USA > Ohio > Crawford County > A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio > Part 43
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Samuel Ludwig was united in marriage to Elizabeth Redca, a daughter of Hon. John Redca, a member of the Democratic legislature from Berks county. They became the parents of eleven children, namely: Isaac. Jere- miah, Samuel, Mary, Hanna, Mary, William, Michael. Henry, Solomon and Jane L. The last named is the only survivor of the family. Mr. Ludwig spent the closing years of his life in the home of his daughter, Mrs. H. D. E. Johnston, now Mrs. Abraham Monnett, his wife having previously passed away. He closed his eyes in death December 20, 1876, at the age of eighty- eight years and eleven months. His career was ever such as to warrant the
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trust and confidence of the business world, for he ever conducted all trans- actions on the strictest principles of honor and integrity. His devotion to the public good was unquestioned and arose from a sincere interest in the welfare of his fellow men.
SEBASTIAN BROWN.
The prominent and influential citizen of Jefferson township, Crawford county, Ohio, whose name is the title of this article, was born in Sandusky township, Crawford county, Ohio, December 16, 1832, a son of Joseph Brown, who was an early settler in Ohio.
Joseph Brown was born near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and early in life learned the carpenter's trade. In company with his brother-in-law, Nicho- las Tustison, he came to Ohio with an ox team and located within the present borders of Jefferson township, Crawford county, where he took up eighty acres of government land on the usual contract of one dollar and a quarter an acre. He married Elizabeth Swarty, daughter of Sebastian Swarty, a Revo- lutionary soldier who was with Washington when he made his perilous crossing of the Delaware. After his marriage he built a log cabin on his land and pushed forward the work of clearing and improving the farm as rapidly as possible.
After a brief absence from his native township, Sebastian Brown returned to Jefferson, where from the age of nine years he attended the common schools, and afterward worked on his father's farm until he married and began life for himself. Margaret Fox became his wife March 15, 1859, and bore him six children, the following facts concerning whom will be found interesting in this connection. Their daughter Emma died at the age of eighteen months. Their son Joseph M. lives at Crestline, Ohio. Their son James A. lives on the family homestead with his father. Their son Willard is a farmer in Clinton county, Michigan. Their son Homer K. lives at Crestline, Ohio. Their daughter Laura B. is a member, of their household. For a year after his mar- riage Mr. Brown lived in Richland county, Ohio. From there he removed to Defiance county, Ohio, on eighty acres of wild land which he bought of his father and on which he lived two years.
In 1864 Mr. Brown enlisted as a private in Company I, Forty-seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was in battle at Stone River, Cum- berland, Kenesaw Mountain, Mission Ridge and Marietta, Georgia, and started with Sherman on his march to the sea. At Burford, Georgia, he was taken
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sick and was sent to Chattanooga and afterward to a hospital at Nashville. He soon recovered and rejoined his regiment, but was again taken ill and was eventually sent back to his home in Jefferson township. In 1865 he returned to Defiance county, Ohio, where he lived until 1870. In the year last men- tioned he moved on his eighty-acre farm in Jefferson township, which he has improved into a valuable property. While he is not a politician in the ordinary sense of the term, he is active in township affairs, and for six years he has held the office of township trustee and has come to be known for a liberal public spirit which impels him to give his support to every measure which promises to promote the general good. He has kept alive memories of the Civil war through his membership of Snyder Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Crestline, Ohio.
AARON RADER.
Through industry and enterprising efforts Aaron Rader advanced to a leading position among the substantial farmers of Crawford county, and was regarded as one of the most reliable citizens-a man who in all life's relations commanded the respect and confidence of his fellow men. His birth occurred in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, May 29. 1817. his parents being Peter and Catherine (Fried) Rader. His youth was spent in the state of his nativity and as he grew to manhood he learned the miller's trade, which he followed as a source of livelihood for a number of years. Later he turned his attention to farming and throughout the greater part of his resi- dence in Crawford county he carried on agricultural pursuits.
Believing that he might better his financial condition further west, Mr. Rader removed from Pennsylvania to Crawford county, Ohio, in 1856, and took up his abode in Sandusky township, where he secured a tract of land. With characteristic energy he began its further development and improve- ment and in course of time made it a very valuable property. adding thereto all modern accessories and conveniences. His buildings were substantial and modern, his machinery of the latest improved kinds and he was widely known as a progressive farmer. His business affairs were so well managed that he yearly added to his income, and in the later years of his life he was enabled to live in quiet retirement in the village of Sulphur Springs.
On the 8th of September, 1840, was celebrated the marriage of Aaron Rader and Miss Sabina Bauer, and unto them were born nine children, seven of whom are yet living, namely: Owen Henry, Enos George, Maria Cath-
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AARON RADER.
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erine, Jacob, Thomas, John David. William Benjamin and Francis Aaron. Two have passed away, James Peter and Franklin. The latter died in Elsinore Springs, California, March 28, 1897. In early life he engaged in teaching: school in this state and afterward was connected with journalistic work for a time. He next established a hardware store in Clyde, Ohio, and in 1883 he- went to Los Angeles, California. He soon rose to prominence there and taking an active interest in politics became a recognized leader of his party in that city. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, elected him to the high office of mayor in 1894 and his administration was so just, so practical and progressive that it won the commendation of all parties. He was one of the most popular and honored residents of Los Angeles, and when he passed away young and old, rich and poor came to pay their last tribute of respect him whom they had so highly esteemed. He was prominent in Ma- sonic circles and was laid to rest with the beautiful Masonic service for the. dead.
Mr. and Mrs. Rader reared a family of children of whom they had every - reason to be proud. Three of their sons were gallant soldiers in the Civil war,-Owen H., James P. and Enos G .- all being members of the Forty- ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In his political views Mr. Rader was a stal- wart Republican, unswerving in his advocacy of the principles of the party in which he so firmly believed, yet he never sought or desired office as a re- ward for party fealty, preferring to give his entire time and attention to his business affairs, in which he met with signal success. After a residence of thirty-six years in Crawford county he passed away at his home in Sulphur . Springs, on the 30th of April, 1892. His life was ever honorable and he left to his family the priceless heritage of an untarnished name. His widow, now: in her seventy-eighth year, is still a resident of Sulphur Springs and has many friends there, as well as in her old home neighborhood in Liberty township.
JAMES PETER RADER.
A loyal soldier during the Civil war and for many years a faithful public official, the life history of James Peter Rader well deserves a place in the an- nals of Crawford county, whither he came in his boyhood with his parents,. Aaron and Sabina (Batter) Rader. He was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, April 1, 1843, and was reared upon his father's farm, early be- coming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agri- culturist, as he assisted his father in the work of the fields. He acquired a fair-
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education and greatly broadened his knowledge through reading, experience and observation in later life.
When the troubles over the slavery question had precipitated the country into civil war his patriotic spirit was aroused and he resolved to strike a blow in defense of the Union. Accordingly he offered his services to the govern- ment and became a member of Company B. Forty-ninth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. He took part in many of the important engagements of his regiment and finally received an honorable discharge, after which he returned to his home in Crawford county.
Mr. Rader was married to Miss Julia Musgrave, a daughter of Robert Wallace Musgrave, one of the pioneers and distinguished citizens of Craw- ford county. Since her husband's death Mrs. Rader makes her home in Sulphur Springs. She has a very wide acquaintance throughout the county and is most highly esteemed for her many excellencies of character Mr. Rader rose to prominence in political circles and was a stanch Republican, giving an unfaltering allegiance to the Republican party, in whose principles he so firmly believed. He was appointed and served as posmtaster of Bu- cyrus and was afterward a government clerk in the treasury department at Washington, a position which he held continuously up to the time of his death, which occurred in Bucyrus, January 7, 1880, when he was in the very prime of manhood, being then thirty-seven years of age. Methodical and exact he performed his work in a most capable manner and was a most trust- worthy representative of the department. He was a man of many sterling traits of character, genial and popular and wherever he went made friends.
WILLIS A. BROWN.
One of the leading business men of Crawford county, Ohio, who is financially interested in many of its prominent industries and who is cashier of the Farmers' & Citizens' Bank of Tiro, is Willis 1. Brown, who also owns and manages the leading mercantile business of this prosperous town. Willis .A. Brown was born in Liberty Corners, in Vernon township. Crawford county, on July 22, 1859, and he was a son of Joseph D. and Sarah J. ( Dickson ) Brown, and a grandson of William Brown, who was a pioneer in Richland county in 1830. Seven children were born to the parents of Willis A. Brown, and our subject is one of the four survivors, the others be- ing: Mary A., who is the wife of John Brown, Jr., of Vernon township;
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Josie S., who is the wife of J. M. Van Tilburg, the postmaster of Tiro; and John E., who is a resident of Pasadena, California.
Willis A. Brown grew to manhood under the parental roof, and finished the common-school course before entering upon a business career, for which he has seemed peculiarly well fitted. In March, 1879, he entered the store of Brown & Davis, the former representing his father, in the capacity of a salesman. One year later the senior Mr. Brown purchased the interest of Mr. Davis and during the two succeeding years Willis proved to his father's sat- isfaction that he possessed the attributes which would enable him to become a successful man of business. In 1881 our subject and his brother-in-law, J. M. Van Tilburg, succeeded Mr. Joseph D. Brown in the business, the firin name being Brown and Van Tilburg, but two years later Mr. M. L. Callin purchased the interest of Mr. Van Tilburg and the firm name changed to Brown & Callin. This connection continued for two years at the end of which period our subject became the sole proprietor and successfully managed the growing interests by himself until in 1893, when his father-in-law, J. H. Stevens, was admitted into partnership, the latter purchasing a one-half interest, and the firm name was changed to Brown & Stevens. Three years later our subject again became the sole owner and since that time has most judiciously man- aged the affairs of the old and established house, with which his family name has been so long connected.
Mr. Brown is one of the progressive and energetic young men of the county, and his mind has long been exercised concerning other business en- terprises. One result was his organization, in April, 1896, of the Farmer's & Citizens' Bank of Tiro, with Mr. A. C. Robinson as president, Joseph D. Brown as vice-president and our subject as cashier, with Mr. C. L. Morton as assistant cashier. In April, 1899, Mr. Robinson died and Mr. J. M. Dickson purchased the interest of Mr. Robinson and was made president of the bank, since which time the officers of the institution have remained the same, with the exception of the withdrawal of Mr. Morton. This bank is recognized as one of the sound financial institutions of the county and its organizers and officers are men of the highest financial responsibility and of unimpeach- able integrity.
The marriage of Mr. Brown was on September 5, 1883. when he was united in marriage to Miss Nora Stevens, who was the daughter of J. H. Stevens, the latter now making his home with our subject. Four children have been born to this union, these being: Stevens W .; Sherman J., deceased ; Sadie E. ; and Edna A. Fraternally he is connected with Tiro Lodge, No. 592,
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K. of P., of which he was a charter member. In political life he has been prominently identified with the Democratic party, and was made a member of the first board of election in the county, but he resigned that office to be- come postmaster, under the administration of President Cleveland, serving in that official capacity during both presidential terms. For some ten years Mr. Brown was the very satisfactory township treasurer and for two years he served with efficiency on the school board. All of his family are members of the Lutheran church and to this religious body he is liberal in his support of all Christian work.
Few men in the county have displayed more business ability in the same length of time than Mr. Brown. His mind is fertile in resource and quick to seize opportunity, while his judgment is calm and trustworthy. It was through his efforts that the Auburn Milling Company was organized, with John W. Hahn as president, who is also president of the Ohio Millers' In- surance Company, and our subject is one of the stockholders and is its secre- tary and treasurer. In 1896, when the Bell Spice Cabinet Company was or- ganized, our subject became a member and for two years was president of this company, since that time filling the position of vice-president, and he is also a member of the Tiro Building & Loan Association, a very important busi- ness enterprise of this city, and acts as treasurer of this company also. The confidence he has inspired by his honorable business methods and his ex- emplary life place him in the front rank of the worthy representative men of Craw ford county. He is practical and self-reliant and is of that mental fiber that enables him to seize business opportunity and to convince others of the wisdom of his decisions.
JAMES E. HARROP.
James E. Harrop and William . \. Stine are the proprietors of the Keil & Harrop livery and sales stables of Bucyrus.
Mr. Harrop was born in Crestline, Crawford county, Ohio, October II, 1862, his parents being Hugh and Catherine ( Cover ) Harrop. His grand- parents, James and Ann Harrop, came from England to America in the year 1866 and located in Crestline. The grandfather was a weaver by trade and while in England followed that pursuit, but after arriving in America worked in the Pennsylvania Railroad shops with his son, Hugh, throughout the re- maining years of his active, busy career. He died in 1878, at the age of sixty- seven years, and his wife passed away in 1872, when aged sixty-three years.
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Hugh Harrop was born in Ashton, Lancashire county, England, March 27 .. 1832, and died September 9, 1889. He was reared under the parental roof and in his youth he learned the machinist's trade. In 1857 he emi- grated to America, landing in New York City, whence he made his way to Philadelphia. For a short time he worked at his trade there, but soon went to Niagara Falls, New York, where he remained until the Ist of January, 1860. He then came to Crestline and here found employment in the shops of the Pennsylvania. Railroad Company, and soon was promoted as foreman, which position he held for more than a quarter of a century, or until the time of his death. He was an active worker in the Methodist Episcipal church and was a prominent Mason, having taken the Knight Templar degree of the York rite and the thirty-second degree of the Scottish rite. He was one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of Crestline and was a stanch Republican in politics, but never sought or desired office.
In early manhood Hugh Harrop was married to Miss Catherine Cover, and unto them were born five children, of whom four are yet living, namely : James E .; George, who is the manager for the Central Union Telegraph Company, at South Bend, Indiana; Frank, who is one of the owners of the Crestline Machine Shop, at Crestline, this county ; and Bertha, the wife of R. U. Miller, an attorney of Crestline.
James E. Harrop spent his boyhood days under the parental roof and obtained his education in the public schools of Crestline. In 1887 he and William A. Stine formed a partnership and embarked in the livery business at Crestline. In 1890 Mr. Harrop sold his interest to Mr. Stine and came to Bucyrus, where he has since been engaged in the livery business. Mr. Stine continued in that business at Crestline continuously from 1887 to the spring of 1901, and then came to Bucyrus, becoming again the partner of Mr. Harrop. They are proprietors of what is known as "the old John Keil livery stables," and do the largest livery business in Bucyrus, having a fine line of carriages and a goodly number of excellent livery horses. They are large buyers and sellers of horses, doing a greater business along this line than any other dealer in the county. They handle a high grade of horses and do a straightforward, legitimate business. Carloads after carloads of horses are annually sold at their stables by auction, and thus many a pleased customer has purchased of them driving and draft horses of the best quality.
In 1886 Mr. Harrop married Miss Emma Zink, daughter of David L. Zink, who has been ticket and freight agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad at Crestline for over forty years, being for many years joint agent for this
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railroad and the Big Four Railroad. Mr. and Mrs. Harrop have two interest- ing sons, namely : Hugh J. and Spencer. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and also of the Masonic order, being a Master Mason. In business he has been successful and among men he is regarded as enterprising and public spirited.
GEORGE A. BRAUSE.
One of the few middle-aged residents of Lykens township, Crawford county, Ohio, who was born on the farm on which he now lives, is George Brause, who first saw the light of day May 29, 1855. Mr. Brause is a son of Rudolph Brause, who was born at Kenesa, Germany, in 1826, and was brought to America in 1832 by his parents, John and Hannah Brause. The family from the fatherland and settled on the Bower farm, or, at least, on forty acres of it, which the elder Brause took up as government land and on which he erected a log cabin. The old German emigrant died in Iowa, at the age of ninety- three years. Rudolph Brause married Catharine Klink, a daughter of John Klink, originally from Germany, who came to Crawford county from Colum- biana county and located in Liberty township.
Rudolph and Catharine ( Klink ) Brause had eight children. Their daugh- ter Elizabeth married Jacob Fike, of Lykens township. Catharine, who be- came the wife of Joshua Miller, is dead. Caroline died at the age of twenty years. The subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth. John lives. in Chatfield township, Crawford county. Fidelia is the wife of Jacob Seigler. of Seneca county. Willis lives in Lykens township. Emma died young. Ru- dolph Brause learned the carpenter's trade in his youth and was employed as. a carpenter until he was married, when he engaged in farming, and for some years ran a threshing machine in season. He moved upon the farm where the subject of this sketch was born and where he now lives, about 1847, shortly after he was married. His first purchase of land there was of forty acres, on which was a log house in the midst of a small clearing. At the time of his death, in 1892, he owned three hundred and sixty acres of land in Lykens town- ship. His good wife died in November, 1896, aged seventy-two years.
George A. Brause was born and reared on the old family homestead in Lykens township, Crawford county, Ohio, and lived there until he was twenty- five years old. He gained his education in the public schools near his home, and under his father's special direction was inducted into all the mysteries of successful farming. When he branched out for himself he bought eighty acres.
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of land, which he partly cleared and on which he lived eight years. He then sold that property and bought one hundred and sixty acres, which he still owns, and on which he lived until 1897, when, after the death of his mother, he re- turned to the old homestead. He was married February 12, 1889, to Miss Mary A. Green, daughter of Jacob Green, of Chatfield township, who has borne him five children: Edward Rudolph. George Walter, Clarence Albert, Rosa Mary and Hattie Magdaline Catherine.
Mr. Brause's home farm consists of two hundred and thirty-nine acres .. Adding to this his other farm of one hundred and sixty aeres, it will be seen that he is the owner of three hundred and ninety-nine acres of good and well- improved land. He devotes himself to general farming and stock-raising. In politics he is a Democrat, and he and his family are members and attendants upon the services of the German Lutheran church. Neither an office seeker nor a practical politician, Mr. Brause yet exerts a well-defined influence in shaping the destinies of the township and county, and his excellent judgment in all the affairs of every-day life encourages his fellow citizens to seek his advice in matters of public moment. . \ man of intense patriotism and much public spirit, he has the weal of the people of his township and county very close to his heart and is generous in his aid of all movements for the general good.
SAMUEL ESTERLINE.
AA noted writer has said. "The present is the child of all the past, the mother of all the future." If this be true, where will the generations of the future find a more impressive lesson or faithful guide than in the study of the lives of those men who have achieved a successful prominence in the busy walks of life? There is in the intensified energy of the business man, fighting the every-day battle of life, but little to attract the attention of the careful ob- server ; but to the mind fully awake to the stern realities of life there are noble and important lessons in the life of the man, who, without other aid than a clear head, a strong arm and a true heart, conquers adversity and wins for himself honor and distinction among his fellow men. Among such men we may mention Samuel Esterline, one of the representative farmers and stock-raisers of Crawford county.
Mr. Esterline is a native son of the Buckeye state, his birth having occurred in Sandusky township, Crawford county, on the 13th of March, 1844. He is a son of John and Elizabeth ( Kaler) Esterline, who were the parents of four
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children, three now living, namely: Henry, a resident of Crestline, Ohio; Franklin, of this township; and Samuel, the subject of this review. The latter was reared on the home farm, acquiring his education in the common schools of the neighborhood. After his marriage he purchased a threshing machine and began its operation, having been identified with that work at intervals since his fifteenth year, but after one season he sold his machine and located on his father-in-law's farm, where he remained for one year. On the expiration of that period he removed to the farm now owned by Jacob Glower, which he also operated for one year and then returned to his father's farm, remaining there for two years. His father-in-law having died, Mr. Esterline then purchased his farm of one hundred acres, where he has ever since made his home. He is very progressive in his farming methods, his fields having been brought to a high state of cultivation, and the place is now one of the model country seats in Crawford county. In addition to the raising of the cereals best adapted to this soil and climate he is also ex- tensively engaged in the stock business, and his farm now contains the best grades of stock to be found in the county. He has met with excellent success in this line of his business, and has been largely instrumental in improving the grade of stock raised in this section. For seventeen seasons Mr. Esterline has also been engaged in threshing.
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