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 59
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
ENRY P. WAGNER, M. D., one of the most eminent physicians and sur- geons of northwestern Ohio, the old- est practitioner of Delphos, and one of the most prominent in Allen county, was born January 1, 1824, in Wendelsheim, near the city of Metz, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. His father, Louis Wagner, was a gentleman of fine literary taste, a highly cultivated mind, and was in comfortable circumstances. Being dissatisfied with the monarchical government of Germany, Louis Wagner decided, at the age of forty-four years, to find or establish a new home for himself and family in a free country. Accordingly, with his wife, Magda- lena, and four sons and four daughters, he came to the United States, landing at New York city, and thence came to Columbus, Ohio, where he founded a home.
After completing a literary and scientific course of study, Henry P. Wagner began the study of medicine, at the age of eighteen years, under the preceptorship of Edwin H. Davis, A. M., M. D., professor of materia medica anu therapeutics of New York Medical col- lege. After three years of study under the guidance of this eminent instructor, Mr. Wag- ner went to Europe and pursued his studies for several years in Germany. On his return to this country he began the practice of medi- cine at Chillicothe, Ohio, where he remained until 1847, when he located at section No. 10, now the city of Delphos, Van Wert county, where he has since successfully practiced his profession. In 1863 and 1864 Dr. Wagner visited New York city and attended private in- structions under Prof. Austin Flint, Sr., M. D., in physical diagnoses; Prof. Frank H. Hamil- ton, M. D., in surgery; Prof. Austin Flint, Jr., M. I., in microscopy, and also attended clin- ical lectures in Bellevue Charity hospital, and other hospitals in the city of New York, as well as the private practice of distinguished
physicians in the city. He received a diploma from Bellevue Hospital Medical college, and letters of commendation from eminent and distinguished physicians. Dr. Wagner has been in active practice in Delphos for forty- eight years, and is the pioneer physician of the place. For years he practiced in Allen, Van Wert and Putnam counties, when the country was undeveloped and in a state of wilderness. From the beginning the doctor's success has been phenomenal. He began the practice with a mind thoroughly equipped with intellectual and professional training, and his superior abilities in due time won for him a prominent place among the leading physicians and sur- geons of northern Ohio, which place he still retains. He combines, with a deep knowledge of the profession, the sympathetic nature and gentle touch, of the true healer, and afflicted humanity has found in him a sympathetic and unselfish benefactor. The doctor has been most fortunate in his practice financially, hav- ing accumulated thereby a comfortable fortun. , which he liberally dispenses for the welfare of the city and county where he has for so many years resided. He is a member of the Ainer- ican Medical association, the Ohio State Me.i. ical society, and of the Northwestern Medical association of Ohio, in which organizations he is very prominent. He was formerly a mem- ber of the Allen County Medical society, and for many years was one of the censors of the Toledo Medical college.
Dr. Wagner is a knight templar Mason and has filled all the chairs of the local lodge, chapter and council, being for over twenty years high priest. He has filled many public offices of a local nature, such as councilman and township trustee, and proved true to every trust reposed in him by his fellow-citizens. He was vice-president of the Commercial bank of Delphos, of which he also served as caster and director. He was al. o largely interested
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A.P.Wagner.M.D.
11. 1. Wagner
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in the building of the Pittsburg, Akron & West- ern railroad, also the Clover Leaf, and made liberal donations to those enterprises. The doctor subscribes to the Methodist creed and has been liberal in donations to the church, contributing $1,000 toward the building of the present handsome temple of worship of Del- phos, and $500 toward the building of the par- sonage. He also assisted largely in raising the balance of the money for these two buildings, and for many years was president of the church board of trustees.
Dr Wagner was married on November 8, 1849, at Delphos, to Maggie M. Martin. Mrs. Wagner was a daughter of the late Rev. Edward N. and Catherine F. Martin, was born in Day- ton, Ohio, October 30, 1828, and with her parents, brothers and sisters came to Delphos, then called Section 10, in 1848, where her marriage to Dr. H. P. Wagner occurred on West Third street. Mrs. Wagner graduated from the female seminary at Springfield, this event being the completion of an advanced education given her by her parents. Mrs. Wagner united with the Methodist Episcopal church at Piqua, Ohio, in 1844, and was after- ward identified with that church until her death, which occurred January 29, 1896, her husband, two brothers and a sister being left to mourn her loss. The brothers are R. H, Martin, of Delphos, Ohio, and John S. Martin, of Converse, Ind., and the sister is Mrs. N. L. Eggers, who was making her home with Mrs. Wagner at the time of the latter's decease. The funeral services took place from her late resi- dence, corner Washington and East Fourth streets, Saturday morning, February Ist, 1896, at 10 o'clock and were conducted by Rev. M. Gascoigne, of Delphos, and Rev. J. W. Holland, of Bowling Green, Ohio, former pastor of the Delphos Methodist congregation, interment being made in the West Side cemetery. Suit- able resolutions of condolence were also passed
by the Eastern Star society, of which she had been an active member, and signed by the society's officers-G. G. McCoy, Mrs. M. Gas- coigne and Mrs. E. W. Hastings. Mrs. Wagner was also a very prominent life member of the Methodist Foreign Missionary society.
OWARD TURNER, of the firm of Turner Bros., manufacturers of drain tile and saw-mill operators, with their post-office at Ada, Ohio, but having their plants located in Jackson township, Allen county, Ohio, was born in Lee township Har- din county, February 20, 1862, and is of En- glish extraction, his great-grandfather having been the first of the family to come to America.
Isaac Turner, father of Howard Turner, our subject, was born in Muskingum county, June 17, 1817, and was always a farmer. He mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Wood, a daughter of Samuel J. Wood, and to this marriage the following children were born: Jane, wife of Sylvester Turner; John, Frank, Erastus, Sam- uel, Stephen and Howard, all now married and the heads of their own families. The parents removed from Muskingum county to Hardin county, Ohio, the same year in which the Pennsylvania railroad was run through the county last named, and there the father wrought out from the wilderness a fine farm of 1 30 acres, as a homestead for himself, and also bought additional land, which he gave his children, every inch of which he had earned through his own toil and good management. In politics he was a democrat, and in religion was a faithful Methodist, in which faith his wife died, August : 16, 1882, a truly christian woman and mother.
Howard Turner was reared to manhood on his father's farm, was well educated in the common schools and married, March 15 1883, Miss Dora Tressle, daughter ot John and Mary (McKnight) Tressle-the former a prosperous
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farmer of Liberty township, Hardin county; he is also a prominent member of the Lutheran church and an active republican in his politics. The children that have crowned the blissful marriage of Howard Turner and wife are three in number and are named Daniel, Alva and Paul. After his marriage Mr. Turner resided for five years on a forty-acre farm which he owns in Hardin county, but which, although well cultivated and improved, he has not occu- pied since his coming to Allen county, about the year of 1888. Since coming to Jackson township Mr. Turner has filled the office of township trustee and has received many other proofs of the confidence which is reposed in him by his fellow-citizens. He is a class leader in the Methodist church, of which he is a truly conscientious member, and by his walk through life gives every indication that he has taken its instructions fully to heart, practicing them, on all occasions, in his social intercourse as well as his business transactions. He is a chorister in the Methodist Sunday-school, and aids, pecuniarily and otherwise, in extending the in- fluence of the denomination in which he places his religious faith. As a business man, al- though yet young in years, he has shown re- markable sagacity, and in the transaction of his successful trade his integrity has never been impugned.
IEUT. SAMUEL B. VIOLET, one of the leading business men of Beaver Dam, Allen county, Ohio, and an ex- soldier of the late Civil war; was born in Pike county, Ohio, July 22, 1837, and descends from an old colonial family of Vir- ginia, of French Huguenot origin, the family name, it is thought, being originally spelled Violette.
John Violet, grandfather of our subject, was a soldier in the American Revolutionary
war and was a substantial farmer of Loudoun county, Va. He married Miss Constance Phil- lips, the union resulting in the birth of the fol- lowing children: William, Benjamin, Samuel, Maria, Rebecca and Eva. The father of these, John Violet, removed from Virginia to Ohio, with his family and was a pioneer of Pike county, of which he became an influential cit- izen and a successful farmer, although, for the last fourteen years of his life. he was deprived of his eyesight. He reached the patriarchal age of over ninety years and died an honored and highly respected gentleman.
Samuel Violet, son of John and father of our subject, was born in Loudoun county, Va., in 1799, was reared a farmer and when a young man came to Ohio and located in Ad- ams county. He married Eunice Phillips, who was a native of that county also born in 1799. After marriage, Mr. Violet removed to Pike county and located in the wilderness, about two miles from Piketon, where he re- sided until 1845, when he removed with his family to Burlington, Iowa, where, thirteen days later, his death occurred. He and wife were the parents of ten children, viz: John M., James Q., Mary, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Martha, Harriet, Sarah, Samuel B. and Eunice. The parents were devout members of the Method- ist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Violet was a pillar and office holder. In politics Mr Vio- let was a democrat. He was a substantial farm- er and a citizen who held the respect of the entire community in which he had lived.
Samuel B. Violet, our subject, was but eight years of age when taken by his father to Burlington, Iowa, but still remembers the jour- ney-the trip to Cincinnati, about 100 miles, and by steamer down the Ohio river and up the Mississippi to Keokuk, Iowa, and thence about fifty miles to Burlington, young Samuel, although but a child and disabled by a broken arm, driving the team with one hand-his
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father even then being in a dying condition. Samuel had received some little education in the pioneer school of Pike county, and his mother, after he had attained his ninth year, lived on a farm nine years, and then removed to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, for the purpose of educating her children, but her death took place eight months later, and thus our subject lost all opportunities for schooling. At the age of seventeen he returned to Ohio and became a clerk for his brother, John M. Violet, a merchant and farmer of Scioto county, with whom he remained until nearly nineteen years old, when he married, December 20, 1855, Miss Jennie C. Slattery, a native of Scioto county, born January 23, 1833, and a daugh- ter of John and Julia (Crull) Slattery. The father, John Slattery, was a well-to-do farmer of Irish descent, and he and wife were parents of the following children: Jennie C. (Mrs. Violet), Louise, Theodore, Charles, Levina (who died when eleven years old) and Julia. Mr. Slattery died at the age of forty-five years, a much respected citizen. Mrs. Slattery was next married to Thomas Crull, to whom she bore one child-Ella. William Slattery, grandfather of Mrs. Violet, came from Ireland and married, in America, Atlanta Smoch; he first located in Maryland, but later became a pioneer and representative farmer of Scioto county, Ohio, and here died at the age of seventy-five years, a member of the Methodist church and the father of two children, Will- iam and John (father of Mrs. Violet). . The mother of Mrs. Violet was a daughter of Jndge Samuel Crull, who was born in Loudoun county, Va., and was also a pioneer of Scioto county, Ohio, where he rose to prominence and for forty years was associate judge of the county court, also a member of the state legis- lature, and was a highly honored gentleman. He lived to reach the ripe old age of seventy- five years.
After marriage, Samuel B. Violet. with his wife, moved to southern Iowa, where he farmed for three years and then returned to Scioto county, Ohio, and followed agriculture until Juue, 1862, when he enlisted at Ports- mouth, Ohio, for three years or during the war, and was at once commissioned second lieutenant and detailed as recruiting officer, and as such he raised a full company of volun- teers, who were mustered into the United States service August 22, 1862, as company F, of the One Hundred and Seventeenth regi- ment, Ohio volunteer infantry. With this company and regiment Lieut. Violet served until the spring of 1864, as second lieutenant, and was then promoted to be first lieutenant of company A, First Ohio heavy artillery, in which capacity he served until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. June 30, 1865, at Knoxville, Tenn.
The first active service of Lieut. Violet was performed in eastern Kentucky, where he endured much hard marching, especially from Buffalo Shoals to Peach Orchard, a distance of forty miles; in this wintry march the troops greatly suffered from the cold and the struggle over roads covered with deep mud, slush and snow. In April, 1864, Lieut. Violet was as- signed, by order of Gen. Schofield, to the staff of Gen. Tilson, and was detailed as one of the superintendents of the line of fortifications at Knoxville, Tenn .; Gen. Tilson being now superseded by Gen. Gibson, Lieut. Violet served on the staff of the latter until the close of the war. Lieut. Violet was always an active and efficient officer, was ever prompt in the discharge of his duty, and served his country well, truly and gallantly.
After the war, Lieut. Violet returned to Scioto county, Ohio, and engaged in mercan- tile trade with his brother, John M., at Whee- lersburg, for three years, and then, for five years, was engaged in the same business on
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
the Ohio canal; he then sold his mercantile interests and bought 205 acres of land in Pike county, Ohio, where he followed agriculture for two years, and then again engaged in mer- chandising, this time at Idaho, Pike county, for several years. In December, 1890, he moved to Beaver Dam, Richland township, Allen county (bringing his family the next spring), and here bought residence property and a store building, again followed mercan- tile pursuits for two years, and then sold out to his son-in-law, Branson Holton.
To Lieut. Violet and wife were born two children-Medora B. and Annie C., of whom the latter died at the age of twelve years. Medora B. was married to Branson Holton 'and to their union eight children were born in the following order: Jennie V., June 24, 1879; Lucius B., July 20, 1881; Sallie, August 4, 1883; Olive, February 17, 1885; Earnest A., March 9, 1886; Thomas M., born February 4, 1888, died February 13, 1890; Abbie Con- stance, July 29, 1889; Samuel, February 13, 1891, and Esther F., June 13, 1892.
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Branson Holton was born in Pike county, Ohio, May 20, 1851, a son of Thomas and Sallie (Beekman) Holton. The Holtons are of English descent, and Thomas Holton was a pioneer of Pike county. Branson Holton was well educated, read law, and was probate judge of Pike county several terms. He mar- ried Miss Medora B. Violet May 29, 1878, the bride having been born April 25, 1857. He entered into the mercantile business at Beaver Dam in 1891, and followed it until his sudden death, from heart trouble, January 13, 1895. He was a consistent member of the Christian Union church, in which he was at one time a class leader, and a man of high moral charac- ter. In politics he was of democratic affilia- ticu, but of strong prohibitionist proclivities, and fraternally was an Odd Fellow. Lieut. Violet and wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church and fraternally he is a Free- mason, being member both of the Blue lodge and the chapter, and is also an Odd Fellow, in which order he is a member of the subordi- nate lodge and encampment. He is a sub- stantial citizen and owns some valuable real estate in Beaver Dam and a farın in Richland township.
ATHANIEL VORE, a well-known agriculturist and horticulturist of Bath township, Allen county, Ohio, is a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Otto) Vore, and was born on his father's farm in Bedford county, Pa .. in the year 1832.
Benjamin Vore, the father of our subject, was born in York county, Pa., in 1784. where his early years were passed in the milling busi- ness. While still a young man he rem. ved to Bedford county, in the same state, erected a flouring-mill and married Rachael, daughter of Thomas Blackburn, to which union were born seven children, viz: Anthony, who was killed by a falling tree; Benjamin, deceased; Eliza- beth, deceased wife of Ephraim Adams; Mar- garet, deceased; Thomas, deceased; Sarah, deceased wife of Daniel Hess, and Hannah, deceased wife of Luther Davis. The mother of this family having been called away, Mr. Vore next married Elizabeth Manges, who died without issue, and for his third helpmate he selected Elizabeth Otto, and to this happy union have been born two children-Catherine, wife of William Hunt, and Nathaniel, oui sub- ject. Benjamin Vore, the father, was a very intelligent man and was closely identified with the republican party, of whose principles he was an able and warm advocate, and whom he represented for a number of years as auditor for the county of Bedtord, in which county his death took place, in 1861, an attached and consistent member of the Society of Friends.
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Nathaniel Vore, whose name stands at the opening of this biography, remained with his " parents until he had attained his twenty-third year, when he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Hull, daughter of Samuel Hull, of Bedford county, Pa., and about five years after this event came to Ohio and purchased a tract of eighty acres of land in Bath township, Allen county, which he redeemed from the woods, improved to the utmost, and on which he still resides, engaged in general farmning and the growing of fruit, devoting especial atten- tion to strawberries. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Vore were born six children, viz: Samuel H. and Gabriel H., still living, and Mary A., Catherine, Harry W. and Charlie, deceased. The mother of these children was called to join the departed ones March 2, 1874, and the bereaved husband, in 1876, sought another companion. in the person of Mrs. Sarah Early, widow of Jacob Early, of Bath township. This union has been blessed with two children -- John E. and Jacob A.
Mr. Vore is closely identified with the Ger- man Baptist, or Dunkard church, and takes an ardent and active interest in its progress, having filled the offices of deacon and super- intendent of Sunday-school for many years. As a republican, he has occupied the positions of township clerk and supervisor, and has served most acceptably. He is everywhere recognized as an upright, intelligent and use- ful citizen and as a kind neighbor, who does not live for himself alone.
J OHN H. WAHMHOFF, one of the representative business men and lead- ing citizens of Delphos, Ohio, was born in the city of Buffalo, Erie county, N. Y., on March 11. 1851. His parents were Stephen and Fredericka (Reuter) Wahmhoff,
both of whom were born in the mother country, . the father in Hanover, and the mother in Prussia. They came to America when quite young, and were married in Erie county, N. Y. Stephen Wahmhoff served an apprentice- ship at the boiler-making trade, and as draughtsman, and for many years was master mechanic of the Erie Central railroad. He was killed on the railroad December 9, 1858, leaving a widow and three sons and two daughters. In 1861 the widow moved her family to Van Wert county, Ohio, where they owned farming lands, upon which she located, the farm being about two miles from Delphos. Here she resided four years, and then removed into Delphos, where she resides at the present time, being now in her sixty-ninth year. Of the children three are now living, all residing in Delphos.
John H. Wahmhoff was the oldest of the children. He was educated in the parochial schools in Buffalo, and in the country schools of Van Wert county, while living on the farm, and at night school in. Delphos. At the age of fifteen years he began an apprenticeship of three years at the drug business in the store of Hunt & Walsh. After finishing his apprentice- ship he continued right along in the drug store, working his way up from the bottom to a re- sponsible position. After Mr. Walsh retired from the firm of Hunt & Walsh our subject managed the business for Mr. Hunt until 1878, when Mr. Hunt, desiring to retire from the drug business, sold the establishment to Mr. Wahmhoff. Of course Mr. Wahmhoff had not been able as a clerk to accumulate suffi- cient means to purchase so valuable a business, but tat did not stand in the way of the trade, as Mr. Hunt had unlimited confidence in the honesty and integrity of the young man and faith in his ability to succeed. So Mr. Wahn- hoff became the proprietor of the drug store, giving his notes unsecured for the entire
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amount of the purchase money. Subsequently events proved how well founded was the faith of Mr. Hunt in his young clerk. Since 1878 Mr. Wahmhoff has continued in the drug business, meeting with deserved success, and building up a large- business, and his establish- ment is now considered one of the leading drug houses in the city.
Mr. Wahmhoff has always taken an active interest in the affairs of Delphos, and for some time has been quite prominent in a public and official way. In 1872 he became a member of the volunteer fire department of Delphos, and continued a member of that organization for eighteen years, serving during that time in every capacity from private to chief of the de- . partment, holding the position of chief three or four years, during which time he was of great service to the city. In 1885 he was elected from the Second ward of Delphos to the city council, serving two years. In 1888 he was again elected from the Second ward, serving until 1890. In 1894 he was for the third time elected to the council. His serv- ices in the council have been of great value and benefit to the city, as he has always pur- sued a safe, sound and conservative policy. He served three years on the Delphos board of health, and is at the present time a member of the Delphos board of education. Since 1880 he has been a member of the Ohio State Pharmaceutical association, in which he has been quite prominent. He was one of five who drafted the present Ohio state pharmacy laws. Mr. Wahmhoff is a member of the Saint John's Roman Catholic church of Delphos, and has been quite active in the matters pertaining to the church; also a member of the American Pharmaceutical association of the United States and Canada. Mr. Wahmhoff was married, in 1851, to Christina C. Eich, who is American born and the mother of five children, viz: Ehzabeth, Henrietta, Agnes, John and Anna.
HILIP WALTHER .- It is always pleasant and profitable to contem- plate the career of a man who has become distinguished in any honorable walk of life, whether private or public. Such a career is that of Philip Walther, auditor of Allen county. Mr. Walther is a son of George J. and Eva Marie (Miller) Walther, and was born February 26, 1860, in Mckeesport, Pa. His grandfather, Bernard Walther, was a na- tive of Germany, and lived and died in Hesse Darmstadt. George J. Walther, father of Philip, was born in that city August 6. 1830, and in 1854 emigrated from his native land and city to the United States of America, set- tling at Mckeesport, Allegheny county, Pa. Here he lived ten years, engaged in mining, and in 1864 he removed to Ohio, and settled in Monroe township, Allen county, and engaged in farming the greater part of that year. Re- turning to McKeesport in the fall he remained there till 1866, when he returned to Ohio, settled in Lima, and conducted the Central hotel of that city until 1890, when he estab- lished himself in the grocery business. He was thus engaged until his death, which oc- curred November 9, 1892. Politically Mr. Walther was a democrat, taking an active interest in the success and good reputation of everything connected with his party's history and prosperity. In matters of religion he was a member and a trustee of the German Reform church for many years. Mrs. Walther was a daughter of George Miller, and was a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. She survives her husband and resides in Lima, enjoying the society of her children and the respect of all with whom she is acquainted. To her and her husband were born the following children: Catherine, wife of Martin Dibling, of Lima, Ohio; John, who died in infancy; Philip, the subject of this memoir; Margaret, wife of john W. Shnabel, of Lima; Frederick and Leonard,
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