USA > Ohio > Crawford County > A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio > Part 41
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On the 7th of May, 1862, Mr. Wechter led to the marriage altar Miss Mary Heydinger, a native of Loraine, France, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
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Johan Adam Heydinger, who came to Crawford county in 1850, settling in Cranberry township, where he remained until his death. In 1867, with his family and parents, Mr. Wechter came to Cranberry township, buying in part- nership one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he managed and conducted until 1875, when he purchased his father's interest in the farm, his parents, however, continuing to reside with him until they departed this life.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Wechter was blessed with nine children: Au- gust and John, who are living in Cranberry township; Mary, Barnett and Ju- lia, at home ; Francis, deceased ; Joseph, who is attending St. Mary's Semi- mary, in Cleveland, Ohio, preparing for the priesthood; Marcus, who has also passed away ; and Henry, who is a student in St. Francis College, at Milwan- ·kee, Wisconsin. Mrs. Wechter, the mother of these children, passed to the other world March 9, 1883, since which time Mr. Wechter has remained a widower. At the time of her death their youngest son, Henry, was but two and a half years old.
About ten years ago Mr. Wechter sold one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land at Big Rapids, Michigan, and divided the money among his two oldest sons, thus giving them a start in life. He became the sole owner of his present property in 1875, and the place is now being cultivated by his son Barney. Mr. Wechter manifests his political views by the unfaltering sup- port he gives the Democracy, but has never sought office, his attention being occupied with his business affairs, which in the course of years have brought to him a good financial return, so that he is now numbered among the sub- stantial and well-to-do agriculturists of his adopted county.
NELSON CLOSE.
Nelson Close, who in his time was one of the prominent citizens of Texas township, Crawford county, Ohio, was born in the state of New York in 1818, and died at his home in Texas township April 25, 1874. He emigrated to Ohio in 1844 and located on the farm on which he passed the remainder of his life. He was married in 1845 to Elizabeth Bender, who was born in Cum- berland county, Pennsylvania, February 15, 1820, a daughter of George and Mary (Fohler) Bender. Mrs. Close came with her father and other mem- bers of his family to Ohio in 1824. They made the journey from Pennsyl- vania by horse team and stopped for about a year at Bucyrus, the site of which. was at that time marked by only a few primitive log cabins. In 1825 they went on to Benton, in Crawford county, where Mr. Bender entered a claim.
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to government land, on which he erected a small log house. The forests round about abounded with wild game and Indians often came to his cabin, but never showed aught but a friendly disposition. He hunted some and burned a good deal of lime, which he hauled to Bucyrus. He was a very progressive and enterprising man, who was a member of the Lutheran church and took an active interest in evangelical and Sunday-school work. He was the first incumbent of the office of trustee of Texas township and platted the village of Benton, and was the first postmaster at that point. He died February 10. 1851, aged fifty-four years. His daughter, Mrs. Close, taught a subscription school in a log building at Benton when she was about twenty years old. She was the oldest of eight children of her parents and she was early orphaned by the death of her mother at the early age of thirty-two years.
Mr. Bender's house was noted for its hospitality, and its roof sheltered not only white men, but from time to time Indians remained there over night. The Indians trusted him and he wielded considerable influence over them, and it was their custom to come to him for advice concerning their troubles with each other and with whites. Mr. Bender's advent in Texas township was followed by some discouraging incidents. Nearly all of his money was stolen and one of his horses died, but he did not permit these troubles to daunt his courage, though he and his family endured many hard- ships and often were put to great inconvenience to secure the necessaries of life. He was obliged to carry his wheat on horseback to Upper Sandusky to mill, and after waiting for it to be ground brought his share of the flour home, the miller retaining the customary toll for grinding it. The only win- dows in their first house were holes in the wall covered with greased paper, and while they admitted a certain amount of light nothing was visible through them. They had no stove in their cabin, and they ate from old-fashioned pewter dishes which they had brought with them from the east. Mr. Bender was an industrious man, the sounds of whose ax strokes could be heard early and late, and he cleared most of his land of the dense forest, and eventually even of the stumps, fenced it and put it under a good state of cultivation.
Nelson and Elizabeth ( Bender ) Close had children as follows: Their daughter Mary is the wife of Michael Davis, of Nebraska. Their son George owns a part of his father's homestead on which his father made his original settlement, which consisted of one hundred and twenty acres. Their daugh- ter Hannah is dead. Their daughter Ella lives at the homestead in Texas township. A biographical sketch of their son Harvey appears elsewhere in this work. Their son Adelbert is dead. Their daughter Alta lives in Holmes
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county, Ohio. Mr. Close was a member of the Lutheran church, and his widow, who since his death has lived on the farm home, is also devotedly at- tached to the belief of that religious organization
George Close, son of Nelson and Elizabeth ( Bender) Close, who since his father's death has farmed the old homestead, has won a good business suc- cess and is regarded as an enterprising, progressive citizen of much public spirit.
S. WILLIAM GEISSMANN.
S. William Geissmann, who is successfully engaged in farming in Chat- field township, where he has resided for almost half a century, was born in Saxony, Germany, March 8, 1835, his parents being Christian and Dorothy (Hetzer) Geissmann, in whose family were three children: Charley, a resi- dent of Iowa county, lowa; S. William, of this review ; and Mary, who died in infancy. The father was a nailmaker by trade and followed that pursuit in Germany until 1872, when he came with his family to the new world, making the voyage across the Atlantic in a sailing vessel, which was seventy-seven days in reaching the American port. There were three hundred emigrants on board, the food supply ran short and the passengers experienced considerable discomfort. At length they reached the harbor of Quebec, and from that point Mr. Geissmann and his family proceeded to Chatfield township, Craw- ford county, Ohio, where the parents spent their remaining days, the father passing away at the age of seventy-seven, the mother when seventy-five years of age
In his native land S. Wiliam Geissmann acquired a good German educa- tion and at the age of twelve years began working at the nailmaker's trade under the direction of his father. He was seventeen years of age when he ar- rived in this country, and soon afterward he secured employment in a foundry in Bucyrus, receiving ten dollars per month for his services and paying a dol- lar per week for his board, which left him a surplus of six dollars per month. He was there employed for three months, after which he learned the cooper's trade, receiving seventy-five dollars and his board for his services during the two years of his apprenticeship. After completing the term he worked on the section for two months and then began coopering in Bucyrus, where he re- mained for two years. On the expiration of that period, in connection with his brother, he purchased sixty acres of land in Chatfield township, of which twenty-five acres had been cleared, and on this built a cooper shop, our subject
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working at his trade during the day, while at night he continued the task of clearing the land. He followed the dual occupation of farming and coopering until 1896, when he removed to the farm upon which he now resides. He had previously rented the place, beginning in 1860, and for eleven years thereafter he had been the occupant. He now owns one hundred and sixty-four acres of valuable land, of which one hundred and thirty acres have been cleared, and of this he cleared sixty-five acres. He has brought his farm under a high state of cultivation and has made valuable improvements on the place, transforming ,it into a very desirable property. The fields return to him good harvests, and everything is neat and thrifty in appearance, showing the owner to be a pro- gressive agriculturist.
In 1860 Mr. Geissmann was married to Miss Caroline Balthaser, and unto them have been born thirteen children, of whom ten are living: Henry, Charley, Augustus, Edward, Albert, Emma, Anna, Clara, Minnie and Callie. Three of the children died in infancy. The family is well known in Chatfield township and Crawford county, and the sterling qualities of its members have gained them uniform respect. Mr. Geissmann exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Democracy, and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to office. He served for six years as trustee of Chatfield township, and for twelve years was school director, laboring earnestly for the benefit of the school system in his neighborhood. His life has been one of honest toil, and his enterprise and indefatigable labor have enabled him to win a desirable prosperity.
JOHN MORROW.
From his boyhood until the present time the subject of this review has been connected with agricultural interests, and is thoroughly acquainted with that line of work in every detail. Since his birth he has been a resident of Crawford county, and during the intervening years he has become known as one of the enterprising business men of the locality, devoting his time and energies to the conduct of his farm. So ably has he managed his interests that he has met with most gratifying success, and at the same time has gained the public confidence and good will by his honorable business methods.
The Morrow family is an old and honored one in the history of Crawford county. A native of Auburn township, this county, our subject first opened his eyes to the light of day on the 13th of July, 1851, and is a son of James and Margaret (Ake) Morrow, a sketch of whom will be found in this volume.
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He remained under the parental roof until after his marriage. In the spring following that event his father died, and after the estate was divided our sub- ject received as his share the original homestead entered by his grandfather Morrow, and there he located with his bride and began his career as a farmer. In the spring of 1891 he purchased eighty-five acres of land adjoining the homestead, and in the fall of that year took up his abode thereon, but he still continues the cultivation of both farins.
The marriage of Mr. Morrow was celebrated on the 10th of December, 1874, when Miss Susan N. Cory became his wife. She is a native of Craw- ford county, Ohio. Two children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Morrow, namely : Harry Burton, who is at home with his parents; and Charlie James, who holds the responsible position under the government as meat inspector in St. Joe, Missouri. Mr. Morrow is liberal in his political views, but his preference is given to the Democracy. He has always taken a deep interest in the development and growth of his locality, and has been fore- most in all local improvements and enterprises calculated to permanently benefit his county.
REV. JOHN BEAL.
The Rev. John Beal, whose life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits and to spiritual work among his fellow men, is a gentleman of wide influence, teaching by example as well as precept of the development of one's higher nature through the influences of Christianity. He was born in Holmes town- ship, this county, on the 9th of June, 1857, and is a son of Conrad Beal, a native of Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, who, after arriving at years of maturity, married Elizabeth Wagner, and unto them were born the following children : Daniel, of Bucyrus township; Magdeline, wife of J. D. Durr; Solomon, of Chatfield township; Lydia, wife of Samuel Shawl, of Liberty township ; Sophia, who married Jacob Berger, of Holmes township; and John, of this review. It was in the year 1848 that Conrad Beal left his home in the Keystone state and came to Crawford county, taking up his abode upon a farm in Whetstone township, where he remained until 1854, when he settled in Holmes township upon a farm of eighty acres now owned by Jacob Meck. There he lived until 1869, when he went to Chatfield township, purchasing two hundred and forty acres of land, constituting the farm which is now owned by Emanuel Kalb. There Mr. Beal continued to carry on agricultural pursuits until his life's labors were ended in death and he was called to the home beyond. He passed away in October, 1895, at the age of seventy-one years, his birth having oc-
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curred in 1824, and his wife died in 1900, at the age of seventy-four. They were consistent Christian people, holding membership with the Pietist church.
Rev. Beal, of this review, was a lad of twelve summers when the family removed to Chatfield township. At the age of eleven years he began working as a farm hand, and was thus employed for two years, while throughout the remainder of his minority he assisted his father in the work of the home farm. His educational privileges were those afforded by the common schools, but sub- sequent reading, study, experience and investigation have broadened his mind, added to his store of knowledge and made him a well-informed man.
On the 8th of August, 1880, Mr. Beal was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Miss Elizabeth Lust, a daughter of Conrad Lust, and their mar- riage has been blessed with the following children: Mattie, Laura E., John W., Frederick N., Reuben E., Jessie D. and Edna N.
Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Beal began their domestic life upon her father's farm, where they remained for five years, and in 1885 they came to their present home in Chatfield township, where Mr. Beal has made splendid improvements. He is carrying on general farming and stock-raising with good success, his labors bringing to him a desired financial reward. His progressive methods are indicated in the attractive appearance of the place. During the past eleven years he has also served as the minister of the Pietist church, and his labors have been productive of great good, as he has put forth strong efforts for the spiritual advancement of the neighborhood. He votes with the Democracy, and is known as a public-spirited citizen, deeply inter- ested in everything pertaining to the welfare of his native county and contrib- uting to its advancement along material, social, intellectual or moral lines.
MICHAEL LUTZ.
The German element in our national commonwealth is one of much im- portance. No country has furnished so many valuable citizens to the United States as the fatherland. They are men of diligence, determined and self-re- liant, and of this class Mr. Lutz is a representative. He was born in Wurt- emberg, Germany, February 7, 1821, and spent his early youth upon a farm. In 1833 he came with his stepfather, George Schemly, and the family to America, the voyage being made in a sailing vessel which reached the Amer- ican harbor in ninety-five days after leaving the German port.
In the spring of 1834 Mr. Lutz came to Crawford county, taking up his.
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abode in Chatfield township. The next year he went to Pennsylvania and be- gan carrying water for the men working on the canal. In the fall he returned to this county and the next summer worked on the Miami canal. Subse- quently he began working by the day, and when nineteen years of age he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1861, being actively iden- tified with the building interests of the county throughout that period. He was a skillful mechanic and was thus enabled to secure employment easily. In the meantime, however, in 1849, he had invested his earnings in one hun- dred and forty acres of land, which he cleared and improved, transforming the wild tract which came into his possession into a valuable farm. As the years have passed he extended the boundaries of his property and now has two hundred and ninety-two acres of valuable land, constituting a very fine and attractive farm, supplied with all modern accessories and improvements.
In 1848 Mr. Lutz was united in marriage to Miss Sabina Kalb, and unto them have been born eleven children, all of whom are yet living. Mr. Lutz is a member of the German Evangelical Lutheran church, in which he has held the offices of trustee and deacon, having been identified with the society of that denomination in Chatfield since its organization. He lias ever taken a deep interest in the growth and progress of the society and the ex- tension of its influence. In his political affiliations he is a Democrat and has filled the position of trustee and school director, discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity. His life has been crowned with success, and though he started out for himself empty-handed, he is now the owner of a valuable farm. For two-thirds of a century he has resided in the county and has therefore winessed the greater part of its development and upbuild- ing and has borne his part in its progress. His life, honorable and upright,. has commended him to the respect of his fellow men and no one is more. worthy of representation in this volume than Michael Lutz.
DAVID E. LUTZ.
Among the successful business men of Chatfield is the subject of this review, a well-known representative of the industrial interests of his community. He is a man of keen discrimination and sound judgment, and his excellent management and executive ability have brought to the concern with which he is connected a high degree of success. Brooking no obstacles, which honest effort can overcome, he has steadily advanced on the high road
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to prosperity and today he occupies an enviable position among the men of worth in his native county.
Mr. Lutz was born on the old home farm in Chatfield township, Jan- uary 18, 1866, and the common schools afforded him the educational privi- leges which he enjoyed in his early youth, while later he attended the high school in New Washington and the Ohio Normal University at Ada. His time, not given to the duties of the school-room, was devoted to work upon the home farm, where he remained until 1885, when he began teaching school through the winter months. At the age of twenty-two he became connected with the operation of a sawmill, but continued his labors as an instructor in the public schools until twenty-five years of age. Since that time he has en- engaged in general farming and stock-raising, but his efforts have been by no means confined to this line, for throughout the entire period he has also engaged in the lumber business, operating a sawmill and conducting a lumber yard. In 1897 he erected the plant of the Chatfield Bending Company, in which enterprise he is associated with James McCormick. They engaged in the manufacture of bent-wood material for carriages, wagons and sleds, and theirs is one of the leading industrial interests in this part of the county. Em- ployment is furnished to twenty men in the shops, and the pay roll and ex- penses for timber amount to from thirty-five to forty hundred dollars per month. Their patronage is large and is constantly growing, and the firm has an unassailable reputation in business circles. On account of the excellence and durability of the workmanship, as well as the straightforward business methods of the partners, the Chatfield Bending Company has a large trade, and the income of the partners is thus annually augmented.
In May, 1889, Mr. Lutz was joined in wedlock to Miss Elizabeth Kibler, and unto them have been born four children: Lester E., O. Ward, S. Vida and P. Verna. The wife and mother died in February, 1898, and her loss was widely felt throughout the community, for her many estimable qualities had endeared her to a large circle of friends. Mr. Lutz is regarded as a leading and influential citizen and one whose force of character is felt in the control of public affairs. He was elected the first mayor of Chatfield after its incor- poration and still holds the position, and has splendidly performed the dif- ficult task of placing the new machinery of government in good working order. In politics he is a stalwart Democrat and for several years has served on the Democratic central committee, while for three years he was township treasurer. He belongs to the German Evangelical Lutheran church and is in hearty sympathy with every movement for the general good and progress.
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Every public duty and private obligation are discharged by him willingly and faithfully. He is yet a young man, full of determination and laudable am- bition, combined with business ability, and while he has already won pros- perity still further success undoubtedly awaits him.
JAMES M. DICKSON.
One of the prominent and representative citizens of Crawford county, Ohio, is James Madison Dickson, whose name carries with it an assurance of great financial stability as well as business prominence, as he is the president of the Bank of Tiro. The birth of Mr. Dickson was in Vernon township, in this county, on February 4. 1851, and he was a son of James and Nancy ( Mor- row) Dickson, and a member of a family of seven children, four of whom still survive, these being: Charles M., who was born on June 16. 1833, and is a farmer and large landowner in Johnson county, Kansas : Mary, who was born on April 6, 1836. a maiden lady who resides on her farm east of Tiro; Nancy, who was born on November 19. 1838, and is the widow of John Dallas and resides with her children; James Madison, who is the subject of this sketch; and those who have passed away but are not forgotten were: Sarah. who was born on January 27. 1831, married William Wilson and died on August 27, 1893, at Edgerton, Kansas; Rebecca, who was born on November 15, 1844, and died on November 24, 1888; and Harriet S., who was born on August 8, 1847, first married William Nagle, and later J. P. Johnston, and died on March 21, 1890.
George Dickson, who was the great-grandfather of our subject, emigrated from Ireland to America, in 1778, bringing his family with him. He settled in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, but later removed to Indiana county. His son, Andrew Dickson, who was the grandfather of our subject, was born in Ireland on May 27, 1776, and was two years old when the family came to the United States. He grew to manhood in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, and had, with the rest of his family, many thrilling adventures. At one time, while still a lad, he was taken by his intrepid mother and carried on horseback over the mountains in flight from pursuing Indians. Grandfather had three brothers and three sisters, their names being Samuel, George. William, Rachel. Leah and Hannah. About the time he reached his maturity the trouble known in the history of Pennsylvania as the "whisky insurrection" broke out. Our subject's great-grandfather was a member of the regular army, and, of course. it was his duty to suppress the riots, but the family owned much property which
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had been won by hard labor; therefore, it was decided that the family, for the: sake of discretion, should divide, one part of it seeming to aid the insurrection- ists. However, the unlawful element was soon conquered and the rioters dis- banded. The grandmother's name had been Sarah Frazee, and they reared these children : Andrew, George. Jonathan, Mollie, James, Rachel, Leah, Sarah, William, Hannah, John, Elizabeth and Margaret, all growing to maturity and founding homes of their own, and all now deceased. In later life they could recall that their father was called to dinner by the blowing of the horn. The death of the grandfather was on January 28, 1859, at the age of eighty-three years, eight months and one day, the death of the grandmother being on Oc- tober 8, 1850, at the age of fifty-two years.
George Dickson, who was a brother of the father of our subject, came to Crawford county, Ohio, in 1823, and settled in Vernon township, and in 1825 he planted the first orchard of the township. His son Andrew was the second white child born in the township. In 1829 James Dickson, who was the father of our subject, followed his brother to Ohio. He purchased two hundred and seventy-six acres of land which had been entered by his father some years prior, and here James Dickson built a cabin and immediately began the clearing of the land. He was a leader in Democratic politics, and efficiently served several terms as township trustee and was a prominent member of the United Presbyterian church. His death occurred on March 7. 1889. For fifty-one years he and his devoted wife lived in close affection before the angel of death visited the family. The mother of our subject was born in Auburn township, and she was a daughter of Charles and Mary (Cummings) Morrow, who were among the early settlers who came to Crawford county from Indiana county, Pennsylvania. Her marriage to Mr. Dickson was on October 29. 1829, and her death took place on December 14, 1879.
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