USA > Ohio > Richland County > A centennial biographical history of Richland county, Ohio > Part 13
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To know the early life of our subject we have but to picture the condi- tions common in Richland county six or seven decades ago. Much of the land was wild, awaiting the awakening energy of civilization to transform it into richly cultivated fields. Schools were primitive and the curriculum limited; the now thriving towns and cities were merely hamlets or had not been founded, and the settlers were deprived of many of the comforts and conveniences of the older east; but they were people of resolute spirit and with determined purpose well fitted to the work of making homes in the wilderness. Alexander McBride bore his part in the task of clearing and developing the wild land. Through the winter months he pursued his studies in the little log school house, where he mastered the common branches of English learning.
On attaining his majority he began work as a farm hand, but con- tinued to make his home under the parental roof until August 8, 1847, when he married Miss Hulda A. Keeler, a native of Richland county and a daughter of Stephen Keeler, one of the honored pioneer farmers of the lo- cality. By this marriage one child was born, Stephen, who is now a farmer in La Grange county, Indiana. Mr. McBride and his young wife removed to Crawford county, Ohio, where he and his brother John owned a farm of one hundred acres, but soon death came to the little home, for after two years Mrs. McBride was called to her final rest. Her husband then returned to Richland county, and in connection with a partner operated a threshing machine, also working on various farms until his second marriage, which oc- curred on the 16th of September, 1855, Miss Catherine Plank becoming his wife. She is a native of Richland county and a daughter of John Plank, the founder and hotel proprietor of Planktown and one of the leading citi-
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zens of this section of the Buckeye state. In the meantime Mr. McBride's father made his will and at the wish of the father Alexander McBride pur- chased from the other heirs their interest in one-half of the farm and upon the land built his residence. Here he has since resided, devoting his en- ergies to agricultural pursuits until recent years. He is now living retired, enjoying a well-earned rest. By the second marriage have been born two children, but only one is now living, Anna, the wife of William Page, of Cleveland.
Mr. McBride is a member of the Lutheran church, with which he has been identified for more than half a century. For many years he has served as one of its officers and is now filling the position of elder. He is a man of sterling worth, of high moral character, and through his four-score years he has ever commanded the confidence and esteem of his fellow men. In the evening of life he can look back over the past without regret and forward to the future without fear.
MAHLON DICKERSON.
The name of Dickerson has long been prominently and honorably asso- ciated with the history of Shelby. Mr. Dickerson, whose name appears above, was for many years an esteemed representative of this locality. He was born in 1816, in Sullivan county, New York, and was the son of Peter Dickerson. At the age of twenty he left home and by way of the Erie canal proceeded to Buffalo, thence to Cleveland by boat and from Cleveland con- tinued on his way to Richland county, which he found to be an almost unbroken wilderness. He immediately began work at the carpenter's trade and followed that pursuit in many sections of the state. When in Newark he formed the acquaintance of Miss Mary Calhoon Langley, a daughter of Joseph and Margaret Langley, both of whom were natives of the Shenan- doal valley in Virginia, and came to Ohio in 1812, being numbered among the pioneer farmers there.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Dickerson came to Shelby, where the subject of this review continued working at his trade until 1844, when he established the first sash, door and blind factory in this part of the state. He made his own frames and in fact did all of the work. He used a planing machine cutting ten inches in width, and horse power was utilized in the operation of the factory, the same being secured from Bolinger & Keller, of Sulphur Springs, Crawford county, Ohio. His shop was located
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on the rear of lot 93, East Main street, and there he employed several work- men. The factory was operated by horse power for four years, when he purchased the William Ling Foundry building, which was supplied with steam power, and there he continued the business. He secured the most modern machinery and equipments for turning out a high grade of work, and employed from ten to fifteen men. His plant was located where the Easy Spring Hinge manufacturing plant now stands, and Mr. Dickerson continued there in business until 1859, when he sold out. He then built a new factory at the corner of Gamble street and Whitney avenue on the west side of town, and conducted the enterprise until 1873.
Walter L. Dickerson,his son, was born in 1849. and during his boy- hood assisted in his father's factory. He acquired his education in the Shelby high school and remained at home until his marriage. At the age of twen- ty-three he wedded Miss Lotta M. Hoffstadt, of Shelby, and two children were born to them: Cora E., who was born February 12, 1873, and received a musical education in Cleveland, Ohio; and Roy, who was born January 30, 1876, and was also a student in the Cleveland Music Conserva- tory. He was specially proficient as a violin player and was admitted to the Cleveland Musical Union at the age of fifteen, being its youngest member. He is now with the Chicago Marine Band, of Chicago. He has played in all of the principal cities and leading resorts throughout the east, and his musical proficiency won him rank among some of the ablest representatives of the art.
In 1896 Walter L. Dickerson became the manager of the Shelby News Company, and has since been associated with the journalistic interests of the city as one of the proprietors of that paper. He has always been inter- ested in politics and is in full sympathy with the Chicago platform of 1896. Socially he is connected with the Masonic lodge, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of the Maccabees. His pronounced musical talent has rendered him a leading factor in musical circles of the city and made him a valued member of many social gatherings. He served as a leader of the choir and organist of the First Presbyterian church for twenty-five years.
Mahlon E. Dickerson, the brother and partner of Walter L. Dickerson, was born May 14, 1858, his parents being Mahlon and Mary (Langley) Dickerson. He pursued his education in the public schools of Shelby and at the age of eighteen years entered the printing office of Hon. S. S. Bloom, who was the founder and publisher of the paper known as the Shelby Inde-
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pendent News, the first issue occurring in 1868. Previous to that time Mr. Dickerson had acted as mail carrier in Shelby for two or three years. On the 14th of April, 1882, he established a journal known as the Shelby Free Press, which he published until December 24, 1882, his office being in the old Bowman block. His entire plant was destroyed by fire, but he immedi- ately settled with the insurance company and went to Cleveland, where he secured a supply of type and other necessary material, and on the regular publication day the paper appeared as though nothing had happened. The business continued to grow and in March, 1893, Mr. Dickerson moved his office to Crestline, Ohio, where he published the Vidette, which had for- merly been carried on by I. N. Richardson, then deceased. There Mr. Dick- erson continued until October, 1897, when he sold his paper at Crestline and purchased an interest in the Shelby News, owned by ten prominent Dem- ocrats in the town. He has since been doing a thriving business as a part owner of that paper, being associated in the enterprise with his brother. When they began business they had only one job press, but now have five in operation.
Mahlon Dickerson was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Slaybaugh, a daughter of William and Sarah Slaybaugh, of Shelby, who were early set- tlers here. Our subject is socially identified with the Knights of the Mac- cabees, and in politics is a Democrat.
BARNARD WOLFF.
Barnard Wolff was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, April 17, 1827, and died at Mansfield, Ohio, September 20, 1896. He was a son of David and Catherine (Raessler) Wolff. David Wolff died at Mansfield, Ohio, many years ago.
Barnard Wolff came to Mansfield when very young from Chambers- burg, Pennsylvania, and soon became prominent here as an architect and builder. He built the Baptist church, Fire Hall, the Union Depot, the Boston store block, the Brunswick Hotel and many other large business blocks and fine residences. He was an industrious, upright and progressive citizen and an ardent Republican. He had no special liking for an official. career and was to a considerable extent debarred from a public life by an unfortunate deafness with which he was afflicted many years before his death.
Mr. Wolff was twice married. His first marriage was consummated in 1849, in Pennsylvania, Jane McCleary becoming his wife. They came
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to Mansfield in June, 1850, and the wife died October 9, 1875. There were no children by the first marriage. In 1877, at Plymouth, Richland county, Ohio, Mr. Wolff married Sarah McClinchey, a daughter of William and Mary Ann (Rubins) McClinchey. Her mother was a daughter of William Rubins, who was of English birth and was a pioneer of Plymouth. William McClinchey's father was a son of a pioneer dry-goods merchant of Mans- field, who died there about seventy years ago. He came from Scotland and was of a very good family there. William McClinchey had a tannery at Plymouth and was in business on a somewhat extensive scale until his retire- ment. He is now living there, aged seventy-four years, and his wife is in her seventieth year.
Mr. Wolff built a fine brick residence at the intersection of Marion and Twelfth avenues, in Mansfield, which is a pretty suburban home, over which Mrs. Wolff presides, happy in the presence and well-being of her three sons, who are industrious and helpful. William Burt Wolff, the eldest, is a well known carpenter of Mansfield. He enlisted for the Cuban war in Company M, of the Eighth Ohio Regiment, and participated in the battle of Santiago and was a witness of the surrender of the Spanish forces. He contracted fever, but was brought home convalescent. Fred Barnard and Daniel Raessler Wolff, two bright and intelligent lads, are members of their mother's household.
WILLIAM F. VOEGELE, JR.
Among the young and promising attorneys of Mansfield we record the name of William F. Voegele, Jr., who was born in Mansfield, Ohio, October I, 1876, a son of William F. Voegele, whose biographical sketch precedes this. He was graduated at the Mansfield public schools June 5, 1896, and entered the law department of the Ohio State University, at Columbus, September 20, 1897, was graduated there June 13, 1900, and was admitted to practice law at the Ohio bar on June 20, 1900.
Mr. Voegele is a member of the Sigma Nu Greek letter fraternity of the Ohio State University.
ALEXANDER MORROW.
Alexander Morrow, of Mansfield, Ohio, is a native of this place and is well known here, where he has spent nearly all his life and where he was for a number of years connected with the postoffice, as deputy.
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Mr. Morrow was born in 1826. His grandfather Morrow was a Scotch- man. Matthew Morrow, his father, was a native of York county, Penn- sylvania, from which place he came to Mansfield, Ohio, in 1822. Here he was employed as contractor and builder until 1833, when he moved to a small farm about a mile and a half west of town. He carried on farming the rest of his life, and died at his rural home in 1846, at the age of sixty years. Politically he was a Whig, interested in public affairs and recog- nized as an honorable, upright citizen. He served in the war of 1812, as a member of a Pennsylvania company, under General Harrison, and was at the Fort Meigs and Tippecanoe engagements. His grave is marked as a veteran of that war. His wife, the mother of Alexander Morrow, was before her marriage Miss Margaret Reed, and she, too, was a native of York county, Pennsylvania. Her death occurred in 1873, when she was seventy-eight years of age. Both she and her worthy husband were strict members of the United Presbyterian church. The children born to them were named as follows: William R., who resides on the old homestead; Alexander; and Matthew, who died in 1865. All were in the Civil war, members of the One Hundred and Twentieth Ohio Regiment. Matthew had a son, Horace, who resides in Denver, Colorado.
Alexander Morrow was a small boy at the time his father moved to the farm, and he was brought up as a farmer boy, receiving his edu- cation in the township schools and at Mansfield. In 1861 he accepted a position as deputy postmaster at Mansfield, under Postmaster George Kling. and was thus occupied until the time of his enlistment for service in the Civil war, August 13, 1862. He went to the front as a member of the One Hundred and Twentieth Ohio Infantry Volunteers, which he had helped to organize and of which he was commissioned second lieutenant. The fortunes of this command he shared, in the Department of the Gulf, until February, 1863, when, on account of disability, he was honorably dis- charged and returned home. In the autumn of that year he resumed work in the postoffice. Still, however, he was interested in the war and his con- stant thought was of military life. That winter he joined the Home Guards, which organization, in 1864, was made by an act of the legisla- ture National Guards. With this command he again entered the army, and was in the one-hundred-day service, after which he again resumed his old place in the postoffice, and filled the same until the expiration of Mr. Kling's term. In 1873 he was again appointed deputy postmaster, this time under Captain Douglas. He continued in the postoffice from 1873 until 1881,
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and since that date he has lived somewhat retired in his suburban home just east of the park, which, being on an elevation, commands a pleasing view of the city. His residence is surrounded with trees and a garden, and is withal a most inviting place.
Mr. Morrow married Miss Margaret Scott, a daughter of William Scott, who came from Washington county, Pennsylvania, about 1839, and settled on a farm in Springfield township, where he resided until 1855, the time of his death. Mrs. Scott, nee Hughes, died in 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Morrow have three children, viz .: Mary Alice, for nine years the money- order clerk in the Mansfield postoffice, is now Mrs. Willis Lovelace and lives in Dakota; Carrie Orelia, the wife of Ed. Wheary, of Mansfield; and William Scott Morrow, of Dakota.
ROBERT HUGHES.
This worthy and honored resident of Weller township, whose home is on section 24, is a native of Richland county, his birth having occurred in Blooming Grove township, March 4, 1833. He is the only survivor in a fam- ily of ten children whose parents were John and Elizabeth ( Rogers) Hughes. The father was born in 1793. in Pennsylvania, where he was reared and mar- ried. The mother was born in Ireland in 1796, and when a child of seven years came to America with her parents, who spent the remainder of their lives as farming people in Beaver county, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes began their domestic life upon a farm in Beaver county, where seven of their children were born, and in 1832 came to Richland county, Ohio, locat- ing in Blooming Grove township, one mile north of Shenandoah, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, but five years later he sold that place, and removed to the farm on section 24, Weller township, where our subject now resides. Here he made his home until the fall of 1860, when he sold the place to his son and took up his residence in Shelby, where he died in August, 1862. The mother of our subject had died in 1852, and for his second wife he married Mrs. Hester (Hunter) McCready, who survived him some years. In early life both parents were active members of the Presbyterian church, but after coming to this county, there being no church of that denomination here, they united with the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically the father was first a Whig and later a Republican.
Robert Hughes attended the public schools of this county in early life, and, his brothers having left their parental home, he remained to look
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after the cultivation of the farm. In the fall of 1860, on his father's removal to Shelby, he purchased the place, and has since successfully engaged in its operation.
On the 23d of April, 1861, Mr. Hughes was united in marriage with Miss Jane Palmer, a native of Franklin township, this county. Her father, Charles Palmer, was born in London, England, and came to America in 1819, in company with a brother. They were left orphans during childhood and on attaining their majority received a small fortune, which they brought with them to this country. Coming to Richland county, Ohio, the brother located in Weller township, while Mrs. Hughes' father settled on the farm in Franklin township, now owned by Wesley Ferree, where he made his home until 1856, when he removed to Washington township, three miles south of Mansfield. He spent his declining years, however, with our subject and his wife. He was a man of firm convictions, was an ardent abolitionist and an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hughes four are living, namely : Wilbert G., who is now serving as the postmaster of Epworth, is engaged in general merchandising at that place, and is also interested in farm- ing, threshing and the sawmill business; Carrie M., at home, is a talented musician and artist, and many portraits and scenes from her hands now adorn the home; Fred C. is living on and operating the old home farm; and Anna E. is the wife of Edwin A. Clingan, who runs a farm and stone quarry in Weller township.
Politically Mr. Hughes is identified with the Republican party, and fra- ternally is a member of Weller Grange, No. 1070, P. of H. For half a century both he and his wife have held membership in the Methodist Epis- copal church. in which he has served as a trustee and steward for many years. They stand high in the community where they have so long made their home, and no citizens of Weller township are more honored or highly respected.
WILLIAM F. VOEGELE.
Prominent among Mansfield's most progressive and successful business men is numbered William F. Voegele, a member of the well-known firm of Voegele Brothers, dealers in coal and building material, with office in the Voegele block on North Main street. His early home was on the other side of the Atlantic, for he was born in Stuttgart, Wurtemberg, Germany.
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December 2, 1850, and is a son of Henry J. and Louise ( Hæffner ) Voegele, representatives of excellent German families. When he was four years old he accompanied the family on their emigration to America and located in Mansfield, Ohio, where the father, who had come to this country the year previously, had prepared a home for them. Here he was engaged in mer- cantile pursuits until 1867, when he was accidentally killed while out hunt- ing. His career in America up to this time had been very prosperous, and his tragic and untimely death was a severe blow to the family. His wife died of pneumonia in the autumn of 1886. Both were devout mem- bers of the Lutheran church and took great interest in properly rearing and educating their children. Much of this task fell to the mother, as the father died when the children were young. He was a genial, whole-souled gentleman, who was universally esteemed among a very large circle of acquaintances.
Of their family of ten children, the eldest, Henry, was a member of the Indianapolis (Indiana) fire department when he died, in September, 1879, leaving a wife and four children, now residing near Crestline, Ohio, where the widow owns a fine home and farm. Frederick C. is a well-to-do stock dealer and extensive buyer and shipper of fine draft horses to eastern markets. He is married and has two children. Gustavus is connected with the Barnes Manufacturing Company of Mansfield, and is comfortably sit- uated. He is married and has one daughter. William F., our subject, is next in order of birth. Charles H., a prosperous citizen of Mansfield, is a wholesale dealer and extensive manufacturer of confectionery, having large factories here and in Omaha, Nebraska. He is married, but has no children. Albert C., an excellent business man who was universally esteemed, died in Mansfield February 14, 1899. Louisa S. is the wife of George W. Meister, the secretary of the board of trustees of the city water works. Wilhelmina is the wife of George Ludwig, a farmer living near Mansfield. Rose is the wife of William Tonby, who is in the employ of our subject. Emma C. is the wife of William A. Remy, a hardware merchant of Mans- field. The three youngest were born in Mansfield, the others in Germany.
On the death of his father William F. Voegele, though only sixteen years of age, took charge of the extensive business so suddenly left with- out a manager. His elder brothers were all employed, so the responsibility devolved upon our subject, who at that time was just completing the high- school course. He conducted the business until it was sold by the mother in 1875. Later, in connection with his brother, Fred C., he embarked in
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the retail coal business, on a very limited scale, but success attended their efforts and the business was increased to meet the growing demands of their trade. About 1880 their brother, Albert C., was admitted to the firm, but our subject withdrew in 1884.
In the fall of 1883 Mr. Voegele was unanimously elected county recorder, there being no nomination made by the Republican party in opposition to him, and he assumed the duties of the office January 1, 1884. He was re-elected in 1886, by a large majority, and served until January, 1890. Prior to this he had served as the chief of the Mansfield fire department in 1881, and was the first to recommend the establishment of a paid fire depart- ment, which was adopted two years later and has been the policy since. Mr. Voegele served two terms as assessor of what was then known as the old second ward, which embraced a quarter of the city and was strongly Repub- lican, and he was also a member of the board of equalization of the city. He has been a life-long Democrat.
In 1890 Mr. Voegele purchased the interest of his brother, Fred C., and returned to his former business as a dealer in coal, building material, etc. This enterprise has grown to mammoth proportions and employment is now given five teams and nine men. In 1897 the three brothers, Albert C., William F. and Charles H. Voegele, erected the Voegele block, which is a fine four-story brick structure with a basement, and is sixty by one hun- dred feet in dimensions. It is a standing monument to the industry and business ability of the family. The office of the coal firm is located in the block, and the remainder of the building is occupied by the wholesale con- fectionery business of Voegele & Dinning.
In Galion, Ohio, Mr. Voegele was married, in 1876, to Miss Mary Ackerman, a native of Mansfield and a daughter of Adam and Rebecca Acker- man, who were born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Voegele have two sons: William F., now twenty-three years of age, is a graduate of the Mansfield high school, and also the law department of the Ohio State University, and is now a practicing attorney of Mansfield. For five years he was a member of the Ohio National Guards, belonging to Com- pany M, Eighth Regiment, and saw some active service during the labor troubles in 1893 ; and he attended the World's Fair with his regiment. Frank A. completed a thorough high-school and business education, and is now the collector for the firm of Voegele Brothers.
Socially Mr. Voegele is an honored member of Mansfield Lodge, No. 19, I O. O. F .; Madison Lodge, No. 26, K. P., in which he has served as the
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secretary ; and Pearl Lodge, No. 33, K. of H., of which he is a past dictator and representative to the grand lodge of the state. He is a member of the board of trustees of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church, and was the chairman of the building committee which erected the fine house of worship in 1898, dedicated in March, 1899. As a citizen he ever stands ready to discharge any duty devolving upon him, and as a business man occupies an enviable position in the esteem of his fellow citizens. His genial, pleas- ant manner makes him popular, and he has a host of warm friends in the city which has so long been his home.
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