USA > Ohio > Lorain County > A Standard History of Lorain County, Ohio: An Authentic Narrative of the. > Part 59
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As a citizen he has always been generous and public spirited. In 1912 he donated a piece of land at the corner of South Main and Vine streets in Oberlin for park purposes and that is now being developed . and will always be known as Bennington Park. He also owns sixteen or seventeen residence properties in Elyria and is also owner of the Elyria Cement and Coal Yards, and he has several business buildings in Grafton. In 1895 he built his attractive home in Grafton, and in that year moved his family from the farm to the village.
His only son Edward died when about fourteen years of age. Though the son of a democrat, Mr. Bennington became a republican in time to cast his first ballot for Lincoln in 1860 and has never wavered from that early choice of political party. His public service has been that of a thoroughly loyal and disinterested citizen, and he has filled such offices as school director and trustee of Eaton Township and was president of the Board of Education in Grafton for several terms. He has especially favored good schools and has done all he could to promote the cause of public education.
JOHN D. BORN. Something over twenty years ago John D. Born came to America, a poor emigrant German youth, and since then his activities have been identified with Lorain County. He was almost un- known and practically penniless when he came to Lorain County and he deserves much credit for the way in which he has utilized his oppor- tunities and has made opportunities for himself. He is now one of the leading farmers and most prosperous citizens of Henrietta Township.
Born in Germany April 2, 1876, he is a son of Daniel and Dorothy (Zuck) Born. His parents spent all their lives in Germany, where his father was a farmer. The father was born in 1827 and died in 1890 and the mother was born in 1828 and died in 1914. Of their eight children four are still living: John, a farmer and wagon maker in Germany; Alexander, who is a prosperous farmer in Iowa; John D .; and Mrs. Catherine Pippin, wife of a farmer and living in Germany. The parents were members of the German Lutheran Church. Grand- father John Born was a farmer and a government employe and an
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architect of buildings. The father was a man of considerable influence in his home locality in the Province of Hesse, Nassau.
John D. Born acquired a common school education in Germany and also attended school for two years after coming to Lorain County. It was in 1892 at the age of sixteen that he came to this country with his brother, and he soon found work for his hands as a farm laborer. Four years later he engaged in the meat and butcher business and for some time peddled meat through the country and in the City of Oberlin. For two years he was in the wholesale meat business at Lorain and for two years in the retail meat business at Amherst. Coming then to Henrietta Township Mr. Born spent two years assisting Jacob Weid- mann in the management of his farm, and he recently bought a farm of seventy-five acres from Mr. Weidmann. He is associated in business with Mr. Weidmann as butcher, and he also operates the Hale farm on the shares. In addition to general farming he raises considerable stock and has several fullblood Holstein cattle.
On April 11, 1907, Mr. Born married Miss Louise Bechstein. She was born at Amherst, Ohio, a daughter of John Bechstein, a native of Germany, and an old settler in Lorain County. Mr. and Mrs. Born's four children are Harvey, aged eight, Arthur, aged six, Howard, aged four, and Dorothy, aged two. The family are members of the German Methodist Episcopal Church and he is affiliated with the Modern Wood- men of America and the Grange. In politics he is a republican, and in the fall of 1914 was elected township assessor. Thus he enjoys not only a substantial prosperity but also the confidence and esteem of his entire .community.
FRANK JOSEPH KING. Few men have had more to do with the civic government of Lorain than has Frank Joseph King, a resident of this city for forty years, and during a large part of that time the incumbent of one or another public positions of importance. He started his life with no advantages save those of the public school, but was ambitious and persevering, educated himself in the higher branches and finally entered business, after which he established a record that should prove worthy of emulation by the younger generation.
Mr. King was born in Lorain County, Ohio, July 19, 1843, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Simmonds) King, natives of England. His father, a salt water sailor in his youth, left the sea at the age of twenty- five years and came to the United States, settling finally in Avon Town- ship, Lorain County, where the remaining years of his life were devoted to the pursuits of agriculture. He died in 1857, at the age of fifty-one years, while Mrs. King survived him for a long period and passed away at the home of her son at Lorain, in 1890, aged seventy-seven years.
Frank Joseph King passed his boyhood on the home farm and eagerly accepted such opportunities in the way of education as were offered by the country school in Avon Township, but was not satisfied with this learning and decided to gain a more thorough training. Secur- ing a teacher's certificate, for eight years he taught in the district schools during the winter months while working as a farmer in the summer seasons, and thus gained the means wherewith to attend college. In 1876 Mr. King came to Lorain, where he established himself in busi- ness as the proprietor of a modest grocery venture, an enterprise which during the sixteen years of its life grew to large and important pro- portions.
Mr. King's connection with public affairs began in 1900, when he was appointed by the Lorain City Council a member of the Real Estate
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Louis Zimmern
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Equalization Board, having had some experience in the realty line. Later he was made an appraiser on the real estate commission. His services as a member of these bodies brought him favorably before the public, and in 1902 he was elected mayor of Lorain, subsequently succeeding himself two terms of two years each. He met defeat in the next cam- paign, owing to political conditions, but in 1909 was again elected and served until 1912. At the present writing Mr. King is again a can- didate for the mayoralty. He has always been a friend of education, and has served three terms as a member of the board of education, once by appointment and twice by election. His entire public service is one marked by faithful and efficient discharge of duty and of constant endeavor to contribute to his city's welfare and advancement.
On October 9, 1879, Mr. King was married to Miss Ellen Lee Conklin, of Connecticut, and to this union there has been born one daughter: Mary Elizabeth, born in November, 1880, at Lorain, married in Febru- ary, 1900, Rev. Francis W. Crowe, pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Reverend and Mrs. Crowe have one daugh- ter, Margaret Ellen, born June 19, 1906.
LOUIS ZIMMERMAN. A farmer and dairyman whose enterprise has been a useful factor in Lorain County's development for many years, Louis Zimmerman has his home in Grafton Township. While an un- fortunate illness handicapped him in the matter of an education when he was a boy, he has made use of his opportunities in life beyond the average man and has acquired that material prosperity as well as the esteem of his fellow citizens which are among the best rewards of existence.
He was born in the City of Cleveland, May 8, 1856, a son of Frederick and Hannah (Hahn) Zimmerman. Both parents were born, reared and married in Germany and soon after their marriage they emigrated to America, being two months in making the passage on a sailing vessel, a severe storm having dismasted the vessel and having greatly delayed the progress. For a few years the parents lived in Cleveland, where Fred- erick Zimmerman, who came to this country with a very thorough training such as is given to young men in Germany preparing for a trade, worked as a carpenter and while there he built himself a house. When Louis Zimmerman was three years of age his father traded the house toward the purchase of a farm of seventy acres near Oberlin. While living on that farm a daughter Carrie was born, who is now the wife of E. M. Sheldon and lives in Carlisle Township and is the mother of five children. On the farm near Oberlin the father placed many improvements during his residence there of fourteen years and then sold out and returned to Cleveland. A year later he bought a farm of sixty-five acres in LaGrange Township of Lorain County. He was a worthy and upright citizen and lived to be about ninety years of age.
Thus until he was about seventeen years of age Louis Zimmerman lived on the home place near Oberlin. He had the advantages of the common schools, and the plans made for him contemplated his further education in Oberlin Academy and College. As these could not be carried out because of an unfortunate illness which kept him at home and as a result of which he partially lost his hearing, after regaining his strength he quickly adapted himself to the vocation of a farmer and after reaching manhood he continued to live with his father and finally bought eighty acres known as the Golden farm.
At the age of twenty-eight, on March 4, 1885, Mr. Zimmerman mar- ried Lois A. Clark. She was born on a farm in LaGrange Township,
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a daughter of Major E. and Mary C. (Bailey) Clark. Her father was of Scotch ancestry, a native of Vermont and lived to be about ninety-two years of age. After reaching manhood he came to Ohio and was married in LaGrange Township. Subsequently he enlisted and served during the Civil war in the One Hundred and Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was severely wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, and that ended his field service, and afterwards he was detailed to assist in the army hospi- tals until the close of his term of enlistment. Mrs. Zimmerman was the youngest of three children. Her brother James died unmarried and her brother Joseph W., who was a railway man and killed while on duty, married Sarah Obetts and left two children.
Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman continued to live in LaGrange Township until 1910, when they moved to their present fine home of 150 acres, formerly known as the Fowler farm. This is one of the high class farms of Lorain County and Mr. Zimmerman has improved it in many ways, carries on general farm husbandry and makes a specialty of dairying.
He and his wife have two children. Edna Veve, after graduating from the Grafton High School, entered Baldwin University at Berea, from which she graduated and then taught five years, three years as principal of the high school at Grafton. In October, 1915, she entered Leland Powers School of Expression at Boston, Massachusetts, and is continuing a student of a special course. Lloyd C. Zimmerman, the son, is now about eighteen years of age and has completed his education in the local schools. Mr. Zimmerman and son are both members of the Grange and in politics he is an independent republican, without aspira- tions for office. He and his wife attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mrs. Zimmerman is a member of the Ladies of the Maccabees.
CHARLES R. KELLY. Gratifying to record is the success that has been won through individual effort and ability, and such achievement has been that of Mr. Kelly, the results of whose well ordered endeavors are represented in his fine homestead farm in Russia Township, about one mile distant from the City of Oberlin. Special interest pertains to his career by reason of the fact that he is a native of Lorain County and a scion of one of the sterling pioneer families of this county.
Mr. Kelly was born in Henrietta Township, Lorain County, Ohio, on the 4th of May, 1851, and is the only child of Albert and Elizabeth (Eldridge) Kelly, whose marriage was solemnized in this county, though both were natives of the State of Vermont. Albert Kelly was born in the old Green Mountain State, in the year 1818, and was a boy at the time of the family removal to Ohio, where his father, Richard Kelly, became one of the pioneer farmers of Lorain County, success having attended his well ordered labors and his having been a place of prom- inence and influence in community affairs. Albert Kelly was reared to manhood in this county, where his early educational advantages were those afforded in the pioneer schools, and where his entire active career was one of close and effective association with the basic industries of agriculture and stock-growing. He continued to be one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of Lorain County until his death, which occurred in 1890, and his wife survived him by a number of years. His political support was given to the republican party and he took a lively interest in all that concerned the progress and wellbeing of the county in which nearly his entire life was passed.
Charles R. Kelly found the period of his childhood compassed by the influences of the home farm and he is indebted to the district schools of Henrietta Township for his early educational discipline, which has been effectively supplemented by the lessons gained in the practical school of
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experience. At the age of thirteen years he found employment in a neighboring stone quarry, and from the position of derrick attendant he won advancement to that of foreman, of which latter he continued the valued incumbent for a number of years. For six years thereafter he was engaged in the general merchandise business in the Village of Amherst, this county, and after leaving the store opened a quarry for Marshall Sherben in Henrietta Township, and was foreman of this enter- prise four years. He then purchased and established his home on his present farm in Russia Township, the same comprising sixty-two acres. He is the owner also of fifty acres in another section of Russia Town- ship, and his farm property is notable for its evidences of thrift and prosperity, his beautiful residence having been erected by him and being one of the fine rural homes of the county, the while its attractions and advantages are enhanced by reason of its being situated only one mile distant from the beautiful little City of Oberlin, which is his post- office address. In addition to giving his attention to diversified agri- culture Mr. Kelly has developed a splendid dairy business on his farm, with a select herd of high-grade milch cows. From his land he receives large yields of wheat, oats and corn, and in the season of 1915 he obtained from five acres the noteworthy product of 702 bushels of corn. Mr. Kelly is loyal and public-spirited in his civic attitude and while he has had no desire for political preferment he accords unqualified allegiance to the republican party. Both he and his wife hold membership in the First Congregational Church at Oberlin.
In the year 1872 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Kelly to Miss Mary Curtis, who was born in Erie County, Ohio, and who is a daugh- ter of the late Hezekiah and Elizabeth (Mercer) Curtis, who were early settlers of that county, to which they removed from their native State of Vermont, Mr. Curtis having been for a number of years foreman of one of the prominent iron furnaces in Erie County. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly have two children: Mott Richard, who is a skilled horse trainer, with residence and business headquarters in the City of Oberlin; and Mae Luella, who is a successful and popular instructor in the physical culture department of Oberlin College, in which institution she was graduated as a member of the class of 1913.
CHARLES J. HASENFLUE. He whose name introduces this review has so directed his energies as to attain secure prestige as one of the repre- sentative agriculturists of Lorain County, and his well improved farm is one of the model homesteads of Russia Township. Aside from his status as a progressive and honored citizen further interest attaches to his career by reason of his being a native son of the Buckeye State, his loyalty and allegiance to which have never faltered.
Mr. Hasenflue was born in Erie County, Ohio, on the 19th of July, 1863, and is a son of Henry and Emma (Roth) Hasenflue, both natives of Germany, where the former was born in 1841 and the latter in 1833, her death having occurred in June, 1915. Henry Hasenflue was reared and educated in his German fatherland and as a young man he served the home tie and set forth to seek his fortunes in America. He came to Ohio and established his home in Erie County, where his marriage was solemnized and where he engaged in the conducting of a meat market in the village of Vermilion. He had learned the butcher's trade in his native land and continued in business at Vermilion until 1869, when he removed with his family to Blissfield, Lenawee County, Michigan, where he engaged in the same line of enterprise and gained substantial suc- cess. He has lived retired from active business since 1893 and main- tains his home at Blissfield. He celebrated his seventy-fifth birthday
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anniversary in 1915 and his earnest and upright character has won to him the confidence of those with whom he has come in contact during the years of a signally long and useful life. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was also his devoted wife, and he has never faltered in his allegiance to the principles of the democratic party. Of the four children three are living: Eliza is the wife of George Fix and they maintain their home in the City of Cleveland; Charles J., of this review, was the next in order of birth; Frederick, who resides at Vermilion, Erie County, has been identified with navigation interests on the Great Lakes for many years, and is now captain of a vessel engaged in the fishing business.
Charles J. Hasenflue gained his rudimentary education in the village schools of Vermilion, Erie County, and later attended the district schools. When but eleven years of age he began his independent career and assisted in the support of the other members of the family, his life having been marked by consecutive and well directed industry and his being the worthy honor of being one of the world's productive workers, the while his success represents the direct result of his own efforts along normal lines of enterprise. He has been identified with agricultural pursuits since early youth and is now one of the progressive farmers and stock-growers of Lorain County, where he has owned and operated his present farm, of ninety acres, since 1894. He has brought the farm up to the highest standard in all respects and gives his atten- tion to diversified agriculture and stock-growing, the while he is known as one of the vigorous, progressive and substantial exponents of these lines of enterprise in Lorain County and as a citizen imbued with marked civic loyalty and public spirit. On his farm he erected, in 1905, his present attractive and modern residence, and all other of the excellent buildings on the place likewise stand in evidence of his progressiveness and enterprise. He is a staunch advocate of the cause of the democratic party and though he has not been imbued with aught of ambition for public office he served many years and with marked efficiency as a member of the school board of Russia Township. He is one of the appreciative and valued members of the Russia Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, and has been active and influential in its affairs.
On the 19th of December, 1883, Mr. Hasenflue wedded Miss Minerva Fowl, who was born and reared in Lorain County and who is a repre- sentative of sterling pioneer families of this section of the Buckeye State. She is a daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Lapp) Fowl, both natives of Ohio and of German ancestry. John Henry Lapp, maternal grandfather of Mrs. Hasenflue, was one of the early settlers of Lorain County, and when he arrived within its borders his cash capital was reduced to the portentous minimum of 5 cents. He settled on a small farm and while giving his attention to its reclamation he provided for the needs of his family by working at his trade, that of tailor, in Cleve- land and other places in which he could find demand for his services. On one occasion his wife went on foot to Cleveland to carry his washing to him, and she made the return trip to the home in Lorain County in the same way, thus traversing a total distance of thirty-three miles. Mr. and Mrs. Hasenflue have two children: Robert, who married Elizabeth Smith, and they have one child, Nelson C .; Frank married Christina Smith, a sister of his brother's wife, but they have no chil- dren.
COMMODORE W. R. HUNTINGTON. For fifty years or more the name Huntington has been prominent in connection with the industrial, oil and gas development and marine interests of Northern Ohio, particularly
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COMMODORE W. R. HUNTINGTON. For ff! Huntington has been prominent in connection v. gas development and marine interests of
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in Cleveland and in Elyria, where Commodore W. R. Huntington has his home. Commodore Huntington is a son of the late John Huntington, who was one of a group of Cleveland capitalists in the early days of the petroleum development. Commodore Huntington has long been a factor in business affairs not only in Lorain County but in other cities, and is especially well known in the world of sports as a yachtsman.
He was born September 3, 1857, a son of John and Jane Huntington, who were natives of Preston, Lancashire, England. John Huntington came to America in 1853. By trade he was a roofer and was one of the pioneers in the slate and gravel roofing industry. He was also one of the organizers with John D. Rockefeller and others of the Standard Oil Company and became very prominent and influential in civic matters and financial affairs. He died in London, England, in 1893, at the age of sixty-one. His wife passed away in 1882 at the age of fifty-one. Five of their children lived to maturity, namely: Hannah B., who married A. C. Hord and lives in Cleveland; William R .; Margaret J., wife of Francis Perry Smith of Cleveland; Matilda, wife of Edward A. Merritt, of Cleveland; Arthur G., who was a graduate of Yale University with the class of 1889, was killed when about twenty-five years of age by being run down by a locomotive at North Amherst, where he was assistant superintendent of the Cleveland Stone Company. John Huntington, the father of these children, was a republican in politics and for fourteen years served as a member of the city council of Cleveland. Among other financial connections he was one of the chief stockholders in the Cleve- land Stone Company and was also financially interested in lake marine affairs. He belonged to all the bodied Masonry, including the thirty- second degree of Scottish Rite, and was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. His family were members of the Episcopal Church.
Commodore Huntington grew up in Cleveland, attended the public schools of that city and the Cleveland Spencerian Business College. His first work after leaving school was in the oil fields of Pennsylvania and Ohio as a prospector and contracting driller. His operations in this line were partly independent and partly in connection with his father's extensive holdings. At that time he was a very young man, and after his experience in the oil fields from 1875 to 1878 he was appointed deputy county treasurer of Cuyahoga County, an office he filled until February 1, 1882. In February, 1882, he entered the firm of McIntosh, Good and Huntington, one of the leading hardware establishments in the City of Cleveland. IIe was one of the active men in the direction of this concern until 1891, when he retired.
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