USA > Ohio > Hancock County > A centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio > Part 18
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and later bought eighty acres of land in the township of Cass. He and his good wife soon made this farm "blossom as the rose" and when prosperity visited them a fine brick residence was erected, in which they lived with com- fort and reared their offspring. They were members of the Lutheran church, led exemplary and useful lives and gained the good will of all their neighbors. Mrs. Fisher died in 1869, and her husband passed to his final rest in the year 1884. Of their nine children the only survivors are William, Philip, Caro- line and Gotlob D. Fisher. The latter, who is the subject of this sketch, was born in Germany, June 2, 1843, and was consequently fourteen years of age when brought to Ohio by his parents. He had received some education in his native land, and his studies were continued after arrival in the schools of Han- cock county. His chief difficulty, however, was the acquisition of our some- what complicated language, but by dint of perseverance, study and contact with American boys and girls, the bright German lad eventually mastered its intricacies and now speaks English like a native. As he grew up he worked and saved and in 1871 found himself able to assume the responsibilities of a landed proprietor, his first purhcase consisting of eighty acres in Big Lick township. This original tract was increased by various subsequent purchases until at the present time Mr. Fisher owns three hundred acres of well im- proved land. Among the neighbors in Big Lick township was a family of Camps, who enjoyed the honored title of "early pioneers," inasmuch as Hen- ry Camp, the founder, had arrived on the scene during the period of first set- tlements. He entered the eighty acres of land, which was soon increased by the addition of as much more, and this, by skillful cultivation and manage- ment, was eventually made a very valuable property. While Henry Camp and his wife Cynthia were residing in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1843, a daughter was born to them whom they christened Orcilla, and this lady after she grew up in Hancock county, became the wife of Gotlob D. Fisher, the ceremony be- ing performed in 1864. In the progress of years the household was bright- ened and made happy by the birth of numerous children, whose names are thus recorded in the family register: Henry; John; Cynthia; Joseph; Mag- gie; Edgar and Esther (twins) ; Frank, Flora and a deceased child. Mr. Fisher, as well as his wife and her family, was reared in the faith of the Pres- byterian church, and he is one of the esteemed elders of that denomination. No man stands higher in the community as a citizen, while his thrift and skill as a husbandman command the admiration of all his neighbors. Mr. Fisher possesses the German geniality of disposition, as well as the German good sense and adaptability to surroundings, and these qualities are of great value as makers of friends.
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JAMES WILSON.
The above named gentleman, who is at present city infirmary director of Findlay, is one of the oldest residents and has had quite an adventurous career during his long lifetime. He can say what few are able to say, that he has been an active participant in two of the nation's most important wars and his experiences in each have involved a number and variety of dangers unusual in the case of ordinary military veterans. The details of these adventures will be given later on, and here it is only necessary to add that Mr. Wilson is an interesting man to know, as he has seen much and can relate many interesting stories of accident by flood and field, which make him a pleasant companion to converse with. With these introductory remarks we will now proceed to give in outline the main events in the life of this veteran and pioneer.
James Wilson was born near Columbus, Ohio, in 1822, and there re- ceived such education as he was destined to obtain through the medium of schools. The Mexican war was on when he had reached his twenty-fourth year, and actuated by a desire for a brush with the "greasers" he enlisted, in 1846, at Newark, in Company H, Second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, commanded by Colonel George W. Morgan. His term was for one year, but that proved ample time to satisfy his curiosity as to the fighting qualities of our somewhat hasty-tempered neighbors across the Rio Grande border. He was in the battle of Marine, where one hundred and thirty of his regiment were surrounded by three thousand Mexicans, but managed to fight them off and then made a forced march to join the rest of the regiment, who were stationed twenty-two miles away. When the little band of heroes, foot sore and weary, arrived at this place they found their companions surrounded by the same crowd of Mexicans from whom they had themselves lately es- caped. This was the principal adventure in the Land of the Montezumas, but while among the cactus and maguey plants of that interesting country Mr. Wilson was often in skirmishes with guerrilla bands or detached portions of the regular troops. After being mustered out of the service he made his way back to his Ohio home, and in 1848 came to Findlay, to stay in a jewelry store of his brother during the latter's sickness. He had learned the jewelry trade and was running a store at Newark when he enlisted for Mexico, but on his return from the war he worked at other points awhile and in 1853 came to Findlay. He resumed the jewelry business temporarily, but two years later took possession of a Hancok county farm and was engaged for three years in rasing stock. He then came to Findlay and was engaged in buying grain or working in a railroad warehouse until the outbreak of the Civil war changed
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all his plans and affected his whole future career. As soon as hostilities opened Mr. Wilson began to raise a company for the service, but soon had enough men to make two companies, and on the 17th of April, 1861, received a com- mission as captain from Governor Dennison. He was assigned to the Twenty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as commander of Company A, and served as such during the three months' term of his enlistment, after which he was mustered out. Returning to Ohio, he proceeded at once to raise another company in Hancock county, of which he was made captain and which became Company G, Fifty-seventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He went to the front with this company, and served gallantly as its commander until the fortunes of war made it impossible to communicate with his men or exercise any control over them. His first service was in West Virginia, where he took part in the battles of Scary Creek and Charleston, but being ordered west at a later date he was with the forces that fought through the bloody engagement at Shiloh. Subsequently he was in the Corinth campaign and under fire almost hourly at Rising Sun, Memphis, during the siege of Vicksburg; with the expidition up Red river and the fights at Arkansas Post and Jackson, Mississippi, being one of the first to enter the last mentioned place. In the spring of 1864 Captain Wilson's regiment was assigned to the army under Sherman, and participated with that great leader in the severe marching and fighting of that memorable campaign. July 22, 1864, while fighting in front of Atlanta, Captain Wilson had the misfortune to be cap- tured, and he was soon afterward sent to one of those southern prison pens at Macon, Georgia, which no guest was apt to mistake for a first-class boarding house. He was detained here a month and was one of the five hundred prison- ers sent to Charleston, South Carolina, to be placed under fire of the Federal batteries. After this experience he was "dumped" with his miserable com- panions in the middle of an open field near Columbia, South Carolina, without tents, cooking utensils or other necessities of camp life, and it is needless to undertake to describe their wretchedness and suffering. From this wretched den, on the 9th of November, 1864, Captain Wilson and eight of his desperate companions made their escape, but he was recaptured in July at a point in North Carolina, with four of his miserable comrades, two of whom were killed and the others sent to Asheville. Here Captains Wilson and Skelton were placed in an iron cage, where they were held a month, undergoing star- vation, torture and miseries indescribable. From this point Captain Wilson was sent to Salisbury, North Carolina, and later to the famous den in Libby prison, at Richmond, where he was held until the city was evacuated and then returned to his home in Ohio. Besides a severe wound received at the battle
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of Shiloh, Captain Wilson was not seriously hurt in his various fights, but he made many narrow escapes.
In 1867, after his return from the army, Captain Wilson was appointed revenue inspector and gauger for a distillery at Findlay, and later was made United States storekeeper also, holding these positions until President John- son went out of office. He was elected city marshal of Findlay and held that office two years, and also served a year or so as chief of the fire department. His health failing about this time, he hoped to bring about an improvement by a trip to Arizona, but after remaining there a year returned to Findlay and oc- cupied himself several years in small business matters of no special import- ance. In 1888 he was made city infirmary director, which position he has retained up to the present time. In 1849 Captain Wilson was married, in Franklin county, Ohio, to Lucylvia C. Taylor, who died in 1899. In politics Captain Wilson is a Democrat, and his fraternal connections are with Ma- sonry, in which he holds the thirty-second degree, and Stoker Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is past commander.
WILLIAM W. COLE, JR.
Any one who takes a glance at the farm in Big Lick township belong- ing to the subject of this sketch would scarcely need be told that it is in charge of a first-class farmer, as all the outward evidences indicate this. In fact there is no man of this age in the county who can show better results for the time he has spent in agricultural pursuits. Mr. Cole was born in Michigan, December 27, 1857, a son of John and Sarah (McCree) Cole, and was four years of age when his parents came to Hancock county. Here the father purchased eighty acres of land, upon which he settled with his family and there reared his sixteen children. All of these are still living and twelve of them are residents of Hancock county. At the present time John W. Cole, Sr., is living at Findlay and is seventy years of age. He was born in Delaware, in 1832, and removed to Michigan in early life and subse- quently, as previously stated, made another change to the state of Ohio. His wife died in 1879.
William W. Cole, Jr., was brought up and educated in Big Lick town- ship. There he has made his home ever since, and there, as stated, he has achieved his success as a farmer. His first purchase of land was in 1887, when he bought forty acres, but this has been since increased by the addition of twenty-five more, besides a farm owned by his wife, which makes their total holdings one hundred and forty-five acres.
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On the 24th of March, 1881, Mr. Cole was united in marriage to Miss Ellen, daughter of William and Mary Bright. They have a family of twelve children, ten of whom are living, as follows: Cloys M., Florence M., Ray C., Jessie G., Aura B., Edna M., Carl M., Mary A., Nana and Esther. Mr. Cole has always taken an active interest in township affairs and has held the position of treasurer and other minor offices. He and his wife, as well as the children, are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he holds the position of class leader and is superintendent of the Sunday-school. In all the relations of life the Cole family, both the older and younger genera- tions, have so conducted themselves as to be accorded standing as model citi- zens and neighbors.
ISAAC W. HOOPER.
The broad and fertile fields of Hancock county have been of such strength in the matter of production that its citizens have possibly been more permani- ent than in any other section of the state. It is thus the stranger will find a large number of the people of the county who are direct descendants of the pioneers who settled the country. The pioneers were honorable in the high- est degree, and engrafted their life on the institutions of the county, and when they laid down their lives they passed to their descendants their many excellent traits of character. Isaac W. Hooper is a direct descendant of one of these pioneer families of Hancock county. He is the son of John and Charlotte Wiseman Hooper, the former born in Maryland, February 17, 1800, and the latter in Virginia in 1803. Before removing to Hancock county they had been residents of Fairfield county, Ohio. In 1832 they removed to Hancock county, locating in what is now Washington township on the farm owned by Isaac Hooper. At that time John Hooper entered two hundred acres from the government for which he paid the usual price of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. He passed through the usual trials of pioneer life, clearing his farm by degrees, and adding improvements such as made it an exceedingly valuable piece of property before his death. To the original two hundred he had added forty acres. He was a carpenter by trade, and worked at that business in connection with the conduct of his farm. In religious matters he was a firm supporter of the Methodist Epis- copal church, in which organization he was honored with many of the proni- inent offices. The family consisted of seven children, four of whom are now living : Isaac W., L. D., John and Alma Patterson. The father died December 23, 1870, and his wife August 12, 1882.
MRS. ISAAC W. HOOPER
ISAAC W. HOOPER.
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Isaac W. Hooper was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, January 26, 1830, and was therefore in his third year when he came to Hancock county. He was reared in the township of Washington, and received his education in the common schools. He became in due time a tiller of the soil on his own account and has been reasonably successful in this pursuit. In 1875 he pur- chased his present farm of one hundred and forty acres, which he devotes to general farming. May 12, 1861, he was married to Mary Hoffmaster, by whom he has had five children : Etta, born April 24, 1864; Lottie, October 15, 1865 ; Lydia, deceased, born May 19, 1867; Anna, July 13, 1870; John, July 1, 1874. Mrs. Hooper's father was John Hoffmaster and her mother Rachel Eidler, both natives of Germany, and early settlers in Mahoning coun- ty, Ohio, where she was born, reared and educated.
It is proper to state that Mr. Isaac W. Hooper receives and merits the respect of his fellow citizens in the county.
JONATHAN NELSON.
This gentleman, now deceased, but formerly a well known citizen of Hancock county, was highly esteemed as a man and recognized as a farmer of unusual ability and progressiveness. His birth occurred in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, February 24, 1816, and he showed promise of future useful- ness at a very early age. After the usual term in the country schools, which in those days were rather crude as well as scarce, young Nelson turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and soon mastered all the details connected with farm work. In fact he showed a natural aptitude for this calling, was resourceful as well as industrious and in a few years had acquired consid- erable property, besides a neat sum of ready money. In early life he had the good fortune to find a most excellent wife in the person of Miss Mary, daughter of John and Sarah Pettigrew. This lady, who was a great favorite in her girlhood days and developed into a woman of great strength of char- acter, was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, August 30, 1819, and dur- ing her long married life with Mr. Nelson she proved to him not only a loving and most faithful companion, but a wise and prudent advisor in all his busi- ness affairs. In 1854 Mr. Nelson removed with his family to Hancock county and purchased a farm in Cass township. This land at the time had been but little improved and the residence was merely a crude log building. Mr. Nel- son, however, brought to bear his trained talents in farming and soon pro- duced order out of chaos. In due course of time the land was neatly fenced, ornamented with all necessary structures in the shape of barns and other
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buildings, while the soil by the skillful methods known to the trained agricul- turist was brought to that high state of cultivation so characteristic of the Ohio valley farms. Personally, Mr. Nelson became both popular and prom- inent. He was often called on to fill important township offices and was regarded throughout the county as a man of influence as well as a citizen without reproach. During their long and happy wedded life Mr. and Mrs. Nelson became the parents of fourteen children, of whom seven are still living, namely: William H., Hosea, Frank, Jonathan, Caroline, Catherine and Sarah. Six of these are at present residents of Hancock county, and each and every one of them enjoys and deserves the proud title of good and loyal citizen. John Nelson, one of the elder sons, joined the army during the Civil war and gave up his life that the Union might be saved. He enlisted as a private in the Fifty-seventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, served loyally with that command and as long as his health would permit, but event- ually succumbed to disease at Columbus, Ohio. Among the recipients of floral offerings made on Decoration Day to the heroic dead who surrendered their young lives in the sacred cause of the Union, none better deserves a wreath than John Nelson. Jonathan Nelson, after a life of usefulness and free from blame, passed to his last long rest November 7, 1896, in his eighty-first year, and few departed citizens have had more sincere mourners. His venerable widow, who still occupies the homestead, is passing the evening of her days surrounded by loving descendants and those "troops of friends" and well- wishers who constitute the best reward of a well spent life.
GEORGE W. ROSS.
The life of the gentleman whose name is above given has been one of continued activity and marked with unusual success as a teacher, a lawyer and participant in politics. His standing at the Findlay bar may be measured by the statement that the legal firm of which Mr. Ross is a member has been engaged upon one side or the other of most of the important cases tried in the courts at Findlay during the last eight years. Mr. Ross has figured with equal conspicuousness as one of the Republican leaders in all recent campaigns and has been prominently mentioned as a candidate for Congress. No apology is necessary for including the biography of such a man in any history of Hancock county, only regret is expressed that space will not permit of as full a presentation as the subject deserves.
The family is of Massachusetts origin, the founder of the Ohio branch of the name being Joseph Ross, who was born in the old Bay state in 1812, and
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remained in the east some years after reaching maturity. In early life he engaged in the manufacture of thermometers and barometers in Massachu- setts and Connecticut, his partner in this business being the father of the late Samuel J. Tilden. In fact, the articles of partnership for the firm were drawn up by Mr. Tilden shortly after his admission to the bar, and long before the beginning of that political career that was destined to give him such celebrity. Joseph Ross was an intense Abolitionist from the very begin- ning of the anti-slavery agitation, did much to spread the sentiment in oppo- sition to this "twin relic of barbarism," helped to organize the Republican party and became one of its charter as well as most devoted members. In early manhood he came to Ohio and settled in Wayne county, where he engaged in farming and followed that occupation until the time of his death in 1895. His widow, the mother of George W. Ross, died in February, 1900, aged eighty-four years.
George W. Ross, son of Joseph, was born on his father's farm in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1854, and remained at home until seventeen years old, when he was sent to the academy at Lodi, Ohio, where he remained four and a half years. In 1875, shortly after reaching his majority, Mr. Ross entered upon a career as a teacher, which proved to be extended as well as successful. His first term was taught in one of the country schools of Wayne county, after which he secured a position in the high school at Sterling, where he spent several years and then went to Creston in the same capacity. His va- cations during these six years of educational labor were spent in the study of law in the office of Hon. B. W. Woodward at Medina, and Johnson & Grave at Seville. In 1879 he was admitted to the bar at Medina, but instead of entering at once into practice he devoted the following two years to work at his old calling in the school room. In 1880 he opened a law office at Sterling and practiced there with success during the following nine years. It was in 1889 that Mr. Ross made his first appearance at the Findlay bar, his first three years' business being done in partnership with his father-in- law, D. R. Beardsley. This partnership being dissolved in 1892, Mr. Ross practiced alone until 1894, when he was united with W. H. Kinder to form the law firm which for eight years has been a power in the profession at Findlay. As previously stated, they have appeared in nearly all the important cases litigated in the local courts and in some of great importance, involving large sums of money. An instance of this kind was the case of T. & W. R. Carnahan against twenty-three insurance companies in as many separate suits to recover damages upon policies aggregating seventy-five thousand dollars, claimed as the result of a fire occurring in April, 1893. Ross & Kinder
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represented the companies in this noted case, which was finally decided in favor of the defendants after seven years of litigation. The only official position held by Mr. Ross was that of city solicitor of Findlay, in which he served two terms with his usual vigor and ability. His prominence in poli- tics is due to his recognized standing as a public speaker, aided by his readi- ness at all times to assist his party in its committee work and other labor de- volving from the heated campaigns for which Ohio is noted. Mr. Ross's fondness for fraternal fellowship is gratified by membership in Findlay Lodge, No. 400, Knights of Pythias, Elks Lodge, No. 75, and the Royal Arcanum, No. 187. He is a member of the Hancock County Bar Association, and of the Symposium Literary Society of Findlay, of which Mrs. Ross is now presi- dent. It is hardly necessary to add that the family enjoys entrec in the best society of the city.
J. Z. CHASE.
Possibly one of the most interesting documents held by any one in this" vicinity is that in the possession of J. Z. Chase. It is the original deed to one hundred and fifty-three acres of land which his grandfather, David Chase, received from the government and it is signed by President John Quincy Adams. David Chase, a native of New York state, entered this land in 1832, about three years after his arrival. He had a son called Justus, born in New York state in 1817. This son became very closely connected with the pioneer life of Hancock county, enduring many hardships, maintaining the high esteem of his fellow citizens and securing for himself and family a liberal income through hard and constant labor. He held several important offices, among which was that of justice of the peace. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and adheres closely to the tenets of that faith. His wife was Mary A. Jones, who was born in 1822 and died June 27, 1889. He had eleven children, of whom seven are living. Mr. Chase has retired from active life and has taken up his abode in Findlay.
J. Z. Chase is the only son of his father's family who has remained in Hancock county. After spending some years in the district school he en- gaged in farming with the firm purpose of making it a profitable and success- ful business. In this he has succeeded well, and the farm on which he lives is one of which he can justly be proud. It has been his home all his life and he has kept up the excellent methods of his father, improved upon some and made his one of the best cultivated farms in this neighborhood.
In 1880 he married Miss Minta Henry, who was born in Orange town-
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ship in 1855. He has thus linked himself with one of the old families of Pennsylvania, for James and Fanny Henry, her parents, are natives of that state. Mr. and Mrs. J. Z. Chase are the parents of three promising chil- dren : Roy H., born in 1881; Charles L., born in 1885; and Inez, born in 1888.
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