USA > Ohio > Crawford County > A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio > Part 66
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FRANKLIN D. HEINLEN.
The agricultural interests of Crawford county are well represented by Franklin D. Heinlen, one of the leading and foremost citizens of the locality. He was born on the farm where he still resides, on the 24th of June, 1858. a son of Matthias and Elizabeth ( Bickle) Heinlen. The father was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in 1815, and in 1837, in company with his brother George, he came to the United States, landing in New York city after a voyage of seventy days. On his arrival in this country his worldly possessions consisted of but one dollar, which he spent for his night's lodging, and on the following day he and his brother borrowed enough money from a friend who was coming to Crawford county to accompany him to this locality. The brother remained in Crawford county and worked out their indebtedness, while Matthias proceeded north to the Maumee canal, where he worked on the construction of the canal for a year, after which his health failed and he then returned to Crawford county and secured employment at farm labor south of Bucyrus, where he remained for eight years. He was then married and purchased a small farm of twenty acres, now known as the Nussbaum farm, in Bucyrus township, where he remained for another six years, when he sold that property and purchased forty acres near Glenville, now known as the Benjamin Simm farm, and after residing there for five years he sold that tract, and on the Ist of March, 1858, secured possession of the present Heinlen farm, then known as the McLain farm. It contained
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a tract of eighty acres, and by hard work and persistent effort Mr. Heinlen was enabled to add another eighty acres thereto, making a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and there he spent his remaining days, his death occurring on the 16th of September, 1897. The brothers deserve great credit for the success that they attained in life. They arrived in this country without money and without friends, "strangers in a strange land," and by perseverance and economy they both succeeded in acquiring a com- petency, and were numbered among Crawford county's most honored citi- zens. Matthias Heinlen was a Democrat in his political views, and was a worthy member of the Lutheran church. His wife, who was born in Ger- many. in 1820, came to America with her parents, Simon and Elizabeth Bickle, when a child of eight years, the family locating in the cranberry marsh in Ohio, but later removed to Bucyrus township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Heinlen is still living and now makes her home with our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Heinlen became the parents of nine children, eight of whom still survive, namely: Elizabeth, the wife of Absalom Bolinger, of Wyandot county, Ohio: John, of Bucyrus township, Crawford county ; Simon M. and Samuel, also of Bucyrus township ; Lena, wife of Byron Kent, a resi- dent of Bucyrus township : Matilda, widow of Henry Ochse, of Nevada, Ohio; Lucinda, wife of J. S. Murphy, of Dallas township; and Franklin D., the sub- ject of this review.
The latter was reared on the home farm, but received very limited school privileges, for at the early age of five years he began working on the farm, riding a horse in the fields for plowing corn, and as he grew older more im- portant tasks were assigned him. Thus when most boys enter upon the active duties of life he was a leading factor in the conduct of the home farm. In 1881 he assumed full management of the old homestead, working on the shares, and in 1889, with the accumulation of his former years of hard and incessant toil, he was enabled to purchase a farm of his own, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, in Dallas township. The land was then in its primi- tive condition, but he cleared and improved the tract, erected substantial farm buildings, and not only has he cleared it of all indebtedness, but has also made it one of the most desirable farms of the county. However, he has never re- sided on this property, it being conducted by a tenant. He has always made his home on the old Heinlen homestead, which after the father's death was divided, the mother retaining a dower interest in the original tract of eighty acres, while our subject purchased the remaining eighty acres. On the 10th of October, 1901, he purchased a farm of thirty acres of his neighbor and
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friend, Frank M. Harvey, who was obliged to sell owing to the poor health of his sister, Minnie, and move to town.
On the Ioth of February, 1901, Mr. Heinlen was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary Harris, a native of Antrim township, Wyandot county, Ohio, and a daughter of A. E. Miller. By her marriage to Arthur Harris she became the mother of three children, only one of whom is now living, Chester A. A.
In his political affiliations our subject exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Democracy. For the past nineteen years he has been a correspondent for the Nevada Enterprise, one of the lead- ing journals of the locality, and he is also a member of the school board, now serving on his second term. He is also a prominent and active member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity, No. 234, of Nevada, Ohio, in which he has filled nearly all of the chairs. He served one term as outer guard, one term as inner guard, one term as master at arms, one term as prelate, one term as vice chancellor commander, two terms as chancellor commander, one term as deputy grand chancellor, and at the present time is serving as master at arms. He is one of the well known and highly esteemed residents of Crawford county, and all measures for the public good receive his hearty support and co-opera- tion.
JOHN J. WEAVER.
Among the prominent and well known citizens of Crawford county, Ohio, Jolin J. Weaver takes a leading position, having for a number of years been identified with the public affairs of Vernon township. John J. Weaver, Esq., was born in the township and county where he resides, on January 31, 1857, and he was a son of Peter and Mary (Baublitz) Weaver, and was the eldest in their family of eight children, the others of the family being : George, a resi- dent of Jackson township in Richland county ; David, of this township; Henry, of Shelby, Ohio: William, of Crestline; Samuel, of Shelby; and Anna, the wife of Clement Bodley, of Shelby, Ohio.
Peter Weaver, who is our subject's honored father, is a native of Germany, born there in the province of Hesse-Darmstadt, on August 8, 1831, and when he was a lad of eleven years accompanied his parents to America. They located in Jefferson township, in Crawford county, later removing to Vernon town- ship. There the grandfather of our subject acquired a farm of seventy acres, this now being a part of the Knapp farm The grandparents passed their last days on this property. Peter Weaver grew to manhood on this farm and mar-
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ried while living there, but one year later he removed to Wyandot county and bought a farm of forty acres, in Eden township. At a later date he sold this and bought a farm of eighty acres which was located one mile from his former property and for six years he made this the family home. In 1869 he sold this property and returned to Crawford county, at this time buying a farm of one hundred and forty acres in section 9, in Vernon township, and here he lived until 1881, when he also sold this farm in order to purchase the one consisting of two hundred and twenty acres, this being the property upon which our sub- ject now resides. For the following six years Mr. Weaver managed this large estate and then sold it to his sons and removed to Shelby, where he has since resided, living a somewhat retired life, enjoying the results of many years of industry. In politics Mr. Weaver is a stanch Democrat, but he has never been willing to accept any party preferment. Both he and his estimable wife have long been leading members of the German Lutheran church, and are among the most respected of the older residents of Shelby.
John J. Weaver, familiarly known as Esquire Weaver, on account of his long and honorable service as justice of the peace, was reared on the home farm and acquired an excellent common-school education, and later had the advantage of one term in the Ada Academy. He was about twenty years of age when he became a teacher in the district schools, continuing to follow this profession in districts one, four and five for some seven years.
On August 1, 1880, our subject was united in marriage to Miss Susie Esterline, who was a native of this township and who was the daughter of Eli Esterline, who was one of the early settlers of Crawford county, coming from Pennsylvania, which was his native state. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Weaver established their home on our subject's present farm, which then consisted of forty acres, but since then he has added to this until he now owns eighty-nine and one-fourth acres, all of which has been bought of his father. Mr. Weaver is an excellent farmer and owns one of the most desirable tracts in the township.
As a leading member of the Democratic party, our subject has been identi- fied with public affairs in no small degree and has been honored by his fellow- citizens by election to many of the local offices. In the spring of 1885 lie was elected assessor and efficiently served for two terms, and in 1889 he was made justice of the peace and has shown such excellent judgment and thorough knowledge of the duties of this position, that he has been called on to serve con- tinuously ever since. In 1890 he was also elected township clerk and served in that capacity for two successive terms, and he is still serving as truant officer, to which position he was appointed in 1893. In 1900 Mr. Weaver was called
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upon to serve as land appraiser of the township and his careful and just atten- tion to the duties of this position gained for him the commendation of all con- cerned, his report passing both boards of equalization without a single change being made in his work. In 1893 Mr. Weaver was appointed an agent in the Crawford County Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of Bucyrus, Ohio, a position in which he still serves.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Weaver, namely : Maud Leone, the wife of Charles R. Warner, of Vernon township: Anna Elizabeth and Estella May. They also have a son named Wilber W. Weaver, of whom they feel very proud. The Lutheran church has long had the support of our subject and family, and in it as well as in business and political circles, Mr. Weaver is regarded as a just and honest man, a useful citizen and one who well represents the leading class in Crawford county.
EMORY JAY DWIRE.
A leading educator and also a prominent business man of Crawford county, Ohio, is Emory J. Dwire, who is a well known and esteemed resident of Tiro. The birth of Mr. Dwire was near Clyde, Sandusky county, Ohio, on November 28, 1874, and he is a son of John S. and Lucy A. ( Beard) Dwire, who reared a family of five children. Our subject is one of the three survivors, the others being: Lumetta B., the wife of William G. Setterfield, of Richland county ; and Dr. Harry E., of Oceola, Ohio.
The Dwire family is one of the old and leading ones in this part of the state of Ohio. Great-grandfather William Dwire was for many years an or- dained minister of the Methodist church, as well as a prominent merchant in Ashland. He was a man of sterling traits of character and was most highly esteemed. His son, Isaac Dwire, grew to manhood a worthy successor to his father. He was born near Ashland, then Richland county, Ohio, in 1808, and was thoroughly educated, his father being a man of superior intellectual qualifications. Very early in life he became a teacher. When near his twenty- first year he was married, and about 1835 he removed to Seneca county, where he entered one hundred and twenty acres of forest land, built there a cabin and labored there until his land was cleared and improved, and there his useful and blameless life ended in 1874, when sixty-six years of age. In politics Grand- father Isaac was a Whig, but later on he became a Republican, although he was never an office-seeker. At one time he was elected justice of the peace but held the position but a short time, resigning it in order to give his attention to more
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congenial duties. For very many years he was a leading member of the Methodist church, where he was held in the highest esteem.
The birth of John S. Dwire, who was the father of our subject, was in Seneca county, Ohio, and he was a son of Isaac and Elizabeth ( Whitting- ton) Dwire, and was reared in Seneca county. A family of fifteen children were born to his parents, fourteen of whom grew to maturity and became proni- inent in many walks of life, eight of them being teachers. Their father looke ! carefully after their education, as the school advantages in the neighborhood were poor. At night he gathered them around him and instructed them, giv- ing them the personal care that they would not have received in any public establishment. He was well rewarded, for they all grew to intelligent manhood or womanhood. John Dwire began to teach at the early age of sixteen years, and seemed so well fitted for the profession that he continued an instructor for twenty-six years. During this time, however, he also engaged in farming, bought and sold land, owning at different times five farms in various localities, but the last ten years of his life he spent on a farm in Jefferson township, in Crawford county, where he died on February 5, 1899. In his early years he was a member of the Republican party, but he was a man of strong tem- perance principles and during his later life he worked and voted in sympathy with the Prohibition party. In religion Mr. Dwire was a member of the Meth- odist church and the last twelve years of his life were given to Christian work. As a husband, father and friend he reached the highest point of Christian manhood. The mother of our subject was born in Seneca county in 1841. and was the daughter of David Beard, who came to Seneca county from Mary- land, and was of Pennsylvania-German stock. Her death occurred on 18th of August, 1898. She had been a consistent member of the Methodist church from her youth.
Emory J. Dwire, of this biography, grew to manhood under the parental roof, and until his sixteenth year he attended the country schools. He was ambitious and found honorable methods of earning enough to permit his at- tendance at select school at Crestline, Ohio, where he improved his oppor- tunities and after passing his first county examination with credit was per- mitted to enroll himself among the educators of his native state. After one term in the school-room he used the money thus earned in attendance at the Fostoria Academy, where he perfected himself in the higher branches, and the following winter he was one of the acceptable teachers of Richland county. After this his next educational movement was a summer spent at the National
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Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, and following this he was continually employed in the district schools until 1896.
Mr. Dwire is one of those deeply intellectual men who always remain students, and his next course was at the Ohio Normal University at Ada, Ohio, and there he graduated in the summer of 1897, although he did not take out his diploma until 1900, at which time he reviewed his studies prepara- troy to accepting a position in the Charleroi ( Pennsylvania) high school. From 1897 he taught three more terms in the district schools, and in the fall of 1900, after making all preparations to undertake the duties of the Pennsylvania position, he was elected superintendent of the Tiro schools, and decided to remain in his native state. So satisfactory was his management of the schools of Tiro that a re-election followed in 1901, a testimonial to the scholarship and executive ability of our subject, most gratifying to his wide circle of friends.
In April, 1897, our subject purchased an interest in the old home place in Wyandot county, and in April, 1899, he bought a residence property in Clyde, Ohio. In August, 1900, in company with his brother Harry, he pur- chased the drug store in Tiro, and thus he is the manager of one of the leading business lines in this place.
The marriage of Professor Dwire was on July 15, 1900, to Miss Grace M. Champion, a native of Richland county and a daughter of Joseph D. Champion, who came to Tiro in 1888. In politics Professor Dwire is non- partisan, and he is fraternally connected with the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. Both he and his wife are leaders in the social circles of the village and are highly valued in the United Brethren church. Mr. Dwire has won an enviable reputation through the state as an educator, and is thor- oughly representative, not only of a fine old family, but also of the most in- telligent citizens of one of the leading states of the Union.
MARTIN V. B. WOOD.
One of the highly esteemed and honored citizens of Crawford county, Ohio, is Martin V. B. Wood, who was born in Huron county, Ohio, on April 14, 1842, and he was a son of Jotham C. and Almira ( Petrie ) Wood, and was one of a family of five children born to them, four of whom still survive. The names of these are as follows: John J., of this township; Susan A., the widow of Peter Blystone, of Polk county, Missouri ; Nancy J., the widow of Nancy Akers, of this township; and Martin, who is the subject of this sketch.
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Jotham C. Wood was born in Herkimer county, New York, about 1810, the family being an old and highly respected one in his native state. Here he grew to manhood and graduated in the study of medicine, coming to Huron county, Ohio, to engage in practice. With him came his wife and two chil- dren, and there Dr. Wood and his family resided until 1845, at which time he came to Crawford county and located in West Liberty, where he lived until his death in 1847. In religious belief he was a Methodist, while in politics he belonged to the Democratic party. Dr. Wood was widely known and universally esteemed, and was a man of broad views, well educated, and highly gifted in oratory.
The birth of the mother of our subject was in the state of New York, on January 27, 1810, and she came of Holland ancestry. After the death of her husband, the father of our subject, she was marrid to Enoch Baker, but of this union there was no issue.
At the age of eight years, Martin V. B. Wood, who is our immediate sub- ject, was taken to the home and made a member of the family of Mr. Jonas Ashley, and there he remained until the breaking out of the Civil war. In October, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Fifty-seventh Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, re-enlisting at Larkinsville, Alabama, in January, 1864, then entering Company I, Ohio Volunteer Veteran Infantry, and serving faithfully until the close of hostilities, on August 15, 1865, when he was mustered out at Camp. Chase. During his double service, Mr. Wood participated in many of the greatest battles of the war, among these Shiloh, siege of Vicksburg, Arkansas Post, Resaca and the Atlanta campaign, besides many minor engagements, and he was with General Sherman on his march to the sea, returnig thence to Wash- ington, by way of Richmond.
For three months following his return from the wars, our subject worked. as a farm hand, but the same autumn he purchased forty acres of land in Auburn township and engaged in farming for himself. On September 6, 1866, he was united in marriage to Miss Melissa Daugherty, who was a daugh- of Ezekiel Daugherty, the latter being a native of New Jersey, where he was born in 1818. On February 5, 1842, Mr. Daugherty was united in marriage with Elizabeth White, and in 1832 they removed to Auburn township, in Crawford county, where Mr. Daugherty died. The mother of Mrs. Wood died December 15, 1893, at her own home in Tiro. Her youngest daughter, Clara, lived with her. Mrs. Daugherty is a descendant of Peregrine White, of Plymouth Rock notoriety, and they are all upright and much respected people.
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On the first of the month of November following the marriage of our sub- ject the young couple went to housekeeping in a log house on Mr. Wood's farm of forty acres, but in the following April removal was made to a portion of Mr. Daugherty's land, where our subject and his brother-in-law farmed on shares for two summers and then Mr. Wood went back to the farm on which he was reared, and for three years farmed there for Mrs. Ashby, her husband having died in 1862.
In 1871 Mr. Wood bought his first sixty acres of the farm he now operates, and later he added to it until his acres now number one hundred and eight and one-half. This has been admirably improved. In 1881 he erected one of the handsomest houses in the township, and it is one of the most at- tractive estates in this part of Crawford county. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wood, the eldest of whom, Sarah, is deceased. The two survivors are: Mary O., the wife of Howard Griffith, a commercial trav- eler, of Indianapolis, Indiana; and Irving S., a druggist. In politics Mr. Wood is a Republican and takes a deep interest in public affairs. Mrs. Wood is a member of the Lutheran church and Mr. Wood also attends services there and is liberal in his support. He is one of the leading citizens of the town- ship, where he is highly esteemed on account of his upright and exemplary character.
BENJAMIN F. ALLEN.
Benjamin F. Allen, of this biography, has been one of the leading busi- ness men of Crawford county for the past twenty years, and is now one of the largest buyers and shippers of lumber in this part of the state of Ohio. The birth of Mr. Allen was in Concord, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, on Septem- ber 23, 1849, and he was a son of Walter and Barbara ( Emery) Allen, who had a family of ten children born to them, six of these still surviving. These are: Priscilla J., the wife of Samuel Beaston, a farmer of Perry county, Pennsylvania ; Benjamin F., the subject of this sketch; John, a resident of East Waterford, Juniata county, Pennsylvania : George, on the old home farm ; Walter, a resident of Cambria county, Pennsylvania ; and Anna, the widow of A. A. Channing, of Plymouth, Ohio.
Walter Allen was born in Boston, Massachusetts, about 1822, and he was nine years old when he started with his parents for the frontier. Upon reaching Baltimore both parents were taken ill and died there and the father of our subject was taken to the home of a wealthy tanner named McClelland,
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of Strasburg, Pennsylvania, while two other kind families furnished homes for the other two children, Benjamin and Priscilla. Mr. Allen never heard from either. He knew that his parents were people of means, but was never able to learn anything more of his family.
With Mr. McClelland Mr. Allen found a good home. He was a man of large means, owning a tannery, farms and stores and controlling much of the business then carried on in Strasburg. Mr. Allen was afforded the ad- vantages of a good common-school education, and was taught the trade of tanner. At the age of twenty-one he left the care of his foster-father and started out for himself, well equipped, for he had an education, a trade and good health and friends. Going to Concord, Pennsylvania, he began work as a journeyman, and so well performed his duties that he was soon made fore- man of the tanning yards, and continued in this line of work until 1872. Then he retired to his farm of one hundred and seventy acres near Concord, this property having belonged to his (our subject's) grandfather. Here he lived until the time of his death, in 1896. In his political convictions he was formerly a Know-nothing, then became a Whig and later a Republican, but he was never a seeker for office. During his later years he was an active member of the Methodist church and was unusually well informed on all Bible literature.
The mother of our subject was born near Concord, Pennsylvania, on April 16, 1824, and she was a daughter of William and Jane (Steward) Emery. This was one of the old and influential families of Franklin county. The honored mother still resides on the old home farm, where she was married and where she took up her residence after the death of her parents, Mr. Allen having bought the property from the heirs.
Benjamin F. Allen, of this sketch, was brought up in a good home under the care of a just father and an excellent mother. His education was acquired in the common schools, and at the age of twelve years he entered a tannery and under his father's instruction learned the trade at Spring Run. Here he worked for five years; eight months in the summer and four months in the winter were given to attendance at school. In 1866 his apprenticeship was fin- ished and then he went to "Horse Valley," where he worked as a journeyman until 1870, going from there to Liberty Valley, Perry county, Pennsylvania, where he was employed at his trade until 1875. From there Mr. Allen went to Elmwood, Illinois, and became identified with the stock interests of J. P. Ryner, remaining with him one year. Then he returned to Perry county and formed a partnership with an uncle, James Emery, in farming,
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