USA > Ohio > Crawford County > A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio > Part 33
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ALEXANDER HALL.
For half a century Mr. Hall has resided in Crestline and is now a worthy railroad employe. He was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, July 4, 1826, and is a son of Joseph Hall, whose birth occurred in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1790. When a young man the father sought a home in the new world, and in 1821 took up his abode in Columbiana county, where he purchased a tract of land and carried on farming for a number of years. While in Ireland he was married to Miss Connor, and they had a son and daughter, who are both deceased. Mrs. Hall died in Ireland .. He then began merchandising in New Alexander, following the latter business until his death, which occurred in 1832. Ere leaving the Emerald Isle he married Miss Jane McCormick, who was born in Ireland in 1800 and died in Ohio in 1871. By this union there were five children-three boys and two girls. Our subject and the youngest daughter, Isabella Gaff, of Wayne county, Ohio, are the only survivors of the family. After the death of Mr. Hall she was a second time married.
In taking up the personal history of our subject we present to our readers the life record of one whose days form a connecting link between the primi- tive past and the progressive present, for he lived in Ohio during the period of its early development. He pursued his studies in a log school house in Columbiana county, Ohio, and afterward continued his studies in Hanoverton. He remained in that place for ten years and then went to New Lisbon, where he was engaged in clerking for two years. He afterward spent two and a half years as a salesman in a hardware store in Mansfield, and on the expiration of that period went to Stark county, spending six months in selling books and stationery upon the road. He afterward located in Richland county and was employed as a clerk in a grocery store, while for five years he occupied the
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position of postmaster, serving in that capacity during the administrations of Presidents Taylor and Fillmore and under Lincoln's first term. In the year 1852 he came to Crestline, where he opened a general mercantile establishment, which he conducted for three years, after which he entered the service of what is now the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, as chief clerk in the warehouse. He is connected with the company for forty years and was then retired with a pension. Great corporations never retain any one in their employ who can- not show a clean record for faithfulness, ability and trustworthiness, and the fact that Mr. Hall was so long connected with the company is unmistakable evidence of his commendable qualities.
In 1849 occurred the marriage of Mr. Hall to Miss Sarah E. Gardner, who was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, in 1829, and was taken to Wayne county. Ohio, when ten years of age. She afterward removed to Rich- land county, where she was married. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hall have been born six children, of whom four are yet living, namely: Mary R., Frank, Rose and Charles. Lawrence, the second child, and Elsworth, the youngest, have now passed away. Mr. Hall has spent some time in public office. In addition to four years as postmaster, he was postal clerk for two years. He has been a member of the board of education and was trustee of the water works of Crestline for two years. In early life he was a Whig in his political affiliations, and since the organization of the Republican party he has been one of its stalwart advocates, never failing to cast his ballot for governor or presi- dent at each election. Having resided in Crestline for almost a half century, he is very well known here, and his life record is as an open book, which all may read.
JONATHAN F. KIMERLINE.
In no other phase of life can a man better demonstrate his fealty to his country and his loyalty to its interests than in the political arena, for therein is invested the vitality of the nation's power, the mainspring of its internal machinery and the keynote to its progress and prosperity. Among the patriotic citizens of Crawford county who have been closely identified with the Democracy none is better known or more highly appreciated than Jonathan Frederick Kimerline, who is now occupying the position of county auditor. He believes that it is the duty and privilege of. every American citizen to give his time and attention to some measure or party interest and to carry out this principle in life by taking an energetic part in political
Primerline
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canvasses, and is a firm believer in the trite saying, that "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."
Mr. Kimerline was born in Wooster, Ohio, December 6, 1855, and is a son of John and Maria (Derr) Kimerline, both of whom were natives of Germany, the father having been born in Wurtemberg, while the mother's birth occurred in Baden. They were married in that country and came to America in 1854, locating in Wooster, Ohio, whence they removed to a small farm in Wayne county, upon which they spent their last days.
Mr. Kimerline, of this review, pursued his education in the public schools of Wayne county until fifteen years of age and afterward spent one year as a teacher in Smithville Academy. He then became identified with educational interests as an instructor, following the teacher's profession for five or six years during the winter months, while in the summer season he continued his own studies in the Ohio Normal, at Ada, Ohio, where he was graduated with the class of 1882. He has had to depend entirely upon his own efforts, not only for his advancement, but for the educational privil- eges which he received beyond those of the common schools. His labors enabled him to pursue a college course and thus prepare for his chosen pro- fession. In 1874 he was employed as a teacher in the schools of Chatfield, Ohio, and the following year was made superintendent of the public schools of New Washington, where he remained for a period of twenty years, retir- ing from the office in 1895 with the confidence and good will of the people, for he had labored untiringly and effectively for the improvement and pro- motion of the schools of that town. In 1895 he was elected to the office of auditor of Crawford county, and after serving through his first term was re-elected in 1898, so that he is the present incumbent. This is, however, not the extent of his public service, for he was a member of the county board of school examiners from 1880 until 1888.
In Wayne county, Ohio, Mr. Kimerline was united in marriage to Miss. Ida May Breneman, a daughter of Dr. J. H. and Lydia (McNary) Brene- man. His wife was a very successful and prominent teacher in Wayne county for ten or twelve years, a part of which time she had charge of the Congress schools. She also taught in the New Washington schools. Their marriage is blessed with two living children, -. Harry Breneman and Louise Marie. Mr. Kimerline is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, an active worker in its interests and has served as trustee and a member of the official board. For three years he was a member of the Northwestern Ohio Teachers' Association. In 1899 he was elected secretary of the State
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AAuditors' Association, a position which he held for two years. He is also identified with the Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Order of Ben Hur. In November, 1895, he took up his abode in Bucyrus and he and his wife there enjoy the hospitality of many of the best homes of the city.
FRANKLIN HOLBROOK.
Franklin Holbrook, of Bucyrus, was one of the editors and proprietors of the daily and weekly Forum until October. 1901, when that paper was sold to the Bucyrus Publishing Company, just then organized. He has had undoubted influence on public thought and opinion through his connection with the paper, which is the oldest journal in the county and which has done much to mold the public policy of city, county and district, having ever been a supporter of all movements and measures calculated to promote the general good and ad- vance progress along substantial lines. Mr. Holbrook was born in Wapako- neta, Auglaize county, Ohio, in 1854, and is a son of George W. and Mary Virginia ( Nichols ) Holbrook. The ancestry of the family may be traced through many generations to Thomas Holbrooke, who, with his brother John and a number of other emigrants, left Weymouth, in Dorsetshire, England, in 1624, landing on the coast of Massachusetts in the same year. There the party founded the town of Weymouth and Thomas Holbrooke served for many years as selectman. He died there in 1676, and his widow, Joanna Hol- brooke. passed away the following year.
George W. Holbrook, the father of Franklin, was born in Palmyra, New York, September 12. 1808. He studied medicine and was graduated in the University of New York. In 1834 he settled in Wapakoneta, Ohio, and be- came a well-to-do and public-spirited citizen. In the affairs which had marked influence on the development and progress of AAuglaize county he took an ac- tive interest, laboring earnestly for their promotion. His name is inseparably connected with the history of that community. Ile mapped out the county, spent three winters in Columbus in attendance on the state legislature and finally secured the passage of a bill establishing the county, practically at his own expense. He owned several thousand acres of land in the vicinity of Wapakoneta and was afterward instrumental in having the county seat estab- lished there. He was one of the first judges in the county under the old con- stitution and was always a prominent politician. In 1881 he was elected to the state legislature, where he served through four consecutive years. He studied closely the needs of his district and of the state and labored untiringly
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to secure such legislative enactments as would prove of general good. On the 30th of November, 1836, he married Lydia M. Nichols, who died De- cember 28, 1843, and on the 14th of May, 1845. he wedded Mary Virginia Nichols, who died November 20, 1893. His death occurred June 1, 1890, and all are buried at Wapakoneta. Her father, Isaac Nichols, was a captain in the war of 1812. He represented a Virginia family, who removed from Lou- doun county, that state, to Ohio, locating in Lebanon, Warren county, after the second war with England.
Franklin Holbrook pursued his education in the schools of Wapakoneta and was a member of the first class ever graduated in the high school-the year being 1871. He afterward learned the printer's trade in the office of the Auglaize County Democrat, becoming familiar with the business in all its de- partments. He was there employed until 1876, when he established a paper called the Wapakoneta Bee, continuing the same until 1883, during which time he had made it a representative journal that received a liberal patronage. In its columns he took an active part in public affairs and labored earnestly for the benefit of the community. In 1885 he came to Bucyrus and purchased of Major Williston a half interest in the Forum, of which he was one of the edi- tors and proprietors until October, 1901, as stated at the beginning of this sketch. The year after his purchase the Major sold his interest to Horace Holbrook, a brother of our subject, and to G. A. Nuit. A few years later the last named purchased the fourth interest of Horace Holbrook, and in 1894 Albert M. Ensminger became a partner in the enterprise. Mr. Holbrook de- voted his time and attention successfully to the paper after coming to Bucyrus, and during this period its circulation was more than doubled, while its plant increased two or three fold in volume, owing to the purchase of new and im- proved machinery and materials. The firm did, and still does, a large job printing business, and the circulation of the paper is extensive and constantly increasing. This makes it a good advertising medium, and its patronage in various lines is large and profitable.
Mr. Holbrook was married at Wapakoneta, on the 7th of January, 1879, to Miss Mary F. Keuthan, a daughter of F. H. and Mary W. Keuthan, the father having come from Germany to America in early life, while the mother was a native of this country. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Holbrook has been blessed with three children: George Frederick, who was born October II, 1879: Beatrice, born July 27, 1881 ; and Horace Rollin, born May 17, 1884. Mr. Holbrook is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Royal Arcanum, the National Union and the Maccabees. He and his wife
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have a pleasant home in Bucyrus, where hospitality abounds and where their many friends desire to gather. In the office Mr. Holbrook is a practical man of affairs, busy and energetic, and has attained a success that is the merited reward of his earnest labor and persistency of purpose. In his home he is a pleasant and agreeable companion, and in whatever place or relation found he is a thorough gentleman in the highest sense of the term.
DANIEL BRINKMAN.
Prominent among the successful, progressive and substantial farmers of Holmes township is Daniel Brinkman, who comes of fine old German ancestry. His birth was in Bucyrus, Ohio, on January 7, 1840, a son of Christopher and Mary ( Heinle) Brinkman, who reared nine children. The three survivors are: Henry, who lives retired in Holgate, Henry county, Ohio; Frederick, who resides in Putnam county, Ohio; and Daniel, who is the subject. The names of those who passed away are: John, Louis, Christian, Jacob, Mary and Elizabeth. The father of our subject was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1804, and while still a young man came to America and located in Pennsyl- vania. There he learned the wheelwright trade and also the trade of chair- maker, coming to Bucyrus to follow these lines. Some years later he pur- chased an eighty-acre tract of land, this being the same upon which his son resides, and with a team of oxen and one horse hauled logs from the forest to Bucyrus, where he found a market for them, and in 1841 purchased a portion of the home farm, across the road from his former purchase. The former resident had left a modest frame house, and into this Mr. Brinkman moved. utilizing it as both a residence and shop, and here he carried on his work of chair-making. In 1858 he was able to erect the substantial brick residence which was his comfortable home until his death, in 1878. Mr. Brinkman had made a success of his life through his own efforts. At one time he owned four hundred acres of land, and was regarded as one of the most substantial farmers of his locality. His political leaning was toward the Democratic party. In the German Reformed church he was known for his liberality and display of Christian characteristics.
Daniel Brinkman gained a thorough knowledge of life on a farm during his early years, and has followed the pursuit of agriculture all his life. His education was received in the common schools. When he decided to set up a home of his own he married Miss Sarah A. Layman, a native of this county and a daughter of Mathias Layman, who was one of the early settlers of Craw-
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ford county, from Pennsylvania. After marriage Mr. Daniel Brinkman took charge of a portion of his father's land, and engaged in farming on shares for some four years, and then purchased his present desirable farm, consisting of one hundred and thirty-five acres, and here he erected a comfortable but plain residence. He wished to clear off the debt of his farm before he made any ex- tensive improvements, but in 1885 he felt justified in building the commodious and attractive country home which now adorns his estate. In his farming he has been successful, and, like his father, is regarded as a very solid member of the farming community.
Mr. Brinkman has two of his five children and his estimable wife with him, the former being Charles and Alvin. Martha, Anna and Emma, three beloved daughters, have passed out of life. In his political views Mr. Brink- man follows the example of his father and votes with the Democratic party, and is interested in its success, but he is no seeker for office. The religious connection of the family is with the Disciples church, where he is known for hs charitable and benevolent actions. Mr. Brinkman is held in high esteem . in the township and deserves the good feeling that is generally felt for him.
EDWARD FLICKINGER.
The day of small undertakings, especially in cities, seems to have passed and the era of gigantic enterprises is upon us. In control of mammoth con- cerns are men of master minds, of almost limitless ability to guide, of sound judgment and keen discrimination. Their progressiveness must not only reach the bounds that others have attained, but must even pass beyond into new and broader, untried fields of operation ; but an unerring foresight and sagacity must make no mistake by venturing upon uncertain ground. Thus continu- ally growing, a business takes leadership in its special line and the men who are at its head are deservedly eminent in the world of commerce, occupying a position which commands the respect while it excites the admiration of all. At the head of some of the leading industries of Galion stands Edward Flick- inger, who is president of the Flickinger Wheel Works and of the Galion Wagon and Gear Company. These enterprises are not only of great benefit to the stockholders but have also materially promoted the interests of the city, for the upbuilding and growth of the community depends upon the industrial and commercial activity.
Mr. Flickinger is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Hamilton, Butler county, on the 12th of August, 1847. The family is of Swiss lineage
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and was founded in America by the great-grandfather of our subject, John Flickinger, who came from the land of the Alps in 1752 to the new world, and settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He erected the first building in that place, and it is still standing. His son. Jacob Flickinger, the grandfather of our subject, was born in 1784, in Lancaster county, soon after the close of the Revolutionary war, and became a minister of the United Brethren church. In 1810 he removed to Ohio, locating in Hamilton, Butler county. He was active in establishing the church there, and his work along lines of good citizen- ship and Christian character is still manifest in the lives of all who knew him. His example was a source of help to all with whom he was associated, and his memory remains as a blessed benediction to those among whom he lived and labored. He died in 1849. He married Miss Hannah Kumler, a daughter of Bishop Henry Kumler, of the United Brethren church. She was actively associated with her husband in all his pioneer ministerial work in Butler county. She was widely loved by all with whom she came in contact. Her death occurred in 1892, when she had attained the advanced age of ninety-three years. Through a long period she took an active interest in the reunions of her relatives, which were held in Butler county.
Henry Flickinger, the father of our subject, was born in Butler county, Ohio, in 1819, and there became a prominent farmer and a recognized repre- sentative of agricultural pursuits. He was also a leading and influential mem- ber of the United Brethren church, doing all in his power to promote the cause of Christianity among his fellow men. He was considered a generous, kindly- dispositioned man, and no worthy object or needy person sought his aid in vain. His political support was first given to the Whig party, and on its dis- solution he joined the ranks of the Republican party. His wife bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Farlow and was born in Berks county, Pennsyl- vania. in 1819, coming with her parents to Butler county, Ohio, during her childhood. Her father, John Farlow, was a native of Berks county, Pennsyl- vania, and died in Butler county, Ohio, at the age of eighty years. In religious belief he was a Lutheran, and in his political faith a Democrat. Mr. Henry Flickinger died in 1891, when seventy years of age, and the mother passed away in 1896, at the age of eighty years. The members of their family are as follows: Amos, who was killed in the battle of Stone River in the Civil war: Matilda and Noah, both now deceased; Mrs. Anna Hone; Enoch : Lan- dis : Susan ; and Edward, the subject of this sketch.
The last named was only sixteen years of age when, in response to the president's call, he enlisted in Company F, of the One Hundred and Sixty-
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seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving until the close of hostilities. He participated in the campaigns of Virginia and West Virginia and was ever loyal to the starry banner. After his return to the north he became identified with the industrial interests of Ohio in 1868 as a manufacturer of buggy wheels in Sandusky. The business steadily increased in volume and im- portance and was carried on until 1880, when Mr. Flickinger removed to Kalamazoo, Michigan. Success attended his industry in that place and he was in control of an extensive business, which he afterward reorganized under the management of a joint stock company, of which he was chosen president. In 1890 the business was sold to the Buggy Wheel Trust Company, and in 1892 our subject erected a large factory in Galion, Ohio. In the same year he removed to Galion. In his wheel manufactory he is now employing two hun- dred and fifty men. He is also president of the Galion Wagon and Gear Com- pany, and his employes altogether number more than four hundred men. His output is very large, but can hardly keep up with the demands. The ware- houses of the company are filled with the best seasoned stock, and both factories are now equipped with the latest and most approved machinery that money can buy and that will turn out a high grade of work. The goods sold by these factories are so favorably known over the country that almost daily purchasers of wheels and bodies and spring wagons come to Galion from all parts of the United States. The growth of his factories has been continuous and health- ful, and the enterprise is now one of considerable magnitude. Much of the success which has attended these two undertakings is due to the capable busi- ness management, keen discrimination and resolute purpose of Edward Flick- inger, who has the business affairs of the two factories well in hand, and whose knowledge of every detail is the result of a lifetime of study. Another enterprise with which he is actively connected is conducted under the name of the Flickinger Company, the partners being our subject, Fred Unckrich and Frank Flickinger. The enterprise was established for the purpose of manu- facturing a special line of wheel machinery, consisting of the Unckrich patent spoke polishing machine, a wheel riveting machine and several other machines which are now in process of construction. The company controls the patents on these machines, which are sold to wheel manufacturers all over the United States, and are spoken of in terms of highest praise wherever used. Edward Flickinger also has another branch of business which is equally successful. though of an entirely different nature. In 1890 he purchased a large stock farm at Bellefontaine, Ohio, comprising two hundred and fifty acres. The
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place is called the Pleasant Grove Stock Farm, and on it he is extensively en- gaged in breeding fine draft and French coach horses.
Mr. Flickinger has been twice married. In 1872 he married Miss Emma Mccullough, a daughter of Judge Mccullough, of Logan county, Ohio. They became the parents of two children. Frank, who has charge of one of the departments of the factory, and Edna. In 1882 the mother died, and in 1884 Mr. Flickinger was again married, his second union being with Miss Elizabeth Colley, of Sandusky, a daughter of Edward Colley, deceased. Their children are Edward, Hazel and Russell. In his political views Mr. Flickinger is a Republican, and socially he is a Mason, having attained the Knight Templar degree in that order. To the subject of this review has come the attainment of a distinguished position in connection with the great material industries of Crawford county, and his efforts have been so discerningly directed along well- defined lines that he seems to have reached at any one point of progress the full measure of his possibilities for accomplishment at that point. A man of distinctive and forceful individuality, of broad mentality and most mature judg- ment, he has left and is leaving his impress upon the industrial world, and he certainly deserves the splendid success which he has attained, for it has been the result of his ability to recognize and improve opportunities and to control intricate business affairs. Kindness, amiability and courtesy not only char- acterize his social relations but are the marked features in his business life, and his employes never see a trace of the overbearing taskmaster in him.
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