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 57
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Robert Sybert, whose name opens this bi- ographical record, was reared to agricultural pursuits, and January 13, 1866 married Lu- cretia Wallon, who was born in Jennings town-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
ship, Putnam county, Ohio, September 17, 1851, a daughter of Isaac and Margaret (Keller) Wallon, Margaret being a native of Germany, who, after the death of Mr. Wallon, in 1853, was several years later married to Arthur Car- ter, of Jackson township, and is still living. To the union of Robert and Lucretia Sybert have been born twelve children, as follows: Ida, wife of O. Feathers, of Jackson township; Elizabeth, who died at two and one-half years of age; Robert Clinton, farmer of Jackson township; William Benjamin, farmer at home; John H., Lncinda Ann, Mary Ruth, Clara Etta, Barney, Dollie, and twin sisters-Lesta Lena and Lena Lesta. After his marriage Mr. Sybert settled on his present place, where he bas successfully carried on farming, saw-milling and threshing for about thirty-five years, but, his health having failed some years since, he has retired from manual labor, yet still keeps an active supervision over the work. In poli- tics Mr. Sybert is a democrat and has served as school director, and is regarded as one of the most industrious, enterprising and upright citizens of Jackson township.
William, Joseph Daniel and Hiram Tru- inan Sybert, brothers of Barney, are all good farmers and live together on the home place in Jackson township, where the younger two were born, William, the elder, having been born in Bloomsburg, Columbia county, Pa., June 16, 1837, where he was reared on the farm, but worked at boating with his father and was engaged with him in all his other pur- suits-moving with him to Champaign county, Ohio, in 1855, to Hancock county in 1856, and coming to Putnam county m 1857, where he helped to clear up this farm, and, after his father's death, assumed charge of the entire business; he is a democrat in politics and now holds the office of township supervisor. Joseph Daniel Sybert was born, as intimated, on this farm, January 5, 1859, received a good educa-
tion, and is an excellent business man and fariner, as well as a stanch democrat. Hiram Truman, the youngest of the brothers, was born on this farm March 17, 1862, and is a rising and popular young citizen.
e VAN D. THOMAS, a native of Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, Ohio, and one of the most enterprising and prominent farmers of the locality, was born December 14, 1844, and is a son of Daniel and Margaret (Lewis) Thomas, natives of Wales. These parents came to America in 1841, lived about one year in Licking county, Ohio, and then came to Putnam county, and here the father entered land in Sugar Creek township, but did not live long to enjoy its possession, as he was called away Jume 2, 1 48, a member of the Congregational church. There were born to Daniel and Margaret Thomas two children -- the elder of whom, William L., was born December 3, 1841, and died July 14, 1868, unmarried, and the younger is Evan D., our subject. After the death of Daniel Thomas, his widow, in 1849, married Richard Roberts, also a native of Wales, who came to America in 1841 or 1842, bought school land in Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, Ohio, improved a farm, and died August 8, 1856, leaving with his widow one child-Anne E., now the wife of R. N. Jones, a native of Allen county, Ohio, and also of Welsh descent; this danghter and her husband are now living on the homestead with her ven- erable mother, who has now reached the ripe age of about eighty years.
Evan D. Thomas, whose name opens this article, was in the natural course of affairs reared to farming pursuits and was educated in the common school of Ins district. After the death of both his father and his step-father he and his brother, William L., assumed charge
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
of the homestead and together cultivated it in the. interest of all concerned as long as the brother lived, and then he, alone, managed the place until his own marriage, which im- portant event took place October 21, 1880. with Miss Martha H. Jones, a native of Allen county, Ohio, and a daughter of Daniel D. and Martha E. Jones, natives of Wales. In 1881, Mr. Thomas built for himself a house on eighty acres of land adjoining the farm owned by his mother, which he had purchased in 1863, and here he at once began housekeep- ing on his own account. To this original pur- chase of eighty acres Mr. Thomas has con- tinued to add until his farm now comprises 418 acres, a large part of which is in a fine state of cultivation, and the premises as a whole will be found hard to match by any other farm of like dimensions in the county. Here, also, the marriage of Mr. Thomas with Miss Jones has been blessed by the birth of two children, viz: Daniel W., who was born September 12, 1891, and died March 1, 1893, and Margaret G., born May 25, 1884. The parents of Mrs. Thomas came to America in 1840, were mar- ried in Cincinnati, Ohio, whence they came direct to Allen county, where Daniel D. Jones entered a tract of land which he cultivated un- til his death, in 1862. He was a republican in politics, a Congregationalist in religion, and reared a family of seven children, all living, with the exception of one.
In politics Mr. Thomas is a democrat, has held the office of township trustee and some of the ininor township offices, but has no desire for public position of any kind. With his wife lie is a member of the Congregational church, and his daily deportment shows the sincerity of his belief in its teachings. He has exhib- ited more than ordinary financial ability, pos- sesses a quick perception and an extraordinar- ily retentive memory. He has never had a dread of hard labor, and his success in life has
been phenomenal. With a small capital de- rived from the parental estate he made his start in business and has risen to be what may be called one of the financial kings of his township. He has money to loan, and always treats his patrons with the utmost consider- ation, demanding but a small interest and al- lowing them to retain the principal as long as they will-and it is a remarkable fact, that those who have the most transactions with him are those who speak of him in the kindest terms.
J OSEPH THOME, of the firm of Thome & Co., hardware merchants of Glan- dorf, Putnam county, Ohio, is a wide- awake and successful young business man, and is a native of the place, born Oc- tober 1, 1864, a son of Nicholas and Agatha (Buckhold) Thome. Nicholas Thome was a native of Germany, was a wagon-maker by trade, and came to America a young man of twenty-two years and for a short time lived in Seneca county, Ohio, whence he came to Put- nam county, about the year 1853, and here established a wagon-making business, which he conducted until his death, which occurred in the seventy-second year of his age, in 1884. He was a democrat in politics, and a Catholic in religion, and had a family of nine children, viz: John, born in August, 1854, died Feb- ruary 12, 1883; Veronica, born November 7, 1856, and now the wife of Joseph Nienberg, of Glandorf; Frank, born January 8, 1859, a shoemaker of Ottawa; Mary, born October 11, 1862, a milliner of Glandorf; Joseph, subject of this sketch; Filemena, born September 30, 1867, and now the wife of Harmon Kolken- ineyer of Glandorf; Magdalena, born July 22, 1871; Amelia, and Bertha, twins, born May 3, 1874, the last three living in Glandorf
Joseph Thome was educated in his native
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
538
town, and at the age of eleven years began work on a farm, continuing at this kind of labor until he was twenty years of age, when he went to learn the tinning trade with Mr. Nienberg, for whom he worked six years, and then, in 1890, became his partner, under the firin name of Joseph Thome & Co. In 1892 they erected their present fine brick business room, and in 1893 put in a full line of hard- ware in connection with their tinware business. They carry a well assorted stock of heavy shelf hardware, stoves; tinware, paints, oils, agricultural implements, etc., and have the only establishment of the kind in Glandorf. The concern is under the immediate super- vision of Mr. Thome, whose honest dealing and accommodating courtesy have won the firm hosts of patrons.
Mr. Thome was united in marriage August 19, 1890, to Miss Anna Hoffinan, who was born in Glandorf April 18, 1870, a daughter of William F. and Clara (Schroeder) Hoffman. To this happy union have been born three chil- dren, as follows: Albert, July 18, 1891; Wal- ter, December 10, 1892, and Clarence, Jan- mary 10, 1895. The parents are members of the Saint John's Catholic church at Glandorf. Mr. Thome is a director and stock holder in the Glandorf Building & Loan association-a company that has been of inestimable benefit to the citizens. In politics he is a stanch democrat.
ON. THOMAS J. SWEENEY, the efficient and popular mayor of Otta- wa, is a native of West Virginia, and son of James and Mary J. (Redmond) Sweeney, both of whom were born in the north of Ireland. James and Mary J. Sweeney came to the United States in their youth, were married in Philadelphia, Pa., and in 1836 became residents of West Virginia; they
had a family of ten children, three of whom died in infancy, and the rest grew to maturity. The oldest member of the family living is Margaret G., who resides in the city of Otta- wa, Ohio. James W. Sweeney, the second in order of birth, served as major in the Con- federate army and participated in a number of battles, receiving, during his period of service, eighteen wounds. He was a popular officer, was never known to mistreat or abuse prison- ers who fell into his hands, and at the close of the war was warmly welcomed at his old home, by both Union and non-Union men. He was a man of daring, met with many adventures during his life, and took part with Walker in the celebrated Nicaragna expedition where he came very nearly losing his life. His death occurred in Ottawa, in March, 1883. The next member of the family was Robert I. , also deceased; he served in the Confederate army and by profession was a lawyer. The names of the other children, beside our subject, are Sarah C., wife of Joshua Russell; Mary J., who resides with the subject in Ottawa, and Lucy A., wife of O. B. Ramey.
Hon. Thomas J. Sweeney is the seventh child of his parents, and was born in the city of Wheeling, on the 15th day of February 1851. He attended the schools of his native city for some years, and afterward assisted his father, who was a well known manufacturer of glass and iron. Mr. Sweeney came to Ottawa, Ohio, in 1882, as assistant to his brother-in- law, O. B. Ramey, in the mercantile business, with which branch of trade he was identified until the aforesaid gentleman disposed of his establishment. Since severing his correction with merchandising, Mr. Sweeney has given his attention to his own affairs, having been varionsly engaged until his election, m 1890, to the office of mayor. So well did he dis- charge his official duties that he has been honored by a third term, a fact which attests
Thy Sureney
--
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
his popularity with the democratic party, to which he belongs, and also with the public in general. Mr.Sweeney is a progressive man, broad minded, and has the best interests of the city at heart. He is affable, courteous and kind, and his integrity and worth have made him many friends, and he enjoys, in a marked degree, the good will of the people of his adopted city. Before leaving his native state he served as commissioner of Ohio county, W. Va., which position he resigned in order to become a resident of Ottawa. He belongs to a family of extensive manufacturers of both iron and glass, and a number of his immediate relations have accumulated great wealth in Virginia and eastern Ohio.
J OHN TROYER, a prominent citizen and fariner of Dupont, Perry township, Putnam county, Ohio, is a son of Henry and Catherine (Burkhardt) Troyer. The father was born in Cambria county, Pa., in the year 1803, and his father (grandfather of our subject), Henry Troyer, attained the great age of 104 years. He was a farmer and hunter, and much of his long and eventful life was spent in the open air -- in field and forest. His wife was a Miss Kaufman, and to them four boys were born, the father of John Troyer, onr subject, being the third son; David is at this writing (1895) living in Michigan at the age of ninety-three, and Peter is in Oregon; the other is deceased. The father of these children, politically, was identified with the democratic party and was ever true to his allegiance. He lived with his youngest son a number of years in Putnam county, but died in Holmes county, Ohio.
Henry Troyer, the father of our subject, was reared on the farm in Pennslvania, near the site of Johnstown, where he received his education, and when quite a young man came
to Holmes county, Ohio, with his parents, where, about the year 1832, he was married to Catherine Burkhardt, a daughter of John and Mary Magdalene Burkhardt, to whom ten chil- dren were born, viz: John, the eldest, the sub- ject of this sketch; Levi, a farmer of Dupont, Joseph, deceased in infancy: Jacob, who died in Indiana; Mattie, wife of John Shondel, de- ceased; Daniel, died in Libby prison, a mein- ber of the Ninety-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, in which he served a year and a half, his suffering and imprisonment lasting nine months; Andrew J., whose biography follows this sketch: Henry of Indiana; David, also of the Hoosier state, and George, of Paulding county, Ohio. The wife and mother was born in the Old Dominion and was an early pioneer of Holmes county. Her father was a whig politically and a Lutheran in religious faith, but in his later years a Dunkard. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 and enjoyed all the luxuries of warfare, among them the privilege of shaving and making his toilet with- out a looking glass. His death occurred in Paulding county, Ohio. After the marriage of the father of our subject, he lived in Holmes county for seven years and in 1840 came to Putnam county in wagons, camping for six weeks while a party of men went on to Indi- ana to look around, and on their return in May his grandfather bought 147 acres of land entirely unbroken in Greensburg township, which our subject now owns. The mother of John Troyer (our subject) died at the age of forty-five years in 1855, and in 1857 the hus- band married Mrs. Rachael (Schaeffer, Hos- kins, and to this marriage three children were born, as follows: James, of Palmer township; Lncinda, wife of Israel Guy, of Indiana, and Sarah, wife of Henry Barkmeir of Henry county. The mother still lives and resides in Palmer township. The father farmed and im- proved the place, making a pleasant and com-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
fortable home for his family. He died in 1885, the Dunkard church losing a faithful member, and the democratic party of his county sus- taining the loss of an honest and conscientious voter. His education was limited, but such as he had he used "to good and useful pur- poses. His son Jacob served three months in the war and was a true soldier during his brief term of service.
John Trover was born in Holmes county, Ohio, June 1, 1834. His life was spent on the farmi and his education acquired in the schools of the county. March 20, 1859, he was mar- ried to Louisa Bair, daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Callinger) Bair, and to this union four children have been born and named as follows: Mary Elizabeth, now at home; Dan- iel W., living in Monroe township; John Abra- ham, lives one mile from Dupont, and William Sherman resides on the home place. Louisa Bair was born in Seneca county, Ohio, July 15, 1839, her parents coming from Pennsyl- vania to this county at an early day. Her sisters are Elizabeth, wife of M. Shank, de- ceased, and Catherine, wife of Joshua Timons of Dupont. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Troyer located in Greensburg township, where he purchased forty acres of land, re- maiuing here until 1865, when he sold this place and bought 100 acres in Perry township, where they now live, having made one of the best farms in the county, to which he has added ako acres, and owns in Perry and Monroe townships two farms of seventy and eighty acres each. In 1881 Mr. Troyer erected a com- modious barn, and in 1888 built a handsome house and surrounded himself with all of the luxuries and convenience of modern tarin life. Mr. Troyer is a man of marked ability-an up- to-date farmer and stock raiser; progressive in h's views and wide and liberal in opinion; never backward iu doing his share of whatever needs be done for the good or welfare of the
neighborhood, township or county. He served one term as trustee of his township, but does not especially aspire to public office. Politic- ally he is a stanch republican, and can always be found at his post of duty. Mr. Troyer is a man who bears the respect of all. who claim his acquaintance and is esteemed as a solid, thoroughgoing, substantial citizen.
A NDREW J. TROYER, an exception- ally good farmer, now residing in Perry township, Putnam county, Ohio, is a native of the county, and was born October 23, 1846, a son of Henry and Catherine (Burkhardt) Troyer. The father, Henry, was of good old Dutch stock and was born in Pennsylvania about the year 1801, his father, Henry, having been one of the early settlers of the Keystone state, where he was a fariner, blacksmith, and a noted huntsman. Henry, Jr., was married, probably in 1830, in in Holmes county, Ohio, and had born to him ten children, viz: John and Levi, farmers of Perry township; Joseph and Jacob, twins, of whom the former died in infancy, and the latter in 1891; Mary M., the deceased wife o: John Shondel of Ottawa; Daniel, a member of the Ninety-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, who died in Andersonville prison, having been taken a prisoner of war while serving in defense of his country's flag; Andrew J., whose name opens this sketch; Henry, of Marion, Ind. ; Dh. d, of the same place, and George W., of Paulding county, Ohio. The mother of these children was born in 1806 and died in 1855, and by a second wife, Mrs. Rachael Hoskins, Mr Troyer had born three children: James M., of Pahner township, Putnam county; Lucinda, wife of Isaac Guy, of Indiana, and Sarah, married to Henry Barkmire, of Henry county, Ohio. After his first marriage Mr. Troyer lived on a farm in Holmes county, Ohio, and about 1839
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
brought his family, in wagons, to Putnam county, where he purchased a tract of wild wood- land, from which he cleared up an excellent home, and on which he passed the remainder of his life, an honored citizen, a democrat in politics, and a christian gentleman.
Andrew J. Troyer, after acquiring a very good education in the common schools, was prepared to teach for a term or so on his own account, but, having been reared a farmer, chose that as his life-calling, notwithstanding the fact that he received an injury in infancy that some- what impaired him for the active pursuit of that noble vocation, but nevertheless he has made a success of it.
In 1870 Mr. Troyer married Miss Caroline Brower, who was born in Greensburg township, Putnam county, July 2, 1848, a daughter of Hoadley and Lydia (Crow) Brower, this union resulting in the birth of five children, named as follows: Alonzo J., Ollie C .. Effie A., Ralph B. and Evert R. After his marriage Mr. Troyer engaged in contracting and road build- ing in Monroe township, and then rented his father's farm in Perry township, which he culti- vated until 1886, when he moved to his present place, which he had previously purchased, win- ning the place through his industry and savings as a tenant on his father's farm. He still kept up his activity as a contractor and road builder, and well earned the competency he is now en- joying. Fraternally Mr. Toyer is a member of Ellis lodge, K. of P., of Hector; he is also president of the farmer's institute of Conti- nental. Although not a member of any church, Mr. Troyer has always extended a helping hand in the advancement of the cause of relig- ion and of public education, and, in fact, of every canse tending to the moral, intellectual and material improvement of the community in which be lives. In politics he is a sound republican, and has been repeatedly elected to the office of township trustee and other post-
tions of trust. He is a gentleman who has ever held the confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens.
AMES M. TROYER, one of the younger and rising farmers of Palmer township, Putnam county, Ohio, is a native of Greensburg township, in the same county, and was born December 4, 1858. His grandfather, Henry Troyer, was a German by descent, and from Pennsylvania came to Put- namn county, Ohio, in his old age. The father of our subject, also named Henry, was born in Bucks county, Pa., in September, 1803, and there married a native of the Keystone state. In 1836 he came to Ohio, bought a farmn in the wilds of Putnam county, from which he hewed ont a good farm for that early day, and here lost his wife. For his second life-com- panion he chose, in the course of time, Rachael Shaffer, who was born near Springfield, Ohio, June 7, 1817, and who became the mother of three children-James M. (our subject), Lu- cinda and Sarah. The parents of this lady, Frederick and Rosanna Shaffer, were old- timers of Putnam county, and among the most respected of the farming community, owning a farm of 211 acres, which the father earned through his own industry. Her father died September 2, 1885, a member of the German Baptist church, while his widow is a member of the United Brethren church, and is now making her home with our subject.
James M. Troyer, the subject of this bi- ography, was reared on the home farm and early initiated to hard farming labor, which strengthened his sinews and made ripe his intellect. April 1, 1882, he married Miss Elizabeth Barkmire, who was born in Seneca county, Ohio, March 16, 1858, a daughter of Henry and Charlotte Barkmire, the imion re- sulting in the birth of the following children;
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
1
Cloyd, Harry, LeRoy, Emma and Joycie, of whom Henry and LeRoy have been called to a happier home beyond. After his marriage Mr. Troyer lived on the old homestead until 1893, when he bought his present farm of eighty acres, which he has improved with a good dwelling and substantial out-buildings, all earned through his indefatigable labor. His soil is rich and productive, 'and he avails himself of its fertility, making some of the most prolific crops to the square acre that are produced on any other farm, of whatever size, the township embraces. The United Brethren church claims both Mr. and Mrs. Troyer as members, and in the support of this both are very liberal contributors-Mr. Troyer also pro- inoting its spiritual advancement through his earnest efforts as class leader. In fact, both Mr. and Mrs. Troyer are active in forwarding every moral and social movement, calculated to enhance or elevate the community with whom they dwell. Successful as a farmer and progressive in his ideas and consistent as a Christian, Mr. Troyer has won the respect of the entire community, which is shared alike by his amiable wife and children.
W. TROYER .- The township of Monroe, Putnam county, Ohio, con- tains a number of well-to-do young farmers, but none of them are better known as progressive, up-to-date agricultur- ists than the gentleman whose life-record we now have under consideration. Personally, he is a young man of intelligence and enterprise, and his farm, in point of culture and product- iveness, compares favorably with the best in this locality. Although of German descent, he is, neverthelss, an American in every sense of the terin, and a representative citizen. His grandfather, Henry Troyer, came to Putnam county from Pennsylvania in an early day ---
more than half a century since-and settled in Greensburg township. Here he obtained pos- session of a tract of new land of considerable size and proceeded to improve it. He mar- ried a Miss Burkhart, also of Pennsylvania, and in an early day they were among the lead- ing citizens of Putnam county, where the greater portion of their lives was spent. Henry Troyer was a Jacksonian democrat in politics, while in religious affiliations he was connected with the German Reform church. The biog- raphy of John Troyer, father of D. W. Troyer, will be found in a preceding sketch.
D. W. Troyer, our subject, is the so ond child, in order of birth, of John and Louisa Troyer, and the date of his nativity was vig- ust 15, 1862. He was born upon the family homestead in Greensburg township, Puteam county, Ohio, where his early youth was passed. In addition to obtaining a practical knowledge of farming, he was enabled to im- prove his mind to the extent of securing a good common-school education, which has been of value to him through life. He was united in inarriage, December 25, 1892, to Miss Laura M. Kirkendall, who was bom in Putnam county, February 2, 1871, and the union has been a very happy one. Mrs. Troyer is the daughter of Lewis and Rebecca (Bear) Kirken- dall, who were married in Kalida, and who have been prominently identified with Putnam county. Mr. Kirkendall owned and operated a threshing machine for many years, and' is now engaged in the operation of a saw-null in Perry township, where he still resides In politics he is a democrat ; and he has ever been a man devoted to his home and family. Mrs. Troyer's paternal grandfather, Benjamin Kirk- endall, came from Columbiana county, Ohio, to Putnam county in an early day, and was one of the county's honored pioneers He was a Jacksonian democrat and a man promir sat in the affairs of the county. He married Miss
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