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 62
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Jacob Werner whose name introduces this
biography, was born August 20, 1839, in the town of Sandyville, Ohio, and was reared to agricultural pursuits on the home farm m Han- cock county. He first attended the common schools, later attended Oberlin college, and in 1862 engaged in the mercantile business, at the town of Leipsic, Putnam county. The same year he was appointed local agent of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad com- pany at Leipsic, which position he filled very acceptably until 1878. In the meantime he was appointed postmaster at Leipsic by Presi- dent Lincoln and held the place, by successive re-appointments, for a period of twenty years.
Mr. Werner, while engaged in his official capacities, began the study of law at Leipsic, in the office of C. Barr, and was admitted to the bar in 1878, entering upor the practice of his profession immediately thercafter. He has since given his attention to his legal business, which is large and lucrative, and in addition thereto has been called to fill various mici- pal positions, including that of member of the common council and ot the school board, and for a period of twelve years held the office of city solicitor. Mr. Werner has been active in political matters, being a republican, and as such was one of the Harrison electors i: 1888, during the campaign of which year he made a thorough and effective canvass of his district. He has served as member of the county cen- tral committee many times, in which os ad- vice has had great weight with the other members. In connection with his legal prac- tice Mr. Werner is largely engaged in fire and life insurance, his partner in the latter business being Thomas J. Werner. They represent many of the leading companies of the United States and the old world, among which are the Royal, of Liverpool, England; Continental, of New York; Northern, of Eng- land; German, of Freeport, Il .; Phoenix, of London; Cincinnati Underwriters; Philo .: Iphia
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Underwriters; Fire Association, of Philadel- phia: Westchester, of N. Y .; Phoenix, of Brook- lyn; Manchester, of England, and others, in all of which the firm has done a large and profitable business.
Mr. Werner is a successful lawyer and bears the reputation of a safe and honorable coun- selor. He is a gentleman of strict integrity, stands high in the estimation of his fellow- citizens, and all the qualities that go toward making up a perfect man are well defined ele- ments of his character. He is a member of the F. & A. M., of Leipsic, and belongs to the chapter at Ottawa; he is also indentified with the I. O. O. F. and K. of P. lodges, at Leipsic. Mr. Werner was married, in 1862, to Miss Polly Eastman, daughter of C. R. Eastman, of Leipsic, a union blessed with the birth of six children, two of whom, John E. and Edith G., are living.
Thomas J. Werner, brother of Jacob Wer- ner, was born July 4, 1850, in Hancock county, Ohio. He received his education in the common schools, grew to manhood on a farm, and in. 1866 accepted a position of telegrapher with the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad company, having previously become an expert as a manipulator of the keys. He continued as operator for the aforesaid road until 1877, from which time until 1881 he was engaged as salesman in a mercantile establishment at Leip- sic. In the latter year he engaged in the grocery trade, and continued the same until 1889, when he effected a co-partnership with his brother, Jacob Werner, in the insurance business, a mention of which appears in a pre- ceding paragraph. Thomas J. Werner is a republican in politics, and has served twice as mayor of Leipsic. He is a man of energy and intelligence; is public spirited, and every worthy and laudable enterprise calculated to enhance the interest of his city and county finds in him and ardent friend and liberal patron.
Mr. Verner was married; in 1869, to Sylva Kurtz, daughter of John Kutz, of Leipsic, and he has a family of five children; Oliver, George, Joseph I., Samuel and Adeline Werner.
0 AVID L. WILLIAMS. a very promi- nent farmer Sugar Creek township, Putnam county, Ohio, was born in the northern part of Wales June 16, 1832, and is a son of Hugh and Catherine, (Lloyd) Williams. The maternal grandfather, Thomas Lloyd, was a farmer, and the father, Hugh Williams, was a stone-cutter by trade. The latter died about the year 1841, the father of eight children, viz: Catherine; Dariel, who died young; David L., our subject; Jane, stil! living in Wales; Thomas, now of Columbus, Ohio; Jemima, deceased wife of William Evans, of Newark, Ohio; Ann and Cissa, who both died young. Mrs. Catherine Williams for her second husband married E. Jones, a tanner, and both she and her second husband died in the old country.
David L. Williams, after the death of his parents, made his own way the best he could in the old country, working at farm labor for $15 the first year, his wages being increased gradually until he received $45 per annum, and at last, in 1856, he had accumulated enough money to pay his way to America, arriving in New York with one or two dollars in his pos- session. His education was necessarily limited, and he was almost entirely self-taught. Leav- ing New York city in a few days after his arrival there, he spent several months near Utica in the same state, saving enough money to bring him to Ohio. Here he located in Licking county and worked as a farm hand until 1860, when he married. rented land on which he farmed four years then bought a small place, which he cultivated imtil 1866, when he sold and came to Putnam county.
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Here he purchased his present place, that then consisted of eighty acres, which he has since increased. He at once set to work and remodeled the dwelling, cleared off and put 100 acres of the land under cultivation, ditched and tiled it and set out an orchard. Since his residence here Mr. Williams has been very prosperous, for the reason that he has been very industrious as well as being gifted with keen perceptive faculties. Al- though this charities have been extensive and his aid toward all worthy enterprises liberal in the extreme, he has become the owner of 500 acres of land, of which he has cleared 200 acres, placing this number under cultivation, and has now a farm and home that will com- pare most favorably with any in the county.
As intimated above, Mr. Williams was married, in 1860, in Licking county, Ohio, to Miss Mary, born in Wales September 17, 1835, a daughter of William P. and Charlotte (Jones) Griffiths. In 1840 she was brought to America by her parents, who settled in Lick- ing county, Ohio, where they engaged in farm- ing and where they died, leaving ten children, viz: Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary (Mrs. Williams), Margaret, Charlotte, Ellen, Frances, Henry. Mercy and Thomas. Of these but one beside Mrs. Williams is a resident of Putnam county, viz: Sarah, who is the widow of Roger Evans and the mother of six children. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Williams have been born ten children, viz: William G., a carpenter of Cali- fornia; John D., farmer of Putnam county, Ohio; Catherine, wife of John A. Lewis, farmer of Putnam county; Charlotte, who died single; Thomas S., a farmer of Putnam county; David I .. , a railroader, Henry R., a farmer of Missouri; Hugh F., Mary and Walter E., all three at home.
Mr. Williams is republican in political affini- ities, but is not an office seeker; nevertheless he has served as treasurer of the township, as
township trustee, and in some of the minor offices. He is very prominent in church mat- ters and is quite munificent in his donations thereto. He was the principal promoter of, and was the first to start, the fund for the erection of the large Congregational church at Vaughnsville, and had, indeed, to advance the greater part of the cash necessary for its completion. At that time, in 1890, the con- gregation comprised but twenty-eight mem- bers, but it now numbers 130 communicants. Mr. Williams has never been behindhand in work for the public good, and as a conse- quence stands most deservedly high in the esteem of the entire community.
EORGE C. WILLIAMS, a leading business man of Ottawa, is a native of Carroll county, Ohio, born Sep- tember 19, 1845. His father, John Williams, also a native of Ohio, was of Welsh descent, and his mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Barkdoll, was descended from Ger- man ancestry. These parents were prominent members of the United Brethren church, and died at the ages of seventy-four and sixty-three years, respectively. They had a family of twelve children, nine of whom grew to matur- ity, viz: Mary, deceased; Jane, widow of O. Meals; Sarah C., widow of James Meals; George C .; Amanda, wife of Henry Arnold; Maggie, wife of John Kirk; Albert, deceased; Mahala, wife of William Heffelmier, and Har- riet, wife of Clark Ledwick.
George C. Williams was reared to farm life, and when but fourteen years old began the task of caring for himself, working as a farm laborer and coal miner. Being thrown upon his own resources at so early an ige, his educational advantages were of necessity some- what limited, but always being a great reader, he has since amassed a store of valuable knowl-
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edge, and is now one of the well informed men of the community in which he resides. He not only supported himself when young, but contributed a portion of his meager earnings to the support of his father's family, and early learned the lessons of industry and economy by which his after life has been characterized.
Mr. Williams remained in his native county until seventeen years of age, when he came to the county of Putnam, locating two miles west of Columbus Grove, where he worked on a farın until August, 1864, when he entered company K, Fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served until mustered out June 21, 1865, at Louisville, Ky., taking part, in the meantime, in the Atlanta campaign and Sherman's cele- brated march to the sea. After spending one year with his parents on his return, he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed most successfully for a period of fourteen years. In the city of Toledo he was foreman for a large contracting firmi, and in 1871 removed to Co- lumbus Grove; where he followed contracting and building until 1880, locating in the latter year at Ottawa, where he started a lumber yard, to which he has since given his attention. Mr. Williams has done a great deal of building in Ottawa and vicinity, and his lumber yard is the largest in the county. He keeps on hand a full stock of all kinds of building material and is deservedly classed among the most successful and progressive business men of the city of Ottawa.
For many years Mr. Williams has been actively engaged in church and Sunday-school work, and in 1889, made a tour of Europe, as a delegate to the World's Sunday-school con- vention, which convened in the city of Lon- don in July of that year. He went as a state delegate, and, after transacting his business in the convention, visited the leading cities of the continent, among which were Paris, where he attended the World's Exposition, Genoa,
Italy, Pisa, the ruined city of Pompeii and Herculaneum, Rome, Florence, the principal points of interest in Switzerland, Germany and Belgium; also Rotterdam, Holland; thence across the North sea to England, spending a number of days in the great city of London. He spent some time in Scotland, visiting the Highlands, and the important cities of that his- toric country; thence sailed to Ireland, mak- ing an extensive tour of the Emerald Isle, visiting its leading cities and other places of interest. A mere mention of the different points visited by Mr. Williams during this most interesting tour would tax the patience of the reader, but suffice it to state that he made in- telligent observations in the different countries over which he traveled, and his descriptions of the same are given in the most interesting and charming manner to those with whom he converses relative to his wanderings.
Like his parents before him. Mr. Williams subscribes to the creed of the United Brethren church, and he has contributed liberally of his time and means toward the promulgation, of religion in his own and other lands. He was chosen to represent his church in the general conference at Dayton, Ohio, in 1893, and since 1872 has been one of the most prominent Sunday-school workers in the northwestern part of the state, having attended, during the past seventeen years, as delegate, a number of conventions, including the State Sunday-school convention at Fostoria, in 1882; the Interna- tional conventions of 1887 and 1890, and the International and World's Sunday-school con- vention at St. Louis in 1893. In his local church he holds the position of class leader and trus- tee, and the amount of good he has accom- plished, in his various avenues of religions en- deavor, would be impossible to estimate. Mr. Williams was married November 12, 1868, to Miss Elmina Kiefer, whose birth occurred in Lebanon county, Pa., April 1, 1847. Mr.
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and Mrs. Williams are the parents of five children, three living, viz: Henry, married to Carrie Bennett and associated with his father in business; Meda, and Lesta, who are at home and attending the Ottawa public schools.
Mr. Williams was one of the first directors of the Home Savings Bank of Ottawa. He is a republican in politics, has been chairman of the county executive committee, and is at present one of the members of the republican central committee of Ottawa.
HOMAS WILLIAMS, one of the most substantial and progressive farmers of Jennings township, Allen county, is a native of Wales. He is a son of Edward and Ann (Howells) Williams, the former of whom was born in Montgomeryshire, Wales, in 1797, and was the son of Thomas and Jane (Jones) Williams. Edward Williams was a miller, as was his father before him. He and his wife were the parents of nine chil- dren, who lived to reach mature age, viz: Thomas, Elizabeth, Edward, Ann, Gwlym, Jane, Catherine, Martha and Maria. Edward Williams came to the United States about 1828 or 1829, and for a time worked on the Pennsylvania railroad passing over the Alle- ghany mountains, and afterward on the Mis- sissippi river. After being in this country about two years and a half, he returned to Wales, where he was married. Mr. Willliams was a hard-working and industrious man, and a good citizen. He and his wife were mem- bers of the Welsh Congregational church, and he died in Wales in 1867. Two of his chil- dren, only, came to America, Thomas and Gwlym. Edward and Martha went to Aus- tralia, and the others remained in Wales, where Catherine now alone survives, Ann, after some years, going to England and set- tling in Manchester.
Thomas Williams was born August 9, 1839, received but very little education in his native land, and at the age of ten years began work- ing at farming and in a grist-inill. Afterward he came to this country, and upon his arrival here worked for some time on a farm, remain- ing thus engaged until he thoroughly under- stood the American system of that work. He was married in Wales to Miss Jane Williams, in May, 1862, she being the daughter of Benja- min and Catherine (Howells) Williams.
Benjamin Williams, father of Mrs. Thomas Williams, wife of our subject, was a farmer by occupation, and was born in 1818. He died July 11, 1881, in Wales. His wife was born in March, 1817. Their children were George, Thomas, Jane, William, Sarah, Cathe- rine, Elizabeth, Martha and Mary. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Williams re- mained for some time in Wales, and came to the United States in October. 1868. They sailed from Liverpool September 22, and were twelve days on the voyage to New York. They came direct to Allen county, and in 1869 settled on their present farm of eighty acres. This farm was nearly covered with timber, but he went to work with a strong will, determined to clear it and make of it a good home. By hard and continous labor this was done, and he afterward bought eighty acres more, the latter in Snga: Creek township, and he now has as fine a farm of 160 acres as any man need desire. 10 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Williams there have been born eleven children, viz: Ann, born February 6, 1865; Kate, born February 17, 1867; Edward, born March 25, 1869; Annie, born January 7, 1872; George and William ( twins), born February 18, 1874; David, born Decem- ber 5, 1876-died January 13, 1878; Eliza- beth, born March 27, 1879; Martha, born February 10, 1882; Arthur, born August 11, 1884, and Albert, born in August, 1887, and
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OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
died at the age of two years. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are members of the Welsh Congre- gational church, of which Mr, Williams has been deacon for three years,
Politically Mr. Williams is a republican, and takes great interest in his party's success. He has always been a hard-working and industrious man, and has accumlated the property he now possesses by his own unaided exertions. He is well known to many a person in Putnam and Allen connties, and all recog- nize the honesty and integrity of his character. By the aid of his faithful wife he has reared a family of excellent children. His daughter Kate, when twenty-two years of age, went to Washington territory, and there entered sixty acres of land and lived upon it until, under the laws of the United States, she became its owner. She is now married and is doing well. Before going to Washington territory, she was a teacher in the public schools of Putnam and Allen counties, and she has also tanght in Washington, where, in order to secure her cer- tificate, she had to travel eighty miles on horseback. By the course she has pursued she has given evidence of the enterprise and courage that runs in the family, and of her all her relatives may well feel proud. Thomas Williams, the brother of Mrs. Thomas Will- iams, and the second son of Benjamin and Catherine Williams, is a resident of London, England, and by process of law his legal name is now Thomas Howell Williams Idris.
REEMAN S. WILLIAMS, M. D., was born in Susquehanna county, Pa., September 13, 1847, being the son of Swain O, and Mary M. (Dond) Williams His father was born in Caldwell, N. Y., in the year 1809, being the son of Ger- sham Withams, who was a native of New Jer- sey and of English lineage, his father, Enos
Williams, having been a native of Vermont, whence in early life he removed to New Jersey, being an active participant in the war of the Revolution, and doing loyal service in uphold- ing the arms of the continental army. His son inherited this spirit of patriotism, and took part in the war of 1812. He finally removed to Pennsylvania, but eventually took up his abode in Ohio, in 1848, and located in Allen county, near Elida, where he was engaged in agricultural operations until 1858, when he came to the home of his son near Lima, where he lived until the hour of his death, which oc- curred in 1862 -- his wife having passed away in 1856. He was originally a member of the whig party, but upon the organization of the republican party he identified himself there- with and remained a stanch adherent of the same ever afterward.
Swain O. Williams, father of our subject, was reared on the farm and was educated in the town schools of the old Keystone state. About 1832 he married Mary M. Dond, dangh- ter of Daniel Doud, a native of Pennsylvania and of English descent. Mary M. Doud was born in Susquehanna county, Pa., about 1812, and was reared and educated in the same county; by her marriage to Dr. Williams she became the mother of the following-named children: Rosilla, Daraxa, Mrs. Malvina Cal- lahan, Demus H., Isaac, Freeman S., our sub- ject; Nelson, and Mary Ellen. After his mar- riage, Swain Williams retained his residence in Pennsylvania until 1851, when he came with his family to Allen county, Ohio, where he purchased and improved a farm, and died in 1866, his wife having passed away about 1858. Both were members of the Universalist church and Mr. Williams was a member of the Lima Masonic lodge. In politics he was originally a whig and later a republican. His brother, Nelson, was an active participant in the war of the Rebellion, being a member of the Fourth
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Ohio regiment cavalry, under Mclaughlin, his command being in service under Gen. Kilpat- rick. He participated in many hard-fought engagements in the western campaign and served until the close of the war. Demus H., the eldest brother of our subject, was also at the front in the late war, being a member of company D, Ninety-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry.
Freeman S. Williams received his prelimi- nary education discipline in Allen county, after which he became a student in the high school at Delphos. Though reared to farm life, he was determined to seek a wider field of en- deavor. About 1872 he began reading medi- cine under Dr. A. T. Brundage, of Factoryville, Pa., remaining thus associated for two years. In 1873 he matriculated as a student in the medical department in the university of Mich- igan at Ann Arbor, and there graduated in 1875. Within the same year he came to Ohio, and was engaged in the practice of bis pro- fession in Panlding county for three: months, after which, in September of the same year, he came to Kalida, and purchased the practice of Dr. J. B. Vail, now of Lima, soon securing recognition for his professional ability in the retaining of a large and representative practice. He is known as one of the most alert and pub- lic-spirited citizens of Kalida, and enjoys the confidence and respect of all classes. In his fraternal relations the doctor is a member of the Kalida lodge, No. 280, F. & A. M., and is also a prominent member of Red Jacket lodge, No. 455, 1. O. O. F., at Factoryville, Pa. He is not a member of any church, but has a great respect for spiritual realities and espouses all ranses which converse the higher interests of his fellow-men. Politically, the doctor is a re- publican. He has maintained a lively interest i! « Incational work, and has at various inter- vals done efficient service as a member of the common council.
In June, 1876, was consummated the mar- riage of Dr. Williams to Miss Nora Parker, daughter of Lorenzo and Louisa Parker, who are natives of Columbiana county, this state, ind of English descent. Mrs. Williams was born in Kalida in 1857, received her education in the public schools of this place and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are the parents of six children, viz: Grace, aged seventeen years (1895); Gaylord, fifteen years; Bertha, twelve; Byron, ten; Elmer De Witt, six; and Clyde. F., four years.
ENRY WING was of English descent, and was a native of Vermont, his birth occurring in the year -97. After attaining manhood he took as a lite partner Miss Elinor Frazee, who was born in Pennsylvania. They first settled on a farm near Defiance, Ohio. Later, about 1825, they moved to Greensburg township, Putnam county, Ohio, and entered a small tract of land consisting of twenty-one acres. Two years later they purchased 200 acres additional, and proceeded with the difficult task of on- verting it into a farm home which would yield them a sustenance. The senior Wing was possessed of only an ordinary education. but he had been reared upon a farm, and was not afraid of hard work. At that time Putnam county was largely a primitive wilderne., full of Indians, and the wild forests were thick with bears, wolves, deer and other game. The highways had not then been traced, and neigh- bors were few and far between. Into this ni- inviting country did the young couple come, with stout hearts and eager hands, determined to make for themselves a home. Gradually the transformation was . ffected, and the worthy couple become known as substantial and re- spected citizens. Both were behevers in Chris-
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tianity, and by their daily life set an example worthy of emulation. Mr. Wing was in poli- tics a whig, and as such he was called upon to fill various township offices, a duty which he performed with satisfaction. He died Sep- tember 18, 1844, and his beloved wife joined him in August, 1848. They were the parents of eleven children, given in order below, all but the youngest of whom are still living: Jar- vis, Rhoda, Oliver, Henry, Elnora, Jane, Pauline, Austin, Cleopatra, Francis M., and Nathan.
Henry Wing, our subject, was born in De- fiance county, Ohio, September 8, 1831. He was reared upon his father's farm, and, in fact, has been concerned with agriculture all of his life. His educational discipline was that re- ceived in a log school-honse of the pioneer days, but his was an observant mind, and in addition he absorbed an excellent knowledge of general affairs. March 17, 1866, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Gilbert, who was born in Summit county, Ohio, August 9, 1847. She is the daughter of Jacob and Martha (Butler) Gilbert. Her father was born in the Champlain region of Vermont, while her mother was a native of Connecticut. They were married at Cayuga Falls, Ohio, where Jacob Gilbert engaged for several years in the mercantile business. They lived in Cleveland, Ohio, for three years, and then removed to Putnam county, and made their home in Mon- roc township. Here they purchased a tract of school 'and and became substantial citizens of that section. Mr. Gilbert was one of the pioneer school-teachers of this portion of Ohio, and he followed the vocation up to the time of his death, in December, 1863. He was an old-line wing politically, and was several times honored with political preferment at the hands of his fellow -citizens. His religious views led lam to a membership in the Methodist church, while Mes ( ilbert has been a Bible Christian
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