USA > Ohio > Crawford County > A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio > Part 48
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Amid the wild scenes of frontier life in the pioneer home Jacob H. Schaeffer spent the days of his youth. His education was obtained in a log school house, where the teaching was rather of a primitive order. He and his brothers could attend school only when the work of the farm was at low ebb, for their services were needed in reclaiming the wild land for the purposes of civilization. On reaching his majority Mr. Schaeffer went to Huntington county, Indiana, where for three years he worked as a farm hand, and on re- turning home he and his brother Adam began the operation of his father's two farms, which they cultivated on the shares. After his marriage, which occurred in 1867, he settled with his bride upon one of his father's farms in Cranberry township,-the place upon which he is now living and which has since been his home. After his father's death he purchased this tract of land, and with marked energy and diligence has carried on the work of improvement and cultivation. His fields are well tilled, his buildings kept in good repair and everything about the place is neat and thrifty in appearance.
On the 17th of September, 1867, Mr. Schaeffer was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Kieffer, a native of Lykens township and a daughter of Daniel and Barbara ( Breitenbach) Kieffer, both of whom were natives of Ger- many. Two children were born of this marriage: Frank A., who operates the old homestead; and Lovina E., who is with her father. On the 2d of July. 1891. a cloud darkened the sunshine of this home, for the wife and mother was called to her final rest upon that day. Mr. Schaeffer is a worthy follower of the teachings of the German Lutheran church, in which he holds membership. He votes with the Democracy and keeps well informed on the issues of the
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day, but has refused to accept all offices, save that he served for six years as school director. The cause of education finds in him a warm friend, and he is deeply interested in everything pertaining to the progress and improvement of his native county, in which he is uniformly regarded as a valued and enter- prising citizen.,
CHARLES A. LAUBACH.
If all those qualities which constitute good character are essential to the man who would succeed in the city where to a considerable extent he is a stranger to those with whom he deals, how much more necessary are they to the man who would succeed in a country community where nearly every im- portant act of his life is known to every one with whom he associates. A city man may have a good reputation and not deserve it, but any man living in a country township or village who is known as a man of honor, with whom it is not only safe but desirable to have business relations, may be set down as richly deserving all the good things that are said about him. Such a man is Charles A. Laubach, of Lykens township, Crawford county, Ohio, some ac- count of whose in every way creditable career it is the intention of the editors to include in this work.
Charles A. Laubach was born near Allentown, Lehigh county, Pennsyl- vania, November 20, 1843, and was educated in the public schools and reared to the hard but healthful and useful labors of the farm, which at the age of seventeen years he forsook to become a carpenter. A year later, when he was about eighteen years old, he went to Lykens township, Crawford county, Ohio, where for three years he worked as a carpenter as opportunity afforded. Being of an enterprising turn of mind and not wishing to pass his entire life as a hired hand, he then entered upon a career as contractor and builder, which, with few intervals, he has continued successfully to the present time. In 1877 he assumed the management of a sawmill, which he soon purchased and has since owned. This business he has run in connection with his building operations, and for the past ten years in connection with building and farming, with considerable success. In 1891 he moved onto his farm of one hundred acres, where he has lived since that time. He does miscellaneous farming, and has shown himself to be as well informed and as resourceful as many older farmers in his community.
June 1, 1861, Mr. Laubach married Rebecca Shook, who has borne him five children, who will be mentioned here in the order of their nativity. Their
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daughter Sarah married David Shock, of Seneca county, Ohio. Their daugh- ter Laura is the wife of John King, of the same county. Their son Alfred T. married Loretta Armitage and has managed his father's farin during recent years. Their daughter Celestia is a member of her parents' household. Their daughter Almeta is dead.
Mr. Laubach is a Democrat in politics, but is not an active politician in the ordinary sense of the term; but while he is not an office seeker and has refused most of the offices that have been offered to him, he served his fellow townsmen as justice of the peace for three years and as township trustee for six years, and his public spirit is so well developed that he aids to the extent of his ability every movement tending to the public good. He is a member of the German Reformed church and a liberal contributor toward the maintenance of all its interests.
JAMES H. MALCOLM.
Honored and respected by all, there is no man in Bucyrus who occupies a more enviable position than did James Harvey Malcolm in industrial and financial circles, not alone on account of the brilliant success he achieved, but also on account of the honorable, straightforward business policy he ever followed. He posessed untiring energy, was quick of perception, formed his plans readily and was determined in their execution, and his close applica- tion to business and his excellent managemen brought to him a high degree of prosperity, so that he left his family in very comfortable circumstances.
Mr. Malcolm was born in Marlboro, Ulster county, New York, Oc- tober 18, 1827, and was a son of James and Elizabeth ( Hayne) Malcolm, who had four sons and seven daughters. The father died when our subject was only eight years of age. The Malcolm family is of Scotch origin and was founded in America by James Malcolm, Sr., the grandfather, who was born in Scotland, November 30, 1786, and was married there. While on the ocean en route for America their only child died, but during their residence in New York three other children were born to them. James Malcolm, Sr., served in the war of 1812 and was aid-de-camp to General Winfield Scott at the battle of Lundy's Lane, while his son, James, was also a soldier in the same contest with Great Britain. There were a series of honorable titles in the old Scotch family and the Malcolms of America have ever been dis- tinguished for the sterling traits of their ancestors.
& H. Malcolm
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Owing to his father's death James Harvey Malcolm, of this review, was early thrown upon his own resources. His youth was spent upon a farm and he attended the district schools as he had opportunity, working in a mill mornings and evenings in order to pay his board. The persistence and de- termination of his Scotch ancestry were thus shown forth, and in later life enabled him to triumph over many obstacles. When he was sixteen years of age he began buying cattle for his brother, who was one of the first to slaughter cattle and send quartered beef down the Hudson river to the New York markets. After three years spent in that way he went to New York city and worked in the Washington market, engaging in selling beef by the quarter, and continuing in that business for five years, during which time. he formed the acquaintance of some leading stock-dealers of the Sandusky Plains, including the Monnetts. In 1851 he went to California by the water route, being thirty-six days on the way, which was then considered a very quick trip. He purchased a tract of land in the Santa Clara valley and for one year devoted his attention to the organization and conduct of a ranch, which he then sold for a fair profit. His next venture was on the great Vine ranch, twenty miles below Sacramento, where he gave his attention to the raising and marketing of vegetables. Frequent overflows, however, made the business too uncertain to suit him, and, disposing of his interests, lie re- turned to New York in the winter of 1854.
Again Mr. Malcolm engaged in the cattle business in his native county, but since the time when he had made the acquaintance of Crawford county men several years before, he had been interested in this section of the country and in 1856 he carried out a long cherished desire of casting in his lot with the residents of this part of Olio. He soon engaged in buying and feeding: cattle, in partnership with George Roberts, which connection was maintained for three years. He next rented one of the Monnett farms, and later purchased three hundred and sixty acres, to which he afterward added three hundred acres. He engaged in farming on an extensive scale and his stock interests were equally important. He owned altogether eighteen hundred acres of land, having, as his financial resources increased, made judicious investments in real estate until his holdings were among the most extensive in this part of the state. He also was interested in the cattle business in Kansas, with his son-in-law. In all of his work he was progressive and energetic and his labors brought to him an excellent return. He always followed the most honorable and straightforward business methods, and over the record of his career there has never fallen the suspicion or shadow of wrong.
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In 1878 he purchased a home on North Sandusky avenue, in Bucyrus, and located in the city for the convenience of his family, but continued his personal supervision of his farms, driving out nearly every day in all kinds of weather. After some years' residence in the county he became the president of the Monnett Bank, and therein displayed his excellent business ability and keen discernment in his control of financial interests. He gained for the in- stitution a high reputation, which largely increased his patronage and made it one of the most reliable institutions in this part of the state.
On the 4th of November, 1862, Mr. Malcolm was married to Miss Elsie M. Monnett, a daughter of Abraham Monnett, who was the president of the Second National Bank of Bucyrus, in which position he continued up to the time of his death He was also president of the Farmers' Bank at Marion. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm were born the following children: Catherine E., is the wife of William Mitchell Aye, who formerly resided in Morrow county, but is now a resident of Manhattan. Kansas, in the vicinity of which city he owns a very large ranch. They have one son, Malcolm. Gilbert Farris Malcolm, the second of the family, is residing upon a farm six miles south of Bucyrus. He married Miss Elizabeth Hineman, of Marion and they have two children-James Harvey and Catherine E. The third and youngest of the family is Elmira May, a graduate of the high school, now at home with her mother. The children were all provided with good educational advantages, and the son and both daughters attended the high school in Bu- cyrus. Mr. Malcolm died June 1, 1900, and thus the community lost a valu- able citizen, but the greatest loss was in his home, where he was ever a loving, considerate and devoted husband and father. In early life he was a member of the Methodist church, but after coming to Crawford county united with the Presbyterian church, of which his wife was a member. He took an active part in Christian work, contributed liberally to the support of various churches and was in earnest sympathy with all movements for Christian development. He took an active interest in public affairs pertaining to the general welfare, and co-operated in many movements for the public good. His success was the result of honest effort in the line of honorable and manly dealing. His aim was always to attain to the best, and he carried forward to successful completion whatever he undertook. His life marked a steady growth in ma- terial, intellectual and moral development, and he left to his family a hand- some fortune and an untarnished name, for his record is one above reproach.
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JACOB MILLER.
The well-known citizen of Lykens township, Crawford county, Ohio, whose name appears above and some account of whose busy career it will be attempted here to give, traces his ancestry to Germany. His father, Christian Miller, was born in the fatherland, in 1824, and acquired the usual public- school education given to youths in his native land. As soon as he left school he began an apprenticeship at the shoemaker's trade. Later he served four years in the German army. In 1849 he came to America, making the voyage on a sailing vessel, which landed in New York City fifty-five days after its departure from its German port.
Going west as far as Ohio, Mr. Miller located at Republic, Seneca county, where he worked a year as a shoemaker. Removing then to Lykens township, Crawford county, he bought an acre of land, upon which he established a home and for five years carried on a shoemaking business. After that he bought eighty acres of land near Lykens, where he farmed and worked at his trade for six years, until he bought his farm on which he died, October 13, 1879. His wife died February 28, 1889, at the age of sixty-six years. They were men- bers of the German Reformed church, and in politics Mr. Miller was a Demo- crat. When he arrived in Ohio his cash capital consisted of fifty cents, but for some time before he died he was the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres. In the best sense of that often-abused term he was a self-made man, and his character was such that he commanded the respect of all who knew him. He was the father of nine children, as follows: Jacob, who is the im- mediate subject of this sketch : Catharine, who is the widow of Richard Dewalt, of Chatfield township; Christian, who lives in Texas township : John and Mary, who died in infancy ; Lucy, who married Otto Weisenaure, of Lykens town- ship; Sarah, who is the wife of William Kirges, of Seneca county ; Henry D., of Lykens township ; and one who died in infancy.
Jacob Miller was born in Bloom township, Seneca county, August 9. 1849, and was a year old when his parents brought him to Lykens township. He remained in his father's household assisting his father on his farm until he was twenty-two years old, when he married Elizabeth Stuckey, daughter of Daniel Stuckey, by whom he has had four children, Charles F. : Lola E., who married Loren Hufford, of Seneca county; Cora, who is at home: and Cath- arine E., who died in infancy. His wife died December 13, 1884, and he was married October 12, 1893, to Catharine Schaffer, who has borne him a daugh- ter named Mabel L. Miller.
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After his first marriage Mr. Miller removed to the farm on which he. now lives, and for ten years he and his family lived in a building which he now uses as a cow stable. He owns one hundred and nineteen acres of good land, one hundred acres of which is cleared, and he has improved the farm until it is one of the best in the vicinity. He is a member of the German Reformed church, which he has served faithfully in the office of trustee. Though not a politician in the accepted sense of the term, he is not without authority in the councils of the Democratic party, and has come to be known as a man of much. public spirit.
JACOB SEERY.
Although he has passed the Psalmist's span of three score years and ten,. Jacob Seery is yet actively conected with agricultural pursuits, still managing his farming interests which throughout many years have brought to him a good return for his labor, making him one of the well-to-do citizens of Lykens township. He needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for no. representatives of the farming class in this county are more widely or favorably known than the Seery family, that was founded here in 1833, at which time Solomon Seery, Sr., brought his wife and children to Lykens township. The subject of this sketch, then a youth of eight summers, was born in Ross county, Ohio, November 19, 1825, but was reared on the old family homestead here and pursued his education in a log school house, such as was common at that time. To his father he gave the benefit of his services until his marriage, when he began farming on his own account.
On the 22d of January, 1852, Jacob Seery was united in marriage to Miss Lavina A. Coon, and their home was blessed with the presence of four children : Alvaro E., now deceased; De Forrest B., a resident farmer of Lykens town- ship : Lorenzo M. D., deceased ; and Reno R., who is with his father and as- sists,him in the operation of the home farm.
After his marriage Mr. Seery removed to the farm upon which he now resides, and it has, therefore, been his home for almost half a century. He has here one hundred and fifty-six acres of good land and owns elsewhere a valuable farm of eighty acres. He has cleared fifty acres of the home place and has made excellent improvements thereon, all of which stand as mon11- ments to the enterprise and thrift of the owner. He is still managing the op- eration of his fields and the raising of stock, and his activity in business affairs at the age of seventy-six years should put to shame many a man who, grown
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weary of the burdens and responsibilities which he should bear, would relegate them to others.
In his political views Mr. Seery is a stalwart Republican, and for three years he served as township trustee. During the Civil war he enlisted in the home guards for five years. In 1864 his regiment was called out, and as a pri- vate he went to the scene of conflict. He was mustered in at Camp Chase for one hundred days' service, and with his command went to the defense of Wash- ington, being stationed at Fort Worth, near Alexandria. He is now a mem- ber of Roberts Post, No. 672, G. A. R., of Poplar, and has served as senior vice commander. He has always been loyal to the best interests of citizenship, and has taken a deep and active interest in the upbuilding and progress of the county, in which almost his entire life has been passed.
CHARLES F. MARGRAFF.
Charles F. Margraff, a well-known and highly esteemed resident of Ly- kens township, was born in Bucyrus, January 4, 1843, his parents being Will- iam H. and Wilhelmina (Reidel) Margraff. The father was a native of Saxony, Germany. In the family were nine children, as follows: Augusta, the widow of the Rev. Robert Graetz, of Bucyrus; Caroline, the widow of the Rev. August Michalis, of Bucyrus; Emeline, deceased wife of John Linn ; Bertha, the wife of John A. Schaber, of Bucyrus; Julia, who married Adam Augene, of Lykens township; Charles F. ; Lottie, the deceased wife of August Brause : Sophia, the wife of Hiram Smith, of Bucyrus; and William H., of Fayette county, Iowa. The father was a shoemaker by trade, and in 1836 came to America on a sailing vessel, arriving at New York City after a voyage of seven weeks. He thence made his way by water to Sandusky, and from there drove across the country with ox-teams to Bucyrus. Establishing a shoemaking shop, he carried on business along that line with good success front 1836 until 1850, when he removed to Lykens township, purchasing the farm upon which Henry Fralick now resides. He purchased land in the Indian reserve and eighty acres near his home, making one hundred and sixty acres in the home farm. He traveled quite extensivly in Europe, and while in this county gave his attention to agricultural pursuits, whereby he gained a com- fortable competence. He died in January, 1889, at the ripe old age of eighty- three years, while his wife passed away in 1884, when seventy-three years of age. They were members of the Lutheran church, active in its work and deeply interested in the extension of its influence.
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Charles F. Margraff was a little lad of seven years when he came with his parents to Lykens township, and in the common schools he acquired his education, which, however, has been largely supplemented by reading, observa- tion and experience, until he is now a well-informed man. He assisted in the work of the home farm until his marriage, when he began farming on his own account. He rented land from 1868 until 1874, and then with the capital he had acquired purchased eighty acres of the old homestead, upon which he re- sided for four years. On the expiration of that period he removed to the farm upon which he now resides, and the many excellent improvements here stand as monuments to his enterprise, being the visible proof of an energetic, active and honorable career. He owns here one hundred and thirty acres of fine land, of which one hundred acres have been cleared, and he has elsewhere one hun- dred and sixty-four acres in Lykens township. He carries on general farming and stock-raising, and in both branches of his business is meeting with credit- able prosperity. Honesty he regards as the best policy in all trade transactions, and his business career is one unassailable.
On the 19th of December. 1867, Mr. Margraff was married to Miss Leah Miller, and unto them have been born five children: Armetta, the wife of William C. Seele, of Holmes township: Mary Ellen, the wife of O. J. Cory, of Tiffin, Ohio; Ida Irene, wife of Henry D. Miller ; Edwin S., deceased ; and Charles Clarence, a carpenter by trade, living in Lykens township. The fam- ily is one of prominence in the neighborhood, and the hospitality of the best homes of this part of the county is extended to the members of the househld. In politics Mr. Margraff is a Democrat, but not strongly partisan. For two terms he served as township trustee, giving excellent satisfaction by his faith- ful discharge of duties. He is a member of the Evangelical church and a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family whose history has been interwoven with that of Crawford county through many decades.
SAMUEL SHUPP.
Among the highly esteemed citizens of Crawford county who have been particularly well known for many years, is Samuel Shupp, a successful agri- culturist, a worthy member of a leading religious denomination and an intelli- gent and progressive citizen. Mr. Shupp was born in Dauphin county, Penn- sylvania, August 2, 1828, a son of John and Maria ( Yaeger) Shupp, and was one in a family of twelve children, all of whom have passed to the other shore
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except Samuel and his sister Mary, the widow of Daniel Fralick, of Lemert, Ohio.
John Shupp was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, while his great- grandfather was born on the sea during the passage of his parents frem Ger- many to America. The father of our subject grew to manhood in the Key- stone state and followed the trade of shcemaking. In the fall of 1830, with his wife and a son-in-law, he started from the Pennsylvania home in a one- horse wagon, and finally reached Crawford county, Ohio. They were looking for a suitable location, and before returning Mr. Shupp purchased eighty acres of the farm upon which our subject now resides. He then went back to perfect arrangements for the removal of the family in the following spring. As soon as traveling could be undertaken with safety and comfort, Mr. Shupp, with his wife and children, save the oldest son, who came about one year later, started for Crawford county. They were accompanied by one son-in-law and his two children. They had two wagons, one being a prairie schooner, hauled by a four-horse team. Many of the older members of the family made almost all of the long journey on foot, and finally arrived at the little cabin erected by the former settlers. This was found too small to hell the whole family, but with great cheerfulness beds were made in the corn crib, and when the cabin was full the overflow found peaceful rest after the hard labor of the day within the improvised house. So many hands soon made light the work of erecting a new house of hewn logs, and before long they were all very comfortable. Soon the father entered for his children three farms, of eighty acres each, in Lykens township, and two others, of eighty acres each, in Holmes township, and also entered one eighty-acre tract for a nephew, who shortly followed them to Crawford county. This nephew gave a year of work to Mr. Shupp in pay for the land. Mr. Shupp also purchased twenty-five acres adjoining his land. in this township, and an additional thirty-two acres in Lykens township. His death came in 1863, when he had reached his eighty-first year. During all his life he had actively supported the Democratic party. For many years he was an earnest worker in the German Reformed church, while his wife was just as devoted to the Lutheran faith. Services in all religious denominations were held in those days in the school houses and both parents attended together. The mother survived her husband three or four years, living to be seventy- eight.
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