USA > Ohio > Hancock County > A centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio > Part 53
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the last four years and he has obtained a fair measure of success from his ventures. Mr. Karg is unmarried. His religious affiliations are with the German Lutheran church, and in politics he is an adherent of Democracy. His only fraternal connections are with the Knights of Pythias, his mem- bership being with lodge No. 400 of that order. 'Mr. Karg is esteemed by his intimates and respected by his acquaintances, being one of those men who make many friends and few enemies.
NELSEN R. SWARTZ.
Though descended from a line of farmers the subject of this review has chosen to secure a living from the soil in a different way, that of oil-pro- ducing. His grandfather was George Swartz, a Pennsylvanian, though he later migrated to Ohio, in which state he died in 1871, having been all his life a farmer. The son of George Swartz, Solomon Swartz, the father of Nelsen R. Swartz, is now a retired farmer of Hancock county. He was born in Fairfield county, this state in 1836, and has lived in Hancock county since 1859; he married Sarah A. Radebaugh, and they had six children, of whom four survive, as follows: Charles S .; Morris W .; Nelsen R. and Merle E.
Nelsen R. Swartz was born on a farm in Liberty township, Hancock county, in December, 1873, where he lived during his earlier years, attending the country schools and working on the farm. At the age of seventeen, however, he was attracted to the oil fields, and started to work as a pumper. He made unusual progress in the methods of the business, skipping the usual course of dressing tools and attending the drill, and commenced contracting and producing on his own account at a very early age. He is now engaged in oil producing, having located in Findlay in 1899.
Mr. Swartz was married in 1899, in Detroit, Michigan, to Minnie M. Marstellar, daughter of James Marstellar, of that city, and they have one son, Herbert M. Mr. Swartz is a thorough-going Republican, and is num- bered among the ranks of the Odd Fellows of Findlay.
GEORGE A. DEIHLMAN.
As a fruit state, Ohio has long been among the foremost of the Union, her natural advantages and climate tending to produce some of the finest fruit in the world. Among those who have taken advantage of this fact and succeeded in making it an exclusive industry is George A. Deihlman, of
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Findlay. Mr. Deihlman was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, in 1832, and came to America in 1853. His father, Adam Deihlman, lived and died in the fatherland. The first work our subject engaged in after arriving in America was in a bone-dust factory near New York city. It was there he doubtless learned some of the secrets of cultivating the soil of America. He then moved to Stark county, Ohio, where he went into the pottery business at Limonville, and in that business he continued about eigliteen years. In 1871 he moved to Findlay, working some six years in a pottery factory, and later for several years as road contractor. Believing there was a future in the fruit raising business he went into that on an extensive scale, in which he has continued and prospered.
He served his adopted country in the war of the Rebellion as faithfully as any of her sons, and though his war record was not as long as many others it was no less praiseworthy. He served in Company F, One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a private from January, 1864, until the close of the war, his company having principally been engaged in skirm- ishes along the border. He keeps up his interest in war times as a member of Stoker Post, No. 54, G. A. R., in which he now holds the honorable po- sition of treasurer. In politics Mr. Deihlman is a stanch Republican.
In 1854 the subject of this sketch was united in marriage to Elizabeth Hoffman, and of their eleven children eight are still living. Mr. Deihlman's religious connection is with the Evangelical church.
CHARLES W. MASCHO.
A man who has worked his way to the top in the oil business is Mr. Charles W. Mascho, who is the manager of the National Supply Company. Mr. Mascho was born in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in a small village called Brookfield, in which place he lived and attended school to the age of twelve years, when his parents moved to Mckean county, in the same state, which is situated in the oil belt. They remained in that locality about five years, and removed to Allegany county, New York, in which place they lived four years. Mr. Mascho finished his education at Bolivar, in the state of New York, and with his father returned to the oil region of Pennsylvania, and went to work in the oil business. Our subject continued at this work for eighteen months, at the end of which period he removed to Findlay, in the year 1886. He went to work in the Carrothers Rolling Mill, working on the rolls, and held that position a year, at the end of which time he accepted a clerkship with the firm of J. B. McElvaine & Company for six months. He
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became a prospector for oil on his own account in a short time, and before long went to work as a clerk for the Buckeye Supply Company, which later became the National Supply Company. His business ability has been of such a character that he has advanced steadily, and is now the district man- ager of that concern.
Mr. Mascho was married, in 1899, in Findlay, to Matilda, a daughter of Joseph Martin. He is identified with the Knights of Pythias, and is thor- oughly independent in politics.
Mr. Mascho's father was John J. Mascho, who was born in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1838, and died in 1899. He was a farmer during his early years and was engaged in the oil business during the lat- ter part of his life, in which occupation he was engaged at the time of his death. He left five children surviving.
ANDREW BISH.
The gentleman of whom we are now permitted to write was county treasurer of Hancock county at the time of his death, which occurred Septem- ber 14, 1901. He was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, April 2, 1834, and was a son of Henry Bish, and a grandson of Henry Bish, Sr. The latter was born in Virginia in 1795, but late in life removed to San- dusky county, Ohio, where his death occurred in 1875. Andrew Bish, of this review, was reared and educated in the place of his nativity, and after arriving at the age of maturity came with his parents to Sandusky county, Ohio, where the father purchased a farm. The son continued to reside at home for the following five years, and in 1858 came to Marion township, Hancock county, where he was a prominent member of the agricultural class until 1895. In that year he rented his farm and moved into the city of Findlay, where he continued to reside until his death. During the period of the Civil war he served with what is known as the Hundred Day Men, and in 1898, on the Republican ticket, he was elected treasurer of Hancock county, being re-elected to the position in 1900, and was the in- cumbent at the time of his death. In 1857 Mr. Bish was united in marriage to Minerva, daughter of George and Catherine Gear, and to this union were born the following children: William S., who is mentioned below; Mary C .. the wife of Benjamin F. Burns, of Findlay, Ohio; Martha, who died in infancy ; and Charles.
William S. Bish, the eldest son of Andrew and Minerva Bish, was born in Sandusky county, Ohio, November 26, 1857, and came with his parents
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to Hancock county in 1858. He was reared on the home farm in Marion township, receiving an excellent education in the schools of the district, and this was supplemented by further study in the Findlay city schools. Closing his school life in 1877, he returned to the home farm, and there remained for the following two years engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1879 he en- tered upon a course in a business college at Grand Rapids, Michigan, fol- lowing which he passed six months in a grocery store in Findlay. He then became bookkeeper at the First National Bank of Findlay, where he remained until the latter part of 1883, and then bought an interest in a grocery store in this city. Selling his interest therein a year later, he went to Garden City, Kansas, where for the following four years he was engaged in the banking business, but finding there was no state like the old Buckeye he returned to Findlay and for a period was engaged in oil operations. In September, 1898, he entered the treasurer's office as his father's deputy, and after the latter's death was appointed by the county commissioners of Hancock county to fill out the unexpired term. On the 5th of November, 1901, he was elected to that office for a term of two years, and is now acceptably discharging the duties of that important position. On the 16th of January, 1884, at Findlay, Mr. Bish was united in marriage to Alice Anderson, the daughter of William and Harriet (Alban) Anderson. They have had the following named chil- dren : Helen M., born May 5, 1885, and died July 28, 1886; Howard A., born November 9, 1886; Marian, born October 18, 1892, and died July II, 1894; and Alma, born August 6, 1897. Fraternally Mr. Bishi is a worthy member of Hancock Lodge, No. 73, of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and in politics is a stanch supporter of the principles laid down in the Republican platform.
MARION BELL.
Perhaps the best judge of horses in Findlay to-day is Mr. Marion Bell, who has made a study of horses all his life. His earliest life was connected with horses, having been born and brought up on a farm, and in every call- ing in which he has engaged ever since, it has been one in which he has em- ployed horses.
Mr. Bell is of pioneer Ohio stock, his grandfather, Jack Bell, having been a native of Fairfield county, Ohio. His father. Alfred Bell, was also born in Fairfield county, but came to Hancock county in early manhood. He was a farmer all his life, and died in Wyandot county in 1891. He was mar- ried in 1847 to Emmeline Glick, daughter of David Glick, of Hancock
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county, and they had nine children, of whom six now survive, as follows : Russell B .; Joseph T .; Emma, widow of Soloman Zimmerman; Marion ; David; and Charles. The mother of this family died in 1883.
The life of Marion Bell has mostly been passed near his native place, He was born November 23, 1856, and lived on his father's farm until lie was fifteen years of age, attending the country schools. He decided to start out for himself, and for eight years worked on the farm of M. J. George; this was followed by a year's work for George June, at Fremont, Ohio, who was a horse trader. Mr. Bell then contracted to carry the mail from Find- lay to Mt. Blanchard, and from Mt. Blanchard to Forest for a year. At the end of that time he bought a half interest in a steam thresher, which he ran for three years. His acquaintance throughout the country being consid- able, he began the business of buying and trading horses, in which occupation he has ever since been engaged.
Mr. Bell was married in 1883, at Mt. Blanchard, to Carrie H., dauglı- ter of M. J. George, and they had one child, Eva L. The wife died in 1889, and Mr. Bell was again married, on May 21, 1891, to Sarah E., daughter of Grundy Ake, and they have one son, Frank Rice Bell. Mr. Bell belongs to no church and to no secret order. In politics he is a Republican in good standing.
WILLIAM A. DEMLAND.
One of the popular young business men of the city of Findlay is Mr. Demland, who is incumbent of the office of secretary of the Findlay Water Works Company and also of the Hancock County Agricultural So- ciety, in each of which capacities he is rendering most effective service. He has applied his energies and abilities to the best possible advantages and has ever retained the confidenc and good will of those with whom he has been thrown in contact.
Mr. Demland was born on a farm in Henry county Ohio, on the 3d of May, 1866, and there he grew up under the invigorating influences of the agricultural life, attending the district schools and assisting in the work of the farm. At the age noted, in 1882, he made a trip to Colorado and the Dakotas, returning within the same year and locating in Fostoria, Seneca county, where he remained about one year and then removed to Defiance, where he was employed in a clerical capacity in a dry goods establishment for two years. In 1885 Mr. Demland came to Findlay and became a clerk in the dry goods establishment of A. A. Dillinger, in whose employ he con-
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tinued until 1899, when he secured his present important prefernient as sec- retary of the Findlay Water Works Company. Two years previously Mr. Demland had been chosen secretary of the Hancock County Agricultural Society, and he has been indefatigable in promoting the interests of this or- ganization, through which is given a proper representation of the agricultural, stock growing and other industrial interests of the county, the annual exhi- bitions proving of much value and interest. In politics our subject gives his allegiance to the Democratic party, his religious faith is that of the Church of Christ, and fraternally he is a popular member of the Benevolent Protec- tive Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias.
In 1890 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Demland to Miss Myrtle Dillinger, daughter of Archibald A. Dillinger, the well known merchant of Findlay, and previously mentioned in this sketch.
THOMAS J. STACKHOUSE.
Ranking among the old settlers of Hancock county, Ohio, where he has lived for more than fifty years, and a native of the state of Ohio, is that worthy citizen of Findlay, Thomas J. Stackhouse. His father, Joshua Stack- house, one of the pioneer settlers of Ohio, was born in Pennsylvania in 1802, but moved to Ohio, and died there in 1847. Thomas J. Stackhouse was born in Hanover, Ohio, February 13, 1835, where he lived until five years of age, when his parents moved to Seneca county, and located on a farm. Here he lived the happy, healthy and active life of a farmer's boy, helping with the farm work in the summer, and in the winter attending the public school and doing chores. His father died when he was twelve years old. In 1851, when about seventeen years of age, he came to Findlay, and being ambitious and anxious to start in business for himself, he learned the baker's trade and carried on a bakery for several years. Then, his trade increasing and busi- ness prospering, he started a restaurant, and after six years in that line, hav- ing gained experience and patronage, he opened a hotel in Findlay, in which business he continued up to the year 1895. He then went into the feed and provision business, which he continued for some time and in 1902 again en- gaged in the hotel business.
Mr. Stackhouse has been twice married: First, in 1864, in Findlay, to Fannie Hime, who died in 1894, after thirty years' of married life, leaving five children, as follows: Cora E., wife of J. W. Carney; Thomas B .; James J .; Rolla R .; and Rosa, wife of John Negrotto. November 7. 1897, Mr.
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Stackhouse was again married, to Elfie P. Lape, and they have two children, Ruth and Esther.
Mr. Stackhouse is one of that noble army-the veterans of the Civil war-which daily diminishes, until in a few years there will be none left to answer the roll call. He enlisted in the Union army in May, 1864, at Find- lay, Ohio, as a private in Company I, One Hundred and Sixty-first Regi- ment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until September 13, 1864, being mustered out at Columbus, Ohio. He was under fire in fights at Martins- burg, West Virginia, and Maryland Heights. Mr. Stackhouse also had three brothers in the army, one of whom died fighting for his country. David, now deceased, was a member of the Fifty-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; Madison belonged to the Twenty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry and Eighty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry; and Harison, who was in the Twenty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was killed at Chickamauga.
Mr. Stackhouse is a member of the Baptist church, a Knight of Pythias, and in politics a Republican. He is an honored and respected citizen in the community and has many friends.
LOUIS W. EOFF.
The progress of a city is largely due to its financial institutions, inas- much as it is upon these that the industries and business establishments de- pend for capital to meet their obligations, and it is safe to say that a good town always has good banks. Those therefore who have charge of the banks, are necessarily in position to exercise much influence for good or ill, and it is of vital importance that they should be men of the highest character and ability. Aside from their immediate duties, their advice and assistance in conducting the government and giving the impetus to new enterprises are invaluable, and for this reason the banking staffs are found filling all kinds of positions of trust and responsibility. Findlay has always been fortunate in its financiers and few cities of its size are better known for the probity as well as general ability of those who have had the direction of its large affairs. In this corps of civic servants, who have been conspicuous at every stage of its growth, no man of his age has achieved more for his conimunity or de- served more for himself than the gentleman whose life work forms the basis for this brief biography. He has been connected with banks from early boy- hood, and in reward for those qualities which are so highly appreciated in these institutions, he has risen with rapidity through various grades to his.
for Coff.
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present position of responsibility as cashier of one of the most important financial concerns of the city.
The Eoff family is of Holland origin, and the first emigrants of the name came to America as far back as 1638. In after years, descendants of these first arrivals found lodgment in various colonies of the east, including New Jersey, where Cornelius Eoff was born during the latter half of the eigh- teenth century. When the troubles preceding the American Revolution be- came acute they touched a sympathetic chord in this descendant of a people who had always been noted for their friendliness to freedom and hatred of oppression in all its forms. Young Eoff was fired with enthusiasm to do something for the cause of the struggling colonies, and this desire was grati- fied by his becoming a drum-major in General Washington's body-guard, with which company he served through the subsequent stirring scenes. Cor- nelius was the great-grandfather of Louis W. Eoff, the Findlay banker, and it is needless to add that the latter is justly proud of having such an ancestor.
Eli Eoff, grandson of the Revolutionary patriot, was born in New York, in 1824, and married Mary White, whose birth occurred in the same state in 1833. Some years afterward they removed to Ohio, locating at Elmore, where Mr. Eoff rose to a position of influence and for thirty years held the position of village postmaster. His wife died there in 1886, and some years later he removed to Toledo, Ohio, of which city he has since been a resident.
Louis W. Eoff, son of this worthy couple, was born at Elmore, Ohio, January 1, 1865, and remained at the home of his parents until fifteen years of age. After the usual preliminary attendance in the common schools of his native place, he entered Oberlin College and spent one year in that excel- lent institution, during which period he improved his opportunities to the utmost. Returning home he spent a short time teaching school, but this was soon abandoned for more congenial occupation. His ambition, which early took shape, was to pursue a business career and soon an opportunity offered which promised an outlet along the lines of his desire. Being offered a posi- tion as bookkeeper in the bank at Elmore, he gladly accepted and for a year and a half discharged the duties of this place so well that the ground work was laid and an opening made for better things. December 18, 1883. Mr. Eoff accepted a position as teller in the First National Bank of Findlay, which he held four years, and this proved the beginning of his long and intimate connection with the financial affairs of the city, which has continued until the present time. In 1887 he assisted in organizing the American National Bank of Findlay, and in June of the same year was appointed assistant cashier of that institution. In 1889, after a service of two years, he was made cash-
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ier of this popular bank, and from that time up to the present has discharged the duties of this responsible position with marked ability and constantly growing appreciation. Under his able management the American National Bank has had a steady growth and now ranks as one of the leading financial institutions of northwestern Ohio. In line with his business interests Mr. Eoff is a member of the executive council of the Ohio Bankers' Association, and he is also president of the Findlay board of trade. But it is not simply as a banker that Mr. Eoff's services have proven 'valuable to the citizens of Findlay. Desiring to avail themselves of his financial skill and sound busi- ness judgment, they elected him a member of the city council, and retained him in that office from 1894 until 1900. During these six years of public service, Mr. Eoff fully proved his capability for administrative duties and ability to deal in a broad way with large affairs. He devoted much atten- tion to the important business coming before the council, especially all mat- ters relating to the city's fiscal system, and largely through his instrumen- tality about two-thirds of the standing debt, amounting to six hundred thou- sand dollars, was paid off. During his last term in council, Mr. Eoff served as president of the body, and when he left office it was with the good will and sincere esteem of every citizen of Findlay.
In 1889, Mr. Eoff was united in marriage with Miss Lillie Bee, daugh- ter of Judge F. and Pamy Burket, and has an only child named Will Burket Eoff. His political affiliations have always been with the Republican party, to whose principles he lends ardent support and intelligent advocacy. Mr. Eoff's fraternal connections are with Findlay Lodge, No. 75, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in addition to which he holds membership in the Twentieth Century Club, a literary organization composed of some of the leading business and professional men of Findlay.
MORGAN C. SHAFER.
Among the younger members of the bar of Hancock county is numbered the subject of this review, who has been successfully engaged in the prac- tice of his profession in his native city of Findlay since 1893. He is a rep- sentative of one of the pioneer families of the state, and in his chosen pro- fession is enjoying a prestige which was held by his honored father in the same field of endeavor, so that there is particular congruity in entering this brief record of his genealogical and personal history.
Mr. Shafer was born in Findlay, on the 4th of December, 1866, and is descended from a good old German family. His paternal great-grand-
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father, Michael Shafer, in company with a brother, came from the father- land to the United States, landing at New York city late in the eighteenth century, and there the brothers separated, Michael going to Washington county, Pennsylvania, from which time on the brothers never knew of each other's existence. Later in the eighteenth century Michael Shafer was mar- ried in Washington county, Pennsylvania, to a girl whose first name was Elizabeth, and among their children was Michael Shafer, the grandfather of our subject, who was born in the Keystone state, and was thirteen years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Knox county, Ohio. In Mount Vernon, this state, he learned the blacksmith's trade. When twenty-two years of age he married Miss Nancy Ireland, and in 1835 they moved to Hancock county, Ohio, where they became owners of real estate near Mt. Blanchard. Until he was twenty-one years of age Michael Shafer could only speak the German tongue, but his wife taught him the English language, and being a great reader he soon became a well informed man. This worthy couple were the parents of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters. Mr. Shafer was called from the scenes of this earth in August, 1852, when he was fifty-seven years of age.
Morgan D. Shafer, the father of our subject, was born in Mt. Blan- chard, Hancock county, Ohio, in 1838, and his education was received prin- cipally in the city of Delaware, this state, where he prosecuted his studies for a time in Ohio Wesleyan University, having defrayed his expenses by teach- ing school for several years. He was admitted to the bar in 1860, but soon afterward laid aside the work of his profession to go forth as a soldier dur- ing the Civil war, enlisting at the first call for troops, in 1861, as a member of the Twenty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he was first lieutenant of Company E. After a service of three months he returned home and did not again enlist, having been a strong Democrat and having had certain conscientious prejudices against the war policy of the govern- inent: He opened a law office in Findlay, and here continued in the active practice of his profession until his death, which occurred in 1899. He was a man of fine intellectuality and attained high reputation in his chosen pro- fession, being concerned in much of the important litigation brought before the courts of this section of the state and commanding the unequivocal esteem of his professional confrerers and the community in general.
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