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 1 > Part 31
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Jacob B. Haller, the subject of this inen- tion, was but a mere lad when his father moved to Lancaster, Ohio, and still quite young when they came to Allen county, where he finished his education in the common schools. He took an active part in assisting to redeem the home farm from the wilderness and re- mained under the parental roof until arriving at his majority, when he began business life nearly or quite empty-handed. Mr. Haller had been taught industry in his youth and knew well its effectiveness in the affairs of life; thus did he willingly put his shoulder to the wheel and began in earnest to make himself a home. His first purchase of land was eighty acres, now a part of the homestead, farn which he redeemed from the forest and put under a good state of cultivation He, like others, who located in Allen county at an early day, erected the round-log cabin which formed a shelter for himself and his family for several
JACOB B. HALLER.
MRS. THEO. A HANDEL.
THEO A HANDEL.
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years, and from the beginning, he prospered, and soon added to his first purchase of land, so that the home place now consists of 117 acres. HIn 1855 he erected a fine brick residence, which took the place of the first, or his pio- neer home, and this is the home that has been known for its generous and hospitable enter- tainment dispensed for several decades. Mr. Haller affiliates with the democratic party, and is a stanch adherent to its principles, and by said party was elected to fill the office of county commissioner for two terms in succes- sion, and it can be said that he filled the office with credit to himself and all his constituents. He has also filled many of the local offices of his township, in each proving himself a safe and conservative official and one weli worthy of the trest imposed in him.
Jacob, B. Haller chose for his life-compan- ion, quite carly in life, Miss Leah Myers, who was a native of Cumberland county, Pa., born, July 13, 1815. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Haller has been blessed by the birth of eleven children, viz: Jacob M., deceased; Christian L., a merchant of New York city; John F., deceased; Mary E., wife of Milton Carter, of Lima, Ohio, who is a machinist by trade; Catherine. wife of Lawrence Holzfoster, who now lives upon the home farin; Sophia, de- ceased; the other five children all died in in- fancy. Mrs. Haller died May 13, 1888, having been a consistent member of the Lutheran church the greater part of her life, and a fond and loving companion as well as mother. Mr. Haller is one of the prominent members in the Lutheran church and is active in promoting all church interests as well as the education of the young and rising generation, and is one of the prominent and highly esteemed citizens in the community where he as resided for over half a century.
Mi. Holzfoster, the son-in-law and husband of Catherine Haller, is a hard-working and it-
dustrious citizen now residing on the home- stead farm and for the past five years has been in the employ of a refining company at Lima, Ohio. He was born in Union county, Ohio, June 28, 1862, and is a democrat in politics, while in religion he is a worthy member of the Lutheran church.
HEODORE A. HANDEL, an old set- tler and a prominent farmer of Marion township, Allen county. Ohio, and a veteran of the late Civil war, is a native of the Buckeye state and was born in Granvilie. Licking county, May 1, 1834, and descends from Revolutionary ancestors of Ger- man extraction.
John Handel, grandfather o: our subject, was the founder of the family in America. and was descended from progenitors who had been grist-millers for generations. In the old conn- try, in his early manhood, he was employed by his father to traverse the country and buy grain from the farmers. While on one of these excursions, with four companions as aids or assistants, the five were seized by the military authorities, impressed, and their services trans- ferred to George III, of England, who was then waging his war for the subjection of the revolutionary colonies of America. These mercenaries have always been stigmatized as Hessians. On arrivng in Boston harbor, John Handel and his four companions evaded the vigilance of their captors and made their es- cape by swimming to an American vessel, im- mediately enlisting in defense of liberty and right. John Handel fought through the en- tire Revolution, seeing much service in the navy, and after the close of the heroic struggle went to Baltimore, where He found employ- ment as a miller. He married in Maryland, settled in Virginia on the shenandoah river, about twenty miles above Harper's Ferry,
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where his first child, Nicholas, was born, his only other child being Elizabeth, as far as can be remembered. John Handel probably dicd at his mill-residence at the age of about eighty years. It is also related that John Handel was of the same family from which descended the world-famed musician, Handl.
Nicholas Handel, son of John, also became a miller, and in the early days hauled his prod- nct down the Potomac river banks as far as Alexandria, Va., but prior to this, at the age of eighteen years, had enlisted for the war of 1812, in which he did gallant service until the end. It is related of young Handel that, when a raw recruit, he infringed on the dignity of Gen. William H. Harrison while in camp. The general was taking a walk for exercise when young Handel, off duty, joined hin. The general, to try the younger's nerve, gave him a blow. The blood of the young soldier was aroused, and in the tussel which followed Harrison was knocked flat. On going to his quarters the general caused the arrest of his private, and on the ensuing examination of the young soldier inquired what he had enlisted for. The response was, " To fight." " Your superior officers?" inquired the general. "Any body who attacks me, " replied young Handel. "Go back to your quarters," ordered the general, " and be a good soldier, " but ere they parted drank a glass of gin together. Nicholas did prove to be a good soldier, and in after years frequently met his old commander, who was always delighted to recall the reminis- cences of the war for free trade and sailors' rights.
Nicholas Handel, after the war, returned to Virginia, but soon after relinquished his milling business in that state and came to Ohio, and for forty years was chief miller in the Fas- sett mills on Raccoon creek, near Granville, Licking county-buying all the grain and ship- ping all the flour. There he married Myla
Hayes, daughter of Alanson and Rhoda (Slater) Hayes, of New York state, but of New England descent. Alanson Hayes was a well- to-do farmer, and he and wife were the par- ents of the following children: Alanson, Nel- son, Rhoda, George, Myla, Amanda, and Cynthia. Alanson Hayes came to Allen county, Ohio, about the year of 1848, and set- tled on the farm now occupied by Col. Bliss, of whom mention is made on another page. Mr. Hayes and his eldest son, Alanson, cleared up from the woods about 300 acres, and here the father died at the age of over eighty vears. Nicholas Handel, who passed the declining years of his life to a great extent with his son, Theodore A., returned to Granville, Ohio, just before his demise, and died at the great'y ad- vanced age of eighty-six years, in the faith of the Baptist church.
Theodore A. Handel, the principal subject of this biographical reminiscence, received a common-school education in his native village of Granville, Ohio, and at the age of ten years came to Allen county, which has since been his home. From the age of fourteen years until twenty-one, he worked on the farm of Orrin Kephort, and April 5, 1857, he here married Angelina Harris, who was born Oc- tober 13, 1836, at Lockland, Hamilton county, - Ohio, a danghter of Calvin and Edith (Diinn) Harris. Mr. Harris was born in Olean, N. Y., was a son of Samuel Harris, of English de- scent and a boat-builder. Calvin learned the trade of wagon-maker in Cincmmati, having been brought by his parents to Hamilton county, Ohio, when six years of age. At the age of twenty-four he married Miss Dunn, then twenty-two years old and a daughter of Beracha and Mary ( German ) Dnnn. In 1847 Mr. Harris sold out his shop in Lockland, bought and ran a boat on the Miami canal, then traded the boat for 120 i acres of partly cleared land in Amanda town-
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ship, Allen connty, on which there was a log cabin; here he made a good home. He became a township trustee and township clerk. -He was a deacon in the Baptist church for many years and a trustee, and a member of the grange. He and wife were parents of nine children, viz: Mary A., Edith R. (died in in- fancy), Clifford S. (died an infant), Calvin W (died at twenty-six years of age), Charles F. (died at two years of age), Rosco B., Flor- ence B., and Burton E. (died in infancy). Mr. Harris died on his farm January 28, 1892, aged eighty-one years, eight months and twenty-eight days, and his wife died December 9, 1881, aged sixty-eight years, nine months and sixteen days.
After his marriage Theodore A. Handel settled on their present farm under a lease for five years -- selling a tract of forty acres in Amanda township -- but he has since owned as many as 200 acres at one time. August 8, 1861, Mr. Handel enlisted, at Wapakoneta. Ohio, in company 1, Thirty-fourth Ohio vol- unteer infantry, for three years, and was hon- orably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, in Sep- tember, 1864. He took part in thirty-five general engagements, beside many skirmishes, and among these may be mentioned Chapinan- ville Gap, Louisburg, Fayettville, Trenton, Fayetteville again, Charleston, Red House, Mud Ridge, Cloyd Mountain and Greenbrier, all in West Virginia; James River, Lynchburg, Staunton. Paw Paw Station, Stone Spring House, Shenandoah Valley and Winchester, all in Virginia; Martinsville, W. Va., then in a battle on the banks of the Potomac river; Fredericksburg (two battles), Monocacy Jmc- tion, Va. ; Charleston, W. Va .; Kernton, Cedar Creek, Va ; between Hallton and Charlestown, W. Va. ; then in another battle near Winches- ter, Va., which closed the active military career of Mr. Handel, whose terin had expired. He was wounded in his first battle, Chapman-
ville Gap. His companion, in line of battle, fell by his side, and in the act of laying him down, Mr. Handel was shot in the ankle, be- ing the second man of the company to be wounded, but he did not leave the battle-field. Mr. Handle was always an active soldier, was in all the battles, skirmishes and marches of his regiment, was never confined in hospital, and for meritorions conduct was promoted to be corporal, but acted as deputy sergeant for more than two years; he was one of the best 'soldiers recruited from Allen county, and served his country with bravery and fidelity.
Returning to his wife, after his discharge from the army, Mr. Handel resmined the occu- pation of farming, and succeeded, by industry and intelligent direction of his labors, in in- creasing his acres to 200, and in this task he has been aided effectnally by his willing and faithful wife. In the kindness of their hearts Mr. and Mrs. Handel have reared four adopted children, and have given them all full school advantages, and to his adopted son, Earnest, has deeded forty-five acres of good farming land. In politics Mr. Handle is a republican, but has never sought notoricty or cmohi- ment as an office holder; in religion he and wife are Baptists, and Mr. Handel has been a deacon in his church for more than twenty years, and a church trustee almost as long. They are also members of the Patrons of Husbandry and Mrs. Handel has served as overseer of his grange and as lecturer. He is also a member of Renel post, G. A. R., at Delphos, and is highly esteemed by his com- rades. His fine farm now comprises 200 acres, is excellently well improved and highly culti- vated, and is the result of his own labor and good management, he being a self-made man, in the full acceptation of that term. He has met with many difficulties m hfe, but his in- domitable will and strennousness have over- come them all and success has crowned, at
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last, all his undertakings. Mr. and Mrs. Handel stand at the head of a long line of social ac- quaintances and are deservedly respected by all in the line as well as by the community at large.
J OSHUA HARDESTY, one of the thriv- ing and well-to-do farmers of Perry township, Allen county, Ohio, was born in Brown county, June 2, 1833, received a good practical education in the common schools, and was reared to the bard work of farming, on his father's homestead.
Stephen Hardesty, father of Joshua, our subject, was also a native of Brown county, Ohio, and was born in 1817. He there mar- ried Nancy Ellis, daughter of Isaac Ellis, of Brown county, and in 1835 came to Perry township, Allen county, and purchased fifty- eight acres of new land, of which he afterward inade a good home. The children born to Stephen and Nancy Hardesty, were born and named in the following order: Isaac, now of Paulding county, Ohio; Joshua, the subject of this mention; George, of Auglaize township, Allen- county; Elizabeth, widow of J. C. Mona- han; Henry, of Beaver Dam, Ohio; and Ste- phen L., of Lima. Stephen Hardesty, in addition to the first tract of land he had pur- chased in Perry township, bought an adjoining farm, and on this he passed the final years of his life, dying in 1867; his wife departed Feb- ruary 12, 1884, and the remains of both hus- band and wife lie interred, side by side, in the cemetery of the Methodist Episcopal church of Auglaize township.
Joshua Hardesty, after passing his youth and early manhood on his father's farm, mar- ried Miss Sarah J. Comstock, daughter of Charles Comstock, of Perry township, six chil- dren being the result of the marriage, viz: Clora, wife of William H. McCoy, of Van Wert county; Leola, still at home; William A., who married
Miss Jessie Tapscott; Lena; Minnie, deceased; Edwin, and Walter C. Mr. Hardesty, having no fear of rebel bullets, in 1864 joined the One Hundred and Fifty-first regiment of Ohio volunteer infantry for the 100-day service and faithfully served out his term of enlistment; after passing through the varions engagements in which his regiment took part he returned to Perry township and purchased the old home- stead, which now comprises 106 acres. Mr. Hardestry is recognized at this day as one of the most scientific agriculturists of Perry town- ship, and his farin shows in every respect the evidences of his skill and good management. As a member of society he is considered to be useful and altogether desirable; as a member of the Methodist Episcopal church he is con- sistent and sincere, and as a republican, he is loyal in his adhesion to his party
ILLIAM H. . HARPER, M. D., a re- tired physician, of Lima, Ohio, is a son of Thomas and Mary (Sirlott) Harper. The Harper family is an ancient and distinguished one in American his- tory, some distinguished for one thing and some for another, but for all for something creditable.
The grandfather of William H. Harper was named John, and his ancestry settled early in Maryland. He is said to have been a de- scendant of the Harper after whom Harper's . Ferry in Virginia was named. By occupation he was a farmer and followed that honorable calling through life. About 1814 he removed to Greene county, Ohio, and settled on the bank of Masses Creek. Upon the farm selected here, in Greene county, Mr. Harper spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1823. His wife was a Miss Thomas, of Welsh extraction, and survived her husband, dying when she was nearly 100 years old. The children of
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this pioneer and his worthy wife were as fol- lows: John, Elijah, Thomas, Joseph; Sarah, who married Francis Brush; Nancy, who mar- / ried David Larkins; and Eliza, who married Daniel Barkdell, and all of whom died in Greene county.
Thomas Harper, the third of the above- mentioned children, and the father of Dr. William H. Harper, was born in Maryland, near Harper's Ferry, about the year 1800. With his parents he came to Ohio, remaining with them on their farm until he grew to ina- ture years. Then he purchased a tract of land adjoining his father's farm, and upon his purchase passed the remainder of his life, en- gaged in agricultural pursuits and hunting game, as was customary to a greater or less extent with all the pioneers. He married Miss Mary Sirlett, and by her had the following children: Mary, wife of Charles Metheany; George; Minerva A., who married Nathan McFarland and is now deceased, Henry, and William H., the latter the subject of this sketch.
William H. Harper was born March 29, 1819, in Greene county, Ohio, upon the old homestead farm. His boyhood days were passed in a manner similar to those of the children of all pioneers, working on the farin in summer time, and attending school as far as was possible for him in the winter season. The school-house was built of logs and chinked to keep out the cold. Desks were arranged around the sides of the room and seats in front, the scholars sitting with their backs to the in- side of the room. The fireplace was at one end of the house, and the chimney was made of sticks and clay. Logs and large chunks of wood were the fuel, and the learning obtained was as crude as the facilities provided. At the age of twenty-one he began the study of medicine with Drs. John Dawson & Wi- nans, and afterward took a course of study at
the Medical college at Louisville, Ky. Later he attended Starling Medical college at Colum- bus, Ohio, graduating there in 1852. In 1843 he began the practice of medicine at Fairfield, Greene county, later removing to Bellbrook, Greene county, where he remained two years, and in 1845 finally located in Lima, where he continued to practice until 1893, when he re- tired. Dr. Harper has been one of the suc- cessful physicians of his day, and stands high as a professional man in the esteem of the en- tire community. He is a member of the Allen County Medical society and was for some time its presiding officer. He organized the Northwestern Medical society and was its first president. He was one of the original stock- holders of the Lima National bank, was one of its directors and served until the bank failed. Under President Andrew Johnson he was postmaster of Lima, and has been a repub- lican since the organization of the party in 1854. His membership is in the Christian church and his life has been consistent with its precepts.
Dr. Harper married Miss Clarissa Wi- nans, of Green county, Ohio, by whom he has had the following children: Mary A., wife of R. K. Cyphers; Thomas W., an attorney at law of Terre Haute, Ind .; James H., who en- listed in the Ohio volunteer infantry at the age of fifteen years, was taken prisoner, and died in Andersonville within a short time after his enlistment; Fannie, deceased; Vennie, wife of William Annot, of Wooster, Ohio, and Will- iam H., Jr., cashier in a bank of Ottawa, Putnam county, Ohio.
S. HARRISON, the well-known loan agent and broker of Lima, Ohio, was born in Richmond, Va., October 28, 1838, and is a son of James L. and Anna S. (Short) Harrison. James L .. Harrison was
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thoroughly educated with the view of follow- ing the ministry, but, in order to accumulate a little of the wealth of this world, became a cotton broker, which business he followed until 1861, when he removed to Columbus, Ohio, and somewhat later to Delaware county, Ohio, where he died in 1871. His wife died in 1885. James I .. Harrison and his wife were the par- ents of eight children, viz: James P. B .. of Delaware, Ohio; Lawrence A., deceased; Charlotte, wife of James N. Stark, of Mansfield, Ohio; Sarah E., deceased; Maria, a widow, now residing in Columbus, Ohio; Francis, de- ceased, and Thomas S., the subject of this sketch. The father of this family was, up to the breaking out of the Civil war, a wealthy man and slave-owner, but when the war came on he.of course lost his slaves, and he also lost much of his other property. In politics he was a whig, and was not one of those who favored the secession of the southern states.
Thomas S. Harrison was reared to man- hood in Virginia, was educated in that state and remained with his parents until he was sixteen years of age. At this time he went to Philadelphia and engaged to a retail jeweler as clerk, remaining until 1858, when he went to New York city, locating at No. 206 Broadway, as a broker, in which branch of business he was engaged until 1864 at that place, and then removed his office to No. 172 Clark street, where he remained until 1871. He then went to Lonisville, Ky., and after a short time spent there went to St. Louis, Mo., re- maining six months, and then removed to Cin- cinnati, where he remained three years, He removed thence to Buffalo, remaining one year, and thence went to Toledo, where he re- mained three years, and finally located in Lima in 1885, where he has since been pros- perously engaged in the loan and brokerage business
Mr. Harrison was married in Chicago, in
1860, to Miss Minnie Thomas, of Philadelphia, who died in 1870. He was subsequently mar- ried, in New York, to Miss Mary E. Brown of Boston, Mass., who died in 1871. He was married, the third time, in 1872, to Miss Ida Ogden, by whom he had two children, both of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Harrison, the mother of these children, died in 1887. In politics Mr. Harrison is a democrat and fra- ternally is a Mason, belonging to a lodge in New York city.
BRAM HARROD, a prominent citizen of Allen county, was born in Mercer ! county, Ohio, April 27, 1750, and is son of David and Jane (Reckmire) Harrod. David Harrod was born in Knox county, Ohio, in 1792, and his wife in the same county in 1794. After their marriage they located, in 1837, in Mercer county, Ohio, near Fort Recovery, on a farm, where they lived 'inntil 1852, when Mr. Harrod, in com- pany with a party of neighbors, went west to look for a location suitable in their minds for a settlement. While on board a steamboat on the Missouri river he was taken ill with cholera and died in 1853. His widow remained on the old homestead in Mercer county until he death in 1873.
Mr. Harrod was in politics a democrat, and held many of the minor offices of his township, among them that of justice of the peace, which he filled for twenty-two years. The confidence of his neighbors he enjoyed to a remarkable degree, and was highly respected and esteemed by all. He and his wife were members of the United Brethren church, and both stood high in church circles. They were the parents of nine children, as follows: Mahala, wife of George Shrover, a fanner of Mercer county; Mary, wife of Christian Bientz, i a farmer and carpenter of Mercer county,
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"Ohio; Cynthia, deceased; Nancy, wife of Thompson Stettler, of Mercer county, Ohio, a farmer; James, who enlisted in company K, Forty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, and died from a gunshot wound received at the battle of Shiloh; Elizabeth, wife of Adam Cully, of Geneva, Ind .: Abram, the subject of this sketch; Catherine, deceased, and an infant, deceased.
Abram Harrod was educated in the com- mon schools, and remained at home with his mother, managing the home farm, until her death. Then he spent one year in traveling through the western states, including Califor- nia, and returning to his home, in Mercer comity, he married, May 15, 1875, Miss Har- riet Smith, who was born in Van Wert county, March 11, 1856, and who is a daughter of David and Jane (Hartzog) Smith. He then removed to Geneva and engaged in the furni- ture and undertaking business, which he there followed for nine years, when he removed to Portland, Ind., and engaged in the sale of ag- ricultural implements, which he continued for four years. On January 3, 1886, he engaged as salesman for H. Parham, who was an agri- cultural implement agent, and remained with him six years and eight months, at which time he was nominated for county recorder, and at the ensuing election was elected by a majority of 615 votes. He took possession of his office in January, 1894, and has most acceptably filled it ever since. He and his wife Harriet are the parents of three children, as follows: Bert G., deputy recorder of Allen county; Robert, clerk in the Columbian shoe store, and Viola May, deceased. In politics Mr. Harrod is a democrat, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is also a member of the Knights of Maccabe s.
Bert G. Harrod, deputy recorder of Allen county, was born in Geneva, Ind., August 29,
1876, and received his education in the schools of Portland, Ind., and Lima, Ohio. In the latter city, on March 21, 1894, he was married to Miss Luella Moore, who was born in Day- ton, Ohio, July 19, 1877, and is a daughter of J. H. and Laura (Chambers; Moore. Mr. Harrod is a democrat, represents Bradstreet's commercial agency, and is a prominent yonng politician, popular and recognized in society as a splendid young man. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
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