USA > Ohio > Hancock County > A centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio > Part 56
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uel, born May 4, 1834, married Margaret Bishop March 3, 1859; Phebe, born May 7, 1836, married Joseph Hoot July 7, 1861; Nathaniel, born Sep- tember 5, 1838, died October 14, 1846; Elijah (T.), born June 20, 1840, married Martha I. Strother January 12, 1865; Mary Magdalene, born June 5, 1842, died October 17, 1846; John (R.), born March 24, 1844, died August II, 1865, unmarried; and Thomas Corwin, born November 3, 1847, was married on the 9th of March, 1871, to Emma T. Lewis. The above names, not including the initials in brackets, are those by which the children were christened. the initials "B., T. and R." being afterward chosen by Jacob. Elijah and John partly to aid in distinguishing from others having similar first initials and partly to preserve traces of the old family names of Bool- man, Troxel and Rench, though in what way they are related to the latter family does not appear in the records. The mother was also related to the Hagers, from one of whom Hagerstown, Maryland, was named. A family of the name of Chambers, of Chambersburg, was also in some way con- rected with the ancestry.
Elijah T. Dunn, a son of John and Elizabeth D. Dunn, accompanied his parents on their removal to Wood county, Ohio, in 1844. a location be- ing made in what was then known as the "Black Swamp," where, around a hickory bark fire and with three terms in a winter school, his early education was completed. At the age of thirteen he entered the office of the Herald of Freedom, at Wilmington, and became an expert printer. Subsequently he taught several terms of school in Clark and Hancock counties, pursuing in the meantime the study of law. On the outbreak of the rebellion he united with the Union party while yet a minor, and did service for a short time as a member of the Twenty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteers. Becoming unable to perform duty as a soldier, however, he continued for a time in a clerkship in the quartermaster's department at Nashville, Tennessee, and thence, returning to Findlay, he completed his law course, being admitted to the bar on the 2d of August, 1862. He was at that time twenty-two years of age, and he immediately located for practice at Findlay, where he has ever since been identified with the legal profession. Besides conducting a large law practice Mr. Dunn owns and controls a good farm and devotes considerable attention to fine cattle. He is a stockholder and director in the Farmers National Bank, a director and secretary of the Findlay Gas Light Company and of the Findlay Oil and Gas Company, and is president of the Wood and Hancock Oil and Gas Company. Much of his attention is devoted to financial matters, but at the same time he favors public
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improvement and on all questions involving public enterprises he takes a leading and aggressive part.
On the 12th of January, 1865, Mr. Dunn was married to Martha I., a daughter of Anthony Strother, of Findlay, and they have had three sons: Bernard L., John A. and James C. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dunn are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the former is also affiliated with Stoker Post, G. A. R., and Hancock Lodge, I. O. O. F. He votes with the Republican party, and, although not a politician, he has held the offices of justice of the peace and collector of internal revenue. He is a member of one of the oldest and most highly respected families of the Buckeye state, and as far back as they are known it may be said that they have been honest, industrious and intelligent, and never was one convicted of crime. They have never become distinguished, but along the vale of life have kept the even tenor of their way.
ANDREW WISEMAN.
The Wiseman family was one of the first in Hancock county, and is iden- tified with its religious growth, and social development. We find Isaac Wise- man, the great-grandfather of Andrew, subsequent to the Revolutionary war, in Virginia, to which state he removed from Berks county, Pennsylvania. The descendants of this same Isaac Wiseman number over one thousand souls. One of his sons, the Rev. John Wiseman, a prominent Methodist preach- er, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1762. He was a brave fol- lower of Washington in his struggle for freedom, in whose services he re- inained for six years, experiencing with other patriots the severe and rigid winter spent at Valley Forge. Rev. John Wiseman was united in marriage to Sara Green, by whom he had ten children, The family removed from Vir- ginia to Perry county, Ohio, in 1822. John was ordained by Bishop Asbury, who also furnished him with a special license to marry. He was a good preacher, a faithful follower of the Master, and consistent in his every day life. He died in Perry county in 1833. his wife Sara having outlived him some nine years, and dying at the extreme old age of ninety-four. Of this family was Janies G., the father of Andrew and Joseph Wise- man. James G. was born in Virginia, August 14, 1793, and when he came to maturity he married Elizabeth Summers, the marriage taking place in 1814. Mrs. Wiseman was a native of the old Dominion state, where she had been born November 17. 1795. Their children's names were John, Andrew, James G., Samuel, George W., Joseph J., Margaret A., Simon
your truly 1 Andrew
85 yrs old
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O., Eliza, Sara, Rebecca, Emily E., Mary A. James G., the father of this family, served in the war of 1812. He was a blacksmith by trade and was a good mechanic in his day, whose services were in great demand in the early pioneer period, when mechanics were scarce. He removed from Perry to Hancock county in June, 1831, and located in Washington township, where he entered two hundred and forty acres of government land, upon which he erected in 1843 a substantial brick residence. For long years it was one of the best residence properties in the county. During his life time he and his sons cleared the farm. James G. Wiseman was a man of considerable influence in his day, a good and loyal citizen, and was honored by being entrusted with some of the township offices. He was an honest man, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which body he was highly respected. He died in 1872 at the advanced age of eighty years. His wife, Elizabeth S., died six years later. Of their thirteen children, only three are now living: Andrew, Joseph and Angeline. Five of the sons served their country in the Civil war, and four of them died from the effects of the rigorous service. Besides those five brothers, the husbands of two of the daughters and one nephew served gallantly in the ranks. Surely the patriotic blood of John Wiseman of Rev- olutionary fame must have coursed through the veins of his descendants. The names of the five brothers who offered themselves as a sacrifice on the altar of their country were: James, Samuel, George, Andrew and Simon. Samuel and Simon lost their lives in battle at Shiloh.
Andrew Wiseman, one of the surviving members of this family, whose name heads this biography, was born in Madison county, Ohio, September 28, 1817. He was thirteen years of age when he came to Hancock county, and his early life was spent in the severe labor of clearing a pioneer farm. As stated previously, his inherent patriotism was signally exemplified at the outbreak of the Civil war when he enlisted as a member of the Twenty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This company joined the fortunes of the army of the Cumberland, where it served for three years, participating in nearly all of the most prominent battles. At the battle of Nashville, Andrew was dis- abled, and incapacitated for active duty for quite a period. He was subse- quently promoted to the rank of corporal and frequently acted in the higher position of sergeant. He was honorably discharged at Huntsville, Alabama, in 1862. On return to civil life he took up his former vocation, that of a farmer, which he has continued to the present time. In 1846 Mr. Wiseman was united in wedlock to Miss Louise Smith, who died without issue in 1862. In 1866 he again married, this time choosing as companion Ellen Lindsey. To this union one daughter, Minnie Newhouse, now a resident of Fostoria,
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was born. The mother, who died December 20, 1900, is remembered as a wo- man of gentle disposition and was mourned by a very large number of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Wiseman owned one hundred and sixty acres of land in Hancock county and the same number in Iowa, and has held the offices of assessor, constable and census enumerator. He is a member of the Method- ist Episcopal church. He is a worthy member of the F. and A. M., and is a charter member of the blue lodge of Fostoria. He is at the present time past master of that organization. He is also a member of the chapter and com- mandery of Findlay. Among other organizations in which Mr. Wiseman de- lights to work, is the G. A. R., he beonging to the post at Fostoria. In his early pioneer life Mr. Wiseman was an experienced hunter, a fact evidenced by the trophies of the chase which decorate his walls. He boasts of a record of having killed in his life-time over three hundred deer.
JOSEPH WISEMAN.
Joseph Wiseman, a younger brother of the above, is a resident of Wash- ington township, owning and operating one of the best farms in Hancock county, and which contains one hundred and ninety acres. He was born in Perry county, Ohio, November 1, 1825, and was six years of age when he first came to the county. His entire training and education was in Washington township, and upon attaining his majority he settled there, and has since been successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. His first purchase of land was made in 1848, the tract containing fifty acres. This he subsequently disposed of, and bought a farm near Fostoria, where he engaged in "trucking" for a few years. In 1874 he purchased his present farm, which he has improved ex- tensively. The marriage of Mr. Joseph Wiseman occurred in Richland coun- ty, Ohio, in 1854. His wife's maiden name was Ann Leedy. Nine children were born by her as follows: John, Jennie, Oran, Nettie, William and Della. The names of those deceased are Sophronia, Charles and Elmer. The mother of this family was a native of Richland county, Ohio, where she was born in 1829. On the side of the Wisemans, the family is of English extraction, the maternal branch of the family being of German descent.
The name of Wiseman is one whose long association with the affairs of Hancock county has made it familiar with every citizen in the county, and no suspicion or taint of anything dishonorable has ever attached to it. The pres- ent generation are keeping up the excellent reputation handed down to them by the pioneer members of the family, and are looked upon as the most worthy representatives of the farming industry in Hancock county.
MRS. JOSEPH WISEMAN.
JOSEPH WISEMAN.
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ALLISON H. NICHOLS.
The photograph gallery is an indispensable adjunct of every live town, and no village can be considered up-to-date which cannot boast a place of this kind. The " picture gallery " is a favorite place of resort for all classes, and the personage who performs the wonderful work of transferring the "human form divine " to cardboard is always an important and usually a very popular character in the community. Findlay is fortunate in this re- spect, as in the person of Mr. Nichols it possesses not only a genial gentleman and intelligent companion but an artist of acknowledged skill in the profes- sion of photography. The family is of Vermont origin, and Walter Nichols, the grandfather of our subject, was born in that state in 1782, followed the occupation of farming during all the years of his active life, and enjoyed re- markable longevity, as his death did not occur until 1878. His son, Hiram B. Nichols, was born in Niagara county, New York, in 1824, and ten years later came with his father to Eaton county, Michigan, where he grew to man- hood. In his early life he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, but in later years became a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, and devoted all his energies to making proselytes in the cause of Christianity. He was a worthy man in every respect, highly esteemed both in religious and other circles, and when he passed away in 1878 was sincerely mourned by the num- erous body of friends who had learned to esteem his many admirable qualities. He was married in 1847, and the only child by this union was Allison H. Nichols, whose birth occurred on a farm in Eaton county, Michigan, Jan- uary 24, 1849. He had the misfortune of losing his mother when only nine years old, that estimable lady's death having occurred in 1858, and during his boyhood he worked on the farm in season while attending the district schools during the winter time. This routine continued until he reached the twenty-second year of his age, when he began to think of plans for the future. Following the bent of his inclinations, he entered a photographer's office at Charlotte, Michigan, and remained there until he had mastered the details of this interesting vocation. Feeling that he was duly equipped for the prose- cution of this artistic profession on his own account Mr. Nichols chose the thriving city of Findlay as a desirable location and consequently took up his permanent abode there August 8. 1876. He has done well and has succeeded in building up a good business, while at the same time winning hosts of friends by his urbanity and accommodating disposition.
In September, 1876, Mr. Nichols led to the altar as his chosen bride Miss Clara C., daughter of Augustus Sheffield, of Findlay, and their union, which
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has been in every way congenial, resulted in the birth of two children: Ly- man S. and Carrie M. The standing of Mr. Nichols in his adopted com- munity is evidenced by the fact of his election to the city council in 1886 and his satisfactory service for one term, besides his membership of the school board, in which position he rendered efficient service in the cause of education. Mr. Nichols is connected with the First Methodist Episcopal church, and gratifies his inclination for fraternal fellowship by membership in the Inde- pendent order of Odd Fellows.
CHARLES RUSSELL TAYLOR.
The subject of this sketch is another of those men, many of whom are mentioned in this volume, who became identified with the oil industry in youth, made their success in that line and remained more or less in con- nection therewith all their lives. Mr. Taylor has been what is called an "oil man" for nearly thirty years, and there are few things connected with the business which he does not understand from practical experience. Though a native of Ohio, he has only been a resident of Findlay about twelve years, but during that time has done his full share toward the moral and industrial growth of the city.
Charles Russell Taylor was born in Claridon, Ohio, January 17, 1854, and remained at the place of his nativity until he had reached the twenty- first year of his age. His thoughts for some time had been turned toward the great oil fields of Pennsylvania, where so many had made fortunes and which had become the breeding-ground for speculative ventures of all kinds. Without much capital, but a natural capacity for business, Mr. Taylor en- tered with enthusiasm into the work as soon as he arrived at Petrolia, Penn- sylvania, and his career "in oil" thus commenced in 1876 lasted until 1891, during which time he greatly improved his financial fortunes. With this additional capital, secured and fortified with the large experience acquired in the oil regions, Mr. Taylor came to Findlay in the year last mentioned and resumed his occupation in the same line of business at that point.
In November, 1875, Mr. Taylor was married at his birthplace to Miss Mary E., daughter of Henry Smith, by which union he has an only son, Arthur E., a youth of unusually bright promise. His birth occurred at Petrolia, Pennsylvania, October 21, 1877, and after coming to Findlay he was graduated in the high school of that city. Shortly thereafter he entered Hiram College in Portage county, Ohio, where he proved a diligent student and received his Ph. B. degree in the class of 1901. He is now in his second
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year at the University of Chicago, taking a post-graduate course in geology. The family of Mr. Taylor are communicants of the Church of Christ and he himself has been active in religious work as a member of the Young Men's Christian Association at Findlay, of which he was elcted president in 1901.
JACOB INGOLD.
The noble land of freedom and of scenery, Switzerland, has produced many enterprising and capable citizens of this country, and the agricultural interests are especially indebted to this class of foreigners. Andrew and Annie Ingold, the parents of our subject, came from that country to Amer- ica in 1853 and settled in Hancock county, Big Lick township, where they remained for four years; they then resided in Findlay for one year and in the spring of 1860 took up their residence in Pleasant township, buying a farm of forty acres. Mr. Ingold was a miller by trade and followed this calling for several years. He was an industrious man and honest to a fault, living in the high esteem of all his neighbors. He belonged to the German Reformed church and later joined the Church of God. His death took place March 30, 1893, but his wife still survives, making her home in McComb. There were three children, Anna, Elizabeth and Jacob.
Jacob, the only son of the above parents, was born in Switzerland in the year 1852, and passed his boyhood and received his education in Pleasant township. His whole life has been devoted to farming. In 1880 he made his first purchase of land, buying out his sister's interest in the home farm, to which he has subsequently added by purchase eighty acres, making a nice farm of one hundred and twenty acres. On this land there were only a few acres of improved soil, and he went to work with that indomitable will of his and in a few years made his farm blossom like a rose. He is a mod- ern and progressive agriculturist, believes in making use of all the late aids to farming in the way of improved machinery, and his farm is one of the models in the vicinity. It has large and commodious buildings and every- thing needed for the care and cultivation of crops.
In 1876 Mr. Ingold was united in marriage to Laura A., daughter of Samuel and Sarah Ramsey. Six children have been born of this union, of whom four survive: Melvin J. ; Daniel C .; Myrtle E. ; and Charles F. His first wife died on April 14, 1887, and March 17, 1889, he was married to Mrs. Mary Brooks. The four children born of this union are: Aaron E., Rachel A., Homer H. and Floyd B.
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PROF. M. R. HAMMOND.
We are, in reality, separated by only a very short time from the days of the log school house, with its slab seats, with its rude and inefficient methods of instruction and the teachers who followed the profession only as a stepping stone to something better, but so extensive and far reaching have been the changes in the educational world in the last half century that we seem to have overleaped centuries of our former short strides, and the schools of our fathers seem a reminder of an age long past and antiquated. Who, then are responsible for these developments if not the progressive, energetic, large-souled and broad-minded teachers themselves? The glori- ous encomiums spoken of the "little red school house on the hill" have often neglected him who was the soul and moving spirit of that wonderful edifice, the patient, toiling and small paid teacher. It is the object of this brief sketch to outline the life history of one of the foremost educators in Han- cock county, Ohio, Professor M. R. Hammond, the superintendent of public instruction of Vanlue.
Grandfather Thomas G. Hammond was one of the first settlers in Dela- ware township, Hancock county, having come there in 1835; he was the owner of about two sections of land which he had entered from the govern- ment. His son, who was known as Squire Hammond, was born in Dela- ware township in 1842 and there spent his life as a tiller of the soil. He married Miss Emeline Ballard, who was born in the same township in 1844, and they became the parents of the subject of this sketch.
M. R. Hammond was born in Delaware township, Hancock county, Ohio, January 11, 1864, in the little town of Mount Blanchard; there he was reared and received the advantages of the schools of his native town; he completed his education in Ada University, in which institution he is now a senior. On arriving at manhood he took up his life work, and for seven- teen years has followed his profession, confining his work to the southern part of his native county. One of the highest compliments that can be paid to his ability is that he taught for four years in his own town, where he com- manded the utmost respect of those with whom he had grown up. In 1897 he accepted his present position as the principal of the Vanlue high school, where he is giving entire satisfaction to the patrons of the town. Mr. Ham- mond has under his supervision and care nearly two hundred pupils, with a corps of four teachers; the beautiful building, arranged and equipped ac- cording to the most approved ideas of modern educational architecture, was erected in 1892 and is a model for a rural school.
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In 1886 Mr. Hammond became the husband of Miss Nora E. Smith, the daughter of Jerome and Margaret Smith, of Mount Blanchard; two chil- dren have been born, Clarence S. and Carrie E. In religion the family have always been devout Methodists. Mr. Hammond was reared in the belief of Democratic principles, but so many of the independent thinking men of the present day, has departed from the ancestral way and is now an ardent Republican.
GEORGE W. OMAN.
George W. Oman, a retired farmer of Jackson township, who now re- sides at his pleasant home in Findlay, Ohio, still owns a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres which is located in the oil belt of Hancock county, and has five producing wells upon it.
The paternal grandparents of Mr. Oman were John and Faithful ( El- liott) Oman, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania, but in their early married life removed to Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1842, locating in Eagle township, Hancock county. Here Grandfather Oman purchased a farm of eighty acres of new land and with great industry cleared it for cultivation. That John Oman was a man of high character may be known from the fact that his neighbors were wont to call him Honest John, on account of his integrity and truthfulness. His family numbered five children, and three of these still survive, namely : Josiah, Ephraim and Hannah, the two older brothers residing in Hancock county.
Josiah Oman, the eldest of the family, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1831 and came to Hancock county with his father. He is now an esteemed resident of Amanda township, owning there one of the finest farms, consisting of one hundred and seventy acres. Mr. Oman has been prominent in township affairs, holding all of the offices with credit, and has been a sensible, practical and successful man. He married Susan Hartman, of Fairfield county, in 1847, who died in 1895. They had a family of seven children, four of whom are still living, namely: John, Grant, Millie, Mary, Andrew, Franklin and George W.
George W. Oman was born in Eagle township, Hancock county, in Oc- tober, 1858, was reared on the farm and was educated in the district schools. His early interests centered in agricultural affairs and he has devoted his life to the same. In 1887 he made his first purchase of land, buying eighty acres in Amanda township, which he immediately set about improving. In 1890 he was able to dispose of this property at an advanced rate, and in
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1891 he bought one hundred and sixty acres in Jackson township, which he still owns. In 1898 he retired from active labor and now enjoys the com- forts of his city home in Findlay, having purchased this property in 1897.
February 15, 1887, Mr. Oman was united in marriage with Miss Viola Van Sant, who was born in Hancock county in 1861, and who is a daughter of William H. and Harriet E. (Mains) Van Sant, both of these families be- ing among the old settlers of the county. To our subject and wife were born two children, Howard and Homer.
ISAAC WALDO MARVIN.
The subject of this sketch, now a retired business man, is a native of Hancock county, and has spent all his life within its limits. Most of his labors have been expended in agricultural pursuits, varied by the manage. ment of a planing mill, but of late years Mr. Marvin has taken life more leisurely, his occupation consisting in looking after his property. The Marvin family originated in England, but by emigration became identified at an early period with Pennsylvania, where the descendants lived for several genera- tions. Rev. Serah Marvin, son of the founder, spent his active life in the Keystone state and there reared a family. William Marvin, one of his children, was born in Pennsylvania in 1797, came to Hancock county in 1828 and died at Findlay in 1880. He was a distiller by occupation, and before the war kept the old Marvin Inn, three miles east of Findlay, which for years was a famous hostelry in northwestern Ohio. His son, Stephen Marvin, was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, in 1820, and came to Ohio with his parents in boyhood. He was married in 1841 to Mary Kelley, who died in 1893. He became a millwright and followed that trade for many years, his death occurring at Findlay in 1893.
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