USA > Ohio > Crawford County > A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio > Part 62
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In September, 1891, our subject, in partnership with his brother-in-law, W. E. Green, purchased the old Lutz farm in Chatfield township and also the old Keller farm of seventy-two acres in Liberty township, both of these having been the property of Mr. Lutz, Sr. During one summer the partners engaged in cultivating together, but in the following September they divided their in- terests, our subject acquiring the Keller farm, while Mr. Green took the Chat- field township farm. Mr. Lutz is one of the energetic young agriculturists of this county, and not only successfully cultivates his own land but also tills eighty-six acres of that belonging to his father. Like his father, he is a stanci member of the Democratic party. For three years he served as a trustee in the Lutheran church and is highly valued there. He has displayed great ability in his chosen occupation, and his success has been very gratifying not only in a pecuniary way but also in the position it has given him as a worthy representative of an honored and industrious family.
REV. DANIEL BROSE.
Rev. Daniel Brose, who for many years has been connected with agri- cultural and industrial interests in Crawford county, and is also laboring for the spiritual welfare of the people among whom he lives as a minister of the
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Pietist church, makes his home in Chatfield township, and upon the farm where he now resides his birth occurred on the 31st of October, 1849. His father, Michael Brose, and his grandfather, Andrew Brose, were both natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, and in 1832 the latter brought his family to the new world, crossing the Atlantic in a sailing vessel, which was then the only means of navigation. He settled in Liberty township. Crawford county, but his death occurred soon afterward. His son, Michael Brose, was married in this county to Agnes Steinhielber, and soon afterward they took up their residence in Chatfield township, the father devoting his remaining days to agricultural pursuits. He was industrious, energetic and determined and provided a com- fortable living for his large family. He died in 1872, at the age of sixty-five years and five months, and his wife passed away at the age of sixty years and five months. They were members of the Pietist church and were earnest Christian people, having the warm regards of all with whom they were asso- ciated. They had thirteen children : Jacob, who is living in Williams county, Ohio; Gottlieb, of Indiana : Rebecca, wife of Simon Long, of Indiana : Daniel, of Chatfield township ; Fridericka, wife of Jacob Reidle, of Chatfield township ; Catherine, the wife of Daniel Long, of Chatfield township: Elizabeth, wife of John Baumgartner, of Chatfield township: David, of Cranberry township: Mary A., the wife of Samuel Calb, of Chatfield township; and Lydia S., the wife of Michael Streib, of Whetstone township. Three died in their child- hood.
Born and reared on the old home farm, on attaining his majority Mr. Brose, of this review, became associated with his father in the cultivation of the fields and the management of the property, and so continued until 1878. when he began the manufacture of brick and tile and also sawing lumber. In 1889 he extended the field of agricultural pursuits, and to this dual occupa- tion he gives his attention with excellent success. He now owns one hundred acres of good land in Chatfield township and follows general farming in addi- tion to his other pursuits. He is active, energetic and persevering, and his well-conducted business affairs have brought to him a good profit. In the manufacture of tile and brick he has been associated with his brother-in-law, J. Baumgartner, as a partner.
On the 15th of March, 1881. Rev. Brose was united in marriage to Miss Levina Bower, of Brownstown, Illinois, and nine children grace their union, of whom seven are yet living: Alice S., Ida M., Fredericka M., Lavina K., ยท Lizzie L., Daniel F. and Michael S. The other two died in childhood.
Mr. Brose has never been an aspirant for public office. For nine years he
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has been a minister of the Pietist church of his neighborhood, numbering about forty-five families, and he also acts as pastor of another church in Todd town- ship, numbering about forty-two families. His influence is widely felt and the work which he has performed in the cause of Christianity has brought forth rich fruits.
SIMON SHADE.
For almost a third of a century Simon Shade has resided upon the farm in Lykens township which is now his home. He was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, April 7, 1834, one of the thirteen children, five sons and eight daughters, who were born of the marriage of Samuel and Catherine Shade. Of this num- ber ten reached years of maturity. In 1836 the father removed with his fam- ily to Seneca county, Ohio, taking up his abode in Venice township, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land that had been owned by a pre- vious purchaser who had erected a log cabin upon the place. Mr. Shade cut away the dense forest, prepared the land for the plow and in due course of time garnered abundant harvests. For a number of years he made his home thereon, but eventually removed to Tiffin, where he spent his remaining days, passing away at the age of seventy years. His wife survived him and reached the advanced age of ninety-six years, while her father died at the extreme old age of one hundred and two years. He served with the American army in the war of the Revolution.
Upon the home farm in Seneca county Simon Shade spent the days of his boyhood and youth, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors. which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He was married in 1859 to Miss Louisa Kniemen, and their union has been blessed with four children: Clara, the wife of R. Brown, of Bloomville: Lizzie, who married J. F. Runyon, of Van Wert, Ohio: S. Andrew, who is upon the home farm; and Willie E., at Cygnet.
After his marriage Mr. Shade located upon a farm of eighty-six acres, upon which he resided until 1869, when he came to his present home in Lykens. township. He has here eighty acres of land and one hundred and sixty acres in Chatfield township. His home is a commodious and pleasant farm resi- dence, and good barns and outbuildings furnish shelter for grain and stock. Everything about the place is kept in good condition and the well-tilled fields yield a golden return for the care and labor bestowed upon them.
In 1900 Mr. Shade was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who
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was struck by lightning on the 18th of July while in the church attending a funeral. She was a most estimable lady and had many warm friends. Mr. Shade belongs to the German Reformed church, and in his political affiliations is a Democrat. He entered upon his business career without capital and the success he has achieved is, therefore, the merited reward of his own labor, for his has been a busy, active, useful and honorable life.
JAMES DUNLAP.
The family of Dunlap in America comes of Scotch ancestry, and in all generations it has produced men and women of exceptional ability and worth. It is ably represented in Ohio, and its most prominent representative in Craw- ford county is James Dunlap, of Texas township, a progressive and prosperous farmer of much influence and importance in local affairs.
James Dunlap was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, January 13, 1832, a son of John and Mary ( Loeman) Dunlap, who had six sons and two daughters. The following data concerning different members of this family will be found interesting : James Dunlap, the subject of this sketch, was the first in order of birth. Daniel served his country as a soldier one hundred days in the Civil war and lives in Kansas. John lives in Rchland county, Ohio. Samuel was during a greater portion of the Civil war a member of the Eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry and is now living in Oklahoma. William fought for the flag in the Civil war as a member of the Third Ohio Cavalry and is now living in Kansas. Mary and Abbie are dead. Jacob was a mem- ber of the Twelfth Ohio Cavalry and saw much arduous and dangerous service in the war between the states.
John Dunlap settled in Texas township, Crawford county, Ohio, in 1835, and bought forty acres of land, on which there was a clearing of a few acres and a small log cabin. He improved the property and died there in 1878, at the age of eigty-two years. His wife died in 1846. When his parents went to Texas township' James Dunlap was three years old. He remembers having walked a mile and a half to a school kept in a log school house and states that during his youth game was plentiful in the woods round about and Indians. were frequently seen. When a mere boy he began to help his father clear land and put it under cultivation, and when he was sixteen yars old he began work- ing out by the month, but made his home with his father until 1854. when, December 23, he married Mary Livensparger, who bore him eight children. Their daughter Florence married a Mr. Dorrick, of Tiffin, Ohio. Their daugh-
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ter Laura is the wife of Scott Hoyellett, of Texas township. Their daughter Jane married William Tuttle, of Crawford county. Their son Elmer lives in Bucyrus, Ohio. Their son Sidney lives at Shelby, Ohio. Their daughter Minnie is dead. Their daughter Elva is the wife of Horace Miller. Their son Ralph lives in Sycamore, Ohio.
For a time after his marriage Mr. Dunlap lived at Bloomfield, Ohio. He then moved to a small farm in Kent county, Ohio, which he had previously pre-empted. It was heavily timbered and he made a small clearing there and erected a log cabin, in which he was domiciled for two years. Then he re- moved to Crestline, Ohio, where for one year he was employed by a sawmill company. From there he removed to Wyandot county, where after three years he bought seventy acres of land in Eaton township, on which he lived until the spring of 1862, when he removed to Texas township, where in the September following he bought eighty acres of the farm on which he now lives.
In 1864 Mr . Dunlap enlisted as a private in Company C, Eightieth Regi- ment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was sent to North Carolina, where it performed picket duty until the spring of 1865. Thence in succession it went to Nashville, Tennessee, Cincinnati, Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, Washington, D. C., and Alexandria, Virginia, where it was stationed until the close of the war. After he was discharged from the United States service with all due honor he returned to his farm in Texas township, Crawford county, Ohio, and has since given his attention to general farming and stock-raising with such success that he has added to his home farm until it now contains one hundred and sixteen acres, and he owns fifty acres in another tract.
In politics he is a Democrat, and he wields considerable political influence in his township and has served his fellow townsmen for many years as a school director and for six years as township trustee.
HENRY D. E. JOHNSTON. - -
Prominent among the pioneer families of Crawford county is that of Johnston, of which Henry D. E. Johnston, deceased, was a representative. His father, Thomas F. Johnston, was a pioneer settler of the county, coming here in 1826 from Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, where he was born Feb- ruary 3, 1800. He was a son of an Irish emigrant who settled in Lycoming county. In 1823 Thomas F. Johnston married Martha L. Walton, a daugh- ter of David and Elizabeth ( Rogers) Walton, and was born in Lycoming
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H. D. E. JOHNSTON.
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county, Pennsylvania, May 11, 1803; her early ancestors in America were from England. It was soon after his marriage that Thomas F. Johnston emi- grated to Crawford county, coming by wagon and team.
On coming to this county it was his first intention to follow his trade, that of cabinet-making, in Bucyrus, then a village of some eight log cabins and two frame buildings. The place not promising much for him in the way of remuneration from labors at his trade, because of which he turned his attention to farming in Whetstone township until the year 1829, he removed to Findlay, Hancock county, this state, where he lived for three years, and then returned to Crawford county, settling in Dallas township. While in Hancock he served as county auditor one term. He acquired large landed possessions in Crawford county and his farming interests grew to larger proportions. He also became a large stock-raiser, especially of sheep. He was a good business man and amassed a good estate. His death occurred November 1, 1862. His wife survived him many years, dying at an advanced age in Bucyrus, to which city she removed in 1865. She bore her husband the following children: Henry D. E., the immediate subject of this sketch ; S. G. Johnston, who died in 1870, aged forty-three years; Henrietta, who married Thomas J. Monnett and died in 1871 : Lavina, who died at the age of fifteen years : Josiah S., who died in infancy ; W. H. H. Johnston, who, as a member of the Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in the Civil war, served for a short time and was honorably discharged on account of failing health, and who died in 1865: James Q. Johnston, who also served a short time in the Civil war, but fell a victim of consumption in 1865 ; Oregon John- ston, who served also in the Civil war and died in 1876; and Agnes J. John- ston, the youngest of the family, who also is deceased. Consumption was hereditary in the family and of it nearly all the children died.
Henry D. E. Johnston was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, August 8, 1825, and was reared amid the scenes of pioneer life, obtaining a limited education. He was brought up on the farm and farming and stock- raising was his life pursuit. He was a shrewd, careful and successful business man. For a few years he was associated with his brother, S. G., in the busi- ness of dealing in stock. In 1857 he married Miss Jane Ludwig, the youngest child of Samuel Ludwig, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume. For two years after his marriage Mr. Johnston was engaged in both farming and stock-dealing, but, removing to Bucyrus, he engaged exclusively in the stock trade for three years. He then returned to the farm and was thereafter engaged in both farming and the stock business until the time of his death,
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which occurred April 19, 1870. He left three children, namely: Nora, Zua and Mary Agness. In politics Mr. Johnston was a Republican, and a short time before his death he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was possessed of many sterling qualities. A creditable portrait of him appears in this volume.
BENJAMIN F. SIMMONS.
Long prominent in agricultural life of Crawford county. Benjamin F. Simmons is one of the best known and highly esteemed citizens. His birth was in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in February, 1827, and he was a son of Lawrence and Mary ( Rice) Simmons. They had a family of four children born to them, but our subject is the only survivor.
Lawrence Simmons, who was the father of our subject, was also born in the Keystone state, about 1805, and was married in that state. By vocation he was a farmer, but when operations on his land were interrupted by unfavorable weather he filled up his time in the manufacture of splint-bottomed chairs, for which he found ready sale. About 1829. when our subject was but two years of age. the family emigrated to Crawford county, Ohio, a devoted aunt, a sis- ter to the mother of our subject, carrying the child with her all the distance on horseback. Upon arrival in Ohio Father Simmons entered eighty acres of land, which was located one and one-half miles south of Sulphur Springs, in Liberty township, and upon this land he erected a cabin in the woods and started upon the task of clearing this land. The industry of Mr. Simmons seemed to have no limit, for in addition to clearing and cultivating his land he added very materially to the income by making the comfortable chairs as above mentioned, also looms, which were needed in every household, and in working in wood generally, possessing a natural skill in this line. Naturally he pros- pered, and was soon able to add to his original purchase of land, buying an adjoining sixty acres, and upon this farm of one hundred and forty acres he resided until 1846, at that time selling it to advantage and moving to Todd township, where he bought the farm of one hundred and sixty acres which adjoins the present farm of our subject on the south, and shortly after he bought another farm, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, lying just across the highway from his on the east. Some years later he sold one of these farms and removed to Bucyrus, our subject taking charge of the other farm.
After some six years of residence in Bucyrus, Mr. Simmons returned to the farm, but shortly after a fine offer was made him which resulted in the
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disposal of this valuable property. Then Mr. Simmons bought a small home property near the village of Nevada, and here he lived during the remainder of his life. The mother of our subject died the year following the removal of the family to Ohio, and the second marriage of the father was to Miss Cath- erine Swisher, and to them six children were born, all of whom have passed away, Mrs. Simmons also passing out of life. The third marriage of Mr. Sim- mons was to Mrs. McIntyre, but there was no issue of this marriage, and she survived her husband for some eighteen years.
In public affairs Mr. Simmons was prominent and was a leader in the Democratic party, but he is best remembered as one of the enterprising and de- voted members of the United Brethren church, to which he contributed liberally and gave much of his time and attention for a long period. He was the founder and prime mover in the building of the first church of this denomination in Osceola, which is now in course of rebuilding, and he was also the leading spirit in the erection of the church in Nevada, after his removal there, and was valued for his Christian character.
Despite the long journey from his native state Benjamin F. Simmons grew to robust manhood in his pioneer home, developing a strong body and that love for agricultural pursuits which certainly gives a healthy trend to the mind as well as to the body. His education was acquired in the pioneer school-house, and Mr. Simmons can readily recall the old slab benches and puncheon floors, as well as the lessons learned within its walls.
In 1851 our subject was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Souders, who. was a native of Liberty township, in this county, and who was a daughter of William Souders, who was one of the old pioneers of Liberty township. Short- ly before the marriage of Mr. Souders, the father and sons built a sawmill on the farm, on Broken Sword creek, and for the succeeding nine years Benjamin gave continued attention to the working of this mill. For some time this was- only a sawmill, but later Mr. Simmons became its sole owner, with eleven acres of land, and he then added a set of buhrs and fitted it up completely as a flour- ing-mill. For a number of years he made as excellent flour here as was made in any other place in the state, up to 1860. At that date he exchanged this. mill for a farm of forty acres and a residence property in Oceola, later selling the latter, but he removed his family to the farm. At that time the land was heavily timbered and Mr. Simmons began the hard work of clearing, but this was given up on account of the death of his wife, at which time he broke up housekeeping.
The second marriage of Mr. Simmons was two years later, to Miss Henri-
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etta Chapman, who died in 1892. Three children were born to the first union, but ali of them have passed away. Two children were born to the second mar- riage, the only survivor being Lawrence D., who is the farmer on the home farm and is a man of prominence and stability in the township, at present be- ing its efficient treasurer. He was married in 1894 to Miss Rice Forest, and two children have been born to this union .- Ralph and Benjamin, both bright, intelligent youths.
For some time following his second marriage our subject continued on his own farm, but later sold it and took charge of his father's farm while the latter resided in Bucyrus. Upon the return of the elder Mr. Simmons our sub- ject purchased his present farm of eighty acres and has resided here in great comfort ever since. His son manages the operations of the farm and Mr. Sim- mons is enabled to take his ease after a busy and industrious life He has al- ways been an active Democrat in politics and enjoys the esteem of the county, through which he is regarded as one of the most highly valued of its citizens, a man whose word is as good as his bond, and as one who may always be found exerting an influence in the direction of morality as well as progress.
.RICHARD COVER.
Richard Cover is the foreman of the roundhouse in Crestline, a respon- sible position which he capably fills, being well qualified by broad experience, executive force and sound judgment. He was born in Richland county, Ohio, December 24, 1846. His father. Cyrus K. Cover, was a native of Pottsville. Pennsylvania, and about 1835 emigrated to Richland county, Ohio. He be- came a contractor and builder and followed the business in Richland county until 1856. About 1852 he came to Crawford county and the following year took up his abode in Crestline, where he opened and conducted a hotel for about a year. . He afterward gave his attention to the butchering business and was following that business at the time of his death, which occurred when he was fifty-two years of age. In politics he was a stalwart Democrat and for two terms served as constable. His wife, Margaret Pfiefer, was a native of Penn- sylvania, where she remained until her marriage. She lived to be eighty- two years of age, passing away in Crestline. This worthy couple were the parents of eight children, one of whom died in infancy, while four sons are yet living.
Richard Cover, the sixth child and fourth son of the family, was about two years of age when brought to Crawford county. He was reared and edu-
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cated in Crestline and worked with his father in the butchering business un- til 1869, when he became connected with the railway service as fireman on the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago road, acting in that capacity for twenty-one montlis. He was then promoted to the position of engineer, serving in that po- sition for three years, running between Crestline and Alliance. Subsequently he was made foreman of the roundhouse at Crestline and for twenty-six years has thus been connected with the road, his long service indicating most clearly his faithfulness to duty and his ability in the discharge of the work devolved upon him. In 1901 he asked for a day job, which the company granted him.
Mr. Cover was united in marriage in Crestline in 1870 to Miss Amanda Richards, a native of this city and a daughter of B. O. and Mary Richards, early settlers of Crawford county, now living in Kansas. Mrs. Amanda Cover died in 1879. Unto our subject and wife were born two daughters, Viola, who is now the wife of James Reed, of Crestline, Ohio, a telegraph operator ; and Ada, wife of Horace Burgett, a fireman on the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Railroad at Crestline. There are also two grandchildren, Ned and Helen Reed. In political views Mr. Cover is a stanch Democrat, firmly advo- cating the principles of the party as set forth by its leaders and special conven- tions, yet he has never sought or desired office, preferring to devote his entire attention to his business interests.
GEORGE D. ZIMMERMAN.
The prominent citizen of Todd township, Crawford county, Ohio, whose familiar name is above, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, April 5, 1835, a son of John Zimmerman, a native of Union county, Pennsylvania, who married Eliza Davidson. The father of John Zimmerman was killed when the latter was five years old and John was brought by his mother to Columbiana county, Ohio, and thence taken to Wayne county, also in this state, where Mrs. Zim- merman and her sons bought military land from the United States government and where John was married.
John and Eliza ( Davidson) Zimmerman had children as follows, all liv- ing in this state : George D. ; Ephraim, who lives in Bucyrus ; Israel, who lives in Wyandot county; Nathan, who lives in Defiance; Albert, of Findlay; and Hannah, who married B. H. Clendenin, of Antrim township, Wyandot count ;. Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman and their family removed to Crawford county, Ohio, in 1846, settling in Todd township, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land from Judge Swan, of Columbus, Ohio, where the village of Lem-
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