USA > Ohio > Hancock County > A centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio > Part 24
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It will be seen from the foregoing that Grant Thomas was the young- est of the third set of children, and his birth occurred May 28, 1863. He was reared on his father's farm, trained by that strict disciplinarian to a life of industry and after he reached maturity always followed agricultural pursuits. In 1898, after the death of his father, he effected the purchase of the interest of all the other heirs in the family estate and now owns and resides upon the old homestead. This includes the land originally entered by his father, but the farm now consists of two hundred and twenty acres and is devoted to general agriculture and stock-raising.
In July, 1885, Mr. Thomas was united in marriage with Miss Amanda Greenland, a native of Cincinnati, but they have no children. Mr. Thomas' fraternal connections are confined to membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he takes considerable interest in the affairs of the lodge. As a farmer he has been both prosperous and popular, managing his fine patrimonial estate with discretion and good judgment. Everybody in the township knows Grant Thomas and it could be added with equal truth that everybody likes him.
CLINTON A. CHAMBERS.
Though a young man and only connected with farming matters as a proprietor for three or four years, Clinton A. Chambers gives promise of proving a "worthy descendant of an honored sire," as his father has long been known as one of the model farmers of the county. The founders of the Ohio branch of the family, as stated elsewhere, were early settlers of Craw- ford county. When Elias and Catherine (Stockman) Chambers, grandpar- ents of our subject, came to that part of Ohio in 1825, they found much of the country still covered by the virgin wilderness. Possessed, however, of the pioneer spirit so characteristic of those days, the young couple faced their task resolutely and set to work to hew out a home from the forest. Securing possession of one hundred and twenty acres of land, all overgrown with the heavy timber and underbrush so characteristic of the Ohio valley, the new- comers with infinite pains cut down and hewed out the necessary lumber for the rude cabin in which subsequently their family of seven children were raised. One of these, the fifth in order of birth, was named David and after he reached maturity he decided to seek his fortune in Hancock county. The first few years were laborious and trying, but finally he got employment with an uncle and eventually became the owner of the latter's farm. On that place, now one of the most highly cultivated in the county, he still resides
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and considering his start from nothing, without capital or influence, it is clear that he must have had great energy and force of character to have achieved such a success.
David Chambers married Sarah A. Sargent, daughter of pioneer par- ents from West Virginia, and by her had the following named children : Nora C., David V., Greeley, Della, Clinton, Cora and Wesley. Clinton Chambers, one of those above mentioned, is the immediate subject of this sketch. He was born in Big Lick township, Hancock county, Ohio, August 28, 1873, and attended the district schools, where he proved an apt scholar and made good use of his time. Between sessions, he got the benefit of farm training by working in the fields and at other details connected with agri- culture. Thus equipped, he was ready for business when in 1898 he became owner of the eighty acres of land which he is now cultivating. The soil is rich and productive and Mr. Chambers is making it remunerative by close attention and good management.
In the same year that he took possession of his farm, Mr. Chambers was married to Miss Rose B., daughter of S. B. and Elma Lindower, a popular young lady, whose birth occurred in Big Lick township, November 20, 1878. Mrs. Chambers' grandfather, Charles Lindower, was a native of Germany, who came to this country and settled in Hancock county, about 1836. He reared a family who became useful and loyal citizens and died at the age of seventy years. His son, the father of Mrs. Chambers, lived in this county some years and then removed to Stark county, of which he is still a resident. Mr. and Mrs. Chambers have two bright little children : Hazel M., born May 29, 1899; and David F., born October 21, 1901.
FRANK RUSSELL.
This well known and highly respected citizen of Jackson township, who is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits, is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Bloom township, Wood county, on the Ist of September, 1853. His parents, John and Lois (May) Russell, were natives of Ohio and New York, respectively, but were married in Pennsylvania. They made their home in Wood county, this state, where the father entered forty acres of government land and later secured additional land to the amount of two hundred acres, which was all wild and unimproved when it came into his possession, but which he transformed into a good farm. As one of the prominent and influential citizens of his community he was called upon to fill the office of county commissioner and justice of the peace, the duties of
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which positions he discharged in a most capable and satisfactory manner. In politics he was first a Democrat, but when the Republican party was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery he joined its ranks, and continued one of its stanch supporters throughout the remainder of his life. He died upon his farm December 24, 1884, at the age of seventy-one years, and his widow survived him until January 17, 1890, when she passed away, at the age of seventy. They had eleven children. Caroline died of typhoid fever while young; Benton died in the service during the Rebellion; Mary and John reside at Bloomdale; Homer lives in Hancock county near Bloomdale; Pierce was killed by the shears while shearing sheep; Frank is noticed below; James died of inflammatory rheumatism; Lois died of typhoid fever; Ada- line lives at Youngstown, Ohio; Lorinda Jane died of diphtheria while young.
Until twenty-six years of age Frank Russell remained at home giving his father the benefit of his labors upon the farm. He was then married on the 27th of March, 1880, to Miss Catherine Elizabeth Blair, of Wood county, who was born in Maryland, but grew to womanhood in Seneca and Wood counties, Ohio, her family having removed from Maryland during the Civil war. She became self-supporting at the early age of eight years and being a very industrious and capable woman she has been to her husband a faith- ful companion and helpmate. Unto them have been born nine children, as follows : William L., Charles, Lulu, Orville, Berl, Harry, Nellie, Maud and Dewey J. All are at home with the exception of Orville, who died February 14, 1902, at the age of fourteen years and six months, his death resulting from blood poison contracted from verdigris from a mouth organ. His sys- tem had previously been weakened by la grippe and death ensued.
Prior to his marriage Mr. Russell had purchased eighty acres of land from his father and in five years' work had paid five hundred dollars on it, but still owed two hundred dollars at the end of that time. During the winter months he devoted his attention to cutting the timber off the land and converting it into staves. His first team was a yoke of oxen and with teams he performed his farm work for a year after his marriage. When he brought his bride to her new home he had only five acres of his land cleared and the only improvement in the way of buildings was a log house, but he was able to make a living off his land, supplementing his income by the sale of the timber on his land and by working his father's lands. During the eight years he resided upon that farm he cleared twenty-five acres and placed it under cultivation. As it was flat country in the Black Swamp, he had to pay a heavy ditch tax, amounting to over four hundred dollars. Gas and cil were finally discovered in the vicinity of his farm and as property rose
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in value he sold out for six thousand dollars and bought his present farm in Jackson township, Hancock county, which is pleasantly located four and a half miles southeast of Findlay. His first purchase consisted of one hun- dred and one acres, for which he paid seventy dollars per acre, and he has added to this tract until he now has one hundred and thirty-one acres, on which he has made a number of useful and valuable improvements, including the erection of a barn and the remodeling of his residence. He has also laid considerable tiling and now has one of the best farms in Jackson town- ship, whereon he is successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising, mak- ing a specialty of Shropshire sheep. Since attaining his majority he has always affiliated with the Republican party, and has been a delegate to its conventions, but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. He is one of the representative men of his community and is held in high regard by all who know him.
MARTIN L. WISELEY.
Martin L. Wiseley, who is a representative of the People's Ice and Coal Company, at Findlay, belongs to that class of wide-awake, enterprising busi- ness men who have led to the rapid development of Ohio and of all sections of the country. He is yet a young man, but has already attained a success that many an older man might weil envy. He was born upon a farm in Marion township, Hancock county, Ohio, on the 24th of December, 1871. The Wiseley family is of Scotch descent and was founded in America at an early day. Allen Wiseley, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Fairfield county, Ohio. William P. Wiseley, the father of our subject, was born in Hancock county, Ohio, and here died in 1875. He was a farmer and stock buyer, carrying on business on an extensive scale and his active opera- tions enabled him to provide well for his family. He left two sons, Martin L., and William P.
Martin L. Wiseley, whose name introduces this record, spent the first four years of his life upon the old farmstead in Marion township and was then left an orphan. After his parents' death he was taken to Leslie, Michi- gan, where he was reared by his grandparents until he had attained the age of sixteen years, during which time he attended school and acquired a good practical education to fit him for life's duties. After that time he and his brother Will P. returned to the old home farm in Hancock county, Ohio, and the subject of this review devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits until 1901. As the years passed his farm work brought to him good returns. His
MR. AND MRS. MARTIN L. WISELEY.
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fields were always under a high state of cultivation and his energy and enter- prise were manifest in the neat and comfortable appearance of his place. On his removal to Findlay in the year 1901, he joined his brother in the ice and coal business and they are now dealing in these two commodities which are so essential to the comfort and welfare of man. They have secured a liberal patronage, which is constantly increasing as their honorable business methods and reliability are recognized.
Martin L. Wiseley was married in Findlay in the year 1897 to Miss Clara Adams, a daughter of Philip Adams, and they now have two children : Charles M., and Bernice M. In his political views Mr. Wiseley is a Repub- lican, and for four years, from 1897, he served as trustee of his native town- ship. Much of his life lias been passed in Hancock county and he is widely known among its citizens as a young man of excellent business ability, hon- orable and straightforward in all his dealings and one who well merits the success which has crowned his efforts.
DAVID T. DAVIS.
David T. Davis, who since June, 1899, has been state inspector of high explosives, is successfully engaged in the oil producing business, at Findlay, Ohio, and is one of the substantial and representative citizens of that place.
The birth of Mr. Davis occurred in 1852, on a farm in Marion town- ship, Hancock county, Ohio, and he is a son of William and Margaret (Lafferty) Davis, the former of whom was born in 1810, in Cumberland, Maryland, and died in 1863. He was a very prominent citizen and was notable in being the only Republican who was elected commissioner of Han- cock county in many years. For fourteen years he served as justice of the peace, and was esteemed and valued for his many admirable qualities of mind and heart. In 1831 he married Margaret Lafferty, and eleven chil- dren were born to them, nine of whom still survive. The father of this family served in the Mexican war as a captain of a company, and his sons displayed a loyal devotion when the country again called for assistance. Of these, William and Isaac O. served during short terms in the Civil war. John W. enlisted in the Forty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was severely wounded in the hip at Chickamauga and at Stone River was captured and held as a prisoner for five months, enduring at this time the horrors of Ander- sonville and Libby. He now resides at Findlay, Ohio.
David T. Davis was reared in Hancock county, Ohio, and there acquired his education, and followed agricultural pursuits until he was twenty-two
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years old. Then he went to Findlay and became one of the organizers of the wholesale and retail grocery firm of Davis, Detweiler & Company, which business was successfully conducted in this city for a period of eight years. After selling his interest, our subject was engaged in various lines of activity until 1887, when he embarked in the real estate business, in which he is still engaged. In 1888 Mr. Davis became interested in the oil producing business and has been very successful in this line. His reliability as a business man resulted in his appointment in June, 1899, by Governor Bushnell, as state inspector of high explosives, and his careful attention to the duties of this office has been of the greatest value and a protection to lives and property.
In 1877 Mr. Davis was married, at Clyde, Ohio, to Miss Eva K. Barney, who is a daughter of W. Z. Barney, and the three children born to this union are : Donald W., Leila M. and Catherine E. In fraternal association our subject belongs to the order of Knights of Pythias, No. 400, taking an active interest in its work. He is well known in this city and is highly regarded as a just business man and public-spirited citizen.
MILTON A. PILCHER.
Milton A. Pilcher is of English descent. His parents, William and Mary A. (Wingate) Pilcher, are still living. Both are natives of England and both emigrated to America in 1852, William remaining for about one year in the city of New York before trying his fortune in Hancock county. He worked assiduously, acquiring considerable city property. and in due time entered into matrimonial relations with the bride of his choice. He was married at Findlay to Mary A. Wingate, a lady of English nativity, and the family remained in Hancock county until 1875. Here six of his nine chil- dren were born, of whom eight are still living. Three children were born in Putnam county, whither the family removed in 1875, and where the parents still live.
Milton A. Pilcher was born in Marion township, this county, October 10, 1859, was educated at Findlay and engaged in various employments, finally selecting the occupation of farming. November 3, 1887, he married Lavina J., daughter of Thomas D. and Mary A. Callison, who was born in Blanchard township, October 11, 1869. Her parents had three children, of whom she alone survives. The father, Thomas D. Callison, was born in Indiana December 3, 1832, and died in 1888; the mother, a native of Penn- sylvania, was born May 16, 1838, and died May 6, 1901, on the farm that Mr. Pilcher bought in September of the same year. Mr. and Mrs. Pilcher
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are the parents of three bright children: Walter H., born July 31, 1888; William T., born March 15, 1891 ; and Floyd V., born September 16, 1900.
Fraternally Mr. Pilcher is a member of the Knights of Pythias. Though still a comparatively young man, he has established himself firmly and has a bright promise for the future among the successful agriculturists of Han- cock county. His one hundred acres in Liberty township attest his ability to cope with the varying situations that present themselves to farmers, and indicate the presence of an industrious and progressive proprietor. In politics Mr. Pilcher is a Democrat.
JACOB BOHN.
Among the young, energetic and successful farmers of Hancock county is the gentleman above named, who operates a farm of one hundred acres in Washington township. The success with which he has been attended so far in life is an earnest of what may be expected in the future of this promising agriculturist. The methods of which he makes use in the culture of his well tilled fields, are those which, backed by sound business judgment in the turning of his crops into currency, are bound to win in the end. Jacob Bohn was born in the county of Seneca, Ohio, in 1865, and there passed the entire period of his youth, removing to Hancock county with his parents in 1884. He received in the ordinary country school an education that is entirely sufficient for his needs in the prosescution of business. When he came to manhood he chose for himself the free and independent life of the farmer, in which calling he can study the great book of nature and see the hand of Deity in every blade and shrub. Like one of old, he thinks God's thoughts after him. He is a consistent and active member and worker in the German Reformed church, in which organi- zation he is serving at the present time as an elder. He was also for a consid- erable period superintendent of the Sunday-school, and it is remembered that the school under his management increased in number and in the influence exerted on the youth of the community.
In the year 1888 occurred that event in the life of our subject which he regards possibly as the most important of his life, when he was joined in marriage to Miss Anna, daughter of John and Elizabeth Romig. To this felicitous union were born four interesting children, Etho H., Clarence J., Mary E. and Carl E. The mother of this family is a lady of many graces of character, and is a native of the Buckeye state, having been born in Seneca county in 1866. Mr. Bohn has never interested himself very particularly
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in political life, but exercises the right of suffrage regularly at each elec- tion, supporting the Democratic ticket. He is the son of Jacob and Kath- erine (Stuckey) Bolin, and as may be suspected from the name, these par- ents were of German origin, the father having been born in the fatherland in 1835 and the mother in 1830. The father emigrated to this country when a young man of twenty-one, his wife, whom he married in this country, making the voyage across the sea in 1855. He located in Tiffin, Seneca county, Ohio, near which village he bought a farm of eighty acres, where he lived for some fourteen years. In 1884 he removed to Hancock county, where he purchased the farm now owned by his widow, which contains one hundred acres. Jacob Bohn, Sr., besides being a prominent and suc- cessful agriculturist, was a skilled stone mason, as many of the residences of Hancock county give ample evidence. Coupled with the German penchant for hard physical labor, a superior business judgment made him quite suc- cessful, and he left at his death a very comfortable competence to his widow and children. He commanded the confidence of the public in a high degree, was a consistent member of the German Reformed church and was hon- ored in that organization with many of its important trusts. His marriage to Katherine Stuckey took place in 1858, in Tiffin, Ohio, and there were six children born to them, two only of whom are now living: Laura, wife of Alvin Romig, who lives in Seneca county, and Jacob, who forms the immedi- ate subject of this review. After a useful and blameless life the father died in 1885, at the age of fifty-two years, but his widow survives.
At the age of thirty-seven it would seem that Mr. Bohn is destined, if one may judge by his past experience, to become one of the most influ- ential citizens of his county. He and his wife are most respected residents of their immediate community, and are held in the very highest esteem by the people of Hancock county.
ROBERT B. MOTHERWELL.
When the above named was suddenly called to his last account, in the summer of 1902, Findlay lost perhaps her most popular and certainly one of her most enterprising citizens. Mr. Motherwell had been identified with the growth and development of the town for fifteen years, coming in the midst of the famous boom, and during his residence acquired a strong hold upon the esteem and even affections of the community. Besides being an energetic man of business he possessed a suavity of manner, cordiality of demeanor and geniality of address that drew to him hosts of friends and admirers and
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gave him easy access to the hearts of all. In fact, no other man ever came to Findlay and in so short a time made such a complete conquest of the good will of her people, regardless of clan or class, and his sudden taking off was a cause of such sincere mourning as seldom follows any private citizen to his final resting place. This strong character was of Scottish origin and a son of Alexander and Jane Motherwell, a worthy and industrious couple, who spent their whole lives in the famous little country of the north. Robert B. Motherwell was born near Glasgow, November 5, 1845, and remained in the land of his nativity until eighteen years old. Having learned the trade of heavy blacksmithing he determined to seek his fortune in the new world, and in 1863 found himself on a boat bound for the northeast coast of the United States. The young Scotchman landed at Portland, Maine, and not long afterward obtained employment in the Casco Bay Forge Works, then engaged on contracts for the government. This lasted until 1866, when Mr. Motherwell removed to Pittsburg, where he secured work in the rolling mill of Reese, Graft & Bayers, with whom he remained two years. In 1868 he went to Lancaster, Ohio, and in partnership with his brothers, James and William, established what later became well known as the Motherwell Shovel & Spade Works. In 1881 Mr. Motherwell and his brother James founded at Logan the iron and steel works known by their name.
It was in 1887 that Mr. Motherwell came to Findlay, at the time it was inveloped in the great boom of that period, due to the discovery of gas and oil, and he plunged into its activities with the energy that always charac- terized his efforts. He immediately became a factor in affairs by purchasing the bottling and ice establishment of E. Bacher, which he conducted jointly for a while and then dropped the ice department, confining himself exclusively to bottling. His business venture proved successful, and it was not long until his manners made him so popular that he was in request as a candidate for various places of responsibility. He was a member of the water works board many years and also served a term or two on the board of election. In politics he was a Democrat of the Jeffersonian school, and so highly esteemed was he by his associates that any honor the party had to confer was at his service. But, though strenuous in the advocacy of his principles, he did not seem to care much for office, preferring to devote his time to business.
Mr. Motherwell was quite prominent in fraternal circles, being especially conspicuous in the Order of Elks. He was a charter member of both the local and grand lodges of that popular fraternity and had passed through all the chairs, including the office of exalted ruler. He was also connected with the Masons and the Pathfinders, and at one time was the supreme officer
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of the Findlay Court of Ben Hur. January 18, 1870, Mr. Motherwell was inarried, at Lancaster, Ohio, to Louise Rich, by whom he had seven children : Harriet M., Alice M., Jeannette F., Lola M., Grace S., Mary L. and Robert R. In the summer of 1897 Mr. Motherwell suffered a paralytic stroke, which proved to be serious in its results and few thought he could recover, but his strong constitution pulled him through and it was hoped he had before him many years of usefulness. Death, however, came very suddenly at an early hour on the morning of Friday, July 12, 1902, as the result of an ailment, the cxact nature of which the attending physician was unable to diagnose. The announcement of this sad and unexpected event caused a great shock in Find- lay and sincere mourning among all its inhabitants. The Findlay Daily Re- publican, published on the day of his death, paid the following warm tribute to the memory of the distinguished dead: "The demise of Mr. Motherwell ends the career of one of Findlay's highest prized citizens. It would be a difficult matter to find a man possessing equal popularity. It has been said that he had not an enemy in the world, this desirable state being acquired by his numerous excellent traits of character. Wherever known he was recognized as a man possessing courtesy, affability, good nature and other desirable qualities to a remarkable degree. Mr. Motherwell's memory will be deeply cherished as a man among men."
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