USA > Ohio > Crawford County > A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio > Part 50
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George Stuckey was born in Lykens township, Crawford county, Ohio. on the same farm which is now his home, August 19, 1867, a son of Carl Stuckey, a native of Bavaria, Germany, born in 1821. Carl Stuckey, who was a blacksmith by trade, came to America in 1847 and landed in New York City, after forty days' voyage on an old-fashioned sailing vessel. From New York he went to Sandusky, Ohio, where for a time he was employed at railway construction. Removing to Bloom township, Seneca county, he worked as a farm hand for several years by the month until he was able to buy eighty acres of land in Lykens township, Crawford county. The land was heavily timbered and he made a clearing on it and built a log house, in which he lived until 1864. when he removed to the farm on which he died. January 22, 1899. He was twice married. His first wife, Mary Keiffer. bore him two children: Henry, who lives in Seneca county, and Mary, who married John Ohl. His second wife was Laura Kellar, and they had eight 30
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children, as follows: Lena, who is the wife of Frank Dennis, of Seneca county, Ohio; Charles, who is a well-known citizen of Texas township, Craw- ford county ; Elizabeth, the wife of Lewis Young, of Lykens township; Hat- tie, who married Charles Mohr, of Lykens township; George, who is the immediate subject of this sketch and the next in order of birth; William J., a respected citizen of Texas township; Laura, who married Cyrus Ohl, of Seneca county ; and Nellie, who makes her home with George and is a student at Heidelberg College, at Tiffin, Ohio. The mother of these children died in September, 1893.
George Stuckey was brought up to work on the farm and received a practical education in the common schools near his home. In 1890 he rented his father's homestead, which has been his home to the present time. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of good land and gives his attention to general farming and stock-raising. He is a member of the German Reformed church and in politics he is a Democrat. He has never been active as a pol- itician and has never sought any public office, but he exerts a good influence in a political way and his public spirit has led him to identify himself with many movements, which he believed promised to benefit his fellow citizens.
Mr. Stuckey was married February 28, 1896, to Miss Etta Boomershine, and has a boy named Glenn.
SAMUEL SNYDER.
Samuel Snyder, who resides on one of the fine farms of Todd township, and is one of the highly esteemed and useful citizens of Crawford county, Ohio, was born in Holmes township, on November 17, 1836. He was a son of Rudolph and Anna ( Schlabach ) Snyder, who had six children, our sub- ject and his brther John, of Henry county, Ohio, being the only ones re- maining.
Born in Berne, Germany, about 1800, Rudolph Snyder grew up in his native land and was thoroughly instructed in the trade of carpenter, and married an estimable lady in his neighborhood. Starting with his wife and three children for the United States, in 1836, he reached this country with his wife and only one of the children, as two of the little ones died on the voyage and were buried at sea. Not only did Mr. Snyder and his wife have to suffer from this double bereavement, but the voyage was one of storm and danger, after sixty-four days being towed into New York harbor by a passing vessel, their own sails having been washed away.
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Mr. and Mrs. Snyder made their way to Bucyrus, Ohio, where many of their countrymen resided, and with them found sympathy and remained there for six months. Their means were limited and Mr. Snyder was able to buy but nine acres of land. This was covered with timber, but on it Mr. Snyder dug a cave, improvised a roof and lived here for the following two years, and then built a substantial and comfortable hewed-log house, in which he resided until 1856, when he removed to what was known as the Hall farm, which he rented for three years. That Mr. Snyder was frugal, energetic and industrious may be inferred from the fact that about this time he was financially able to purchase eighty acres of timber land, in Todd town- ship, this being the farm upon which our subject now resides. During these succeeding three years, by working on moonlight nights and taking advantage of every holiday, receiving some assistance from his little sons, Mr. Snyder succeeded in clearing up ten acres, and in 1859 he built a portion of the pres- ent handsome farm residence and here he lived until his death, in 1879. His faithful wife, who has endured all his trials and cheered him through the years of their companionship, survived him only eight days. They were most worthy people and were members of the Lutheran church, while in politics he was in sympathy with the Democratic party, although he never took any active interest in public affairs.
The subject of this sketch, Samuel Snyder, grew to sturdy manhood, strengthened by the hardships of pioneer life, and became a most important factor in the clearing of the farm, and in 1860 bought twenty acres, which adjoined his father's purchase. Two years later he was married to Miss Catherine Spiegel, who was a native of Germany and a daughter of Chris- topher Spiegel, who came to Ohio from his German home and settled in Todd township about 1860. After marriage our subject began housekeeping on his little farm and worked also at the carpenter's trade and built many of the largest barns in this section of the township, although he never served any apprenticeship, having inherited the capacity for mechanical skill from his father.
In 1879, when the parents of Mr. Snyder died, the home farm, which had been acquired with so much industry and economy by his father, and upon which he had worked through many a year, came into his possession, while his brother John took a farm in Henry county, in which our subject also had an interest. Since that time Mr. Snyder and family have lived on the old homestead, now one of the most valuable properties in this part of the township. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Snyder, namely :
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Hygeia, the wife of Joseph Hilborn, of Bucyrus; Hattie, the wife of George Allbright, of Todd township; Charles, at home; and Bertha, the wife of Benjamin Beall, of Bucyrus township, in this county.
Mr. Snyder is inclined to favor the Democratic party in politics, but he is liberal-minded, and frequently votes for the man instead of the party. He is one of the highly respected citizens of this township, and a most worthy representative of the honest and persevering parents who so bravely battled through poverty and misfortune and won the esteem of all with whom they came in contact.
WILLIAM GLEDHILL.
There are few farmers in Jefferson township, Crawford county, Ohio, who are better or more favorably known than William Gledhill, who was born March 12. 1838. in Jefferson township, Crawford county (then Rich- land county ), Ohio, a son of Joseph and Mary ( Mitchell) Gledhill.
Joseph Gledhill was born September 11, 1799, at Browbridge, Others- field, Yorkshire, England: married at Leicester, England, in the year 1824, Mary Mitchell ; moved to America in 1826, and located in Trumbull county, Ohio. Being a carder by trade, he ran a woolen factory for five years, then removed to Youngstown and engaged again at his trade, and from Youngs- town he came to Crawford county, in 1832, and bought a farm, where he resided until his death, at the age of sixty-eight years. His wife, who bore him eleven children, attained the advanced age of eighty-four years. The following facts concerning the children of Joseph and Mary ( Mitchell) Gledhill are pertinent to the purpose of this sketch. Eight of them grew to manhood and womanhood. Elizabeth, the eldest, married David Snyder and they have both passed away. Mary married Perry Russell and lives at Mid- dletown, Ohio. Esther married John Shoemaker and is dead. Martha, who became the wife of Colonel Calvin Burwell, is also dead. Sarah married Henry Castle and lives in Jefferson township. John married Susan Burgin and died in 1883. Joseph is a prominent citizen of Jefferson township. Will- iam is the immediate subject of this sketch.
William Gledhill was born and reared on his father's old homestead in Jefferson township, of which he took charge at the age of nineteen years, of which he is now the owner and on which he has lived all his life. He owns one hundred and seventy acres of well improved and very productive land and gives his attention to general farming and stock-raising. A Republican
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in politics, he has taken an active interest in local affairs and has held the office of township trustee for eleven years, with some intervals, and is its . incumbent at this time, and his interest in good roads has been such that he has for many years been kept in the office of road supervisor. He is a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics.
Mr. Gledhill was married April 10, 1873, to Miss Rebecca Gilliland and they have five children, named Olive, Esther, Edward, Tacy and Cleo Hazel. Edward married Miss Idessa Deam and lives in Jefferson township.
JOHN KELLER.
One of the fertile and valuable farms of Crawford county is the prop- erty of John Keller, one of the leading agriculturists of his locality. He is a native of Ashland county, Ohio, born on the 3d of April, 1843, a son of Henry and Maria (Geip) Keller. The father was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, in 1816, and when fourteen years of age came with his parents to Ashland county, Ohio. In 1847 he took up his residence in Craw- ford county, settling in Todd township, where he purchased eighty acres of land, but seven years later he sold that tract and purchased one hundred and thirty-three and a third acres north of Osceola, also in Todd township, where he spent the remainder of his life, passing away on the Ist of June, 1899. He was a Democrat in his political views and was a member of the German Bap- tist church. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Keller were born seven children, five of whom still survive: Hettie, the wife of W. V. Fagin, of Sycamore, Ohio: John, of this review : Sarah, the wife of J. A. Welsh, of Wyandot county, Ohio; Nancy, the wife of Samuel Keifer, of Osceola ; and Elias, a resident of Todd township. After the death of the mother of these children the father was again married, Miss Mary Baker becoming his wife, and they had one son, William, who resides at Lemert, Todd township.
John Keller, whose name introduces this review, acquired a limited edu- cation in the old log school house of his district. In February, 1864, he en- isted for service in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company E. Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He took part in the Lynchburg raid, was with Sheridan in the second engagement at Winchester, and took part in the battles of Berryville, Cedar Creek, Fisher's Hill and many other en- gagements of the war. He was captured at Beverly, Virginia, on the 8th of January, 1865, and was sent to Libby prison, where, after forty days, he was paroled and exchanged, after which he returned to his home on a thirty
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days furlough. On the expiration of that period he returned to his command, and on the 3Ist of July, 1865, received his honorable discharge at Columbus and returned to his home. Mr. Keller then worked for his father until the fol- lowing December, when he went to Michigan and worked as a farm hand there for one year. Again returning to his home, he then took charge of the old homestead, which he worked on the shares, and in August, 1872, he purchased his present farm of sixty acres, where he has since resided.
In 1866 Mr. Keller was united in marriage with Miss Sarah L. Mc- Creary, a native of Lorain county, Ohio, and a daughter of John McCreary. They have had two children, but only one is now living, Eva L., the wife of J. C. Frost, who is serving as postmaster of Osceola. Our subject is liberal in his political views, but gives his preference to the Democracy. He is one of the most successful men of his community and is regarded as one of its well-to-do citizens.
ALBERT HAMMOND.
Albert Hammond was one of the honored pioneers of this portion of Ohio, and for many years was identified with agricultural interests here. He was a native of Cayuga county, New York, born February 25, 1813, and was a son of George and Sarah ( White) Hammond. His father, at a very early period in the development of Crawford county, emigrated westward, settling near Tiro, where he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land from the government and began the arduous task of developing a new farm, and there lived and died.
Mr. Hammond, the subject of this sketch, married Miss Catherine Groes- beck, who was born October 4, 1813, and they became the parents of six children : Almira ; Alvira: Philora, deceased ; Orlando, deceased ; Ellen De- lora ; and Lucy. In 1834 our subject removed to Lykens township and set- tled where Jacob Breode now lives. He entered the land from the govern- ment, built a log cabin and began to clear and improve the farm, which he transformed into a desirable property, the fields yielding to him good har- vests. There he resided until 1875, when he removed to the farm upon which he spent his remaining days, his death occurring when he was seventy- two years of age. He was actively concerned in the work of public progress and improvement. Indians were still to be seen in this part of the state when he came to the county and the work of progress and improvement seemed scarcely begun. He helped to lay out roads, build school houses and assisted
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in building the Baptist church. No work calculated to advance the general welfare sought his aid in vain and he was widely known as a most valuable citizen. He held various township offices, ever discharging his duties most faithfully, and wherever he was known he was held in the highest regard by reason of his upright life and fidelity to principle.
Almira. the eldest child of Albert Hammond, was born in Lykens town- ship, Crawford county, Ohio, May 12, 1835, and has spent her entire life. in the county. She has been twice married. She first wedded James Miller. and they had four children: Albert, a merchant of Plankton, Ohio: Izora A., wife of Elbridge Tippin, of Kansas; Elbert P. and Francis M. The last two learned blacksmithing and located in Tiffin, Ohio, where the younger was killed by a kick from a horse in July, 1901. After the death of her first husband Mrs. Miller gave her hand in marriage to Jacob Johnston, and they had two sons, one dying in infancy, and the surviving one is Corma E .. at home with his mother.
Mrs. Johnston owns eighty-two acres, which is cultivated by her youngest son, and the farm is now in good condition. The mother and son are both members of the Baptist church. Mrs. Johnston is a milliner by trade and has engaged in business along that line to a considerable extent. She is one of the worthy and honored pioneer ladies of the county, representing a prom- inent family, and is held in high regard for her many estimable characteristics.
HENRY R. LINN.
As one of the largest land-owners and most substantial citizens of Craw- ford county, Henry R. Lin occupies a prominent position, although there are many who can recall the day when his only capital was an abundance of en- ergy, an industrious and willing nature and an honesty, which his worthy par- ents had taught him while still a child.
Mr. Linn was born in Holmes township, in Crawford county, on April 12, 1840, and was a son of Philip and Christina ( Holcher ) Linn. They were born in Wurtemberg, Germany, and were married in their native land, and there their oldest son, John, was born. John Linn is now a prosperous farmer of Chatfield township. In 1833, when John was but three years old, Mr. and Mrs. Linn came to America and settled on a farm in Holmes township, where the rest of the children were born, these being: William, who died in 1862: Mary, who married Andrew Green, of Liberty township: Henry R. : Philip. who resides in Marion county, Ohio; Jacob, who also resides in Marion
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county ; Charles, who lives in Bucyrus; and Elizabeth, who is unmarried. The mother died in 1870, at the age of sixty-five, the father surviving until he was eighty-two. These worthy and pious parents reared their children in the German Lutheran church and did their best to give them a common- school education.
Until he was fifteen years old Henry Linn remained at home, but the family was large and he early decided to look out for himself, and for five or six years he worked by the month and then bought a team and as a renter engaged in farming. . For about eight years he rented farms and finally bought a tract of one hundred and thirty acres in Holmes township, but never located on that land. After owning it for some three or four years he sold it and bought one hundred and fifty-six acres in Dallas township, upon which he moved, and there he lived for two years, erecting a house and barns, with other outbuildings and putting it into perfect repair. This enabled him to sell at a good profit and then he bought a fine estate, consisting of three hundred and twenty acres in Dallas township. where he now lives. Here he has built one of the most attractive residences in this locality, and one of those barns so necessary upon a farm where large operations are success- fully carried on, and has made other improvements, both to beautify and in- crease the value of his property. Since this purchase he has added ninety acres and now owns four hundred and ten acres of some of the finest land in the county
In 1877 Mr. Linn married Miss Alice Martin, the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth ( Miller) Martin, pioneers of Crawford county. To Mr. and Mrs. Linn three daughters and one son have been born : Grace E., who has taught several terms of school: Gertie, who has also proved herself a fine teacher : Helen and Ora. With his wife and children he belongs to the Meth- odist church, where all are highly valued. Mr. Linn has been a life-long Democrat and has efficiently served for two years as township treasurer.
Henry Martin, the father of Mrs. Linn, was born in Richland county, Ohio, on January 12, 1826, and was a son of Charles Martin, a pioneer of Richland county, who later lived in Crawford county and then removed to Huron county, where he died. His ancestry was German.
Mr. Martin was married to Elizabeth Miller, in 1853, in Marion county, Ohio, where Mrs. Martin's parents were then living. She was born there. IIer parents, also of German descent, were early settlers of Marion county. To Mr. and Mrs. Martin ten children were born, all of whom survive and are George W., Alice J., Mary J., Effie .\., Sarah Ellen, Ida May, Viola I.,
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Charles E., Harry J. and Blanche I. The lamented death of Mr. Martin oc- curred on August 19, 1891, and his widow lives on the old home place.
In 1857 Mr. Martin moved to Dallas township, Crawford county, and established the home upon which his widow now resides. By trade he was a carpenter, but he worked at it very little after coming to this county. In business he was fairly successful. He took a great interest in the Democratic party and for several years was justice of the peace and township treas- urer. He was held in high esteem in the Methodist church, of which he was a worthy member.
JEFFERSON MARQUART.
Jefferson Marquart is a representative of a well-known family of Craw- ford county, whose members have ever been people of sterling worth, well meriting the high regard in which they are uniformly held. Throughout his entire life he has been identified with agricultural pursuits in his native county. His birth occurred on the old family homestead, where his father now resides, his natal day being October 4, 1858. He is a son of Michael Marquart, of whom extended mention is made on another page of this work. During his youth he had the influences of a good home and was enabled to acquire a practical English education in the common schools. He received training in the work of the fields and meadows and was thus fitted for carrying on business on his own account. On the 23d of May, 1882, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Riedel, a native of Chatfield township, and a daughter of Con- rad Riedel, one of the pioneer settlers of Crawford county, now residing in New Washington.
After his marriage Mr. Marquart and his bride located upon his father's land in Seneca county and operated that farm, while he and his brother August also carried on the home farm, the partnership continuing for one year. In the succeeding autumn Jefferson Marquart removed to his present home of eighty acres, which his father had purchased only a short time previous. Here he has since resided, his time and attention being given to agricultural pursuits. Everything about his place is neat and thrifty in appearance and in his farming operations he is meeting with creditable prosperity. For eight years he ran a thresher, but in 1899 disposed of his interests in that busi- ness. The many excellent improvements which he has made upon his farm have transformed it into one of the valuable farm properties in this portion of the county.
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In 1884 Mr. Marquart was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife, who died on the 22d of May, and their only child is also deceased. On the 2d of January, 1887, he was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary E. Shade, a native of Seneca county, Ohio, and a daughter of William and Anna (Deisler ) Shade, both of whom were natives of Seneca county, Ohio. Her paternal grandfather, Samuel Shade, was born in Pennsylvania and came to Seneca county, Ohio, among the first of its pioneer settlers. Her maternal grandfather, Charles Deisler, also cast in his lot with the early resi. dents of that community when it was a frontier region, he having emigrated to the new world from Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Marquart now have one child, Rosa A. C., who was born December 20, 1887. In his political views Mr. Marquart is liberal, although he usually supports the Democracy. He and his family are very highly esteemed people and are consistent members of the Lutheran church. Their circle of friends is extensive and their own home is well known for its cordial and sincere hospitality.
ROYAL R. ROSS.
The Ross family, to which our subject, Royal Resolved Ross, who is a leading citizen of Crawford county. Ohio, traces his ancestry, originated in Scotland, from which country his great-grandfather came generations ago, settling in Pomfret, Connecticut, among the early settlers. The grandfather was a well known physician there who later removed with his family to Otsego county, New York, where the father of our subject grew to manhood and married: in 1825 he came to Crawford county. The parents of our subject, Abel C. and Celia ( Emmons ) Ross, had a family of four children, but our subject is the only survivor. Two died in infancy and one daughter, Phoebe Alzina married Wiliam Cuykendall, who at death left four children, viz .: Ross. Dorr, Edessa and William R.
Abel Ross was born in Pomfret. Connecticut, in 1800, and was a son of Roval Ross. After his marriage in the state of New York he came to Crawford county, Ohio, and settled on the farm in Auburn township, which is now the property of Alfred C. Ross, and here he entered eighty acres of land, and in later years added thirty-two and one-half acres to the original purchase. At that time it was virgin forest, but he worked hard and suc- ceeded in clearing it up, and lived in the log cabin, which he built upon it, until our subject was eighteen years of age. Then Mr. Ross built a com- modious and comfortable frame residence, and lived here until his death.
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The mother of Mr. Ross, of this sketch, died when he was only four years old. By a later marriage, to Miss Laura A. Carlisle, three more children were added to the family,-Byron H., Celia A. and Alfred C., the last named residing on the home farm. In his early years Mr. Ross was a Whig, and later naturally connected himself with the Republican party. Although not a member, he was a supporter of the Baptist church, and was known as a man of probity and Christian life and character.
Royal R. Ross was born in Auburn township, Crawford county, Ohio, on November 25, 1832, and he was a son of Abel C. and Celia (Emmons) Ross, as mentioned above. He grew up on the home farm and acquired his education in the common schools, all of his attendance, with two years' excep- tion, being in the pioneer log hut, with slabs for benches and with a puncheon floor, over which the little barefooted children had to walk with circum- spection, always being in danger of splinters. When he had reached the age. of nineteen years our subject began to work for neighboring farmers, as- sisting in the haying and harvesting, and was a welcome hand for the fol- lowing four years, being strong and willing.
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