USA > Ohio > Hancock County > A centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio > Part 27
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Until about nineteen years of age Peter Solt remained under the parental roof, but three years previous to this he began buying and selling stock, and then entered the employ of a drover, driving stock over the mountains to New York City, making two trips, first with two hundred and fifty hogs and two hundred and one head of cattle. On attaining his majority he embarked in the same business on his own account and during the years that have since passed he has given the greater part of his time and attention to that enterprise, having many partners, the old firm of P. Solt & Company being one of the best known in the state.
While visiting Hancock county soon after his marriage Mr. Solt pur- chased forty acres of land in what is now Eagle township. He had made a bid of seven hundred and fifty dollars for this tract, although he did not really want it, but his offer was accepted. It had been his intention to buy land near Elmira, but on reaching home his father advised him to take the land in Han- cock county, and he located thereon August 31, 1853. There was a small cabin on the place but little of the land had been cleared. His capital was exhausted on paying for his property, but he at once set to work to clear the land, de- voting his attention to that labor at night, while by day he continued to en- gage in the stock business. In less than a year, however, he had lost all he had with the exception of a carload of hogs by endorsing another man's note for thirteen hundred dollars, even selling his seed wheat and winter meat to pay his debts. It was also his intention to sell his land, but a neigh- bor, Amos Swayer, who had induced him to buy the land, let him have the money needed, in fact all that he wanted to borrow, without security. On the completion of the Lake Shore Railroad he began shipping stock over that line and within a year was able to meet all his obligations. He was feeding about two hundred sheep, which were purchased by a couple of stock buyers, a Mr. Grant from New York, and Mr. Fisher from Erie, Pennsylvania, who paid him a good price and also advanced him one thousand dollars with which to buy more. Within a week or two he also made five hundred dollars by buying stock for those gentlemen. He continued in their employ for about a year, during which time he was able to pay off his debts and gain an- other start in life. For fifteen years thereafter he gave special attention to the sheep business, shipping his stock to New York City and Buffalo, the latter city proving the best market. He did not place his business in the hands of commission merchants but conducted his own sales and his opera- tions extended throughout this state, Indiana and Illinois, where he bought
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cattle and hogs on quite an extensive scale. In 1882 he did a business of hand- ling nineteen hundred and fifty hogs and seven hundred and fifty head of cattle, for which he contracted one year ahead. At times he has contracted for hogs before they were born, paying five cents per pound and selling the same for nine and a half cents in Buffalo over a year after the contracts were made. Mr. Solt, with his partner, does an annual business of thirty-five thou- sand to fifty thousand dollars. For twenty years he has engaged in the feed- ing of sheep and has also fed hogs largely during the summer months. Al- most a half century has passed since he became interested in the stock busi- ness and during that time there has been hardly a year in which he did not buy and sell stock in connection with farming. He owns a nice place of eighty acres, on which he has erected a good house and barn, and made many other useful and valuable improvements.
On the 15th of May, 1853, in Fairfield county, Ohio, Mr. Solt was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta Cloud, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Mordecai and Ellen (Jones) Cloud, both of whom spent their last years with our subject and died at his home. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Solt were born the following children : Mary Elizabeth, now the wife of F. B. McClelland of Eagle township; David B., and Clifford W., also residents of Eagle town- ship; Ellen Saloma, wife of S. H. Hoy, of Eagle township; Dora E., wife of Dr. E. B. Harrington, of Findlay, Ohio; Sanderson H., who is unmarried and now operates the home farm; and Fanny Grant, wife of Bruce Keller, of Eagle township. Each one of the children has had a farm given him and to-day all are well-to-do, the sons being first-class business men like their father, who stands as the banker of the family and has worked hard to give his children a good start in life.
Throughout his business career Mr. Solt has met with many reverses, losing in one day sixteen hundred dollars and at another time thirty-two hundred dollars, owing to a decline in the market. He has also lost much by going security for others, but has never allowed himself to become discour- aged or disheartened. With indefatigable energy he has worked his way up- ward, overcoming all the obstacles and difficulties in his path until he is to-day one of the well-to-do and substantial citizens of his community, IS well as one of its most honored and highly respected citizens. In his political views he is a Republican, but has never hesitated to vote for a Dem- ocrat when he thought the candidate of that party was more fitted for the position than his own. He has been quite a political worker but has never cared for official honors. At one time he was elected sheriff, having been nominated against his desire. In all the relations of life he has been found
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true to every trust reposed in him, and he has the respect and confidence of all who know him. It is said, and without any qualification, that the word of Peter Solt has always been and is as good as his bond.
NAPOLEON B. PRESLER.
The above named is the only one of a large family of children who re- sides in Hancock county, though he has brothers and sisters in other parts of the country. His father was William M. Presler, a Pennsylvanian, who emigrated to Ohio as early as 1835 and located on one hundred and twenty acres of land in Seneca county. Before leaving his native state he had mar- ried a widow named Elmina (Boden) Crabill, with whom he resided in Sen- eca county until 1876, and then removed to Kansas. There he purchased one hundred and seventy acres of land and busied himself in its cultivation until the spring of 1897, when he lost his wife by death and has since lived alone on his farm. When he married Mrs. Crabill she had five children by her first husband, and subsequently became the mother of six additional.
Napoleon B. Presler, one of the sons of his father's second marriage, was born in Big Spring township, Seneca county, Ohio, February 9, 1857, and remained there until he reached his majority. August 18, 1878, he was married, in his native county, to Miss Phebe Ellen Hile, whose parents had settled in Seneca county shortly before his own father's arrival from the east. Adam Hile, father of Mrs. Presler, was born in Germany, in 1804, emigrated to Pennsylvania in early life, married a native of that state and removed to Ohio in 1834. He spent the remainder of his days in Seneca county, his death occurring there in 1885, followed by that of his wife in November of the subsequent year. The Hiles were members of the Lutheran church and had a family of nine children, of whom six are now living, includ- ing Mrs. Presler. After his marriage Mr. Presler remained in Seneca county about four years, and in 1882 removed to Putnam county, where he purchased forty acres of land and spent the three following years in its cultivation. In 1885 he came to Hancock county and bought seventy-nine acres of land in Portage township, upon which he settled, and was engaged in farming for the four following years. In 1889 he made his final move to the farm of one hundred and five acres in Amanda township which constitutes his present homestead. This land is fertile, and under Mr. Presler's good management has been made productive and profitable. He raises all the cereal crops adapted to the climate, and the usual amount and variety of stock customary in that locality. Mr. Presler has greatly improved his place since taking possession,
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and among the substantial additions made by him was a fine barn erected in 1892. As a citizen and neighbor Mr. Presler stands well, and has several times been called upon to fill township offices. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, of which he has been a stanch supporter from earliest manhood. Mr. and Mrs. Presler have six children: Schuyler C., Orpha K., Olivia O., Florence B., Edna G. and James L.
JEROME M. MARTIN.
Among the busiest, most energetic and enterprising men of McComb is the subject of this review, the senior member of the hardware firm of Martin & Weinland. He was born at Commercial Point, Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1854, and when only a year and a half old was deprived by death of his mother, and at the age of six years was left an orphan by his father's death.
Mr. Martin remained in the place of his nativity until twenty-one years of age and during that time acquired a good common-school education, well fitting him for the practical and responsible duties of life. In the winter months he attended school and in the summer seasons worked on a farm, thus providing for his own support from an early age. In the year 1875, with the capital which he had acquired through his own exertions, he embarked in the grocery business at Napoleon, Ohio, but after a year spent at that place he sold his store and removed to Decatur, Illinois, where he opened a res- taurant. He conducted the new enterprise for a year and then returned to Napoleon, where he followed the trade of carpentering, which he learned there, also executing contracts for work of that nature. He remained in Na- poleon until 1888, when he came to McComb and established his hardware store, having one of the largest and best stocked stores in this line of com- mercial activity in northern Ohio. The firm carries an extensive stock in or- der to meet the constantly growing demands of its trade, and the business is continually increasing, both in volume and importance.
In 1877, in Napoleon, Mr. Martin was united in marriage to Miss Clara J. Weaver, and they now have a pleasant home and many friends in Mc- Comb. Mr. Martin is a Democrat in his political views and has taken an active part in political affairs, serving as a member of the city council of Napoleon. He was also chief of the fire department, acting in that capacity for a number of years in a most capable manner. For six years, from 1893 until 1899, he served as treasurer of McComb, and from the latter date until the present time he has been the treasurer of Pleasant township, Hancock
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county. In 1888 he was a member of the city council here, and is an officer whose political record is above reproach, for he is true to every trust reposed in him and is loyal and patriotic in the discharge of his duties. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is an ex- emplary representative of the organization. His attention, however, is closely given to his business interests, which are now of an extensive character, and in the control of which he is meeting with very desirable success.
M. M. MOYER.
Edwin R. Moyer, the son of poor Pennsylvania parents, was inured to hardships in youth, and as he grew up learned the trade of shoemaking, which he pursued some years as a means of livelihood. After his marriage to Lucinda Grinawalt he obtained possession of a small piece of land, whose cultivation, in connection with his work on the bench, enabled him with diffi- culty to support his growing family. Thinking to better his fortunes by a movement to the west, he came about 1866 to Hancock county, where he bought eighty acres of land in Union township. This place, however, being found unsuitable on account of size and other reasons, he disposed of it to buy a tract double its size, on which he established his family as comfort- ably as possible. From that time on he abandoned his shoemaker's tools, and by devoting his whole attention to the farm obtained a success beyond his most sanguine expectations. In fact the quondam shoemaker proved to be an excellent agriculturist and soon became noted for the abundance as well as quality of his crops, while his stock was among the finest and fattest in the land. As Edwin's circumstances improved his family kept pace with the increased income, and in time Mr. and Mrs. Moyer found their household en- livened by the presence of twelve lusty children. The boys as they grew up all proved to be sober and industrious, and were of great assistance to their father in carrying on his farming operations. In time they all married and without exception have done well, being found in honorable positions in the various walks of life and respected as useful citizens. The father, after doing his full duty during a long and blameless life, passed away in 1888, and four years later his good wife, Lucinda, was laid by his side in the family burying ground.
M. M. Moyer, one of the sons of this worthy couple, was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, in July, 1862, and hence was only about four years old when his parents settled in Hancock county. He had no aspirations aside from farming, and having learned the details of this business under his fa-
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ther's tutelage adopted it as his regular calling as soon as he approached manhood. When his mother died, in 1890, he bought the interest of the other heirs in half of the homestead, and now owns eighty acres of his father's original purchase. This tract he has been cultivating for twelve years with such skill and industry as to be ranked as one of the most promising of the younger generation of farmers, while his genial character and kind disposition have gained him the good will of all his neighbors. He attends closely to business, manages his farm with judgment and his operations have yielded him a steady and increasing income. In the same year that he effected the purchase of his place he led to the altar Miss Alice, the accomplished daugh- ter of Dr. F. C. Steingraver, and this union, which proved in every way happy and congenial, resulted in the birth of three bright children, whose names are Frederick E., Helen M. and Myron D. Mr. and Mrs. Moyer are members of the Methodist Protestant church, in which he holds the posi- tion of trustee and steward. The success of Mr. Moyer, taken in connection with the standing obtained by his numerous brothers and sisters, shows that the emigration of the Pennsylvania shoemaker made a valuable addition to the stanch citizenship of Hancock county.
LEVI BRIGHT.
In the great and prosperous agricultural district of Hancock county, Ohio, one of the well known farmers is Levi Bright, who owns and resides on one hundred and two acres in Amanda township and also has three hundred and thirteen in Big Lick township. The Bright family has been intimately associated with the development and progress of this county for many years, and both the grandfather, Major, and the father, Nimrod Bright, were old settlers of the county. Further information concerning the family will be found in the history of Major Bright, on another page of this book.
Levi had his birth on his father's farm in Big Lick township, May 22, 1844. He was reared in the atmosphere of farm life, was early inured to its labors, and after enjoying the advantages of the common schools of his neighborhood he entered upon agricultural pursuits as his life work. But while still a boy he was called away from the peaceful existence of the farm to the stirring scenes of the Civil war. In 1862 he was enrolled as a mem- ber of Company H, Fifty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the battles of Arkansas Post, Allen's Hill and the siege of Vicksburg. Disease incapacitated him for further service and he was honorably dis- charged in 1863. After his return from the war he began as a farmer on
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his own account and about 1870 made his first purchase of real estate, amount- ing to forty acres, to which he has added by purchase and by his father's gifts until he now owns his present acreage. It is needless to say that he has been very successful in all that he has undertaken and is now rated as one of the foremost farmers of the county. He removed to Amanda township in 1895 and is now trustee of the township. With his brother, John, he developed the first oil well in the township, in 1901, and at the present time they own and operate thirteen wells. Mr. Bright is a member of the United Brethren church and serves as one of its trustees. His political beliefs are those of the Republican party.
On March 27, 1867, Mr. Bright married Miss Mary F. Dotts, the daughter of Andrew and Matilda Dotts, who was born in Hancock county in February, 1845, and passed away on Christmas day of 1889. Of this mar- riage there were born eight children, of whom four are living: Anna B., Cora D., Etha L. and Bertha M. April 20, 1890, Mr. Bright was married to Mrs. Frances M., the widow of Newton Roberts, a native of Pennsylvania, born March 19, 1861. Mrs. Bright is a daughter of Abraham and Adaline Williams, who were born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, who came to Hancock county from West Virginia twenty-six years ago, and now reside in Big Lick township. Mr. and Mrs. Bright have four children, Sylvia M., Hazel A., Thornton I. and Weldon L. Mr. Bright and his family enjoy the high regard of a large number of friends and acquaintances and are good and worthy citizens of the county.
WILLIAM F. BRICKMAN.
A representative of the legal fraternity in Hancock county, William F. Brickman is engaged in the practice of law in McComb and has gained a good clientage, which has connected him with much important litigation and legal business. He is one of the native sons of this county, his birth having occurred in Washington township, upon his father's farmi, in 1866. He is a son of William Brickman, who was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, in the year 1825, and spent the days of his boyhood and youth in that coun- try, but in 1854 he sailed for the new world, for the tales he had heard concerning business opportunities in this country attracted him to American shores. He made his way across the country to Hancock county, Ohio, and throughout his life carried on farming. His death occurred in 1883, seven children surviving him: Lewis; Samuel; Sarah, the wife of Charles F. Greiner ; William F., whose name introduces this record; Minnie, the wife of
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Diverney Calhoun; Anna C., the wife of John W. Preble; and Etta C., who completes this family, of whom our subject is the fourth.
During the very early boyhood of William F. Brickman his parents re- moved to Portage township, Hancock county, Ohio, where he was reared and educated, attending the country schools through the winter months, while in the summer seasons he carried on agricultural pursuits, assisting his fa- ther in the work of field and meadow. He was thus engaged until twenty years of age, when he left the parental roof and made his way to Angola, In- diana, becoming a student in the Tri-State Normal College, of which he is a graduate, having completed the course with the class of 1890. He then entered the law office of Judge W. L. Penfield, of Auburn, Indiana, under whose direction he studied for a year, and then went to the state of Washing- ton, locating in Pullman, where he engaged in teaching school for about a year, although he remained there for twenty months.
Later Mr. Brickman became a student in the law department of the State University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he was graduated in 1893, and then he entered upon the practice of his profession in McComb, where a liberal patronage has been won, his clientage coming from a good class of people. He is deeply interested in his profession, thoroughly prepares his cases before entering the courtroom and before judge or jury is a strong advocate.
In 1900, in Hancock county, Mr. Brickman was united in marriage to Miss Vina S., daughter of Oliver P. Shaw, and the hospitality of the best homes of this locality is extended to them. In his political views Mr. Brick- man is a Democrat, and socially he belongs to the Knights of Pythias frater- nity, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and to the Ben Hur Tribe. He belongs to the Lutheran church and thus gives due attention to the social and moral phases of life as well as to his professional duties and interests.
PETER H. POWELL.
Peter H. Powell has for many years been identified with agricultural pursuits in Eagle township, Hancock county, and his farm, being in the oil belt of this state, now has upon it a number of producing oil wells, whereby his income is materially increased each year. He was born July 17, 1838, on the farm which is yet his home, his parents being Philip and Elizabeth ( Fell- ers) Powell, the former a native of Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, the latter of Fairfield county, Ohio. The Powell family is of Welsh origin as far back as the ancestry can be traced and for two centuries has been represented in
MR. AND MRS. PETER E. POWELL.
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America, five brothers of the name having come to this country at one time about two hundred years ago. They became scattered, however, and no authentic record of their descendants is obtainable. The one who located in Pennsylvania was William Powell, who operated a ferry on one of the prin- cipal rivers of the Keystone state.
John Philip Powell, the first to settle in Ohio, was a pioneer of Fairfield county. He entered several hundred acres of land from the government and divided it among his children. Peter Powell, the grandfather of our subject, entered one hundred acres for each of his children and settled the following sons in Hancock county : Peter, John, Henry, Samuel, Philip and Jacob, although Peter died in Fairfield county. Two other sons, George and Dan- iel, were settled elsewhere, the former in Wood county, Ohio, the latter in Carey, this state. Samuel and Henry were the pioneers here, coming in 1830 or 1831. Their father, Peter, spent his last years here, passing away when eighty-five years of age. He was a man of decided views, fearless in defense of his honest convictions and was respected by all who knew him. All of his sons have now passed away, the last being Jacob, who departed this life in Findlay, at the age of eighty-five.
In 1834 Philip Powell, the father of our subject, came to Hancock county and settled in the midst of the green woods, where he began to make a farm, carrying on the work of its improvement until his death, which oc- curred in 1866. The mother of our subject had died about 1841, when only twenty-five years of age. They were the parents of three children: Joshua, of Liberty township; Peter, of this review; and Simon W., who left the old farm in 1859 and is now a civil and mining engineer of San Francisco. About 1842 the father had married again, Susanna Tussing, also of Fairfield county, becoming his wife. They had one child that died in infancy and the mother's death occurred in 1857. In 1850 Mr. Powell had built the house and in 1854 the barn and had made other substantial improvements on the property. He was a shoemaker, having picked up the trade in his youth. His father agreed to buy the leather if Philip would make him a pair of boots, which he did, and thus the father got a better fit than his sons, who had hired their boots made. In the winter months, in his own home, Philip Powell followed shoemaking and throughout the remainder of the year car- ried on farm work. He was a man of strict religious views and life and was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Association. In his family was much sickness, his second wife having been an invalid for seven years, while he was in poor health for about the same length of time. He broke up house- keeping and this necessitated his sons starting out in life for themselves.
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Peter Powell was then nineteen years of age. He worked for his brother Joshua until he was married, March 24, 1861, to Elizabeth C. Cogley. After his father's death in 1866, he purchased the interest of the other heirs in the property and returned to the old home place in August, 1867. Here he has remained continuously since and has carried on general farming and stock- raising, both branches of his business being so well conducted that they bring to him success. He also has thirteen oil wells sunk upon his farm and of these twelve are in operation and have produced a fair income. He has also become interested in property in Findlay in recent years.
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