USA > Ohio > Richland County > A centennial biographical history of Richland county, Ohio > Part 62
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On the 5th of March, 1877, Mr. Switzer was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Rodgers, who was born in Galion, Ohio, and they have two children : Louie Cline, who is engaged in the stock business with his father; and Daisy Leone, at home. Mrs. Switzer is a daughter of Leslie and Han- nah (Uhl) Rodgers. Her father was a native of Holmes county, Ohio, and was there reared upon a farm. In early life he engaged in teaching music and in conducting singing schools in his native locality. Soon after his marriage he removed to Galion, Ohio, where he followed his profession until his death, which occurred at the early age of twenty-eight years. He served in the war of the Revolution as a musician and there contracted consumption, which caused his death. His father, Samuel Rodgers, was also a native of Ohio and was of Irish lineage. In his family were but two children, both sons. The mother of Mrs. Switzer also was a native of Holmes county, Ohio, and belonged to a German family from Pennsyl- vania. Her father, Levi Uhl, was born in Pennsylvania December 11, 1807, and died at the age of eighty-nine years. He was a very successful farmer. After her husband's death Mrs. Rodgers came to Richland county, where her death occurred at the age of fifty-six. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and in her family were five children, of whom two died in early life. The others are Samuel, a farmer of Holmes county,
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Ohio; Levi, the proprietor of a meat market in Millersburg, Ohio; and Mrs. Switzer, who in early girlhood came with her mother to Richland county and has since made her home here.
Mr. Switzer gives his political support to the Republican party and is a firm adherent of its principles, yet has never sought nor desired public office. His attention has been given untiringly to his business affairs and thus he has won the success that places him among the substantial citi- zens of his native county. He is truly a self-made man and his life indi- cates what can be accomplished through determined purpose, careful man- agement and willingness to work.
HIRAM WALTERS.
Hiram Walters, one of the extensive stock dealers and prosperous farmers of Mifflin township, whose home is on section 29, was born in that township March 16, 1825, a son of Solomon and Mary (Starrett) Walters.
His father was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1795, and when a young man came to Ohio with his parents, George and Mary Walters, also natives of the Keystone state. After a short residence in Jef- ferson county they came to Richland county, and George Walters pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Jefferson township, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their days. After coming to this state Solomon Walters learned the wheelwright's trade of an uncle in Car- roll county, and in 1821 located on the southwest quarter of section 20, Mifflin township, Richland county, which was one of several quarter sec- tions of land entered by his father on an early trip to Ohio. Here he erected a log cabin and opened a shop, working at his trade and at intervals devoting some time to clearing his land. After keeping bachelor's hall for two years he married Miss Mary Starrett, who also was born in Pennsyl- vania, in 1803. Her parents, John and Mary Starrett, came to Ohio about the same time as the Walters family and settled in the northern part of Mifflin township, but later removing to Weller township. Mr. Starrett bought a farmi near Olivesburg, and upon that place he and his wife made their home until called to their final rest. Solomon Walters was a finished mechanic and successfully worked at his trade for some fifteen years, after which he abandoned it and devoted his entire time and attention to agri- cultural pursuits. He was rather a conservative man and an ardent Dem- ocrat in politics. He died in 1858, his wife in 1852, honored and respected
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by all who knew then. To this worthy couple were born ten children, but only four are now living, namely : Jesse, a stockman of Fort Worth, Texas; Mary M., the widow of a Mr. Conners and a resident of Weller township, this county; Solomon, a resident of Mifflin township; and Hiram, the sub- ject of this review.
On the home farm Hiram Walters grew to manhood, acquiring his edu- cation in the primitive log schoolhouse of frontier days. After reaching his majority he left home and went to Wabash county, Indiana, where for, some time he worked during the winter months at clearing land for farm- ers, while through the summer season he followed farming in this county. In the spring of 1850, during the gold excitement in California, he went to the Pacific slope, by way of New York and the isthmus of Panama, Arriving at his destination, he was fortunate in locating a valuable claim in Nevada City, and, good health favoring him, he prospered. In partnership with others, he secured over thirty thousand dollars' worth of gold from his claim in three months. He took up various other good claims, but abandoned them for what he supposed were better ones. During his sec- ond summer in California he was engaged in turning the Yuba river, which was thirty-three feet wide at the bottom, ten feet deep and seventy rods long. In this stream twelve men had been drowned. It was a heavy undertaking to turn the channel of the river, and about thirty men were interested in the enterprise, but financially the project was a failure. They employed as high as seventy and eighty men, paying them six dollars per day. Mr. Walters finally sold out his interest in the business for five hundred dollars.
In the winter of 1851 he returned to Ohio, with the intention of again going to California; but, the boat on which he was a passenger touching at Cuba on the voyage to New York, he and others ate heartily of fruit and were taken seriously ill.
He spent the following spring and summer in recuperating at home, and in the fall of 1852 went to Mercer county, Ohio, where he taught school during the winter. There he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land two years later, and commenced to clear and improve his place. In 1866 he sold out and went to Iowa and Illinois on a prospecting tour, but not finding a suitable location he returned to his old home in Richland county, Ohio, and purchased the interests of the other heirs in the farm. After carrying on the place for five years he disposed of it and bought his present farm on section 29, Mifflin township, where he has since resided. For over thirty years he was one of the heavy stock buyers and shippers of the county, and in his dealings has become one of the best known citi-
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zens of this section of the state. Upright and honorable in all things, he commands the respect and confidence of those with whom he comes in contact, and his circle of friends seems limited only by his circle of acquaint- ances. In his political views he is a stanch Democrat.
In 1855 Mr. Walters was united in marriage with Miss Jemima Shaf- fer, a native of Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and a daughter of Samuel and Ruth Shaffer, who removed from that county to Mercer county. By trade her father was a cabinetmaker, but in later life followed farming. To Mr. and Mrs. Walters were born eight children, namely: Frank, who is engaged in the butcher business in Portland, Indiana; Warren C., a con- ductor on the Belt Line Railroad at Chicago, Illinois; William C., a piano- tuner of Mansfield, Ohio; Otis H., a butcher of Portland, Indiana; Morris S., a foreman for the Central Union Telephone Company; Ira M., who resides on one of his father's farms; Alice, the wife of Charles Stevens, representing the Osborn Farm Machine Company in Mansfield; and Ray, assistant foreman for the Central Union Telephone Company. The chil- dren are all filling responsible and honorable positions in life, and his family is one of prominence in this community.
JOHN REMY.
On a farm in Worthington township, which he now owns, John Remy was born February 2, 1855. His father, John W. Remy, was a native of Nassau, Germany, and was there reared, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. When a young man he came to the United States with his parents, who located on a farm in Washington township, Richland county. After his marriage he inherited the farm, which is now the property of his son John, and there spent his remaining days, devoting his energies to the cultivation and improve- ment of his fields. He owned seventy-nine acres at the time of his death, constituting one of the valuable places in his section of the county. He was a member of the Lutheran church and a Democrat in his political affil- iations. He passed away at the age of fifty-nine, but is still survived by his wife. She bore the maiden name of Mary Zern and is a native of Germany.
John Remy is one of their family of six children. The days of his boyhood and youth were spent upon the home farm, and in the public schools of the neighborhood he acquired his education. When entering upon an independent business career he rented land in Worthington township for
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eighteen months and then purchased a part of the old homestead from the heirs. He has since added to the place until he now has one hundred and twenty-two acres of valuable land and is successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising. His methods are progressive, his labors well directed by sound judgment and his diligence has brought to him good financial returns.
Mr. Remy married Miss Eliza J. Spahn, who was born in Worthington township, and is a daughter of J. J. Spahn. They now have three sons : Frank, Charles and Clarence, all at home. Mr. Remy votes with the Dem- ocracy and is a recognized leader in the ranks of the party in his locality. He is now serving for the fifth year as a township trustee and is a capable and zealous officer.
JOHN F. WHITE.
John F. White is now practically living retired upon his farm on sec- tion 3, Cass township. He was born in this township May 17, 1840, his parents being Samuel and Jane (Balk) White. He received but a limited education in the common schools, for his services were needed upon the home farm, and he early became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. At the age of fifteen years he began working in a tanyard owned by Abraham Willet, by whom he was employed for four years, on the expiration of which period he apprenticed himself to a brick and stone mason. His life has been one of marked industry, and whatever success he has achieved is due to his own efforts.
At the time of the Civil war, however, Mr. White put aside all per- sonal considerations of a business nature and with marked promptness offered. his services to the government in defense of the Union, joining the "boys in blue" of Company I, Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served throughout the war and participated in forty-seven regular engagements. He was wounded at the battle of Stone River, was taken prisoner and was reported dead; but life was not extinct and he ultimately recovered. He was confined in a prison in Montgomery for ten days when he was trans- ferred to Andersonville, where he was incarcerated until the night of the riot, when he was sent to Libby prison. There he remained in confinement for five months, on the expiration of which period he was exchanged, rejoin- ing his regiment at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. In the winter of 1864 he was mustered out, and with a most creditable military record he returned to his home, for he was ever found at his post of duty faithfully defend- ing the old flag.
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On the 4th of July, 1865, John F. White was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Shanck, a native of Jacksonville, Morrow county, Ohio. They became the parents of ten children, of, whom nine are yet living, as follows: Clinton S., who works his father's farm; Franklin L., a mason of Shelby, Ohio; Zella, a teacher in Milroy, Indiana; Mary, the wife of Will- iam Coerber, of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania; Lulu and Adrian, both at home; Blaine, who is engaged in blacksmithing in Plymouth, Ohio; and Eva and John S., also at home.
After his marriage Mr. White located in Shiloh, where he resided for fifteen years, working at his trade. In 1880 he purchased his present farm, comprising one hundred and four acres on section 3, Cass township. Here he has since lived and devoted his attention to the further cultivation and improvement of his property. He continued to work at his trade also until failing health forced him to abandon it, his sons performing the farm work under his direction. Energy and enterprise are numbered among his chief characteristics and have been the salient features in his success. His study of the political issues and question of the day has led him to exercise his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party. For thirty-five years he has been a consistent member of the United Brethren church, in which he has served as a trustee, and of Spiegel Post, No. 208, G. A. R., he is also a representative. He belongs to one of the prominent old pioneer families of the county and has ever been a valued citizen of the community, as true to his duties as when he followed the old flag upon southern battle-fields.
DANIEL SMITH.
Daniel Smith owes his success in life to his own efforts; he had no inherited fortune nor influential friends to aid him, and all that he has acquired has come to him in return for his labor. He now follows farm- ing in Worthington township. A native of Stark county, Ohio, he was born in September, 1834. His father, Henry Smith, was probably a native of Pennsylvania, but was reared in Stark county, and about 1840 came to Richland county, where he purchased a farm of forty-one acres, located in Hanover township. He afterward exchanged that property for eighty acres in Indiana, and upon the latter spent his remaining days, his death occurring when he had attained the age of eighty-three years. His polit- ical belief was in harmony with Democratic principles. His wife bore the maiden name of Susan Smith, and she, too, was a native of Stark county,
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where she was reared and married. Her death occurred at the home of her son Daniel, when she was eighty-eight years of age. She was a con- sistent Christian woman, holding membership in the Lutheran church and by her marriage she became the mother of eleven children, Daniel being the fourth in order of birth.
He was only a small boy when his parents came to Richland county. He assisted in the work of the home farm and remained with his parents until nineteen years of age, when his father gave him his time and he began to earn an independent livelihood. He engaged in clearing land and in chopping wood for several years, after which he and his brother conducted a rented farm for several years. In 1873 he bought his present home of eighty acres, contracting an indebtedness of three thousand dollars, and as the result of his industry he was enabled to meet the payments and now owns a good property.
On the 12th of September, 1860, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Charlotta, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Rutesville) Harter. She was born in Worthington township June 10, 1836, but her parents were natives of Pennsylvania and became pioneer settlers of Richland county, entering land from the government. Her mother died in early womanhood, but her father reached the ripe old age of seventy-seven years. He was a stanch Democrat and he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have become the parents of three children: Sarah Alice, the wife of Louis Snyder, a farmer of Worthington township; Jacob A., who died at the age of six years; and Anna A., the wife of William McCready, who is engaged in the implement business in Butler. Mr. Smith exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Democratic party, but his attention has been given exclusively to his busi- ness affairs, and he has gained the success which he well deserves.
HARVEY FREER.
On the 6th of October, 1899, there passed away at his home in Weller township, this honored and highly respected citizen, who was for twenty years one of the leading farmers of that locality. A native of Ohio, he was born in Trumbull county August 10, 1823, and was one of a family of fourteen children, all now deceased. His parents, Lemuel and Catherine (Phillips) Freer, were both natives of New York state. When a young man the father moved to Trumbull county, Ohio, where he was married and where he followed farming for some years. Later he made his home
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with his family in Wayne county, this state, where his death occurred. He was an ardent Republican in politics, and was a man of pronounced views and of much influence in his community.
During his boyhood Harvey Freer attended the common schools and remained at his parental home until he attained his majority. He was then united in marriage to Miss Sarah Hartwell, who died nine years later. Of the four children born of that union only one is now living: Albertus, a farmer of Weller township, Richland county.
In September, 1858, Mr. Freer was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary Bruth, a native of Wayne county, Ohio, and a daughter of Henry and Polly (Duffy) Bruth. Her father was born in Germany and when a young man emigrated to America, locating first in Stark county, Ohio, where he worked as a farm hand until his marriage. He then removed to Wayne county and bought a farm, which he success- fully cultivated, becoming one of the well-to-do and highly esteemed citi- zens of that locality. He lived to the advanced age of eighty-three years, and after his death his wife made her home with her children. She died at the age of eighty-four. By his second marriage Mr. Freer had ten children, but only four are now living, namely: Ira, a resident of Mission, Washington; Melvina, the wife of David Oswalt, a farmer of Weller town- ship, this county; Joseph and James, who are now carrying on the home farmı.
When a young man Mr. Freer learned the trade of windmill-making with his brother in Paris, Stark county, where he was first married, and was then engaged in the manufacture of windmills at Rallsburg for a time. Selling out his business at that place in 1850, he moved to Ashland, where he and his brother Jonas were engaged in buying and shipping country produce for five years. He then purchased à farm of ninety-four acres, a mile and a half south of Ashland, and turned his attention to agricult- ural pursuits, later purchasing an additional farm of one hundred and twenty acres near his home place. He prospered in his farming operations, and on selling his property in that locality came to Richland county, and bought the farm of two hundred acres still owned by the family. For some four or five years prior to his death he practically lived a retired life, on account of his health, though he managed his place, the farm work largely devolving upon his sons. He was a man of good business and executive ability, and was able to carry forward to successful completion whatever he undertook. As such he became one of the substantial citizens of his community. By his ballot he supported the men and measures of the Republican party, but
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always refused office, preferring to devote his entire time and attention to his business interests. He was an earnest and consistent member of the Dunkard church and well merited the high regard in which he was uniformly held. His wife, who still survives him, is a most estimable lady and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
HIRAM R. SMITH.
Honored and respected by all, there is no man in Mansfield who oc- cupies a more enviable position in financial circles than Hiram R. Smith, not alone on account of the brilliant success he has achieved but also on account of the honorable, straightforward business policy he has ever fol- lowed. Though he is now practically living a retired life, as a capitalist, he is connected with a number of different enterprises which have been of ma- terial benefit to his town and county.
Mr. Smith was born in Huron, Ohio, January 7, 1813, and is the only survivor of a family of seven children, whose parents were Asa and Hannah (Richmond) Smith, the former a native of Long Island, New York, the latter of Rhode Island. They were married in New York and made their home in Waterloo, that state, until their removal to Huron, Ohio, before steam navigation was used upon the lakes. The father died when our subject was only two years old, after which the mother sold the farm and moved to Sandusky City, where her death occurred. There the remains of all the family have been interred, the father's body being removed from Huron. Hiram R. was the youngest of the children. William B., who died in San- dusky at about the age of eighty-three years, built the first frame dwelling, also the first brick house in that city ; the latter is still standing .. He also en- gaged in merchandising. Sallie married Silas Dewey, a distant relative of the Admiral, and both died in Clyde, Ohio, near Toledo. Nancy married Amos Fenn, a native of Massachusetts, as was also Silas Dewey, and a prominent early settler, manufacturer and farmer of Clyde, where he served as a justice of the peace for thirty years and where both he and his wife died. Clarissa became the wife of Hugh McFall, one of the first merchants of Mansfield, where both died and where two of their sons recently died. Frederick spent his life in Sandusky. Susan married James P. Bowman and lived in Mansfield many years. She died here, but her husband's death occurred at Bucyrus, Ohio.
At the age of eleven years Hiram R. Smith came to Mansfield, which city has been his home for seventy-seven years. In this he enjoys the dis-
H. R. SMITH.
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tinction of having lived longer than any other of its citizens with one ex- ception, and he has witnessed its growth from a country hamlet to a prosperous city of nearly nineteen thousand inhabitants. He attended the pioneer schools of Mansfield, his principal instructor being Alexander Barr, a prominent educator of his day. He finished his education under the tutorship of Judge Stewart, the father of Mrs. John Sherman.
Mr. Smith began life on his own account as a clerk in the mercantile establishment of his brother-in-law, Mr. McFall, and in 1839 he embarked in the same line of business for himself, carrying on merchandising very successfully until 1870. In early days he shipped his goods from Phila- delphia by teams and he has crossed the Alleghany mountains in a canal- boat. After his retirement from mercantile business he erected the Smith block on Main street, which is one of the most valuable properties in the city, as well as one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture. In dimensions it. is seventy by one hundred and eighty feet and four stories in height. The: entire ground floor is occupied by one mammoth mercantile establishment,- that of R. B. Maxwell & Company; the second story is used for offices,. and the third is a public hall. Mr. Smith purchased the lot in 1840 and for a period of sixty years it has produced regular annual rentals. He was one: of the first directors of the Richland Mutual Insurance Company, of which he is now the president, and he is the oldest director of the Farmers' Na- tional Bank and the vice-president of the same. He is also a director of the Mansfield Cemetery Association.
Mr. Smith has been twice married, first in 1839 to Miss Ann C. Leiter, a native of Leitersburg, Maryland, and to them were born four children, but all are now deceased, with the exception of Richmond, who is the secretary and manager of the Richland Mutual Insurance Company. The wife and mother died in 1850, and four years later Mr. Smith married Miss Ann Ward, a native of Richland county and a daughter of Joseph and Mary Ward, early settlers of the county. By this union two children were born: Ward, who died in August, 1899, at the age of forty-three years, leaving a wife and two daughters; and Rena, the wife of E. B. Caldwell, a druggist of Mansfield, by whom she has two sons.
Mr. Smith has been a lifelong Democrat, but he has never sought public office, though he has been called upon to serve his city in various official po- sitions. Among other things he has done much for Mansfield. having been instrumental in securing the reformatory here. He and his family are all members of the Congregational church. Having never inherited a dollar, his success in life is due to his own unaided efforts. As a business man he is energetic, prompt and notably reliable, and carries forward to successful
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