USA > Ohio > Hancock County > A centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio > Part 19
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Politically the Chases have always acted with the Republicans; frater- nally J. Z. Chase affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Maccabees.
JACOB PEPPLE.
In his capacity of member of the board of commissioners of Hancock county, which important office he held for a number of years, the gentleman whose name heads this sketch had an opportunity to render valuable service to the people, while displaying sound judgment as a business man. Though his life's occupation had been that of a farmer, he was observant of other lines of work and accumulated a valuable fund of practical, everyday knowl- edge which can only come from actual experience. Farming, however, is a great educator and generally when a man has managed all the details of a farm for years he is a good person to entrust with the management of offices and other agencies which deal with the welfare of the plain people, of whom the tillers of the soil constitute the largest and most important portion in every community.
Jacob Pepple was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, March 9, 1839. He was the son of Jesse and Mary Ann (Tipple) Pepple, and when nine years of age was brought to Hancock county by his parents, who took up their residence there in 1848. He was reared on a farm and March 24, 1861, married Amelia, daughter of Levi M. S. and Sarah (Alspach) Miller, a native of Hancock county. The children of this union, in order of birth, appear in the following summary: Elmer J., Franklin S., Josiah, Jacob C., all residents of Hancock county and engaged in farming and stock raising; Ellsworth remains with his parents; Sarah E. is the wife of H. Yanning; and Emma J. married S. P. Altman.
In 1890 the many friends of Mr. Pepple urged him to become a candidate for county commissioner, which he did and in the fall of that year was elected to that position by a majority of five hundred. Satisfactory service was fol- lowed by re-election, when his majority was seven hundred, and in all he dis- charged the duties of commissioner of Hancock county for a period of six consecutive years. The fellow members of the board during Mr. Pepple's
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incumbency included some of the best known and most popular citizens of the county, as will be recognized by a perusal of this list: Isaac M. Watkins, C. W. Brooks, Christian Garber, H. B. Rader, J. D. Anderson and Benja- min Wineland. They disposed of much important business, requiring pains- taking care and good judgment to avoid mistakes, inasmuch as the expendi- ture of large amounts of public money was involved in numerous contracts. The most important of this work was the construction of iron bridges in various parts of the county, the macadamizing of public roads and location of ditches, all matters of vital interest to the people and involving large ex- pense. Another contract of much importance let by the board during Mr. Pepple's term, was that for putting steam heating and electric light equipment in the county court house. Heavy appropriations of the kind alluded to always elicit more or less criticism, but it is to the credit of Mr. Pepple to say that none ever aspersed either his good judgment or integrity, in con- nection with any matter involving the public expenditures. He was regarded as an unusually "level-headed" commissioner and his constituents were all pleased with the manner in which he had discharged his duties. Mr. Pepple resides on a neatly kept and pleasant farm five miles south of Findlay, and the many visitors to the cheerful household are always cordially welcomed. Mr. Pepple has always been a farmer and stock-raiser, is much wedded to agriculture and regards that as the main business of his life, other pursuits being only temporary and in the nature of diversions. He as well as his, sons are regarded as representative farmers of the kind which have given Han- cock county such high standing among the agricultural counties of the state.
JOHN M. MOORHEAD.
Andrew Moorhead and his wife, Letitia (Bell) Moorhead, came to this county in 1836. Two years before Andrew had entered one hundred and sixty acres in Portage township, and now he set about constructing a little cabin in which he might make his family comfortable. For fifteen years they occupied the little hut of round logs and here the Indian and white man would gather of an evening, for Andrew was a peaceable man and lived in harmony with all his neighbors. Indeed he was a great man in the land, and often did redskin and paleface come to him for counsel, for he was wise in diagnosis and skillful in the treatment of disease when it affected the horse. The Wyandot Indians counted him their friend and trusted him implicitly. He lived on the trail from Findlay to their hunting grounds. He was a power-
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ful man and resolute, who, by his industry and progressive spirit changed the wilderness as by magic. In 1851 he built a large and comfortable house and for twelve years enjoyed the returns of a well spent youth, sharing them with his wife and children. Then in 1863 the wife and mother died, and the big heart of a large man was lonely. He took unto himself a second wife, and she infused new joy into his life by putting into the father's arins two children, the outcome of their union. Andrew Moorhead died on the Ist of April, 1885. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and in politics a Republican. Eight of nine children by his first marriage are still living, and to these belongs the subject of this sketch.
John M. Moorhead, who was born June 11, 1836, was only six months old when his parents moved from Stark to this county. Like many men who received their education in the little district school in early days John learned his lessons in a little log house. In those days fancy educations were rare luxuries, the few months of instruction, confined to the winter season, barely sufficed to ground the child well in fundamentals. A teacher received but twenty-five cents a day and when the milder weather set in he was glad enough to find more lucrative employment. Children in those days learned largely to help themselves and many of their lessons were self taught. They learned to work hard for what they got and the habit of industry later stood them in good stead when they struck out in the battle of life.
The satisfaction of having acquired is perhaps the best recompence for hard labor and the conscientiousness of doing well whatever one undertakes is perhaps the secret of success. The listless swinging of an ax or the languid waiting for something to do would never have placed his name at the head of a pay-roll. It was the sure, strong and even stroke and his steady appli- cation that brought John M. Moorhead to the notice of the railroad company then operating in Ohio, who paid him the highest wages for construction work. It was but thirteen dollars a month, but that was in 1858 and money was worth more in those days than now. In May, 1864, Mr. Moorhead enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Sixty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and after a service of four months was honorably discharged. He saw service in the valley of the Shenandoah, in Virginia. His two brothers, William and Josiah, served throughout the war. Mr. Moorhead is a men- ber of Stoker Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Findlay.
In 1866, in conjunction with his brother, Mr. Moorhead bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, which at the end of ten years he held in his own name, having bought out his brother's half interest. He has devoted himself mainly to stock raising and it is in this branch of industry that he
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has met with his greatest material success. Through the profits on hogs and cattle he has been able to increase his estate to three hundred and seventy acres. Most of this land he cleared himself and much of it needed draining. He has put his land in excellent condition and his farm is one of the best adapted to general agricultural pursuits in this vicinity. He has lived on his present farm in Liberty township since 1872. The house is a large and beautiful brick building, with all the conveniences of a modern residence.
In 1861 Mr. Moorhead was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth J. Reed, by whom he had seven children: Ada R., born October 2, 1862; Joseph O., born December 13, 1863; Lettie M., born January 4, 1866; Thomas R., born February 22, 1869, and died in August, 1869; D. H., born June 1, 1872; Merrill M., born June 15, 1873, and died in April, 1874; Otis E., born November 23, 1876. Mrs. Moorhead is a daughter of John and Rebecca Reed, and was born in this county February 6, 1839.
Mr. Moorhead is one of the popular men of this county and a strong man in the Republican party. He has held several offices, serving as county commissioner one term, as justice of the peace two terms and as real estate assessor for his township. Mr. Moorhead belongs to the Presbyterian church and is one of the elders.
JOHN S. SOLETHER.
Prominent among the citizens of Hancock county who have witnessed the marvelous development of this section of the state in the past three-quar- ters of a century, and who have taken an active part in its development and progress, is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch, a well-known and influential farmer living in a beautiful modern brick residence on a farm of one hundred and two acres in Washington township. Mr. Solether has been for long years prominently identified with the social and public life of Hancock county and he and his family deserve mention in a work which purports to mention the leading families of the county.
Mr. Solether is a native of Germany, having been born in Wurtemburg in October, 1829. His father was John Solether, his mother's maiden name having been Dorotha Anger. These parents were also natives of Wurtem- burg, as had been their ancestors centuries previous. When our subject was but four years of age his parents removed with their family to America, where they located on a farm in Holmes county, Ohio. In this section of the state they remained but a short tinie, making Tuscarawas county their next stop. Here they were not satisfied with the conditions, and soon found their way
John Solether
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to Stark county, where they remained for a longer period. They next re- moved to Wood county, Ohio, in 1840. Here Mr. Solether entered eighty acres of land from the government which he cleared during his lifetime, and on which he lived until his death in 1854. His wife, Dorotha, survived him a period of eight years. Mr. John Solether, Sr., was a hard-working, honest, and trustworthy man. The family which he reared consisted of six children, two of whom were born in the fatherland. The others were girls and were born in Ohio. Of the whole number, but four are now living.
Mr. John Solether, who forms the immediate subject of this review, was educated in the common schools of the various districts into which his par- ents moved, but like all young men in pioneer life his education was some- what neglected. He has never known anything but agriculture, a fact to which is probably due the very enviable position which he occupies among the farmers of Hancock county. He is one of those who have made a success of tilling the soil. He made his first purchase of real estate in 1854, at which time he bought out the heirs to his father's property. It consisted of eighty acres of timber land in Wood county, and to this tract he added forty acres more. This land he cleared and at one time or another added various improvements. He sold out in 1882, and purchased his present farm, which in general appearance cannot be surpassed in the county. His home is a magnificent brick of modern construction. Indeed, everything on and around the premises shows the guiding hand of the mas- ter of agriculture. Mr. Solether has twice entered the state of matrimony, first choosing as a companion Miss Anna M. Drayer. The union occurred in 1858, and by her one child was born, now deceased. The young wife died about a year after her marriage, and in a year and a half later Mr. Solether married Miss Caroline, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Miller. This union resulted in the birth of two sons, William A., and Ira D. Their mother died in 1885, having proved to her husband a faithful companion and helpmeet on life's journey, and it is but proper to say that her sound advice and assistance were important factors in her husband's prosperity. She is remembered as a lady of sterling excellence of character. William, the eldest son, after reaching manhood, was united to Sophia Rhodes and they have one child, Albert. Ira D. married Etta Mohler, in 1895, and three children have come to bless their home: Edgar, born April 8, 1896; Robert, born October 21, 1898, and another son, born June 21, 1902. The mother of these children was born in 1872 in Hancock county, and comes of one of the early and most honorable families in the county. John Solether is a member of the United Brethren church, and while he has never craved office, he believes in every
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man sacrificing his own personal comfort to the good of the community, and during his lifetime has served in many of the unpaid offices of the township. His services as trustee have been characterized by much efficiency. It is our duty to mark our appreciation of such a man, who is true to every relation in life, faithful to every trust, diligent in the service of his country, and serv- ing only the public good. In the evening of life Mr. Solether can look back over the past without regret and forward to the future without fear.
EVAN DORSEY STEVENSON.
Evan Dorsey Stevenson, one of Jackson township's most progressive and successful agriculturists, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on the 18th of October, 1835, and the same year was brought to Ohio by his parents, Abalard and Matilda (Lawrence) Stevenson, who were also natives of Maryland. Although reared upon a farm the father turned his attention to commercial pursuits in early life and became a wholesale merchant of Balti- more, where he was engaged in business until coming to this state. He set- tled upon a farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Fredericktown, in Knox county, just one mile and a half west of that city, and there engaged in stock raising throughout the remainder of his life. In politics he was an old line Whig. He died in 1859, at the age of sixty-two, having survived his wife about fifteen years.
Mr. Stevenson of this review remained with his parents until twenty- two years of age, receiving a good practical education in the schools of Fred- ericktown, and acquiring a knowledge of agricultural pursuits upon the home farm. . On attaining his majority he went to Illinois, where he engaged in teaching school for a short time, and on his return home resumed his studies in Fredericktown. Subsequently he again went to Illinois, where he worked for about a year, but on the death of his father returned home to assist in settling up the estate.
It was in 1856 that Mr. Stevenson first came to Hancock county, but in traveling along the big swamp from Carey he was not agreeably impressed with the outlook here. In October, 1859, however, he became a resident of this county, where his father had owned one hundred and twenty acres of land, which tract became the property of our subject, who bought out the other heirs. At that time forty-five acres of the highest ground had been partially cleared, but much of the remainder was under water and the only building upon the place was a log house. The following year Mr. Stevenson dug a ditch which was three feet deep and six feet wide at the top and three
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at the bottom, and as this drained off considerable water he felt more en- couraged. This was the first ditch in the township and was the beginning of systematic drainage here. About 1865 our subject laid the first tiling in the township, buying the first kiln of tile burned by John Carst, west of Findlay, who agreed to lose one-half the cost of it if it did not prove satisfactory. About eighty rods were laid at this time and covered up. Many of Mr. Stevenson's neighbors came to see the operation but claimed that the water would never get into it. One old settler told our subject it was useless to bury his money, and his father-in-law, Henry Cooper, told him it was all non- sense. The following fall Mr. Stevenson sold his field of corn to Mr. Cooper for twenty-five dollars per acre in the stack, thus proving the success of the undertaking. At once others began laying tile, until to-day the county is well tiled and drained. Mr. Stevenson bought forty acres more, making a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, all of which he tiled and placed under cultivation, having cleared about sixty acres of the amount himself. He also secured a separate tract of thirty acres, but has since sold eighty acres to his son, so that he now has one hundred and ten acres in two different tracts. His residence was erected in 1866, but it has since been remodeled and improved, making a most comfortable home, which is surrounded by good outbuildings that stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise. In order to clear his land he burned much of the timber, which, if it had been marketed, would have paid for his land. Throughout his active business career Mr. Stevenson has devoted his attention entirely to his agricultural pursuits, never allowing himself to become interested in new enterprises, and to-day there is no better farm in the vicinity than his. He keeps a good grade of stock, making a specialty of thoroughbred sheep, and was the first to introduce American merino sheep into the county. These he has sold at fancy prices and made considerable money therefrom.
On the 28th of June, 1859, Mr. Stevenson was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Cooper, daughter of Henry Cooper, who lived in the vicinity of our subject's home. Her father was one of the pioneers of the county, where he cleared and improved a farm of one hundred and sixty acres and became a well known farmer and stock man. He died at the age of sixty- two years. In his family were fifteen children, all of whom reached ma- turity and thirteen are still living, but Mrs. Stevenson is the only one resid- ing in Hancock county at the present time. She was born here and is five years her husband's junior. They have a family of five children, namely : Henry, who is now engaged in farming on a place adjoining his father's; Lawrence, a resident of Mount Blanchard; Clara, the wife of Louis Hart-
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man, of Jackson township; Evan, who is operating his father's farm; and Addie, now Mrs. Harry Greer, of Mount Blanchard, Ohio.
By his ballot Mr. Stevenson supports the men and measures of the Re- publican party, and formerly took quite an active part in local politics. He has served as township assessor and trustee, being elected to those offices in a Democratic township, which is an indication of his popularity and the high regard in which he is held by his fellow citizens. Religiously he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Houcktown, in which he has filled various offices. He belongs to the Odd Fellows Lodge at Van Lue and has passed all the chairs in the subordinate lodge, and both he and his wife have taken the Rebecca degrees. They stand high in the community where they have so long made their home, and enjoy the hospitality of many of the best people in their section of the county.
MICHAEL LECHNER.
The subject of this sketch, whose name is above given, is one of the young man whose push and energy have led to the development of the great oil industry in various states, resulting in such rapid growth of communities and such frequent accumulations of individual fortunes. Though he has not "struck it rich" as some others, Mr. Lechner has done well at the business and in its prosecution has exhibited good judgment as well as energy and enterprise. He is of German origin, his father, Michael Lechner, having been born in the domains of Emperor William, in 1827, but he emigrated in early manhood to the land of promise in the new world. He located in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, but lived at various places after his arrival for periods ranging from two to twelve years. It was while his parents were living at Brooklyn, in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, in 1861, that Michael Lechner was born, and during the next twenty years he accompanied the family in their wanderings. His first two years were spent at the place of his nativity, the following six years at Sligo Furnace, and the next twelve years on a farm in the same county. During this period he picked up some education by irregular attendance at the county schools, and when he reached his majority began looking around for "something to do." His first venture was made in the oil fields of Allegany county, New York, where he entered a blacksmith shop at Allentown and worked in the blast furnace for the four succeeding years. Observing that there was an opportunity to make good wages by dressing tools used in boring oil wells, a kind of work then in much demand, he spent six years at this occupation with fair results. His next
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work was as a driller of wells, and he adhered to this laborious employment for about seven years, after which he concluded to utilize the experience he had obtained in a more lucrative branch of the oil business. In 1886 Mr. Lechner came to Ohio, located at Findlay, and immediately engaged in con- tracting, later becoming an oil producer on his own account. This business «he has kept up continuously since then and has met with a fair share of success in that line of industry.
January 26, 1897, Mr. Lechner was united in marriage at Detroit, Michi- gan, with Miss Malinda, daughter of Henry Croback of that city. Mr. Lechner is an advocate of the principles of the Democratic party and a mem- ber of the Roman Catholic church.
LEMUEL McMANNESS.
During his forty years of identification with the business interests of Findlay, the gentleman above mentioned has been a conspicuous figure in the various walks of life. Though at present absorbed in the management of his rake factory and stone quarry, he has in his time "played many parts" and it is not flattery to say that he has played them all worthily and well. His business experiences range from clerking in a grocery store to manage- ment of important productive plants, and his office-holding career embraces service both as city clerk of Findlay and sheriff of Hancock county. This was flavored by abundant war experience in youth, during which, as incum- bent in various responsible clerical positions, he was introduced to the mys- teries of feeding and managing a big army.
The family of McManness, which is of Irish origin, was first repre- sented in America by James McManness, who came over during the latter part of the eighteenth century, and died in Pennsylvania about 1820. He left a son named John McManness, who was born in Berks county, Penn- sylvania, in 1808, came to Hancock county, Ohio, in 1856, and there fol- iowed cabinet-making until his death, on January 1, 1866.
Lemuel McManness, son of the last mentioned, was born in Plainfield, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1846, and consequently was ten years old when brought to Hancock county by his parents. The latter located at Findlay and there Lemuel was attending school when the Civil war storm dis- turbed all ordinary occupations. In January, 1862, he secured a place as clerk in the sutler's department of the Fifty-seventh Regiment, Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, and served in that capacity about eighteent months. Being then appointed clerk in the office of the quartermaster of the army of the Cum-
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berland, he retained that position a year and next entered the office of the medical purveyor, at that time located on Lookout Mountain. He continued with the purveyor's department about one year and a half, or until the close of the war, when he returned directly to his home at Findlay. He succeeded without difficulty in securing a clerkship in a grocery store and worked for his employer until 1870, when he made his first business venture on his own account by establishing a rival grocery store. This he conducted with more or less success for thirteen years, until he disposed of his stock and embarked in the manufacture of linseed oil, which at that time was a new industry at Findlay. From 1889 until November, 1891, he was engaged in the flouring mill busi- ness, having purchased the interest of Judson Palmer in the Findlay mill. This mill was destroyed by fire in November, 1891. About the same time he started a rake factory and between these various employments was kept busy until 1891, when he disposed of his oil interests, and in 1895 returned to the grocery business. In 1898 he became interested in a stone quarry, a year later retired from the grocery business and since then has devoted all his time to the quarry and the rake factory. These establishments are im- portant contributions to the industries of Findlay, as they employ a number of hands and the sale of the products is an item of consequence in the gen- eral commerce of the city. Mr. McManness has found time during his busy career to pay some attention to politics, in which he has figured conspicuously on the Republican side. His fellow partisans gave him the nomination for city clerk in 1870 and after a spirited race he was elected. At the expiration of his first term, having served satisfactorily, he was again put forward and endorsed by re-election. This excursion into city politics was followed by a more ambitious effort in the general field, embracing the whole of the county and in this enlarged sphere Mr. McManness was followed by his usual good fortune. In 1884 he was nominated as his party's candidate for sheriff of Hancock county, made a successful race and served in that office a full term of two years.
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