USA > Ohio > Richland County > A centennial biographical history of Richland county, Ohio > Part 25
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John Rice Wolfe was married in 1866 to Miss Nancy English, of Craw- ford county, Ohio, and a daughter of James and Nancy ( Cummins ) English, and to this marriage there have been born eight children, as follows : Amy A., born March 29, 1867: she married William R. Brooks, of Shelby, Ohio; Charles E., born August 6, 1870, and married Miss Jennie Roberts, also ot Shelby ; Sarah N., born April II, 1873; Zorayda F., born November 3, 1875; Mary E., born April 3, 1878; Kathryn C., born August 30, 1883 ; Jolin Rice, Jr., born August 9, 1885; and Esther Marie, born March II, 1888. All of these children are living either at home or in the vicinity.
Mr. Wolfe began life on his own account as a school-teacher in 1856, and followed that most useful profession until the breaking out of the war of 1861. He enlisted as color sergeant in the Eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, a three-months regiment commanded by Col. W. P. Benton, which was or- ganized at Indianapolis and was a part of the brigade commanded by Rosen- crans. But one severe battle was fought by his brigade, namely, at Rich Mountain. Mr. Wolfe served in the Eighth Regiment from the 18th of April, 1861, to August 6, 1861, being mustered out on the day last named, and re- turned to Shelby, Ohio, where on the 18th day of the same month he enlisted in the Second Ohio Cavalry, in which he served until March 10, 1865, when he was commissioned as adjutant of the One Hundred and Ninety-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served in this capacity until September 7. 1855, on which day he was mustered out of the service of the government at Colum- bus, Ohio, having been in the service of his country for a period of four years and five months.
Returning to his home he resumed his profession of school-teacher, fol- lowing it for three years. Since that time, so many have been his occupations and so active the life that he has led, that it would be difficult to trace his career through them all. Suffice it to say that he has been a most successful man, and has supported his family faithfully and well, though at times it seemed that he had all on his hands that he could manage; but now his fam-
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ily are mostly grown to mature age, and he is capable of living more at his case than when in middle life.
While in not any sense of the term an office-seeker, yet he has been honored by appointment to the office of postmaster of Shelby, first by President Harrison, at the close of whose administration he removed to Columbus, Ohio, there holding a position as examining clerk in the state insurance depart- ment under commissioner W. M. Hahn during Governor Mckinley's adminis- tration of the chief executive office of Ohio. Upon Mr. Mckinley's election to the Presidency of the United States he was again appointed postmaster at Shelby, and still retains the position. His wife is still living, and both are well known for many miles around, and are among the best citizens of the county.
JAMES N. PATTERSON.
A worthy representative of that sturdy Irish element which is so important a factor in the population of Ohio is James Nelson Patterson, of Mansfield, Richland county, who was born in Springfield township in 1845, a son of John Patterson, born in Londonderry, Ireland, in 1802, who came to Ohio at the age of twenty-two and died there at the age of eighty-two.
John Patterson settled in Harrison county, Ohio, and there married Mary Delaney, who was born in the year 1800 and died in the year 1881. She was a daughter of Philip Delaney, of Irish ancestry, who married Miss Betts, who in one line of descent was of French extraction and was a relative of that Betts who is known in history as an early settler at Cincinnati. That pioneer's father was killed during the Revolutionary war, and his widow and son, Philip. the last mentioned of whom was Mr. Patterson's grandfather, lived for sever- al years under General Washington's roof at Mount Vernon. Later in life Philip Delaney often talked of Washington and often referred to the fact that when he was a boy Jack Custis frequently carried him on his back. He became a man of wealth and influence in Harrison county, Ohio, and died there at the age of about seventy-five years.
The parents of James N. Patterson came to Springfield township, Richland county, about 1835, and the father took up land in the wilderness four miles west of Mansfield, which subsequently became known as the John Patterson farm and is now owned by James N. Patterson. There were originally one hundred and sixty acres in the place. John Patterson had ten children, of whom James Nelson Patterson and Mrs. James Marshall, of Ontario, are the only ones living in Richland county. One sister lives in Indianapolis, Indiana,
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and there are two others in Iowa. William B. was a member of the Fifteenthi Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry and died in the service while participat- ing in the historic raid in pursuit of Bragg. S. A. Patterson also saw service in the Civil war, and died in Richland county, leaving no children. and all others of Mr. Patterson's brothers are dead without issue. Young. Patterson attended the public school near his home and was brought up to farm work by his father. He left the farm, however, at the age of twenty, and eight years later went to Missouri, where for a year he was engaged in the furniture business.
Selling out his enterprise there, he went to Cedar Falls, Iowa, where, in 1873, he married Miss Lucy M. Markley, a daughter of James and Catherine (Ankeny) Markley, both of whom were of Pennsylvania birth. Her mother's name has been perpetuated in that of Ankeny, Ohio. James Markley first located in Knox county, Ohio, and went from there to Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he became wealthy and influential. Hon. M. D. Harter, late member of congress from this district and for years at the head of the Aultman-Taylor Manufacturing Company, was Mrs. Patterson's cousin. Her brother, Jamies Markley, was a prominent lawyer of Mason City, Iowa. After he was married, in 1873, Mr. Patterson returned to Mansfield, bringing his wife with him, and entered the employ of the Aultman-Taylor Manufacturing Company, as gen- eral traveling agent for the southern and western states, and was so employed until 1880, when he accepted a position in the service of the Nichols-Shepherd Company, of Battle Creek, Michigan, for which he acted as branch manager at Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he remained until 1883, when he opened a branch for the same concern at Mansfield, which he has since conducted suc- cessfully, with jurisdiction over territory in Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
Mr. and Mrs. Patterson have two sons and two daughters: Miss May Patterson married Sylvester Houston, of Mansfield : James Markley Patterson is the name of one son; Gus. is at Cornell University ; and Bertha is in school in Mansfield. Associated with his brother, S. A. Patterson, Mr. Patterson conducted a fine stock farm on the old homestead, breeding many head of fine trotting stock. They were pioneers in that line at Mansfield and did more than all others to improve the speed of horses in the county. They brought the first high-bred stock to Richland county forty years ago, and their farm produced a number of fast trotters and pacers, some of them representatives of the celebrated Highatoga family.
Hayden Delaney, a grandson of Philip Delaney and a cousin of James Nelson Patterson, entered the United States Army at the age of fifteen and
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was orderly to General Logan. In one engagement in which the division par- ticipated, it ran out of ammunition. The firing had been so hot that the team- sters had deserted the ammunition wagons. Young Delaney was sent back to or- der them forward, and, finding them without teamsters, dismounted from his horse and drove one of them to the firing line, where he distributed ammunition from his hat. At the close of the war General Logan, at the grand review at Washington, recommended him to be sent to West Point, and he was one of twelve chosen to be sent at that time. After his graduation he served in Indian campaigns and rose to the rank of lieutenant. He was twice wounded and died in service in California. Cyrus Delaney, Lieutenant Delaney's brother, en- tered active service in the Civil war at the age of seventeen and was mustered out as adjutant general. He was then appointed captain in the regular army and served in Indian wars, and, like his brother, tlied in service. They were the sons of Samuel Delaney, of Harrison county, Ohio. John Delaney, of the state of Washington, is the only representative of this family whom death has spared. He has been an Indian agent on the western frontier and has held other important government positions.
JOHN D. LEWIS.
A representative of the farming interests of Springfield township, living on section 8, John D. Lewis, was born in Mifflin township, Richland county, January 31, 1846. His father is John F. Lewis, also a native of this county, born February 4, 1820. His grandfather, Samuel Lewis, a native of New York, was a Methodist circuit-rider and died at the age of thirty-five years, leaving a widow and six children. His wife survived him until eighty-six years of age, and her death was occasioned by a broken hip. John F. Lewis was reared in Richland county and here married Christina Peters, who was born in New Jersey in 1824. She is the youngest of a large family, of whom six are living, the eldest being eighty-eight years of age. Their parents were Daniel and Lizzie (Gates) Peters. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were married in 1844 and are still living. They became the parents of five children, their first-born being John D., of this review ; Almond C., a farmer of Franklin township, has twice been a widower and has eight children; Charles S., of Mansfield, is married and has one daughter; Elizabeth died at the age of seventeen years; and George died at the age of four years.
John D. Lewis was reared to farm life, having assisted in the arduous task of clearing an eighty-acre farm. At one time his father owned one hun-
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dred and eighty acres of land, but sold the property and is now living retired jin Mansfield, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and has been made possible to him through the competence acquired in earlier years. His chil- dren assisted him in the work of the farm and John D. remained at home until twenty-two years of age. He was married October 20, 1868, to Harriet Bell, who was born in Franklin township, Richland county, a daughter of Samuel and Martha (Gates) Bell, both of whom are still living. The marriage of our subject and his wife has been blessed with nine children, of whom eight still survive, namely : Frank H., a widower of Mansfield, who has two children ; George, who was hit with a ball which caused his death at the age of ten years ; Harry C., a farmer of Springfield township, who is married and has one daugh- ter ; Walter, of Shelby; Byron, who is married and engaged in school-teaching in Springfield township; Roy, who follows school-teaching and assists in the work of the home farm; Willis, who also is upon the farm; Nellie and Maud T., who are still with their parents. The children have been trained to habits of industry and have been provided with good educational privileges. fitting them for the practical duties of life.
Mr. Lewis holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Pathfinders' Society and the Patrons of Husbandry. In politics he is a Democrat, but has never sought or desired office, preferring to give his attention to his business. He has always followed the farm as a life work, but for the past five years has been extensively engaged in buying and shipping stock. He rents the large and fertile farm owned by Bell & Brinkerhoff, and produces stock for William H. Beaver. His business affairs are prosecuted with marked energy and are bringing to him a comfortable com- petence.
LOUIS S. KUEBLER.
The Teutonic race has been an important element in framing our national commonwealth; its qualities and characteristics have been infused with those of other races in the development of a strictly American type and the United States willingly acknowledges its indebtedness to the German people for certain admirable qualities which are found among the representatives of the father- land and their descendants.
Louis S. Kuebler is of German lineage and is the editor and proprietor of the Mansfield Courier, the only German paper published in Richland county. He was born in Tiffin, Seneca county, Ohio, in 1854. His father, Anthony
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Kuebler, came from Germany to America about 1840, locating in Seneca county. He married Frances Schabacker, also a native of Germany, and they reared their family in Tiffin. Mr. Kuebler of this review pursued his education in the public schools of Seneca county, and there learned the printer's trade. In 1876 he came from Cleveland to Mansfield and be- gan the publication of the Mansfield Courier, which was established in 1872. He has since been its editor and proprietor. This is a Ger- man paper and has a large circulation among the German-speaking people of the county. In politics it is Democratic, strongly upholding the principles of the party as advanced by the Kansas City convention. In connection with the publication of the journal Mr. Kuebler is also doing a large general job printing business, and in this line his trade is constantly growing. He is rec- ognized as one of the leading representatives of the Democratic party in Richland county, takes a very active part in politics and served as chairman of the Democratic executive committee of the county in 1899.
Mr. Kuebler married Miss Lena Matthes, of Mansfield, a daughter of Adam Matthes, and they now have two children : Herman and Marie, who are attending school. Mr. Kuebler is a progressive business man whose life is an exemplification of the true western spirit of enterprise and progress, and through the columns of his paper he supports all measures which are calculated to prove of benefit to the community.
JAMES REYNOLDS.
The great interests of the Aultman-Taylor Manufacturing Company command the services of some of the ablest business men in America. One of the most efficient and best known of these is James Reynolds, of Mansfield, Ohio, who has been connected with the old company and the new since April I, 1878, and now fills the resposible position of treasurer. His first duties were in closing up settlements and starting threshing machines. After ex- perience in such work, he was given charge of collections in Missouri and Kansas, with headquarters at Kansas City. He came to Mansfield in 1877 and held several positions in the collection department, one after the other, and October 1, 1891, he was made the treasurer of the concern. The business has increased greatly during the past ten years. In 1894 the water tube-boiler department was added, and that alone gives employment to about four hundred people. A large number are employed in the thresher and other departments. The Aultman-Taylor threshers are known the world over and the Cahall ver-
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tical boilers and the Cahall-Babcock-Wilcox vertical steam boilers are being sent to every part of the world where there is use for anything of the kind.
Mr. Reynolds was born in New York city, July 14, 1846, a son of William and Ann (Bowden) Reynolds. His parents came from Clare, County Tyrone, Ireland, about 1836. His mother is still living, but his father died at Utica, Licking county, Ohio, at the age of sixty-four years, in 1885. He came to Ohio in 1863 and located in Crawford county whence he removed to Lick- ing county in 1872. Young Reynolds received a practical education in New York city. At the age of sixteen he became errand boy in the office of a Wall street broker. He accompanied his parents to Ohio in 1863, and for eight years after his arrival taught country school. After that he taught town schools and was superintendent of high schools and inspector of schools at Crest- line, Ohio, and Warrensburg, Missouri, and other places. He came to Mans- field in 1877 as the principal of the Fourth-ward school, now the Tenth-ward school, and closed his career as a teacher in 1878 to enter the employment of the Aultman-Taylor Company.
He has been active in Young Men's Christian Association work at Mans- field and is one of the trustees of the Young Men's Christian Association of that city, whose fine home on West Park avenue he assisted to build with his time and money. He is a member of the Reformed Presbyterian church and was superintendent of its Sunday-school for four years and taught its bible class. He addressed the State Christian Endeavor Society at Columbus in 1899 on "Practical Problems in Christian Citizenship," and is to supplement this address by another on the same subject at the convention at Toledo in 1901. He is greatly interested in the lines of study indicated.
December 28, 1869, Mr. Reynolds married Miss Charlotte A. Trimble, a daughter of William and Emma Trimble, originally from Harrison county, Ohio, who were pioneers in Crawford county. They have had four children : Emma, who died March 2, 1887, aged fifteen years; Alexander Tully, who is his father's assistant in the office of the Aultman-Taylor Company; Mary Bowden Reynolds; and William Fielding, another son, who married Miss Orpha Staninger, of Mansfield, and is a resident of Galion, Ohio. The family have a beautiful residence at Mansfield commanding a wide view of the sur- rounding country, which has the reputation of being one of the most hos- pitable in the city. Mr. Reynolds is a hard-working business man of much progressiveness and enterprise, who finds time to devote himself to the interests of his fellow men along all helpful lines, and he is undoubtedly as good an example of the up-to-date useful American citizen as Mansfield can boast of.
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MRS. MARY M. ZOOK.
Mrs. Mary M. Zook, who is living in section 20, Mifflin township, was born January 26, 1851, in the township which is now her home, her parents being Henry and Lydia (Byers) Hoover. She spent her girlhood days under the parental roof, aiding in the work of the household and pursuing her educa- tion in the common schools. In January, 1872, she gave her hand in marriage to Joseph C. Zook, a native of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, born August 5, 1844. He was the son of John Zook, who was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in December, 1817, and with his parents removed to Franklin county during his boyhood. There John Zook was reared, learning the miller's trade, which he followed until 1850, when his health failed and he engaged in farming, hoping that the outdoor life might prove a benefit to him. He mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Clippinger, who was born in Cumberland county, Penn- sylvania, in February, 1816. In his business affairs he prospered, becoming well-to-do. . He was an active churchman whose consistent Christian life com- mended him to the confidence of all with whom he was associated. His death occurred in May, 1899, and the community thereby lost one of its valued citi- zens.
Joseph C. Zook spent his youth on the home farm and the schools of the neighborhood afforded him his educational privileges. The Zook and Hoover families were neighbors in Pennsylvania, and in 1871, when Joseph C. was on a visit to friends in Illinois, he stopped in Ohio to see the Hoover family. His acquaintance with the daughter of the household ripened into love, and three weeks after his return to Pennsylvania he again came to Ohio to claim his bride. He took her back with him to the old homestead in the Key- stone state and then assumed the management of his father's farm, which he ably conducted up to the time of his death, on the 29th of Decem- ber, 1891. He was a gentleman of sterling worth, diligent in business, straightforward in all his dealings and reliable in all life's relations. He, too, was an earnest church member, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him.
By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Zook five children were born : David L., who resides on the old Zook homestead in Pennsylvania; John H., who is a farmer of Mifflin township, Richland county; and William S., Jacob W. and Prudence E., who are with their mother. Five years after her husband's death Mrs. Zook returned with her family to Richland county and located upon her farm of one hundred and seventeen acres which she had purchased four years previously. Shortly after her arrival she purchased another farm
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of forty-two acres, and both tracts are now in a high state of cultiva- tion, yielding a good income, which supplies Mrs. Zook with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. She displays excellent business and executive ability in the care of her property and at the same time manifests those truly womanly qualities which everywhere command respect. Her home is celebrated for its gracious hospitality, which is enjoyed by her many friends.
THOMAS HALL.
Canada has furnished to the United States many bright, enterprising young men, who have left the Dominion to enter the business circles of this country with its more progressive methods, livelier competition and advance- ment more quickly secured. Among this number is Thomas Hall, the well known superintendent of the Mansfield Machine Company, of Mansfield, Ohio.
He was born in Oxford county, Ontario, Canada, and is a son of Thomas and Agnes (Robison) Hall, the former a native of Scotland, the latter of England. He spent six years as a student at Cornell University, where he was graduated in 1893, and later took a post-graduate course of two years. He is a member of a Greek-letter society, and received a fellowship at that college. For two years he was practically engaged in building steam engines at the vise and lathe work at the Waterous Engine Works, at Brantford, Canada, and then was called to Cornell, where he taught steam engineer- ing, designing and drafting in the mechanical department of that uni- versity. In 1898 he came to Mansfield, Ohio, and has since filled the responsible position of superintendent of the Mansfield Machine Com- pany. This factory builds steam, fire and gas engines, boilers and saw- mill machinery and does general job work, employing from two hundred to two hundred and fifty hands. They are now building steam engines from designs made by Mr. Hall and Mr. Treat, who also is from Cornell University.
In 1894, in Ontario, Mr. Hall married Miss Mary Perry, of Oxford county, a daughter of Andrew and Martha Perry. By this union two chil- dren have been born, namely: Perry Oliver and Hazel. Mr. and Mrs. Hall attend the First Presbyterian church of Mansfield, and although their resi- dence here is of short duration they have made a host of warm friends.
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IV. E. SEFTON.
Occupying the responsible position of superintendent of the Ohio State Reformatory, W. E. Sefton is indeed well qualified for the discharge of the important duties which devolve upon him. He was born in Norwalk, Ohio, February 11, 1842, and in 1845 accompanied his parents on their removal to Ashland county. The common-school system afforded him his educational privileges and his youth was spent upon a farm where he early became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He was thus engaged until eighteen years of age, when he began learning the black- smith's trade, following that pursuit until after the inauguration of the Civil war, when he put aside all business considerations and with patriotic spirit offered his services to the government in 1861, joining Company G, of the Twenty-third Ohio Infantry. The regiment was organized at Camp Chase and left there on the 5th of July, or the first year of the long war, which was the call for the sacrifice of thousands of lives, yet was to bring liberty to three million enslaved people, and the establishment of the Union on a firmer basis than ever before. Mr. Sefton participated in all of the engagements with his regiment, including the battles of Carnifex Ferry, West Virginia, September 10, 1861; Princeton, West Virginia, May 15, 1862; South Mountain, Sep- tember 14, 1862; Antietam, September 17, 1862; Cloyd Mountain, May 9, 1864; New River Bridge, May 10, 1864; and Buffalo Gap, June 6, 1864. He was wounded at the battle of Cloyd Mountain, on the 9th of May, and was honorably discharged on the 6th of July following, at Columbus, Ohio, his term of service having expired.
Soon after his return home Mr. Sefton engaged in the manufacture of mowers and reapers at Salem, Ohio, with the Etna Manufacturing Company. On severing his connection with that company he became associated with the C. Aultman Company, at Canton. Ohio, and for thirteen years was the traveling salesman and general agent of that corporation. His next business connection was with the Princess Plow Company, in which he served as secre- tary, treasurer and general manager, occupying those positions for seven years, when he dissolved his connection with the business, and in June, 1896, was elected assistant superintendent of the Ohio State Reformatory. In the following March, W. D. Patterson resigned as superintendent and Mr. Sefton was elected to that office, assuming the duties of the office on the Ist of April, 1897. He has been most faithful, earnest and efficient in the discharge of the obligations that rested upon him. The position is a most important and responsible one, entailing as it does the care of the young who through lack
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