USA > Ohio > Hancock County > A centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio > Part 15
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by the probity of his character and honesty of his dealings. At the time of his death, which occurred July 27, 1883, he was recognized as one of the successful farmers and most blameless citizens of his community. He mar- ried Elizabeth, daughter of Moses and Merry A. Elsea, the former of whom was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, and moved to Eagle township in 1835, where he spent his life as a farmer.
Andrew Hartman, son of Philip, was born on his father's farm in Jack- son township, Hancock county, Ohio, April 19, 1869, and grew to maturity in the locality of his nativity. He worked in the country for some years after becoming of age, removed to Findlay, October 11, 1898, clerked in a gro- cery store for six months, and then bought a grocery of his own, with which business he has made a good success. Mr. Hartman is one of the youngest business men of the city, and though only there a short time has already shown an aptitude that bids fair to place him among the leading merchants.
January 26, 1893, Mr. Hartman was married in Hancock county to Miss Mary McClellan, by whom he has three children: Cleo May, born May I, 1895; Hazel Lavern, born January 29, 1897; and Everett Mcclellan, born September 19, 1898. Mrs. Mary A. Hartman was born November 6, 1873, and is a daughter of Thomas and Sophia McClellan, of Eagle township, Hancock county. Mr. Hartman is a member of the Lutheran church and is a welcome guest in the best social circles of Findlay.
WILLIAM P. WISELY.
The above mentioned, who is one of Findlay's most popular young men, belongs to a family which has been identified with Hancock county from its earliest history. In fact his grandfather was at the very beginning of things in the county, being one of the first five men who made their appearance in its limits. This was as far back as 1831, and Allen Wisely helped survey the county when it was still in its state of primeval wilderness. With wise fore- thought, however, he foresaw that there was a future for Hancock county and invested in a tract of land of considerable extent, which he spent his subsequent life in cultivating. He achieved remarkable success in his call- ing, and at the time of his death in 1888, at the age of eighty years, was pos- sessed of a fine estate of three thousand acres of land. Allen Wisely married Amelia Bright, and of his eight children those now living are Mrs. Saralı Davis, Mrs. America Glick, Loraine and Daniel S. Wisely, all of whom have been successful in life and are now in comfortable circumstances. The eldest of the eight children was William P. Wisely, who followed in his father's
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footsteps as a successful farmer, and when he died, twenty-five years ago, at the comparatively early age of fifty-one years, owned one of the handsomest landed estates in the county. He was a member of the United Brethren church, a man of upright life and strict integrity in business dealings and in a quiet way exercised considerable influence in his community. He mar- ried Elizabeth Balton, and to this union we are indebted for the bright young man whose career and present status constitute the basis of this brief biog- raphy.
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William P. Wisely, namesake, as well as worthy successor of his hon- ored father, was born at Findlay, Ohio, September 5, 1873. He had the benefit of a good education at the college in his native city, from which he was sent forth with a diploma in the class of 1891. Though still under legal age he lost no time in entering business, and in connection with his brother, opened the ice and coal enterprise which still occupies his attention, and in the prosecution of which he has been quite successful. But it is not simply by his energetic management of the People's Ice & Coal Company that Mr. Wisely is known to the public of Findlay and the county of which it is the capital. He has figured actively in various capacities calculated to attract attention, and though still less than thirty years old is quite prominent in politics and recognized as one of the leaders of his party. Already he has served two years in the city council from the first ward of Findlay, and in 1900 was honored by the Democratic party as its candidate for the state legislature from Hancock county. Though the district is Republican and it was an "off year" for the Democrats, Mr. Wisely polled the full vote of his organization and came out of the contest with credit. On the social side of life and in connection with the prominent fraternities, Mr. Wisely displays the same suavity and geniality of address that have given him popularity in politics and business. For one of his age he has achieved unusual promi- nence in Masonry, having reached the thirty-second degree in that ancient order, being a member of Findlay Commandery, No. 49, the Lake Erie Con- sistory in Cleveland, and the blue lodge at Findlay. In addition to this he is conspicuous in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and altogether no young man in Findlay does his part more fully than Mr. Wisely in con- nection with the city's social activities.
On the 4th of June, 1895, Mr. Wisely led to the matrimonial altar Miss Bessie B. McLeod, and received the congratulations of many friends on his wise selection, as this young lady was not only of attractive personality, but a member of one of the standard families of the community. Her father, Dr. Joseph R. McLeod, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume, is one
9
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of the oldest and best known physicians in the county, as well as a man of influence in other departments of life aside from the professional. By his union with Miss McLeod, Mr. Wisely has three bright children: Frank, the eldest, was born May 21, 1897; Helen E., September 19, 1900; and Jo- seph R., the baby of the family, commenced life's journey November 16, 1901.
ISAAC HERSHEY.
A stormy, hard-working and adventurous life has been that of the subject of this sketch, whose name is given above. The first part of it was that of an orphan boy, compelled at a tender age to delve and dig for the bare means of subsistence. Later it was a war career, not only involving the usual dan- gers of fighting, but attended by a wound so deadly and desperate that none thought survival possible. But our subject fought bravely through it all and is not only here to tell the tale, but has been able to do much hard work at various callings and has something to show for his industry.
The Hersheys were Pennsylvanians, the grandfather of our subject be- ing Christian Hershey, who lived and died in the Keystone state. His son, Benjamin Hershey, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1810, and removed to Hancock county, Ohio, where he died December 28, 1857. He married Sarah Tritch, by whom he had seven children, the surviving four being: Isaac; Henry; Harriet, wife of Benjamin Runyon, and William. Isaac Hershey, the eldest of these children, was born October 10, 1845, in what is now a part of Findlay, Ohio, and there received a little education in his early childhood. His father died when he was twelve years old, and after that, for some years, it was a hard struggle for the boy. He was compelled to work at anything he could get to do, his jobs being on farms, in lime- kilns, doing chores and other juvenile employments as exacting as they were ill paid. So matters went along until the fall of 1863, when, in his eighteenth year, young Hershey determined to enter the army. He enlisted as a private in Company A, Twenty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which command he served until disabled in the following year. His regiment was with Sherman during the spring and summer of 1864 in his onward march to Atlanta. Young Hershey had fighting enough to do to satisfy the military ambition of any boy, but he proved equal to the emergency and bore himself well at every critical moment. The principal battles in which lie was engaged were those at Ringgold, Buzzard's Roost, Rocky Face Gap, Resaca, Kenne- saw Mountain, and Vining Station, all in Georgia. He was shot in the left wrist at Kennesaw Mountain, but did not leave the field in consequence of
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this injury. At Vining Station, however, he was so dangerously wounded that for a long time afterward no hopes were entertained of his recovery. The ball entered the right arm just below the shoulder and passed entirely through his body, coming out on the left side. He was struck down July 9, 1864, and all during the rest of that day and night and until the following afternoon he lay on the field of battle, weltering in his blood, unsought and uncared for. When finally found, it was discovered that under the effects of the hot weather and scorching July sun, the wound had generated maggots. Though the physicians despaired of saving him, he was sent to the hospital at Marietta, Georgia, later to Nashville, and from there to Louisville, Ken- tucky. Though by one of those unaccountable causes, which occasionally save desperately stricken soldiers, Mr. Hershey had escaped one great danger, his troubles were by no means ended. At Louisville he was transferred to the Reserve Corps and sent to Jackson, Michigan, where the alarming dis- covery was made that he had the smallpox, and this necessitated his confine- ment at the pest-house. He recovered from this dangerous disease also and later served on garrison duty at various places until his discharge, which oc- curred August 27, 1866, at Fort Mackinac, Michigan.
After receiving his discharge Mr. Hershey returned to Findlay, Ohio, and shortly afterward engaged in the business of farming, lime-burning and stone-quarrying. In 1882 he abandoned the two lines first mentioned, and confined his work entirely to stone-quarrying, and this has constituted his employment up to the present time. Mr. Hershey has never married, but pleads guilty to the charge of being an "old bachelor," though like most of that class, he is of jovial disposition, fond of company, and by no means averse to the society of ladies. He is a member of the United Brethren church, and Republican in politics, but has never belonged to any secret society.
JOSEPH CRAMER.
Josepli Cramer is a farmer located in Liberty township, Hancock county, Ohio, and devotes his valuable farm of one hundred and twenty acres to general farming. His excellent methods, combined with his practical knowl- edge, have resulted in a farm which is generally regarded as one of the best in the township.
The birth of Mr. Cramer occurred in Liberty township, on April 16, 1855, and there he was reared and educated. His parents were Andrew and Chris- tina (Allen) Cramer, pioneers in Hancock county, the former of whom is deceased, and the latter a resident of Liberty township.
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With the exception of twelve years spent in Wood county, Ohio, our subject has been identified all his life with the interests of Hancock county. From his earliest business life he has been connected with agricultural pur- suits, and he has followed methods which have resulted in excellent returns.
On March 16, 1876, Mr. Cramer was married to Miss Elizabeth S., a daughter of William and Sarah Crossley, the former of whom was born in 1820 and the latter in 1825. They were married in 1842 and their children were: Catherine, Polly, Lydia, Jacob, Elizabeth S. and Joshua. The birth of Mrs. Cramer occurred January 22, 1859, and she died December 16, 1895. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Cramer were: Metta, who was born in 1876 and married A. Johnson; Sarah, who was born in 1877 and married J. Beckman; Fannie, who was born in 1879 and married F. St. Clair; Pearl, who was born in 1882 and married Ora Laudenback August 15, 1902; Eva, born in 1887; Hermon, born in 1889; Franklin, born in 1892; and William Ray, born in 1894. In politics Mr. Cramer is a Democrat.
JOHN PETERMAN.
Among the brave men who devoted the opening years of their man- hood to the defense of our country during the dark days of the Civil war was John Peterman, now a prominent farmer of Jackson township, Han- cock county, Ohio. There he was born on the 16th of May, 1840, a son of John and Mary Ann (Jones) Peterman, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland, respectively. During the childhood of Mrs. Peterman her father left home never to be heard of again and as a young girl she came to Ohio, where she was first married at the age of sixteen years. Later she became the wife of John Peterman, Sr., their marriage being celebrated in Holmes county, Ohio. He had come from Pennsylvania when a young man and entered the employ of his brother, James Peterman, a contractor in build- ing canal locks, and for him he worked as a stone mason. About 1834 he took up his residence in Hancock county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which a small clearing had been made and a cabin erected thereon, paying for the same five hundred dollars, though govern- ment land could have been entered all around him. That farm is now the property of William Oman and adjoins the property of Asa Ellis. There the father of our subject continued to make his home until his death, which occurred in August, 1863, when he was fifty-six years of age. He had cleared one hundred acres of his land and placed it under cultivation and erected thereon the commodious residence which is still standing, it being built when
As Many a Peterman
Mr. John Peterman.
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our subject was a lad of thirteen years. On coming to the county the father found the woods full of wild game and he killed a large number of deer, many of which were shot from his own doorway. The largest ever killed in that locality was shot in that way. During the first year of his residence here Mr. Peterman killed twenty-three and that without any effort at hunt- ing. Although he took an active part in politics as a supporter of the Demo- cratic party, he would never accept office. His wife survived him for thirty- one years, dying in November, 1894, at the ripe old age of eighty-six years.
In the family of this worthy couple were ten children who reached years years of maturity, namely : James, a resident of Jackson township; Sarah, who married Fred Marquet and died at the age of sixty-five years; William, who died at the age of forty-four; John, Jr., of this review; Mary Jane, wife of Jacob Bishop; Joseph, who became a soldier of the Civil war and was killed by guerrillas near Peach Tree Creek while on a foraging expedition ; Harriet, who married Jacob Greno and died twenty-four years ago; No- poleon Bonaparte, who served in the heavy artillery during the war and is now living in this state; Nancy, who married Bolser Hammond and died young ; and Martha, who wedded Eli McClelland and died young.
During his minority the subject of this sketch remained under the par- ental roof but when the country became involved in Civil war he could no longer be content to remain at home and at the first call for seventy-five thousand men to aid in suppressing the rebellion, he enlisted in April, 1861, for three months, as a member of Company F, Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. With his command he was first sent to Gallipolis, later did guard duty on the Ohio river, and subsequently went to Charleston, West Virginia, to drive General Wise out. After four months and two weeks in the service, Mr. Peterman was mustered out, but a week later he re-enlisted for three years in Company C, First Ohio Cavalry, under command of Captain N. D. Menken, being one of the first to join the regiment, which was assigned to the army of the Potomac. As orderly he was placed on the staff of General Shields and served as orderly guard when that general was in command of the army in the valley of Virginia. He aided in the defense of the city of Washington until General Pope took command, and later was special or- derly for General Roberts, who was chief of Pope's staff.
He took part in the battle of Cedar Mountain and in all of the engage- ments until the second battle of Bull Run. At Catlett Station Pope's head- quarters' train was captured. and at the same time Mr. Peterman was taken prisoner while carrying an order for General Roberts, but a few minutes later saw a chance to escape, though he had to leave behind him his horse and
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revolver. He remained with the headquarters' train until the second battle of Bull Run and during that fight carried orders for General Pope, having volunteered in place of another orderly. After the engagement he went to Washington, D. C., and in the defense of the city he remained there as or- derly under General Hayes. He was also with that commander during the Gettysburg campaign and was in the thickest of the fight near the cemetery. Soon afterward he had his leg broken and when able to travel was sent to rejoin his regiment, which had been in Tennessee and Kentucky all this time, only Companies A and C being in Virginia. Up to this time Mr. Peterman had never been with his regiment at all, as these two companies had been sent to the front before his regiment was organized. He joined his command at Nashville, Tennessee, and was there discharged on the expiration of his term of enlistment. Although he was in twenty-three battles, besides numerous skirmishes, and had his clothes pierced by bullets many times, he was for- tunately never wounded, though he got a sliver in his cheek from a cannon ball striking the timbers of a bridge over which he was stationed. Having a desire to be in action all of the time he served mainly on special orderly duty and was armed with sabre and revolver. He captured several prisoners him- self, was a brave and fearless soldier, and was faithful in the discharge of any trust committed to his care. He is now an honored member of Stoker Post, G. A. R., of Findlay.
On leaving the army Mr. Peterman resumed the more quiet duties of farm life, taking charge of the old homestead, as his father had died while he was at the front. When the place was sold he bought eighty acres, which he traded in 1873 for his present farm in Jackson township, which had been entered by Dr. Barrett Needles and which cost our subject eleven thousand five hundred and fifty dollars, going twenty-five hundred dollars in debt for the same. It comprises two hundred and twenty acres, about forty-five acres of which Mr. Peterman himself has cleared, and one hundred and ninety acres of the tract is now under a high state of cultivation and well improved. He has paid out about three thousand dollars for tiling and draining and the land is now in first-class condition, being very rich and productive. In con- nection with general farming he has engaged in the feeding of stock for some years but is not a shipper, selling what he fattens for market to the butchers of Findlay. Upon his home place he has erected a good barn and remodeled the residence so that he now has one of the best improved farms in the township, and it is pleasantly located seven and a half miles southeast of Findlay. He also owns a small farm nearer the city which is devoted to gardening, and upon which he has erected a couple of residences. Besides
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this property he has an eighty acre tract of gas and oil land which is now being developed, and he is numbered among the prosperous and substantial citizens of his community.
On the IIth of June, 1868, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Peter- man and Miss Mary A. Mains, a daughter of Joel and Elizabeth (Groves) Mains, of Jackson township. She was born in Huntington, Indiana, and was a young lady on coming to Hancock county about four or five years prior to her marriage. Her father, who was a chairmaker by trade, was a native of Fairfield county, Ohio, and a son of Jacob Mains, who came to Findlay about forty-five years ago and here operated a woolen mill and card- ing machine. After their marriage in Fairfield county Mrs. Peterman's parents removed to Huntington, Indiana, and from there came to Hancock county. Ohio, locating on a farmi in Jackson township. Mr. Mains did not, however, engage in agricultural pursuits, but worked at his trade in Findlay. He died in November, 1867. His widow subsequently made her home with Mrs. Peterman for five years. The children born to our subject and his wife are George Anson, Mary E., Nancy J., Thomas L., Oscar E., Blaine, Gertrude, Bertie L., John Sherman and Maudie May.
Mr. Peterman cast his first presidental ballot for Stephen A. Douglas, the Democratic candidate, but since that time has always supported the Re- publican party and has attended many of its conventions, taking an active in- terest in political affairs. Although his township is Democratic he has been elected to the offices of supervisor and trustee, which fact plainly indicates the confidence reposed in him as well as his personal popularity. Socially he is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Mount Blanchard, and both he and his wife are members of the Rebecca branch of that order. They are well and favorably known, and are held in the highest esteem in the com- munity where they reside.
ISAAC C. SNIDER.
Elsewhere in a sketch devoted to William F. Snider considerable space was devoted to the family generally, but especially to the pioneer parents of the subject. We are now to deal with a younger brother of William F., and it will hardly be necessary to repeat the particulars previously given concern- ing the founders of his family in Hancock county. John and Elizabeth (Treece) Snider, who were married in Hancock county about 1836, went to farming on a small place bought by the husband about that time, but later con- siderably increased. Among their children was Isaac C. Snider, whose birth
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occurred on this farm in Amanda township, Hancock county, September 29, 1856. His education was obtained in his native township and included two terms at the Mount Blanchard high school. Like his ancestry for generations he chose farming for his life work and evidently selected well, as he has not only exhibited a remarkable aptitude for this noble calling, but has achieved in its pursuit a distinct and unusual success. In 1878 he made his first invest- ment in real estate, consisting of a tract of sixty acres of farm land, and this was increased ten years later by an additional purchase of forty-six acres. These constitute the home farm where he now resides, and it is on these one hundred and six acres of land that he has achieved such notable results as a stock-raiser. He keeps the best grades in all lines, but makes a specialty of Delaine sheep, of which he has one hundred and twenty head, and twenty head of standard register. This breed of sheep furnish an unusually valuable fleece, used principally in the manufacture of the finest grades of tweed cloth. It is a pleasure to look over Mr. Snider's place, neatly improved as it is with convenient buildings and animated by herds of fat swine and sleek cattle, ready for the market. Besides stock Mr. Snider's farm is famous for fruit of all kinds suitable to that latitude and its prolific crops of fine apples, peaches and smaller varieties have made it known far and wide. In fact his enterprise, "go-aheadativeness" and progressive methods have given Mr. Snider high standing among Hancock county's agriculturists, and he receives as well as de- serves the name of a model farmer.
In 1878 Mr. Snider was united in marriage with Miss Laura, daughter of David and Rosilla Alspacgh, and a native of Wyandot county, by whom he has four children: Ulta, wife of Frank Sampson, of Delaware town- ship; Edgar F .; Lulu; and Metta. The family are members of the United Brethren church, of which Mr. Snider is district steward. He cares nothing tor office, but was once elected justice of the peace. His mind is centered entirely on farming affairs, in which he has achieved such creditable results, and as an aid to his noble calling he organized the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, which though only got under way in 1898 is already in a flourishing condition.
NOAH LEE.
Noah Lee, who owns a fine farm in Jackson township, was born in Amanda township. Hancock county, August 15, 1845, and is a son of Rich- ard and Lydia (Wyant) Lee, both of whom were born and reared in Fairfieldl county, this state. The paternal grandparents were Zebulon and Margaret
rock Lee & Nife
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Lee, whose birth occurred on the banks of the Susquehanna river, the former born May 16, 1758, the latter September 9, 1770. The Lee family is of Eng- lish lineage and was established in America in colonial days. When the colonies attempted to throw off the yoke of British oppression the grandfather joined the army which achieved the independence of the nation. He served as a mail carrier and as a spy and experienced the hardships of the memorable winter at Valley Forge. After peace had been declared and the republic established he brought his family to Ohio, settling in Fairfield coun- ty at an early day. When his son Richard came to Hancock county he came with him and spent his last years in Amanda township, passing away when our subject was about seven or eight years of age. He had been crippled while in the Revolutionary service, but he survived until ninety-four years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Margaret Courtright, sur- vived hin for more than thirty years, and was ninety-three years of age when called to her final rest. Their children were Rachel, Noah, Daniel, John, Richard and Stephen. Stephen Lee, born February 15, 1813, also resided in Amanda township.
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