USA > Ohio > Crawford County > A centennial biographical history of Crawford County, Ohio > Part 73
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In the spring of 1880 Mr. Rininger purchased what was known as the Rand-Nye farm, consisting of eighty acres of fine land. In 1885 he built a commodious and comfortable residence, and in 1890 erected a substantial bank barn, making other improvements which placed this estate among the best in the county. In 1891 he added twenty acres and has spared neither time nor expense in the improvement of his property, one item being the placing of twenty-one hundred rods of tile. The energy, good management and indus- try of our subject is worthy of note. 'When he came upon his farm it was with a debt of four thousand dollars, which has been cleared off ; and not only does he have the proud consciousness of not owing a dollar but he has his prop- erty as mentioned, a town residence also, and in February of the current year he bought another farm, consisting of one hundred acres, which was the prop- erty of W. H. Carlisle, and is considered one of the finest farms in Auburn township. Mr. Rininger has been a very successful stock-raiser, making a specialty of hogs.
The marriage of Mr. Rininger was on October 16, 1865, to Miss Maggie.
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Hoover, who was a native of Indiana county Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Jacob Hoover. Eight children were born to our subject and wife, these be- ing as follows: Elwood, deceased; Effie, deceased; Dr. Edmund, of Nome, Alaska; Dr. William, of St. Louis, Missouri ; Alfred Moody; Lucy May, the wife of Rev. Michael Yeagle, of Findlay, Ohio; Olive M., at home; and Eli Roy, deceased. Dr. Edmund M. Rininger is located in Nome, Alaska. He was one of a committee of three sent to congress in the winter of 1900-I to present the needs of the people of Alaska. Dr. William Rininger graduated at the Marion Simms Medical College in 1893, with high honors. For three years he was the president of his class and since beginning practice has rapidly won his way to the front.
For sixteen years our subject voted with the Prohibition party, but since that date has been associated with the Democratic party, and has been honored with many of the local offices, serving on the ticket at present as township trus- tee. Both he and wife are consistent and worthy members of the United Brethren church, in which he has long been the efficient Sunday-school super- intendent. Socially our subject is connected with the G. A. R. and much en- joys talking over the days when he and his comrades defended the Union.
PETER B. LASH.
Since early in the '30s the name of Lash has been favorably known in Crawford county, Ohio, and Peter B. Lash, who is the subject of this biog- raphy, is a most worthy representative of that pioneer family. The birth of Mr. Lash was in Crawford county, Ohio, on July 21, 1838, and he was a son of Peter and Mary ( Fredline) Lash, who became the parents of ten children, the seven surviving members of the family being among some of the most highly esteemed residents of this part of Ohio. These are: Charity, who is the widow of Samuel McConnell, of Tiro, Ohio; Matilda, who is the widow of Frederick Mead, of Paint, Ohio; Peter B., who is the subject of this sketch ; Franklin, who resides in Auburn township; Phoebe, who is the wife of Henry Eller, of Cranberry township; Francis, who lives in Auburn township; and Lucinda, who is the wife of Franklin Holsapler, of Allen county, Indiana.
The father of our subject was born in New Jersey, about the year 1808. and bore the same name as our subject. While still a lad his parents removed from his native state and settled in Wayne county, Ohio, where Mr. Lash grew to manhood, later married Mary Fredline, who was the daughter of a neigh- boring farmer, and two children were born to them prior to their removal early
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in the '3os to Crawford county, Ohio. When their canvas-covered wagon reached the new home, unbroken forest surrounded them. The fertile and well-cultivated fields which now delight the eye and fill to overflowing barns and granaries with their generous yield, were then but stretches of unknown woods and rank undergrowth, but the courage which inspired Mr. Lash and his brave wife to make the journey, in the hope of providing a future for their children, still filled their minds with hope and the strength to meet the new con- ditions. Here Mr. Lash entered one hundred and three acres of land, this farm now being owned and operated by his youngest son Francis. One of the most distressing features of pioneer life in almost every locality, was the pre- valence of fever and chills, the disease being called ague, and Mr. Lash suffered much in this way, and to such an extent that a man of less energy and per- severance would have lost heart. However, he kept steadily at work and with amazing rapidity cleared his land, later added eighty acres to it and would doubtless been one of the largest landholders of the county had not his career been cut short by an attack of erysipelas, at the age of forty-three years. His political sympathies had always been with the Whig party, and he was one of the leading men of his neighborhood in assisting every enterprise looking toward morality and virtue.
The honored mother of our subject survived her husband for thirty- five years, making her home on the farm. She was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 1811, and her beautiful life ended on June 15, 1888, when she had reached the age of seventy-seven years, four months and twenty-two days. With her estimable husband she had really founded the Bucyrus circuit of the United Brethren church. She was a rare character, retiring, quiet, with a charity and a kindness of heart that made her life a benediction to all who knew her.
It is a lasting good fortune to grow to manhood in a pious, virtuous home. and such was the case with our subject, Peter B. Lash. His common-school education was finished early so that he could become an earning factor in the household, as his older brother, George; had left the parental roof when our subject was but fifteen years of age. Thus much of the heavy farm work fell upon the latter's shoulders, and later he and his younger brother Frank managed the farm together, until Frank was able to take entire charge. Our subject worked for three years at the carpenter's trade, but in 1864 he pur- chased a small place of twenty-five acres where he now resides.
Mr. Lash was married on March 30, 1865, to Miss Mary Kauffman, who was a native of Cranberry township and who was a daughter of Daniel and
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Elizabeth ( Kauffman) Kauffman. Mrs. Kauffman was a native of Holmes county, Ohio, while he was born in Pennsylvania, both of them coming to Richland county with their parents when they were children. They were married in that county and later moved to Crawford county, locating in Cran- berry township, and Mrs. Kauffman still survives and resides in Tiro.
After his marriage our subject located with his bride on his compact little farm, beginning housekeeping in a log cabin which had been erected by a former settler, and in the course of about seven years twenty-five more acres were added to the original purchase. In 1880 the log cabin was abandoned and removal was made to the substantial and comfortable residence which Mr. Lash had erected. About this time he bought an additional nineteen acres of land and in 1891 he added twenty-one more acres, his farm now consisting of ninety acres, well improved and under a fine state of cultivation.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lash, their names being as follows: Albert, the owner of the Grand F. Kauffman farm, in Cranberry township; Clara, at home; Levi, a teacher and a farmer in Auburn township; Cantwell, the farmer on the home farm ; and Anna and Grace, at home.
For a number of years Mr. Lash was an ardent worker for the Prohi- bition party, but now is a supporter of Republican principles, believing that that party will ultimately solve the various problems which now disturb the country. The church in which his father and mother were so deeply inter- ested is the one in which he has reared his family, and he and wife, with four of their children, are active workers in it, while he has long been one of the class-leaders. No family in the county more deserves the high esteem in which this one is held.
ANDREW WINGERT.
Andrew Wingert, one of the substantial and representative farmers of Crawford county, was born in Erie county, New York, on the 6th of June, 1835. a son of Godfrey and Anna ( Kahler) Wingert. The father was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1807, a son of Andrew and Catherine Wingert. He was reared in his native country, and at the age of twenty-three years, in 1830, he left the land of his birth for the United States, his parents joining him in this country about two years later. He arrived in this country with only six cents in his pocket, but with only this small sum with which to secure the neces- sities of life he refused a position of ten dollars a month, as the work necessi- tated the milking of a cow. He made his way to the vicinity of Buffalo, where he secured work at six dollars a month, and there he was married and pur-
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chased a small tract of twenty acres, where he resided until 1836. In that year he came to Ohio, coming by the Great Lakes to Sandusky, where he hired a team and brought his family to Crawford county.
The grandfather of our subject after coming to the United States also located in Erie county, where he purchased a small tract of land. He had four sons, Godfrey, Jacob, Henry and Christ. The three younger sons were me- chanics, and one was also a shoe-maker, one a blacksmith, and the other a cooper and brewer. Jacob, who followed blacksmithing, removed to Detroit soon after the family located in this state, and afterward came to Crawford county, where he induced his father to join him. In 1835 the latter sold his. place in Erie county and came to this locality, purchasing one hundred and seventy acres of land in Liberty township, the present site of the water works reservoir. A sawmill had also been built upon the land, and it was the fa- ther's intention to have the sons conduct the mill. The land was finally divid- ed among the sons, and there Godfrey Wingert, the father of our subject, lo- cated on his arrival in Crawford county. Henry received the land on which the mill was located for his share, which he operated for a number of years. Godfrey located on his forty-two and a half acres, and later acquired the shares. originally owned by his brothers Jacob and Christ, making a tract of one hun- dred and twenty-eight acres, and there he passed to his final reward in March, 1879. He was a Democrat in political matters, and was an active member of the Reformed church. He was a fine old gentleman, and was highly esteemed by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. The mother of our subject was born in Wurtemberg. Germany, in 1807, and she came to the United States with a sister, Mrs. Sclaifley, when sixteen years of age. Her death occurred in 1887. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wingert were born eight children, six of whom still survive, namely : Andrew, the subject of this review ; George, a. resident of Laclede, Missouri ; Maria, widow of Jacob Kinsey, and a resident. of Todd township, Crawford county ; Louisa, the wife of Herman Manhardt, of Custer, Wood county, Ohio; Amos, of Fulton county, Ohio; and Leonard, who makes his home near Lincoln, Nebraska.
Andrew Wingert, the immediate subject of this sketch, was reared to manhood under the parental roof and acquired his education in an old log schoolhouse with puncheon floor and slab benches. In 1859 he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Schifley, a native of Erie county, New York, and a daughter of John Schifley. To this union was added one child, who is now deceased. After a happy married life of only three years the wife also died, and two years later Mr. Wingert married Miss Fidelia Kinsey, a native of Erie
44
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county, New York, and a daughter of Jacob Kinsey, who was of Pennsylvania German descent. Nine children were born unto this marriage, but only seven are now living, namely : Hattie, who resides with her sister, Mary Sharp ; Jen- nie and Franklin, twins, who are both at home: Rufus and Ephraim, also at home; and Mary, the wife of Edward Sharp, of Bucyrus township, Crawford county ; and Martha, at home. The mother of these children has also passed to the home beyond, her death occurring on the 7th of April, 1886.
After his first marriage Mr. Wingert located on his present home farm, which was then a vast wilderness, and he cut the first stick of timber upon the place with which to build his log cabin. He began his business career with an indebtedness of six hundred dollars hanging over him, but pluck and energy are numbered among his chief characteristics, and he soon placed his farm under a fine state of cultivation. His place now contains one hundred and seventy- five acres of choice land, and he now takes rank among the leading farmers of the county. In political matters he is a stanch supporter of the Democracy, his first presidential vote having been cast for James Buchanan, but although a public spirited and loyal citizen he has never been an aspirant for political honors. preferring to give his undivided attention to his business interests. He is an active worker and prominent member of the Reformed church, and all movements to uplift his fellowmen receive in him a warm friend.
AARON CHANCE.
Among the old settlers of Todd township, Crawford county, Ohio, no residents are more highly esteemed and universally respected than Aaron Chance and his wife, these venerable people being the oldest married couple in the township. The birth of Mr. Chance was in Harrison county, Ohio, on May 27, 1816. His father died before his birth and he was left motherless when but seven years of age. His grandparents gave him parental care and he lived with them and grew up in a farming neighborhood, remaining at home until his marriage to Miss Jane Bell, on March 26, 18440. She was born on January 16, 1817. and together they have weathered the storms and enjoyed the comforts of life for sixty-one years. The four children born to them were James, Sarah J., deceased, Nomenia and Jonas.
In 1852 Mr. and Mrs. Chance came to Crawford county and settled in Bucyrus township, first renting land for four years and then buying a tract of wild land, and building a log cabin. In 1867 they located on their present
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farm of one hundred and thirty acres. in Todd township, where Mr. Chance has carried on a general line of farming.
In politics Mr. Chance has always been a Republican. Although his education was only such as could be obtained during a short period in the sub- scription schools, he is a well informed man and one of the most highly re- spected among the old settlers.
LEONARD STARNER.
Among the highly respected citizens of Crawford county, Ohio, is Leon- ard Starner, who has been a resident of this county since 1841. Although Pennsylvania was the state of his birth, Mr. Starner has lived a long and suc- cessful life in Ohio, and is reckoned with her most esteemed and substantial citizens.
The parents of Leonard Starner, who is the subject of this record, were Sharick and Ann ( Ensley ) Starner, natives of Pennsylvania, who emigrated with their children to Ohio some time later than 1830, spending their first winter in Perry county. In the following spring Mr. Starner removed to Fair- field county, remaining there until 1841, when he came to Crawford county, attracted thither by the desirable lands of this favored portion of the state. Here he located on the Marion road, some seven miles from Bucyrus, and here he farmed for two years, on rented land, later buying eighty acres near the Scioto bridge. Seven years afterward Mr. Starner sold this farm and then purchased eighty-three acres where Jacob Duncan now lives, and upon that property he resided until the time of his death, at the age of sixty-three years. He was reared in the Democratic political faith, but after casting his vote for President Lincoln he remained in sympathy with the Republican party. To his first marriage twelve children were born, the four survivors being: Leon- ard, the subject of this sketch ; Emily, the widow of Mr. Buchmaster, of Allen county, Ohio: Minerva, the wife of Frank Harvey, of Bucyrus ; and Ensley, a resident of Missouri. Mr. Starner was married three months prior to his death, to a Miss Kile.
Leonard Starner was born in 1825 and accompanied the family when it came to Ohio and later when it located in Crawford county. He was given the best educational advantages that the time afforded, and at the age of twen- ty-one began life for himself. On May 13, 1852, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary M. Warner, who was a native of the state of New York, born three miles from Buffalo, and she was a daughter of Joseph Warner, who
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came to this county in 1838, settling in Bucyrus township, later removing to Seneca township, where he died.
After marriage Mr. Starner began farming on a tract of eighty acres which he had purchased, and this has been the family home ever since, twenty additional acres having been since added. A family of twelve children were born to our subject and wife, the eight survivors of this family being as fol- lows : Ranford, of Nevada, Ohio; Phoebe J., the wife of Griffin Davise, of In- diana ; Joseph L., of Todd township; John, of Nevada, Ohio; Edward, of Nevada, Ohio; Alfretta, the wife of Frank Shaffstall, who is the home farmer ; Eugene, of Todd township : and Luella, at home.
In politics our subject has ever been one of the stanch supporters of the Republican party and has taken an active and intelligent interest in all public affairs. Although not formally connected with any church organization, Mr. Starner contributes to the support of all; and although he has lived a com- paratively quiet life it has been one of usefulness and uprightness, and he en- joys the esteem of all who know him.
GEORGE E. SIGLER.
One of the highly esteemed old settlers of Todd township, Crawford county, Ohio, who has been a resident of this place for more than half a cen- tury, is George E. Siger, who was born in Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, on October 23, 1826. His education was acquired in the log school-house of pioneer times, and even the instruction there received was obtained under difficulties, as he was obliged to walk more than two miles in order to reach the schol-house. At the age of twenty-one years Mr. Sigler began life for himself. His father had a sawmill in the woods, in Crawford county, and our subject worked in this mill for two years and also assisted in clearing and cultivating the farm.
Mr. Sigler married Miss Harriet Hoorick and his children are named Loraine, Elliott, Rosamund and Dal. Soon after marriage Mr. Sigler began making improvements on his farm of eighty acres. It was heavily timbered and much hard work was required in order to clear and cultivate it, but finally seventy acres were in fine condition. There the family lived until 1872, when Mr. Sigler removed to the tract upon which he now resides, this consisting of one hundred and seventeen acres, and since locating upon it Mr. Sigler has given his entire attention to its improvement, the result being that he now owns one of the most desirable farms in Todd township.
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In politics he has been a life-long Democrat. He is well and favorably known through all this neighborhood, and is very well posted not only on the current events but can be most entertaining concerning the pioneer days. With interest he has watched the wonderful growth of every industry and has done his part in the development of the farming interests.
THOMAS REGULA.
Thomas Regula, who is engaged in general farming and stock-raising in Chatfield township, has spent his entire life in the vicinity of his present home. He was born on the farm in the township where George Kibler now resides, the date of his birth being February 29, 1850. His father, Jacob Regula, was born in Rhine province of Germany, in 1811, and in 1831, when twenty years of age, crossed the Atlantic to America as a passenger on a sail- ing vessel, which reached the American harbor after a voyage of six weeks. He at once made his way westward to Crawford county, Ohio, and secured employment as a farm hand in Chatfield township. He thus worked for two years after which he purchased thirty acres of land, on which he erected a log cabin. He removed to his farm in 1872, and continued its cultivation and improvement until his death, which occurred in the year 1890, at the ripe old age of seventy-nine years. In early manhood he had married Catherine Reidle, and unto them were born the following children: Louisa, wife of Aaron Colb; Catherine, who is now deceased; Christina, wife of Daniel Fox, a farmer : Peter, who is living in Seneca county, Ohio: Jacob, who makes his home with his brother Thomas, who is the next in order of birth.
Thomas Regula was born and reared upon his father's farm and remained on the old home place until twenty-nine years of age. He attended the com- 1011 schools until he had mastered the usual branches of learning taught in such institutions, after which he gave his attention entirely to the farm work, from the time of early spring planting until crops were gathered in the autumn. At the age of twenty-nine he was married to Catherine Brown, and they now have four children-Daniel, John, Robert and Edwin.
After his marriage Mr. Regula began operating his father's farm on the shares, and later, when his labors had brought to him some capital he pur- chased land of his own, and is now the owner of one hundred acres, consti- tuting a valuable place. He carries on general farming and stock-raising, and in both departments of his business is meeting with good success. His place is well improved with modern equipments and the owner is numbered
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among the substantial and industrious farmers of his neighborhood. Al- though his life has been a busy one he has found time to devote to the public service and for several years has served as school director. He is also one of the trustees of Chatfield township and in politics is a Democrat, believing firmly in the principles of his party. As his entire life has been passed in Chatfield township he is well known and has gained many friends among its residents and in other parts of the county.
JACOB FAUSER.
The fine farm with its many excellent improvements which is the prop- erty of Jacob Fauser is a monument to his enterprise and labor, for all that he possesses has been acquired through his own efforts. He was born in Colum- biana county, Ohio. April 27, 1837. a son of John G. Fauser, who was a na- tive of Wurtemberg, Germany, and when a young man came to the United States, locating in Columbiana county, Ohio, where he was united in mar- riage to Miss Magdaline Crume. They became the parents of nine children, namely : Living ; Mary, deceased ; George G., now a resident of Erie county, Ohio: Elizabeth, who has passed away; Catherine, the wife of Abraham Burkey, a resident, of Lykens township; and Caroline, John, Abraham and Lena, all of whom have departed this life. The father of these children was a baker by trade, but through much of his life followed farming. About 1839 he came to Crawford county and secured one hundred and sixty acres of land in Chatfield township. upon which he erected a log cabin of one room. Therein he began life in true pioneer style, but as the years passed and his financial resources increased he was enabled to add many modern improve- ments to his place. He continued farming for many years, and died on the old homestead, September 19, 1892, at the age of eighty-two years. His wife passed away a year later, and thus ended the earthly career of two of the hon- ored pioneer settlers of the county.
Jacob Fauser was only two years of age when, with his parents, he came to this county, and amid the wild scenes of the frontier he was reared, sharing with the family in the usual hardships and trials incident to the settlement of a new country. As his age and strength permitted he assisted in the work of the home farm, where he remained until his marriage, which occurred in 1868, Miss Elizabeth Riedle becoming his wife. For a third of a century she has been to him a faithful helpmate on life's journey. The home has been blessed with the following living children : Samuel, Jacob, Mary, Louisa and
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William, and they have also lost three daughters,-Elizabeth, Emma and Lydia.
Soon after his marriage Mr. Fauser located on the farm which has since been his place of residence. The young couple began domestic life here in a little log building, but it has long since been replaced with a modern brick residence, and many other accessories of the model farin have been added. in- cluding substantial barns and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. The farm embraces one hundred acres of rich land, and as a general farmer Mr. Fauser is meeting with desirable success, annually harvesting good crops. and thereby adding to his income. He and his estimable wife are members of the Pietist church, and in his political affiliations he is a Democrat. He has served as school director and road supervisor and his faithfulness to duty has challenged uniform commendation. His worth is widely acknowledged in the county where he has made his home through more than six decades and which he has seen transformed from a wild region into one of rich fertility, enjoying commercial and agricultural prosperity.
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