Pickaway county, Ohio. Joel was reared a farmer and was educated par- tially in Pennsylvania and partially in Ohio; he married, first, Catherine Stump, who bore three children, Polly, Albert (our subject) and Jacob. After the death of his first wife, Joel was united in matrimony with Barbara Hoey, who became the mother of two children, Joel and Peggy -- Joel being the only survivor and living in Picka- way county, of which his mother was a native.
Albert Stump was reared a farmer, and in August, 1843, married Miss Susan Featherolf, who was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, August 31, 1823, a daughter of Benjamin and Hannah (Fink) Featherolf, natives of Penn- sylvania. To the union of Albert and Susan Stump were born nine children, in the order here named; Catherine, who died at the age of two years; Julia A., wife of John Nicklan, a
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
farmer of Auglaize county; Wilson, deceased; William, of Union township, Putnam county; Caroline, the wife of John Sneary, of Darke county; Charles, of Paulding county; Jane, who died in childhood; Albert, on the home farm, and Edward, a farmer of Allen county. 'Ben- jamin Featherolf, father of Mrs. Susan Stump, was a son of Philip Featherolf, also a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent, and an early settler of Pickaway county. Benjamin was reared on a farin in Pennsylvania, was married in that state, and about four years af- ter that event came to Ohio and settled in Pickaway county, where he passed the remain- der of his life, dying a member of the Lutheran church, but his wife being a Presbyterian.
Albert Stump, after marriage, resided in Pickaway county, where the ceremony had taken place, until 1858, when he brought his family to Putnam county, bought a tract of wild land, cleared it from the woods, and lived in an old log cabin until a proper dwell- ing could be erected. He succeeded in develop- ing a fine farin and in acquiring considerable wealth, and became a highly respected and honored citizen. In his earlier days he was a member of the Lutheran church, but later united with the Christian church, becoming a most devoted member and donating to the congregation the land on which the church edifice was erected. about sixteen years since, and of which he was a trustee from the build- ing of the church until he died in the faith, February 22, 1895, deeply mourned by a sor- rowing family and a large circle of devoted friends. In politics he affiliated with the democratic party. His widow has been a Lutheran from her earlier days, and her pions life and ustinted charity plainly show the sincerity of her religious convictions.
Albert Stump, next to the youngest of the children born to our subject and his wife, was born on the home place in Union township,
Putnam county, March 21, 1859, on which he still lives and on which he was reared to farm- ing. September 9, 1883, he married Miss Sadie Davis, who was born in Putnam county, Ohio, September 21, 1863, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Evans, née White) Davis, and to this marriage have been born two children, viz: Mary, December 3, 1884, and Ralph, January 6, 1892. Mrs. Stump, with her hus- band, is a member of the Christian church; her parents were natives of Wales, lived in New York for some years, and were early set- tlers of Franklin county, Ohio, but later came to Putnam county; they now live near Coluni- bus Grove and have another daughter, Mrs. Mary Stump, of Allen county. Albert Stump, Jr., whose name opens this paragraph, was formerly a democrat in politics, but is now an ardent prohibitionist; he is a model larıner, and is much respected as a citizen and neighbor.
ILLIAM R. SUMMERLAND, one of the progressive and successful farmers of Monroe township Put- nam county, Ohio, is one of the self- made men of whom the county is justly proud, and one whose present prosperity is due en- tirely to his persevering industry, sound sense and integrity of purpose. He is of German descent, and his father, William R. Summer- land, was a native of Switzerland, who, soon after coming to this country, settled in New York state. The senior Summerland was here united in marriage to Miss Phebe Clapper, and the young couple, in the early period of their wedded life, removed to Logan county, Ohio, where they made a good farm home and lived during the remainder of their lives. The father died in 1850, and the mother passed away about 1884. They were the parents of six children, their names, in the order of birth, being as follows: Perry (deceased), Thomas
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
(deceased), John, Delilah (deceased), Sarah and William R.
William R. Summerland, our subject, the youngest of the family, was born in Logan county, Ohio, October 18, 1850. He was reared upon the home farm, where his early educational discipline was received at the com- mon schools of that day. He was united in marriage, July 12, 1872, to Miss Samantha E. Pettit, a native of Coshocton county, Ohio, who was born September 27, 1856. She was the daughter of Moses and Sarah (Soverns) Pettit, and granddaughter of Joseph Pettit, who were also natives of Coshocton county, Ohio. Moses and Sarah Pettit were there married, and in 1862 removed to Putnam county, and settled in Blanchard township. Their children are six in number, their names, in order of birth, being: Mary M., Nathaniel, Samantha E., Jasper E., Robert and Catherine.
After the marriage of William and Saman- tha Summerland they settled in Blanchard township, but in 1887 they removed to their present home in the township of Monroe. It was then a new tract of land, consisting of eighty acres, but by dint of hard labor they have cleared it of timber, drained it and made it a most productive farm as well as a very comfortable home. Our subject is in politics a democrat, and as such he takes an intelligent interest in affairs of public import. His whole life has been passed in the honorable calling of agriculture, and in this portion of the county he stands high as a successful and prosperous farmer and as a man among men.
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OBERT SYBERT, a retired farmer of Jackson township, Putnam county, Ohio, was born in Bloomsburg, Co- lumbia county, Pa., October 18, 1844, a son of Barney and Effie (Long) Sybert, also natives of the Keystone state. Barney Sybert
was born in Columbia county in 1807, a son of Elias, a Pennsylvania Dutchman, was reared on a farm, and in 1835 married Effie Long, who was born January 12, 1816, a. daughter of Joseph and Peggy (Detrick) Long, likewise of Pennsylvania birth. To the union of Bar- ney and Effie Sybert was born a family of thir- teen children, as follows: William, June 16, 1837, managing the home farm; George, farmer of Jackson township; Anna Margaret, who died at the age of fourteen years; Clinton, deceased; Robert, whose name heads this paragraph; Henry and Benjamin, of Jackson township; Louisa, wife of John Foley, of Kalida; Alice, wife of Thomas Ord, and Sarah Ann, wife of Ab Conaway, both of Vaughnsville; Lydia, wife of John Downing, of Kalida; Joseph Dan- iel, born January 5, 1859, and Itiram Truman, born March 11, 1862, both still on the home place, to be spoken of again a little further on.
Barney Sybert, after his marriage, engaged in canal boating in Pennsylvania until 1855, when he came to Ohio, remained a year in Champaign county, and in 1856 purchased and began farming a tract of land in Hancock county; in 1857 he came to Putnam county and bought another tract in the wilderness, which he also began to clear, but shortly sold, and purchased an eighty-acre tract of the same description, on which Robert, our subject, now resides and which he owns. Here Barney lived and farmed until his death, which took place in June, 1863, his widow surviving until January 23, 1890. In politics Mr. Sybert was a democrat and held the office of township trustee for two terms; his son George served three years in the late Civil war, and George Long, brother of Mrs. Sybert, was for two years in the same service.
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