USA > Ohio > Hancock County > A centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio > Part 32
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J. B. M. Bill & Wife
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the front. Elijalı McRill, who was born January 18, 1789, married Rebecca England in early manhood and came with her to Hancock county in 1832. In the common parlance of that day, he "entered" one hundred and sixty acres of land in Washington township, where he put up a round-log house in the pioneer style, to be replaced a few years later by a more pretentious structure built of hewed logs, which was then considered somewhat "stylish." Elijah was a hard-working man, of simple and unpretentious manners, who belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church and tried to do his duty in all the relations of life. In the course of time he sold his farm and led a retired life until the final summons came to him in 1879. Of his nine children only two are now living. B. J. McRill, the eldest of his surviving children, was born in Ashland county, Ohio, October 27, 1823, and was nine years of age when his parents came to Hancock county, where he has ever since made his home. At the age of nineteen he made his first purchase of real estate, consisting of forty acres, to which he kept adding until his present holdings embrace one hundred and fourteen acres of good land. He is one of the veteran educators of the county, having taught school for over forty-five years. In this way he contributed much toward the welfare of the county by that surest road to civilization which is found in the education of the people. During his long residence in the county of seventy years, which gives him right to the honored title of "one of the oldest settlers," Mr. McRill has enjoyed and fully deserved the confi- dence and esteem of his neighbors for two generations. At various times he has held the office of justice of the peace, assessor and trustee of his township, the duties of all which positions were ever discharged with fidelity and in- tegrity. A faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was class-leader for many years, he always aimed to practice what he preached, and the example he set before the rising generation was wholesome and worthy of imitation. His fraternal relations were confined to membership in the old and useful order of Odd Fellows, of which he has long been a shining light and active member. Mr. McRill's first marriage was with Miss Fannie Carpenter, who bore him two children, but these, as well as their mother, have long since passed from earth. His second marriage was in 1850 with Rosanna Zimmerman, who was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, June 5, 1831. The children of this second marriage were Amanda J .; J. C .; Sarah A. C .; A. A .; R. W .; Nelson A., deceased; and Elijah E.
Jefferson C. Zimmerman, the second in order of birth of the above enum- erated children, was born in Marion township, Hancock county, Ohio, March 3, 1858, and grew to manhood on his father's farm. After the usual prelimi- nary attendance at the district school he entered business for himself at a very
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early age by the purchase of his present farm of seventy-two acres in Big Lick township, where he has since resided. He cultivated this place in the usual way, devoting it to general farming, until the year 1901, when he was lucky enough to "strike oil." The result of this happy discovery was seven pro- . ducing oil wells, which are now in full operation and bringing a handsome revenue to their owner. Mr. McRill well deserves the success and good for- tune with which he has met, as he has been painstaking and industrious, at- tentive to his business and in every way a worthy citizen. The only office Mr. McRill has held was that of justice of the peace, of which he was the incum- bent from 1893 until 1899, and this important trust was discharged in an eminently satisfactory manner.
April 6, 1886, Mr. McRill was happily wedded to Miss Ella C., daughter of Solomon and Rebecca (Neff) Eberhart, born in Steuben county, Indiana, in 1863, who has proved a most affectionate wife and mother. Her father was a native of Michigan, a farmer by occupation, and died in the prime of life. The children consist of two daughters: Myrtle I., born July 7, 1887, and Hazel G., whose birth occurred September 11, 1889. Since 1888 the family have been members of the Christian Union church, in which Mr. Mc- Rill holds the position of trustee.
WARNER COONTZ.
One of the most substantial and prominent farmers of Hancock county, who is now living retired from activity, in Findlay, Ohio, is Warner Coontz, whose pleasant home is located at No. 901 Washington avenue, in this city.
The birth of Mr. Coontz occurred April 2, 1826, in Jefferson county, Virginia, and he is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth Coontz, who came to Ohio when our subject was quite small. His parents located first in Fairfield county. Jacob Coontz was born in 1734 and died June 28, 1833, in Fairfield county. His wife was born in 1746 and survived until February 13, 1855. They had a family of seven children, the three survivors being: Warner, Sarah and Emanuel. Jacob Coontz was a man of education and culture, learned both in the German and the English language, and was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church.
In every way our subject is a self-made man, the death of his father when he was but seven years of age, leaving him practically without a pro- tector. However, the principles of right living had been instilled from earliest childhood, and the lessons learned then, and his inheritance of gentle blood from most estimable parents, have guided him safely through a long life. In
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1865 he came to Hancock county and purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, to which he has at various times added until he now has four hundred and twenty acres, in three farms, one located in Liberty, one in Blanchard and the other in Marion townships, in addition to a valuable city property.
February 20, 1854, our subject was married to Miss Mary Hott, who was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, September 1, 1832, and died on Jan- uary 27, 1899. The children of this union were : John, born January 17, 1855; Kate, June 26, 1856; Warner, Jr., born May 17, 1864, and now a resi- dent of Greeley, Colorado; and William, born August 25, 1866, who is a phy- sician of prominence, practicing in Cleveland, Ohio.
Mr. Coontz is a member of the First Methodist church of Findlay and one of the liberal contributors to its support. In 1888 he gave up practical farming and since that time has been an esteemed resident of Findlay. He worked hard in his early days and is now in a condition to thoroughly enjoy the declining years which his friends hope will be many in number.
THOMAS FLICK.
As far back as 1833, John and Elizabeth (Fox) Flick left their native place in Fairfield county and took up their abode on a tract of land in Han- cock county, situated in Union township. This land, consisting of one hun- dred and twenty acres, was obtained from the government and at the time of the purchase was decidedly wild and swampy. But pioneers were not to be discouraged by little things like this and the new arrivals set resolutely to work to see what kind of home they could extract from this "lodge in the wilderness." John Flick was really a great acquisition to the community at the time he arrived on the scene. Blacksmiths were always in demand in pioneer times and Jolin was one of the best of his craft, strong, sturdy, in- dustrious and skillful. There was soon plenty of demand both for his time and talent to shoe horses, re-tire wagons, mend tools and do all the other odds and ends characteristic of a cross-roads smithy. Between jobs of this kind, John worked in clearing his rather unpromising farm and in course of time had his swamp fairly well drained, the underbrush grubbed out and the land fit for cultivation. By his combined pursuits of farming and blacksmithing, working all day and part of the nights, John Flick finally reached the time when he could take things easier, having a competence laid by for a rainy day. The truth is that he was a model man as well as a very deserving one, as all knew who pulled the latch string on the door of his humble cabin. He
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closed his busy and blameless career in 1868, when about sixty-five years old, and about thirteen years later his faithful wife Elizabeth joined him "on the other shore." Of the eight children borne to this worthy couple, five still live and all are residents of Hancock county but one, who lives in Indiana.
Thomas Flick, the third surviving son of the pioneer blacksmith above described, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, November 18, 1832, and was just a year old when introduced by his parents to the swamps of Hancock county. He grew up on the old homestead in Union township, attended the local schools and became acquainted with all those duties which fall to the lot of a boy on the farm. When he reached manhood, therefore, he was well qualified for the business which he entered upon forthwith and has continued in throughout the years of his adult life. He has had his ups and downs and changed homes a good many times before he found the place to suit him, but through it all made more or less gain and is justified now in regarding his life as a success in its entirety. His first purchase consisted of sixty acres, on which he resided three years. This was disposed of in 1856 and the pro- ceeds invested in a tract of eighty acres, on which he lived three years and sold to move upon another farm of similar size. He remained on this place twelve years and in 1881 bought the farm of eighty-eight acres in Union township which constitutes his present homestead.
February 18, 1853, Mr. Flick was married to Sarah, daughter of Henry and Magaret Deeds. Mrs. Flick's parents were the first settlers of Union township, Hancock county, where she was born April 14, 1836. The chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Flick are William, Henry, Samantha, Ursula, Mi- nerva, Leander, Margaret S. and Eliza, deceased. The parents are members of the United Brethren church and no family in Union township are more highly esteemed than the Flicks.
FRANCIS M. STORTS.
There is no more beautiful custom in civilization than that manifested by thought for our dead. "See that my grave is kept green," is sometimes upon flippant lips with little meaning but underlying it runs a current deep and strong and lasting as the ages. Cremation is faultless in theory-reason compels us to its endorsement. But its slow growth in the public mind is evidence of the fact that custom's laws are not easily broken ; centuries hence the green sward and flowers of Dame Nature will continue to minister in sweet fragrance to the spirits of our dead.
Francis M. Storts is superintendent of the Fountain Cemetery, which
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is situated on a beautiful site of gentle sloping and well kept ground. He is a genius in his line. He does all his own planning as to landscape, raises all his plants and flowers, and so tasteful are the arrangements that the eye is captivated by the beautiful and picturesque scene. His plots are tastefully laid out, his grounds are clean and inviting, while his walks are models of perfection.
Mr. Storts was born in Perry county, Ohio, April 5, 1864, and was the son of William and Lucinda (Alexander) Storts. He passed his boyhood days quietly in his parents' home, and in the common schools acquired his elementary education. His young manhood was spent in the construction of railroads and telegraph lines. Having a taste, however, for the esthetic in nature, he subsequently became engaged in agricultural pursuits which he followed for a few years. In the spring of 1892 he took upon himself his present responsible office, the duties of which he has discharged with great acceptance to his employers, and to the public at large. The Fountain Cem- etery was laid out in 1844, and now contains twenty-one and one-half acres, fifteen acres of which is already in use by the public. Mr. Storts is held in good favor in the community in which he resides, and he and his family are acceptable members of the Methodist Episcopal church, while he fratern- izes with the Maccabees organization.
Mr. Storts was joined in marriage in 1887 to Miss Laura B. Levingston, and she has become the mother of six children, Lillie G., Cloe B., Verna B., Laura E., Edson F., and Hazel C. Mrs. Storts was born in Licking county, Ohio, in 1870, her family being among the pioneers of the Buckeye state.
Mr. Storts is a courteous officer in his responsible position, well in- formed and intelligent on general matters, and is a popular and highly re- spected citizen of his city, and as such well deserves representation in this volume.
WILLIAM BOLANDER.
It is with pleasure that the subject of this sketch is introduced into this work as a true son of Hancock county. Mr. Bolander is a man who believes that his native heath is good enough for him, and that there is no need of seeking opportunities in distant lands when so many lie at hand. He was born on a farm in Big Lick township, this county, in 1844, when this section of Ohio was very sparsely settled. He passed his earlier years in the country, acquiring his education in the country schools, and assisting on his father's farm. When the war broke out Mr. Bolander waited his opportunity and
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when the call came for volunteers in Hancock county, immediately enlisted in Company A, Twenty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served three years and saw his country vindicated before he was mustered out. Some of the conflicts in which his company was engaged was Stone River, and those occurring during the campaign from Dalton to Atlanta and from there to Jonesboro, where he was severely wounded in the left thigh. He was sent to Atlanta for care, and soon after that to Chattanooga, where he was mustered out, in 1865. He immediately returned to Hancock county, where he has since resided.
In 1866 he was married to Sarah Crosley, and they have seven children. The same year he was married he moved to Findlay, the county seat. In 1892 he went into the meat business, in which he has been very successful.
Mr. Bolander is among the best known of the business men of the town and is a loyal citizen. He keeps his war service in mind and heart by mem- bership in Stoker Post, No. 54, G. A. R., which includes so many of Find- iay's prominent men. He has always been identified with the Republican party, in which his faith waxes stronger as the years go by. He is a member of the Evangelical church of Findlay.
HENRY J. BLYMYER.
During the first half of the nineteenth century there lived in Adams county, Pennsylvania, near the historic battlefield of Gettysburg, a worthy couple bearing the names of Joseph and Magdalene Blymyer. Joseph was a mechanic, and, finding business rather dull around his old home, decided to go further west in search of a betterment in his fortunes. Accordingly, in the year 1852, he packed up and with his wife and little ones joined the great tide of emigration then setting in toward Ohio. After reaching this state the family made their way to Hancock county, where the head of the house bought forty acres of land in Eagle township and settled temporarily on the same. Being a wagon-maker, however, and finding no opening for that business at his country home he soon went to Findlay and established him- self in trade at that advantageous point. He was a good workman as well as an exemplary citizen and prospered fairly well during his residence in Findlay, until he moved to a farm in Eagle township, where he died in 1894. By his good wife, Magdalene, who died in 1881, he had five children, and the three of these now surviving all live in Hancock county.
Henry J. Blymyer, one of the children last mentioned, was born at the old Pennsylvania home near Gettysburg, in 1838, and was consequently only
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fourteen years old when his parents made their journey to Ohio over half a century ago. From his father, as he grew up, he learned the wagon-maker's trade, and when sufficiently proficient assisted in the shop with the more difficult parts of the work. Later on he set up for himself in the business of making wagons, and prosecuted the trade diligently until 1881. At that time he saw an opportunity to make a good investment at Rawson, and closed a deal with George Burket for his mill in that town. Immediately thereafter Mr. Blymyer gave up his residence in Eagle township, as well as his wagon business, and assumed charge with his usual energy of his recent purchase at Rawson. The mill was constructed in 1852, and had been run- ning most of the time for nearly thirty years, but was greatly improved and its facilities increased after Mr. Blymyer came into possession. He does sawing, planing, lathing and other kinds of work appropriate to his calling, his power consisting of a sixty horse-power engine, and his mill capacity being ten thousand feet of surface lumber per day. Besides his mill business, which is valuable, Mr. Blymyer owns other town property, and altogether may be regarded as in comfortable financial circumstances.
In 1864 Mr. Blymyer was united in marriage with Nancy Hoppis, and of their six children the four survivors are George, William, Nancy M. and Catherine. In 1892 Mr. Blymyer took his sons, George and William, into partnership, and the business is now carried on under the firm name of Blymyer & Sons. It is needless to say that the thriving business done by this enterprising firm is an important feature of the village where the plant is located. The busy hum of the saw, the puffs of the laboring locomotive, the shouting of the teamsters and the clash of the revolving machinery keep the people from forgetting that something is going on at Rawson.
JAMES C. DONNELL.
The gentleman whose name is mentioned above is one of the successful and prosperous business men of Findlay, Ohio. As he looks back over a long life of business activity he can attribute much of his success to the fact that he believed in the old saw, "stick to your last." For years he has been en- gaged in the oil business, having at the age of twenty begun operations in that line. He is at the present time vice president and general manager of the large corporation known as the Ohio Oil Company, with headquarters at Findlay. His wife and son are prominent members and most active workers in the First Presbyterian church of Findlay, and Mr. Donnell was a mem- ber of the building committee which has just finished the present commodious
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and elegant structure, which cost sixty-three thousand dollars. Mr. Donnell was born in the village of Waterford, Erie county, Pennsylvania, on the 20th day of April, 1864. In this village he passed the period of youth, receiving such education as was then given in the local school. All his life he had heard the subject of oil discussed, not only about his own fireside, but on the streets of the village where he was reared, for it was in the center of the oil country. And while he was cognizant of the fact that a large number of operators in that industry had failed to make a success, he felt that in him the desire to try his own hand at it was present. He therefore at the age of twenty went to Titusville, Pennsylvania, and began operations. Here he worked with varied success, and although not making a vast amount of money he accumulated a most desirable business experience in that line which served him very well in later years. In 1887 he came to the new oil fields at Lima, Ohio, and the following year located in Findlay, where he has since resided and been en- gaged in business. In addition to his connection with the oil industry he is also a director of the commercial banking company of Bowling Green, Ohio, one of the strong financial institutions of the state. In 1887 he was instru- mental in the organization of the present Ohio Oil Company, and later he with other strong men bought up the stock, and he is now in practical con- trol of the corporation. He was first made a director of the company, but his business capacity was demonstrated to such an extent that in 1901 he was selected as the vice president and general manager. Mr. Donnell is a Re- publican in politics, although he gives very little attention to matters politi- cal. Fraternally he is a member of the Elks. The beautiful home of Mr. Donnell is presided over by a lady whose maiden name was Lizzie Weston Meeks, the daughter of the late Rev. J. A. Meeks, their marriage occurring in 1890 in the city of Findlay. Mr. Donnell had previous to this been joined in marriage to Sarah Flinn, who died in 1886, leaving one son, Otto Dewey Donnell. The father of Mrs. Donnell, the Rev. J. A. Meeks, was for a long time a most faithful and efficient pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Findlay. He died in July, 1887, and in memory of the beautiful life which he lived before his people, Mr. Donnell has had erected in the new church which has just been built, a most beautiful memorial window.
The Donnells are of Scotch origin, Mr. James Donnell, the father of our present subject, having been born in Scotland in the year 1813. He grew to manhood in the old country, where he also married, his wife's name having been Elizabeth Boyd, of Irish descent, and born in 1814. They came to America in 1853, and located in Waterford, Pennsylvania, where Mr. Don- nell died in 1872. Mrs. Donnell still lives in the village of Waterford. These
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parents raised a family of six children, of whom two sons did valiant service their country in the late Civil war. One of these, Robert Donnell, received wounds in the battle of Antietam which, together with other complications, were finally responsible for his death, which occurred in 1867, at the age of twenty-six years. He was a non-commissioned officer in the fifty-first Penn- sylvania Regiment, and served in that regiment during the entire period of the war. William Donnell, another brother, was also in the service, being a member of a Pennsylvania regiment. He now resides in Erie county, Penn- sylvania.
Upon the site of the old Presbyterian church at the corner of Main and Hardin streets has been erected a business block fifty by one hundred and twenty feet and three stories high. It was upon this ground that Rev. John A. Meeks, the father of Mrs. Donnell, helped to build the church in which he preached for many years.
SALAMIS BOWLBY.
A great many elements enter into the success of a man, no matter what occupation he follows, and in giving the history of the life of the subject of this sketch we must consider as important factors of his prosperity as a farmer his geniality, his large heartedness and also his natural aptitude for various mechanical arts which materially assist the farmer. No man in Amanda township is better known than Salamis Bowlby and it is eminently proper that his biography should be found in this historical volume.
His parents were John and Susan (Stahl) Bowlby, the former born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Wayne county, Ohio. John was a shoemaker by trade. He took up his residence in Findlay, Hancock county, in 1847, and remained there until 1856, in which year he moved to Carey, Wyandot county. Two years later he passed from the scene of life's activities and his wife followed him in 1865. Seven children were born to this worthy couple and all are now living, Salamis and his sister, Mrs. Rheinhart, being the only ones in this county.
The birth of Salamis Bowlby occurred in Stark county, Ohio, August 23, 1844, and he grew to manhood partly in Findlay and partly in Carey. While still a boy in years, though with the courage and spirit of a man, the Civil war broke out and in the first year he enlisted, being enrolled in Com- pany A, Forty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for a term of three years; and at the expiration of this period he re-enlisted in the same company and regiment, to serve to the end of the war. He was promoted to the rank of
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corporal and in 1865 was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Stone river, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, the Atlanta campaign, Nashville, Tennessee, and New Hope church. At the battle of Stone river, December 31, 1862, he was severely wounded and captured, being later taken to Richmond and held in prison for sixty-nine days. He was again wounded at the battle of Nashville. With the end of the strife he returned gladly to the peaceful pursuits of civil life and began farming on his own account by purchasing in 1866 forty acres of land in Big- lick township. This farm he exchanged in 1869 for another in the same township, and this latter he also sold and in 1873 bought his present place. He began with forty acres but has added to it until he now possesses a fertile and well tilled farm of sixty-five acres, and this he devotes to that most profitable branch of agriculture, "trucking." He has erected all the buildings on the place, including a fine brick house with suitable outbuildings. He car- ries on his operations on an extensive scale and is able to supply the towns of Findlay, Carey and Fostoria with the best of farm and garden produce. And his ingenuity in mechanical matters enables him to perfect many de- vices aiding in his work and to repair all his tools himself.
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