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 42
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Mr. Leist was married February 2, 1865, to Miss Margaret J. Davidson, who was born in Tarlton, Ohio, and is a daughter of Nimrod A. and Marie Davidson, both of whom are natives of the Shenandoah valley, Va. Mr. and Mrs. Leist are the parents of two chil- dren, viz: Eva, wife of Dr. William N. Enslen, of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Charles H., who married Leota Vannetta, and is a machinist. residing at Lima, Ohio. Both Mr. and Mr .. Leist are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
sketch, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, and was married twice; first to Elizabeth Rhoades, and after her death to her sister, Amelia. He was the father of six children, as follows: George R., the subject: Thomas J., Alfred, Amos A., Elizabeth and Susan. Thomas and Amos A. are dead, the latter having been killed at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, a battle in which many people believe thousands of Union soldiers were need- lessly sacrificed. Alfred was also a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, being a member of the Fifty-eighth Ohio volunteer infantry. Amos A. Leist enlisted Angust 6, 1862. in company F, Ninetieth Ohio volunteer infantry, when he was only nineteen years of age. On May 18, 1863, he was promoted to first sergeant, and on the 27th of June, 1864, he was killed, as above related. His body was interred at Marietta, in the national cemetery there, in section 8, the number of his grave being 335. He was on the eve of promotion to a second lieutenancy when he was killed -- a promotion to which his faithful services and his intelligent devotion to duty fully entitled him. He was a young man of exceptional ability and bril- liancy, and had he lived would undoubtedly have become a distinguished man. A few weeks before his death he was conversing with his chaplain, and during the conversation he . informed the reverend gentleman that he wished to have his name enrolled among the followers of Christ, as he intended, after the war was over, to devote his life to the ministry. From that time until his death he was a most devout Christian, being, no doubt, led to think seriously upon religious matters by the carly teaching and training of his pions parents, both of whom were devoted members of the church.
Jacob Leist, father of Elias S. Leist, was a man of vast and profound knowledge. He
Elias S Leist, father of the subject of this i was a minister of the gospel, and removed
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from Pennsylvania, his native state, in 1812, settling in Circleville, Ohio, where he preached for several years. He was a Lutheran preacher, and a deep and profound thinker. He mar- ried Elizabeth Shoemaker, daughter of Judge Shoemaker, of Circleville, Ohio. By this mar- riage he became the father of seven children, many of whom became distinguished in their several ways. He followed the ministry many years, accomplished much good during his life- time, and died at a very advanced age.
George R. Leist is at the present time a member of the village council of Elida, a posi- tion which he has held for several years. He was one of the incorporators of the village, and was for nine years a member of the board of education. While he has often been asked to accept political office, he has uniformly de- clined, with the exception of the offices men- tioned in this connection. He is one of Elida's best citizens, and all honor him for the char- acter he has formed and for the service he has bsen to the county in which he lives, not only because of the example he has set in inde- pendent thought and living, but also for his public spirit and private deeds. He has been an attentive student of history in general, and is the owner of an entensive and very valuable library, with most of the volumes of which he ยท is quite familiar.
J OHN MERICLE, a highly respected farmer of Marion township, Allen county, Ohio, and an ex-soldier, is a son of Solomon and Catharine (Blos- ser) Mericle, of whom further information may be had by reading the sketch of George Mericle of Van Wert county. John Mericle was born in Hocking county, Ohio, May ro, 1838, was there reared to manhood on a farm, and was there married, December 24, 1864, to
Nancy J. Fickle, who was born in the same county March 21, 1843, a daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Jonas) Fickle, of Virginian origin, and parents of nine children, of whom six grew to maturity, viz .: Joseph, Rachel, Mary A., William H., Nancy J. and Harriet. The father, Isaac Fickle, was a pioneer of Hocking county and was the owner of a farm of eighty acres, which he placed under a fine state of cultivation, and on which he passed away at the age of about sixty-seven years.
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Mericle lived on the old homestead one year, when Mr. Mericle enlisted, at Logan, Ohio, February 6, 1865, for one year or during the war, in com- pany C, Fifty-eighth Ohio volunteer infantry, and was honorably discharged, September 16, 1865, at Vicksburg, Miss., having served mostly on guard duty. During his absence his family had removed to Allen county, but on his return from the army he went back to Hocking county, taking his family, where he resided about eighteen months, and then de- cided to make his permanent residence in Allen county. After making a trial of two or three farms he finally settled on his present place in 1888, or thereabout, and here cleared up a comfortable homestead of twenty-three acres. The family born to Mr. and Mrs. Mericle com- prises the following children: Elmer, Jacob, Minnie, Wesley, Cyrus and Ethel. The par- ents are members of the German Baptist church, and by their daily life give every evi- dence of the sincerity of their profession of faith. In politics Mr. Mericle is a republican, but affiliates with his party as a matter of principle, and not for the purpose of reaping a reward in the way of official emolument. As a citizen, Mr. Mericle, like the distinguished pioneer family from which he descends, has always been ready to perform his full duty, and as a neighbor enjoys the respect of all the residents of his vicinage.
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a HARLES A. METHEANY. - The Metheany family is an ancient and influential one in both Virginia and Ohio. They were always successful business men and took especial pleasure in pushing great enterprises through to success. Charles A. Metheany is the eldest son of Richard and Esther (Levering) Metheany, and was born August 1, 1837, in what is now Au- glaize county, but in what was then Allen county.
Richard Metheany was a son of John Me- theany, who was a native of Rockingham county, Va. The family was of Scoth-Irish origin, and settled in this Virginia county di- rect from Ireland at an early date. John and his brother, Israel, came to Ohio about 1802, Israel settling in Knox county, where he died, and in which are to be found at the present time many of his descendants. John Mc- theany settled in Brown county, remaining there until : 817, removing then to Clarke county, and living there for seventeen years. In 1834 he removed to Allen county, dying in 1846 in Lima, while living with his son, Richard. He married a Miss Lydia Rolliston, who died in Clarke county. They were the parents of three children, as follows:, Nancy, who married a Mr. Baldwin, and died in 1891, in her eighty-fifth year; Prudence, who died single, and Richard, father of the subject of this sketch, and the only son, who was born June 16, 1805, in Brown county, Ohio. Being born at a time when educational facilities were exceedingly limited, his opportunities were not of the best, and in fact he received only three months' schooling in one of the log school- houses of pioneer days. Plenty of work on his father's farm he could always find. In 1834 he removed to Allen county -- that por- tion now included in Auglaize county-and purchased 160 acres of land on Two Mile creek. Here he lived until 1843, clearing up
his land and converting it into a good farm. At this time he was appointed clerk of the county courts, under the old judicial system, remaining in that office until 1852, when the entire judicial system was changed by the adoption of the new constitution. About the time of the adoption of this constitution the great enterprise of constructing the Ohio & In- diana railroad was projected (now the P., Ft. W. & C. railroad), and Mr. Metheany became associated with Judge Hanna in pushing it along. Through the efforts of Mr. Metheany the right of way was secured through Allen county, Judge Hanna being the inspiring genius of the movement and Mr. Metheany being his principal assistant in that part of the state. Mr. Metheany was appointed the first agent for the road in Lima after its completion, and held that position three years. In 1855 he was elected county auditor by the American, or know-nothing party, filling that office until 1857, after which time he was engaged in buy- ing and selling grain until his death, which oc- curred June 22, 1879.
Politically Mr. Metheany was a whig in early life, and passed through the American party into the republican party, being a lead- ing spirit in the organization of the latter party in Allen county. Throughout his entire life he was an active adherent of and supporter of the principles of that party, and was a proni- inent figure in both local and state affairs. He was eminently a man of business, and in every- thing he undertook he proved himself a mas- terful spirit, succeeding where others would have failed. For more than thirty years he was thus prominent in private and public life, as clerk of the county courts, as auditor, as mag- istrate, as mayor, and as school officer. The magnificent railroad system from Pittsburg to Chicago is one of the movements in which his influence was powerfully felt. Living after him this system of railroads will always perpetuate
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his genius and be a worthy monument to his memory.
In his religious convictions he was a Bap- tist, and he was a member of the church dur- ing the latter years of his life. He was one of the early members of Lima lodge, F. & A. M., and was one of the original members of Shawnee commandery. He was also a mem- ber of the state militia, holding a commission as adjutant. On June 16, 1836, he was mar- ried to Ester Ann Levering, daughter of Judge Charles Levering, one of the associate judges of Allen county, Ohio. To this marriage the following children were born: Charles A., of Lima, the subject of this sketch; John M., who was superintendent of the G. R. & I. R. R., but who is now deceased; Emma, widow of Charles A. Lynch; Augusta, who died in 1871; Mary S., wife of Col. L. T. Moore, of Lima; Albert M., who is engaged in the insurance business in Galion, Ohio; Annetta E., wife of John H. Osborne, of Gardner, Kans .; Clara A., of Lima; Eldon L., freight and ticket agent, G. R. & I. R. R. and mayor of Cadillac, Mich. ; William L., shipping clerk with Moore Bros., Lina, Ohio; Richard R., anditor of the G. R. & I. R. R. Co., at Grand Rapids, Mich., and Ada L., wife of U. M. Shappell, clerk of Allen county courts.
Charles A. Matheany was reared in Lima and received his education in the common schools, and later attended a select school. At the age of sixteen he entered the employ of the Ohio & Indiana Railroad company, work- ing for that company in different capacities, finally succeeding his father as agent at Lima. Remaining with this company for eight years he then accepted a position with the C. H. & D. railroad company as book-keeper, and re- tained that position for twenty years. At the present time Mr. Metheany has practically re- tired from active business, but has been one of the most successful men in his county. For
some time he filled the office of secretary and superintendent of the board of trustees of the Lima waterworks, was a member of the city council during 1878 and 1879, and was a di- rector in the Lima National bank from 1885 to 1890. Politically he is a republican, and his advice and counsel are always welcome to his party associates. He is a member of the First Baptist church of Lima, and has been a deacon therein for the past twenty-one years. He is past master and present master of Lima lodge, F. & A. M., and is a member of Lima chapter.
Mr. Metheany was married, in 1858, to Miss Mary L., daughter of Thomas Harper, of Green county, Ohio, and by this marriage four children have been born, viz: Mary; Esther, wife of attorney Ira B. Longsworth, of Lima; Charles F., chief clerk of the C., H. & D. Railroad company; George H., manager of Lima Telephone company, and Allen, a student. No matter what may be the character of a man it will generally sooner or later manifest itself, and thus it is that the public estimate of a man is usually correct, and is a key to his character. And so when it is said that a man stands high in the estimation of his fellow-men, that is usu- ally the same thing as to say that he is an hon- orable and upright man. This, it is a pleas- ure to record, is the case with Mr. Metheany.
J OSEPH MEYER, of Marion township, Allen county, Ohio, is prominent as a carpenter and contractor, as well as saw-mill proprietor, of Landeck, and also a successful farmer of the township. He was born in the village of Willmergen, in the canton of Aargau, Switzerland, February 2, 1858, of German stock.
Jacob Meyer, father of our subject, was also a native of Switzerland, was town clerk of Willmergen, and married Miss Elizabeth
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OF ALLEN COUNTY. .
Kock, who became the mother of three chil- dren-Josephine, John and Joseph. The father of this family died in his native canton about the year 1864, when about fifty years of age, being a devout member of the Catholic church; his widow still resides in her native mountain village, at the age of sixty-five years.
Joseph Meyer, onr subject, was six years old when he lost his father, but received a very good education in the excellent common schools of the little republic of Switzerland. In 1872, at the age of fourteen years, he left home in company with his brother, John, and came to America under the auspices of Rev. Father Brem, also a native of Switzerland and the pastor of the Catholic church at Landeck. Father Brem sometime afterward became nearly blind and returned to Switzerland, where he passed a blessed life to eternity. He had been greatly loved by his congregation in Landeck and left many friends there to mourn his loss. Mr. Meyer, now about fifteen years old, first worked out as a farm hand. and then learned the carpenter's trade and in an incredi- bly short time engaged in contracting and building on his own account. He married Miss Emma Shaffer, daughter of John and Julia (Sheeter; Shaffer, and this union has been crowned by the birth of four children, named Loretta, Bertha, Martha, and Oswald. The father of Mrs. Meyer, John Shaffer, is one of the oldest settlers of Landeck and is the father of seven children, to-wit: Jacob, Mary, Louis, Frank, Emma, Henry and Peter. Mr. Shaffer is now seventy-eight years of age and is greatly respected for the purity of his character and lionored as one of the founders of the town.
After his marriage Mr. Meyer settled in Landeck, where he has since made his home. He engaged in the saw-mill business in 1884, buying out Jacob Shaffer, and this he has since continued in connection with his contracting
and building, and has been very prosperous, as a result of his honest and liberal method of doing business. In 1892 he bought sixty acres of farming land, and has it already well im- proved and tilled. His town residence, how- ever, he erected in 1889, and this is one of the most tasteful and convenient in Landeck. In religion Mr. Meyer and family are all devoted Catholics, and in politics Mr. Meyer is a dem- ocrat. He is still a young man, and success as a business man results from his indomitable industry, correct judgment and mechanical skill chiefly, but a great deal of it may be awarded to the strict honesty which character- izes his every transaction and the absence of all desire to avail himself of petty advantages . that may offer in the execution of a contract. His fellow-citizens have indeed learned that "his word is as good as his bond."
EVI M. MYERS is among the prom- inent and leading members of Elida, Ohio. He is engaged in the grocery, tinware, hardware, cigar and tobacco business and in short carries a miscellaneous srock comprising the necessities and luxuries of life. He began his career in Elida on his account February 17, 1892, with about $125 capital in stock, but at present, three years later, he has a large and well-selected assort- ment of goods and wares. He is a native of Marion township, Allen county, was born Feb- ruary 10, 1850, and is a son of Daniel and Re- becca Myers. His education was obtained in the common schools, and when but a lad went into his father's store and learned the mer- cantile business. His life has nearly all been spent in Elida, or rather Elida has nearly al- ways been his home, where he has been in business, the greater part of the time, for his father. He has been twice married. His first marriage occurred January 1. 1870, when
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he was united to Miss Elizabeth Shoemaker, daughter of C. M. Shoemaker of Allen county. She died in May, 1874. Three children were born to them, two of whom are deceased. In August, 1887, Mr. Myers married Miss Allie Chamberlain, daughter of William and Mary (Burch) Chamberlain. She was born in Put- nam county, but reared in Delphos, Ohio. The mother of our subject is deceased, but the father is a resident of Sugar Creek township. Mr. and Mrs. Myers are members of the Lu- theran church. In politics he is a stanch dem- ocrat. He is a representative man-one of Elida's best-full of energy, vigor and push, and is satisfied with nothing short of success.
R OBERT W. MCCLURE, an enter- prising and progressive young farmer of Jackson township, is a son of the first white child born in Allen county, Ohio, and is a grandson of one of the earliest pioneers of the state.
Samuel McClure, grandfather of our sub- ject, Robert W., was a native of Harrison county, Kv., born November 17, 1793, was there reared to manhood, and served from that state as a private in the war of 1812. The war being ended, he moved to Ohio and lo- cated in Champaign county, where he engaged in farming and was first married to Margaret Watt, who was born July 6, 1800, the urion resulting in the birth of twelve children, viz: Sarah A., Nathaniel, Mary, Thomas, Moses, Elizabeth, Nancy, Cynthia, Margaret, Samuel, Robert, and an infant that died unnamed. Mr. McClure came to Allen county November 17, 1825, and by a second wife, who was born m 1834, had born to him eleven children, viz: John, Catherine, Isabel, James, Esther, Eliza, Joseph, Newton, Alexander, Benjamin and William. The father, Samuel McClure, was a man of generous impulses, was an active
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and exercised a wide influence for good in the communities in which he had lived.
Moses McClure, father of Robert W., was born December 1, 1826, and, as intimated above, was the first white child born in Allen county, and is still living within sight of his birthplace in Jackson township. He has al- ways been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and has accumulated many acres, still owning a large farin, although he has generously aided his children with gifts of land. His first mar- riage took place July 23, 1848, the bride being Elizabeth Murray, who was born in Highland county, Ohio, February 8, 1831, a daughter of John Murray. This lady died March 7, 1855, the mother of two children-Martha (now deceased) and Margaret T. The second marriage of Moses McClure was solemnized October 18, 1855, with Elizabeth K. Greer, of Montgomery county, Ohio, 1 daughter of Joshua and Rebecca (Pierson) Greer, and born January 18, 1836. Mr. and Mrs Greer were originally from New Jersey, but after- ward lived in Kentucky a number of years, and in 1841 settled in Allen county, Ohio. To the second union of Mr. and Mrs. McClure have been born eight children, in the following or- der: John M., who is married to Clarissa Dotson; Isaac, married to Margaret Dotson; Rebecca, wife of J. Sweeter; Robert W., the subject of this mention; Samuel L., Joshua G., Moses A. and Cynthia A. The father of these two families of children, Moses McClure, is one of the most prominent citizens of Jack- son township, and has done much to promote its progressiveness. He is " stanch repub- lican in politics and a pillar of the Christian church. In addition to his large farming in- terests he gives some attention to financiering, and is a stockholder and director in the Metro- politan bank of Lima.
Robert W. McClure, who. name opens
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OF ALLEN COUNTY.
this biography, was born in Jackson township, Allen county, Ohio, June 20, 1863, received a very good common-school education and has always been a farmer.' November 23, 1884, he was united in the bonds of matrimony with Miss Cora B. Bresler, who was born October 7, 1866, a daughter of Henry and Lovey (Woolet) Bres- ler, of Bath township-the happy union being now blessed with five children, viz: Lovey G., Silva M., Harvey E., Clara M. and Fary. In politics Mr. McClure is a thorough republi- can. He is very energetic in his industry and has a model farin of seventy acres, improved with a good new barn and all other necessary out-buildings and a tasty cottage. He largely shares the respect in which the family is held by the community, and his present prosperity augurs well for the future.
HE MILLER FAMILY .- One of the most distinguished families of Allen county is that whose history is here briefly traced. The founder of this family in America was Stephen Miller, a native of Holland, who in 1750 left that country and settled in Vermont, subsequently removing to Brock's Gap, Va., with several of his children, where he continued to live until 1806, when he and one of his sons were killed by Indians. While facts in regard to the lives of his chil- dren are somewhat meager, yet it is known that four of them, William, George, Abraham and Daniel, removed with him to Virginia. The family was afterward separated, part go- ing to Pennsylvania, while the others removed to Ross county, Ohio, with the exception of Daniel, who remained in Virginia.
George Miller was born in 1762 in Vermont, and it is with his descendants that this sketch las to de . After the arrival of the family m Virginia, be married Miss Mary Custer of that state, in which state for sometime he pursued
the trade of tanner, but at length, as has been intimated above, removed to Ross county, Ohio, where he lived until his death. He and his wife, Mary, were the parents of the follow- ing children: Stephen, Ferdinand, Benjamin, Joseph, George, Mary, who became Mrs. Mur- phy; and Rachel, who married a Mr. John.
Ferdinand, the second son of George, was born in 1795, was reared in Virginia, was by occupation a carpenter and fariner, and served in the war of 1812 as a colonel from commence- ment to the close. He married Miss Keturah Carr, by whom he had the following children: Charles; Israel; Isaac, who died in Ohio; Jos- eph, who served as a soldier in the war of the Rebellion and also died in Ohio; Austin, who was a veteran in the same war. and who now lives in Van Wert; Jesse, also a veteras in the Rebellion and who died in Allen county. Will- iam; Curtis, all of whom served in the Rebellion except the first named son; Solomon, who now lives in Allen county; Sarah, wife of John Heisler. of Kansas; Keturah, wife of Samuel Herring; Kesiah, wife of William Lettle. Fer- dinand Miller settled in Amanda township, Allen county, he coming to Fort Amanda in the winter of 1820-4 and there took up eighty acres of government land, which he subse- quently sold and purchased eighty acres more. From this fact it may be readily inferred that he was one of the early settlers of that town- ship, and upon this land he lived and labored in the manner of the pioneer the remainder of his days, dying in Amanda township, his wife Keturah having died some years previously.
Joseph Miller, the third son of Ferdinand, who is mentioned above as a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, was born in October, 1823, in Ross county, Ohio, but was reared in Allen county, educated in the common schools and learned the trade of a carpenter. In 1864 he joined what is known as tl : home guards, and served ninety days. He settled on eighty
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acres of land, which he entered in section No. 26, forty acres of which he subsequently sold, . and purchased forty acres in section No. 34. adjoining. Upon this farm he lived, improv- ing it and converting it into a good and fertile piece of property, and died in May, 1883. Politically Mr. Miller was a republican, and was an active worker for his party's success.
Joseph Miller married Miss Minerva J. Shock, daughter of Samuel Shock, of Alle- gheny county, Pa., who settled in Amanda township, Allen county. To this marriage there were born eight children. viz: Azariah D. Mary A., Elizabeth, William F., of Lima, Ohio; Hanibal, of Fort Worth, Texas; Solo- mon, of Lima, Ohio; Wilson C. and Charles W., both of whom are living on the old farm.
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