USA > Ohio > Hancock County > A centennial biographical history of Hancock County, Ohio > Part 8
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David Sherick was born on a farm in Wayne county, Ohio, in 1831, where he lived until he was twenty-two years of age. His childish mem- ories take him back to the days of log school houses, and wide open stretches of country,-country which looked just as fertile in those days, but which as vet had not been under cultivation, for settlers were few and far between in those times, and Ohio was one of the new states which had been carved out of the Northwest territory some years before. Mr. Sherick lived the life of the average farmer's boy, in the winter time attending school and looking after the cattle, and in the summer, plowing and harvesting the grain. When he was twenty-two he left the home farm and started out in life for himself, going to Liberty township, Hancock county, where he bought a farm and built him a home, and a little later, brought a wife, and there they toiled and saved, taking life a little easier as the years went by, and the children grew 11p and shared their burdens ; and finally, in 1899, they moved into Findlay to spend the remainder of their days.
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Mr. Sherick was married December 28, 1854, in Liberty township, Han- cock county, Ohio, to Catherine, daughter of George Heck, and they have had nine children, of whom seven are now living, as follows: Peter; Bar- bara, wife of T. C. Boyd; Martha, wife of R. M. Poe; Irene, wife of N. L. Acocks; Emma, wife of I. L. McGee; John H., and Maud. Mr. Sherick is a member of the Church of God, and in his politics has been a life-long Re- publican.
Our subject's father was Peter Sherick, born in Fayette count, Penn- sylvania, December 5, 1798, and died June 14, 1886. He, too, was a "tiller of the soil," and our subject, David was his only son. Our subject's grand- father was Christian Sherick, who was born in Pennsylvania and died there. The Sherick family is of German descent.
Mr. Sherick has lived a useful and industrious life, has managed his business affairs with intelligence and is now one of the prosperous farmers of the community, taking his well earned rest and enjoying the society of his children and friends.
HENRY STOUGH.
Henry Stough, a prosperous farmer and dairyman, residing in Cass township, Hancock county, Ohio, owns here a valuable farm of one hundred and thirty-nine acres and carries on extensive farming operations in con- junction with a very profitable dairy business.
The birth of Henry Stough was on April 12, 1844, in Ashland county, Ohio, and he is a son of George and Catherine Stough, who came to Han- cock county, Ohio, in 1853, when Henry was nine years of age. George Stough was born on the Monongahela river, in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on March 27, 1815, and he was a son of Moses and Mary (Riddle) Stough, both natives of Pennsylvania, the former being a son of George Stough, of German descent. Moses Stough removed from Pennsylvania to Ashland county, Ohio, in 1818, when his son George was three years old. By trade he was a cooper and this trade he followed during the years of his active life, and died in Allen township, this county, at the age of eighty-three years.
As mentioned George Stough came to Hancock county in 1853, and here became a practical and successful farmer. He was a man of exemplary life and character and was much respected and beloved in his locality, uni- versal regret being felt when his death occurred in June, 1898. His mar- riage was to Catherine Gierhart, and they had a family of ten children, the survivors being : Eliza, Daniel, Henry and Christian.
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Henry Stough, our subject, attended school in his early years, as op- portunity offered. He has always been more interested in agricultural pur- suits than in anything else and has succeeded most admirably in his labors. In 1867 he purchased his present farm and has since then been engaged in its development.
December 14, 1865, he was married to Susannah, daughter of Josiah and Mary Shafer, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, in 1846, and was an infant in her mother's arms when she entered Hancock county. She had three brothers in the Civil war, Hiram, Mordecai and Samuel, the two first named belonging to the Twenty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and the last named to a Kansas regiment. Each served his country long and well and were honorably discharged.
The children born to our subject and wife were but two in number, Hen- rietta and William. The latter died in boyhood, his death being indeed a sad blow to his parents, as he promised to grow into a most estimable man. Hen- rietta married G. E. Watchtel, and they have two children,-Merle and Cor- inne. Mrs. Stough died August 3, 1902.
Mr. Stough is one of the much respected citizens of his township and is known for his excellent farming and fine methods of dairying, over a large part of this section. He keeps twenty-five cows for milk, of a breed noted for its richness of cream and milk, and his output finds a very ready sale. In politics Mr. Stough is a Democrat.
ABRAHAM BROWN.
This honored and prominent representative of the farming and stock- raising interests of Hancock county is one of the successful men in that line of business. His pleasant and commodious home is situated in Washington township, where he conducts a farm of one hundred and forty acres, where he is possessed of all that a prosperous farmer needs to satisfy every wish. He is the son of Martin and Catherine (Leady) Brown, the father having located in Washington township in about 1835, on his farm of about one hundred and sixty acres. Both Martin Brown and his wife were natives of the Key- stone state, where they married, and soon removed to Knox county, Ohio, locating in Hancock county, Ohio, in the year above stated. He was a hard working and industrious man, clearing all his land, as did many other pio- neers in that early day, and combining good sound business judg- ment with fine physical health and a will to labor, he became a very successful representative of the farming interests. He was an honest and up-
S
ABRAHAM BROWN.
MRS. ABRAHAM BROWN.
JOHN BROWN.
CHARLES BROWN. MRS. CHARLES BROWN. CHARLES VOITLE.
MRS. CHARLES VOITLE.
ROBERT VOITLE.
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right man in all of his dealings with his neighbors, was a member of the Ger- man Baptist church, and in politics favored the policies of the Republican party. The family that was born to him consisted of ten children, nine of whom are living at this writing and three of this number reside in Hancock county, as follows: Mrs. Elizabeth Meyers, Mrs. Sarah Jacobs, and Abra- ham Brown, the immediate subject of this sketch.
Mr. Brown passed his early boyhood in the exacting labor of farm life in that early day, and received his primary education in the district school of his native township. As a lad he performed the duties required of a boy of his size on his father's farm, and developed that sturdiness of character which generally attaches to the ordinary country youth. When that dreadful calam ?- ity which cast a dark cloud over the face of our country, occurred, the firing on Fort Sumter, Abrahamı Brown was not old enough to do duty in the field, but his young mind was in close sympathy with the cause of Old Glory. As the months sped on and the cloud darkened, Mr. Brown became matured by sheer patriotism and in September, 1862, willingly gave himself a sacrifice to his country, serving the remaining three years of the war. He enlisted as a private in Company A, Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and which regiment became a part of the Army of the Cumberland. He followed the flag through twenty-three general engagements, besides participating in a large number of lesser battles and skirmishes. Following is a brief mention of the principal actions in which he was engaged : Stone River, Chickamauga (where he lost the second finger of his left hand), Resaca, Bald Knob, Kene- saw Mountain and Atlanta. He participated in that thrilling and victorious march of the man who denominated war as "hell," and returning north on the victorious march of that chieftain, he was mustered out at Louisville and re- turned to his home with the consciousness of having performed his whole duty to his beloved country. During the services he was promoted from the private ranks for meritorious services on the field to duty sergeant. He received an honorable discharge and was paid off at Columbus, Ohio, in July, 1865. Mr. Brown took up the thread of life just where it had been broken when he went to the army. Returning to his school and to his books, he fitted himself for a future life of usefulness. Upon leaving school the first business in which he became interested was in the line of dry goods at West Independence. It was here that Mr. Brown chose as a companion and helpmate on life's journey Miss Rebecca A. Newhouse, the marriage occurring in the year 1868. Three children came to brighten their home: John C., born in 1869; Abbie A, 1871; and Charles M., in 1879. This latter boy inherited the patriotism of his father and offered himself to his country in its late unpleasantness with Spain. He
5
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enlisted for two years in Company H, Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was a faithful soldier and was honorably discharged at Macon, Georgia. The mother of this family, Miss Rebecca Brown, was born in Washington town- ship, Hancock county, in 1851. She has proved to her husband a faithful companion and helpmate in life's journey, and her sound advice and assistance were important factors in his prosperity.
Mr. Brown takes an active part in politics, and while he is a stanch Re- publican, he will not tolerate what he thinks is an act of duplicity on the part of his colleagues. About 1875, when his own party leaders displeased him, he formed a new party in his own township, known as the Farmers' Alliance. This was subsequently merged into the People's Party, a convention of this party having been held under the leadership of Mr. Brown in 1896, in Arcadia. Owing to his masterful direction, this movement was successful until 1896, when it was absorbed by the Democratic party, at which time and date our subject returned to his old love, the Republican party, and of which he is now a stanch supporter.
Mr. Brown is a man much above the average intelligence, and a promoter and supporter of many progressive and commendable enterprises. He has paid a marked tribute to the rural mail free delivery in the erection of two beautiful and conspicuous pillars, one on either side of his gateway. On each of these pillars is painted a figure, one representing "Uncle Sam," and the other "Abe " Brown. Mr. Brown enjoys the full confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens, and well deserves representation in this volume.
WILLIAM MONTGOMERY.
The ancestry of the family of this name, which for more than half a century has been identified with the agricultural development of Orange and Van Buren townships, is given in the sketch of John Montgomery, which ap- pears on another page of this volume. It is there told how they descended from an Irish emigrant who fought in the Revolutionary war and left de- scendants in western Pennsylvania, who later settled in eastern Ohio. Will- iam Montgomery, above mentioned, is a brother of John and was the eighth of the twelve children born to William and Sarah (Fouts) Montgomery after their settlement in Columbiana county in the early part of the last century. His birth occurred on his father's pioneer farm in the hills of eastern Ohio, April 17, 1833, and he remained in that section until he had reached his ma- jority. As his brothers had migrated to Hancock some years before, he naturally followed in their wake, hoping for better opportunities than were
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afforded in his native locality. In 1854 he arrived in Hancock county, and for a short time worked on his brother Albert's farm in Orange township, and continued to work as a farm laborer for different parties during the next two years. A family by the name of Brannan had come from Trumbull county, Ohio, and taken up land in Orange township, and among their chil- dren was a daughter named Elizabeth. She was a child at the time of her arrival, and was reared and educated in her new home in Hancock county. In 1855 William Montgomery and Elizabeth Brannan were united in mar- riage, and lived together as man and wife for nearly forty years in utmost affection and harmony. For a while after marriage the young couple lived in Orange township, but in 1860 Mr. Montgomery bought land in section 36, Van Buren township, to which they soon removed and commenced the diffi- cult task of clearing. It was situated in the woods, was wholly unimproved and to any one not possessed of the pioneer spirit would have presented any- thing but a pleasing prospect. Mr. Montgomery, however, soon had a log house thrown up and a stable built of the same rude materials, and securing a few needed animals he set manfully to work to carve for himself a home out of this wilderness. The way was long and the road was hard, but he finally arrived, as men of the right kind of "grit" in those days generally did. Any one who visits section 36 in VanBuren township may see at a glance the magical changes that have been effected by Mr. Montgomery's industry, de- termination and dogged perseverance. The log cabin has long since given place to a comfortable brick residence; the former wildwood has been trans- formed into smiling meadows or bounteous grain fields; what was once marsh or swamp, under the modern system of tiling and ditching, has been converted into dry land suitable for cultivation. On this farm Mr. Montgomery has been living for forty-seven years, and though he has experienced all the ups and downs incident to agricultural pursuits he has done well on the whole and has a comfortable competence to smooth the decline of life. His good wife, who was a member of the Disciples church and always an exemplary Christian, closed her earthly career on August 1, 1894. Of their seven chil- dren two died in infancy, but the other five grew to maturity and are now doing well in their different spheres of life. Dr. Wesley Montgomery, the eldest son, is practicing medicine with success at Ada, in Hardin county, Ohio; Clara, the eldest daughter, married James E. Pore and is living with lier husband on Logan avenue in Findlay; John, the second son and third child, pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Findlay; W. L., the fourth, resides on the old home farm; and Frank, the youngest, a resident of Ada, is mail clerk on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad. Mr. Mont-
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gomery is respected by all, not only as one of the county's pioneer farmers, but because in all the relations of life, both as a neighbor and citizen, he has done his full duty in assisting to build up the community. Mr. Montgomery was a Democrat until 1896, when he voted the Republican ticket.
SAMUEL H. ELSEA.
One of the well known and respected farmers of Jackson township, Sam- uel Henry Elsea, is a representative of an honored pioneer family of Hancock county that was established here when conditions were very different from those now existing. The green woods stood as they came from the hand of na- ture and few roads penetrated into the forest. The homes of the settlers were widely scattered and the tents of the red men were frequently seen, while bears, wolves and other wild animals haunted the forest. Deer were frequently shot by the hunter and lesser wild game was often upon the table of the pion- eers. Farm implements were very crude compared to those of the present day and the most far-sighted could hardly have imagined the changes which would occur and make Hancock county a thickly settled region, rich in fine farms and thriving towns. The Elsea family bore their part in the work of improve- ment and development here and like the others of the family the subject of this review has always been known as a worthy and progressive citizen, as he has carried on his work along agricultural lines.
Samuel Henry Elsea was born April 18, 1838, on the old family home- stead in Eagle township, being the third in order of birth among the children that came to that household. His father, Moses Elsea, was born April 24, 1812, in Virginia, a son of William and Mary Elsea, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Maryland. William Elsea followed teaming in his native state and afterward removed to Pickaway county, Ohio, where his death occurred. In his family were ten sons and two daughters. Among the number was George, who lived for a short time in Hancock county, but after- ward located in Putnam county ; William, who resided for a few years in Eagle township and then went to Putnam county; and James, who lived and died in Eagle township, and his son Jacob is still living there.
After the death of the father Moses Elsea became responsible for the fani- ily, the other sons being much younger. He brought his mother, his younger brothers and his sisters to this county, and the mother spent her remaining days in Eagle township, reaching an advanced age. Moses Elsea was married in Pickaway county, January 14, 1833, to Mary Ann Oman, who was born in that county, June 27, 1815, a daughter of Moses and Elizabeth Oman, who
Margret Ellen Elsea
Samuel Henry Elsea
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were natives of Pennsylvania and at an early day located in Pickaway county. They had a large family, of whom two sons, John and Peter, came to Han- cock county, while Sarah married John Knight and both died in Eagle town- ship, and Elizabeth became the wife of Clement Jester and lived in this county until her husband's death. Moses Oman was the owner of an extensive farm in Pickaway county. In Hancock county he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land for each of his two sons, John and Peter, and eighty acres for his daughter, Mary Ann. All three came to the county in the spring of 1834, settling upon their land. They had to cut their way through the woods for miles, so wild and unimproved was this
district. The brothers had a good team, but the father of our subject performed his farm work in an early day with ox teams. John and Peter Oman each built a good cabin. Their father came with them on their first trip in order to see them comfortably established and usually visited them once a year after that. After his death, which occurred in Pickaway county, his widow lived with her children in this county, spending her last years with her daughter, Mary Ann. She died suddenly in the night when about eighty years of age. The farms of the Oman brothers and their sister all adjoined, but they had lived in the county for several years before they had any neighbors, when Henry Falk, Alfred Ralston and Abram William- son located within two or three miles of them. It was some time before they knew anything of Findlay, where they afterward did their milling. For the first season they made their own living off the land. The woods were full of game so that they had an ample supply of venison and wild fowls. Many bears were also in the forests and wolves were frequently heard howling around their cabin homes, sometimes even jumping against the door.
After his marriage Moses Elsea devoted his attention to the work of clearing his farm, and after getting a start in this way he also did some team- ing to Sandusky and Upper Sandusky, hauling his own produce to market there and bringing goods back on the return trips. He soon began to buy more land, and also purchased the farm of John Oman, who removed to Indiana. He added other tracts from time to time and also assisted others who wished to make purchases, including his brother, William, and his brother-in-law, David Loy. He gave each of his sons a farm and yet at the time of his death still had between four and five hundred acres of land. He lived to see all of his children married and with homes of their own which lie had assisted them in obtaining. His estate, at the time of his deinise, was valued at between fifty and sixty thousand dollars, and yet all through his life he had been most generous in helping others, and had given away much money
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and land. Mr. Elsea had no educational advantages in his youth, but after he was married he learned to read, and through reading, observation and experience he continually broadened his knowledge and kept well informed on all public questions of his day. In politics he was a Democrat until the organ- ization of the Republican party, when he joined its ranks. He retained the management of his business affairs as long as he lived, and continued his farm work until within a few years of his death, when he removed with his wife to Findlay, spending his last days there in quiet retirement. Even on the night he died he chatted cheerfully, seemingly being in usual good spirits. He had been ailing for some days previously, but no one thought death was so near. He died March 30, 1885, and his wife passed away in Findlay April 11, 1884. They had eight sons and four daughters.
The subject was reared under the parental roof, and bore his part in the work of the farm, thus gaining a practical experience of farm work that enabled him to carry on business for himself in a profitable manner when he had attained his majority. As a companion for life's journey he chose Miss Margaret Ella Line, a daughter of Conrad and Catherine Line, of Eagle town- ship, where she was born July 19, 1841. They were married October 18, 1860, and in the spring of 1862 came to their present farm, which was then in the woods. He was drafted for service in the war and went to Lima, but his brother, Newton, was determined to go if Samuel did, so that it was arranged that Newton should go as his substitute. This cost him four hun- dred and fifty dollars, whereas if he had gone he would have received twelve hundred dollars from others. He also had to pay about three hundred and fifty dollars each year to his father for land, and other expenses had to be met, but prices were high about that time and he had considerable walnut and other timber on his place, the sales of which brought to him excellent returns. Thus he was enabled to meet the payments on his place, and inside of five years he found himself ahead on his payments and began to build a barn. He lived in his original cabin until he erected his present brick residence, and as his financial resources increased he bought more land on the state road near Find- lay. He also made other purchases, and has given to each of his children a good tract of land or its equivalent, while he still has one hundred and fifty acres in the old homestead and one hundred and twenty acres in another farm, while his wife has forty acres in Eagle township. He has bred good stock --- sheep, hogs, horses and cattle, and his sales of stock have annually augmented his income. He believes in tiling, and has therefore drained his land until it is very productive, and everything about the place is kept in first-class con- dition.
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Elsea have been born four children who are yet living, and they lost one. Lorena Ellsworth, born October 25, 1865, died May 25, 1880. Conrad Moses, born February 5, 1862, is a farmer of Jackson town- ship, and married Amanda Beard, by whom he has two children, Samuel Mer- ley and Charles. Mary C., born August 8, 1863, is the wife of Albert Lincoln Miller, of Findlay. Lucinda and Matilda, twins, were born July 31, 1872. The former is the wife of Charles Shank, of Jackson township, and their chil- dren are Carl Henry and Edna. Matilda is the wife of Josiah Pepple, a farmer of Jackson township, and they have two sons, Ezra Lloyd and Albert Lau- rence.
In 1856 Mr. Elsea voted for Fremont and has since remained a stanch Republican in national affairs, but at local elections does not consider himself bound by party ties. When fifteen years of age he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and both he and his wife are now identified with Center Chapel, although she was connected with the United Brethren church for a number of years. Mr. Elsea has in his possession the old family Bible, and a valuable watch, which was carried by his father when a young man and which he himself carried several years. It was then worn in turn by all the younger brothers, eventually reverting to the father, and our subject pur- chased it upon the settlement of the estate. This in brief is the life history of one of the native sons of the county connected with its history from pioneer days. He has been a witness of much of the growth and development of this part of the state and like the others of the family has borne his part in the work of agricultural improvement here. He has always lived at peace with his fel- low men, being just in his dealings and upright in his conduct, and through earnest labor he has prospered.
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