USA > Ohio > Hancock County > A centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio > Part 28
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In 1892 Mr. Powell was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died July 2, of that year, after a happy married life of thirty years. They were the parents of six children: Jacob Sylvester, of Eagle township, mar- ried Alice J. Decker ; Alice A. is the wife of Oliver Yates, of Eagle township; Simon Joshua married Lizzie Billman and is living in Seneca county ; Emma V. is the wife of J. W. Foreman, of Eagle township; Elmina is the wife of William Yates, of Liberty township; Clemmons L. is at home. On the 27th of December, 1894, Mr. Powell wedded Mrs. Jennie Deeds, the widow of Levi Deeds, and a daughter of James and Henrietta (Leeder) Beard, of Marion township, Hancock county, where she was born. By her first mar- riage she had one daughter, Ivy Deeds, now fourteen years of age.
With the exception of very brief intervals Mr. Powell has filled the office of justice of the peace since 1872 and his decisions are strictly fair and impartial, and during nine years of this time he was also township treas- urer. For two terms he has been trustee and has been a member of the school board. He belongs to the Evangelical Association, and is a class leader and trustee in the church, and in every office in which he has been called to serve he has been found true and faithful to the trust reposed in him and to the obligations devolving upon him. In politics he is a Democrat. In 1872 he became a member of the Hancock Lodge, No. 73, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
WILLIAM C. DOTY.
The family to which Mr. Doty belongs has been identified with Han- cock county affairs for over half a century, and none stand higher as citi- zens and business men. His father has lived on the same farm for sixty years, and has been a witness to the principal growth and development of Hancock county, most of which has occurred since the Civil war. John Doty was born in New Jersey, in October, 1816, and came west in early
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manhood, settling first in Fairfield county, Ohio. In 1843 he removed to Hancock county, where he met and a year or two later married Margaret Walters, who was born in Kentucky, November 22, 1823. Immediately after marriage he took his bride to the farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he had bought in Jackson township, and there he has lived through all the eventful years that have since passed by. He has, of course, greatly improved his farm lands since the first crude days and besides many other additions both for beauty and comfort he put up a handsome brick residence in 1867. He has been quite active and influential in connection with township affairs, having held the office of trustee two terms, land appraiser one term and served sixteen years as township treasurer. The family are connected with the United Brethren church, of which Mr. Doty is now trustee and in the past has been class leader and steward. His eight children are Margaret J .; William C .; Elijah; Henry, a presiding elder in the United Brethren church; Edward; John L .; H. Walter, an attorney at Findlay ; and Flora E.
William C. Doty, second in the above enumerated list, was born on his father's farm in Jackson township, Hancock county, Ohio, December 10, 1846, and grew to maturity on the old homestead. In August, 1876, he made his first business investment by purchasing sixty-two acres of land in Amanda township, but after working this four years he sold it and invested the proceeds in the farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Jackson town- ship which constitutes his present home place. During the twenty-two years of his occupancy Mr. Doty has greatly improved his estate in every way, especially by the erection of suitable outbuildings for storage of grain and housing of stock. He devotes his land to raising standard crops and keeps a sufficient amount of stock to consume the surplus, his operations being carried on by modern methods and that intelligent economy that insures the best results.
On the 15th of October, 1871, Mr. Doty was married to Anna, daugh- ter of J. L. and Meletha (Clayton) Shields. Mrs. Doty's father was born in Virginia, and her mother in Maryland, near Sharpsburg. They became the parents of five children, Mrs. Doty being the youngest of the family. They moved from Fairfield county, Ohio, to Hancock in 1854, and located in Jackson township, where they both died, the father in his eighty-first year and the mother when seventy-five years of age. They belonged to the Metli- odist Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. Doty are parents of ten children, but of these the only ones living are: Fred S., John H., Edith, Harry and Edson. The family are members of the United Brethren church, in which Mr. Doty holds the position of steward, and they enjoy general esteem in the
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social circles of their neighborhood. In 1898 Mr. Doty built his present modern residence, a house of ten rooms and up-to-date in every respect. It cost about two thousand dollars and is a credit to the community in which he lives. He has also a fine barn, eighty-four by thirty-eight, with wing sixty- four by twenty. In fact Mr. Doty's farm is one of the model ones of the township. He has been a life-long Democrat, but would not accept any office, though tendered them many times.
JOHN E. FINSEL.
Not in the desultory manner that renders effort without result, but with steady persistence has John E. Finsel carried on his work, and to-day he is numbered among the substantial farmers of Washington township, in Hancock county. Here he resides on a well tilled and superbly conducted farm. Every fence and every building on the farm is indicative of the intelli- gent methods which he pursues and the persistence and industry with which he carries them through.
Mr. Finsel was born in Sandusky county, Ohio, April 14, 1859. He is the son of John and Kunigunda (Walters) Finsel. These parents were both natives of Bavaria, Germany, where the former was born April 27, 1823, and the latter April 3, 1827. In separate families they emigrated to America in 1848 and were soon married, their voyage across the ocean occurring in the same vessel. After their marriage they located in Fremont, Sandusky county, where John applied himself to his trade, that of shoemaker. At this business he continued to 1871, at which time he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He owned forty acres of land, to which he soon added forty more, and by his industry became independent. In 1860 he re- moved to Seneca county, where he died August 19, 1902. He favored the policies of the Democratic party, and in religious matters was a communicant of the Roman Catholic church. Their family consisted of two children, our subject, and a daughter Kate, now the wife of William West.
John E. Finsel passed his life on the home farm in Seneca county with- out any event of special importance to break the monotony, attending the school of his home district in the winter, and passing the summer in the hard work of a pioneer farm. His advanced education was received at the Val- paraiso Normal School, in which institution he fitted himself for teaching. This, however, he found not to his taste and soon abandoned it for agricultural pursuits, in which occupation he has been more than ordinarily successful. In fact he has the reputation of being one of the finest farmers of his town-
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ship. In 1881 Mr. Finsel married Miss Mary C., daughter of John and Elizabeth Nause, to whom were born Bertha E., William J., Ralph A., Albert C., Clara H., Ellen E., Colletta C., Coral J. and Cleo B. The wife was born in Sandusky county, March 20, 1859. Mr. Finsel bought his present farm in 1890. He and his family are devout communicants of the Catholic church, and he has received recognition at the hands of his fellow citizens by election to the office of township trustee, serving also as clerk of the school board for a number of years. He favors in political matters the policies as set forth in the Democratic platform. He is an honest and upright citizen and as such de- serves the commendation which he receives from a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
MARION A. COBB.
Marion township has no more highly respected or worthy citizen than this well known farmer, who has spent his entire life in Hancock county. He resides on a farm of one hundred and fourteen acres, which he has culti- vated for a number of years. He was born in Cass township on the IIth of July, 1845, the son of Alonzo H. and Jerusha (Palmer) Cobb. Here he was 1eared, later removing to Marion township where he received the education that is commonly given in the country schools. Upon reaching his maturity he chose farming for an occupation, and has since been engaged in its activi- ties. He bought his farm in 1876, and has continued to reside there since that time. He has made great improvements on the original place, and is now possessed of very modern property. The farm was formerly the property of William Davis, who was the brother of Mrs. Cobb. Mr. Cobb was joined in marriage on April 18, 1872, to Miss Sarah, daughter of William A. and Margaret Davis. Three children have come to bless their home. Viola M., Mamie E. and Harry A. Mrs. Cobb was born in Marion township on the 6th of March, 1845, and her family is further mentioned in another part of this volume.
The parents of Mr. Cobb were natives of Vermont, where the father was born on December 4, 1809, and his mother, July 3, 1812. They removed to Hancock county, Ohio, about the year 1841, locating in Cass township on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Here the father died early in life, the date being August 13, 1847. During his short existence he was a man of in- fluence in his township, and is remembered as having served a number of years as justice of the peace, which office he administered with great acumen. He in religious faith was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His fam-
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ily numbered three children, Charles, deceased, born July 26, 1834; Ann Jenette, deceased, born December 11, 1843; and Marion A., subject of this sketch. Mrs. Cobb the mother of the family died July 29, 1891. The grand- father of our subject, James Cobb, came to Ohio and settled at the same time with his son, Alonzo H., on one hundred and sixty acres in Cass township. He continued to reside there until his death in 1847. He is remembered as a . man of most powerful physique, weighing some 270 pounds. His height was six feet and seven inches.
Mr. and Mrs. Cobb are passing the declining years of their lives among friends who delight to honor them.
GEORGE H. PHELPS.
An interesting because original character is the senior member of Phelps & David, one of the leading law firms in practice at the Findlay bar. Whether right or wrong there is never anything commonplace about Mr. Phelps, who seems to have an instinctive abhorrence of what Goldsmith called "that ras- cally virtue prudence," in his discussion of men and things. Not only has he opinions to express, but these are usually delivered with an emphasis and trenchancy which are sure to attract attention if they do not cause conviction. This temperamental characteristic accompanies his intercourse in all the rela- tions of life, with the result that Mr. Phelps is appreciated both as an entertain- ing and instructive companion, especially by those who abhor the overstocked "world of commonplace." Doubtless Mr. Phelps inherits his quality of deci- siveness from his lamented father who, by all accounts from those who knew him best, was a very remarkable man in more ways than one. Augustus H. Phelps was a native of New York, who spent most of his life on a farm which he employed some one to manage for him. He never failed to attract attention at first sight, his drawing qualities being both mental and physical. His physical appearance was indeed so striking as to extract admiration from any beholder and recall to the reader of Shakespeare Hamlet's famous description of his father in the scene with his queen mother. The perfect form, open and manly features, bright eyes and other personal adornments were backed by a mind of the greatest brilliancy and strength. Widely read in the best litera- ture of all peoples, a profound student of deep questions, and gifted with a conversational ability that was phenomenal an its range and forcefulness, the elder Phelps was a companion whose talk entranced every listener. In his re- ligious views he was a freethinker and deeply versed in the works of all the great infidel writers from Voltaire to Ingersoll, but he denied being an atheist,
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always saying in this connection that he could not realize an effect without a cause. Broad in all his views, he had a contempt for all that was little and nar- row, especially for cant and superstition in all its forms. He was fitted, had the opportunity offered, to become a leader among men and grapple success- fully with most difficult problems. But alas !
"Full many a gem of purest ray serene, The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear. Full many a flower is born to blush unseen And waste its sweetness on the desert air."
Augustus H. Phelps died in 1897, in his eighty-first year,.
George H. Phelps, son of the remarkable man sketched in the foregoing paragraph, was born at Hinsdale, New York, September 24, 1854, and re- inained on his father's farm until nineteen years old. Meantime he had at- tended school at intervals and formed a resolution to make a lawyer of him- self. With this end in view he borrowed some law books from the late Alex- ander Storrs, father of the famous Chicago advocate, Emory Storrs, and with these he secluded himself to pore over the mysteries of Blackstone, the deep logic of Greenleaf, and the quaint conceptions of Coke upon Littleton. A law student without a teacher is apt to become discouraged, and young Phelps was wise when in the spring of 1874 he sought aid in the office of Champlain, Arm- strong & Russell at Cuba, New York. He remained there one year as a clerk and had a similar position for another year in the office of Loveridge & Swift, of the same town. In the spring of 1876 he entered the office of Enos C. Brooks at Olean, New York, as a clerk, remained there until April of the following year, when he was admitted to the bar at Rochester and returned to Olean to locate. He was engaged in the practice of his profession at that place for ten years and made his first appearance at Findlay in April, 1888. Shortly there- after he formed a partnership with Judge M. C. Whiteley, which continued only eighteen months, and after that time Mr. Phelps practiced alone until Oc- tober, 1899. He then entered into a partnership with W. L. David, Jr., which under the firm name of Phelps & David, continues at the present time.
Mr. Phelps has never taken any part or interest in politics, office-seeking or office-holding, for the reason, as he expresses it, that the lawyer in his pro- fession and practice is sufficiently parasitical in a struggling society, and that in taking on politics he was adding insult to injury. He did, however, hold the office of notary public by appointment from the governor, until the Su- preme court of Ohio, on the relation of the attorney general, and on au-
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thority of the state constitution, ousted a Miss Adams from the office on the ground that ladies were ineligible, when he resigned his commission in a let- ter to the governor, in which he stated as his reason for resigning, that when it had come about that a bright woman could not adorn the office of notary public without having the constitution raised on her by a man, he regarded the office as a disgrace, rather than an honor. Mr. Phelps was married in 1882 to Miss Dell Canfield and to that union was born one living daughter- Nina A. Mrs. Phelps died in 1891 and in 1892 Mr. Phelps married his pres- ent wife, who was Ada C. Wicker, also of Olean, New York. In politics, he is at this date known as the "Greenback party of Ohio."
ALEXANDER MILLER.
The subject of this sketch, whose name is given above, has achieved dis- tinction in two departments of industry, those of mechanic and farmer, and in both lines he has long occupied a well recognized position in the front rank. He worked in Hancock county thirty-two years at the carpenter's trade and gained the reputation of being the foremost builder in the county, remarkable for the neatness as well as the skill displayed in all his work. As a farmer, too, he ranked well up to the front in that long line of enter- prising agriculturists whose energy and resourcefulness have made the Buck- eye state so famous for its crops and stock. Though his family connections have long been identified with other parts of Ohio, Mr. Miller is their only representative in Hancock county, of which he has been a resident for forty- five years.
His father, Isaac Miller, was born in Virginia in 1814, but came to Ohio in early manhood and spent the most of his subsequent life in the county of Licking as a farmer. He was a successful business man and accumulated considerable means during his career. A member of the United Brethren church, he lived an upright moral life, and was esteemed both as a good hus- bandman and good citizen. After locating in Ohio he married Sarah Knep- per, a native of Fairfield county, where she was born in 1818, and this union resulted in the birth of eleven children, of whom nine grew to maturity and seven are still living. Alexander Miller, one of the latter, was born on his father's farm in Licking county, Ohio, May 10, 1838, and remained there until the nineteenth year of his age. In March, 1857, he came to Hancock county, located in Blanchard township and followed the carpenter's trade, in which he soon acquired inusual proficiency. As his skill in this branch of
Alexander. Mille
Melissa Miller
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mechanics became known, he had no difficulty in obtaining work, and this he turned off so satisfactorily that for thirty-two years he was kept busy in his chosen calling. In 1859 Mr. Miller purchased from Fountain N. Clymer eighty acres of land in Blanchard township, which was at the time wholly unimproved but which, with forty more acres added in 1871, has been brought to a high state of cultivation. After securing his first real estate, Mr. Miller divided his time between farming and carpentering, and attended to each with such assiduity as to obtain the best results. In fact, the Miller farm and the Miller houses vied with each other in neatness of appearance and efficiency of workmanship, no job being turned out by this master me- chanic which was not able to withstand the most rigid criticism. In 1887 he sustained a severe loss by the destruction of his barn and contents by fire, but this calamity was soon repaired by his energy and undaunted determina- tion. In place of the original buildings, newer and far finer ones were erected on the old sites, and now it is admitted that none superior are to be found in the township. All the surroundings are neat and attractive and the tasteful workmanship with all the modern improvements gives evidence of a master mind and hand behind the designs and construction.
September 16, 1860, Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Miss Me- lissa Wise, born in Blanchard township in 1843 and whose family is deserv- ing of more than a passing mention. Her grandfather, George Adam Wise, was a native of France and served as a soldier under Napoleon Bonaparte. He crossed the ocean in 1842, accompanied by his wife Barbara and settled in Hancock county, where both ended their days, he in 1846 and she in 1854. Among their six children was John Wise, father of Mrs. Miller, who ac- companied his parents from Wheeling, West Virginia, where he was born, and became a school teacher after settling in Ohio. He also learned car- pentering and worked at that trade in conjunction with farming, between the two making a very comfortable living. Three of his four children are living, including Mrs. Miller, who is the only one of them residing in Hancock county. The latter's mother died March 4, 1886, and her father passed away August 6, 1901, both much esteemed by those who had known them best. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Miller have had eight children, of whom Mary E., born in 1861, Martha J., born in 1863, and William H., born 1864, are de- ceased. Those living are Carrie W., born in 1866; Rose B., born in 1868; Grove E., born in 1873; Vernon E., born in 1880, and Merritt C., born in 1883. Mr. Miller has never been an office seeker, but at the request of his neighbors served three years as assessor and one year as real estate appraiser of the township, being elected by the Republican party, to which he has always
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belonged. Both himself and family are members of the United Brethren church and in all the relations of life, as neighbors, friends and citizens, per- form their duties as good Christians.
LUKE H. BROADWATER.
In Luke H. Broadwater, the efficient manager of the Findlay Glycerine Company, the city of Findlay has an estimable and useful citizen. His birth was on a farm, in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 1870, where he remained until he was sixteen years of age, in attendance upon the public schools and assisting in the work of the farm. Subsequently he enjoyed excellent educa- tional advantages at Berlin, Pennsylvania, at New Centerville, and later at the Normal Institute, at Marshalltown, Iowa.
Prior to locating in Iowa our subject taught school in his native state, and also followed that profession for three terms in Iowa. In 1891 he came to Findlay, Ohio, and for one year read law in the office of a local attorney, and then entered into the employ of the Bradford Glycerine Company, as bookkeeper, remaining with the concern from August, 1892, until April 1, 1897. The business then changed hands and Mr. Broadwater remained with the new firm for a few months, and then, with others, organized the Findlay Glycerine Company, entering the business as manager, and of which he is now president and general manager. This company supplies nitro-glycerine and shoots wells, their trade being a large one through the oil districts. Mr. Broadwater is also interested in two factories in Kentucky, one at Burnside and the other at Barbourville. These are the same kind as the Findlay com- pany.
In 1895 Mr. Broadwater was first married, to Miss Amelia Ziegler, who died November 19, 1900. October 17, 1901, our subject was again mar- ried, Miss Catherine Wasson, of Findlay, Ohio, becoming his wife.
In political sentiment Mr. Broadwater is a Democrat, but takes no active interest in politics, being a thoroughly practical business man, and closely identified with the interests of his company. His fraternal associa- tion is with the Elks, in which order he is very popular.
MARY A. WOLFE.
We are now privileged to touch upon the life history of one of Han- cock county's most estimable families, the immediate representative of which is the above lady, who is the widow of the late Levi Wolfe, of Marion town-
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ship. She was born at Hagerstown, Washington county, Maryland, Septem- ber 22, 1833, and is the daughter of William and Margaret Davis, of the same state. Her parents left that portion of the country in the fall of 1833, and during the overland journey to Ohio they lost a son as the result of an attack of sickness. This misfortune caused them to remain for the winter at the place where it occurred, so that it was in the spring of 1834 before they finally reached Marion township, of this county. Here the father entered a claim of forty acres, which he subsequently sold but soon bought another forty, which was increased at various times until his holdings amounted to six hundred acres of the most valuable land in the county. William Davis was a man of in- fluence and character in his township, where for a number of years he held the office of justice of the peace, and was also county commissioner for a long period. He was kind to the poor, hospitable to all, and a man whose friends were myriad. He was a worthy member of the Baptist church, and proved his usefulness in that denomination by an active and consistent re- ligious life. He was joined in marriage to Margaret Lafferty in 1830, and to this union there were born eleven children, nine of whom are now living. Mrs. Margaret Davis died in October of 1882, her husband having passed away a number of years before, in 1863. His death was caused by anxiety for a favorite son John, who was a soldier in the active service during the Civil war. He had been wounded at the battle of Picket Mills, where his father in searching for him contracted a cold, and which caused his death in the year above stated. He was a man of sterling qualities of character, and was missed by his host of friends. His life was one of usefulness, and he assisted in the events which helped to inaugurate the period of prosperity which his descendants now enjoy. The son John recovered from the wound, and return- ing to the army was unfortunate enough to be captured at the battle of Stone River. He was kept a prisoner in the lines of the enemy for a considerable period, but was finally exchanged and returned home. Mary A. Wolfe was joined in marriage to Levi Wolfe on the 14th of August, 1851. The marriage resulted in the birth of four children: Margaret J., Lydia A., Fannie D., and John W., the last two deceased. Levi Wolf, the father of the family, was was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, on the 20th of August, 1825. He there received an excellent common school education which fitted him for his life of usefulness. In 1843 he, together with his parents, Rev. David and Lydia Wolfe, removed to Hancok county. They first located upon eighty acres in Marion township, to which they added afterwards fifty more. Their family numbered eleven children, but two of whom are now living, viz: John and Christian Wolfe. Rev. David Wolfe was a minister in the Evangelical
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