USA > Ohio > Crawford County > A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio > Part 34
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JAMES F. McMAHON.
James F. McMahon is the editor and proprietor of the News-Democrat. of Crestline, and has for a number of years been closely identified with the journalistic interest of Crawford county. He was born in Wooster, Ohio, June 1. 1877, and is the youngest son of John J. and Rose ( Cullivan) Mc- Mahon, both of whom were natives of Ireland, but in early pioneer days crossed the Atlantic to the new world, and were married in Norwalk, Ohio. Through a long period the father was foreman in the blacksmith shop of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, at Wooster, Ohio, and after a useful and honorable career he passed away on the 5th of May, 1890, at the age of fifty- four years. His widow still survives him and is now a resident of Crestline. In the family of this worthy couple were four children: James F .; John, who is a car-builder of Toledo, Ohio; Katie, who is now associated with our
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subject in the publication of his paper ; and Mary, the wife of H. A. Schill, of Crestline.
Mr. McMahon, of this review, spent the days of his youth in his native city and is indebted to its public-school system for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. He is now in a line of work which is continually in- creasing his fund of information. He became connected with the printing business in Wooster, Ohio, in 1894, and in 1895 he came to Crestline, where he was associated with the Vidette until the establishment of the News-Demo- crat in 1898. This journal now has a circulation of about a thousand copies It is published in the interest of the Democratic party and of local advance- ment, and through its columns Mr. McMahon treats in a fair and impartial manner the questions of local and general importance, at the same time giving an unswerving support to the principles of Democracy. He also conducts a job printing department, and in that branch of the business is securing a liberal patronage, which materially increases his income.
WILLIAM SNYDER.
William Snyder, who is living in Crestline, Ohio, was born in Middle- town, Crawford county, July 12, 1841. His grandfather, Cristley Snyder, was born in Pennsylvania, and was one of the early settlers of Ashland, Rich- land and Crawford counties. He took up his abode in the midst of the deep forest where he erected a log cabin and owned a farm. He lived to the very advanced age of ninety-nine years and nine months and then died from the effects of a fall, while his wife, Mary Magdaline Snyder, lived to the venerable age of one hundred and eight years. The father, Peter Snyder, was a native of Ashland county, born in 1803, and in 1808 he became a resident of Craw- ford county, which at that time was a part of Richland county. Here he was reared upon the farm, and in a log school house, such as was common at that day, he pursued his education. When he had attained adult age he married Miss Lavina Gilland, who was born in this county before its separation from Crawford county. In this part of Ohio she spent her entire life, dying at the age of seventy-one years. After his marriage the father of our subject took up his abode in Jefferson township, near Middletown, but spent the last twenty years of his life in Crestline. He passed the ninety-second milestone and was then called to his final rest. He took an active part in Christian work as a member of the Presbyterian church, and held several offices in the congregation with which he was identified. A life-long Democrat, he also filled some minor
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political positions. He took an active part in everything connected with the good of the county and was one of its best known and highly respected citizens, having for eighty-eight years lived within its borders. He was identified with its development and progress and was a witness of its transformation from an unbroken wilderness to its present state of cultivation and improvement. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Snyder were born ten children, six sons and four daugh- ters, all of whom reached mature years, while two of the sons and three of the daughters are yet living.
William Snyder was the eighth in order of birth in the parents' family. He first opened his eyes to the light of day in a log cabin in Jefferson township. and remained upon the old home farm until ten years of age, when the family removed to an adjoining farm. He pursued his studies in the log school house in the primitive manner of the times, and assisted his father in the clearing and cultivation of the fields until 1861, when his patriotic spirit was aroused by the attempt at secession of the south and he offered his services to the gov- ernment, enlisting among the "boys in blue" as a member of Company K, Sixty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served for about sixteen months and was then honorably discharged on account of disability. Immediately afterward he returned home and has since been identified with the interests of Crawford county.
In 1860 Mr. Snyder was united in marriage to Miss Mary Burnison, a native of Monroe county, Ohio, born May 4, 1844, and is a daughter of John and Mary ( Myers ) Burnison, who were early settlers of that county. Her father was a native of Stark county, Ohio, but her mother was born in Ger- many. They became the parents of ten children, Mrs. Snyder being the second in order of birth. She was reared and educated in her native county, and to her husband has been a faithful companion and helpmeet on the journey of life. They began their domestic life in Jefferson township, where they remained for about four years, when they took up their abode in Crestline, Mr. Snyder engaging in the railway service. He was first employed as a brakeman and was soon after promoted to the position of conductor on the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago road. He acted in that capacity for eighteen years, run- ning from Crestline to Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and to Chicago. During the greater part of the time he was a passenger conductor, and was one of the most reliable and trustworthy employes in the service. On leaving the road in 1885 he engaged in the grocery business in Crestline, and for some time has lived retired. enjoying a well-merited rest, his wants being supplied by the com- petence which he had gained in former years of activity.
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The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Snyder was blessed with two daughters and a son, but the latter, Frank, is now deceased. Minnie Belle, the elder daughter, is the wife of W. D. Cover, and Alice May, the younger, is still with her parents. In his political affiliations Mr. Snyder is a Democrat, and on that ticket he was elected a member of the town council and of the school board. He belongs to Snyder Post, No. 101, G. A. R. and to the Methodist Episcopal church. He has always lived in Crawford county, so that his history is well known and his fellow townsmen have ever held him in the highest respect and regard, owing to his life-long fidelity to manly principle, his social character- istics being those which in every land and every clime command respect.
JAMES W. COULTER.
In the last half of the past century the lawyer has been a pre-eminent factor in all affairs of private concern and national importance. The man versed in the laws of the country, as distinguished from business men or poli- ticians, has been a recognized power. He has been depended upon to conserve the best and permanent interests of the whole people, and without him and the approval of his practical judgment the efforts of the statesman and the in- dustry of the business man and mechanic would have proved futile. The reason is not far to seek. The professional lawyer is never the creature of circumstance. The profession is open to talent, and eminence or success can- not be obtained except by indomitable energy, perseverance and strong men- tality. Such qualities are manifest in the career of Mr. Coulter, now a well- known and successful attorney of Galion, who was born July 4, 1846, in West Bedford, Coshocton county, Ohio. His father, Richard Montgomery Coulter, died in that county when about sixty years of age. He was a native of Cum- berland county, Pennsylvania, and a son of William Coulter, a surveyor, who became one of the pioneer settlers of Coshocton county. He erected the first brick house built west of the city of Coshocton, and for many years he was an employe of the United States government. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Phoebe Greer, and was reared in Belfast, Ireland, whence she came to America, and here gave her hand in marriage to Richard M. Coulter.
The subject of this review pursued his education at Spring Mountain, Coshocton county, Ohio, and after completing his literary course he commenced preparation for professional life as a student in the law office of Frank H.
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Hurd, of Mount Vernon. He afterward continued his studies under the direction of Hon. A. Jackson and Hon. Thomas Beer, of Bucyrus, and in 1866 was admitted to the bar. He at once located at Galion, where he has since engaged in practice, having long ago won a position of distinction among the leading representatives of the fraternity in this place. Along with those qualities, indispensable to the lawyer .- a keen, rapid, logical mind plus the business sense and ready capacity for hard work,-our subject brought to the starting point of his legal career gifts,-eloquence of language and a strong personality. An excellent presence, an earnest, dignified manner, marked strength of character, a thorough grasp of the law and the ability accurately to apply its principles are factors in Mr. Coulter's effectiveness as an advocate.
For six years Mr. Coulter served as prosecuting attorney of Crawford county. He was also a member of the board of county school examiners for four years, and through a long period was a member of the school board of Galion, acting as its president for some time. Since his retirement from that office his attention has been given strictly to the private practice of law, for he has a large and distinctively representative clientage. However, he is known as a leading and influential member of the Democratic party, has served on the county committee and has done considerable campaign work, attending various political meetings and conventions throughout the state. He is a director and vice-president of the First National Bank of Galion, and was at- torney of the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad and the New York, Lake Erie & Western road, now known as the Erie line. continuing in that position for thirty years, throughout all the changes made in ownership. For twenty years he has managed two farms, located two miles west of Galion, and is one of the largest real estate owners in the county.
Mr. Coulter married Miss Flora Hetrick, of Galion, a daughter of Samuel Hetrick, one of the old pioneers of the county, and his married life is an excep- tionally happy one, his wife being one of the most hospitable and generous women in Galion. Socially he is identified with the Masonic fraternity, and religiously he is connected with the Methodist Episcopal church. He began his business career without capital, save his laudable ambition and unfaltering determination, and the fact that he stands among the wealthy men of the county is due entirely to his own efforts. He has been quick to note oppor- tunities and to improve them, has made judicious investments and throughout his career has transacted his business in harmony with the strictest professional ethics. With him success in life has been reached by sterling qualities of mind and a heart true to every manly principle. He has never deviated from what
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his judgment would indicate to be right and honorable between his fellow men and himself and he has gained not only wealth, but the respect and good will of the entire community in which he lives.
NICHOLAS FETTER.
Nicholas Fetter is a retired farmer and miller living in Crestline. \n excellent example of the self-made American citizen whose life illustrates the progress that an ambitious foreigner can make in this country of unbounded opportunity is shown in the case of Mr. Fetter, one of the leading German- American citizens of Crawford county. His signal success is due to his own energy and the high ideal which his laudable ambition placed before him. Success in any walk in life is an indication of earnest endeavor and painstaking effort .- characteristics that he possesses in an eminent degree.
Mr. Fetter was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, December 28, 1832. His father, George Fetter, was a native of the same locality, was a millwright by trade, and in 1848, when about fifty years of age, came to America, settling in Pennsylvania. There he carried on farming and also engaged in the manu- facture of oak shingles. About 1853 he came to Crawford county, Ohio, where he spent his remaining days, passing away in 1886. He married, in the Fatherland. Miss Catherine Beach, and they became the parents of six chil- dren, five sons and a daughter, namely: Nicholas, Adam, George, Jacob, Catherine and Henry. All were born in Germany, with the exception of Henry, whose birth occurred in the Keystone state.
Nicholas Fetter is the oldest, and was reared in his native country until fifteen years of age, when he accompanied his parents on their voyage to the new world, locating in Blair county, Pennsylvania, where he remained for about five years. In 1853 he came to Crawford county and began work in a sawmill, also followed farming in the employ of others. In 1860 he began business on his own account, and was so engaged until 1895, when, having acquired a comfortable competence, he retired to private life and has since en- joyed a well-merited rest.
In the year 1860 Mr. Fetter was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Heckler, who was born in Germany. June 20. 1837, and came to the new world when about twenty-one years of age, taking up her abode in Crawford county. Their marriage has been blessed with two sons and a daughter, namely: Caro- line, wife of Nicholas Amos, who is proprietor of the Continental Hotel at Crestline; Frances, wife of Frank Nicely, of Galion; and John, who married
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Miss Ludwig and resides in Crestline. Mr. Fetter has served as a member of the board of education of the city and is deeply interested in everything that pertains to the substantial improvement of the community. He votes with the Democracy and is a member of the German Reformed church. He has ever conducted his business affairs so that he has won the confidence and good will of all who know him. As a man and citizen he enjoys the added prosper- ity which comes to those genial spirits who have a hearty shake of the hand for all those with whom they come in contact from day to day and who seem to throw around them in consequence so much of the sunshine of life.
ISAAC C. GUINTHER.
The world instinctively pays deference to the man whose success has been worthily achieved, who has acquired high reputation along the line to- ward which his energies have been directed and whose social prominence is not less the result of an irreproachable life than of recognized natural gifts. It is a pleasing indulgence to write the biography of a man of this character. The country has produced many brilliant men, who in military or civil life have won prominence and honor : most of our noblest and best men are self-made, and Mr. Guinther is a representative of this class, for his life has been de- voted to labors where wealth or influence availed little or naught, the measure of success depending upon the mentality, intellectual acquirements and broad culture of the individual. Mr. Guinther has left the imprint of his individu- ality on each place in which, for any length of time, he has resided, and has opened to many the portals of knowledge, wherein memory's casket may be filled with the choicest gems,-the only treasures which we may safely call our own. As an educator Professor Guinther is widely known and is now occupying the responsible position of city superintendent of the schools of Galion. Familiarity through the medium of books and study with the most gifted minds of every nation and of every clime has well qualified him for the incumbency. He has served in this capacity since 1896, during which period the schools have made marked progress.
Professor Guinther is numbered among the native sons of Crawford county, his birth having occurred in Whetstone township, December 25, 1856, and his parents being Jacob and Catherine (Schallenmiller) Guinther. His father was a native of Germany, born in Wurtemberg, near Stuttgart, in 1814. but when fourteen years of age he came to the new world, taking up his abode in Philadelphia, where he remained until he had attained his majority. He
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then came to Ohio, acting as clerk for William Miller in one of the first hotels in Bucyrus. Subsequently he located upon a farm in Tully township, Marion county. A few years afterward he took up his abode in Whetstone township, Crawford county, a location joining the one in Tully township, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1884, when he was about seventy years of age. His wife represents one of the pioneer families of Pennsyl- vania, her people having located in the Keystone state prior to the war of the Revolution. From Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, representatives of the name came to Ohio, and Mrs. Guinther was one of the first settlers on the . plains south of Bucyrus. She is still living at the old homestead in Whet- stone township, south of New Winchester, at the age of eighty years. Her children were as follows: Mrs. Mary Ulmer, who is living in Whetstone township : George J., a resident of the old homestead in Tully township, Ma- rion county; Sophia, at home; Catherine, the wife of S. Rexroth, of Polk township, Crawford county; Isaac C., of this review; Charlotta, wife of S. Stump, of Whetstone township; and J. F., who is living on the old homestead in Whetstone township. Jacob Guinther was, as is still his surviving widow, well known for honesty and integrity, and for devotion to the welfare of the family, and held in the highest esteem by all.
Professor Guinther, who forms the immediate subject of this review, pur- sued his preliminary education in the public schools of Whetstone township and later entered.the Northwestern Ohio Normal University, at Ada, where he pursued the scientific and classical courses, being graduated in 1883, with the degree of bachelor of science and master of arts. He determined to de- vote his life to educational work, and some time before his graduation he began teaching, his first school being at New Winchester, in Whetstone town- ship, taking charge thereof in the year 1876. For several years his time was devoted to teaching and to study. After graduation he continued teaching, having been employed at Nevada, Galena, and Utica, all in Ohio. At Ne- vada, one year; Galena, three years and Utica, four years. Throughout his teaching he has never been obliged to change positions, but did so as better fields opened up for his service. In 1891 he accepted a position as teacher in the grammar grades at Galion, since which time he has been identified with the schools of this place. In 1892 he became principal of the high school, and for four years served in that capacity, and was then, in 1896, chosen to the position of superintendent of the Galion schools. In this position he has direction and supervision of all the pupils of the public schools, and at present thirty-two teachers. There are four school buildings in the city, .
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The high school course now covers four years and is most thorough and efficient. as is the work done in the grades. Professor Guinther is contin- ually studying, striving to improve the school work and introduce new meth- ods, as they seem of practical value and benefit, and his own interest in the work is an inspiration and aid to the teachers.
In 1885 occurred the marriage of Professor Guinther and Miss Mary M. Rexroth, a daugliter of John and Anna ( Reimhern) Rexroth, who came from Germany to this country in 1840 or '41, and are now deceased. The mar- riage of our subject and his wife has been blessed with five children, namely : Paul Emerson, a youth of fourteen, who is now in the high school; Fred Ernest. Robert I. and Lawrence Oliver, aged, respectively, twelve, ten and seven years ; and Mildred Lucile, the only daughter, now a little maiden of four simmers.
In his political affiliations the Professor is a Democrat, but has no time for active political work. He holds membership in the Presbyterian church and is deeply interested in its growth and progress. He is a man of broad, scholarly attainments, who has had marked influence upon the intellectual de- velopment of the city and whose labors have been of incalculable and of far- reaching benefit.
L. M. SMITH.
L. M. Smith, the well-known business manager of the Crawford County News, was born in Lykens township, Crawford county, September 1, 1868, his parents being Frederick and Lucy Ann (Shupp) Smith. The father located in this county when a young man, in 1840. He was a native of Saxony, Germany, and on coming to America first took up his abode in Columbus, Ohio, whence he came to this county. He did contract work on the national pike and afterward purchased a quarter section of land in Lykens township, which he brought under a high state of cultivation. He first mar- ried Christiana Tipman, of Saxony, Germany, who died in 1846, leaving four children, namely : Louis F., of Lykens township, who has served as justice of the peace and notary public : John F., a resident farmer of the same town- ship: Adolph G., a contractor living in Aurora, Illinois ; and Clara, now the wife of Joseph Laipply, of Lykens township. After the death of his first wife the father married Lucy Ann Shupp. a daughter of Michael Shupp, a native of Pennsylvania and a pioneer of Crawford county. She was born June 3, 1830, and the children born of this marriage are: Cornelius, who
L.M. Swith.
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is living in Bucyrus ; Matilda, deceased; Catherine, the wife of Jacob Meck, of Holmes township; Frederick, who is engaged in business at Lemert, Ohio; Henry, a farmer of that place: Lucy Ann, deceased; Jefferson I., of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume: Emma J., wife of Abraham Scheifer, of Lykens township; L. Melancthon; and Serepta, wife of C. H. Flickinger, of Holmes township. The father of this family was a very prominent and influential citizen of Crawford county, and from 1862 until the time of his death served as justice of the peace. His rulings were strictly fair and impartial and his counsel was sought far and wide in law matters. He was also township clerk for many years and during a greater part of the time was a member of the school board and actively promoted the edu- cational interests of his community. He was also a leading member of the Grange and was an active and progressive citizen. He died December 3. 1877. at the age of sixty-one years, and his wife passed away in 1891, when also sixty-one years of age.
L. M. Smith, of this sketch, spent the days of his childhood upon the home farm and in the district schools of the neighborhood acquired the rudiments of his education. He was only nine years of age at the time of his father's death, and at the age of sixteen he was forced to start in life on his own account. For several years he acted as a salesman in a general store belonging to his brother Lemert, and the practical business training which he there received has proven of value to him in his later career. Realizing the importance of education and feeling its lack in his own life he determined to add to the knowledge he had previously acquired and therefore entered the high school at Bucyrus. At a later date he also pursued a commercial course in the Ohio Business College, at Mansfield, and was graduated in that institui- tion in 1888.
After leaving school Mr. Smith filled important positions with a large manufacturing establishment and with the Adams Express Company until 1891, when he became connected with the journalistic interests, becoming an equal partner in the New Washington Herald in conjunction with his brother, J. I. Smith, deputy county auditor. He successfully managed the Herald until September, 1898, when, being desirous of locating in the county seat, he purchased a half interest in the Crawford County News, of which he is the business manager. He is a conscientious and far-sighted business man and his executive ability is manifest in his capable control of the business affairs of the News office. Prosperity has attended the undertaking, owing in no smal degree to the efforts of Mr. Smith.
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