USA > Ohio > Crawford County > A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio > Part 52
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called from this life the community mourned the loss of one of its most valued and honored citizens.
Abraham Monnett was born October 12, 1811, in Virginia, near the Maryland line, and was a son of the Rev. Jeremiah and Aley ( Slagle) Mon- nett, who, in 1814, left the south and with their family came to Ohio, locat- ing in Pickaway county, where Abraham Monnett grew to manhood, early displaying his active and energetic disposition, his strong will and decisive character. With few local advantages he yet obtained a good education, reading, observation and experience continually supplementing his knowledge until he became a well informed man. He took an active interest in local affairs and was made first lieutenant of a militia company commanded by Captain Berkley. He aided in everything pertaining to the public progress and development, and his worth to the community was widely acknowledged. In early life he purchased forty acres of land in Scott township, Marion coun- ty, Ohio, where he began farming on his own account. On the 9th of June, 1836, in Pickaway county, Ohio, he was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Braucher, who in her fourth year was left an orphan and inherited three thou- sand dollars, which helped to lay the foundation of his financial success. This, together with a small sum received from his father, was the only part of his large fortune which Mr. Monnett did not accumulate through his own industry, energy and economy. In 1838 he began buying stock in Illinois and driving the cattle to his farm in Crawford and Marion counties, Ohio. His operations in this line of business proved very successful and he contin- ually added to his income until he became one of the wealthiest men in this portion of the state. He assisted in organizing the Marion County Bank, and was its president from 1864 until 1881. In 1879, in connectionn with Mr. Hall, he organized the Crawford County Bank, of Bucyrus, was made its chief officer and acted in that capacity until his death. The successful conduct of the enterprise was due to his efforts, his capable management and his keen business discernment, and he made the institution one of the most reliable financial concerns in this part of the state. As the years passed he also in- creased his landed possessions by making judicious investments in farm property and became the owner of over eight thousand acres of land in Marion and Crawford counties.
By his first marriage Mr. Monnett became the father of twelve chil- dren, namely : Ephraim B., who is now living in Bucyrus, Crawford county ; Martha, wife of G. H. Wright, a resident of Marion, Ohio; Oliver, who also is living in Marion; John T., who makes his home in Marion county ; Elsie,
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widow of James H Malcolm, of Bucyrus; Augustus E., who is living in Colorado: Mervin J., who makes his home near Central City, Nebraska ; Mary J., wife of J. G. Hull, of Findlay, Ohio; Madison W., of Michigan; Melvin H., who resides in Marion county ; Amina J., wife of Judge J. C. Tobias, of Bucyrus ; and Kate, wife of Linus H. Ross, of Delaware, Ohio. The mother of this family was called to her final rest February 8. 1875. She was a woman of sterling qualities of mind and heart, a worthy and faithful wife, and a most kind, just and affectionate mother. On the 30th of May, 1877, Mr. Mon- nett was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Jane L. Johnston, a most estimable lady, whose family history is given elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Monnett was a supporter of the Republican party, but the honors and emoluments of office had no attraction for him. He belonged to the Method- ist Episcopal church, and his life was ever in harmony with its teachings and principles. His history contains many valuable lessons. It is impossible to keep a man of merit in the background, although his early surroundings were not such as to win him prominence. A progressive spirit knows no bounds, and ability has no limitations of time, place or space. The man who has no opportunities makes them and molds adverse conditions to his own ends. Such characteristics won for Mr. Monnett a place among the most prominent, successful and reliable business men of his portion of the state. As a man his business ability was constantly manifest, and his operations in land as well as the banking business became extensive. His advancement resulted from determined purpose, resolute will and keen sagacity, combined with un- faltering industry, and he won a place among the most prosperous residents of Crawford county. His affairs were ever conducted along the line of legiti- mate trade, and over the record of his career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. He passed away March 19, 1881, and the community mourned the loss of one whom they had learned to respect and honor.
JAMES H. ROBINSON.
There are no rules for building character ; there is no rule for achieving success. A man who can rise to a position of eminence is he who can see and utilize the opportunities that surround his path. The essential conditions of human life are ever the same and the surroundings of individuals differ but little, so that when one man passes another on the highway of life, reaching the goal of prosperity before those who, perhaps, started out ahead of him, it is because he has the power to use advantages which probably encompass the
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whole human race. To-day among the most prominent business men of Crawford county stands James Henry Robinson, the vice-president of the Bucyrus State Bank and a man whose influence in business and political circles has been far-reaching. The history of such a man cannot fail to be of wide- spread interest, for he ranks high among the representative citizens of this portion of the state.
Mr. Robinson was born on the home farm in Chatfield township, Crawford county, February 22, 1839, and manifests in his life many of the sterling characteristics of his Scotch ancestry,-for the family is of Scotch lineage. The great-grandfather, John Robinson, was born in the land of hills and heather, and when a young man crossed the Atlantic to America, locating in Virginia, where he met and married Miss Stout, whose parents came to the new world from the Emerald isle. Mr. Robinson was at one time captured by the Indians in Virginia and brought by them to Ohio. They intended to burn him at the stake, but for some reason changed this decision, and he finally escaped, but four of his companions were killed. John Robinson, Jr .. the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Virginia, and on leaving the Old Dominion emigrated westward to Coshocton county, Ohio, casting in his lot among its early settlers. In 1825 he came to Crawford county, bringing with him his family. James M. Robinson, the father of our subject, was born in 1807, near Wheeling, West Virginia. He wedded Mary E. Cooper, and in 1825 came to Crawford county, taking up his abode on a farm in Chatfield township, where the birth of our subject afterward occurred. He died in 1874, at the age of sixty-seven years, and his wife passed away May 15. 1852, at the age of forty-two years. They had two sons who served in the Civil war, both having been members of the Third Ohio Cavalry. They are now deceased, having passed away in Michigan in 1883. One daughter of the family, Mel- vina J., became the wife of E. Clady, of Chatfield township, and died in 1872: Nathan J. died in Crawford county in 1874; and Alpheus D. is now living in Pauiding county, Ohic.
James Henry Robinson, whose name introduces this record, was the second of the family. He pursued his education in Chatfield and in the Otterbein University at Westerville. He was a student for two years. Sub- sequently he engaged in teaching eight terms of school in Chatfield, giving ex- cellent satisfaction through his ability to maintain discipline and to impart with readiness and clearness to others the knowledge he had acquired. He has many times been called to public office, where he has served with ability and fidelity. He was township clerk of Chatfield township, and for two terms held
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the office of county surveyor. In the meantime he had engaged in merchan- dising at Chatfield for ten years, and in 1876 he became identified with indus- trial interests in Bucyrus as the secretary and treasurer of the Franz & Pope Knitting Machine Company, in which capacity he served for one year. In 1876 he also became county auditor, and filled that position for six consecutive years, or until 1882. On the Ist of January, 1886, he became cashier of the Bucyrus City Bank, acting in that capacity for fifteen years, or until the Ist of January, 1900, when he was elected vice-president. The success and growth of this institution is largely due to his efforts. He has been untiring in pro- moting its welfare, and his genial manner and unfailing courtesy have made him a popular officer of the institution, while his well-known reliability has added to its high standing in financial circles.
Mr. Robinson was married in Crawford county, to Miss Louisa Hipp, a daughter of Frederick and Catherine ( Kunzi ) Hipp, of Bucyrus. Her father is a director of the Bucyrus City Bank and ex-probate judge of the county. Their marriage has been blessed with two children: Francis Marion, who died in 1871, at the age of five years, and Minnie M., now the wife of F. B. Lauck, of Bucyrus. In his political affiliations Mr. Robinson is a Democrat, and socially he is connected with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the blue lodge, chapter and commandery. He also has membership relations with the Odd Fellows society, in which he has passed all the chairs, and in the Knights of Pythias lodge, of Bucyrus, he was the first past chancellor. He holds mem- bership relations in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and also the English Lutheran church. In all life's relations he has commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he has been associated. Regarded as a citizen, he belongs to that public-spirited, useful and helpful type of men whose ambitions and desires are directed in those channels through which flow the greatest and most permanent good to the greatest number, and it is, therefore, consistent with the purpose and plan of this work that his record be given among those of the representative men of the state.
CHARLES R. SHECKLER, M. D.
The family physician sustains a peculiarly confidential relation to his fel- low citizens, and if he be a man of tact and honor comes in time to be their confidant and adviser in many matters of importance. Such a well-established, useful citizen is Dr. Charles R. Sheckler, of Brokensword, Crawford county, Ohio.
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Dr. Sheckler was born at Bucyrus, Ohio, March 7, 1856, a son of Edward Scheckler, a native of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and a tailor by trade, who located early at Bucyrus and there married Adaline G. Shawk, who bore him four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first born. Their daughter Nettie became the wife of E. J. Williams, of Holmes township, Crawford county. Their sons Thompson and Edward became farmers. Their son Charles R. received his primary education in the public schools at Bucyrus, and when about fifteen years of age began reading medicine under the precep- torship of Dr. A. Cuykendall, of that town. He was graduated in the Colum- bus Medical College in 1877, at the age of twenty-one years. After practicing his profession five years at North Robinson, Crawford county, he located at Brokensword, where he has met with gratifying success. He affiliates with the Democratic party, but is not a practical politician, preferring to give his time entirely to his profession. He was married in 1881 to Miss Catharine Bogan, and they have three children, named Ralph, Ada and Archibald.
JOHN F. SMITH.
The subject of this sketch is of that sturdy German stock which in all parts of our country has developed good citizenship and done its full share in bringing about general progress and prosperity. Mr. Smith was born in Lykens township, Crawford county, Ohio, June 22, 1840, a son of Frederick Smith, a native of Germany, who married Christina Lipman, who bore him six children : Lewis lives in Lykens township ; Hiram is dead ; John F. was the next in order of birth ; Adolphus lives at Aurora, Illinois ; and Clara is the wife of Joseph Laipply, of Chatfield township, Crawford county, Ohio. A sixthi child died in infancy.
Frederick Smith came to America in 1832 and located at Columbus, Ohio, where he worked as a stone and brick mason until 1840, when he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Lykens township, Crawford county, and engaged in farming. The land had no improvements and was practically wild and cost him six hundred dollars. He lost no time in erecting a hewn-log house and in beginning the work of improvement and cultivation. His wife died at the age of thirty-four years and he married Lucy A. Shupp, who bore him the following children : Cornelius, Frederick T., Henry, Jefferson, L. M., Matilda, Catherine, Lucy, Emma and Sarepta. He became a prominent man in the township and died at the age of sixty-two years.
The subject of this sketch was born and reared on his father's homestead
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in Lykens township and was brought up to farm work and received his edu- cation in the public schools. At the age of twenty-two years he began a prac- tical apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade. After working as a journeyman carpenter for eight years he engaged in contracting and building, which he followed successfully until 1881, when he bought his father's old home farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he lived until 1895, when he retired from active life and removed to Brokensword. Lykens township, where he has made his home to the present time.
In 1865 Mr. Smith married Melinda Shupp, and of their children we ob- serve that Lulu married Edward Pfetcher ; Laura married Wesley Lust; Hor- ace J. married Ida Fralick and lives in Lykens township; Lucy Edith and Hiram are dead; Learra married George Lecrove, a farmer of Lykens town- ship; Lottie L. and Lestie B. are members of their father's household: and Linna is dead. The mother of these children died April 22, 1887, at the age of forty years. She was a woman of many virtues, who was dearly beloved by all who knew her, and, like her husband, was a consistent member of the Evangelical church. Mr. Smith has been prominent in township affairs and has in many ways shown his public spirit. At one time he held the office of township trustee. In politics he is identified with the Democratic party. He has always been a hard-working man and has achieved success by means of in- dustry and a good name by fair and upright living.
DAVID CRUM.
David Crum is now living a retired life, and his rest is well merited, for through a long period he was an active and energetic factor in agricultural circles in Crawford county. His industry, perseverance and energy were the means of bringing to him success, enabling him to overcome many obstacles and difficulties in the path to prosperity. Over the record of his business and private life there falls no shadow of wrong, and thus he enjoys the warm re- gard of many friends.
Mr. Crum is a native of the Keystone state, his birth having occurred in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, on the 8th of July, 1829. The family is of German lineage and was founded in America by the grandfather of our sub- ject. Our subject's father, Leonard Crum, was born in the same state, in 1786, and there grew to manhood, learning the wagonmaker's trade in his youth. For a short time he followed that business and also conducted a small
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distillery, but this covered a period of only a few years, after which he retired from the distillery businesss and located upon a farm in Dauphin county, where lie resided throughout the residue of his days, his death occurring in 1869. He was twice married, his first wife having been a Miss Hain, by whom he had four children, all of whom are now deceased. He afterward wedded Catherine Stine, and unto them were born twelve children, but only five are now living : Jonas L., a retired farmer of Decatur, Illinois ; David ; Sarah E .. wife of Samuel Crum, of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania; Rebecca, wife of Samuel Swartz, also of Dauphin county; and Benjamin, who is living in Progress, that county. Mr. Crum was enabled to provide comfortably for his family, for in his farming operations he prospered, acquiring possession of three hundred and nine acres of valuable land in Dauphin county. He was also one of the influential and representative residents of his locality, and until his fortieth year he was a member of the Lutheran church, but about that time he became converted to the Evangelical faith and remained a consistent member of that denomination up to the time of his death, serving through a long period as deacon and elder in the church. His early political views were in harmony with the principles of the Whig party, and on its dissolution he joined the ranks of the Republican party. The mother of our subject was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, in 1795, and, like her husband, was of German lineage. She, too, was an active member of the Evangelical church, and died in 1887, at the age of eighty-two years.
David Crum mastered the branches of English learning and taught in the common schools and received his training at farm labor on the old homestead. He was married October 4, 1849, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary Crall, a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Christian and Elizabeth ( Hanshew) Crall. Her father was a native of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, born November 13, 1805; and her mother was born in Cumber- land county, November 27, 1804. In 1855 they emigrated to Crawford county, Ohio, purchasing the old Conkle farm in Liberty township, where Mr. Crall carried on agricultural pursuits until within thirteen years of his death. His wife died August 29, 1884, and he then made his home among his chil- dren until his demise, on the 27th of September, 1892. Both were members of the United Brethren church and were people of the highest respectability. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Crum were born thirteen children, of whom eight yet sur- vive, namely : Mary A., the wife of William Caris, of Bucyrus : Elmira, wife pf F. M. Lash, a farmer of Auburn township; Ellen, the wife of Joseph Bu- cher, of Liberty township; Sarah, who married C. C. Heller, of Liberty town-
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ship; Willis A., a practicing physician of Carey, Ohio; Myrtle, wife of W. C. Mccullough, of Bucyrus ; and Cora E. and Hayes C., at home.
After his marriage Mr. Crum took his bride to a farm belonging to his father in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and there carried on agricultural pur- suits for six years. He also engaged in the butchering business to some ex- tent during the winter months, erecting a stall in the Harrisburg market house. In the spring of 1856 he came to Crawford county, Ohio, and purchased the Samuel Smalley farm of ninety-eight and a half acres in Liberty township. This he still owns. With the exception of three years, during which time he was engaged in the butchering business in Bucyrus, he resided upon his farm continuously until 1888, when he purchased four lots in Sulphur Springs. Upon this land stands his present residence, and it has been his home continu- ously since. While living in Bucyrus he engaged in the live-stock business, continuing in that line of trade for fifteen or twenty years, and thus he added materially to his income derived from his farming operations. At the present time, however, he is living retired, having acquired a handsome competence, which enables him to put aside the more arduous duties of business life and spend his remaining days in ease and quiet. His political support is given the Republican party, and on that ticket he was elected a member of the township board of trustees for several terms. He and his wife are consistent and faith- ful members of the United Brethren church, of which he served as trustee, class-leader and superintendent for a number of years. His life has ever been in harmony with his professions, being guided by sound judgment, honesty and integrity.
JOHN MOORE.
For more than half a century John Moore has resided upon the farm which is now his place of residence and is therefore to be numbered among the early settlers of Crawford county. Through many decades he has been identified with agricultural interests in the Buckeye state and is still interested in farm- ing. giving his personal supervision to the cultivation of his land. He was born near Hagerstown, in Harrison county, Ohio, July 7, 1823, and is a son of Morris Moore, whose birth occurred in New Jersey, where he was reared and married Hannah Davis. They became the parents of thirteen children, of whom seven are now living. The record is: Mary A., now deceased ; George, who died in infancy; John, our subject; George Davis, deceased; Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas Kemp, of Seneca county, Ohio; Morris, who
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died in hospital while in the Civil war; Margaret, who married Finley Leon- ard and is living near Attica, Ohio; Martha and Hannah, both deceased ;. Louisa, the widow of Josiah Haughman, of Attica; David Bennett, of Frank- lin county, Ohio, who served during the Civil war with the One Hun- dred and Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; Frank, who is living in Kan- sas ; and Theodore, who makes his home in Indiana.
In 1823 the father moved from New Jersey to Ohio and entered a tract of land from the government in Harrison county, where he remained until the fall of 1833, when he went on horseback to Seneca county and there entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land, near Caroline. The follow- ing year he removed his family to the new place and there he built a double log cabin of two rooms. The land was covered with heavy timber and it was an arduous task to develop the farm. In 1850 he took up his abode in Attica, Ohio, where he lived retired until his death, which ocurred when he was eighty- seven years of age. He aided in laying out roads, building school houses and in other work of progress and improvement which resulted to the benefit of the community, and he was an active member and earnest worker in the Meth- odist Episcopal church.
When eleven years of age Mr. Moore, of this review, accompanied his parents to Seneca county and there he began to assist in the difficult task of cutting away the timber and preparing the fields for cultivation. He remained at home until his marriage, which occurred in 1845, the lady of his choice be- ing Miss Sarah R. Mclaughlin, a daughter of Joseph Mclaughlin, a native. of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. He was a son of James McLaughlin, who was one of the heroes of the Revolutionary war, as was also Mr. James Fisher, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Moore. Her paternal grandmother was Mary Mackey, and her maternal grandmother was Mary Kiester. Mr. Fisher spent the winter at Valley Forge and participated in many important battles, and, coming to this state, he ran the first boat on the Ohio river. Jo- seph Mclaughlin served in the war of 1812. Mrs. Moore became a resident of Seneca county when seventeen years of age and attended a subscription school, held in a log school-house in Columbiana county, to which she walked a distance of three and a half miles. She is a member of the Presbyterian church and a most estimable lady, who has been to her husband a faithful companion and helpmate on the journey of life. They have become the parents of four children : Eliza J., deceased, who married Charles Meeker; Hannah. A., deceased, who married John Melroy : Sarah, who became the wife of John. P. Yingling; and Della, who died at the age of nine years.
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After his marriage Mr. Moore rented land in the vicinity of Bucyrus for two years and in 1848 purchased the farm which he now owns and operates and which has been his place of abode since 1849. He paid four hundred dol- lars for eighty acres of land, upon which he erected a hewed-log house of one room in the yard where his present residence is located. Oak, beech, basswood and maple trees stood upon the place, which was heavily timbered. Mr. Moore has cleared sixty acres of his land and has made excellent improvements. When he came here he owned no horses and worked out for others until he could get the money with which to purchase a team. He has since carried on general farming and all that he possesses has come to him as the direct result of his own labor. His life has indeed been a busy and useful one and prosperity has rewarded his efforts.
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