A centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio, Part 36

Author: Lewis publishing company, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: New York, Chicago, Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 826


USA > Ohio > Hancock County > A centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio > Part 36


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Coons, Adams & Co., now Adams Bros., in their foundry, which occupied his time for sixteen months. At the expiration of that period he opened a black- smith shop of his own, which he has since continued to conduct with the energy that characterizes all his movements. Mr. Carpenter's specialty has . been horseshoeing, both plain and fancy, and in this line he has established a reputation second to no mechanic of his class in the community. That he lias been successful in his pursuits and "Gathered gear by every wile that's justified by honor," is evidenced by the fact that he has recently completed a handsome brick business block on North Main street in Findlay.


Mr. Carpenter has been twice married. In 1873 he was joined in wed- lock at Flint, Indiana, with Charlotte Merritt, daughter of Daniel Merritt, a farmer, and she died in 1878, leaving two children : Claude G., aged twenty- four, and Lura, aged twenty-seven. In 1882 he was united in marriage with Miss Katie O., daughter of Jonathan K. Kissel, a carpenter and joiner, by whom he has one daughter named Mina, born March 29, 1886. Mr. Car- penter has always been a Democrat in politics and was honored by election to the city council of Findlay as representative from the First ward, which normally gives a Republican majority of one hundred and twenty-five. This tribute to his personal popularity was shown to be deserved by the satisfac- tory manner in which he served his term of two years. Mr. Carpenter is not connected with any church but shows his fondness for fraternal fellowship by holding membership in the Tribe of Ben Hur, the Elks, the Junior Order of United American Mechanics and the Daughters of America.


Samuel Carpenter, the grandfather of our subject, a native of New York, was a carpenter in his early days and later a farmer. He lived about ninety years.


JOSEPH S. PATTERSON.


Only the "oldest inhabitants" can remember the time when the name of Patterson was not connected with the dry goods business at Findlay. Be- ginning in the spring of 1849, Mr. Patterson has been connected with the city's mercantile interests for fifty-three consecutive years, changing firms occasionally, but always remaining either as partner or principal in the busi- ness. Thus he is entitled to rank as the dean of the dry goods corps at Find- lay and as one of the oldest merchants in the state in point of years of service. He inherited his taste for this business and acquired qualifications for its pursuits in early youth, as his father had been a dry goods merchant of long standing. The family is of Irish origin, and for the purposes of this biog- raphy begins with the subject's grandfather, James Patterson, who was min-


JA. Patterson


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inister of the Established church in Ireland, and ended his days in his native land. His son, Robert Patterson, was born in north Ireland in 1789, came to Ohio in. 1811 and located first in Licking county and later at Bellefon- taine, where he was connected with mercantile affairs for half a century. He established himself in the dry goods business, at first in a small way, but enlarging as prosperity came until at the time of his death, in 1867, he had acquired rank as the leader in his line in that part of the state. In 1819 he married Eliza, daughter of Joseph Moore, of Licking county, by whom he had nine children as follows: Mary E., Lydia Ann, Elizabeth, Edward, Joseph S., James McG., Sarah Jane, Isabelle McKee and Robert E.


Joseph S. Patterson, who, as will be seen from the above list, is the fifth of the children, was born at Bellefontaine, Logan county, Ohio, November 25, 1827. He remained at home attending school until sixteen years old, and in March, 1843, came alone to Hancock county, engaged as clerk in a store at Findlay and held that position for the following six years. In March, 1849, he acquired an interest in the dry goods store of Frederick Henderson, and under the firm name of Henderson & Patterson the business was con- tinued at the old stand for three years. At the end of that time the firm, by reorganization and the introduction of new capital, became J. S. Patterson & Company, continuing as such until 1857, when Mr. Patterson retired and opened another store in connection with Milton Taylor. This new firm of Patterson & Taylor conducted business until the dissolution of the partner- ship in 1865, when still anothier dry goods store was opened, in charge of J. S. Patterson & Sons, which continued to the present time. The only break in the continuity of Mr. Patterson's career as a merchant occurred in 1857, when he was appointed agent at Findlay and had charge of the warehouse of what was then known as the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad, which position he occupied for one year and then returned to the dry goods busi- ness.


Mr. Patterson was married in 1853, to Minerva, daughter of William Taylor, and has two children, Charles W. and Frank T., who constitute the "sons" of the present well known dry goods firm. Thirty-seven years have elapsed since their father took them into partnership, and during this period they have shared in the reputation for fair dealing and commercial honesty long maintained by the firm of J. S. Patterson & Sons. Not only as mer- chants but as citizens in all the relations of life they stand well in the com- munity of Findlay. Mr. Patterson's religious affiliations are with the Pres- byterian church, and though Republican in politics is not an aspirant in that direction, his entire officeholding during his long career being confined to


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service for three years in the Findlay city council. He was chairman of the building committee for the erection of the new Presbyterian church at Find- lay and treasurer of the old Presbyterian church at the time it was erected in 1855. Charles W. Patterson, the eldest of the sons, was born at Findlay in 1854, educated in the schools of this city and later attended Wooster Col- lege and since 1875 has been engaged in the merchandise business. In 1882 le was united in marriage to Miss Jessie Dunn, of Columbus, Ohio. Frank T., the other son, born at Findlay in 1862, educated in the schools of this city, and is now a member of the firm. He was married in 1887 to Miss Mame Vance, of Findlay.


SAMUEL M. BIGGS.


Samuel M. Biggs, who was an enterprising farmer of Eagle township and a man of unquestioned probity and sterling worth, was born in West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, April 1, 1828, his parents being Llewellyn and Martha (McGrew) Biggs. The family comes of English ancestry and Llewellyn Biggs, the grandfather of our subject, was one of the heroes of the Revolutionary struggle which brought independence to the colonies. After arriving at years of maturity the father of our subject was married to Miss Mahala Kelly, who survived her marriage but a short time. Unto them were born four children, Ellen, Llewellyn, Martha and William. In 1858 the father came to Hancock county, Ohio, and engaged in contracting and build- ing, making his headquarters in Liberty township, west of Findlay. On the 13th of May, 1860, he was joined in wedlock to Sarah J., daughter of Will- iam and Elizabeth (Buchanan) Yates, who resided on the present Biggs homestead, four and a half miles west of Findlay, on the Lima road. Her father entered this tract of land in the early '30s, at which time he was living in Guernsey county, Ohio. He was born in Pennsylvania and at an early day settled in this state. His brother Samuel came to Hancock county after the arrival of William and settled in the same neighborhood. It was in the year 1844 that William Yates brought his family to Eagle township, his daughter Sarah being then ten years of age, and began to develop and im- prove a farm. The family home was a log cabin and for a few years they lived in true pioneer style, but gradually secured all the comforts which they had known in their old home and which were common in the east. As the years passed the father tilled his fields and his labors brought large crops which materially augmented his income. He owned two hundred and forty acres of land in the old homestead and as his financial resources increased he


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added to his property until his landed possessions aggregated one thousand acres. He thus became one of the extensive farmers and large landowners of the county and was also largely engaged in stock-raising and dealing, making shipments to city markets. As long as he lived he remained the active man- ager of his business interests, never relegating to others the control of his affairs. About 1857 he erected the brick residence which now stands upon his farm and it was in this house that his daughter, Mrs. Biggs, was married.


It was also in that same house that Mr. Yates died on the 15th of April, 1891, when he had reached the age of eighty-four years, one month and three days. His wife had previously passed away, her death having occurred Jan- tiary II, 1871. In the family of this worthy and honored couple were eight children : Samuel, who lived in Eagle township and died at the age of sixty- seven years; Phoebe Ann, who became the wife of Andrew Powell, of Liberty township, and died at the age of twenty-eight years; William, who enlisted in the Union army as a member of the Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry and died in the hospital during his term of service; Eliza, who became the wife of Alva Fink, of Eagle township, and died at the age of fifty years; Sarah J .; Thomas, who was also a member of the Twenty-first Regiment of Ohio Volunteers and was killed at Stone river; Elizabeth, the wife of An- drew Fellers, of Bowling Green, Kentucky; and Joseph, who died in Eagle township, at the age of fifty-five years.


William Yates was an active Democrat in his political affiliations and served as township assessor and county commissioner. He also belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, holding membership in DeLeal chapel, which was then a strong congregation, but the organization ceased to exist and no vestige of the church now remains, His was an honorable and upright life, characterized by activity and trustworthiness in business, by loyalty in citizen- ship and by faithfulness to friends and family.


After the marriage of Samuel Biggs and Sarah Yates they lived upon a part of her father's farm and he continued to follow his trade. After her mother's death they took charge of the property and bought one-half of the farm, and at the settlement of the estate purchased the remainder of the other heirs, thus becoming owners of two hundred and forty acres of valuable . land. Mr. Biggs then gave his attention entirely to agricultural pursuits and Mr. Yates, her father, made his home with them for several years prior to his death. In the work of caring for the farm Mr. Biggs was energetic, followed progressive methods and prospered in his undertakings.


The home was blessed with five children : Elizabeth E., Ada I., Emma D., the wife of W. S. Fortune, of Findlay, Ohio, Lemuel S. and Arna W.


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The two eldest daughters and Arna W. own the old home place and operate it in partnership. The father died August 23, 1899, and although he had been ailing for some time his death came suddenly. His wife survived him until January 23, 1902, when she, too, passed away, after having been in failing health for a year. He was a stanch Republican, attended party con- ventions and was a man of considerable local influence. He kept well in- formed on the issues of the day and was always ready to support his views by intelligent argument. He also read widely on other topics, including cur- rent events and general history. Both he and his wife held membership in the Pleasant Grove United Brethren church, which stood on her father's farm, and they took an active part in church work, being strict observers of its rules and teaching and well informed on Bible questions. They were laid to rest in Hartman cemetery, where her parents also sleep, and thus passed away a couple whose genuine worth was widely acknowledged and who left behind them many warm friends to mourn their loss.


SURREL PEARSON DEWOLF.


As city clerk, auditor of Hancock county, and business manager of the Republican newspaper, Mr. DeWolf has been kept rather prominently be- fore the public for a number of years. The position he has held enabled him to exercise influence, and this has always been exerted so as to most effi- ciently aid worthy causes and best advance the public welfare. The family is of French extraction but so long domesticated in the United States that all of France has disappeared save the turn of the name. The Ohio branch originated in Butler county, Pennsylvania, where Eli G. DeWolf was born in 1838 and learned the printer's trade as he grew from youth to manhood, having thus early acquainted a taste for "the art preservative" he never after- ward lost it, as his whole subsequent life was devoted to the newspaper busi- ness. Having removed to Ohio in 1863 he purchased the "Pike County Re- publican," a weekly paper published at Waverly, and conducted it until the close of the war, after which for several years he held the position of fore- man of the "Ohio State Journal" at Columbus. In 1868 he came to Findlay, and bought an interest in the "Weekly Jeffersonian," which he retained until i876. Later he founded the "Daily Republican," with which he was connected until his death. In 1875 he was appointed postmaster of Findlay by President Grant, received a reappointment both from Presidents Hayes and Arthur, and thus served through three administrations. He was a genuine newspaper man in every respect, much wedded to his calling, possessing all the characteristics


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of those who have "come up from the case," and his impress was left on every newspaper of which he had control. As running country newspapers is not a money-making business, he did not accumulate wealth, but he exercised a power as a writer which he never failed to use for the best purposes. His political predilections were earnestly Republican, and he gave that party most strenuous support both with tongue and pen until the end of his life in 1888.


Surrell Pearson DeWolf was born on his father's farm in Butler county, Pennsylvania, November 5, 1860, and was eight years old when his parents located at Findlay. In 1886 he became business manager of the "Republi- can," in which he and his father, Eli G. DeWolf, owned a controlling inter- est, and had charge of the paper about four years. In 1892 he was elected city clerk of Findlay, obtained a re-election in 1894, and served four years in this office. In November, 1895, he was elected auditor of Hancock county on the Republican ticket, being the first Republican auditor in the history of the county, and assumed charge of his office in the following year at the expiration of his term of service with the city. In 1898 Mr. DeWolf was re-elected auditor of the county, in 1900 resumed his position as business manager of the "Republican" and in 1901 became managing editor of that journal.


In 1880, Mr. DeWolf was united in marriage at Findlay with Miss Emma B. Brown, and has two children : Clarke F. and Metta A. Clarke F. DeWolf enlisted as a private in Company M, Thirty-fifth Regiment, United States Volunteers at the beginning of the Spanish-American war and served eighteen months in the Philippines. Mr. DeWolf's fraternal connections are with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.


ISAAC DAVIS.


William Davis, deceased, was one of the well known representative inen of Hancock county. He was a native of Maryland, and a man of much worth. It is safe to say that he was a self-made man in that full accep- tation of the term. Educated in a limited degree, and reared where slavery prevailed, this training was not a very excellent foundation for true manhood and noble character, yet William Davis reached the one and built firmly and well on the other. He came to this county in 1832, where he located in Marion township and purchased at various times land to the amount of seven hundred and forty acres. All of this is now in the oil and gas belt in Han- cock county and of course exceedingly valuable land. This property was accumulated by honest dealing and hard and earnest toil. He was elected to


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the office of county commissioner in which he served two terms most ac- ceptably, and also served for a period of thirty-two years as justice of the peace of his township. During his active life he was connected with every enterprise that was meant to advance the interests of education and religion in his township and county, and left a memory to be revered by his descend- ants. In 1828 he married Margaret Lafferty, who bore him ten children : Mary A., Isaac, the subject of this sketch, Jolin W., Elizabeth, Dr. A. L., Rachel B., Sarah, David, Edward B., and a younger one now deceased. The father of this family died in 1863, his wife surviving him many years and passing away in 1896. The grandfather of our subject was Henry Davis, who married Margaret Craig, and by whom he had seven children. After her death, which occurred early in life, he married for his second wife Betsey Hammond, who was the mother of five children. Henry Davis came to Han- cock county in 1850. He was a man of sterling character, and during his life here was revered for his many noble qualities.


Isaac Davis, whose name heads this article, was born in Marion town- ship, Hancock county, in 1837. The Davis family is of Welsh descent, and our subject shows many of the noble traits of that strain of the Anglo-Saxon race. He has tried to follow in the footsteps of his honored father, both as a business man and as a loyal citizen. He has never aspired to office, being of a retired and quiet disposition, but he is found at all times loyal to his county and to his country. He is the owner of six hundred acres of land, on which there are forty wells of oil and gas. He has held some of the minor offices of his township, more for the purpose of accommodation for his fel- low citizens than from the fact that he cared for public life. He served a term or two as justice of the peace. In addition to his farm he has a seed and wool warehouse in Findlay which he has operated for the last seventeen years. He was married in 1860 to Miss Caroline Gifford and the children of this union are: Howard V., deceased; William, Florence, David C., George W., Gertrude and Henry. Mrs. Caroline Davis was born in this county in 1840, on the farm where she now resides.


WILLIAM FISHER.


William Fisher, now a farmer of Cass township, Hancock county, is a member of that noble band of men who in the dark days of the Civil war offered their lives in defense of the Union, and he presents the remarkable experience of having been an inmate of the noted rebel prison, Andersonville, and escaped with his life.


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He was born at Wittenberg, Germany, October 3, 1840, and is a son of John and Frederica (Staley ) Fisher. They reared their family in the old coun- try, and in 1857 crossed the ocean to make their homes in this land of the free. They located in Cass township, purchasing a farm of eighty acres partially improved, which property is now in the hands of one of their sons, Philip. The family are members of the Lutheran church. In his native country John Fisher was a prominent man and held an office somewhat sim- ilar to that of sheriff in our county. This office he administered for fifteen years, with satisfaction to the government of William I. His family con- sisted of seven children, four of whom are now residents of the county. The father died in 1872 and his wife six years previously.


William Fisher was a sturdy lad of seventeen years and possessed of a good education when he crossed the sea with his parents. He arrived at a most opportune time to engage in one of the greatest struggles for freedom that has ever been noted in history. He was full of the fire and vigor of youth and so delighted was he with his surroundings and so elated over the prospects of becoming a citizen of the greatest nation on the earth, that at the first boom of the cannon he offered himself a willing sacrifice upon the altar of his adopted country. He served the nation well and loyally for three long years as a member of Company B, Fifty-seventh Regiment, Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, participating in many severe and bloody battles. Among these were Pittsburg Landing, siege of Vicksburg, the picturesque charge at Missionary Ridge, and on the Atlanta campaign. In this campaign he was taken prisoner and for three months experienced the horrors of Andersonville prison. He was finally exchanged and then discharged from the service. He enrolled in 1861 and was discharged in 1865, and was one of the very best of General William T. Sherman's fighting men. In these days of peace he looks back with great satisfaction on this period of his life. On returning from the war he was united in marriage to Miss Matilda, daughter of Henry Camps, one of Hancock county's old pioneer families. The union was blessed with nine children : Henry, Philip, Kate, Ellen, Willian, Scott, Lizzie, Nora and David. The mother was born in Hancock county in 1845. Mr. Fisher purchased his present farm soon after his marriage and has since resided there- on. It was very largely virgin soil, and it has required an immense amount of hard labor to bring it to its present productive state. He first built a rude log house, but as prosperity come to him, he erected a more comfortable resi- dence, and in later years modernized this commodious home so that he is now in the possession of one of the most comfortable rural homes in the county. He cultivates a farm of one hundred and ninety-four acres with


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great success. The chief characteristic of Mr. Fisher is his love for hard work, one of his maxims being that honest toil hurts no man. He is a good neighbor, loyal citizen and worthy Christian gentleman who unites many excellent qualities of heart and mind.


ELIPHES WANAMAKER.


The gentleman above named is one of the well-to-do men of Findlay, where he enjoys high standing in financial circles and the business world generally. He is an example of the class, often met with in this free coun- try, who begin life with few advantages, but by skill, prudence and industry achieve great results for themselves. They also disprove the cry, occasionally heard, that there is no longer any opportunity for young men, owing to the great accumulation of capital in a few hands and the tendency to consolida- tion. On the contrary, the opportunities are here in abundance, and they are of many different kinds, all that is necessary being the right kind of men to take advantage of them. And Eliphes Wanamaker is one of this kind, who found his opportunity early in life and so utilized it that before reaching middle life he had become a man of wealth and influence. The name sug- gests Pennsylvania, in which it has long been a familiar one and belonged to some notable people who have made it well known throughout the Union. Peter Wanamaker, grandfather of our subject, lived and died in the old Keystone state. His son, Lewis Wanamaker, was born in Westmoreland county in 1825, followed farming all his life and passed away at his old Pennsylvania home in 1897. On this farm in Westmoreland county, Penn- sylvania, in 1849, was born his son, Eliphes Wanamaker, and there he re- ceived his early training and education. When sixteen years of age he began casting around for employment and decided to learn the carpenter's trade, but after two years in this occupation concluded that he could find something better. Young as he was, he had already noticed the promise of great fortunes held out by the oil industry and he determined to turn his attention in this direction. Making his way to Venango county, one of the centers in the oil field, he engaged as a tool dresser with a view to learning that line of business, which offered especial inducements to skillful mechanics at that time. "One thing leads on to another," as the old proverb has it, and by the time he was twenty-one Mr. Wanamaker was hard at work as a driller of oil wells. This, however, was only a step in the direction toward which his ambition led, and after drilling for others about four years, he com- menced contracting for oil wells on his own account, which continued to be


Wanamaker


2


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lis regular business from that time on. In 1885 he transferred his scene of operations to Hancock county, Ohio, and from that year has been a perman- ent resident of Findlay. As the result of his skillful management, good judgment of property and wisdom in the handling of his resources, Mr. Wanamaker can now show an abundance of this world's goods and ranks as one of the "solid" men of the city.




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