USA > Ohio > Hancock County > A centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio > Part 6
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In 1880 Mr. Miley was united in marriage with Mary E. Miller, of Fulton county, Ohio, and they have two children: Earl L., and Vera E. He is a Republican in politics, but aside from holding the city clerkship while a resident at Boyne City, Michigan, in 1884-5, he has occupied no official po-
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sition. His religious affiliations are with the Church of Christ, and his fra- ternal connections with the Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
JAMES DENNISON.
James Dennison, a native of the state of Ohio, and a veteran of the Civil war. is one of the early settlers of Hancock county, having lived in the county for over sixty years. Mr. Dennison was born in Plymouth, Ohio, in 1837, and lived there until he was four years of age, when he moved, with his par- ents to a farm in Union township, Hancock county, where he lived until he was ten years old. The family then moved to Findlay, Ohio, and ever since that time, Mr. Dennison has made his home there; at first, with his parents, and later, with his wife and children.
His father was Elihu Dennison, Jr., who was born in New York state in 1799, came to Ohio in 1821, and to Hancock county, Ohio, in 1841, finally settling in Findlay in 1847. He opened the first meat market ever in Findlay, and successfully carried it on until his death in 1858.
James Dennison was married in the year 1860 to Mary Louthan, who died in 1861. In July, 1863, feeling that his country needed his services, Mr. Dennison enlisted in the Union army at Findlay, Ohio, in Company L, First Regiment Ohio Heavy Artillery, as fifth sergeant, and a year later, was pro- moted to first sergeant, and served as such until mustered out at Knoxville, Tennessee, in August, 1865, after the great struggle for the preservation of the Union was ended. Although he served for over two years, Mr. Dennison was in no regular engagements, but was in several skirmishes with guerrillas in eastern Tennessee. After being mustered out when the war was ended, Mr. Dennison returned to Findlay, Ohio, and, choosing the trade which his father had followed all his life, he went into the butchering business, and still continues in it.
Mr. Dennison married again, in 1868, his present wife being Elizabeth (Spaith) Dennison, and they have eleven children, all living, five boys and six girls. Mrs. Dennison was born in Germany, emigrated to the United States at three years of age, and with her parents settled in Findlay a half cen- tury ago.
James Dennison's grandfather, Elihu Dennison, Sr., was born in New York state and died there before his son Elihu, Jr., James's father, came to Ohio. He was a farmer.
Mr. Dennison is honored and respected in the community in which he lives.
Jam James Dawson
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He is an earnest Republican, sincere in his love of country and home, and as ready to work for their interests and welfare now, as he was when he entered the army in '63 ; but he merits the rest which should come with advancing years. and can leave the work for his boys. He belongs to Stoker Post, No. 54, G. A. R.
ROBERT B. RUSSELL.
Old men for wisdom, young men for action. We here present the name of one of the young and prosperous farmers who is aiding in maintaining the reputation held by the agricultural class of Hancock county. He resides in Big Lick township, where he owns a farm of eighty acres of valuable farm- ing land, and upon which he has two producing oil wells.
Mr. Robert B. Russell claims nativity in the township in which he re- sides, where he was born May 13, 1865. He is the son of William Russell and Eliza Taylor. His life, which has been an uneventful one, has been passed in Hancock county. His education was received in the common schools of his own district. He was born and bred a farmer, and adopted that occupa- tion as his life work. The vigorous manner in which he has conducted his farm has made him pre-eminently successful, and he bids fair to become one of the leading agriculturists of northern Ohio. The event of his life which he considers of most importance, occurred the day following Christ- mas of 1886, when he was joined in marriage to Miss Flora A. Stahl. Miss Flora was the daughter of J. F. and Mary Stahl, and is a lady of many ac- complishments and of a refined and gentle nature. The happy union has been blessed with three beautiful children: Franklin L., November 1, 1887; Etta J., December 22, 1889; and William C., March 6, 1894. The family of which Mrs. Russell is a dutiful daughter is an old Buckeye family.
The family of which Robert B. Russell is an honored representative, have been for long years residents of the state of Ohio. William Russell, his father, was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, April 14, 1826. Eliza Taylor, his mother, was a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, where she was born November 28, 1826. William Russell came to this county in 1840, when but a boy of fourteen years. When he grew to maturity he purchased ninety- four acres of land, to which he soon added enough to make three hundred and eighty-six acres. It was in two bodies, eighty acres being located in Put- nam county, Ohio. William Russell was an active, energetic man in business, one of the practical kind of farmers, who looked closely after his own inter- ests. He was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the
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party of Lincoln suited him politically until the breaking out of the Civil war, at which time and for a period thereafter he gave his support to the Democracy. Later in life his convictions concerning the prohibition question were such that he turned towards that party and acted with it until his death. For some time he was a member of the Grange and was earnest in his efforts for its advancement. He held many of the offices of trust in his township, and for a number of years administered the duties of trustee. His marriage to Eliza Taylor occurred June 1, 1850, and there were nine children born to him, eight of that number now living: George, Martha J., John W., William T., Sara C., Alfred L., Robert B. and C. W. Mr. Russell is at present a resident of Findlay, having accumulated sufficient competence to live a retired life. His wife died some years ago. Her father, William Taylor, was a pioneer resi- dent of Hancock county, where he married Cassandra Bell. The original entry of his land was made in 1835, shortly after they came to Hancock county. He was a native of Ireland. Their family consisted of eight children, three of whom still survive. They were highly respected in the community for their worth as good citizens.
WILLIAM FRANK SNIDER.
The Sniders constitute one of the oldest families in Hancock county, nor is its length of residence by any means its only recommendation. They have borne their full share of the burdens of development, have "held up their corner" at every trying conjuncture and have made a creditable showing in the business, social and political life of the county. In fact the oldest inhabitant cannot remember a time when the Sniders, individually and col- lectively, were not conspicuous figures in social circles. It was in 1835 that John Snider removed from York county, Pennsylvania, and purchased from Henry Litzenberger fifty-six acres of land lying in what is now Amanda township. John was industrious and was soon able to add twenty more acres to his original purchase, which, by a similar increase in 1860, eventually amounted to ninety-six acres, and this he cleared, fenced and generally im- proved until it was converted into a fertile and beautiful farm. All accounts agree in representing John Snider as a man of large heart, upright character and a model citizen in every respect. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and quite influential in religious circles, holding the posi- tion of trustee and class leader. Shortly after his arrival in Hancock county he was married to Eliza Treece, a native of Pickaway, and with her he settled down to housekeeping on his newly purchased farm. They had ten children,
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of whom eight are living and six of them are residents of Hancock county. The father ended his active and useful life in 1888, having long survived his wife, who passed away in 1862.
William F. Snider, one of the surviving children of the pioneer couple just described, was born in 1849, on the farm he now owns in Amanda town- ship, Hancock county, Ohio. His education as well as his training was re- ceived within the confines of his native township, and during his whole career he has known no other regular pursuit than that of farming. In 1880 Mr. Snider joined with his brother Isaac in purchasing sixty-six acres of land, but eight years later disposed of his share to the fraternal partner and used the capital to buy the place on which he now resides. It consists of sixty- six acres of well improved land, on which Mr. Snider built in 1898 a handsome and commodious residence, which, with the addition of other modern improve- ments, makes this one of the coziest country homes in the county. Mr. Snider has served his township as trustee and was summoned as a member of the first jury that sat in the new court house at Findlay, whose term lasted forty-two days. In 1872 Mr. Snider was united in marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of Josiah and Margaret Morehart, and the fruit of this union was an only son, born in 1878 and named Truman. The parents are devout mem- bers of the United Brethren church, of which Mr. Snider has been trustee for twenty-five years.
WILLIAM F. HOSLER.
This gentleman is the present efficient and popular cashier of the City Banking Company of Findlay, Ohio. He was born on a farm in Washington township, Hancock county, Ohio, on February 1, 1862. He passed the period of youth to the age of thirteen on the farm, receiving the ordinary education given in the country school. At that age he came to Findlay, Ohio, with his parents, where he had the advantages of better schools, and which he im- proved. Leaving school in 1878 he entered the office of the county treasurer as assistant and remained there until September, 1880, when he entered the employ of the Farmers' Bank as teller. In this position he served two years, and with such efficiency as to merit promotion to the assistant cashiership. He acted in this position until January 1, 1886, when the bank was made a national organization and our subject was made assistant cashier of this new organiza- tion. He served in this position as such until April 1, 1887, when he resigned and accepted the position of cashier of the City Bank of Findlay. He served in this relation until December 1, 1897, when the bank was reorganized and
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took its present name, the City Banking Company of Findlay, and our subject was made cashier of the new organization, and has continued to hold that position until the present time. Mr. Hosler began his married life in Findlay, Ohio, on October 7, 1885, when he was joined in marriage to Helen M., daughter of M. D. Shafer. Mr. Shafer died in June, 1899, in Findlay, at sixty years of age. He was born in Hancock county, was admitted to the Hancock county bar at the age of twenty-one, and for nearly forty years was a lawyer in this city. The mother of Mrs. Hosler was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, in 1842, and now resides in the city of Findlay. To the mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Hosler has been born one daughter, Mary L. Mr. Hosler is a popular citizen of Findlay, in which city he has a host of friends. Socially he affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and that other excellent order the B. P. O. E. Passing for a few moments now to the consideration of the family history of our subject, his father, Peter Hosler, was born in Pennsylvania in 1821, and came to Ohio in his boyhood with his father, Christopher Hosler, who located in Stark county, Ohio. They later removed to Hancock county, the year being about 1842. Prior to his removal to this county Peter Hosler married in Stark county, Ohio, Susana Sherman, to whom were born a family of twelve children. Peter Hosler was a contracting carpenter in his earlier life and later a farmer. He was a man of good character, of large influence in the county and in 1875 was elected treasurer of Hancock county on the Democratic ticket. In this office he served two terms. He was president of the Farmers' Bank and later of the Farmers' National Bank, and in 1887 was made president of the City Bank, which position he held at the time of his death in 1897.
In politics Mr. Hosler is a Democrat. He is a young man of excellent prospects, who will delight a large circle of friends by his continued success among them.
EDGAR A. HAWKINS.
The visitor to Findlay who registers at the Hotel Benton is sure of first- class entertainment, but he will enjoy additional pleasure if he cultivates the acquaintance of the gentlemanly manager who, though of quiet manners and unobtrusive demeanor, has seen much of the world and has some interesting stories to tell growing out of his personal experience. Mr. Hawkins served all through the Civil war in one of the figliting regiments, and many were the battles, skirmishes and engagements in which he took part during the long and bloody struggle between the north and the south. In civil life Mr. Hawkins
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has made a record as a telegraph operator, which in point of time has probably not been surpassed by any other manipulator of the keys in this country. Dur- ing those busy thirty years he gained and long retained the reputation of being one of the most rapid and accurate of all the operators in the service of the Western Union, and during this time he held positions of great responsibility at important railroad centers. The third stage in Mr. Hawkins's career has been as a hotel man, in which role he has been familiarly known for the last twelve years in connection with a number of prominent houses in various cities of Ohio and Indiana. The foregoing sum- mary will be ample justification for the re- mark that Edgar A. Hawkins is an inter- esting man to know, and for the purpose of better introducing him to the traveling pub- lic and the readers of this volume this brief biographical sketch of his life and career has been arranged.
The family of this name originated in New York state, and from there Lafayette and Elizabeth (Smith) Hawkins removed in early life to Michigan, where they lo- cated in the county of Monroe. Subse- quently they went to Lucas county, Ohio, where Mr. Hawkins was engaged for many years in the sawmill business at Maumee. His wife died in 1844, and his own death occurred four years later, both finding their final resting place in the cemetery at Petersburg, Michigan. At this town also their son, Edgar A. Hawkins, was born May 26, 1843, but he received his education chiefly in Ohio, and has been identified with this state during the larger part of his life. After attending school at Galion and Marion for some years lie was gradu- ated in the high school of the last mentioned city in 1858 and immediately entered into the occupation which he has chosen as his life work. As early as sixteen years of age he became proficient as a telegraph operator, and in 1860 was given charge of an office of the Bee Line Railway Company at La- Rue, Ohio. In April of the following year he was busy with his keys when his quick ear caught a message going over the wires which was the most mo- mentous ever transmitted since Morse invented this wonderful means of com- municating intelligence. The news of great moment which arrested the at-
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tention of the young operator at LaRue and about the same time was sending a thrill throughout the length and breadth of this great nation was to the effect that the rebels congregated at Charleston har- bor, under command of one P. T. Beauregard, had had the audacity to fire upon the flag of the United States as it floated over the battlements of Fort Sumter. That meant Civil war, and this awful fact was re- alized by every man and woman in the Union as soon as the news of the transaction at Charleston was floated over the wires. The young teleg- rapher at LaRue was not one to stand back when his country needed his services, and on the 12th of July, 1861, we find him enlisting at Marion as a member of the Fifth Regiment, Ohio Cavalry, in which he served during the nine following months and then obtained a transfer to Company G, Fifteenth Regiment Ohio Infantry. He remained with the latter command until June 8. 1865, his total service lacking one month of four years, and those who are famil- iar with the record of the old Fifteenth need not be told that those who staid with it had all the hard marching and fighting that could be desired by the most ambitious campaigner. This remark will be verified by an enumeration of the principal battles and engagements in which Mr. Hawkins took part with his regiment during the four years that elapsed after he left his little office at LaRue. This list includes Winchester, Fairfax Court House, Cheat River, Maryland Heights. Bolivar Heights. Martinsburg, all in Virginia; Bowling Green and Cumberland Gap, Kentucky; Stone River, Tullahoma, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga, Tennessee; Ringgold, Peach Tree Creek, Dug Gap, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta and Resaca, Georgia. Mr. Hawkins received a gun shot wound in the left leg at the last mentioned bat- tle. but was ready for duty again after the expiration of three weeks in hos- pital. Then commenced that epoch-making military movement known in history as the march to the sea, during which Mr. Hawkins took part with his command in the fights at Savannah, Fort Fisher and Goldsborough, after which the conquering and united armies of the north proceeded on and made their triumphant entry into the national capital. The grand review, so often described and so well rememberd by every participant, closed the Civil war with a spectacular exhibition of patriotic pride and justifiable jubilation which made a fitting finale to the greatest tragedy of history. While his regiment was located at Savannah, Georgia. Mr. Hawkins was given a commission which promoted him to the rank of second lieutenant of his company, an honor well deserved as a result of his long and loyal service to the Union cause.
After the war Mr. Hawkins resumed his calling as a telegraph operator,
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and continued it for many years, during which time he was stationed at vari- ous points throughout the west. For eighteen years he was traffic chief at In- dianapolis, and in 1887 was sent by the Western Union to Wichita, Kansas, and remained there during the period of the famous "boom" at that place. At length, after terms of service which in all amounted to thirty years, Mr. Haw- kins was compelled to drop his keys on account of what is called telegrapher's paralysis and seek other lines of employment. Entering the Hotel Cambridge at Lima, Ohio, he remained in the service of that popular hostelry for three years, and went from there to Frankton, Indiana, where he became an employe of the Altoona Hotel. He was afterward with the Kerr House at Marion, Ohio, the Grand Hotel at Indianapolis and the Morscher House at Tiffin, until finally he took charge as manager of the Benton at Findlay and has since re- tained that position.
In 1867 Mr. Hawkins was married to Miss Katie Rhodes, who died a year later, and in 1872 he was united with his second wife, in the person of Miss Ella Wood, who died July 23, 1889, after becoming the mother of two children, Harry W. and Edna N. The political affiliations of Mr. Hawkins have always been Republican, and by virtue of his military service he is a member of Mart Armstrong Post, No. 202, Grand Army of the Republic, at Lima. The thousands who have come in contact with Mr. Hawkins in a business way, as telegrapher operator or hotel manager, have always found him a courteous and obliging gentleman, and this reputation he has fully maintained since taking charge of the Benton.
ROBERT L. LEONARD.
Robert L. Leonard, a prominent and well known farmer of Big Lick township, owning and operating one hundred acres of well cultivated soil, was born in the township in which he resides, August 4, 1854. Here he was reared in the old homestead, which continued to be the scene of his boyhood labors and pleasures until his maturity, and during the meantime he became familiar with the curriculum of studies covered by his home school. He remained on his father's farm for several years after his majority, his first real estate pur- chase being in 1875 and consisting of ten acres. This was soon increased by seventeen acres donated to him by his father. These small holdings he con- tinued to improve, and in due time sold at a good figure, with the proceeds of which he purchased the first sixty acres of his present farm. He cultivated this until 1901, when he added the remaining forty acres. On this farm he has erected suitable and commodious buildings of modern construction, which
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add much to the pleasing prospect. The marriage of our subject occurred in this county in 1875, he being joined to Sarah A., the daughter of John and Polly A. Kinsel. To this happy union were born three childreen : John A., a telegraph operator in Findlay, Ohio; Fred S. and Estella G. Fred S., the youngest son, has taken up agriculture as his vocation, and is now working the home form. The mother of these children was born in Big Lick township, being a member of one of the noted pioneer families of the early day. They are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which body he is a class leader and also a trustee. The religious life of Mr. Leonard has al- ways been exceedingly active. There has never been a time when he has not been connected with the public life of his church in some particular. He has served long years as superintendent of the Sunday-school, and is at the pres- ent time advancing his interests in the important place of chorister. He is a man who carries out well the doctrines he believes in his every day life without the sound of trumpet or the display of banner. Fraternally he is a member of the order of Ben Hur.
Samuel B. Leonard, the father of our subject, was born in Pennsyl- vania, March 27, 1815. His grandfather was Robert Leonard, Sr., and his grandmother, Frances Bayless, both of whom were also natives of Washing- ton county, Pennsylvania. At the close of the war of 1812 they removed to Columbiana county, Ohio, where they resided until 1837. At that date they came to Hancock county, where they purchased a half section of land in Big Lick township. This he divided between his two sons, Samuel B. and Silas. His family consisted of six children, four sons and two daugh- teers. He later made provisions for his sons William K. and Abner. The daughters were Elizabeth and Mary A. The parents were members of the Presbyterian church, and were the means in their day of the establishment of what is now known as the Enon Valley Presbyterian church. He was ex- ceedingly strict with his children and looked well to their moral develop- ment. He reared them in accordance with the divine injunction "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." He died in 1867, mourned by a devoted family and a large circle of friends. The wife had died some years previously, about 1854.
Samuel B. Leonard was reared on the home farm, received his early education in Columbiana county, and removed with his wife to Hancock county in 1836, his parents coming here a year later. He continued his resi- dence on the same farm which he received from his father up to 1901. He was united in marriage to Miss Isabelle Curry in February, 1836. To this union there were born three children, Elizabeth F., John C. and Robert L.
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John C., who was a member of Company A, Twenty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was captured at the battle of Chickamauga and spent a period at Libby prison, from which he was removed to Danville and finally to that dreadful den at Andersonville, where he was starved to death. The date is not known. Elizabeth is the wife of C. Garber, elsewhere sketched in this volume. Samuel B. Leonard has been connected with the Methodist Episcopal church for over sixty years. In that time he has been very active in the service of the Master, having served a continuous period of over fifty years as class leader. His wife is a native of Columbiana county, Ohio, born November 29, 1815. It will be of interest to mention in connection with this family sketch that the first husband of Mrs. Elizabeth Garber, Absalom Kleckner, was a member of Company A, Twenty-first Regiment, Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Stone River. He was sent home and buried with military honors.
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