USA > Ohio > Crawford County > A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio > Part 56
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a very valuable and highly improved property and makes one of the most agree- able homes in the township. The one son born to our subject and wife, Charles Ray, was reared and educated in this locality and later married Miss Maud Weaver, and now the hospitable old home roof shelters the two families, the son assisting his father in the management of the property.
Mr. Warner comes of a Democratic family and is a stanch supporter of Democratic men and measures. Like his father, he has long been a leading member of the Lutheran church, belonging to the church council, while fra- ternally he is connected with Tiro Lodge, No. 592, K. of P., and is recognized as one of the best farmers of Vernon township.
PHILIP BENDER.
Honored and respected by all, there is no man in Crawford county who occupies a more enviable position in business circles than Philip Bender. who for many years has devoted his energies to the tilling of the soil and to the raising of a high grade of stock. A native of Richland county, Ohio, his birth occurred on the 5th of April, 1857, a son of Jacob Bender, also of this county. Our subject received his education in the primitive schools of his locality, and on his father's farm he was early inured to the work of field and meadow. In 1881, in company with his brother John, he assumed the man- agement of the homestead farm, which they continued for about ten years. On the 18th of December, 1891, he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza- beth May, a daughter of Lewis May, of Vernon township. For one year after his marriage our subject continued farming the old home farm in partnership with his brother, although he maintained his residence in Tiro. In March, 1893, he removed to the farm which he now owns and occupies, he and his father purchasing of William Hanley one hundred and sixteen acres, our subject be- coming the owner if forty-six acres, while his father took possession of the remaining seventy acres Subsequently Mr. Bender purchased his father's interest in the tract, thus becoming the owner of the entire one hun- dred and sixteen acres. In 1900 he rebulit his barn, and has improved his place in many other ways until it is now one of the valuable and attractive homesteads of the township. In addition to the raising of the cereals best adapted to this soil and elimate he is also extensively engaged in the breeding of Aberdeen cattle, and in both branches of his business he has met with a high and well-merited degree of success.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Bender has been brightened and blessed by the
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presence of two children .- Carrie M. and Clarence T. The family is one of prominence in their locality, and are attendants and liberal supporters of the Lutheran church. Mr. Bender gives his political support to the Democratic party. He is an energetic business man of marked ability, a progressive citi- zen and justly popular in his wide circle of acquaintances.
WILLIAM S. TUTTLE.
Wherever they have found residence in the United States, Canadians have been model citizens, and their descendants have followed in their footsteps. Prominent among Canadians who have settled in Crawford county, Ohio, was the late Alvin F. Tuttle, whose son, William S. Tuttle, is a well-known farmer of Texas township.
Alvin F. Tuttle was born near Elizabethtown, Canada, May 26, 1818, and was reared to manhood there. In 1839 he settled in Lykens township, Crawford county, Ohio. In 1841 he was joined by his parents, and they bought eighty acres of land where John Tuttle now lives. Later Alvin F. Tuttle removed to Texas township and bought eighty acres of land where nis son, William S. Tuttle, now resides. He added to his original purchase until he owned one hundred and ninety acres, which he cleared and improved until it was a valuable agricultural property. He was a Republican in politics from the organization of that party until his death, and took much interest in town- ship affairs, serving his fellow citizens as township clerk and filling the office of assessor of taxes for more than fifteen years. He was for more than sixty years a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, devout in his worship, regular in his attendance at stated services and generous in his contributions toward the supportof its material interests. When he came to the county he began his career in a log cabin which he erected in the wilderness. The woods were alive with game of all kinds and the Indians were frequent visitors at his humble abode. He was married October 1, 1844. to Eliza Thompson, who died May 26. 1893. He died May 26, 1901, and they are buried in Poplar cemetery near their old home. They had five children, the following information concerning four of whom will be found interesting: Norsicy A. died in infancy ; George T. lives at Bucyrus, Ohio; V. O., who was a butcher, died in Nevada ; and Dow J. is a merchant at Sycamore, Ohio.
William S. Tuttle, youngest child of Alvin F. and Eliza ( Thompson) Tuttle, was born on the farm in Texas township, Crawford county. Ohio, on which he now lives, September 17, 1856. He was reared to farm labor and
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educated in the district school. He farmed in association with his father until the latter's death, and is one of the most successful general farmers in the township. He is now the owner of his father's old homestead. In politics he is a Republican, and he has held the office of trustee of Texas township for five years. He is a Knight of Pythias and is widely known as a popular, enterprising and public-spirited man. January 1, 1880, he married Miss Jen- nie Dunlap.
JOSEPH M. SHELL.
A brilliant example of a self-made American citizen and a grand exempli- fication of the progress that an ambitious foreigner can make in this country of unbounded opportunities is shown in the case of Joseph M. Shell, one of the leading Austrian-American residents of Ohio. His singular success is due to his own energy and the high ideal which his lofty and laudable ambition placed before him. Success in any walk of life is an indication of earnest endeavor and persevering effort,-characteristics that Mr. Shell possesses in. an eminent degree.
He was born in Austria, on the 17th of September, 1845, and his parents, Joseph and Catherine ( Lautner ) Shell, were also natives of the same country. The father was born in 1824 and was a son of Frank Shell, a potter by trade. He, too, learned the potter's trade and followed that occupation in the town of Staab. In 1872 he came to America, locating in Venice township, Seneca county, Ohio, where he purchased a small tract of land of twenty-six and two- thirds acres and turned his attention to farming, engaging in that pursuit up to the time of his death, which occurred on the Ist of April. 1877. He was a member of the Catholic church and died in that faith. His wife, who was born in 1825, was a daughter of Jolin Lautner, also a potter by trade, and her death occurred in the year 1896. This worthy couple were the parents of eleven children, but only four are now living, namely: Joseph M .; Barbara, wife of Wencl Muhr, a resident farmer of Cranberry township; Amelia, wife of Andrew Schott, an agriculturist of Chatfield township ; and Charlie, who is engaged in the cultivation of a tract of land in Huron county, Ohio.
In the schools of his native land Joseph M. Shell pursued a thorough edu- cation in the German tongue, and after coming to America he was through one winter a student in the English school near his home. He also attended night school, and thus became a well-informed man, whose knowledge is con- tinually being supplemented by reading, experience and observation. In early
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manhood he entered his father's pottery and mastered the business. Believing that better opportunities were afforded for advancement in the new world, he bade adieu to home and friends in 1865 and sailed for the United States, land- ing in New York City on the 12th of November, after a voyage of forty-nine days on the sailing vessel Louis Henry. The day after his arrival he pro- ceeded to Cleveland, where he arrived with a cash capital of only two dollars, and of this sum he paid one dollar and fifty-six cents for a comfort. For two years he worked at his trade in that city and then went to Shenandoah, Rich- land county, where he engaged in the pottery business for a year. It was dur- ing his residence there that he supplemented his education by one term's attend- ance in the district school. In the spring of 1868 he came to New Washington, Crawford county, erected a residence and a shop and embarked in the pottery
business on his own account. But the new enterprise did not prove profitable, and after a year he closed his shop and secured a situation in connection with the building of the Mansfield, Coldwater & Lake Michigan Railroad, which was then being constructed through New Washington. He was employed in that capacity for about a year and also worked in a water house. Later he followed any labor that would yield him a living, and in the fall of 1874, hav- ing through his diligence, perseverance and economy acquired some capital, he purchased forty acres of land one mile west of his present home. In the following spring he removed to his farm, which was partially cleared, and with characteristic energy began its further development and improvement, trans- forming it into a comfortable home and richly cultivated fields. Ile soon re- modeled the house and in 1881 he built a bank barn. Two years later he sold the property for one hundred and ten dollars per acre, and through the suc- ceeding year he engaged in the cultivation of a farm belonging to his brother- in-law, Mr. Muhr. In 1884 he purchased his present property, comprising a tract of eighty acres in Cranberry township, and has to-day one of the most attractive and desirable farms in the county. His life has been one of marked industry and enterprise, and upon this sure foundation he has builded the super- structure of his success.
Mr. Shell was married November 12, 1868, to Miss Catherine Kreim, a native of the same town in which occurred the birth of her husband. She was brought to America by her parents when only four years of age, and by her marriage she has become the mother of ten children, of whom seven are yet living, namely: Rosa, the wife of Edward Alt, of New Washington : Edward, who is a graduate and now a teacher in the Catholic school of North
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Auburn; Mary, the wife of George Uhl, of Cranberry township; Katharina, Amelia, Frank and Leon, all of whom are still with their parents.
Careful consideration of the political issues and questions of the day has led Mr. Shell to identify himself with the Democracy, and upon that ticket in 1887 he was elected township trustee, in which position he served for six years. He was also a member of the election board of Cranberry township for nine years, and during the greater part of that period served as presiding judge of the board. In 1900 he was elected land appraiser of the township and filled the office of a member of the school board for several years. In every political position in which he has been called to serve he has discharged his duties with promptness and reliability, displaying marked loyalty to the trusts reposed in him. He is a zealous member of the Catholic church and was one of the liberal contributors toward the erection of its house of worship in New Washington. He came to America a poor young man, empty-handed, yet with strong will and determined purpose, and these stood him in stead of fortune. They served as a starting point on the highway of prosperity, and steadily has he advanced, gaining as the result of his energetic labors a favor- able and well-merited confidence.
WESLEY GRUBB.
Among the respected, well-known and popular residents of Crawford county, Ohio, is Wesley Grubb, who owns a fine farm in Todd township, but who for the past sixteen years has been engaged in the blacksmithing business in this locality. The birth of Mr. Grubb was in Cumberland county, Pennsyl- vania, on September 5, 1845, and he was a son of John and Margaret ( Em- minger ) Grubb, who reared a family of eight children; four of these still survive, namely : Catherine, who is Mrs. Russell, of Wichita, Kansas ; Agnes, who is Mrs. James Cordell, of Boone, Iowa ; Mary, who is Mrs. Luther Minich, of Paola, Kansas; and Wesley, who is the subject of this biography.
John Grubb was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in June, 1813, and grew up on the farm, married and rented land until 1854, at which time he emigrated to Ohio, with his family, coming first to Richland county and spending a short time in Mansfield. After looking over the country he found a tract of land consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, located on the Ashland road, which suited his fancy, and this he bought, and it remained the family home until 1859, when he sold it and came to Crawford county, where he purchased a farm of eighty-three acres east of Osceola, in Todd town-
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ship. However, in 1864, as his two sons had left home, one going to Iowa and our subject entering the army, Mr. Grubb rented his farm and removed into Osceola and was engaged there for several years in the sawmill and mercantile business. In 1887 he removed to Kansas and has since that time made his home with his daughter Mary. The mother of our subject, nec Margaret Emminger, died when her children were grown, and Mr. Grubb was later united in marriage to Miss Emily Poole, there being no issue from this mar- riage, and she has been dead for the past fifteen years. Mr. Grubb is now in his eighty-ninth year and is still in possession of all of his faculties, still takes and active and intelligent interest in the doings of the Republican party and is revered in the Methodist church, in which his membership has covered more than fifty years.
Wesley Grubb, who is the subject of this biography, was the youngest of his parents' children, and he received a good common-school education. He was but eighteen years old when he offered his services to his country, enlist- ing in Company A, Twelfth Ohio Cavalry, on October 23, 1863, as a private, and one year later he was made an officer, although still so youthful. He continued in the service until the expiration of his enlistment, and was mus- tered out on November 14, 1865, after taking part in some of the most serious engagements of the Civil war, these being: Mt. Sterling, Kentucky; Marion, Virginia; Cynthiana, Kentucky ; Salt Works, Virginia; Salisbury, North Car- olina ; and various minor engagements.
After his return from the army Mr. Grubb went to work for his father in the sawmill, later for Judd & Decker, in the Osceola gristmill, but after his marriage he located on a farm, managing his father's property for two years. His wife then inherited the farm upon which our subject now resides from her father's estate, and upon this property our subject erected a handsome resi- dence, which has been the family home ever since, although Mr. Grubb does not actively engage in farming. He has a predisposition for working in iron, and although he never served an apprenticeship he has conducted a very suc- cessful smithy for the past sixteen years, his work comparing favorably with that of those who learned the trade in the old style.
In 1868 our subject was married to Miss Rhoda A. Williams, who was born in Ashland county, Ohio, a daughter of Reason Williams, who was a member of Company C, One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, and gave his life for his country. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Grubbs,-Emmett, deceased, and Ethel, at home. Mrs. Grubbs died October 1I, 1901.
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Mr. Grubb is an ardent Republican and possesses considerable influence in public affairs, but is no seeker after official favor. Fraternally he is a Mason and is connected with Nevada Lodge, No. 343, A. F. & A. M., of which he served as worshipful master for five years, and with Leith Post, G. A. R., of Nevada, Ohio, holding the offices of past commander, quartermaster and adjutant, and is aide-de-camp of the Department of Ohio, G. A. R., at the present time. Rhoda, wife of Wesley, died October 11, 1901. Mr. Grubb is one of the highly esteemed citizens of this county, and enjoys the friendship and respect of all who have come into fellowship with him. He was a brave soldier, and since that time he has been a useful citizen, upholding the laws and exerting an influence through his locality in favor of all measures looking to the material interests of his county, township, neighborhood and home.
ISAAC SNAVELY.
Isaac Snavely has resided in Ohio for more than half a century and is a representative of one of the honored pioneer families. People of the present end-of-the-century period can scarcely realize the struggles and dangers which attended the early settlers, the heroism and self-sacrifice of lives passed upon the borders of civilization, the hardships endured, the difficulties overcome. These tales of the early days read almost like a romance to those who have known only the modern prosperity and conveniences. To the pioneer of the early days, far removed from the privileges and conveniences of city or town .. the struggle for existence was a stern and hard one, and these men and women. must have possessed indomitable energies and sterling worth of character, as well as marked physical courage, when they thus voluntarily selected such a life and successfully fought its battles under such circumstances as prevailed in the northwest. The grandparents of our subject were Isaac and Anna ( Baum) Snavely. The father of our subject was Michael Snavely, who was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1818, and when a young man he became a resident of Richland county, Ohio. There he was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Whistler, who was born in Bucks county, Pennsyl- vania, February 19, 1829. and was a daughter of Jacob and Nancy .A. ( Funk ). Whistler. Her father was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvnaia, March 3. 1801 .. and there spent his youth, learning the trade of wagen-making. Through fol- lowing that occupation he accumulated some money, and in 1833 he emigrated to Ohio, making the journey by wagon with his family and bringing with him!
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his few household effects. He located in Franklin township, Richland county. They had intended to travel further, but the birth of a child, now Mrs. Sarah Smith, on the night of their arrival in Franklin township, caused them to locate there, and Mr. Whistler entered land, eventually becoming one of the well-to-do farmers of the community. He first secured from the government a tract of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he built his cabin and began the task of clearing away the trees and preparing the soil for the plow. As his financial resources increased he added to his property until he had some four hundred acres. He also purchased extensive landed interests in Wood and Hancock counties and gave to each of his sons three hundred and fifty acres of land and to each of his daughters one hundred and sixty acres. He was a member of the Dunkard church and earnest Christian principles permeated his life, making him a man whose example was well worthy of emulation. He died August 13, 1883.
Michael and Barbara ( Whistler ) Snavely established their home in Rich- land county, Ohio, where they remained until about six months after the birth of our subject, when they removed to Crawford county, the father entering one hundred and sixty acres of the farm whereon he now resides. This was then a tract of virgin forest, only a small portion of the farm having been cleared, while upon the little patch of land had been erected a log cabin inhab- ited by an earlier settler. Mr. Snavely was a man of energy and strong de- termination and at once began the task of cutting away the trees and putting the land under cultivation. There he carried on farming until his death. About 1874 he purchased an additional tract of eighty acres, so that his farm comprised altogether two hundred and forty acres. His political support was given to the Democracy, and he was a life-long and earnest member of the German Baptist church. His death occurred November 25, 1884, and his wife died in 1887. They had five children, but only two are living : Isaac and Mary A., the latter now the wife of Adam B. Wolf, of Cranberry township.
Isaac Snavely, being but an infant when brought to Crawford county, may be said to have passed his entire life within its borders, and is, therefore, .closely identified with its interests. He attended the common schools in his youth and was trained to farm work, so that he was well prepared to carry on agricultural pursuits on his own account when, after his marriage, he began the improvement of a farin. He erected a set of buildings on the west half of the old homestead and took up his abode there with his young bride, operating eighty acres of land. Thereon he made his home until his father's death, when he exchanged his farm for the property of his brother, who was culti-
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vating the east half of the home place. He thereby acquired the old home residence and cared for his mother until she, too, passed away.
Mr. Snavely has been twice married. In October, 1872, he wedded Miss Sarah E. Resh, a native of Huron county, Ohio, and a daughter of Henry Resh, a prominent agriculturist. They had three children, of whom two are living : Clara, now the wife of Albert Musselman, of Cranberry township ; and Barbara, at home. The mother died in September, 1881, and on the 25th of August, 1882, Mr. Snavely was joined in wedlock to Mrs. Harvey Swartz, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Musselman. They now have five children,-Ray W., Arthur G., Florence A., Samuel A. and John W., and the family circle has never been broken by the hand of death.
Mr. Snavely has never been an aspirant for public office, but when election day comes round he manifests his political preference by casting his ballot for the adherents of the Democracy. He belongs to the German Baptist church and was one of the leaders in the erection of Cranberry Chapel in 1879, it being used as the union church by the German Baptists, the Church of God, the Free- Will Baptists and the Methodists.
Such, in brief, is the life record of Isaac Snavely, whose progressive spirit has enabled him to achieve success in business affairs and whose upright life has been the means of gaining for him the warm regard of many friends.
JOSEPH MOLLENKOP.
Joseph Mollenkop was born on a farm in Bucyrus township, Crawford county, Ohio, November 4, 1865, and is a son of Samuel and Eliza ( Deppler ) Mollenkop, both parents being natives of Ohio. They were married in Craw- ford county and settled on a farm in Bucyrus township. In after years they removed to Sandusky township, and there the father died in 1876, aged forty- seven years. Subsequently the mother married William G. Kalb, with whom she now lives in the town of Chatfield.
Our subject was reared on the farm. Upon his own resources he was thrown at the age of eleven years, at the death of his father. At the age of eighteen years he came to Chatfield, where he has since made his home, being engaged as a clerk in a general store. For the past sixteen years he has clerked for A. Muth, general merchant. In 1892 he married Mary Muth, a daughter of his employer, and unto the marriage two children have been born, namely : Pearl and Raymond.
In politics Mr. Mollenkop is a Republican, and he has been postmaster of
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Chatfield since 1898. In 1896 he was elected justice of the peace, which office he held for one term. His education was obtained in the public schools. He. is a self-made man, and is esteemed and respected for his many sterling qualities.
E. M. NEFF.
When determined purpose and unflagging perseverance are lacking effort is rendered futile and resolution unavailing. Well-formulated plans and a close adherence thereto, these are the necessary concomitants of success, and as exemplified in the career of Mr. Neff. have brought to him a richly merited degree of prosperity. He is now in control of one of the leading dry goods stores of Crestline, his native city, and occupies an enviable position in com- inercial circles.
MIr. Neff was born November 10. 1863. His father, John Neff, was a native of Germany, and after arriving at years of maturity was there married. He afterward crossed the Atlantic to "the land of the free," and located in Galion, Ohio, where he followed his chosen occupation of carpentering, being employed in the railroad shops. Some time in the '6os he removed to Crest- line and became proprietor of a hotel, which he conducted up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was about fifty-nine years of age. He was a member of the German Lutheran church, lived in harmony with his Chris- tian belief, and his fair name in business was never tarnished by unscrupulous dealings. By his first marriage he had three children. When their mother had passed away he was again married, in this country, to Mrs. Catherine ( Burkhardt ) Henge. a widow. She, too, is a native of the fatherland, and is still living. She first married Anthony Henge, and by that union had one son. The parents of our subject had five sons and one daughter of the second mar- riage, of whom three are still living.
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