USA > Ohio > Hancock County > A centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio > Part 25
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
RUFUS W. BENNETT.
The above named is one of the most successful and progressive agricul- turists of Jackson township, within whose borders he has made his home throughout life, his birth occurring there October 28, 1852. His father, Rufus Hiram Bennett, was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, December 22, 1801, and was the youngest of seven brothers, whose parents were Rufus and Martha (Bennett) Bennett. The grandfather of our subject was with Washington at the time of Braddock's defeat and hung to General Braddock's. horse's tail in order to escape, killing two Indians who followed.
On arriving at man's estate Rufus H. Bennett was married February 15, 1832, at his birthplace, to Miss Henrietta Leader, who was also born there July 25, 1806, a daughter of Christian and Mary Leader. By this union were born the following children : Euphemia, who became the wife of James T. Hoy, a farmer of Amanda township, this county; Sanford L., who died October 17, 1855, at the age of twenty-one years and twenty-one days ; William H. Harrison, who enlisted September 1, 1861, in Company F, Fifty- seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for service in the Civil war and died at the
231
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
hospital in Paducah, Kentucky, March 23, 1862, unmarried, at the age of twen- ty-five years and eight months; Martha, widow of Peter Treece and a resi- dent of Mount Blanchard; Rawson Corwin, a resident of Jackson township; Lydia, wife of Adam Haley, of Findlay ; Emily, wife of George W. Foreman, of Portland, Indiana; Mary Ellen, wife of S. M. Miller, of Findlay; and Rufus William.
Rufus H. Bennett, the father of our subject, came to Hancock county, Ohio, in the spring of 1835 and selected his land. He had been keeping a hotel in Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, and after disposing of his business there his partner absconded with the results of the sale, so that Mr. Bennett was able to bring all his worldly possessions to Ohio in a one-horse wagon, driving an Indian pony thirty years old. He started west without any special destina- tion, making his way up the Upper Sandusky to Fort Findlay. For some distance he followed a blazed trail through the woods, and cut his own road. In the midst of the forest he settled upon land which he secured, and for one month lived in his covered wagon while he cleared an acre of ground and sowed it to buckwheat. He then erected his cabin, which was his home for twelve years, and was then replaced by a more modern and substantial residence on the road. It was built in 1858 and is still standing, being owned by the heirs of Moses Elsea. It was one of the first frame houses in Jack- son township, the lumber being cut in Findlay. Mr. Bennett's original farm is now owned by others. He placed his land under high cultivation and kept adding to it from time to time until he had four hundred acres, but before his death he gave eighty acres to a daughter. His last years were passed upon a farm adjoining the old homestead, which was known as the Leader farm, having been settled by his wife's people. It is still in possession of the fam- ily. After coming to Ohio Mr. Bennett engaged in farming and became widely known as a breeder and raiser of fine horses, his stock being considered the choicest of the entire county. At one time he was engaged in buying horses and took quite a number from this state back to Pennsylvania to sell. After a useful and well spent life he died, March 25, 1868, honored and respected by all who knew him, and his estimable wife passed away in April, 1873.
Rufus W. Bennett, youngest of the children of this pioneer couple, passed his boyhood and youth under the parental roof and remained with his father until the latter's death, being the only son left at home. He still owns one hundred and twenty acres of the farm, the balance of the estate being either sold or divided, while this is his share of the property. He has bought more land and now owns three hundred and sixty acres, divided into three
232
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
farms, one of which is operated by his son and another by his brother. His home place is the old Jacob Twining homestead, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres, which is well improved and under excellent cultivation. Mr. Bennett has cleared about thirty acres and laid considerable tiling, and is now successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising, feeding cat- tle, hogs and sheep of a high grade. He paid sixty-two and a half dollars per acre for his land and it is now quite valuable property.
On the 14th of March, 1878, Mr. Bennett was united in marriage to Miss Mary C. Miller, a daughter of William B. and Jane (Martin) Miller, of Marion township, where her birth occurred. She completed her educa- tion in the schools of Findlay, and at the age of seventeen began teaching, fol- lowing that profession quite successfully in Marion, Jackson and Allen town- ships, this county, up to the time of her marriage, when twenty-four years of age. Her parents were early settlers of Marion township, where they located in 1847, and where her father entered one hundred and sixty acres of land. He is still living, at the age of seventy-seven years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bennett were born eight children who are still living, while one son, Rawson, died in infancy. The surviving members of the family are Lloyd DeWitt, who married Zetta Thompson and operates the old homestead; Noble Garfield, a successful teacher of Hancock county; Edna, who attended both the Blanchard high school and Findlay College, and is a teacher of Van Wert county ; Hazel, Mark, Miller, Julia and Ella, all at home.
In his political views Mr. Bennett is a stanch Republican and has been a delegate to the conventions of his party, but has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office. He and his family are active and consistent members of the Salem United Brethren church, in which he is at present serving as trustee and class leader, and he has been a delegate to the general conferences of his church. Upright and honorable in all things, he com- mands the confidence and respect of those with whom he comes in contact either in business or social life, and is held in high regard by all who know him.
CHRISTIAN OVERHOLT.
It is a pleasing task to touch upon the salient points in the records of a family which has had very much to do with placing Hancock among the very first counties of the state in point of agricultural supremacy. The immediate members of the family of which we shall speak are Sherman and Charles Overholt, giving especial attention also to Christian Overholt, their deceased
Catharina Overholt
Christian Overholt
233
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
father. Christian Overholt was a well known citizen of Cass township, who, from common work hand about the farm, had climbed to the top round of the ladder among his fellow citizens and this was done by his own industry and business sagacity. He was born a poor boy in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, March 4, 1827, was early imbued with the idea of the value of money and established a habit of saving which soon placed him in a position to begin the active career for which he is remembered. He purchased a farm and began the battle of life for himself, choosing as a helpmate Catherine Leighty, to whom he was married at the age of twenty-five. The three chil- dren by this union, all natives of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, were : Lizzie, born March 4, 1854; Alsinus, born in 1857; and Ella, born in 1859. The family removed to Hancock county in 1860, where Mr. Overholt pur- chased a farm of two hundred and forty acres, upon which there were few improvements besides the large brick residence. During his lifetime he took pride in improving this farm, and before he died it became one of the nicest properties of the kind in Hancock county. The family which he brought to Hancock county, mentioned above, was increased here by the birth of Charles in 1860; Clarence (deceased) in 1862; Frank (deceased) in 1864; Sherman, November 1, 1867; Edgar, in February, 1870; and Bertha (deceased), born in 1872 and died in 1888. As remarked before, Christian Overholt was a hard working man, honest and upright in all his dealings with his fellow men. He frequently responded to the desire of his fellow citi- zens and administered the different township offices. He was an accept- able member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which organization he was a most liberal supporter, and voted the Republican ticket. His wife passed away in October, 1894, and after surviving her four years, he rejoined her "on the other side," January 9, 1898. In his death Hancock county lost a worthy citizen.
Charles Overholt, second son of Christian, passed his boyhood days on the farm where he has since resided. He is a respected citizen, and for the past six years has been the efficient trustee of the township. He is also prom- inently identified with the school interests of his district, being now a mem- ber of the school board, and having served for a number of years in that body. He takes a great interest in everything that advances the interest of his immediate community. Fraternally. he affiliates with that popular or- ganization, the Knights of Pythias. Ever since the discovery of oil he has been an interested party and is at the present time one of the extensive oil producers of Hancock county, operating nine wells. In 1886 Mr. Overholt was married to Miss Clara, daughter of J. B. and Lizzie Linhart, whose
15
234
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
family will be found mentioned elsewhere in this volume. This lady pre- sented Mr. Overholt with five children : Gail, Virgil, Dean, Zoie and Charles C.
Sherman, another worthy son of Christian Overholt, resides with his brother on the old homestead, where he was born. reared and educated. No- vember 25, 1896, he led to the marriage altar Miss Nettie Berger, a native of Mahoning county, Ohio, and a daughter of Jacob and Laura ( Reed) Ber- ger. Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Overholt have three children: Edna M., born December 3, 1897; Carl S., born September 12, 1900; and Mildred, born March 30, 1902.
It is not a light thing to be the son of a worthy father. There is a re- sponsibility connected with sustaining the reputation of a family already es- tablished by previous members that should sober and broaden the character of the later representatives of the name. So it has been in the present case. The brothers herein mentioned have taken up life's duties and are following closely in the footsteps of their revered father. Their word is as good as their bond, and in all of their dealings they are straightforward and honorable, commanding the respect of all with whom they are associated.
JOSEPHUS C. VAN EMAN.
This name has been an honored one in Hancock county for seven decades. The deceased subject of this sketch was the son of one of the old pioneers of Hancock county, Rev. George Van Eman, who, for a long period of years, was a minister in the Presbyterian church and did much pioneer work in the ministry in organizing churches in new places when this county was in its early growth. The result of his preaching can be seen today in the churches of Findlay, Van Buren and other places in and outside the county. His work was done mostly, if not altogether, in the saddle. He was a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, born April 23, 1786. He grew to maturity in that county, and there married, September 3, 1810, Maria Cooper, a native also of the Keystone state, born March 14, 1791. They removed to Blanchard township, in Hancock county, in 1835. They were the parents of six children : Alexander, born August 7, 1812; John S., March 2, 1816; Katherine; September 19, 1818; J. C., June 4, 1821 ; Rebecca J., Sep- tember 25, 1823; Sara L., October 20, 1827. All of these are now deceased except the last named. The Rev. George Van Eman was twice married, his second wife being Mrs. Sara S. Flanagan, who was born June 5, 1790, and died June 14, 1871. His first wife died June 26, 1839. After a long and
235
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
useful life in the service of his Master, Rev. George Van Eman passed to his reward, the date being March 12, 1877.
The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born in Green county, Pennsylvania, on the date given above. He was fourteen years of age when he came with his father, Rev. George Van Eman, to this county. Here he was reared and educated. He took advantage of his educational privileges to fit himself for the profession of teaching, which he followed in this county for a number of years. In 1852 he became infected with the gold fever, and made the trip to California, in which state he remained for six years. He returned, however, and in 1860 purchased eighty acres of land in Cass town- ship, being almost in its primitive state. To this he subsequently added fifty acres, finishing the number with twenty acres more, making in all one hundred and fifty acres. On this farm there are now thirty producing oil wells. Mr. Van Eman was twice married. His first venture was with Margaret Carmel in 1858, by which union there was no issue. This lady died June 30, 1861, and on April 3, 1862, he married Mary E. Hollingshead, who bore him three children: George F., born August 30, 1863; John L., December 31, 1865, and William E., March 26, 1871. During the entire period of his adult life Josephus Van Eman was a prominent and respected resident of Cass township, and proved himself in all respects worthy of the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens. He was engaged as clerk for his brother in Findlay for a period, and subsequently was a clerk in the auditor's office. He served in his own township as clerk for a period of nine years. He was a devout communicant of the Presbyterian church of Van Buren, in which he served as elder. He voted with the Republican party. He was a thrifty, practical man, whose friends were counted by the score. By his death, which occurred March 17, 1891, at the age of sixty-nine years, the community suf- fered a severe loss. George F. Van Eman, his eldest son, married Elizabeth Smith, December 4, 1886, and has one child, Charles R. John L. married Martha E. Linhart, whose family is elsewhere mentioned in this volume, and William E. married Ella Gibson, a native of Columbiana county.
WILLIAM C. ALFORD.
Among the stream of emigrants contributed to Ohio during her forma- tive period by the famous Empire state of the Union, none did more in pro- portion to their means in aiding development and progress than the family which bears the name given at the head of this sketch. Zina and Aurilla (Orton) Alford were originally from York, New Jersey, and Massachu-
236
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
setts, respectively, but subsequently lived for twenty years in Steuben county, New York. In 1848 they removed to Hancock county, Ohio, where Mr. Alford became the owner of sixty-five acres of land, to the cultivation of which he devoted the later years of his life. At an earlier period he had learned the tanner's and shoemaker's trades, which constituted his principal occu- pation for a number of years. Zina Alford was always looked upon as an honest, industrious man, who wronged nobody, attended strictly to his own business and enjoyed general neighborhood esteem. His death occurred in 1882 and it was a general remark by those who attended the obsequies that the community had lost a good citizen. William C. Alford, son of the above mentioned and the subject of this biography, was born in Steuben county, New York, August 18, 1815, and grew up during the residence of his parents in that eastern community. He picked up such learning as could be obtained by irregular attendance at the district schools, but as soon as he arrived at manhood the parental roof was abandoned for a contest with the world on his own account. His first location was in Pennsylvania where he remained one year and then concluded to try his fortunes across the Ohio border. Two years were spent in Franklin county, followed by a residence of eight years in Marion county, and the year 1848 found him in Hancock county, Ohio, which was destined to be his permanent abode and the theater of all his future life's activities. He made a purchase of eighty acres of land in Big Lick township, and the cultivation of this property has ever since absorbed the chief part of his time and energies. At the time he took possession his land was in its virgin condition, not only unimproved, but wild and woody as only Ohio land could be before the white man's ax and saw had made their appearance. But all things yield to labor and persistent determination, and as the years went by another and another of Mr. Alford's acres emerged from their primeval condition until he had a farm that any agriculturist might well be proud of. The beautiful pastures and well tilled fields were ornamented by all the buildings necessary for comfort and utility, to say nothing of a neat residence for the home of the family. Mr. Alford was never much of a politician, nor did he care for office as such, but at the solici- tation of his neighbors he consented at different times to serve as township clerk, supervisor and school director. Before coming to Hancock county, Mr. Alford became acquainted with Miss Rosetta Palmer, whose birth oc- curred in New York in 1826, and to this lady he was married in 1845. This union, which continued in mutual affection and esteem until Mrs. Alford's lamented death in 1892, was productive of eleven children, of whom the following named seven are living: Sarah C., Byron C., Frederick O.,
237
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Aurilla J., E. F., C. A. and Electa. C. A. Alford, the last mentioned son in this list, graduated at Oberlin College, and is now an attorney in Duluth, ranking well at the bar and giving promise of future distinction. Mr. Alford, besides the general popularity secured to him by his genial and affable man- ners, enjoys the reputation of being one of the most skillful hunters in the state. From early years he was always fond of outdoor sports, especially those connected with gunning, and this taste has not diminished with the passage of time. For forty years he has not failed to take an annual hunt in the nothern part of Michigan, and many are the stories he is able to tell of his adventures in the north woods after big game of all kinds. He has been especially successful in bringing down the fine deer which roam over the forests of the upper peninsula, and one of these noble animals shot by Mr. Alford weighed two hundred and twenty-five pounds. This was an unusually magnificent specimen, but only one of the many obtained by Mr. Alford dur- ing his frequent forays into the forest. He loves all kinds of hunting and fishing, and ranks as an expert in many lines, being well known far and near by the sportsmen who frequent the woods in season. While on one of his hunting trips this modern Nimrod met with an adventure which came near proving his last. While crossing a ravine on an elevated log he lost his balance, and fell through, his feet catching and holding him suspended in mid air. For a while death by hanging, with the usual process reversed, seemed imminent, but Mr. Afford managed to untangle himself from this scrape, as he had from many another during his adventurous career.
R. J. KIBLER.
Although a young man and only a member of the Findlay bar about ten years, the gentleman whose life is herein outlined has made a creditable record both as a practitioner and man of affairs. He has been sufficiently successful in practice to steadily increase his patronage and has risen to prom- inence in politics on the Democratic side, which he espoused at an early age and has always supported zealously. His father, Jacob Kibler, was born in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1831, and has devoted practically all his life to ag- ricultural pursuits. He removed to Hancock county in later years and located on a farm in Eagle township, which afterward continued his place of resi- dence.
On this Eagle township homestead R. J. Kibler was born January 20, 1868, and there he was reared while being educated in the country schools. In 1884 he began teaching school in Hancock county, and continued this occu-
238
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
pation during the five succeeding winters, while in summer he took advant- age of the vacation season to pursue his own studies. In 1888 he secured a position as instructor in the high school at Ada, Ohio, and discharged the duties of this place until 1890, when he began devoting his time to the study of the law. In December, 1891, he was licensed to practice by the supreme court at Columbus, and shortly thereafter took up his residence at Findlay, since which time he has been one of the busy attorneys at the bar of that city. As previously stated, Mr. Kibler is Democratic in his politics and has always shown a warm interest in its campaigns for supremacy. As one of the recognized leaders of his locality he was appointed state supervisor of elections, and is at present holding that position. In 1896 Mr. Kibler was married to Miss Carrie, daughter of Captain William B. Richards, the cere- mony being performed at the residence of the bride's parents at Bluffton, Ohio. Mr. Kibler's only fraternal connections are with the Knights of Pythias, of which popular order he has long been an enthusiastic member.
HENRY SNYDER.
Henry Snyder, who throughout his active business life has been promi- nently identified with the farming and stock raising interests of Hancock county, was born on the 12th of August, 1837, in Marion township, his par- ents being Henry and Magdaline (Sands) Snyder. His father was born in Basil, Switzerland, in 1790, and was reared and educated in his native land, always speaking the German language, although he understood English in later life. It was in 1832 that he crossed the Atlantic to the new world and took up his residence in Fairfield county, Ohio, but the following year settled in Hancock county, entering land in Marion township four miles east of Findlay. He built thereon a cabin and took up his abode there when there was but one family between his home and the river on the east. His place was on the Marion (now the Mount Blanchard) road, but when he located there the road had not been laid out and the early settlers followed the ridges in making a journey. Being in limited circumstances Mr. Snyder had just enough money to enter his land, but was able to make a living off his own farm from the first and at once turned his attention to the clearing and im- provement of his land. In those early days there was much sickness, the chills being prevalent among the pioneers, and our subject recalls one time when his sister and a neighbor girl were the only ones in the neighborhood not suffering with that disease. His father cleared one-half of his hundred- acre farm and continued to make his home thereon until called to his final
239
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
rest in 1864, at the age of seventy-four years. He supported the Demo- cratic party until 1860, when he became a Republican. Though reared in the German Reformed church he joined the Christian church and adhered to that faith throughout life, attending meetings held in the homes of the pioneers and in school houses, as the church in Amanda township, known as Amanda Chapel, was not erected until after his death, but the old Christian society there has since been disbanded. His wife, who was born in Fairfield county in 1806, of Holland parentage, survived him about twenty years, passing away in 1883 on the old homestead. They were the parents of six chil- dren, namely : Mary Magdaline, now the widow of Henry Herring and a resident of Wyandot county, Ohio; Henry, whose name introduces this sketch; Elizabeth, who is now keeping house for our subject; Susan, who died about four years ago at the age of fifty-four years; Anna, who lives on the old homestead; and Daniel, wo now owns the farm on which his entire life has been passed. With the exception of our subject and his eldest sister the chil- dren all remained unmarried.
Henry Snyder passed the days of his boyhood and youth upon the old home farm, remaining there until his father's death. At the age of twenty- two years he taught two terms of school in this county, and later taught in Livingston county, Illinois, in 1861-2. He then returned home and taught two more terms in this county. Being of a studious nature, he devoted much of his leisure time to general literature and passed an examination in algebra and history, although these were not among the required studies, in order to obtain a teacher's certificate in Ohio. The year of his father's death he bought a tract of land in Findlay township on Eagle creek, this county, but in the summer of 1867 returned to Illinois and was engaged in farming in Shelby county, that state, for a time. Subsequently he assisted his brother in con- ducting the home farm and in the meantime made some improvements upon his own land in this county.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.