USA > Ohio > Lorain County > A Standard History of Lorain County, Ohio: An Authentic Narrative of the. > Part 58
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He whose name initiates this article found his childhood compassed by the conditions and influences of the pioneer farm and was signally favored in being reared in a home of distinctive culture and refinement. His early education was acquired in the common schools and in Seville Academy, and in 1870 he was graduated in Oberlin College. from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In preparation for the work of the ministry he thereafter completed a course in Yale Theological Seminary, at New Haven, Connecticut, in which he was graduated in 1873, and in 1874 was ordained a clergyman of the Congregational Church. For the long period of thirty years Mr. Chapin labored with consecrated zeal and devotion and with distinctive success in the min- istry, and he held various pastoral charges in Ohio. One of his early pastorates was at Atwater, Portage County ; for four years he was pastor of the church at Lodi, Medina County, and for ten years established in a pastorate at Litchfield, that county; and for one year he held a
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charge at North Fairfield, Huron County. Upon his retirement from the active work of the ministry he purchased his present attractive and well improved farm of forty-seven acres, near the City of Oberlin, and he has since given to the same his general supervision. He finds pleasure and satisfaction in his home, his library and in the association with his wide cirele of friends in the community.
When the Civil war was precipitated upon the nation Mr. Chapin manifested his patriotism by tendering his services in defense of the Union. May 2, 1864, he enlisted as a private in Company F, One Hun- dred and Sixty-six Ohio National Guards, with which he continued in active service until he received his honorable discharge, September 10, 1864. He was sent to Washington, D. C., on guard duty.
The political allegiance of Mr. Chapin is given to the republican party and he and his wife are numbered among the most earnest and valued members of the Second Congregational Church of Oberlin, all of their children except the youngest being likewise active members of the Congregational Church.
On the 25th of June, 1873, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Chapin to Mary Emma Turner, who was born at Oxford, Chester County, Pennsylvania, and who was a girl at the time of the family removal to Seville, Medina County, Ohio, in 1853. She is a daughter of William and Margaret (Riffett) Turner, who were born in Pennsylvania and who were residents of Medina County, Ohio, for many years prior to their death. Mr. and Mrs. Chapin have five children, concerning whom brief record is given, in the concluding paragraph of this article.
Edward A., who is now identified with the telephone business in the city of Cleveland, was graduated in the high school at Medina and in 1899 was graduated in Berea College, at Berea, Kentucky, after which he devoted a number of years to teaching school. John C. likewise was graduated in the Medina High School and in Berea College, and he sup- plemented this discipline by a course in historic old Harvard University, in which he was graduated. He is now superintendent of the public schools of Glendale, Hamilton County, Ohio. William W. remains at the parental home. Mary T. is head of the department of domestic science in the Ohio State Normal School at Bowling Green. Sidney S. holds the position of assistant purchasing agent for the American Fork & IIoe Company, in the City of Cleveland.
PETER BUCHS. A stimulating example of industry has been fur- nished by Peter Buchs of Henrietta Township. Something more than thirty years ago he came to this country with his parents from Switzer- land, was a strong and vigorous youth but without capital and with no knowledge of American language or customs. By honest industry and thrift he has found the way to success and enjoys all the comforts of material prosperity and the esteem paid to a good citizen.
He was born in Switzerland August 4, 1862, a son of Peter and Eliza- beth (Siegfried) Buchs. His father was born in Switzerland February 28, 1828, and died July 20, 1889. The mother was born in September, 1834. and died some years after her husband. They were married in Switzerland, where the father was a quite successful man, but having lost all his property he brought his family to the United States in 1882 and located in Henrietta Township, living on a small farm there until his death. He and his wife were members of the German Methodist Episcopal Church and in politics he was a republican. Of eight chil- dren six are still living : Elizabeth, unmarried ; Peter; Mrs. Jacob Weid- mann, of Lorain County; Jacob, a resident of Henrietta Township; Gottlieb, who lives north of Oberlin; and Rose, who is unmarried and lives in Oberlin.
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Peter Buchs acquired his education in Switzerland and was twenty years of age when he came to America. For a time he earned wages by the heaviest work of a quarryman in the stone quarry at Amherst, and in that way got the start which has enabled him to provide not only for his own livelihood but for his family.
In March, 1888, Mr. Buchs married Louisa Weidmann, a member of a well known German family of Lorain County, reference to which is made on other pages of this publication. Of the three children born to their union the two now living are twins, Jacob Leonard and Paulina Marie, both at home. The daughter spent two years in the high school at Oberlin.
Mr. Buchs and family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, he is a member of the Grange and in politics is a republican. For one term he served as town trustee.
In 1889, the year following his marriage, Mr. Buchs bought a home in Henrietta Township and now has 106 acres of well improved land. His special business is dairying, and he ships large quantities of milk to Cleveland. He also grazes a number of cattle and hogs, has a fine barn, and in many ways has improved his home and land.
JACOB WEIDMANN. Nothing less than hard working industry has brought Jacob Weidmann to a position among the most substantial and prosperous farmers in the Kipton community. As a boy he had only the ordinary advantages of a Lorain County farmer boy, and started life with only his hands and a determination to succeed.
By hard work and economy he had saved $500 before he was twenty- one years of age. Some years later his accumulations amounted to $800 and he then made his first purchase in farming land. Since then he has continued his progress, and now has one of the most productive and valuable farms in his section of the county.
Though born in Germany, December 6, 1860, Jacob Weidmann was brought to America in infancy, and is a thorough American by train- ing and spirit, though he was reared and trained in the German lan- guage, which he speaks and reads fluently. His parents were George Henry and Eliza (Smith) Weidmann. The father was born December 20, 1831, and died in 1905, and the mother was born in July, 1827, and died in 1886. They were married in Germany in 1856, and a few years later they emigrated to America and located in Vermilion Township of Lorain County. Subsequently the father bought a farm in Henrietta Township, comprising sixty acres, and lived there until his death. He and his wife were members of the German Reformed Church and in politics he was a democrat. The paternal grandfather was George Weid- mann, who died in Germany, and the maternal grandfather, Adam Smith, also died in that country. Of the five children of George H. Weidmann and wife, the four now living are: Mrs. George Dellefield, wife of a well known farmer of Henrietta Township; Mrs. Buchs, wife of a farmer in Henrietta Township; Mrs. John Unger of Henrietta Township : and Jacob.
Jacob Weidmann acquired his early training in the district schools of Lorain County. For fourteen years he worked out as a farm hand, and with the $800 which his thrift enabled him to accumulate he pur- chased his father's farm. In 1887 he married Miss Katie Buchs, daugh- ter of Peter Buchs. The Buchs family came from Switzerland and set- tled in Lorain County thirty years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Weidmann, without children of their own. have adopted three: Lillie, now the wife of Carl Krieg, a farmer in Henrietta Township; Eda. wife of Albert Snyder of Henrietta Township; and Twila. who is six years of age. The family attend worship at the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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Mr. Weidmann is a member of the Grange and a republican in poli- tics. Besides his general farm industry he furnishes a large quantity of meat to the trade at Oberlin, going with supplies into that town three or four times each week. His farm comprises 168 acres of land, and besides the general crops he raises considerable stock, principally hogs and horses. He built a substantial farm residence, has an excellent farm equipment of buildings and other improvements, and until recently he owned another farm which he had improved with a large barn. One of the most profitable features of his farm is a large apple orchard, and in 1915 he sold a crop of $600 worth of apples. His nephew, Harold Buchs, lives with him and assists in the management of the farm. Mr. and Mrs. Weidmann are excellent Christian people, both take an active interest in the church, and have always done their part or more in the philanthropic and benevolent work of their community.
SAMUEL E. WURST. Lorain County has been and is signally favored in the class of men who have contributed to its development along com- mercial and agricultural lines and in the latter connection the subject of this review demands recognition as he has been actively engaged in farming operations and the raising of fancy, poultry during the greater part of his active career. He has long been known as a prosperous and enterprising citizen and one whose business methods demonstrate the power of activity and honesty in the business world.
Samuel E. Wurst was born at Brownhelm, Lorain County, Ohio, June 29, 1853, and he is a son of Echhart and Elizabeth (May) Wurst, the former of whom was born at Hesse-Cassel, Germany, where he spent his boyhood and youth and whence he immigrated to the United States in 1849. On arriving in this country Mr. Wurst located first in Roches- ter, New York, remaining there but a short time and going thence to Brownhelm, Ohio, where he spent one year. He then came to Elyria and located on East River Street on the east side of the city, where he owned two acres of land. He did not live long after arriving in America, however, as he was summoned to the life eternal in 1855. His widow, who survived him for many years, passed away in 1909, at the age of eighty-four years. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wurst, as follows: Henry is a retired merchant in Elyria; Samuel E. is the subject of this sketch; and Mary, who is the wife of John Daney, lives at Elyria, Ohio. They have one son, Norman.
When Samuel E. Wurst was but one year of age his parents located in Elyria and here he attended the common school and also high school for a time. He began business life as a clerk in the grocery store of Hannan & Obitts and remained in their employ for three years. He then bought the publication known as The Poultry Nation, and he con- ducted that journal with great success for the ensuing six years. In the meantime his brother Henry had purchased the store of Hannan & Obitts, mentioned above, and Mr. Wurst began to work for him, devoting a part of his time to the raising of fancy poultry. He was unusually successful with his poultry and gained a great reputation throughout this section of the state as a chicken fancier. Every fall he would ex- hibit poultry in the county and state fairs of Ohio and neighboring states. It is interesting to note that he had exhibits at the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo, at the St. Louis Centennial Exhibition and at the Ohio Centennial Exhibition. So great was his success in this line that he received prize ribbons enough to more than fill two bushel measures and he also received money prizes and other trophies. In May, 1891, he located on his present estate on Lake Avenue, just outside the cor- porate limits of Elyria. Originally he owned sixty acres in this vicinity
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but recently he disposed of ten acres as town lots. On the remaining land he carries on farming and still raises poultry. He also has a herd of seventeen head of registered Jersey cattle. His principal crops are hay, wheat and corn. Every fall he is called upon to act as judge of poultry at various fairs in Ohio and adjoining states. He owns eleven houses on the west side of Elyria, just inside the city limits, and is known as a man of considerable means.
April 20, 1887, Mr. Wurst was united in marriage to Miss Laura Standen, a daughter of George and Keziah (Smith) Standen. Mrs. Wurst was born in Dover, Ohio, August 22, 1861, and she lived on her parents' farm until her thirteenth year. In 1875 the Standen family located in Elyria, where Mr. Standen conducted a bottling works for eleven years. In 1886 he returned to his farm and the bottling works was conducted by his son, for whom Laura kept house until her marriage to Mr. Wurst. There were three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Wurst, concerning whom the following data are here inserted : Sherman St. Standen, born February 21, 1888, and a resident of Elyria, married, in 1911, Marie Sippel; Eunice Mabel, born April 19, 1892, died in 1907; and a daughter, born in 1897, died at the age of eleven days. Mr. and Mrs. Wurst are among the best known and most popular residents of Elyria Township, where they are held in high esteem by all who know them. Although fairly well advanced in years they enjoy the best of health. They manifest a warm and intelligent interest in local affairs and do all in their power to advance the prosperity of their community.
JOHN A. LATTEMAN. Still active and vigorous at the age of sixty- three, John A. Latteman has had an unusually active and worthy career. For nearly forty years he employed his energies at the carpenter trade and at the same time has developed a substantial home and farm, and is one of the men in the vicinity of Birmingham whose success is assured beyond all question.
He is a native of Lorain County, having been born in Brownhelm Township July 5, 1853, a son of Adam and Mary (Englebry) Latte- man. The father was born October 4, 1827, and died August 26, 1906, and the mother was born September 1, 1829, and died September 27, 1886. Both parents were natives of Germany, and are now deceased. They came to Lorain County in 1851, and were married in Brownhelm Township, where the father bought a farm. After eleven years he left that place and moved to Vermilion Township and afterwards to Henri- etta Township. His last place comprised eighty-two acres. Of the seven children six are living: J. A .; Mary, wife of George Dute, a farmer in Russia Township; Conrad, a farmer in Camden Township; Charles, a farmer in Florence Township; Ann, wife of Ira Kiplinger, a Lorain County farmer; Fred, a farmer in Lorain County. The parents were members of the German Reformed Church and the father was a democrat in politics.
John A. Latteman acquired his early education in the public schools of Brownhelm and Henrietta townships. When little more than a boy he acquired a practical knowledge of the carpenter's trade, and fol- lowed that as his principal work in the proper seasons of the year for forty years. At the same time he looked after his farming interests which gradually developed. He owns two farms, one of forty-seven acres and another well improved farm of seventy acres.
In 1878 he married Miss Mary Heidrich, daughter of Henry and Christine (Deice) Heidrich. Her parents were also natives of Germany and came to Lorain County and spent the rest of their days on a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Latteman have six children: Amelia, wife of W. H. Was-
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son, a Henrietta Township farmer; Martha, wife of Fred Berg, of Rush Township; Phillip, who lives near his father on a farm; Albert, who married Etta Hoffner, and is a farmer on the old Latteman homestead; Jennette, at home; and Arthur, who is attending the Oberlin High School.
The family are members of the German Reformed Church. Mr. Lat- teman is a member and takes considerable interest in the work of the Grange and in politics is a democrat. For the past ten years he has been a member of the board of education in his home township, and has also served as a township trustee. While his business is that of general farmer, his son now performs most of the practical work of the farm, operating on the shares, and also operating a small dairy. Mr. Latteman got his start in life through his own exertions. When his father's estate was divided he received the value of about $800, but that was the only important assistance he ever had. A number of years ago he built a beautiful farm home, and has also improved the land by other buildings and equipment and has a splendid place in which to spend his declining years.
GEORGE DELLIFIELD. The career of a man who starts with nothing and attains a definite success is always encouraging and is worthy of some permanent record in the annals of his home county. Such a case is illustrated by George Dellifield, who by self reliance and industry has found prosperity and owns one of the fine farms in the vicinity of Kipton.
Mr. Dellifield was born in Amherst Township of Lorain County March 9, 1860, a son of John and Anna (Neiding) Dellifield. Both parents were natives of Germany. The father was born in that country October 25, 1825, and was the son of Henry Dellifield, who was a vet- erinary surgeon. John Dellifield came to America when a young man and was married in Lorain County to Miss Neiding, who was born in Germany in 1836. She died in 1866, and the father survived until February 6, 1893. Of their four children two are living, and Mr. Dellifield's sister is Mrs. Leimbach, wife of a farmer at Clarksfield, Huron County. The parents were both members of the German Re- formed Church and in politics the father was a democrat. By trade he was a shoemaker and was employed in that line at North Amherst for some years, but subsequently bought a small farm and resided there until his death.
George Dellifield grew up in Lorain County, attended the common schools, and was twenty-seven years of age when he was married,. on December 8, 1887, to Emma Weidmann. The Weidmanns are a well known family of Lorain County and further information will be found concerning them under the name Jacob Weidmann on other pages. Mr. and Mrs. Dellifield have three children: Bertha, wife of P. H. Latte- man, a farmer in this county; Martha and Louis, both at home. The family attend worship at the German Reformed Church and all of them, both parents and children, are members of the Grange.
Mr. Dellifield as a democrat in politics has served on the school board, and has been trustee of his township for four years and was re-elected for a third term in 1915.
As a young man he started his independent career as a farmer on his father's place and also worked out at day and monthly wages for other people. He continued in that way until he married, and then bought his present farm paying only a small amount down and assuming a heavy obligation for the future. He and his wife co-operated in their thrifty management and eventually cleared off all debts and they now Vol. II-25
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enjoy a fine farm of 143 acres. Mr. Dellifield has from time to time installed some improvements which have brought his farm up to the best standards of Lorain County agriculture. He carries on general farming, also operating a small dairy. Numerous improvements and repairs have gone into his residence, and he recently completed a large barn and silo.
THOMAS B. BENNINGTON. Since he was born January 31, 1837, in a log house standing in the midst of the woods in Eaton Township in Lorain County, Thomas B. Bennington has been a witness of many remarkable transformations and changes in this section of Ohio. He is regarded as one of the largest land owners and most prosperous citi- zens of the county, and a number of years ago retired from active farm- ing and has since made his home on South Main Street in Grafton.
At the time of his birth Lorain County did not have a single railroad, nor was there a mile of railroad line in the entire State of Ohio. It was the era of canal building, and practically all traffic was either overland or by lakes and canals. In his boyhood he many times helped to thresh out the grain with an old fashioned flail or by treading it out with horses on the barn floor. In such an environment and under such sturdy discipline as was afforded him he grew up strong and vigorous, and much of his success can be traced to the fact that along with constant industry he possessed the ability of doing more real work in a day than most men could accomplish in two days. He is still strong and vigorous both in mind and body, in spite of his nearly eighty years, and much of his health is no doubt due to the fact that he never contracted any bad habits, never used tobacco nor intoxicating liquors in any form, and there is an interesting piece of evidence as to his personal integrity and his fair dealing in that he was never sued at law throughout the many years he has had varied and extensive business transactions.
Both his parents, Thomas and Jane (Webster) Bennington, were born in Yorkshire, England, where they were reared and married as country people. Thomas Bennington came to America before his mar- riage, and for about one year lived at Cleveland or that vicinity, finding whatever employment he could. He then returned to his native country, married, and brought his bride to America and settled in the compara- tively new country of Northern Ohio. From Cleveland they moved to Vermilion, where they had a farm, but in 1836 he came to Eaton Town- ship in Lorain County and acquired 108 acres from the Government. This land was covered with heavy timber, and on a small clearing he put up the log cabin in which Thomas B. Bennington first saw the light of day. The elder Bennington was also characterized by remarkable vigor and industry, and besides clearing up the first tract of land he added to it until his estate comprised about two hundred and fifty acres. He also made some excellent improvements, and that old homestead is now part of his son, Thomas Bennington's possession. The father was about sixty-six years of age when he died, and is buried in the cemetery at Butternut Ridge. After acquiring American citizenship he voted as a democrat, and filled such local offices as township trustee and school director. In his family were ten children, three sons and seven daugh- ters, but Thomas B. was the only son to reach maturity and he is the only survivor of all the children.
When he was a boy he attended one of the country schools then so typical in this section of the Middle West. It was held in a log building, and he sat on a bench made of a split slab supported from the floor by wooden pins. Across one side of the room was a broad fireplace, and the larger boys rustled the wood used as fuel during the winter season.
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The curriculum was confined to the three R's and as soon as a boy's services were needed at home he had little opportunity to attend school, except two or three months each winter. At the age of fifteen Mr. Ben- nington entered a select school at Grafton, and the two terms he attended, walking each night and morning three miles across swamps and through the woods to complete his education.
On December 24, 1869, he married in Wakeman, Huron County, Miss Atalanta Peck, who died on the 6th of April, 1916. She was born on her father's farm in Wakeman Township, September 18, 1839, a daughter of Henry Tuttle and Abigail (Haskins) Peck. Her father was born in Vermont and her mother in Massachusetts but. both had come as young people with their respective parents to Ohio and located in Wake- man Township. Mrs. Bennington acquired a common school education in very much the same kind of institutions as Mr. Bennington attended.
Before his marriage Mr. Bennington had bought a tract of land in Eaton Township and was already fairly started in that career which he has pursued with such handsome results. He owned two farms, making his home on the one adjoining his father's place. From time to time he has added to his farm holdings, and after his father's death he bought out the interests of the other heirs. His landed possessions now include about thirteen hundred acres in Lorain County and his last investment was made in 1915 when he bought 171 acres in Erie County, Pennsylvania.
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