USA > Ohio > Crawford County > A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio > Part 38
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Dr. Miller, whose name begins this review, is a stanch Democrat, and in the spring of 1893 was elected treasurer of Clinton township, receiving the highest vote of any candidate on the ticket. In 1895 he was re-elected with an increased majority of over one hundred votes. He was vice-president of the Seneca County Teachers' Institute in the term of 1894, and was unani- mously chosen president in the terms of 1895-6. In 1896-7 he was city school examiner, but resigned in order to remove to. New Washington, and on the 5th of August, 1897, he began practice in this place. In 1894, before bidding final adieu to the profession of teacher, Dr. Miller succeeded in bringing about the adoption of township supervision of the schools in Clinton, his native township, the first to adopt such in Seneca county, four other townships of the county having adopted the same plan of supervision. He is the present health officer for New Washington. He also enjoys a large private practice, and his business is steadily increasing. He has been correspondent for the Tiffin Advertiser, the Tiffin News, the Tiffin Tribune, the Tiffin Times, the Bloomville Independent, the Crawford County News, the Crawford County
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Forum, and at the present time sends his communications to the last named. In 1893 Dr. Miller visited the World's Fair in Chicago. Socially he is con- nected with Piekwiek Lodge, No. 175, K. P., of Tiffin; Cranberry Lodge, No. 441, I. O. O. F. ; and Rex Tent, No. 229, K. O. T. M., while he and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take a leading part in Sunday-school work. Both are members of Horace Mann Command- ery, No. 14, and the order of the Red Cross. The Doctor and his wife are ardent supporters of educational and other means of advancing intellectual and moral development. He is president of the New Washington Lecture Association.
JACOB F. SCHAFER.
Not many of the older citizens of Chatfield township, Crawford county, Ohio, were born at their present places of residence. Jacob Schafer has this distinction. He is a son of Jacob Schafer, Sr., and was born February 21, 1862, in his father's house on the farm on which he now lives.
Jacob Schafer, Sr., the son of Adam Schafer, was born in Hoheinod, Germany, and was brought to America by his father. The elder Schafer set- tled in Bloom township, Seneca county, Ohio, and from there removed to Chatfield township, Crawford county, with his son. Jacob Schafer, the father of the subject of this sketch. About the time of their arrival they bought about forty acres of wild land, and later they bought forty acres more. on which stands the residence of the subject of this sketch. Adam Schafer died pon this property, at the age of seventy-nine years. His wife was Catharine Fox, also a native of Germany.
Jacob F. Schafer, who is the immediate subject of this sketch, was the tenth in order of birth of a family of eleven children. Mary, the eldest, became the wife of Gottlieb Knecht. Valentine lives in Chatfield township, Crawford county, Ohio. Lucy married Philip Schemp and lives in Seneca county. Catharine is the wife of Peter Regula, of Carothers, this state. Gertrand married Emanuel Lutz. Caroline is the wife of Peter Reidle. Adam lives at Chatfield, Crawford county, Ohio. Martha married William Lutz, of Chatfield, Crawford county, Ohio. Lizzie married Wiliam Seafort, of Cran- berry township. Sophia died in infancy. At one time the father of these chil- dren owned three hundred and forty-six acres of land. At his death, which occurred December 23, 1898, he owned one hundred and ninety-nine aeres. He was a man of influence in his township and a member of the Lutheran church.
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The subject of this sketch was reared to the life of a farmer boy of all work, and received as good an education as the common schools afforded. He was married, in 1885, to Miss Caroline Lanehart, and they have seven children, named as follows: Erna, Albert, William, Loretta, Clara, Marie ( who died October 27, 1898) and Delverta.
Mr. Schafer owns seventy-nine acres of land in his home farm and another farm of forty acres, and is a successful general farmer. He and all the mein- bers of his family are identified with the Lutheran church. Politically he is a Democrat, and while he is influential in public affairs he has never been a secker of public office. His public spirit has impelled him to ally himself with many movements which he has believed promised to improve the condition of his fellow citizens.
MOSES PUGH.
When the tocsin of war sounded and it was known that rebellion in the South had threatened the disruption of the Union men from all walks of life offered their service to the government. From the work shop, the fields, the school-room and the offices they flocked to the standard of the nation and followed the stars and stripes to the battle-fields of the South. Among the number was Moses Pugh, and well may he be proud of the military record he gained when wearing the blue uniform ; he fought for the principles of liberty. justice and an undivided country.
Crawford county may well be proud to number him among her native sons, for he has ever been a man worthy of the respect and confidence of all. His birth occurred in Lykens township. April 6, 1843, and he represents one of the pioneer families of this portion of the state. His great-grand- father was one of the leading citizens of Mansfield, Ohio, and erected the first brick chimney built in that place. For several years he conducted a hotel there. His grandparents, Moses and Christina Pugh, were both natives of Virginia and the former was a farmer by occupation. When the country be- came involved in the second war with England he joined the service and loyally aided in its defense. His father, Aaron Pugh, was born near Wheel- ing, in a little hamlet known as Pughtown, in Hancock county, West Vir- ginia, on the 13th of April, 1813. At that time, however, the district was a part of the Old Dominion, the division into two states having not yet been made. Upon the home farm the days of his boyhood and youth were spent and in 1837 he came to Ohio, entering from the government forty acres of
Moses Pugh
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wild land in Lykens township, Crawford county, and in the midst of the forest he built a log cabin. On his arrival here his personal property con- sisted of an ax and with this he cleared a small patch of ground. After some months he returned to Virginia and brought his parents, his brothers and sis- ters to the new Ohio home. On his second arrival he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in Lykens township, upon which the grandfather settled and made his home until his death, while the father of our subject took up his abode upon his forty-acre farm, there residing until the spring of 1862, when he sold that property and came to Cranberry township, purchasing three hundred and twenty acres of land, where his son Moses is now living. He also owns a hundred and twenty acres and a farm of fifty acres in Huron county, which he had purchased a year previous, and later he bought one hun- dred and sixty acres near Crestline. He died December 22, 1888, and then was ended a long and useful business career, wherein he won success as the result of his energy and enterprise. His grandfather was a Virginian slave- holder, but freed his slaves prior to the war. His father was a stalwart Dem- ocrat, but Aaron Pugh became an ardent Republican and gave to the party his earnest support. He held membership in the Christian church and while residing in Lykens township served as trustee.
He married Miss Mary Jackson, who was born in Hancock county. Vir- ginia, January 13, 1817, and was a daughter of William and Sarah Jackson, who took up their abode in Crawford county about the time the Pugh fan- ily was founded within its borders. Mrs. Pugh, the mother of our subject,. died January 7, 1885. She had been a member of the Presbyterian church in early life and afterward joined the Freewill Baptist church. By her mar- riage she became the mother of eight children, six of whom are yet living, namely: Elizabeth, the widow of J. W. King, of Chicago Junction, Huron county, Ohio; Moses, of this review : Alanson and Anson, twins, the former living in Columbus Grove. Putnam county, Ohio, while the latter lives in Cranberry township, Crawford county ; Albert B .. of New Washington, Ohio; and John C., who is living in Deshler, Ohio.
The duties of the school-room. the pleasures of the playground and the work of the home farm occupied the attention and energies of Moses Pugh prior to his eighteenth year. But the war spirit of his grandfather asserted itself when the country called for troops and he responded to her need of loyal soldiers, enlisting on the 14th of September. 1861, as a member of Company H, Fifty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was in the Army of the Potomac until October 14, 1863, and at the time of Rosecrans' defeat was transferred
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to the Army of the Cumberland and participated in the engagements of Cross Keys, Cedar Mountain, Burnt Hickory, second battle of Bull Run, Chancel- lorsville, Antietam, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Rocky Face Gap, Kenesaw Mountain, Resaca and the siege of Atlanta. He was also with Sherman on the march to the sea, aided in the capture of Bentonville, the siege of Savannah, and took part in the grand review in Washington, where the loyal troops who had accomplished their task of preserving the Union, marched in victorious battle array before the stand upon which stood the president of the nation. He was then mustered out July II, 1865, in Louis- ville, Kentucky. Mr. Pugh had been three times wounded in the battle of Bull Run, and was wounded in the right leg at Stephenson, Alabama, after which he lay in the convalescent hospital for three weeks and four days. This injury caused the amputation of the limb in 1893. He entered the service as a private and was mustered out a second lieutenant, being commissioned by Governor Brough. He participated in every engagement of his command, and was never absent from his regiment, save the time he lay in the hospital.
When the war was over and the country no longer needed his services Mr. Pugh returned to his home and resumed the duties of civil life. On the 26th of July. 1866. he was united in marriage to Miss Martha Johnston, a native of Cranberry township. Crawford county, and a daughter of Jacob and Mary ( Reed) Johnston, the former born in Lycoming county, Penn- sylvania, October 20, 1819, and the latter born in Stark county, Ohio, April 10, 1817. The Johnstons originally came from Albany, New York .. The Johns- ton and Reed families both came to Crawford county about 1836, and her fa- ther entered from the government one hundred and sixty acres of land. He died March 4. 1882, and his wife died May 8, 1853.
Jacob Johnston was for years a prominent man in public affairs, ever supporting all measures for the general good. He was a strong Republican in politics, and an ardent and active member of the Protestant Methodist church. . The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Pugh was blessed with six children, as follows: Gertrude L., who is now the wife of H. H. Carpenter, of Rich- mond township, Huron county ; Effie I .. Mary Jane, Senate A., Logan H. and Burdett W., all at home.
After his marriage Mr. Pugh took his bride to a farm of eighty acres about one mile north of his present home, and which he had purchased of his father with money saved during his army service. There he erected a plank house and began clearing and improving his land, but after seven years he sold that property and purchased eighty acres one mile west of his present
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residence. There he lived for two years, when he traded that property to his father for one hundred and sixty acres of the old homestead and took up his abode thereon, his father removing to the town. This he sold in 1899. Mr. Pugh now owns seventy-four acres in his home farm and is a well known and energetic agriculturist. He and his wife hold membership in the Freewill Baptist church, in which he has served as clerk and trustee and has also held other offices. In politics he is a stanch Republican and is a member of the New Washington Grange, No. 1485, Patrons of Husbandry, and of Creglow Post, No. 178, G. A. R., of Attica. In manner he is very genial and jovial and his many excellent qualities have gained him many friends among those with whom he is associated.
P. F. LANTZ.
P. F. Lantz is prominently connected with the journalistic interests of Crawford county, and though a young man, he has manifested a marked abil- ity in the business control as well as in connection with the literary work of the Herald, which he is now editing and publishing at New Washington.
He was born in this town February 9, 1878, and at the usual age entered the public schools, where he pursued his studies until graduation, in June, 1895. He then began earning his own living, spending the following year as a salesman in a grocery store. Not content, however, with the educational advantages which he had already enjoyed, he spent the spring of 1896 as a student of the Ohio Normal University, at Ada, Ohio. In 1897 and 1898 he was employed as a drug clerk in Dayton, Kentucky, and on the expiration of that period he returned to his home in the fall of 1898 and entered the office of the New Washington Herald as a typographer. In September of the fol- lowing year he purchased the paper, which he has since successfully conducted. and under his management the circulation has increased and its influence has been extended. He is a wide-awake, progressive and enterprising young man, and his labors in behalf of the best interests of the city are effective and beneficial.
JOHN KEIL.
John Keil is now living a retired life in Bucyrus. A fact of which due recognition is not usually accorded in connection with the development of the west is that to no foreign element is progress due in so large a measure as to
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those who have had their nativity in and trace their lineage to the great empire of Germany. Among those who left the Fatherland and identified themselves with American life and institutions, who have pushed their way to the front and are a credit alike to the land of their birth and that of their adoption is John Keil. He came to Bucyrus in 1854 from the country of his birth.
He first opened his eyes to the light of day in Hesse Darmstadt, in 1836, a son of Henry and Margaret ( Yakley) Keil. He was reared in the place of his nativity, pursued his education in the public schools and at the age of eighteen resolved to try his fortune in America, believing that he would have better opportunities for advancement in the new world. Accordingly, he crossed the briny deep to this country and made his way across the country to Bucyrus, where he established a blacksmith shop for himself in 1856. He continued business there for twelve years and then began dealing extensively in stock. He also purchased and operated a farm, and through the successful management of his business he acquired a handsome competence, the sales of his farm products and his stock annually augmenting his income. He also engaged in the purchase and shipment of hay on quite an extensive scale, and has owned much valuable real estate in the business portion of Bucyrus. Mr. Keil has lost much property through going security to oblige friends who have proved unworthy of the trust reposed in them, but is still in possession of a good capital, which enables him to live in practical retirement from business cares.
In public affairs Mr. Keil has taken a very active and commendable in- terest, supporting all measures for the general good. In 1882 he was elected to the office of county sheriff and served for four years, retiring from the position as he had entered it .- with the confidence and good will of the people. That he was a capable officer is shown by the fact that in 1894 he was again chosen to the position and served until 1898. Prompt and fearless in the dis- charge of his duties, his course created confidence in the law-abiding citizens and dread in those who were law-breakers. He has long been known as a leading and influential member of the Democracy of Crawford county, and has several times served on the county central committee, doing all in his power to promote the political interests in which he firmly believes.
Mr. Keil was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Hocker, who emigrated from Baden, Germany, to the United States. She was to him a faithful com- panion and helpmate on life's journey for a number of years, and her death occurred in 1899, at the age of sixty-two years. In their family were the following named : John C. married Miss Bella Mathews, and unto them were
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born two children, Edwin and Florence. He served as deputy sheriff under his father and died in 1897, at the age of thirty-eight years, his loss being greatly deplored, for he was an extremely popular man, his pleasant manner. genial disposition and many sterling characteristics winning him the highest regard of all with whom he was associated. Harry is now engaged in the stock business in the Stock Yards of Chicago. Charles is married and is engaged in dealing in hay in Bucyrus. Kate is the wife of Calvin Holmes, a resident of Bucyrus. Mary is the wife of William Larkin, of Toledo, Ohio. Fanny is the wife of Clem Rozer, a well-known photographer of Bucyrus. Minnie, Mattie and Amelia are all under the paternal roof and are students in the public school. Mr. Keil and family attend the Mehtodist Episcopal church.
The subject of this sketch has been the architect of his own fortune and has builded wisely and well. Coming to America without capital, he de- pended upon industry and energy to enable him to gain a start and upon per- sistent purpose and resolute will in order to maintain a creditable position in the business world. His labors brought to him a merited financial reward, and to-day he is numbered among the substantial and highly esteemed resi- dents of Bucyrus.
ADAM J. LICHTY.
Adam J. Lichty, who occupies the position of city marshal, was born in Cranberry township, Crawford county, upon his father's farm, November 12, 1848. He is of French lineage, for his father, Peter Lichty, was born in Lorraine, France, April 15, 1811, and in 1838 emigrated to America, accom- panied by his parents. He located in Delaware, Ohio, where he worked at his trade of wagon-making, which he had learned in his native country. Sub- . sequently he removed to New Washington, Crawford county, where he fol- lowed wagon-making until he purchased a farm, about 1847. Taking up his abode upon his new property, he there carried on agricultural pursuits until 1858, when he removed to Bucyrus, where he resided until 1879, in which year he became a resident of Sac county, Iowa. He lived with a son in that county until his death, which occurred March 3, 1884. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Barbara Beer, was born in Lorraine, France, September 23, 1810, and died on the 12th of May, 1883, in Sac county.
Adam J. Lichty, of this review, remained upon the home farm only until January, 1858, when he was taken to Bucyrus, and in the public schools of the city pursued his education. He was but a boy when he enlisted in his
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country's service, joining Company C of the One Hundred and Eighty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Captain Brifogel and Colonel Wilds. The regiment was mustered in at Camp Chase, Columbus, on the 25th of Feb- ruary, 1865, and was sent to Nashville, Tennessee. From that place they marched to Murfreesboro and thence proceeded by train to Cleveland, Ten- nessee, where they were placed in the rear of Fort Steadman. Later they were transferred to Dalton, Georgia, and Mr. Lichty was detailed with twenty-five others from the regiment to go to New Orleans on special duty. He afterward rejoined his command at Dalton, Georgia, and from there was sent to Chattanooga, Tennessee, but afterward returned to Nashville, where he was mustered out. He then proceeded to Camp Chase, where, with his regiment, he was honorably discharged. During all the time which he spent in the south he was engaged in fighting guerrillas.
After his military experience was ended Mr. Lichty came again to Bucyrus and was employed with his father as a carriage wood-worker, which pursuit he followed until 1868, when he went to Toledo, Iowa, and there worked at his trade for about eighteen months. He then removed to Lima, Ohio, where he was employed in the railroad shops of the Dayton & Michigan Railroad, and then returned to Bucyrus. After visiting for a time in this city he went to Sandusky, Ohio, where he followed his trade until his removal to Vandalia, Illinois, where he was employed in a similar capacity until he went to St. Louis, Missouri. In that city he again found work at his trade, but the carriage factory in which he was employed was destroyed by fire and in the conflagration he lost his tools. Subsequently he entered the employ of a Chicago soap house as a local collector in St. Louis, and from there went to Chicago to act as city collector for the same firm. His next change in business life took him to a lumber camp at Big Rapids, Michigan, but after a short period he returned to Bucyrus and accepted a position as traveling sales- man for the Bucyrus Reaper and Mower Works, remaining upon the road for about two years. He then entered into partnership with his father, under the firm name of P. Lichty & Son, carriage manufacturers, a connection that was maintained for about three years, when they sold out, our subject opening an agricultural store, which he conducted successfully during the following dec- ade. He then disposed of that property, and in the year 1889 was appointed city marshal of Bucyrus, serving for two years, when he resigned. He after- ward worked in the line of his trade until 1898, when he was elected city marshal, and has since filled the office with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents.
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On the 7th of December, 1876, Mr. Lichty was united in marriage with Miss Anna Streib, a daughter of Conrad Streib, who was born at Messinger, Wurtemberg, Germany, March 8, 1821, and crossed the Atlantic to the new world in August, 1855. He became a resident of Bucyrus, and his death occurred in this city in January, 1886. His wife was born at Weisenstein, Wurtemberg, May 19. 1823, and died December 25, 1873. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lichty have been born three children: George Raymond, whose birth occurred August 24. 1879: Marcus Henry, born July 7, 1883; and Robert Curtis, born November 12, 1885.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF BUCYRUS.
This is one of the strong religious organizations of Crawford county. The Methodists were the first religious body to enter this county, and have had a potent influence in Christian work here. Only two years after the first settlers came to what is now Bucyrus the Methodist ministers began their work. The first sermon was preached in the city in 1821 by Jacob Hooper and he was soon afterward followed by the Rev. Bacon. In the fall of 1821 the Rev. Hooper was appointed pastor in charge, and as his circuit was seven hundred miles around, he preached in Bucyrus but once in eight weeks. In 1822 Rev. Thomas McCleary was the preacher in charge, and in 1823 the circuit was made smaller and James Row was appointed junior preacher, so the people heard the gospel every two weeks. The same year John O. and William Blowers, brothers, began active work in the county. The Rev. Bacon, who was pastor, was a man full of tact and popular with the people. In 1824 Jacob Dixson was in charge, and in 1825 James Gilruth was appointed pastor, while James McMahan was presiding clder from 1825 until 1828. In 1826 Abner Goff accepted the pastorate and, a new brick school-house having been erected in Bucyrus, the Methodist people worshiped therein until they built a church of their own in 1832. Previous to that time their services were held in groves, cabins and barns. In 1828 James Gilruth and William Runnels occupied the pulpit, and in 1829 David Lewis and Samuel Shaw. In 1830 a great revival was held and the membership of the church was largely in- creased. From 1829 until 1831 Russell Biglow was presiding elder, and in 1831 Alfred M. Lorain and David Cadwallader. Between 1832 and 1849, in the order mentioned, the following acted as pastors: Erastus Felton, Har- vey Camp, John Kinnear, James Wilson, Adam Poe, Thomas Thompson, George W. Breckenridge, Samuel B. Garberson, Liberty Prentiss, Samuel
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