USA > Ohio > Hancock County > A centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio > Part 38
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JACOB NAU.
For solid qualities of character and intrinsic worth no foreign element exceeds that which comes to us from the fatherland. We here present the name of one of the former subjects of Emperor William, but who now is giving allegiance to the institutions of our beloved republic. Mr. Jacob Nau is an enterprising farmer, who resides in Washington township, where he tills most successfully eighty acres of the most valuable land in Hancock county. The birth of Mr. Nau occurred in Germany on the 5th of June, 1847, he being the son of John and Regina (Wertz) Nau. Both of these parents were natives of the province of Wurtemberg, Germany, where the family had for centuries made its impress upon society for good. They emigrated to this country in 1853, and coming immediately to the Buckeye state, purchased forty acres of land in Seneca county. They resided upon this land a number of years, but eventually sold it and removed to Wash- ington township, Hancock county, where they lived out the remainder of their lives, respected residents of their immediate community. The father died here in 1896, his wife following in 1898. They had six children, two of whom died in the fatherland, and one in this country. Those now living are Jacob, the subject of this review, and Elizabeth and Dortha.
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Jacob Nau was but six years of age when brought to this country, and received in the schools of Seneca county a fair education, to which he has added extensively, being of an inquiring and observant disposition. Arriving at years of maturity he apprenticed himself to the carpenter's trade, at which he worked with much skill and profit up to the time of his marriage. This event occurred in 1871, the lady being Theresa, the daughter of G. W. and Ellen Burgess. This union resulted in the birth of six children: Ellen, born February 24, 1873; J. W., March 1, 1875; Mertie, October 15, 1877; Blanche, September 4, 1880; Bertha, August 13, 1885; and Roy, who was born on the 20th of October, 1890. The mother of this family, whose par- ents were from Virginia, was born in Putnam county, Ohio, November 26, 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Nau are prominent and active members of the United Brethren church, of which organization Mr. Nau is a trustee. A few moments conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Nau disclose the fact that they are of more than average intelligence, being able to converse very freely on the general topics of the day. He is proud to call himself a self-made man, having carved out in a large measure his own fortune. He began his career as a poor boy, but by the application of that German thrift which is proverbial he forged ahead, and others were willing that he should do so, for he was made of the right material to win. His success was not earned at the ex- pense of his associates. He bought his present farm in 1882, and has since continued to operate it successfully. In the public life of the community, he has borne his share of the unpaid labor, having held the office of township trustee for a number of terms with credit to himself. Mr. and Mrs. Nau deserve and receive the good wishes of a very large circle of friends and acquaintances.
JOHN D. ANDERSON.
In a record of those who have been prominently identified with the de- velopment and progress of Hancock county it is imperative that definite con- sideration be granted to the subject of this review, for not only is he a prom- inent representative of the agricultural interests of this favored section, but has the distinction of being one of the native sons of the county, with whose fortunes he has been identified throughout his entire life. Born on the farm on which he now resides, he first opened his eyes to the light of day on the 14th of February, 1843. His father, Andrew W. Anderson, was a native of York county, Pennsylvania, where he was also reared, and subsequently he made his home in Columbiana county five years, on the expiration of which
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period, in 1840, he came to Hancock county. On his arrival here he took up his abode on eighty acres of timber land in Orange township, which in time he cleared and improved, and on this old homestead his death occurred at the age of fifty-nine years. His wife, Mary Anderson, was also born and reared in York county, Pennsylvania, and she lived to the good old age of ninety-one years, dying on the anniversary of her birth. Two children came to bless the home of this worthy couple, the sister of our subject being Mary Jane, the wife of Scott Bentley, of Allen county, Ohio.
John D. Anderson, the elder of the two children, received his education in the public schools of Orange township, where he also attended a select school for a time. In 1862, when nineteen years of age, he entered the school room as an instructor, and for four terms was a successful teacher, finally abandoning that occupation to take up the duties of farm work on the old parental homestead. He is the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of rich and fertile land, all of which is in Orange township, and sixty-two acres which lie in Allen county, this state. On his farm he has nine productive oil wells, making it one of the valuable places of the locality. Although his business interests have been extensive Mr. Ander- son has found time to devote to the public welfare, and on the Republican ticket he was elected to the office of county commissioner in the fall of 1895, entering upon the duties of that office on the Ist of January, 1896. He was subsequently re-elected to that position and also filled a vacancy of eight and a half months, his incumbency therein covering a period of six years and eight and one-half months. He has held many of the township offices, and has ever proved himself an upright and reliable official.
In 1869 Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Mont- gomery, but this union was subsequently sundered by the hand of death, the wife being summoned into eternal rest after becoming the mother of two children,-John A. and Eliza, the latter being the wife of A. C. Spangler. Mr. Anderson's second marriage was to Emma Ruggly, who has borne him four children,-Jessie E., Mabel M., Hellen E. and Harry E.
WILLIAM MADSUSE.
Frederic and Sophia Madsuse were natives of Germany and spent the early part of their lives in that country. In 1850 they decided to leave their native land and came to America, where they took up their residence in Fos- toria, Ohio, and lived there for some years engaged in various vocations. In 1863 they bought their first farm, consisting of eighty acres in Pleasant
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township, Hancock county ; this land was already partly cleared and they re- sided there some years; they then sold their first eighty and purchased an- other in the same township. Like so many natives of the fatherland, Fred- ric Madsuse became one of this country's most loyal citizens; he was a good farmer, a kind husband; his political beliefs were those of the Democratic party, in religion he was a Lutheran. He died on May 6, 1888, and his ยท wife on August 6, 1886. Their family consisted of five children, of whom two are living, Sophia and William.
William Madsuse, who is the subject of this brief sketch, was born in North Germany on the 23d of October, 1847, and was thus only three years of age when his parents crossed the Atlantic. He prepared himself for his life of future usefulness in attending the district schools of Hancock county ; when very young he decided that his future calling should be that of a farmer, and he has since amply justified that decision. His first purchase of real estate was made in the year of his father's death, and it consisted of the eighty acres on which he now resides ; to this in 1895 he added another eighty, thus making a fine tract of farming land, which he tills with much success and which rewards him well for his labor.
In 1871 Mr. Madsuse was married to Mary Inebnet, who was born in Blanchard township, Hancock county, in 1852. Her parents were natives of Switzerland and came to this country about 1849. They bought one hun- dred and fourteen acres of land in Blanchard township, where they made their home up to the time of their deaths, his occurring in 1866, hers in 1891 ; their family consisted of eight children, of whom six are living. Mr. and Mrs. Madsuse became the parents of seven children : Frederick, born in 1874; Anna, in 1875; Emma, in 1877; Charles, in 1880; Harley, in 1882; Laura, in 1886; and Ray, in 1893. The family are members of the Lutheran church and are highly respected in their neighborhood.
JACOB KIBLER.
Jacob Kibler, one of the representative and prominent farmers of Eagle township, Hancock county, is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred eight miles east of Wooster in Wayne county, on the 17th of January, 1834. In 1837 he was brought to Hancock county by his parents, George and Eme- line (Hays) Kibler, who were married in Wayne county. The father was a native of Virginia and the mother of Arkansas, she being born in that state while her father was stationed there as an American officer in the war of 1812. Our subject's paternal grandfather served all through the Revolu-
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tionary war. Both he and his wife were born in the Old Dominion of Ger- man ancestry and the latter lived to be over one hundred years of age.
On coming to Hancock county in 1837 George Kibler had to cut his own road for a distance of ten miles from Findlay, and owing to high water and other obstacles he was three days in making the journey. He settled near Arlington, in Madison township, where he entered land and at once turned his attention to its improvement and cultivation. His brother John, who . had accompanied him on his removal to this county, also entered a tract of government land, where he lived until his death, dying of cholera during the epidemic of that dread disease. The father of our subject died at the age of forty-five years when Jacob was only fourteen years of age. His other chil- dren were Luther, who died in Hancock county at the age of thirty. Mary Amm became the wife of Adam Wagner and died at the age of fifty years, the result of an accident. Isabel married Nels Westcott and died at the age of thirty-five. Washington, who now lives in Colfax county, Nebraska, served through the Civil war and was captured at Harper's Ferry after being wounded. After his exchange he rejoined his command and remained at the front until hostilities ceased. After the death of her first husband the mother of these children married Thomas Wheeler, who took charge of the home farm but spent his last days in retirement from labor in Arlington, where both hie and his wife died, both being about seventy-three years of age at the time of their deaths. By this union there were also five children: Holmes, now a resident of Arlington; Emeline, the widow of John Tombaugh and a resi- dent of Findlay ; Millie, wife of Noah Hindle, of Arlington ; Joseph, a farmer of Madison township; and Milton, who died in childhood.
After the death of his father Jacob Kibler worked for three years by the month as a farm hand, giving his mother his wages to aid in the support of the family. At that time he only received from five to seven dollars per month for chopping wood and farm work. From the age of seventeen until twenty he managed to save all of his earnings by living very economically, it being his intention to purchase forty acres of land. His first purchase, however, consisted of an eighty acre tract and he earned the money to make his first payment of thirty dollars by clearing ten acres of land. This tract cost him three hundred dollars and was a heavily timbered place situated east of Ar- lington, in Madison township.
Mr. Kibler was married February 23, 1854, to Miss Rebecca McClel- land, who was then eighteen years of age and whom he had known from childhood. Her parents were David and Rebecca (Mercer) McClelland, of Eagle township, and came to Hancock county in the fall of 1836 and settled
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on land in that township, where they continued to make their home until late in life, but their last days were spent in Findlay. There the father died when over eighty years of age, and the mother at the age of seventy-nine. By trade Mr. McClelland was a shoemaker and while engaged in farming he followed that occupation through the winter months. On coming to this county he was accompanied by his father, Robert McClelland, and his broth- ers, John, Thomas, James, Alexander and George, all of whom took up land.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kibler were born seven children who reached years of maturity : Emza Jane is now the wife of Theodore Powell, a farmer of Eagle township; Charlotte is the wife of Frank Steinman, also of Eagle township; Flora is the widow of Philip Wilch and is now teaching school in Arlington; Etta is the wife of Robert Baughman, of Van Buren township. Thomas, who now carries on the home farm for his father, married Jennie Creighton, who died leaving one son, Waldo, and for his second wife he married Amanda Hays, by whom he has three children : Florence, Mabel and Gertrude. He is a well known breeder of Hereford cattle, having one of the best herds in the county, and his stock always commands the highest market price. Raleigh, an attorney at law, was educated at Ada, Ohio, and is now engaged in practice at Findlay. Benton is also a graduate of the college at Ada and is now a druggist of Alliance, Ohio. All the children have at some time engaged in teaching school and all have been given better educa- tional advantages than the home schools afforded. The youngest passed the county teachers' examination at the age of fifteen years with only home ad- vantages. His own education being limited, Mr. Kibler has provided his children with the best opportunities along that line so as to fit them for any position in life which they might be called upon to fill. He has assisted each as they have needed it and all are now doing well, being a credit to their par- ents. He now has sixteen grandchildren and three great-grandshildren.
Mr. and Mrs. Kibler began their married life amid primitive surround- ings, he having built a cabin on rented land and furnished it with the simplest of furniture. Later he sold his eighty acre tract and about four years after his marriage bought the old homestead of his mother. Within a few years this was all paid for and he built thereon a good house and made many other useful improvements. After residing upon that place for four or five years he bought his present farm of eighty acres in Eagle township in 1864, only forty acres of which had been cleared at that time, while a cabin constituted the only improvement, there being no ditches or tiling upon the place. This property cost him twenty-six hundred dollars and in buying it he went fif- teen hundred dollars in debt, but this was all paid off at the end of five years.
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He cleared and tiled the land, at the same time placing it under excellent cultivation, and in 1874 he replaced his cabin home by his present substantial brick residence, so that he now has one of the best improved and most desir- able farms in the locality. He bought more land but has since sold a tract of forty acres, and now has one hundred and twenty acres of rich and arable land. Starting out in life with scarcely any advantages and no capital, he deserves great credit for the success he has achieved in life, his prosperity being due entirely to his own industry, perseverance and good management.
Politically Mr. Kibler is a stanch Democrat and has served as a dele- gate to the county conventions of his party. He and his wife are members of the English Lutheran church in Eagle township, in which he has served for years in an official capacity, and he has given liberally to its support. Public-spirited and progressive, he never withholds his aid from any enter- prise calculated to advance the moral, social or educational interests of his community, and well does he deserve mention in the history of his adopted county.
RICHARD M. WATSON.
This gentleman is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Hancock county, Ohio. Richard Watson, who is now deceased, was the or- iginal pioneer. He was a native of Maryland, but prior to 1831 he removed to Fairfield county, Ohio, in which county he remained up to that period when he settled. in Liberty township, Hancock county. Here he purchased one hundred acres of land, and lived out a long life of usefulness, proving him- self a practical farmer, and a good and loyal citizen. During the war of 1812 he entered the army and fought for his country with zeal and enthu- siasm which only such a cause could call forth. His wife was Lucinda Waters, and to them were born nine children, the only surviving child being the subject of this sketch, R. M. Watson. Richard Watson was what is frequently denominated a self-made man, having begun life at the very bot- tom round of the ladder. He succeeded before his death in accumulating quite a competence, all of which was secured by honest and sincere toil. He died in 1852, his wife surviving him until 1870.
Richard M. Watson was born in Liberty township in 1837. He picked up what education was possible in the country school at that early day, and passed his entire early life on the home farm. At the time of the breaking out of the Civil war he showed his loyalty to his country, taking part in the fearful struggle of the nation for the maintenance of its flag. He became
Mary DO Watson
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R. ML. Watson
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a member of Company G, One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment. Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the battles of Mossy Creek, Straw- berry Plains, and various engagements of the noted and bloody Georgia cam- paign, which in reality ended the war in that section of the south. For meritor- jous service he was promoted to the sergeancy of his company and in July, 1865, received an honorable discharge, having made a record as a gallant defender of his country. On his return to civil life, he bought fifty-five acres of land in Liberty township, to which he has since added at various times three hun- dred and forty-five more. On this farm he has both oil and gas wells. Mr. Watson has held the office of director of the Hancock County Infirmary for three terms. He is a man of exceedingly. clean character, and has led an upright life among his associates in the county, being known particularly for his square dealing among his host of friends. In December, 1867, he was married to Miss Mary, daughter of Andrew and Emily Harner, by whom he had four children : John W .; Lucy, deceased; Grace; and Carl, who is now a practicing physician in Cleveland, Ohio. The other son, John, is an oil operator. in this county. Mrs. Mary Watson was born in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1845, Her father was a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania, and died in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1849. Her mother was born in Wayne county, Ohio, and died in Stark county, in 1855. In politics Mr. Watson is a Democrat and his fraternal connections are with Stoker Post of the Grand Army of the Republic at Findlay.
WILLIAM F. GLAUNER.
The gentleman whose honored name heads this sketch is one of the well- to-do farmers of Marion township, Hancock county, and resides on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which there is abundance of oil and gas, and from which source his own light and heat is supplied. The place of his na- tivity was Fairfield county, Ohio, and the date December 6, 1844. With his parents he removed to this county at the tender age of four years, and has since that time continued to be a resident here. His father, Michael Glauner, purchased in Marion township one hundred and ten acres of land, though at the time a man of very limited means, but by close application to business and practicing uprightness of life and a reasonable degree of economy, he be- came a wealthy, useful and influential man in his township. During his life- time he was honored by being selected to hold many offices of trust. He served a number of years as trustee and justice of the peace, the latter office especially being administered with great care and justice. In his religious life
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life he was a member of the Lutheran church from his boyhood. His wife, Sarah (Martens) Glauner, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, and died in Hancock county, in 1900, at about seventy-five years of age. Their family consisted of eight children, seven of whom are now living. The father died in 1887.
William F. Glauner was the eldest of the family, and received his early training in the public schools in Marion township. He has always followed agricultural pursuits and through persistent effort is able at this time to com- mand a very nice competence. He has been living on his present farm since 1875. He is a worthy and active member of the Lutheran church, has served his township as trustee and is now acting in the capacity of justice of the peace, an office which he is administering with much satisfaction to his con- stituents. He has the entire confidence of his fellow citizens, and is in every way worthy of the trust which they repose in him. In politics Mr. Glauner is a Democrat.
On February 9. 1871, Mr. Glauner married Miss Martha, daughter of James B. Thomas, whose family history will be found elsewhere in this volume. To this union were born six children: An infant that died un- named : Franklin B., deceased; Lloyd P., Edna A., Frederick E., and Harry T. The Thomas family removed to this county in 1838 and Mrs. Glauner was born here December 11, 1843. Her father located in what was form- erly Findlay township on a farm of one hundred and three acres, which he received from the government. This property he improved and resided on up to the time of his death in 1877. His wife died in 1863. The Thomas family have always stood high in the social circles of the community.
CLARK W. DUKES.
No name has been longer or better known in Hancock county than that of Dukes, which has been associated with what is now Blanchard township from a time anterior to its organization into a body politic. The family originated in Virginia, and as early as 1828 two brothers of the name, John and Richard, came to Hancock county and took up land. Richard married Mary Blue, a native of Ohio of German descent, and settled on a farm of ninety-six acres of wild woodland in the present limits of Blanchard town- ship. Richard Dukes became a successful farmer and a man of influence among the pioneer settlers. The first meeting house in the county was erected on his farm, being built of hewed logs with a clap-board roof. It was the headquarters for the pioneer preachers of the Methodist Episcopal
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church, of which Richard Dukes was an earnest member, and most of the celebrated evangelists of that day were heard from its rude pulpit. Richard Dukes, who died in 1879, had a family of fourteen children, of whom nine grew to maturity and figured influentially in the various calling's of life. Lewis Dukes, eldest of these children, was born in Franklin county, Ohio, November 30, 1827, and was brought by his parents to Hancock county when he was about one year old. Eventually he achieved notable success in agriculture, owning nearly two thousand acres of land and residing on a farm which was regarded as one of the finest in the state. April 9. 1848. he married Laura A. Spangler, by whom he has the following living children : Parlee C., a prominent farmer residing in Blanchard township; Elizabeth, wife of Daniel Jackson, also a well known farmer of the county; Frances, wife of F. E. Alward, a farmer; Miles W., of Finlday; Clark W. and Robert B.
Clark W. Dukes, next to the youngest of his father's living children, was born in Hancock county, Ohio, May 144, 1862, and was educated in the schools of Blanchard township. In 1885 his father gave him a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Blanchard township, to the cultivation and opera- tion of which he has since then devoted all his time. He is a general farmer and stock raiser and exhibits the natural talent for the business which distin- guished his father and others of the name, who have done so much for Han- cock county agriculture.
In 1885 he was united in marriage with Miss Lucy, daughter of C. G. and Elizabeth Moore, a native of Mercer county, where she was born in 1868. The children resulting from this union, six in number, are as follows : Carl A., Merrill L., Merritt L., Ura D. and two deceased. Owing to their long connection with the development of the county, their success as agri- culturists and their general merits as citizens, the Dukes, both of the older and younger generation, enjoy a standing second to no other family and they occupy positions of influence in their respective communities.
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