USA > Ohio > Crawford County > A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio > Part 53
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In his political views Mr. Moore is a Republican and he has served as schoool director and supervisor. As a citizen he has ever been public-spirited and progressive, manifesting an earnest interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community and to progress along material, social, educational and moral lines. His has been an upright life, worthy of emulation.
EDWARD FRALICK.
Among the pioneer families who came to Crawford county when this por- tion of the state was largely an undeveloped region and aided in laying broad and deep the foundations for the present prosperity and progress of the county were the Fralicks, and since 1839 the name has been honorably and inseparably interwoven with the history of the community. The subject of this review was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, December 22, 1834. His father, David Fralick, also a native of that state, was there married to Elizabeth Gar- rett and they became the parents of four children, of whom Edward is the eldest. David, the second, is now a farmer of Lykens township. Levina, the third, married Joseph Rank, and after his death became the wife of Benjamin Witmire, her death occurring in 1897. Henry, the youngest of the family, is living in Lykens township. It was in 1839 that the father, with his wife and children, left his old home in the Keystone state and with a one-horse wagon traveled to Ohio, settling first in Richland county, where he purchased four acres of land. He was a weaver by trade and followed that pursuit in Richland county for a few years, after which he came to Crawford county and bought a forty-acre tract of wild land in Holmes township. Upon the place he erected a log cabin, and into this the family moved before there were doors
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or windows in the structure. After three years, however, David Fralick, Sr., returned to Richland county, where he rented land for a time and then re- turned to Crawford county and purchased one hundred acres in Lykens town- ship. The home here was also a log house, in poor condition, but soon he erected a substantial log house, which is still standing, and in which he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1876, when he was seventy-eight years of age. His wife, surviving him several years, died in 1888, past the age of seventy. She was a consistent member of the Reformed church and a most estimable lady, sharing with her husband in the high regard in which he was uniformly held.
Reared to farm life, Edward Fralick soon became familiar with the work of clearing and cultivating the fields and harvesting the crops, and on the old homestead he remained until his marriage, which occurred March 19, 1861, the lady of his choice being Miss Sarah Porter, a native of Lykens township and a daughter of Edward and Rachel ( Shupp) Porter. Her father was a school teacher in Crawford county in an early day and also served as justice of the peace. He came to Crawford county at a period of its primitive de- velopment and from the government entered eighty acres of wild land, upon which Henry Fralick now resides. There he developed his farm, reared his family of nine children and made his home until his death, in 1849. His wife died in June, 1897, at the age of eighty-three years, and thus passed away one of the honored pioneer couples. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Fralick has been blessed with four children: Jerome E., who resides in Fremont, Indiana : Clara ; William Porter, a farmer of Holmes township; and Hattie A. The daughters are unmarried and at home.
The first year after his marriage Mr. Fralick resided upon his father's farm, and on the expiration of that period he and his brother David pur- chased ninety-three acres of land in Holmes township, where they made many improvements, developing an excellent farm, upon which our subject resided until 1896, when he came to his present home in Lykens township. He owns thirty-eight acres of land here and one hundred and thirty-eight acres in Holmes township, and his property has all been acquired through his own exertions. It is fertile land, highly cultivated, and the fields return to him a golden harvest. His business ability and untiring energy are the foundation stones upon which he has reared the structure of his success, and his example in this regard, as well as in many other ways, is well worthy of emulation.
In his political preference Mr. Fralick is a Democrat, and keeps well in- formed regarding the political questions of the time, but has never sought or
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desired public office. His wife and family are identified with the Protestant faith, and in the community they are well known and highly esteemed, the possession of many admirable characteristics winning for Mr. Fralick the envi- able regard of those with whom he has come in contact through the long resi- dence in Crawford county, which classes him among its early settlers.
THOMAS J. MONNETT.
The influence which Thomas J. Monnett had upon the material and moral development of Crawford county was very great. As a minister of the gospel he labored for the spiritual welfare of the people, and at the same time he was an active factor in many movements and enterprises which contributed to the prosperity and happiness of the people among whom he lived and by whom he was ever held in the highest esteem. He departed this life in Crawford county, in May, 1901, and the community thereby lost one of its most valued citizens.
"His life was noble and the elements So mixed in him that Nature might stand up And say to all the world 'This was a man.''
Thomas J. Monnett was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, January 26, 1826, a son of the Rev. Jeremiah and Alcy ( Slagle ) Monnett. When he was nine years of age his parents removed to Crawford county and settled on "the plains" south of Bucyrus. They were among the pioneers of the county and aided in its primitive development, assisting to lay broad and deep the founda- tion upon which its present prosperity and progress rests. In the country schools such as were common at that time the son Thomas pursued his studies, mastering the branches of learning which were taught in such institutions. He afterward attended the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, in 1845, and subsequent to his return home engaged in teaching school. He studied medicine to some extent, but under the direction of his father, who was a Methodist minister, he prepared for that holy calling and was at length licensed to preach for the same denomination. For many years he pro- claimed the "glad tidings of great joy" among the people of Ohio, acting as pastor of the Methodist churches at Fostoria, Kenton, Upper Sandusky and other places. At Fostoria he was associated with G. W. Collier, now chap- lain in the United States army, located at Columbus, Ohio. In 1861 he be-
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came superanuated and thereafter, not being in good health, his ministerial labors were not consecutive, although he never lost his deep interest in Christian work and did much to advance the cause of the church.
In 1861 Mr. Monnett located upon his farm in Bucyrus township and became a successful and extensive agriculturist and stock-raiser, but his efforts were not confined alone to this line. He was interested in the Bucyrus Woolen Mills, the Bucyrus Gas works, together with other enterprises, and his business and executive ability made his advice and management of value in the successful control of such industrial concerns.
Mr. Monnett was married, in 1848, to Miss Henrietta Jolinston, of Crawford county, and unto them were born the following named children : Webster, who died in childhood ; Orwin Bruce; William A .; Francis S .; John G., who died at the age of nineteen years ; Effie, who was the wife of Hon. S. W. Bemalt and died November 20, 1898; and Agnes, who died in childhood. The mother departed this life November 22, 1871, at the age of forty-two years, and on the 4th of September, 1873, Mr. Monnett was joined in wed- lock to Sarah Rexroth, who was one of the early school teachers of the county. In politics he was always a stalwart Republican and supported his position by intelligent argument, always keeping well informed on the issues. of the day. During his work in the ministry he was an earnest, forceful and convincing speaker and his influence was widely felt. In business he was industrious, determined and straightforward and thereby won prosperity. During the last few years of his life he lived retired in Bucyrus. He was a man whom to know was to respect and honor, and his career furnishes an. example well worthy of emulation.
WILLIAM M. GEIGER.
William M. Geiger was born in Bloom township, Seneca county, Ohio, February 1, 1846, a son of Henry and Christina ( Zuderoem) Geiger. Henry Geiger, a native of Germany, was brought to America by his father. Jacob Geiger, when he was thirteen years old. The family located in Stark county, Ohio, where Jacob Geiger lived out his days and died. Henry Geiger began his active life in Stark county as a farm hand, doing work by the month. In 1835 he located in Bloom township, Seneca county, where, after filing his claim to one hundred and sixty acres of government land. he began a fight for for- tune with one dollar in money and an ax. and little else,-without a team, which would have made his labors easier. He managed to erect a log cabin,
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but having no stove was obliged during the first two years of his residence there to cook beside a convenient stump. For a time he had no neighbors ex- cept George Weickley and Jacob Hosler and a Mr. Troxel. The three were the first settlers in Bloom township. At his death Mr. Geiger owned two hun- dred and forty-seven acres of improved land, which was regarded as one of the best farms in Seneca county He died in 1882, in his seventieth year. He was a member of the Dutch Reformed church and was influential in all public affairs. The following brief mention of each of his eight children will be found interesting in this connection : Conrad lives in Fulton county, Ohio. Catharine is dead. Jacob lives in Bloomville, Ohio. Maria is the wife of Nelson Shaff- ner, of Bloom township, Seneca county, Ohio. Of William M., who is the im- mediate subject of this sketch, more will be said hereafter. Henry lives in Indiana. Madison is a resident of Wyandot county, Ohio. Jacob, who is the owner of his father's homestead, is one of the prominent men in Seneca coun- ty and is president of the Sycamore Bank and of the Bloomville Bank.
Wiliam M. Geiger was reared on his father's homestead in Seneca county, Ohio, and remained there until 1869, when, at the age of about twenty-five years, he married Miss Maria Lebold, and moved upon an eighty-acre farm in Bloom township. He remained there a year and then he removed to his pres- ent home farm in Lykens township. Crawford county, which he purchased of William Hanks, and which contains one hundred and forty acres ; and this, added to fifty acres which is comprised in another farm that he owns, gives him an aggregate of one hundred and ninety acres. He carries on general farming and stock-raising on a large scale and with a satisfactory percentage of profit.
Though he has persistently refused to accept any public office, he is, as a Democrat, interested in all public questions and his public spirit is such that he is at all times ready to assist to the extent of his ability any movement for the general good. He was a charter member of Wren Lodge, No. 530, Knights of Pythias, of Lykens Ohio, has fielled every chair in that body and has been a representative of the order in the grand lodge.
Mr. Geiger was educated in the common schools in vogue during his boy- hood and has many interesting reminiscences of days spent beneath the low roof of the log school-house. For some time after his father came into the neighborhood wild game was plenty and at times wild turkeys roosted on the roof of his cabin. Mr. Geiger still owns two of the first set of chairs in use in his father's house. His father was a man of good character and good busi- ness ability and expert knowledge, and these qualities constituted the founda-
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tion stone upon which William M. Geiger, our subject, built the success which has made him well known in his part of the state.
Mr. and Mrs. Geiger have had four children. Their daughter Bertha D. is a member of their household. Their son Nelson E. was graduated at the Ada Commercial College, at Ada, Hardin county, Ohio, and married Margaret Johnston and lives on the old Gingling homestead, a fine farin of one hundred acres. Miss Emma Geiger died at the age of nineteen years : and Mr. and Mrs. Geiger lost a son named Edward, who died when he was thirteen years old.
JOHN A. SMITH.
Throughout his entire life John A. Smith has resided in Crawford county and therefore his record is well known to many of its citizens, by whom he is regarded as a man of sterling worth, his industry, energy and reliability hav- ing won for him the merited regard of his fellow men. He was born in Jack- son, now Jefferson, township, July 24, 1837, his parents being George and Hannah (Chisholm) Smith. His paternal great-grandfather. John Joseph Smith, was born in Baden, Germany, November 8, 1736, and there resided un- til late in life, when he came to America, but he was not long permitted to en- joy his new home, his death occurring soon afterward, on the 16th of Novem- ber, 1813, when he had attained the age of seventy-seven years His wife, Mrs. Catherine Smith, was born August 8. 1736, and died November 11, 1819. Their son, John Joseph Smith, grandfather of our subject, was born in Baden, Germany, July 25, 1767, and just before attaining his twenty-first year of was married. To avoid military service he came to America in the spring of 1788 and purchased a small farin in Perry county, Pennsylvania. To this he added in later years until his landed possessions were quite extensive. By oc- cupation he was a weaver. His death occurred July 9, 1836. He was an ardent member and a local preacher of the United Brethren church and was a man highly respected for his many virtues.
The father of our subject was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, Janu- ary 10, 1803, and was a son of John Jacob and Elizabeth ( Fisher ) Smith. In his native county he was reared and there learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed through the winter months while in the summer season he assisted in the cultivation and improvement of his father's farm. In his native county he married Miss Hannah Chisholm, who was born in that county, September 28, 1806, her parents being John and Margaret ( McBride) Chisholm. Her father was born near Glasgow, Scotland, while her mother was a native of
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Perry county, Pennsylvania. Three children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith in Perry county, and in the spring of 1836 the family came to Crawford county, Ohio, the father entering from the government forty acres of land in Jackson, now Jefferson township. He soon afterward purchased an adjoin- ing tract of ten acres. All was wild, his farm being covered with a dense growth of forest trees, in the midst of which he erected a log cabin. When he had thus provided shelter for his family he at once began clearing away the trees, the woodman's ax awakening the echos in the forest. His labors in this direction were followed by the track of the shining plow, and he continued the work of developing the fields up to the time of his death, which occurred April 23. 1852. In the winter months he also worked at the shoemaker's trade un- til about 1850. He was a Whig in his political affiliations and served for a number of years as township trustee, while for a considerable period he filled the office of a member of the school board and did all in his power to promote the cause of education in the community. He was an ardent worker and con- sistent member of the United Brethren church, taking a leading part in its work, was one of its officers and was a liberal contributor to all charitable and benevolent purposes. His wife died in February, 1864. Her many excellent qualities and true womanly character had won her the esteem and friendship of all with whom she had been associated. She had seven children, but only two are living, John A. and George B., the latter a resident of North Baltimore. Wood county, Ohio.
John A. Smith spent his boyhood days on the home farm and in the com- mon schools he mastered the English branches of learning usually taught in such institutions. He was only fifteen years of age at the time of his father's death and three years later took charge of the home farm, which he operated for his mother until the spring of 1864. On the 28th of May, 1863, he won as a companion on life's journey Miss Jemima Modderwell, a native of Liberty township. Crawford county, who was born on the farm which is now her home and where she has resided continuously since her birth, with the exception of one year. Her parents were James W. and Mary (Peterman ) Modderwell. the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Cumberland county, Penn- sylvania. With their respective families they came to Crawford county, Ohio, becoming its first settlers. In the spring of 1864 Mr. Smith removed to his father-in-law's farm, which he operated as a renter until 1875. He then pur- chased the farm of eighty acres in Liberty township and twenty acres in San- dusky township and in later years he has added twenty-one acres to the tract in Sandusky township. He is diligent, persevering and energetic in his farm
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work and the well tilled fields return to him abundant harvests for his labor. In 1864 he purchased a thresher and for twenty-four consecutive years he car- ried on the threshing business and also operated a wood-saw. He became one of the expert threshers of the county and secured a very liberal patronage, his services being in demand throughout the harvest season.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born two children : Anna W., now the wife of J. S. Keller, a hardware merchant of Sulphur Springs; and Nessie F. S., who married W. C. Charlton, who operates her father's farm. The parents have a wide acquaintance in the county and the hospitality of many of the best homes is extended to them. In political views Mr. Smith is a stalwart Republican. For thirteen consecutive years he served on the school board and is at present acting in that capacity. ' He has also served repeatedly as super- visor and in 1900 he was appointed census enumerator. He is now secretary of the Crawford County Pioneers' Society, and is one of the most highly re- spected men of the county. For more than sixty-three years he has resided in Crawford county, and his memory forms the connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present. Where are now seen richly cul- tivated fields once stood the forest trees and the intersecting roads had not been laid out. The pioneer homes were widely scattered and the work of pro- gress and improvement was in its primitive condition. He belongs to that class of substantial citizens who have aided in the work of improvement, and well does he deserve mention among the honored pioneers.
MATTHIAS SHEIBLEY.
Matthias Sheibley, who carries on general farming in Cranberry town- ship and has served as township trustee, is a native resident of Ohio, for his birth occurred in Shelby. Richland county, January 25, 1863, his parents be- ing Albert and Elizabeth ( Karl) Sheibley. Their children were provided with loving care and attention in youth and were afforded good education privi- leges that they might be fitted for the arduous duties and the responsibilities of life. Our subject acquired his elementary education in the district schools. which was supplemented by study in the high school of New Washington. He was trained to farm work on the old homestead and remained with his father until he had attained his majority, when he started out upon an independent business career. During the following year he was an employe of the Craw- ford county infirmary and in the succeeding year was employed by a Mr.
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Gibson, a prominent farmer living east of Bucyrus. He then returned to the infirmary, where he remained for two years and afterward he was engaged in tile ditching and threshing. He also followed various other occupations through a period of four years and then rented land of a Mrs. Hamilton-a tract of sixty acres in Cranberry township. Thereon he began farming for himself, and during five years cultivated that land. Mrs. Hamilton then died and the farm passed into the possession of her sister, Mrs. William Jolly, but during these years Mr. Sheibley had displayed business ability of such an order that he was retained to manage the property, which he has since culti- vated. The farm now comprises eighty-six acres. In 1892 he increased his responsibilities by taking charge of his father's farm of eighty acres, and on the old homestead he now resides.
On the roth of April, 1894, occurred the marriage of Mr. Sheibley and Miss Catherine McMahon, a daughter of Thomas McMahon, a prominent agriculturist of Vernon township. The young couple began their domestic life in the old Sheibley residence, where he had resided for two years prior to his marriage. Unto them have been born three lovely children, but Frank J., the eldest is now deceased. The others are Edward W. and Gertrude E.
Mr. Sheibley is a very energetic man, indolence and idleness being utterly foreign to his nature. During the year 1896-7 he had the management of the farm belonging to Mrs. Bloom, formerly a portion of the Volney Powers farm, and in 1900 he also assumed the responsibility of cultivating his fa- ther's land, comprising forty acres, one mile east and a quarter of a mile south of New Washington. He is operating altogether two hundred and six acres of land and is one of the prosperous and progressive agriculturists of the community. He carries on his work along advanced lines, basing his labor upon scientific principles, close observation and practical experience. He is a recognized factor in political circles, being a leader in Democratic ranks. In 1892 he was elected justice of the peace, filling the office for three years, and in 1899 he was chosen a member of the board of township trustees, in which capacity he is now serving in a most commendable manner. He and his wife are consistent members of the Catholic church and for four years he served as one of its trustees. Mrs. Sheibley is a charming and accom- plished wife, who presides with gracious hospitality over their pleasant home. They contribute to the support of all charitable work and public interests calculated to promote the general welfare, and the circle of their friends is al- most co-extensive with the circle of their acquaintances.
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NICHOLAS SCHEERER.
Mr. Scheerer was born in the village of Kleinbundenbach, county of Homburg, Rhine province, Bavaria, Germany May 7, 1825, and his early childhood was spent upon a farm in the fatherland, but when a youth of fourteen he began learning the carpenter's trade, depending entirely upon his own resources for advancement in life, and well may he be proud of his success, as his close application and industry made him a good workman, and his unaided labor brought to him a comfortable competence. He followed this pursuit in the land of his birth until 1847, when, at the age of twenty- two, he resolved to try his fortune in America, and upon a sailing vessel em- barked for the new world. After fifty-two days spent upon the water anchor was dropped in the harbor of New York and he found himself a stranger in a strange country, unfamiliar with the language and customs of the people. He started out upon his new life with determined heart. however, resolved to make the most of his opportunities.
Coming to Chatfield township. Crawford county, Mr. Scheerer was em- ployed as a journeyman carpenter for four years and then began contracting and building on his own account, which pursuit he followed with good suc- cess for seven years. The money he saved enabled him, in 1853, to pur- chase sixty acres of land, upon which he located, giving his time to the de- velopment of his farm and his building operations. He had cleared almost the entire tract, when, in 1863, he removed to the farm upon which he now resides, and which has been his home for thirty-eight years. Today he owns a quarter section of rich land, well improved, and his valuable farm; is attractive with its many improvements, including a fine residence, which he planned and erected.
In 1850 Mr. Scheerer was married to Miss Elizabeth Schaack, who was born November 8, 1828, in Schmittshausen, county of Zweibruecken, Rhine province, Bavaria, Germany. She came to America in 1849 and in 1850 was married to Mr. Scheerer. This union was blessed with seven children. of whom six are living, their names being as follows: Henry, of Seneca county : Jacob and John, farmers of Chatfield township. Crawford county; Sarah, the wife of Solomon Klink, of Liberty township; Elizabeth, the wife of Emanuel Pfleiderer ; and Louisa, the wife of George Pfleiderer, also of the same town- ship. These are residing on farms near Ridgeton and Sulphur Springs.
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