USA > Ohio > Seneca County > A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio > Part 13
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in this township the greater portion of the time thereafter until his death, in 1884. He was one of the influential men of the community, was successful in his efforts and was recognized for his intellectuality and sterling character. He served for many years as justice of the peace and was incumbent of other local offices, while he was a devoted mem- ber of the United Brethren church.
Nathan Rine, the immediate subject of this sketch, was born and reared on the farm, and was early called upon to assume individual responsibilities, since he began to work for a recompense of board and clothes when but eleven years of age, his educational advantages being such as were afforded in a somewhat desultory attendance in the pioneer schools. He continued to work by the month, on various farms, until he had attained the age of twenty years, when he began an apprentice- ship at the cooper trade, to which he devoted his attention for five years. Thereafter he farmed on rented land for many years, in Adams township. Finally, in 1877, he purchased his present homestead, of one hundred and fifty-seven acres, where he has since continued to reside, while he has added to his holdings until he now has a fine landed estate of three hundred and ninety-seven acres, well improved and devoted to general farming and stock-raising.
At this juncture we will advert to the military career of Mr. Rine, the same entitling him to perpetual honor. In May, 1863, he enlisted as a private in Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Ohio Voluneer Infantry, for a term of three years or until the close of the war. He proceeded to the front with his regiment, his first engage- ment being in the vicinity of Petersburg. At Monocacy he was taken prisoner and was thence transferred to Lynchburg, where he was incar- cerated about forty days, thereafter being held in the prison at Danville for several weeks and finally taken to that notorious pen, Libby prison, in the Confederate capital, the city of Richmond, being there confined for another forty days, enduring the hardships which made the place odiously historic. While at Danville he was kept on a diet of one-half pound of corn meal a day for a period of forty-four days. After languishing in Libby prison for the time noted his exchange was finally
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effected, his incarceration having been about ten months in duration, and he then went to Baltimore, whence he was sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, where he was granted a ninety-days furlough, which he passed at home, then returning to Camp Chase, where he remained until the close of the war, receiving his honorable discharge. He is prominent and popular member of the Grand Army of the Republic, being identified with Potter Post, at Green Spring.
On the 21st of December, 1854, Mr. Rine was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Weiker, who was born in Pennsylvania, and of this union nine children have been born : Monroe J., a resident of Browns- town, Illinois; John D., of the same place; Fletcher A., a farmer of Green Spring township; Frank J., of Bowling Green, Ohio; Nancy J., wife of John Eiry, of Green Spring; Isaac E., a farmer of Adams township: Clara and William, who remain at the parental home; and Minnie, who is deceased.
In his political adherency Mr. Rine is stanchly arrayed in support of the Democratic party and its principles, and his religious faith is that of the Christian Union church, of which Mrs. Rine also is a member, both being devoted and active workers in the church in Adams township. He has served for many years as a member of its board of trustees, and for several years past has also been an elder in the church.
URIAH HUBER.
One of the well-known citizens of Seneca county, Ohio, who since 1877 has been engaged in business in Mccutchenville, is Uriah Huber, the large operator of the milling business, in its various branches, in this vicinity.
The birth of Mr. Huber occurred in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, not far from the city of Philadelphia, on October 6, 1840. He was but five years of age when he lost his parents, and he then became a member of the family of John Glick. In 1847 Mr. Glick decided to move with
Ulrich Hacker
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his family and belongings to Seneca county, Ohio, employing a number of teams in the transportation of his goods and chattels. The lad made himself useful to Mr. Glick and remained in his family until he was eighteen years of age. His educational opportunities were limited to an irregular attendance, during a few winter sessions, in the schools of Clinton township, where Mr. Glick had located.
However, at the age of eighteen Mr. Huber began life independent of any family connection, working for various farmers as his services were needed, but later he entered upon an apprenticeship at the carpenter trade, continuing in the shops until he was capable of doing all that would be expected of a skilled carpenter and joiner. He was working at his trade, in South Bend, Indiana, in 1861, at the outbreak of the civil war. With other loyal young spirits, he enlisted for service in the army, in May. 1861, entering Company I, Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and although his first enlistment was for but three months, it brought him many new and painful experiences. He participated in the battles of Phillippi, Laurel Hill and Cheat River, and at the last mentioned place was wounded in his wrist, a minie ball passing through his right arm at this point. Soon after this disaster he was mustered out and he returned to South Bend. He remained there until the following July, when he came back to Seneca county, and while here, on August 11, 1862, he re-enlisted, entering at this time Company I, One Hundred and First Ohio Volunteer Infantry, this term being for three years, his rank in the company being that of sergeant.
History tells of the heroism of the men who passed through the fiery ordeals of the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain, and our subject with his regiment participated in all these, with marked gallantry. He also took part in the Atlanta cam- paign and it was in front of that city, August 23. 1864, that his greatest disaster came upon him, as he was then and there taken prisoner, while in holes on picket line, the army of General Thomas falling back without taking the pickets in, and he was forced to spend seven days within the walls of Libby prison, of odious memory. Still worse fate followed, as he was sent to the prison pen at Andersonville, where he endured its horrors for three months. With other brave unfortunates he was then
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transferred to Savannah, thence to Charleston and then to Florence, South Carolina, where he was imprisoned at the time of Lee's surrender, being liberated after eight and one-half months of confinement. At this distance of time. Mr. Huber can recall with amusement what was then two hazardous escapades,-his escape from the prison camp at Florence on two occasions, before the building of the stockade. His first trip brought him into contact with a bushel of sweet potatoes and two pump- kins, these probably being more palatable than all the feasts to which he has since sat down. When he was released at the close of the war he returned to Tiffin, although but a shadow of the virile, robust and gallant soldier of one hundred and sixty-five pounds who so bravely marched away. Faded, haggard and sick, he weighed but ninety-seven pounds.
Mr. Huber had a strong constitution, however, and soon recovered his health to such a degree that he could resume work at his trade, but later returned to farming and continued in that line of industry until 1876. In the following year he came to Mccutchenville and embarked in the large enterprises to which he has given his attention ever since. Here he operates a vinegar factory, a cider mill, a molasses mill, a feed mill, and also a sawmill,-all combined in one establishment. The busi- ness is one of importance in this vicinity and one that is very successfully conducted. Mr. Huber has proven that he may justly be considered a good business man as well as a valorous soldier. He started with a saw- imill and assumed an indebtedness of thirteen hundred dollars. In 1895 his plant, which was worth about seven thousand dollars, was burned, with total loss, as he did not secure the three thousand dollars of insur- ance carried. On rebuilding his plant, valued at five thousand six hun- dred dollars, he was still three thousand three hundred dollars in debt, and this has all been cleared off and handsome progress has been made in other directions.
In 1867 Mr. Huber was married to Miss Annie R. Six, and one daughter, E. Lizzie, wife of L. J. Moshinger. was born to this union. In his political belief Mr. Huber has long been identified with the Re- publican party. Fraternally he is a valued member of Seneca Lodge
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of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Tiffin. All that he has accumulated, together with the success and prominence he has attained, has been the result of his own endeavors.
ABRAHAM W. HULL.
Few residents of Venice township, Seneca county, are better known or more genuinely esteemed than Abraham W. Hull, who was born on the farm on which he now lives and has spent his entire life. His birth occurred on the 3d of October, 1853, his parents being Michael and Barbara (Free) Hull. The father was a native of the Keystone state, his birth there occurring in 1807, and there he was reared to mature years. In 1835, however, he left his Pennsylvania home for Ohio, locating on land which had previously been entered by his father-in- law, George Free, in Seneca county, on which he erected a hewed-log house in the woods and immediately began the arduous task of clearing his land. The place consisted of one hundred and sixty acres, but as the years passed by and prosperity awarded his efforts he increased his boundaries until he became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres in this farm, also eighty acres located near Fostoria and one hun- dred and sixty acres in Hancock county ; but later he divided his land, giving to each of his sons an eighty-acre farm. He was a Republican in his political views, and was a member of the German Baptist church. passing away in that faith on the 20th of August, 1890, while his wife was called to her final reward in 1901, when she had reached her ninetieth year. This worthy couple were the parents of ten children, six of whom still survive, as follows: Otha H., of Napoleon, Ohio; George F., of Fostoria; John W., a prominent farmer of Venice town- ship; Silas R. and William H., who also make their home in this county ; and Abraham W., the subject of this sketch.
When eighteen years of age Abraham W. Hull was given posses- sion of the old Hull homestead in Venice township, and he thereafter continued to care for his parents until they were called to the home
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beyond. He is now the owner of eighty acres of land, and in the line of his chosen occupation he is meeting with a high and well merited degree of success. In 1878 he was united in marriage to Miss Matella A. Lepard, a native of Attica, Ohio, and a daughter of Isaac Lepard, a farmer and carpenter residing in Attica. He is one of the leading resi- dents of that city, and for two years he has served with efficiency as its street commissioner. The union of our subject and wife has been blessed with three children,-Arza B., a prominent farmer of Reed town- ship; and Ida M. and Mina B., at home. The Republican party receives Mr. Hull's hearty support and co-operation, and in his social relations he is a member of Honey Creek Grange, No. 1346, P. of H., in which he has held office for many years and is the present worthy master of the lodge.
VALENTINE DANIEL.
The subject of this sketch has attained success and prosperity through his own efforts, and his life affords an illustration of what is possible of accomplishment on the part of a young man who comes to our hos- pitable shores from a foreign land, without financial reinforcement or influential friends, and by industry and good management makes his way forward until he attains a competency.
Mr. Daniel was born in Darmstadt, Germany, on the 15th of August, 1834, being the son of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Lippet) Daniel, of whose six children four survive, namely: Frank, a resident of Huron county ; Valentine, the subject of this sketch; Nicholas, who resides near his brother; and Barbara, the wife of Philip Deem, of Huron county. The father of our subject passed his entire life in Darmstadt, Germany, where he was engaged in farming and where he died in 1846, at the age of forty-four years. Our subject was reared on the home farm in the fatherland, receiving his education in the excellent schools of his native land, and at the age of nineteen years he courageously faced the respon- sibilities of life, emigrating to the United States and having to borrow
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money with which to defray the cost of his voyage, which was made on the sailing vessel Mary Stuart. He arrived in New York after a voyage of thirty-nine days' duration, and then came to Sandusky, Ohio, where he was variously employed for two years. Within the first year he had earned sufficient money to not only repay the loan made at the time of his emigration, but also to advance the funds to pay the expenses of his brother Frank and sister Barbara, who came to this country in company. After their arrival they joined Valentine, and the three devotedly applied themselves to the accumulation of sufficient money to enable them to send for their mother and the other two brothers, who came to America a year later. The family located on a farm near San- dusky and there resided for one year, after which they rented another farm, for which they paid a cash rental of five hundred dollars annually. Two years later our subject and his brother John, now deceased, left this farm in charge of their brother-in-law, Philip Deem, and rented an adjoining farm, which they secured at the same rental. In that locality he continued to devote his attention to agricultural pursuits for four years, at the expiration of which, in 1865, he came to Seneca county and purchased eighty acres of his present fine farm property, in Reed town- ship, and here he has ever since made his home. About ten years after locating here he purchased eighty acres on the opposite side of the road, thus making his farm one of one hundred and sixty acres. He also purchased another tract, of one hundred acres, this property having been deeded to his sons a few years since. He has made excellent improve- ments on his homestead and is one of the successful and influential farmers of this section. In politics Mr. Daniel gives his support to the Democratic party, and he served three years as trustee of his town- ship, while for several years he was a member of the school board of his district. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church, in which he was reared, being a communicant of St. Mary's Assumption, and of which he was a trustee for many years.
On the 29th of January, 1861, Mr. Daniel was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Miller, who was born in Germany, being a daughter of Joseph Miller, who emigrated with his family to the United States
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about the year 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel are the parents of ten children, namely: John, a farmer of Reed township: Joseph, a resi- dent of Tiffin; George and August, also farmers of Reed township; Catherine, the wife of Henry Roth, of this township; Frank, who is "Father Christian," C. P. P. S., a priest of the Catholic church and the professor of mathematics at St. Joseph's College at Rensselaer, Indiana ; Edward and Mary, who are at their parental home; Charles, a success- ful teacher ; and Rosa, who remains with her parents.
JOHN P. BORK.
The subject of this review is one who is to be individually considered as one of the representative citizens and successful farmers and stock- growers of Seneca county, and, in a more abstract sense, as a member of a family whose history has been honorably linked with this section of the Buckeye state for many decades. The fine farm property of our subject is located four miles southeast of the county seat, Tiffin, in Eden township, and with its admirable improvements and general air of thrift well deserves mention as one of the model homesteads of the county.
Mr. Bork was born in Bloom township, his county, on the 14th of October, 1850, and when he was ten years of age he accompanied his parents on their removal to another farm, in Seneca county, and there he grew to manhood, contributing his due quota to the work of the farm and receiving his early educational training in the public schools of the neighborhood, the same being very primitive as compared with those of the present day, but being of the sort from which have gone forth many of the representative men of our nation. He remained at the parental home until his marriage, at the age of twenty-six years, when he located on the farm where he now lives, the property having been at the time owned by his father. At the expiration of three years he purchased the farm, in which is comprised one hundred and nine
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and one-half acres, while in addition to this he also owns another tract, of fifty-four acres, both being located in Eden township. He has made the best of permanent improvements on his homestead, including a com- modious and attractive brick residence, which he erected in 1884, and a large brick barn, constructed in 1899. The land has been placed under a high state of cultivation and Mr. Bork also devotes special attention to the raising of high-grade cattle, principally of the short-horn type. He is held in the highest esteem as a progressive and liberal-minded citizen and as one of the successful farmers of he county. In politics, while never an aspirant for official preferment, Mr. Bork has given a stanch support to the Democratic party, and his religious faith is that of the Catholic church, in which he was reared; he is a communicant in St. Joseph's church at Tiffin.
On the 17th of April, 1877, Mr. Bork was united in marriage to Miss Emma Case, who is likewise a native of Seneca county, and they became the parents of five children, of whom four are living,-Louisa, Frederick, Eugene and Austin. The other child, Mella, died at the age of six years.
HORACE HUBER.
Among those whose lives and labors have conferred honor and dis- tinction on the history of Seneca county was the subject of this memoir, who was a man of inflexible integrity, high intellectuality and marked business acumen. He was one of the pioneer settlers in Clinton town- ship, where he held prestige as a representative farmer and stock-grower until the time of his death, while he so ordered his life as to command at all times the confidence and good will of his fellow men. It is fitting that in a work of this nature a suitable tribute be paid to him as a man, a pioneer and a sterling citizen.
Mr. Huber was a native son of the Buckeye state, having been born April 22, 1822, in Fairfield county, where he was reared. He received his early educational discipline in the public schools, thereafter com-
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pleted a college course at St. Clairsville, Belmont county, and finally gave his attention to the reading of law, being admitted to the bar of the state and entering upon the practice of his profession. He con- tinued this a comparatively brief time, ill health compelling him to seek less sedentary occupation, and during the residue of his life he devoted his attention to the noble art of agriculture and to the raising of high-grade live stock. His mother died when he was a child and he was reared in the home of his aunt, Betsy Huber, who, having no children, afforded him every possible advantage. In consideration of her kindness to him, she, after becoming a widow, was afforded a per- manent home by Mr. Huber, the latter years of her life thus being made pleasant by his devoted care and appreciation, her death occurring at his home about 1854.
In his native county was solemnized Mr. Huber's marriage, and soon afterward. in 1847, he came to Seneca county and located on the farm where his widow and son now live. His wife's father, Valentine Reber, had taken up this land in an early day, securing the same from the government, and upon taking up his abode here our subject inaugu- rated the work of clearing and improving the homestead, developing the same into one of the finest farm properties in this section of the state, and here continuing to make his home until death set its seal upon his mortal lips. He passed away on the 19th of February, 1881, at the age of fifty- eight years, honored by all who knew him and revered as one of the founders and builders of the county.
In his political adherency Mr. Huber was stanchly arrayed in support of the Republican party and its principles, but he never sought nor desired the honors of public offices, though his influence was invariably given to the support of all legitimate projects and undertakings for the public good. He was an active and consistent member of the Methodist Epis- copal church and one of the most influential of those identified with the church organization at Rock River. He was a man of broad human charity and toicrance, a student of the best literature and well informed in regard to the issues, questions and events of the day, while his calm and mature judgment caused his advice to be sought in both public and
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private affairs. He stood four square in all the relations of life and his death was deeply regretted by the community in which he had lived and labored to so goodly ends.
On the 22d of October, 1846, Mr. Huber was united in marriage to Miss Mary Reber, who likewise was born in Fairfield county, near Lancaster, being the daughter of Valentine and Magdaline (Van Reid) Reber, both natives of Berks county, Pennsylvania, where they were reared and where their marriage was solemnized. Soon afterward they came to Ohio, and located on an improved tract of land near Lancaster, Fairfield county. Mr. Reber secured by government entry and by pur- chase a large area of land in Fairfield and Seneca counties, and of the places he thus retained in the latter his daughter and son-in-law became the eventual owners, the greater portion of the properties being still held by Mrs. Huber and her sons. Mr. Reber was one of the extensive land- holders of this section of the state, though always living in Fairfield county, and was a prominent and influential citizen. He was one of those who served under General Crawford in the conflict with the Indians in this locality, and it is a matter of history that the valiant colonel was burned at the stake by the crafty red men, in the adjoining county of Wyandot. From the time of her marriage Mrs. Huber has lived on the old homestead in Clinton township, and during the long intervening years she has taken a prominent part in the social life of the community and has endeared herself to all with whom she has come in contact, so that now, at the venerable age of eighty years, while many of the companions. of the earlier days have been summoned to that "undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns," she still finds herself surrounded' and cheered by a host of friends, retaining her mental and physical vigor in a marked degree. The old homestead comprises two hundred and' forty acres, beautifully situated on Rock creek, and equipped with the best of improvements, being one of the most valuable and attractive places in the township. Of the three children of Mr. and Mrs. Huber one, Charles, died at the age of nine years; the others being John R., one of the successful farmers of this township; and Eugene B., who
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is unmarried and who has charge of the old homestead, being one of the popular and progressive citizens of the county.
John R. Huber was born near Tiffin, and was married in 1876, to Salinda Kegerreis, of Pennsylvania birth. They have two children: Mary, the wife of J. R. McDonell, of Tiffin; and Eva, who is a grad- uate of the Tiffin high school, and who remains at the parental home.
JACOB HOUCK.
For nearly a score of years the honored subject of this sketch has served consecutively in the office of justice of the peace, while he is known and esteemed as one of the successful farmers of his native county, being associated with his brother Isaac in the conducting of a fine landed estate of two hundred and forty acres, eligibly located in Reed town- ship. Mr. Houck is one of the well known and popular citizens of Seneca county, and in all the relations of life he has been dominated by that inflexible integrity of purpose whose natural concomitant is objective confidence and esteem. His reputation as an effective auction- eer has brought his services into requisition in the most diverse sections of the county, and through this means he has formed an exceptionally wide acquaintanceship, and it may be said, without fear of contradic- tion, that his friends are in number as his acquaintances.
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