USA > Ohio > Crawford County > A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio > Part 44
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The year 1865 witnessed his marriage with Miss Sarah E. Humphrey, a native of Vernon township. Crawford county, having been born on the farm on which she now resides. Five children have graced their union, namely: Charles B., deceased; Nora D., the wife of James Brubaker, of Shelby, Ohio; Jefferson, a resident of Shelby, Ohio; Ada G., at home; and Amy, who is also at home and is a popular and successful teacher. In political matters Mr. Esterline casts his ballot in favor of Democratic principles, and for six years he has served as trustee of his township. He is a member of the Church of God, in which he is an active and zealous worker, and in all the relations of life he is true and loyal to the duties of citizenship. He takes a prominent part in all public affairs calculated to benefit his community, and is one of the wide-awake and progressive citizens of the county.
WILLIAM A. STINE.
William .A. Stine was born in Crestline, Ohio. January 21, 1858, his parents being Adam W. and Hannah (Wentz) Stine, and is the fourth in order of birth of seven children. The father was a native of Berks county,
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Pennsylvania, and the mother was born in Perry county, that state. Coming to Crawford county they settled in Crestline, where the father became a pros- perous contractor and builder, and proprietor of a saw and planing mill. In the public schools of Crestline our subject obtained a limited education. His busi- ness career has been mentioned in the biography of James E. Harrop, which ap- pears above. He has met with fair success in business and is a gentleman of honor and integrity. In 1895 Mr. Stine married Lizzie Hoover, and their home is brightened by two children, namely : Martha and Harriet. They have re- sided in Bucyrus since the spring of 1901.
JOHN B. CAMPBELL.
A landmark in Crawford county, Ohio, is the fine farm of John B. Camp- bell, on the Galion and Bucyrus pike, four and a half miles from Bucyrus, in Whetstone township. There Mr. Campbell was born April 4, 1849. a son of Edward Campbell, who was born and reared in Wayne county, Ohio, and a grandson of John Campbell, who was an early settler in that county. In 1823 John Campbell brought his family to Crawford county, Ohio, and set- :led in Whetstone township, where his son, Edward, is still living, and where he took up government land. He built a log cabin and applied himself to the task of clearing and improving a farm. He was a man of ability and influence and lived a useful life and died at the age of seventy-six. Edward Campbell was brought up amid the vicissitudes of backwoods farming and acquired such an education as was available to him. He married Amanda Tupps, who bore him four children. Their daughter, Catharine, married Frank Keiffer and is dead. Their son, Samuel K., is managing his father's homestead farm. Their son, John B., who is the immediate subject of this sketch, was their third child in order of birth. Their daughter, Lettie J., mar- ried Andrew H. Gibson and lives on Grandfather Campbell's old homestead, in Whetstone township, which in the days of its founder was the center, not only of a generous hospitality, but of an influence which extended in many di- rections, for that honored pioneer served for many years in the office of jus- tice of the peace at one time represented his district in the legislature, and he was an active member of the Disciple church. His son Edward has been devotedly attached to the same church and during all his active life was prominently identified with township and county affairs. He is the owner of eight hundred and forty acres of land, all of which lies within the borders of Whetstone township, and he has been one of the leading sheep raisers in his
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part of the state. His wife died in 1889, aged sixty-nine years. He attained to the advanced age of eighty-five years, becoming quite feeble, having been the victim of a paralytic stroke in March, 1901. He died November 5, follow- ing.
John B. Campbell was born and reared on the farm on which he now lives, was educated in the public schools near his home and at Lebanon, Ohio. and at the age of nineteen began teaching winter terms of school, giving his attention to home interests during the remainder of the year. In 1872 he married Miss Jennie Shanks, a daughter of David Shanks, and they have two children-Mabel Campbell, who was educated at the State Normal School at Ada, Ohio, and is a teacher, and Urias Edward. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Campbell settled on Grandfather Campbell's old home farm, where they lived ten years, then located on their present farm of one hundred and sixty acres. all the fine improvements on which have been planned and carried out by Mr. Campbell. He has given his attention to general farming and has come to be known as a successful breeder of Shorthorn cattle and is a very prominent sheep raiser, and in 1892 he was in fair competition awarded a premium for large yield of scoured wool per fleece grown in the United States, during the year 1892, which was conferred upon him at Boston, Mas- sachusetts. He is a Republican in politics and like his father and grandfather has made his influence felt in local affairs, though he is not an active politician and has never sought public office, but his public spirit has impelled him to ally himself with many movements having for their object the enhancement of the general weal.
JOSEPH D. BROWN.
Among the men of hardy enterprise and undaunted courage, who made for his family a home in Richland county, Ohio, in the days while still the wild beasts of the forest roamed at will and howled at night around his pio- neer cabin, was William Brown, who was the father of Joseph D. Brown, the subject of this biography. In 1830 William Brown came to Richland county from his native state, bringing with him his bride and settling upon lands which his far-seeing father had previously purchased in this then almost unsettled portion of the state. William Brown was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, in 1808, and he was a son of Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Cum- mings ) Brown, both of whom were natives of Ireland. Jeremiah Brown was a successful farmer and distiller and exerted influence in his locality, and when
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the desirable farming land in Richland county, in the neighboring state, came upon the market he hastened to buy farms there for his growing sons, although William was the only one to settle there.
When he came to Richland county, as it was then called, William Brown located with his young wife on a vast tract of timbered land, consisting of two hundred and forty acres, in Vernon township. The site of the home farm is now owned by David Weaver. Here the new settler built his log cabin and for some thirty years engaged in clearing and cultivating his land. In 1869 he sold this property and then purchased a farm of three hundred acres in Auburn township and resided there some ten years, and then dis- posed of that property to purchase another tract of three hundred and four acres, in Springfield township, near Crestline, and here he lived until the time of his death, on August 9. 1890. Mr. Brown was a man of intellect and was conspicuous for his strong sense of justice. If his employes worked even but one hour over the stipulated time they received a compensation for it. In politics he was a Democrat and was one of the leaders in his party, efficiently serving in almost all of the local offices. Both he and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist church, where they were held in the highest esteem.
The mother of our subject was born near Steubenville, Ohio, in 1808, and passed out of life on June 30, 1889. Her parents died while she was a child and she was reared in a neighbor's family. The family born to Will- iam Brown and wife consisted of ten children, six of these still surviving, as follows: Joseph D., who is the subject of this sketch ; Elizabeth, who is the widow of Norman Martin, of Richland county; George C., of Crestline; Martha J., who is the wife of Rev. H. B. Miller, of Wooster, Ohio; Mary, who is the widow of A. D. Seibert, of La Grange county, Indiana; and Amanda, who is the widow of Joseph Lewis, of Monroeville, Indiana.
Joseph D. Brown, who is the subject of this sketch, was born in Rich- land county, Ohio, on May 27, 1832, and he was a son of William and Sarah (Ellis) Brown. His rearing was in the pioneer home and his education was acquired in the common schools of his neighborhood. On March 1. 1855, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. Dickson, who was a native of Au- burn township, in Crawford county, and who was a daughter of Andrew Dick- son. In 1852 Mr. Brown made preparations to make a trip to California, but his mother opposed the project and he delayed starting until the following spring. Then he prepared to go to the far west and open up a hotel, in association with another man, but the latter failed him at the last moment, and our sub-
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ject decided to abandon the idea. Hence he purchased eighty acres of land near Liberty Corners, in Vernon township, and settled upon it after his marriage, engaging extensively in the raising of cattle and sheep, being especially suc- cessful in the management of the latter. As time went on Mr. Brown was able to purchase more land and improve it, increasing his farm to two hun- -dred and fifty acres, and finally, in 1883, sold two hundred acres for seventeen thousand dollars.
In 1878 our subject rented his farm to his son-in-law and moved into Tiro and built the residence now occupied and owned by Mr. George Owens, and established the general store, after erecting the building, which is now conducted by W. A. Brown, his son. In 1883 he sold his farm and pur- chased one hundred and seventy acres of George Carrothers, which was lo- cated immediately south of the town, and resided there until 1896, when, on account of an accident to Mrs. Brown, by which she broke a limb, he decided to remove to Tiro, where both he and wife have resided in comfortable re- tirement ever since.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown have had seven children, their names being as follows: David C., Georgiana and Martha E., all deceased : Mary A., the wife of John Brown, Jr. ; Willis A., of whom a biography appears in this volume : Josephine, the wife of J. M. Van Tilburg ; and John E., of Pasadena, California. These children were all given the best possible educational ad- vantages and reflect credit upon their careful rearing, and have become rep- resentative citizens in the various localities where they have made their homes.
In polities Mr. Brown is liberal, with a tendency toward Democratic doctrine, while in voting he selects from the various tickets. He has ef- ficiently served several terms as township treasurer, and is one of the reliable and esteemed residents of the county. Both he and wife are among the lead- ing members of the Presbyterian church in Tiro, and Mr. Brown is a liberal supporter of every charitable and benevolent enterprise connected with the church or that promises to benefit the community.
SHERMAN H. STEVENS.
Sherman H. Stevens, who is one of the substantial, reliable and highly esteemed citizens of Cranberry township. Crawford county, Ohio, was born in the house which he now occupies, on May 24. 1858. He is a worthy son of one of the well known and respected pioneers of this county, Jacob H. Stevens,
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who has the distinction of being the oldest living resident of Auburn township. The mother of the subject of this sketch was formerly Miss Sarah J. Wallace, who was a native of Pennsylvania and was a daughter of Jefferson Wallace, who located in Richland county at an early day, later removing to Cranberry township, in Crawford county.
Until his twenty-first year Sherman H. Stevens remained at home, as- sisting on the farm and acquiring an education in the common schools At that period he took charge of the home farm, consisting oftwo hundred and thirty acres, and worked on the share plan, remaining thus engaged for two years, and then went to Sandusky township and took charge of what was known as the Kuntz farm, which had passed into the posesssion of the father of our subject. One year was spent by Mr. Stevens on this farm, as a bach- elor, but on April 27, 1882, he was united in marriage to Miss Clara R. Siefert, and he was thus provided with a most admirable companion, an es- timable lady and an excellent housekeeper, trained in all domestic ways. She was a native of this county, and she was a daughter of Jacob Siefert ( a sketch of the Siefert family can be found in the biography of John E. Siefert, who is a brother to Mrs. Stevens). Upon this farm our subject and wife resided until the fall of 1894. During the ensuing years our subject was extensively engaged in the manufacture and shipping of maple syrup, his trade extending to all parts of the United States, his shipments aggregating thousands of gallons of this delicacy. His opinion was that he could realize more financial returns from two months' work in the sugar camp in the spring than from an entire summer's work in general farming.
In the fall of 1894 Mr. Stevens removed to the home farm and in the following winter he acquired the homestead, with one hundred and fifty acres of land, which he yet owns. He also efficiently manages his father's farm of eighty acres. Although he has the management of a large extent of land he has practically given up active work on the farm and has his farm under rental at present, his time and attention being required to enable him to look after his large interests in the buying and selling of stock. Mr. Stevens owns a large herd of valuable cattle, known as Aberdeen, and is the only citizen of the county, with one exception, who owns any of these high-priced ani- mals.
Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stevens, the survivor being Freeman W. S., who was born on June 12, 1892, a bright, intelligent lad, who bears promise of worthily upholding a name which his father and grand- father have made respected through Crawford county. Politically Mr.
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Stevens is a stanch Republican and takes an active interest in public affairs, and is fraternally connected with Hyperion Lodge, No. 651, K. of P., of New Washington, and was a charter member of this lodge. The social and busi- ness standing of Mr. Stevens is very high in this locality and his name is a leading one among the representative men.
JOHN OUTHWAITE.
Among the public-spirited and leading farmers of Crawford county is John Outhwaite. He was born in Bedford, now Fulton county, Pennsyl- vania, on the ioth of November. 1820, a son of William and Elizabeth (Thompson) Outhwaite. The father was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1794, a son of Francis and Elizabeth ( Robinson) Outhwaite. Francis Outh- waite was a well-to-do farmer and miner, and also conducted what was known as a raft yard, where lumber was sawed by hand, one man standing above and the other below the log. The father of our subject grew to manhood under the parental roof, receiving the advantages of a thorough education. When about seventeen years of age he entered a wholesale and retail grocery store in the town of Richmond, where he served an apprenticeship of four years. He then went to the city of London and secured a clerkship with Petty & Wood, wholesale grocery, tea and liquor merchants, where he re- mained for about two years, and then engaged in business on his own account. He was there married to Elizabeth Thompson, of East Witten, Yorkshire, England. Her father was a well-to-do farmer under Lord Essix. He had four sons, namely : John, Richard, Thomas and William, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Hannah, of whom the eldest was the mother of our subject. Thomas, the third son, united with the Methodist Episcopal church, and at the age of seventeen became a minister of the same In the year 1821 he was married, and in 1823 he emigrated to Bedford county, Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1828, when he removed to Upper Sandusky, Ohio, where he took charge of the Wyandot mission,-the first mission in the world .- where he was minister and teacher among the Wyandot Indians for seven years, under whose supervision the Stone mission church of Upper Sandusky was erected and stands as a memorial for the beginning of mission work. In 1835, for fear of his children marrying among the Indians, he moved to his farm near Republic, Seneca county, Ohio. He was then appointed by con- ference as the preacher in charge of the Mexico circuit, where he had twenty-
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eight appointments. He was afterward appointed presiding elder of the dis- trict embracing Berea, where he received a donation of forty thousand dol- lars for the beginning of the Baldwin University
In 1818 William Outhwaite, the father of our subject, bade farewell to the home and friends of his native land and sailed for the United States, much against his parents' wishes, and for this he was disinherited. The first half of the journey was made in twelve days, but they then encountered ad- verse winds and fifty-four days had passed ere they reached the shores of the new world. On his arrival Mr. Outhwaite purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, for which he paid seven hundred dollars in gold, and after residing there for seventeen years, during which time he cleared eighty- acres and also made other improvements, he sold the tract for seven hundred dollars, the purchase price, with payments of one hundred dollars, to be made yearly. In the spring of 1836 he removed to Seneca county, Ohio, purchas- ing eighty acres of land at Rockaway, to which he afterward added fifty acres, and there he resided until a short time before his death, when he moved into the town of Republic, where he passed away in 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Outh- waite became the parents of five children, three of whom still survive, namely : John, of this review; William, who resides at Red Cloud, Nebraska ; and Francis, of Rockaway, Seneca county, Ohio. After the death of the mother of these children the father was again married, choosing for his second wife Miss Mary Bell. Mr. Outhwaite was a stanch old-line Whig, and was a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
John Outhwaite, whose name introduces this review, acquired his early education in the common schools of the neighborhood. On reaching his twenty-fourth year he began working on his own account, and for one year operated a thrsher, after which he worked at farm labor and at carpentering, becoming an expert joiner, although he never served an apprenticeship to that trade. He did considerable building for the following seven years, and in 1847 purchased his present home farm of one hundred and sixty acres. The land was then in its primitive condition, but he erected a log cabin in the midst of the forest, although he did not make this his permanent home until after his marriage, which occurred in 1855. Miss Drucilla Brown becoming his wife. She is a native of Seneca county, Ohio, and a daughter of William Brown, who removed to that county from Canada, his native place. This union has been blessed with five children, two now living,-Susan B., the wife of W. A. Tucker, of Todd township, Crawford county, and John, of Wyandot county, Ohio. After a happy married life of fourteen years Mrs.
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Outhwaite was called to her final rest, and in 1872 our subject married Miss Susanna Brown, a sister of his first wife.
After his first marriage Mr. Outhwaite located on his farm in Todd township, Crawford county, and in 1870 he erected one of the finest resi- dences in the locality. His place is under an excellent state of cultivation, and a glance at its neat and attractive appearance would indicate to the passer-by the supervision of a thrifty and progressive owner. In political matters Mr. Outhwaite casts his ballot in favor of the men and measures of the Republican party. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has held the office of trustee for many years, and all movements intended for the public good of the community receive his hearty support and co-operation.
ANTHONY HERMAN.
Mr. Anthony Herman is a self-made man, who, without an extraordinary family or pecuniary advantages at the commencement of life, has battled earnestly and energetically, and by indomitable courage and integrity has achieved both character and fortune. By sheer force of will and untiring effort he has worked his way upward. The vast forests of Ohio afford excel- lent business opportunities to the manufacturer of lumber and Mr. Herman is among those now extensively and successfully engaged in this line of busi- ness, being a member of the well-known firm of Herman & Mahon. He was born in the province of Alsace, which was then under French rule, on the 13th of May, 1848, his parents being Joseph and Catherine ( Swartz) Herman. The father was born about 1796, the mother about 1802, and both are natives of Alsace, where they were reared and married. The father followed farming as a life occupation, carrying on that work at the place of nativity until 1851, when, with his family, he emigrated to America, spending three months in Canton, Ohio, after which he located in Seneca county. He purchased a farm of one hundred and thirty acres and thereon made his home until 1870, when he sold the property and removed to New Washington, Crawford county. There his remaining days were spent in quiet retirement from toil, as he had acquired a competence sufficient to meet all his wants without recourse to further work. He passed away in 1874. and his wife died in 1872. In political views he was a stalwart Democrat and in religious faith was a Catholic.
Anthony Herman, whose name begins this sketch, was only about three years of age when brought by his parents to the new world. He acquired
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his education in the common schools of Ohio, and after coming to New Washington entered upon an independent business career, being employed during the 'first year as a farm hand. In 1871 he apprenticed himself to the carpenter's trade and after the completion of his term of service he followed that pursuit until 1876. He was then married and after his marriage he pur- chased fifty acres of land in Seneca county, four miles north of New Wash- ington, and with his bride he removed to his new home, where he began farm- ing, continuing to cultivate the fields for three years, after which he sold the place and returned to the town. He then purchased his present sawmill busi- ness and began operations on a small scale and by his indefatigable industry and business ability soon was enabled to build up an industry of considerable magnitude. After three years he admitted his brother John to a partner- ship in the business. They put a new engine into the sawmill and it was in that department that the brother was interested, Mr. Herman owning the planing mill alone. After a time, however, our subject purchased his brother's interest and carried on operations alone until 1888, when he formed the pres- ent partnership with Charles Mahon. This relationship has since been main- tained and the firm is recognized as one of the leading business concerns in this line in this part of the county They have their mills well equipped with the latest improved machinery and the best facilities for carrying forward their work, their patronage constantly increasing and bringing to them a very satisfactory financial return. In connection with his other interests Mr. Her- inan is proprietor of a millinery establishment in New Washington, which is conducted by his daughters.
In January, 1876. Mr. Herman was united in marriage to Miss Mary Steiert, a native of Erie county and a daughter of Ferdinand Steiert, who was born in Germany. Their union has been blessed with nine children, eight of whom are yet living, namely: Josephine, now the wife of Jacob Prom- enshenkel, of Crestline: Ida and Emma, who are engaged in the millinery business : Nellie, Catherine, Marie, Pauline and Margaret, who are still under the parental roof.
Mr. Herman exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Democratic party and has served for seven and a half years as township treasurer. He is also a member of the city council of New Washington and has acted in that capacity for eight years, discharging his official duties with promptness and fidelity. He holds membership in the Catholic church and for six years he has served as a member of the church council. He withholds his support from no movement or measure that is 27
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calculated to prove of general good and has steadily advanced along the highroad to success. He is a man of steadfast purpose, unflinching integrity and upright principles,-virtues to which the splendid civilization of America is indebted for its wonderful development and its glorious progress.
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