USA > Ohio > Seneca County > A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio > Part 11
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worthy of the respect and confidence so freely accorded him. In politics Mr. Eppler exercises his franchise in support of the Democratic party, and his religious faith is that of the German Lutheran church.
In March, 1854, Mr. Eppler was united in marriage to Miss Regina Bitzer, who accompanied him on his removal to America and who died in Pennsylvania a few years later, in 1857. They became the parents of three children, of whom only one survives,-Joseph, Jr., who is asso- ciated with his father in the management of the homestead. In 1868 Mr. Eppler was again married, Miss Mary Dreitzler becoming his wife, and of this union four children were born, of whom three survive, name- ly: Emma, the wife of German Hartzog, of Williams county ; Lulu, the wife of William Cover, of Loudon township; and Charles, who is at the paternal home. Mr. Eppler was again called upon to mourn the loss of a devoted companion and helpmeet in 1887, when his wife was summoned into eternal rest.
WILLIAM D. SEEMUTH.
Success does not depend so much upon the possession of talents or powers unusual to the majority of mankind, as upon the exercise of those qualities which are common to all. Hope is of the valley, while Effort is climbing the mountain side, so that personal advancement comes not to the one who hopes alone but to the one whose hope and faith are those of definite action. We may then hold in high regard the result of individual accomplishment and accord due credit and honor to the man who has won success by worthy means, be his life one of majesty and power or noble application to the humbler but not less noble applica- tion. The subject of this review holds the responsible position of engineer of the city water-works of Tiffin, and his life has been one of consecutive effort and integrity of purpose, while his advancement and success have come as a diametrical result, and to him has not been denied the fullest measure of confidence and esteem.
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Mr. Seemuth is a native of Baden, Germany, where he was born on the 7th of February, 1846, one of the four children of William and Frederica (Bender ) Seemuth, both of stanch old German lineage. Of the children, two are living, -- William D., of this sketch ; and John, who resides in Tiffin. The father of our subject was likewise a native of Baden, where he was reared and educated and where he learned the trade of stone mason. He came to the United States with his family in 1849, our subject being then a child of three years, and located in Tiffin, Ohio, where he continued to follow his trade until his death, in 1860, at the age of about thirty-four years. His widow subsequently. became the wife of Mr. Myer, and they are still residents of Tiffin, no children having been born of their union.
William D. Seemuth was reared and educated in Tiffin where he attended the public schools, early learning to lend his aid in the support of the family. At the age of nineteen years he began an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade, and after serving nine months he enlisted, in 1864, as a blacksmith in a regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which became a part of the Army of the Cumberland. He continued in the service for ten months, when the war closed, and he then returned to Tiffin, and thereafter continued to work at his trade, as a journeyman, for a number of years, turning his attention to any other honest work that offered when not able to find employment at the trade. In 1878, when the work of installing the system of water-warks in Tiffin was inaugurated he secured employment on the construction force, and after the system was completed he was sent to Towanda, Pennsylvania, and later to Oswego, New York, where he assisted in the construction of water-works for the same company which put in the plant at Tiffin. In November, 1879, he returned to his home city and was here given charge of the street work for the same company, and he rendered effect- ive service in this capacity for a period of ten years, at the expiration of which, in 1889, he was promoted to his present position as engineer of the works, this preferment being a fitting recognition of his capable and faith- ful service. He has so lived as to gain and retain the good will of all with whom he has been thrown in contact, and is one of the popular citizens
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of the place where he has made his home for the greater portion of his life. In politics he gives his support to the Democratic party, keeping well informed in regard to the questions and issues of the day. In 1866 Mr. Seemuth was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Ruch, who was born in Hopewell township, this county, daughter of John Ruch, who emigrated to the county from Pennsylvania in the early pioneer days, becoming one of the prominent farmers of the township mentioned. Mr. and Mrs. Seemuth are devoted members of the Reformed church, and their two daughters married clergymen of that denomination,- Cora being the wife of Rev. W. H. Tusing, of Mount Pleasant, Penn- sylvania ; and Anna the wife of Rev. Clement Alsbaugh, of Akron, Ohio.
HON. JOHN C. ROYER.
Whatever else may be said of the legal fraternity, it can not be denied that members of the bar have been more prominent actors in public affairs than any other class of the community. This is but the natural result of causes which are prima facie. The ability and training which qualify one to practice law also qualify him in many respects for duties which lie outside the strict path of his profession and which touch the general interests of society. Among the able members of the bar of Seneca county is Hon. John C. Royer, who has been called upon to serve in offices of distinguished trust and responsibility and who is at the present time representing Seneca county in the senate of the state. He is a worthy representative of one of the sterling pioneer families of the state and of the county in which he now lives, and of which he is a native son. Thus as a man, a lawyer and an official we may well find satis- faction in incorporating in this work a brief review of Senator Royer, junior member of the law firm of Bunn & Royer, of Tiffin.
The Senator was born on a farm in Thompson township, this county, on the 6th of May, 1856, being the son of Samuel Royer, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, the son of John Royer, who was the
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original representative of the family in the Buckeye state. He was a native of Pennsylvania, where the original ancestors, presumed to be French Huguenots, had located in an early epoch. John Royer came from Pennsylvania to Wayne county, Ohio, in an early day, as is evident from the fact that he came from that county to Seneca county in 1829, taking up a tract of wild government land in Thompson town- ship, where he reclaimed a good farm, and there passed the residue of his life, dying at the venerable age of eighty-seven years. His son Samuel was but four years of age when the family came to Seneca county, and here he was reared to the sturdy discipline of the farm, se- curing such advantages as were to be had in the schools of the early days and continuing to devote his attention to agricultural pursuits in this county until his death, at the age of fifty-nine years. He was a man of sterling integrity and commanded unqualified esteem in the county where practically his entire life was passed, being a devoted member of the Reformed church and a man of able intellectual powers. He married Miss Mary Ann Bunn, who was born in Pennsylvania, in 1833, being brought by her parents to Seneca county when a child of three years. She now makes her home with her son, John C., to whom this article is devoted. She is a zealous and active member of the Reformed church and her life has been one of kindliness and unselfishness, while to her is accorded the deepest filial solicitude by her children, who are eight in number.
Senator Royer passed his boyhood days on the old homestead farm in Thompson township, and he attended the district schools until he had attained the age of eighteen years, when he was matriculated in Heidelberg College, at Tiffin, where he completed his literary course, being graduated as a member of the class of 1879. Thereafter he began the work of technically preparing himself for the practice of law, tak- ing up his reading under effective preceptorship and being admitted to the bar of the state, by the supreme court, in 1881. He at once began the active practice of his profession in Tiffin, and such was his reinforcement through alert mental grasp and thorough preparation that his novitiate was reduced to the minimum. He entered into partnership with Judge
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J. C. Rickenbaugh and later with Judge Frederick Bunn, his uncle, and his present coadjutor, under whose direction he had prosecuted his studies. In November, 1887, Mr. Royer's active practice was inter- rupted by his election to the bench of the probate court of the county, and so capable and satisfactory was his administration that he was elected to succeed himself in 1890. After the expiration of his second term, in 1894, he again turned his attention to the active work of his profession, winning renewed and greater prestige and securing a rep- resentative clientage. He has been an active and enthusiastic supporter of the cause of the Democratic party, and has done much to forward the same in this section of the state. In 1883 he was elected mayor of Tiffin, and his administration of municipal affairs was discriminating, wisely economical and yet progressive and based upon thorough business principles. The estimate placed upon his efforts in this connection was indicated by his re-election in 1885. His election to the senate of the state, as a representative of his native county, occurred in 1899, and in the upper house of the legislative body his record was such as to be gratifying to his constituents and to confer credit upon him and his county. He was assigned to many important committees during the first session, and has shown himself to be an active working member, doing all in his power to promote wise and effective legislation through the deliberative body of which he was thus made a member. He was chairman of the standing committee on sanitary laws and regulations, and a member of the judiciary committee and those on finance, corpora- tions other than municipal, public works and public lands, insurance, universities and colleges, manufactures and commerce, fees and salaries, state buildings, state library and revision and enrollment. Mr. Royer was renominated by his party on the 5th of June, 1901, and was re-elected in November, 1901, without opposition from any party. He is a mem- ber of the following committees : Federal relations, fees and salaries, judiciary, library, insurance, public printing, railroads and telegraphs, privileges and elections, sanitary laws and regulations, and revision of bills. He is one of twelve Democratic senators and was on the committee to place the members. The majority conceded eleven committee chair-
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manships to the Democrats and in each case Senator Royer chose to honor his colleagues rather than to accept one for himself. His party leadership in the senate has come to him in just recognition of his abil- ities as an able parliamentarian, forceful and logical debater, resourceful and tactful legislator, and his affable and courteous demeanor crowns a genial and pleasing personality. Fraternally our subject is a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias, retaining membership in Pickwick Lodge, No. 175, of Tiffin. Senator Royer's personal popularity is fortified by his genial and gracious presence, his freedom from ostenta- tion and a genuine objective appreciation of his character and ability.
On the IIth of April, 1883, Senator Royer was united in marriage to Miss Cora Baltzell, who was born in Seneca county, Ohio, the daugh- ter of Thomas Baltzell, Sr., and she died on the 22d of June, 1889, leaving three daughters, namely : Helen, Mallie and Clara Lucile. Since the death of his wife the pleasant home of our subject has been pre- sided over by his widowed mother and his sister, Nora T. Royer.
ROBERT MILLER.
As the honored president of the City National Bank, of Tiffin, and one of the representative business men of the Buckeye state, where he has long had to do with affairs of marked scope and importance in con- nection with industrial activities, it is incumbent that specific mention be made of Mr. Miller in a work of this nature, not alone by reason, of the prominent position which he maintains, but also with an ulterior view to the incentive which the record of his honorable and useful career may afford to those who in time may come to peruse these pages.
Mr. Miller comes of stanch old English stock and is himself a native of Cambridgeshire, England, where he was born on the 15th of April, 1835. He was but six years of age at the time when his father. William Miller, emigrated to America, locating in Medina, Ohio, where for twelve years he was engaged in the tailoring business, having learned
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the trade in his native land. At the expiration of the period noted he removed to a new farm near Portage, in Wood county, the village of Mungen being later founded in the vicinity of his home. The subject of his review was nineteen years of age at the time when the family removed to the Wood county farm, and he assisted in the work of reclaiming and cultivating the land, where his father continued to reside for a period of about twenty-three years, when he removed to Kansas, where his youngest son had settled, and there he died at the age of seventy-four years. The mother of our subject died when he was eight years of age, her maiden name having been Elizabeth Turner, and there- after the eldest daughter presided over the household. He was the fourth in a family of eight children, of whom six are still living, he being the only representative of the family in Seneca county. Three years after locating in Wood county he disposed of his interest in the old homestead to his brothers and was thereafter employed for some time by the month. In June, 1860, at the age of twenty-five years, he was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Mercer, who was born in Wood county, being the daughter of John Mercer, one of the influential citi- zens of that section. Prior to his marriage Mr. Miller had secured a tract of land in Wood county, a portion of the same being prairie, and for a time he devoted his attention to the improvement and cultivation of the same, the while making his home in the residence of his wife's parents. He finally took charge of the Mercer farm, as Mr. Mercer's advanced age led him to practically retire from active business. Mr. Miller had continued to buy additional land and had given special atten- tion to the feeding and shipping of live stock, his energy and discrimina- tion being so directed as to make his success cumulative in order.
In May, 1894, Mr. Miller took up his residence in Tiffin, where he engaged in the banking business under the firm name of Miller & Son, his son, Thomas A., becoming cashier of the institution, which was capitalized for fifty thousand dollars. Later the capital stock was increased to one hundred thousand dollars and the institution was incor- porated under the national banking laws, Mr. Miller becoming presi- dent at the time of organization and having ever since been in tenure
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of this office. He has shown distinctive financial talent in directing the affairs of the City National Bank, which is one of the sound and con- servative financial institutions of the state, transacting a general banking business and also maintaining a department for savings. The directors are all Seneca county men and are known as substantial and honored citizens, the directorate including at the present time, in addition to the president, the following named gentlemen : Charles Seitz, Lewis Sells, Shelby Myers, George Shroff and Grattan Baker. Mr. Miller has other important capitalistic interests, owning one thousand acres of land in the oil district of the state and having received, handsome dividends from the operations on the same, which have now been conducted for nearly five years. In politics Mr. Miller has even given a stanch allegiance to the Republican party, and while he served for seven years as trustee of Portage township, Wood county, he has had no predilection for official preferment and has otherwise refused public office. During his entire mature life he has held membership in the Church of Christ, in whose cause he has maintained a lively interest. The beautiful family home, in Melmore street, is one of the most attractive in the city, having spacious and finely ornamented grounds, while the residence is large and of modern and effective architectural design.
Mrs. Miller has been particularly generous in the support of the Church of Christ, taking an active part in its work and contributing to the same with exceptional liberality. She early took a deep concern in the welfare of the church in Tiffin, and it was almost entirely through her financial aid that the present beautiful church edifice was erected. Her father had founded, and to a large extent maintained, a church of this denomination in Wood county, and she felt that she could not make a more grateful use of the proceeds of his estate than to devote the same to the enlargement and sustenance of church work. The church in Tiffin was erected at a cost of twenty-eight thousand dollars, and this amount was almost wholly contributed by Mrs. Miller, from her father's estate, while her annual contribution to the church has been one thousand dollars, so that her devotion can not be doubted, while her benefactions have gained to her the grateful recognition of the local organization, as
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well as the church at large. She still continues to take an active part in all divisions of the church work, the support of its collateral benevolences, etc., and is prominent in the social life of her home city, the home being a center of refined hospitality.
In conclusion we enter a brief record concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Miller : Thomas Abram is associated with his father in banking, farming and the oil business, and is at present cashier of the City National Bank; Mattie is the wife of William Cook, assistant cashier in the Western State Bank, in the city of Chicago; Pearl is the wife of Dallas Osborn, who is engaged in the ranching business at Las Vegas, New Mexico; Daniel, who died at the age of twenty-nine years, operated for a time the stave factory at Mermill, Wood county, the village having been named in honor of Messrs. Mercer and Miller, who made the prin- cipal improvements at the founding of the village, and later he was associated with his father in the oil business until his death, which was a grievous blow to his devoted parents, as he was a young man of noble character, commanding unqualified respect and confidence.
JACOB FREDERICK BUNN.
It is not an easy task to adequately describe the character of a man who has led an eminently active and busy life in connection with the great profession of the law and who has stamped his individuality on the plane of definite accomplishment in one of the most exacting fields of human en- deavor; and yet there is always a full measure of satisfaction in ad- verting, in even a casual way, to the career of an able and conscientious lawyer. Mr. Bunn merits consideration for what he has accomplished as a member of the bar of his native state and his native county, and also for the inflexible integrity which has characterized him as a man among men. Judge Bunn is recognized as a man of high intellectual gifts and of thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the science of jurisprudence, while the prestige which he has acquired has come as the
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result of his own efforts and abilities. He is the senior member of the firm of Bunn & Royer, attorneys and counselors at law in the city of Tiffin, and formerly presided as judge of the probate court of this, his native county.
Jacob Frederick Bunn was born on the old homestead farm, in Thompson township, Seneca county, Ohio, on the 6th of June, 1847, and is a representative of one of the early pioneer families of this section of the state. His father, Jacob Bunn, was born in the state of Pennsyl- vania, where he was reared and educated, growing up on a farm. There his marriage occurred, and in 1833 he came with his wife to the primi- tive wilds of Seneca county, purchasing a tract of land in the oak operi- ings of Thompson township, where he reclaimed a good farm, upon which he passed the greater portion of his remaining days, having lived retired in Bellevue during the last decade of his life. He passed away at the age of seventy-six years. He was a Democrat in his political pro- clivities, and his religious faith was that of the Reformed church. He held the office of justice of the peace for a number of years and also served as captain of a company of state militia in the early days. He was a son of John Bunn, who was born in Pennsylvania, in 1767, and who came to Seneca county, Ohio, the same year as did his son. He settled in Thompson township and there remained until his death, at the venerable age of eighty years. The family is of English extraction. the original American ancestors having come here in the early colonial epoch, while the name finally became prominent in the annals of Penn- sylvania. The mother of Judge Bunn was likewise born in Pennsylvania. her maiden name having been Elizabeth Leiter and the family being of Holland Dutch derivation. She accompanied her husband on his removal to Seneca county, and here her death occurred, in 1886, at the age of seventy-eight years. She likewise was a devoted member of the Reformed church and was a woman of noble Christian grace and char- acter.
Judge Bunn, the immediate subject of this review, grew up on the old homestead farm and early began to contribute his quota toward its work, in the meantime securing his preliminary educational training in
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the public schools. When about nineteen years of age, ambitious for further educational privileges, he entered Heidelberg College, in Tiffin, where he completed a full course of study, being graduated as a mem- ber of the class of 1870. To a man of such individuality and tenacity of purpose it was natural that definite plans for the future should be formulated, and thus, after leaving college, we find Judge Bunn con- tinuing the study of law, his reading having been carried on during vacations, while he was still a student in the college. His preceptor was Judge George E. Seney. to whom individual reference is made elsewhere in this work; and such has been his devotion to his technical study that he secured admission to the bar of the state in 1871. In the spring of that year he located in the city of Akron, where he was engaged in practice for a period of two years, at the expiration of which he returned to Tiffin, where he built up a very satisfactory professional business, giving the same his undivided attention until 1878. He was elected to the bench of the probate court of Seneca county, in that year, being re-elected in 1881 and thus serving for six years in this important office, to whose duties he brought the best of equipment, -mature judg- ment, a broad and exact knowledge of the law and the highest regard for justice and equity. After his retirement from the bench, Judge Bunn resumed the active practice of his profession, becoming at the same time associated with Hon. John C. Royer, who con- tinued his coadjutor until his election to the same office which had previously been held by his associate. After the expiration of his serv- ice the association was resumed and the partnership continues to the present time. In his political adherency Judge Bunn has ever been stanchly arrayed in support of the principles and policies of the Demo- cratic party, but he has never been an office-seeker. He was a mem- ber of the board of education for six years, and was clerk of the same for a portion of this time. Fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. The Judge is signally appreciative of good literature in all lines, and is thoroughly well read in fields outside that of his profession, upon which latter, in fact, all branches of human knowledge have distinct bearing. He is unassuming and affable in his
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demeanor and has gained many stanch friends in the community where practically his entire life has been passed.
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