USA > Ohio > Crawford County > A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio > Part 40
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John Leonhart was not quite four years of age when brought by his parents to Chatfield township and here he has since resided. His boyhood and youth were passed in the usual manner of farmer lads of the period, working in the fields through the summer months, while in the winter sea- son he pursued his education in the public schools. When twenty-four years of age he rented land from his father and continued its cultivation for ten years. He then purchased forty acres of his present farm, to which he has added from time to time until he is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres. He has made many fine improvements upon the place, and all. modern conveniences and accessories are there found, including the latest im- proved machinery, substantial buildings and high grades of stock, while his fields return to him good crops.
In October, 1857. Mr. Leonhart was married to Miss Elizabeth Acker- man, and unto them have been born eight children : Catherine M., Jefferson, George W., William A., Matilda, Gustavus A., Caroline E., and Emma. Tillie is the wife of Charles Foster: Callie married George Marquart, and Emma is the wife of William Gangluff. The family is one widely and fa- vorably known in the community and the members of the household have a large circle of friends. In his political views Mr. Leonhart is a stalwart Democrat and for ten years he has served as trustee of his township, dis-
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charging his duties in a most prompt and efficient manner. He belongs to the German Evangelical Lutheran church and his straightforward life is in harmony with his professions.
THEODORE F. POPE.
The well-known farmer of Lykens township, Crawford county, Ohio, whose name is the title of this sketch, is a worthy example of that class so numerous in America, that of the self-made men, and it is the aim of the writer to include in this work a brief account of his career not alone because it is due to Mr. Pope that he should be properly represented in these pages but also in the hope that others, reading of his success, may be encouraged to surmount obstacles and press forward more bravely along the hard but promising path- way of life.
Theodore F. Pope was born in Delaware, Ohio, March 30, 1845. At the age of five years he was taken to Williams county, Ohio, where he lived until he was fifteen years old, when his mother died. He then went to Mansfield, Ohio, and found a home with his uncle, J. H. Barron, with whom he lived two years. Then, in 1862, at the age of seventeen years, he enlisted as a pri- vate in the Tenth Ohio Cavalry and entered upon a career as a soldier under the gallant General Kilpatrick. His first experience of battle was at Snow Hill. He afterward fought at Shelbyville, and under Sherman participated in that distinguished officer's celebrated march to the sea, enduring many hardships and taking part in many desperate sorties and hotly-contested en- gagements. He was honorably discharged from the service August 9, 1855.
After the war Mr. Pope went to Lykens, Crawford county, Ohio, where for three years he was a clerk in a store. He left that position to assume the management of a sawmill, which he retained for one year. He then engaged in farming, which he has continued successfully to the present time. In 1884 he removed to his present farm, which he worked under lease one year and which he bought in 1885. It contains one hundred and ten acres of well- improved and well-cultivated land and is provided with a good residence, ample barns and all necessary outbuildings. He gives his attention to general farming.
Mr. Pope was married April 23, 1868. to Miss Amy B. Yingling, who has borne him six children. Their daughter Esther is the wife of H. B. Tippin, of Lykens, Ohio. Their daughter Rena married Daniel Augeny, also of Lykens. Their daughter Ada is the wife of Michael Geiger, of Chat-
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field. Their daughter Sanoma married H. E. Valentine, of Logan county, Ohio. Their son Clifford J. and their son Judson K. are members of their household.
Mr. Pope is a Republican in political affiliation, and he is not without influence in the local councils of his party. He has never been an office- seeker, but has been prevailed upon to serve his fellow townsmen as assessor of Lykens township, to which office he has been twice elected. His interest in the welfare of his township and county has been manifested in many ways, and he never withholds his support from any measure which he believes tends to the advancement of worthy local interests. He is a member of Lykens Lodge, No. 506, Independent Order of Odd Fellow's.
MATTHIAS M. SPRINGER.
Matthias M. Springer is an honored veteran of the Civil war who has made a great sacrifice for his country. He stands to-day among those to whom the nation owes a debt of gratitude which can never be repaid. His loyalty and valor was displayed on many southern battlefields and throughout his entire life he has been a supporter of every interest which he believed would prove of general good to his county, state and nation. No history of Craw- ford county would be complete without the record of his life, which we, therefore, gladly present to our readers, according to him the honor which is his just due.
Mr. Springer was born in Weller township, Richland county, on the 15th of January, 1837, and is a son of George W. and Elizabeth ( Mahon ) Springer. The family is of Swedish origin and was founded in America by four brothers, Michael, Peter, William and Daniel, who crossed the Atlantic from Sweden in an early day and settled in New Jersey. The first named was the great- grandfather of our subject, and from New Jersey he removed to Pennsylvania. His son, Matthias Springer, the grandfather of our subject, was born, accord- ing to tradition, in the red stone country of New Jersey, May 15. 1758, and died in June, 1822. He was a personal acquaintance of George Washington, but it is not known with certainty whether or not he served in the Revolu- tionary war. George W. Springer, the father of our subject, was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, October 22, 1811, and in his parents' home spent the days of his childhood and youth. He acquired a good common- school education, and soon after attaining his majority emigrated to Ohio, locating in Weller township, Richland county, becoming one of its pioneer
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settlers. The Indians were very numerous in that portion of the state but were always friendly. In. Pennsylvania Mr. Springer had learned the trade of a tanner and shoemaker, and after coming to Ohio he purchased a tan-yard, which he conducted for a number of years. He devoted some time to farming soon after his arrival in the Buckeye state, but rheumatisin forced him to aban- don this and he then actively engaged in the tanning business, which he fol- lowed the greater part of his active life. About a year after taking up his abode in Richland county, he was married on the 19th of September, 1833, to Miss Elizabeth Mahon, who was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, October 25, 1814, and was a daughter of James and Millie ( Hitchcock) Mahon, both of whom were of Irish extraction. They emigrated to Richland county in 1818. settling in Weller township, where their remaining days were spent in the midst of pioneer scenes, the red men being almost their only neighbors. At the time of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Springer his wife received as as her patrimony forty acres of forest land, which the father of our subject cleared and improved. Later, he purchased an adjoining tract of forty acres and the development of this largely devolved upon his sons, owing to the father's ill health. After selling his Richland county farm, George W. Springer removed to Crawford county on the Ist of April, 1865, and pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Cranberry township, one mile southeast of New Washington, and here he and his wife resided up to the time of her death. He passed away on the 22d of November, 1889, and she was called to her final rest on the 5th of May, 1888. They were life-long members of the Methodist Episcopal church, earnest and consistent Christian people, who reared their children in that faith and tanght them habits of in- (lustry and integrity, thus well fitting them for the duties and obligations of life. They had ten children, seven of whom are yet living, namely: Matthias M .; Elizabeth, the wife of John Tooker, of Michigan: Amelia, Athaliah and George W., triplets, the first named the wife of a Mr. Hilton, of Tiffin, Ohio, the second of the widow of Henry Bender, of Marion, Ohio, while George re- sides with his brother Matthias: Nancy M., who married William Corrathers, of Ohio City, Ohio; and Mary M., the wife of Sheridan Spencer, of Seneca county, Ohio.
Matthias M. Springer began his mastery of the branches of English learn- ing in the common schools near his home and during the period of his child- hood and youth remained with his parents, assisting in the farm work as he grew old and strong enough to manage the plow and the other agricultural implements. On attaining his majority he started out to fight the battle of
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life, and whatever success he has achieved since that time is due entirely to his own efforts. For two years he was employed in a stone quarry, and as op- portunity offered he secured work as a journeyman at the brick and stone mason's trade, his time being thus passed for a year. On the expiration of that period he began doing contract work in putting up post and rail fences and executing various jobs in carpentering, in which he was very successful, receiving good salaries. On the 11th of August, 1861, however, he sacrificed all business opportunities in order to aid his country in her struggle to pre- serve the Union intact. He joined Company M. of the Second Ohio Cavalry, and after recruiting for five months at Cleveland the regiment was sent to Camp Dennison and soon afterward to Fort Leavenworth. After a short stay at that place the troops were sent to Kansas City, and in that vicinity had a sharp skirmish with Quantrell, the guerrilla chief. Next the regiment was sent to Fort Scott, but Mr. Springer remained behind as an inmate of the gen- eral hospital with a severe case of inflamed eyes, caused by vaccination, which had been administered while he was at Camp Dennison. It was slow to take, however, and on encountering the severe winters of the western country he contracted a cold which inflamed his eyes. Through a scare at Fort Scott on the expected advance of the Confederate troops, he was taken to that place with others ere he had fully recovered, being at the time under the medical su- pervision of the regimental surgeon. While at that place the regiment of twelve companies, finding it impossible to recruit, formed into a battalion of eight companies and Mr. Springer was transferred to Company G. The troops then returned to headquarters at Fort Scott for some time, and in the interval went on an Indian expedition to Fort Gibbs and Fort Smith for two months, during which time there occurred a two-days' fight at Cain Hill. Mr. Springer was also one of a company of one hundred and fifty men chosen as a detachment to go on an expedition to Humboldt to suppress the Indian in- surrections at that place. There they met in council with seventeen different tribes of Indians and matters were peaceably settled.
In December, 1862, as the regiment were almost entirely dismounted, it was called back to Camp Chase to recruit and there was remounted. In the following spring it was transferred to the Army of the Cumberland, and go- ing to Somerset, Kentucky, were encamped at that place for several weeks, during which time the Union men had several skirmishes with the troops of General Pegrim. After some weeks passed at Danville and at Camp Nelson, they moved to Lexington, but there remained only a brief period, after which they spent a few weeks at Stanford and thence took up the line of march into
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eastern Tennessee, where they were constantly on the move, either advancing, driving the enemy before them, or retreating for some weeks up to the siege of Knoxville, in which Mr. Springer took part. Following this he went with his regiment to Strawberry Plains, where they went into winter quarters, and during the winter season the engineer corps repaired the bridge at that place. On the Ist of January, 1864, while at Strawberry Plains, Mr. Springer en- listed as a veteran and shortly afterward began the journey home, arriving at Camp Chase, where the regiment was again mustered into the service and then granted a thirty-day furlough. On the expiration of his leave of absence he rejoined his regiment at Cleveland and was transferred with Burnside to the Ninth Corps of the Army of the Potomac. After rendezvousing for two weeks at Annapolis, they took part in the battle of the Wilderness, and sub- sequently the Second Ohio Cavalry was transferred to Sheridan's Cavalry Corps and took part in Wilson's second raid, in which they tore up seventy- two miles of the Petersburg and Lynchburg Railroad. This movement was followed by the mine explosion at Petersburg. Soon afterward Mr. Springer was sent to the hospital at City Point, trouble with his eyes incapacitating him for service .. The same afternoon the regiment received orders to move to Washington city, and he was placed on a boat and sent through with his com- mand. Immediately on his arrival he was committed to Camp Stoneman hos- pital, and after two days was sent to the Emory general hospital, at Wash- ington, D. C., where he remained for over eleven months. After about six months there passed he was appointed general superintendent of the cooking department, and by the war department was made a member of the Veteran Reserve Corps so that he might be retained in this position. After the hos- pital was broken up he rejoined his regiment at Camp Cadwalader, in Phila- delphia, and was made superintendent of the cocking department there, act- ing in that capacity until September 18, 1865, when he was honorably dis- charged from the service.
At the close of four long years spent at the front Mr. Springer gladly returned to his home and on the Ist of March, 1866, he was united in marriage to Miss Ferena Easly, a native of Cranberry township, and a daughter of Jacob Easly. Her father was a native of Switzerland and originally spelled the name Iseli. In 1834 he came to America, accompanied by his second wife, mother of Mrs. Springer, who bore the maiden name of Barbara Strauchen. They were also accompanied by his five children, born of his first marriage.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Springer has been blessed with fourteen children, of whom twelve are yet living, namely: George W., who follows
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carpentering in Cleveland; Elizabeth, the wife of W. H. Smith, of Fostoria, Ohio; Samuel M., a painter and plasterer in Cranberry township; Charles A., a carpenter in Cleveland, Ohio; Anna A., wife of .A. S. Nye, of Cranberry township; Lela F., wife of Joseph Wolfert, of Cleveland; Arthur J., and El- mira M., at home; Walter R., who follows carpentering in Cleveland ; Martha I., Lucy V. and Effie L., all of whom are still with their parents.
After his marriage Mr. Springer took up his abode in a log cabin, about one and a half miles west of the present home, where he resided for eighteen months, during which period he followed any respectable employment that he could secure. He then went to Ottawa county, Ohio, where he purchased eighty acres of timber land and erected a log house and a log barn, making his home upon that place for six years. Again he had trouble with his eyes, which prevented him from working, and in consequence he sold his farm and returned to Crawford county. Here he purchased the south half of the old homestead and lived there for six years. In 1881, however, he sold that prop- erty and purchased his present home farm of eighty acres, upon which he has resided through two decades. About 1880 his eyesight began failing so that at times of a period of several weeks he would be totally blind, and soon after his removal to his present home he lost the entire use of his eyes. It was cer- tainly a great sacrifice he made to his country, for it was during his service as a defender of the Union that the trouble was incurred which ultimately re- sulted in blindness.
In his political views Mr. Springer is a stanch Republican and for some years after his return from the war he served as supervisor and as school di- rector, but his blindness compelled him to give up active participation in such work. He and his wife were consistent and prominent members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and the family is one of prominence in the community. Mr. Springer is one of the most highly esteemed citizens of this part of the state.
JACOB C. MILLIMITER.
Although Switzerland is one of the smallest of the countries of Europe. it has furnished some valuable citizens to the new world. Of that country Mr. Millimiter is a native, his birth having there occurred on the 7th of May, 1849. His education was obtained in its public schools, and the first nineteen years of his life were passed in his native land, after which he bade adieu to friends and home and sailed for the United States. Having arrived on the Atlantic seaboard he started westward and first took up his abode in Van Wert
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county, Ohio, where he began working with his father, with whom he re- mained until he had attained his majority, when he started out in life for himself. He was employed as a farm hand by the month and thus obtained a start in the business world. The year 1876 witnessed his arrival in Craw- ford county, and for three years thereafter he worked on a farm.
Mr. Millimiter was then married, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary Smith, by whom he has one child, William, who is yet at home with his par- ents. At the time of their marriage Mr. Millimiter began operating land on the shares. He went to Cranberry township, where he remained for eight years, and then came to the farm upon which he now resides and which has been his home continuously since 1896. He now owns one hundred and six acres of land. This is an arable tract and the well tilled fields bring forth good harvests, for he raises the grains best adapted to this climate and care- fully cultivates his land. He is a member of the German Reformed church, and his life is consistent with his religious faith. Whatever success he has achieved is due entirely to his own efforts and his enterprise and energy will enable him to gain still greater prosperity in the future.
FREDERICK W. MAY.
One of the leading and representative citizens of Tiro, Ohio, is Frederick W. May, who is the subject of this biography. He was born in Liberty township. Crawford county, on June 11, 1862, and is one of a family of seven children born to Louis and Sophia ( Krebs) May.
Louis May, the father of our subject, was born in Bavaria, Germany, on May 8, 1828, a son of Louis and Fredericka (Schaeffer) May, and was one of a family of ten children, four of whom still survive, these being: Louis, the father of our subject : William, who operates the home farm in Bavaria ; George and Rinehart, both of whom are residents of Boston, Massachusetts. The grandparents of our subject were born and spent their whole lives in Ba- varia, where the grandfather died at the age of sixty-four and the grand- mother at the age of seventy-seven years. Louis May grew to manhood on his father's farm and obtained an excellent education in the German schools, and still retains the language of the Fatherland.
In 1853 Mr. Louis May started for America, in company with many oth- ers from his own land. among these being the lady who later became his wife. After a voyage of thirty-five days the party landed in New York, about the middle of October. Mr. May went immediately to Boston, Massachusetts,
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where his brother-in-law resided. He was the well-known Daniel Shales, who carried on a large cabinet-making business, employing seventy-five men, and under his instruction Mr. May in time became a finished workman in that trade, serving a full apprenticeship and later working with him as a journey- man.
In 1850 Mr. May married Miss Sophia Krebs, who was born in Bavaria also, and who was a daughter of Frederick and Christiana (Weibel) Krebs, who followed her to America in the following year, locating with their son in Osceola, in Crawford county, where their last years were spent. A family of seven children was born to Louis May and wife, the six survivors being : Anna, who is the wife of Henry Ulmer, of Sandusky township, in this county ; Louis, who conducts the home farm; George, who is also at home; Frederick WV., who resides in Tiro; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Philip Bender, of San- dusky township : and Emma, who is at home.
In the spring of 1861 Mr. May, with his wife and thre children, came to Crawford county and settled on a farm of forty acres which he had purchased in Liberty township, near Sulphur Springs, prior to his removal to the county. More land was added to the farm, making it contain fifty-five acres, and here Mr. May and his family resided until 1877, when he sold that place and bought his present fine farm of one hundred and six acres in Vernon township, which has been his home ever since.
In political matters Mr. May has always been a Democrat, and both he and his wife have been active members of the Lutheran church, and are among the most highly esteemed citizens of the county.
Frederick W. May was sent to school and grew up on the farm, acquiring an education both mentally and physically, and remained under the parental roof until his marriage, on December 25, 1894, to Miss Sidney Carmichael. She was a native of Richland county, Ohio, and was a daughter of Franklin Carmichael, one of the early settlers of Richland county.
.After marriage our subject located in Tiro, where for many years his capable wife had conducted a successful millinery business, and in the following year he engaged in the grocery line. On account of his business qualifications as well as his pleasant and courteous manner, Mr. May soon built up a large trade and is now one of the leading men in his line in the city. In politics he has always been a Democrat and at present is faithfully filling the office of town treasurer. Socially he is connected with the order K. of P., Lodge No. 592. of Tiro, in which he takes an active interest. Mrs. May has long been one of the consistent members of the Lutheran church, which he also attends and
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most cheerfully assists in supporting. They occupy one of the most comfortable. and attractive residences of the place and there dispense a liberal hospitality to their many friends. Mr. May is known as one of the broad-minded, progres- sive men of the community and as one ever ready to do his part in advancing the interests of the town.
FRANK WECHTER.
Men of strong purpose, marked individuality, enterprise and diligence. have no need to complain of life, for to such success always vouchsafes a re- ward, and from humble position to a place of affluence they rise through their own efforts. Of this class is Frank Wechter a representative, and among the more prominent citizens of Crawford county he well deserves mention.
A native of Rochester, New York, he was born May 17, 1838. His father George Wechter, was born in France in 1806, and there learned the black- smith's trade. Ere leaving his native country he wedded Frances Heartrick, and after the birth of their eldest child they came to the United States, locat- ing in Rochester, where the father worked at various occupations until he had accumulated a few hundred dollars, when he purchased a small place near Rochester -- a tract of seven acres, upon which he made his home until 1853,- when he came to Ohio and bought eighty acres of land in Chatfield township. Here he lived for some years, when he sold that property and became the owner of a quarter section of land in Cranberry township, that is now occu- pied by his son Frank. He was a member of the Catholic church, a Demo- crat in political faith, and died in 1884, respected by all who knew him. Unto him and his wife were born seven children, the surviving members of the fam- ily being: George: Mary A., the wife of Peter Miller, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Jacob, of Allen county, Indiana; Joseph, a florist of Rochester, New York ; and Frank, of this review. Frances and Henry are now deceased.
When fifteen years of age Frank Wechter accompanied his parents on their removal to Crawford county. Prior to this time he had attended the German school of Rochester, with the exception of one winter, and after com- ing to this locality he resumed his studies in the English schools. When he had arrived at man's estate he began cultivating the home farm on the shares and throughout the period of his active business career has carried on agricul- tural pursuits.
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