USA > Ohio > Hancock County > A centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio > Part 60
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
Such is the story of a truly self-made man who shows us how much can come from little and how nerve and pluck will overcome the direst poverty and the most adverse circumstances. Like all wise men, Mr. Sharninghause decided at an early age to select a partner to share his joys as well as his sor- rows, and to assist and comfort him in the struggles of life. His choice fell upon Miss Dora Kuhlman, to whom he was wedded in 1872, and who made him the happy father of four bright and promising children, named respect- ively, James M., George F., Henry W. and Ora. Parents and children are members of the German Lutheran church, in which Mr. Sharninghause has held the offices of deacon and trustee for twelve years. But though atten- tive to his church duties and a respecter of religion, Mr. Sharninghause con- siders that the whole duty of man is summed up in the simple creed "Do unto others as you would wish others to do unto you," and it is his aim to carry this out in his every day life, well assured that the observance of this golden rule includes all the moral code. After saying this much, it is hardly necessary to add that with his thrift, his honest methods and his genial dis- position William Sharninghause deserves and enjoys general respect among his neighbors and acquaintances. And this good will and esteem his worthy wife and amiable children also enjoy with their estimable father.
ROBERT A. COOPER.
Among those fortunate persons who "struck oil" as the result of the dis- coveries in the Findlay section of Ohio, none were more deserving of their good luck than the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He is a native
565
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
of Hancock county, being descended from early settlers, and the family has always stood well in the community. Robert A. Cooper was born January 6, 1853, on the farm in Portage township where he now resides, his parents being Amos and Elizabeth A. (Poe) Cooper. He was brought up and edu- cated in his native township and has always followed farming as a means of livelihood from the time he was able to work. It was July 22, 1884, that Mr. Cooper first made an investment in land, his purchase consisting of forty acres situated in Portage township, which was later increased by an inheritance of forty acres more. The acquisition of these eighty acres of land proved timely and profitable, as the discovery of oil in Hancock county resulted in the development of ten wells on Mr. Cooper's place, which are now in operation and yielding a good revenue.
On October 22, 1874, Mr. Cooper was married to Miss Mary J., daugh- ter of Andrew and Elizabeth Knoka, a native of Allen township, where she was born August 9, 1854. Edwin H. Cooper, the eldest of the two sons resulting from this union, was born January 12, 1878, graduated at the An- gola (Indiana) Normal School and is now attending the Homeopathic Medi- cal College of Chicago. Clarence M. Cooper, the youngest son, was born December 13, 1881, and is at present a student at the Angola Normal. Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Cooper are worthy members of the Blanchard Presby- terian church and much esteemed by the wide circle of acquaintances who have known them for years and found them true to all duties and require- ments of good citizenship. Mr. Cooper is not an aspirant for office, wastes no time on the intrigues of politics, but attends strictly to his business and aims to vote intelligently for what he regards as the best interests of county, state and nation. In the sketch of Isaac W. Cooper, on another page of this volume, will be found additional and interesting particulars of the fam- ily history.
PHILIP WEIROUGH.
It is a common remark throughout the United States that no country of the world has contributed to the great republic a more desirable class of emigrants than Germany. Wherever one goes, he will assuredly hear it said: "These Germans make mighty fine citizens." They are always law- abiding, well educated, genial in disposition, quick to "catch on" and trained in those habits of economy and thrift which are so valuable in early life. They seem to succeed at everything they undertake, whether it be running a butcher shop, a bakery, a store, a candy stand or a farm. The central west-
567
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
ern states have been especially fortunate in obtaining this fine stream of emi- gration, and no other state received a finer selection than Ohio.
Of the many thousands of Germans who have settled in the great and prosperous Buckeye state during the last half century were Nicholas and Mary Weirough. They came over in 1859 and located at Findlay, where the husband first obtained employment as engineer for the Adams foundry. Mr. Weirough, however, had aspirations to become a farmer and in 1870 bought eighty acres of unimproved land in Portage township. To this he removed with his family, and the next few years were devoted to the hard work in- cident to clearing land and getting it into shape to compete with modern methods of agriculture. In due time, the rough place was cleared and culti- vated, fenced and smoothed and improved until the original owner would not have recognized it. All the necessary buildings, combining both utility and ornament, and all those little adjuncts of shrubbery, nice walks and green sward, which go so far to beautify a country seat, were in due time added by the tasteful occupants. The worthy owners still enjoy life at the home their industry made, the father being ninety-one and the mother sixty-five years of age, and both much loved and respected by hosts of friends and acquaintances. Of their nine children, seven are living and all these are residents of Hancock county.
Among the number is Philip Weirough, who was born in Findlay, Ohio, June 23, 1861. He was reared and educated partly in Findlay and part- in Portage township, to which his parents removed in his youth. After reaching maturity Mr. Weirough worked in the oil fields for a number of years, but eventually abandoned this occupation in order to take up farming. In 1899 he purchased eighty acres of fertile land in Portage township, to which he removed a year ago and which he is now engaged in cultivating. As he has inherited from his father those good qualities for which he was noted and is a man of intelligence and progressive ideas, there can be little doubt that Mr. Weirough will in time rank with the best of Hancock's agri- culturists.
In 1884 occurred the happy nuptials of Philip Weirough and Miss Rachel, daughter of Jacob and Mary A. Rinehold, the bride being a native of Seneca county, Ohio, where she was born April 22, 1866. As the result of their union, Mr. and Mrs. Weirough have three bright and interesting chil- dren : John A., born June 8, 1885; Maud M., born September 15, 1886; and Clarence J., whose birth occurred September 16, 1888. No people in the county are more esteemed or have more friends than the Weirough fam- ily, both of the elder and younger generations.
568
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
RADO KEMPHER.
The subject of this sketch, whose name is given above, is one of many worthy representatives of a family of Dutch origin which settled in Hancock county many years ago and became a part of its stanchest citizenship. The original emigrants located in Pennsylvania, where they reared a family of four sons and four daughters, all of whom at a later day located in Hancock county. They arrived in 1837, and each of the sons purchased a half section of land, which they retained and cultivated during the remainder of their lives. The Kemphers proved to be a valuable acquisition to what was then a sparsely settled section of Ohio, as they were model farmers, people of upright lives, law-abiding and loyal as citizens. As they increased and multi- plied by marriage, the family connection grew to be one of influence, and none of the early settlers commanded more esteem than this contribution from the land of steady habits beside the German Ocean.
Abraham Kempher, one of the four sons above alluded to, was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, in 1805 and grew to manhood in the place of his nativity. In 1834, three years before his emigration to Ohio, he was married to Susan Buzzard, also born in Northampton county, in 1816, and this union proved both fruitful and congenial. The names of their children in order of birth are thus recorded in the family Bible: Ann L., born April 8, 1836; Jacob, born December 8, 1837; Rebecca, deceased, born November 9, 1840; Mary, born February 16, 1842; John, born April 13, 1844; Frances L., born July 3, 1846; Rachel S., born June 9, 1849; Eli, born August 8, 1852; and Rado, born May 4, 1855. Abraham Kempher, the father of this family, was a quiet, peaceable man, who pursued the even tenor of his way throughout an unadventurous life and gained the good will of all with whom he came in contact. His farming operations were carried on with the thrift and industry charac- teristic of Hollanders, and his farm became one of the neatest and best cultivated in his township. The one hundred and sixty acres of land formerly owned by him were greatly increased in value by the discovery of oil, and at the present time contain ten productive wells. The old pioneer, however, did not live long enough to get the benefit of this, as he passed peace- fully away from earth's struggles on the first day of April, 1877. He had survived his good wife many years, her death having occurred in 1860. The whole family, including parents as well as children, were lifelong members of the Disciples church at McComb.
Rado Kempher, whose birth occurred in Hancock county, Ohio, in 1855,
569
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
was the youngest of the children, and as he grew up displayed all the sturdy qualities of his ancestry. Like all of these, he adhered to the soil as an occu- pation and means of livelihood and is at present one of the best known farmers in Portage township. He has proved a worthy descendant of worthy sires, and ranks among the best of his neighborhood as an agriculturist and citizen. All of the Kemphers who came to Hancock county in 1837 have passed away, inculding his grandfather and father, as well as his uncles and aunts, but the rising generation contains many worthy representatives to perpetuate the honored name, and among these none is more deserving of notice than Rado Kempher. He is a man in whom all his neighbors have confidence, and as a farmer he occupies front rank among the many skillful agriculturists of the county. Mr. Kempher is unmarried, and like others of his name, almost without exception, is allied in politics with the Republican party.
JOSEPH J. HERMAN.
Besides industry and good judgment there are many other qualities which add to the success of the business man, especially the merchant, and among these are a genial and cordial manner and that courtesy which never fails to win and retain customers. One of these popular and prosperous merchants, located in the thriving town of Vanlue, Hancock county, Ohio, is Joseph J. Herman, who is the proprietor of a general store there. In the year 1899 he purchased this store from George Alspach and opened it with a fine display of goods in the same year. From the start he had a large pat- ronage, and his numerous customers are increasing daily. His business is centrally located, his building is of commodious and convenient proportions and his stock is of the finest quality and always fresh from the manufacturers.
Mr. Herman is the son of Joseph and Catherine (Leitzel) Herman, natives of Pennsylvania, and in Union county of that state he was ushered into the world on the 13th of November, 1871 ; in the county of his nativity he was reared and in the district schools he received the elementary educa- tion which was to fit him for the duties of after life. He has been an extensive farmer and in connection with this occupation has dealt in hay, which latter branch he still carries on in conjunction with his mercantile interests.
Mr. Herman is not only a first-class business man but also stands high in social circles and has performed his part of the duties devolving upon American citizenship; he has held the office of councilman of his town with much credit, is a worthy member of the Knights of Pythias and belongs to
36
570
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
the United Brethren church, of which he is the efficient Sunday-school super- intendent and one of the board of trustees. In the fall of 1897 Mr. Herman became the husband of Miss Laura E. Shuck, the accomplished daughter of Aaron and Matilda (Bright) Shuck; she was born on her father's farm in Big Lick township, July 19, 1874. Of this union one son was born, Au- gust 14, 1901, whom they have named Russell.
ISAAC L. SHULL.
The family of this name became established in Hancock county as early as 1833, in which year Solomon Shull took possession of two hundred and forty acres of land in Amanda township, part of which tract is now included in Wyandot county. This original settler left three sons, Isaac, Benjamin and Joseph, who inherited all the property at the time of his death and divided it into three equal parts. Benjamin, the second of these sons, was born in Franklin county, Ohio, September 15, 1815, and in early manhood was married to Christina Kitsmiller, a native of Fairfield county and about two years his junior. In 1846 they removed to Hancock county and settled on the inherited land above mentioned, which was their home during all the subsequent years of their lives. When Benjamin took possession of his third of the estate, amounting to eighty acres, it was practically in its raw state, as scarcely a beginning of improvements had been made. His first act was to build a log cabin in which to house his wife and little ones until something better could be substituted, and in this rude structure they lived until 1859. During his occupancy this farm was so greatly improved that its first owner would not have known it, and by clearing, fencing, rotation of crops, thorough cultivation and addition of all necessary outbuildings it was converted into a productive and valuable estate. Benjamin Shull be- came a noted character in the neighborhood on account of his cleverness with the ax, that indispensable weapon of the Ohio pioneer. Whenever there was to be a house-raising Ben was sure to be one of the invited guests and usually was awarded the honor of "holding up the corner." He had great skill in erecting those rude log structures which housed the first comers, as well as their descendants for one or two generations, and in his own affairs was a man of untiring industry. His marriage, which occurred in 1840, was productive of six children : John H., Mary A., William C., Har- mon T., Sylvanus and Isaac L. The parents, who were life-long members of the United Brethren church, have both passed away, the death of
571
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Mrs. Christina Shull having occurred March 23, 1892, and that of the hus- band September 15, 1902.
Isaac L. Shull, youngest of the children, was born on his father's farm in Hancock county, Ohio, January 24, 1855, and grew to manhood in his native township. His education was obtained partly in the district schools and partly in the high schools at Vanlue and Findlay. With the exception of six years in the latter place his whole life has been spent in Amanda town- ship in the prosecution of agricultural pursuits, to which he had been trained from boyhood. For twenty-four years he and his brother Sylvanus operated a threshing machine in partnership, and this firm became known far and wide for the amount as well as excellence of the work they did for grain growers over a wide area of Ohio territory. In 1893 Mr. Shull took possession of his possession of his present homestead, consisting of one hundred and forty- six acres, of which fifty-six acres lie in Wyandot county. He devotes this place to general farming and stock-raising, and is regarded in the neighbor- hood as one of the most progressive and successful of the township's farmers, while also being considered an authority on various agricultural subjects.
On November 23, 1876, Mr. Shull was married to Eleanor, daughter of John and Nancy A. Crawford, from which union have resulted two chil- dren : Truman W., born November 27, 1881, and Anna M., born March 28, 1883. The family are members of the United Brethren church, of which Mr. Shull has been a class leader and steward, and he was for some time president of the board of education.
JOHN Z. SAMPSON.
This gentleman, one of the prosperous farmers of Amanda township, is descended on the side of both mother and father from early settlers of Hancock county. The family originated from Eli and Ann Sampson, who emigrated from Maryland in the early part of the nineteenth century and took part in developing Hancock county. Among their children was a son named David, who was born in Jackson township and became a prosperous farmer, accumulated considerable wealth and rose to a position of prominence in his community. He was influentially connected with township affairs and served both as superintendent and trustee. David Sampson married Melinda Hoy, a member of the old pioneer family of that name, and of their ten chil- dren seven are living. The father lost his life in 1899, as the result of being struck by a falling tree, but his widow still survives in a good old age.
John Z. Sampson, son of the last mentioned couple, was born in Amanda
572
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
township, March 30, 1864, and has spent all his life in the locality of his nativity. He attended the township schools and finished his education at Mount Blanchard. After leaving school he "buckled down" to hard work and has ever since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has pros- pered, and at present owns a neat place of seventy-five acres in Amanda township, which is devoted to general farming and stock-raising. He is of industrious habits, a good manager and altogether one of the representa- tive men of the generation of farmers who have come up in Hancock county since the Civil war. On September 4, 1894, Mr. Sampson was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Dragoo, of Indiana, but has no children. They are members of the Methodist Protestant church and are good citizens of the community in every sense of the word.
D. W. FITCH.
The purpose of this brief sketch will be to give the life history of one of Hancock county's live and progressive agriculturists, who has also made a success in other lines of business. The parents of the subject of this sketch were William and Martha Fitch, both natives of Pennsylvania, the father from Beaver county of that state. In 1837 they came to Ohio and located on one hundred and sixty acres of land in Wyandot county, which they entered from the government. William Fitch was a good farmer, a worthy citizen and a true Christian in every sense of the word, for many years being prominently connected with the Presbyterian church and for several years serving as elder. His wife was a godly woman, whose kind and beneficent training is still remembered by her loving children. The husband passed away in 1857, and the wife in 1890.
Their son, D. W. Fitch, was born in Wyandot county, Ohio, on the 4th day of May, 1845; the old homestead was the scene of his boyish pleas- tires and sorrows, and in the familiar schoolhouse he learned the lessons and received the discipline in common with the other boys of the neighborhood. His principal vocation in life has been farming, but he has also tried other pursuits; for five years he conducted a grocery store in Hardin county, Ohio, to which county he removed in 1883; in 1890 he went to Findlay, Hancock county, and became the agent of a publishing house. He finally turned his attention to farming and at first rented land, moving about from place to place, as is the custom, in this and Wood counties; in 1894 he sus- tained a great loss, when his house and all its contents were destroyed by the flames. In 1900 he purchased his present farm of one hundred and twelve
573
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
acres of valuable land and is now devoting it to general farming, in which he has been very successful.
In 1867 Mr. Fitch was married to Sarah Andrews, who was born in London, England, and came to America when she was seven years of age. They have four children : Florence, Ivy, Frank and Hazel. Mr. Fitch has filled with credit several township offices, and has a good record in every de- partment of life.
DAVID U. CHAMBERS.
The family of Chambers, though identified with Ohio from an early period, is of Virginia origin. Elias Chambers, founder of the name in the Buckeye state, married Catherine Stockman, of Pennsylvania, and settled in Crawford county, Ohio, as far back as 1825, entered one hundred and twenty acres of timbered land and made the first use of his trees to build a cabin. This pioneer couple had seven children: Susan, the first born, afterward Mrs. Steen, was an infant at the time of the settlement; William, deceased; Catherine, who married J. Steen: Peter, deceased; David; Daniel; and Aaron. David Chambers, fifth of these children, was born in Crawford county, Ohio, December 24, 1833, and grew to manhood at the place of his nativity. Shortly after reaching his majority he came to Hancock county, where he worked by the day for various persons and eventually was em- ployed to do farm work for his uncle, William Chambers, on the place which he now owns. He has made it one of the desirable farms of Big Lick town- ship, the land being highly improved and cultivated by up-to-date methods. He has gained standing, not only as a good farmer, but as a model citizen, and has filled acceptably the office of constable, trustee and other township offices. April 26, 1859, David Chambers was married to Sarah A., daugh- ter of Samuel and Eliza (Smith) Sargent, natives of Hampshire county, West Virginia, who came to Ohio in 1825. The children of this union are Nora C., David V., Greely, Della, Clinton, Cora and Wesley.
David U. Chambers, second of the above enumerated children, was born on his father's farm in Big Lick township, Hancock county, Ohio. Septem- ber 4, 1866, and grew to maturity in the usual manner of boys of his class. He attended the neighborhood schools in term time and at other periods assisted with the farm work, learning those details of the business which were to be useful to him in after life. In 1890 he became the owner of eighty acres of valuable land in Big Lick township, which he has since cultivated and made his place of residence. He devotes his place to general farming and stock-
574
CENTENNIAL BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
raising, not attempting any fancy farming, and is regarded as one of the most promising of the younger generation of agriculturists in his part of the county. He is industrious and ambitious, as all the surroundings will show, his farm being kept in good order, and equipped with all the modern conveniences. Mr. Chambers has neither sought nor cared for office in a general way, but at the urgency of his neighbors accepted the position of township trustee, and served efficiently for three years. In the fall of 1889 Mr. Chambers was united in marriage with Miss Isadore, daughter of John and Sarah Bright, the bride being a native of Big Lick township and born there December 7, 1867. The five children resulting from this union are: Lillian M., born November 7, 1890; Edna C., born November 15, 1891; Garnet R., born May 17, 1894; Audrey C., born March 22, 1898; and Mabel D., born July 31, 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Chambers are both consistent members of the Evangelical church, in which the former holds the position of trustee.
SAMUEL B. THOMAS.
This gentleman deserves to be ranked among the early pioneers, as he is a native of Ohio and has lived in the state for eighty years. He is a son of James and Mary A. (Campbell) Thomas, both natives of Ireland, where the former was born in 1784 and the latter in 1786. They emigrated to America in 1818, first locating at Norfolk, Virginia, where they made a short stay and then moved to Pennsylvania, from which place they subsequently migrated to Wayne county, Ohio. In 1835 they came to Hancock county, where Mr. Thomas purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, upon which he erected a log hut, eighteen by twenty feet, and there resided for several years. By much hard work these worthy immigrants succeeded in improving this land until it became a valuable farm. Mr. Thomas was a hard working man, possessed that geniality for which his countrymen are so well noted, and by his upright life gained a multitude of friends. Both him- self and wife were members of th Presbyterian church, and they followed out the precepts of their religion in their daily intercourse with their fellow men. Mr. Thomas died in Hancock county, August 10, 1870, and his wife passed away January 6, 1868.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.