USA > Ohio > Seneca County > A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio > Part 26
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On the 22d of June, 1854, Dr. Martin was united in marriage to Miss Susanna Hossler, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, the daugh- ter of Jacob Hossler, one of the pioneers of this county, where he located in 1834. Of this union two children have been born, namely : Anna M., the wife of E. F. Hanna, a wholesale commission merchant
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of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Franz Sigel, who is a graduate of the Colum- bus Medical College, and who is engaged in the practice of his profes- sion at Napoleon, Ohio. Mrs. Martin is a member of the Presbyterian church and is prominent in the church and social life of the community.
For nearly fifty years the Doctor has devoted himself to the prac- tice of the most noble of all professions, and it should be noted that there are but two other men in Seneca county now actively engaged in practice who were in the practice when he began. His success in his chosen field of work has redounded to his greater professional precedence. With a careful diagnosis he has endeavored to understand his patient. and with careful and sympathetic nursing has worked to assist nature in her healing processes.
FREDERICK ZARGES.
Stuttgart, the picturesque old capital city of Wurtemberg, Germany, figures as the birthplace of the venerable subject of this review, who is one of the honored citizens of Seneca county, where he has maintained his home for almost half a century and where he has attained prosperity through his own well directed efforts. Though advanced in years he retains remarkable mental and physical vigor, and he is esteemed as one of the sterling pioneer citizens of the county where he has lived and labored to goodly ends.
Mr. Zarges was born in Stuttgart on the 8th of April, 1818, and is now the only survivor of the seven children of Frederick and Catherine (Kideisch) Zarges, both of whom passed their entire lives in Wurtem- berg, the former having been a cabinetmaker and joiner 'by trade and vocation. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in his native city, and in preparing for the active responsibilities of life he learned the trade of florist and gardener, to which he devoted his attention in Germany until he had reached the age of thirty years, when, in 1847, he severed the ties which bound him to home and native land and set forth to seek his fortunes in America, where he believed superior oppor-
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tunities were afforded for individual accomplishment. His financial re- inforcement at the time of his arrival in New York city was represented in the sum of eighty dollars, but he had the excellent equipment implied in a sturdy physique, energy, integrity and a thorough knowledge of hor- ticulture and floriculture, so that he had little to fear in the way of making his services of value, even though a stranger in a strange land. He passed one week in the national metropolis and then proceeded to Rochester, New York, where he entered the employ of the well known nursery firm of Ellwanger & Barry, the senior member of which had been a co- worker with him in Germany. After a few months had elapsed Mr. Zarges went to Kingston, Canada, to accept a position, but not being satisfied with the conditions and outlook in that connection, he soon returned to Rochester and thence, somewhat later, went to Groveland Center, New York, where he was engaged in gardening for one year, at the expiration of which time he went to Duanesburg, Schenectady county, where he was engaged in gardening for two summers, passing the winters in Rochester. He then passed a year in Elmira, after which, in the spring of 1853, he was sent to Kentucky to lay out a nursery for a man named Hobbs, having in the meantime become the owner of eight acres of land within the city limits of Rochester. He established the nursery for Mr. Hobbs, at a point ten miles east of the city of Louis- ville, remaining in that locality until the fall of 1854, when he returned to Rochester, where he purchased a stock of trees and other requisite sup- plies, with which he came to Tiffin, Seneca county, Ohio, where he en- gaged in the handling of nursery stock, continuing to have his stock shipped in from Rochester and from Sandusky, Ohio. In 1856 he pur- chased six acres of land in Hopewell township, two miles south of Tiffin, and here set out a nursery for himself, continuing to handle stock shipped in from the cast until his own place should become available as a source of supply. Before the close of the war of the Rebellion he had secured a good start, so far as the condition of his own nursery was concerned, but such were the local conditions that he was unable to do a profitable business and much of his stock was dug up and destroyed in a bonfire. Mr. Zarges then abandoned the nursery business and turned his attention
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to market gardening on his place, and shortly afterward he purchased an additional sixteen acres, across the road from his original tract. In 1876 he erected on the new place a substantial brick house, taking up his resi- dence there in the fall of that year and here he has ever since maintained his home, continuing to follow the line of enterprise which he inaugu- rated so many years ago and which he has conducted with so marked ability and discrimination as to attain a high degree of success and a position of independence. For the past thirteen years he has given over much of the practical and managerial work to his son, but, though ven- erable in years he has not resigned the active duties of life, having vitality far greater than the average man of sixty and finding pleasure in maintaining an active supervision of the interests to which he has so long given his time and attention. In 1885 Mr. Zarges purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty-two acres in Seneca township, and this property which is well improved, he still owns. At the time of the crucial epoch of the civil war Mr. Zarges gave his unqualified support to Abraham Lincoln as candidate for the presidency, but in later years has been iden- tified with the Democratic party, of which his son also is a supporter, while both are zealous members of the German Lutheran church. Mr. Zarges has ever retained the unequivocal confidence and esteem of his fellow men and is to-day one of the popular men of his community, the years resting lightly upon him as the shadows of life begin to lengthen. while he stands as a worthy example of what is possible of accomplish- ment on the part of one who will apply his best energies and abilities in facing the problems of life.
On the 5th of July, 1864, Mr. Zarges was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Staib, who was born in Seneca county, the daughter of Lewis Staib, who emigrated from Wurtemberg, Germany, and took up his resi- dence here about 1835, thus becoming one of the pioneers of the county. Mrs. Zarges has been a true companion and helpmeet to her husband during the long years of their married life, and their union has been blessed with one son, Frederick Lewis, who resides at home and has charge of the gardening business established so many years ago by his father. He was born in this county on the 8th of August, 1865, and was
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here reared and educated. On the 23d of May, 1888, he was united in marriage to Miss Hattie De Bussman, who was born in this county, the daughter of Frederick and Rosa (Snyder) De Bussman, and of this union three children have been born, two of whom survive,-Frederick and Leila. Myra died in early childhood.
CHARLES H. SEIGER.
That independent spirit, enterprise, industry and determination so essential to a successful career in connection with any vocation are pos- sessed in an eminent degree by the subject of this review, who is engaged in the blacksmithing and wagon-making business in the village of Kan- sas, Seneca county, Ohio, and who is honored as one of the sterling citi- zens and representative business men of the place.
Mr. Seiger was born in the county of Sandusky, Ohio, on the 8th of August, 1868, being a son of Ellis and Christina ( Shoemaker ) Seiger, whose six children all survive, namely: Lucy, the wife of Phineas Gamertsfelter, of Sandusky county; Charles H., the subject of this review ; Emma, the wife of W. O. Riehm, of Liberty township, Seneca county ; Joseph and Jacob. who reside in the village of Kansas; and Minnie, the wife of Edward Lewman, of Liberty township. The father of our subject was born in Pennsylvania, whence he removed with his parents to Sandusky county, Ohio, when a boy, being there rearcd and educated and being for many years identified with sawmilling, grist- milling and farming in that section of the Buckeye commonwealth. In 1884 he came to the town of Kansas, where he operated a gristmill for a number of years, being now engaged in the oil business, operating sev- eral wells in this locality.
Charles H. Seiger remained at the parental home during his early youth and received his educational training in the public schools. After the removal of the family to Kansas he was here employed in his father's mill and at various other occupations until he had attained the age of
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nineteen, when he began serving an apprenticeship at the trade of black- smith, in which he became an expert artisan. He was employed by others for an interval of five years and then, in 1892, opened a shop of his own. He has built up a large and profitable enterprise, doing wagon- making and operating a planing mill in connection with his general blacksmithing, and being frequently referred to as the "busiest man in the town," this being praise to which he is clearly entitled, for he is indefatigable in his industry and his business methods are such as to retain to him unqualified confidence and esteem in the community. In his political proclivities Mr. Seiger is a stanch supporter of the prin- ciples and policies of the Republican party, and fraternally he is identi- fied with Kansas Lodge, No. 183, Knights of Pythias, while both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is also a prominent member of Kansas Lodge, No. 405, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is treasurer at the time of this writing.
November 24, 1894, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Seiger to Miss Mabel Grove, who was born in Erie county, Ohio, the daughter of the late William Grove, a successful merchant of Castalia, and of this union three daughters have been born, namely: Bernice, Vera and Lela.
HARRISON THORNBURG.
Seneca county contributed to the federal army many a brave and valiant soldier during the war of the Rebellion, and among those sur- viving at the present time,-when the ranks of the Grand Army of the Republic are rapidly being decimated by the one invincible foe, death,- stands the subject of this sketch, who was loyal to his country in her hour of peril and who has ever since been her stanch supporter in the "piping times of peace." In the connection it is also interesting to revert to the fact that our subject's father, Eli Thornburg, was a soldier in the war of 1812 and that his maternal grandfather, Henry Meyers, bore arms in the Continental line during the war of the Revolution,
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showing that loyalty and patriotism have been ever characteristic of the family and also, incidentally, revealing the fact that it was established on American soil in the colonial epoch. Mr. Thornburg is one of the representative farmers of Seneca county, where he has passed the major portion of his life, his parents having been numbered among its pioneer settlers.
Mr. Thornburg is a native of the state of Maryland, having been born in Washington county on the 12th of May, 1828, the son of Eli and Sarah ( Meyers) Thornburg, who became the parents of six chil- dren, of whom Wesley, the eldest, met his death while serving in the war of the Rebellion. The others are: Harrison, Martha S., Mary, Margaret E., and Captain Thomas H., who is the only survivor besides our subject. Captain Thornburg was a lieutenant in the Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he started as a private. Eli Thorn- burg removed with his family to Seneca county in 1832, locating in Tiffin, where he followed his trade, that of mason, until his death, in 1854, at the age of sixty-five years, his wife passing away in 1869, aged about seventy years. Our subject was about five years of age at the time of the family's removal to this county, and here he was reared to maturity, securing such scholastic advantages as were afforded by the public schools and learning the mason's trade under the effective direc- tion of his father. He continued to follow his trade in this locality until 1852, when the gold excitement in California led him to make the long, perilous and weary trip across the continent to the new Eldorado, the journey being made with a mule team and not being completed until the expiration of three months. He went to the mining camp at Hang- town ( now known as Placerville) and there joined the eager throng of gold-seekers, working in the placer beds for two years and being quite successful in his efforts. He then returned to Ohio, on this occasion making the trip by boat and by way of the isthmus of Panama. He now engaged in farming in Eden township and was thus employing his time at the outbreak of the Rebellion. In 1863 he enlisted as a private in Company B, One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. being mustered into the service in the city of Cleveland, for a term of
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one hundred days, and thence proceeding with his command to assist in defense of the national capital, at Fort Hagerty receiving his honorable discharge at the expiration of his term. He then returned to his home in Eden township, and in 1879 he purchased his present fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, where he has been duly successful in his farm- ing operations and in the raising of an excellent grade of live stock. An air of thrift and prosperity pervades the place, the permanent improve- ments being of excellent order and every detail showing the careful supervision of an energetic and progressive owner. His political sup- port has ever been given to the Republican party and he lias neglected none of his civic duties, doing all in his nower to conserve the best interests of the community and being here held in the highest esteem. Mr. Thornburg has never married.
ELIAS W. CRUM.
The Crum family is of sterling old German origin, but has been es- tablished on American soil since the colonial epoch, the original repre- sentatives in the United States having located in Pennsylvania, with whose annals the name has been identified for several generations. The subject of this review, one of the highly esteemed and prosperous farmers of Seneca county, Ohio, may well be considered a representative of one of the pioneer families of this section of the state, since his father came here forty-five years ago and cast in his lot with the people who were here developing the forest lands into fine farms, inaugurating the work which has been so splendidly carried forward and which has made the county one of the most attractive and prosperous sections of the old Buckeye commonwealth. Many of those who figure as founders and builders of the county find representation in this publication, and we are pleased to thus consistently make reference to the Crum family and to the indi- vidual career of the gentleman whose name initiates this review.
Elias W. Crum was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, on the
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28th of April, 1846, being the son of Frederick and Susanna ( Reeme) Crum, of whose eight children seven are living at the present time, namely : Daniel, a prominent farmer of Hopewell township; Elias W., the immediate subject of this sketch; Frederick, a resident of Hamilton county, Indiana ; Theodore, a farmer of Pleasant township; Wesley, en- gaged in agricultural pursuits in Eden township; Savilla, the wife of Deroy C. Dunn, of Hopewell township; and Oliver, a successful mer- chant at Bascom. The father of our subject was likewise born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, in 1816, being the son of Leonard and Catherine (Stein) Crum, the former of whom was also born in the same county, whither his father had emigrated from Germany. Grandfather Leonard Crum passed his entire life in his native county, passing away at the age of eighty-four years and having devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, owning three hundred and twenty acres of land in Dauphin county. His son Frederick grew to maturity on the old homestead, and for six years after his marriage was engaged in farming on a tract of land owned by his father. He then purchased a farm of eighty-seven acres in his native county and there made his home until 1857, when he came with his family to Seneca county, Ohio, where he purchased the farm of one hundred and sixty acres now owned by our subject. Five years later he purchased the eighty-acre farm where his son Daniel L. now resides, and in 1871 he purchased another farm, comprising one hundred and thirty-four acres, located three miles north of Tiffin, in Clinton township, where he made his home about four years. He then purchased forty acres adjoining this last farm and there erected a com- modious and attractive residence. Here he was living at the time of his wife's death, July 16, 1889, and two years later he removed to the home of his daughter, Mrs. Dunn, where he remained until his death. on the 5th of January, 1899. He was a man of spotless reputation and noble character, was one of the world's sterling workers and gained independence and prosperity through his own efforts, ever commanding that unalloyed esteem which indicates objective appreciation of gen- tine worth. He was one of the influential citizens of his community. and though he never sought official preferment he gave an unfaltering
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allegiance to the Republican party. He was eighty-three years of age at the time of his death, and his cherished and devoted wife, who was born in the same county as was he himself, passed away at the age or sixty-four years.
Elias W. Crum, as may be inferred, was surrounded with the benefi- cent influences of a true home, though it was humble in character, and he waxed strong in mind and body while assisting in the work of the homestead farm, his educational advantages being such as were afforded in the common schools of the period. His marriage occurred in 1871, and his father then removed to Clinton township, leaving the homestead farm in his charge. Here he continued in the vocation to which he was reared, and his energy and progressive methods were attended with such results that he was enabled to effect the purchase of the homestead in 1880, and here he has ever since maintained his home, bringing to bear the most approved and scientific methods and facilities in the cultiva- tion of his land, and making the best of improvements, including a substantial and handsome brick residence, which he erected in 1890 and which is to be noted as one of the fine homes of this township. In addi- tion to his homestead farm he is also the owner of sixty-five acres in Clinton township, this place being in charge of his son-in-law, Silas Bretts. Mr. Crum has commanded, for the same reasons, the esteem and confidence so freely accorded to his venerated father, and the family hold a prominent position in the social life of the community. In politics Mr. Crum exercises his franchise in support of the principles and policies of the Republican party, but the honors and emoluments of public office have had no allurements for him. He and his wife are devoted members of the Protestant Methodist church, and he has been a member of the board of trustees of Bethel church for the past five years.
On the 31st of January, 1871, Mr. Crum was united in marriage to Miss Frances Lambright, who was born in Maryland, the daughter of Henry Lambright. who came with his family to Seneca county in 1856. settling in Clinton township, where he passed the residue of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Crum are the parents of three children .- Minnie
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I., the wife of Clement Barnes, a farmer of Hopewell township; Mary O., the wife of Silas Bretts, who has charge of our subject's farm in Clinton township; and Herbert L., who remains at the parental home
ISAAC W. COOKSON.
The pioneers of a country, the founders of a business, the originat- ors of any undertaking that will promote the material welfare or ad- vance the educational, social and moral influence of a community de- serve the gratitude of humanity. One of the leading factors in the mer- cantile activities of Kansas, Ohio, is the hardware store of Isaac W. Cookson, who is at all times a public-spirited and progressive citizen, never withholding his support from any movement which tends to ad- vance the public good.
A native son of the Buckeye state, his birth occurred in Sandusky county, December 19, 1856. His father, Joseph Cookson, was also born in that county, in 1834, to which place his parents had removed from Pennsylvania. There the son Joseph was reared and married, and when the time came for him to begin the active battle of life on his own ac- count, he located on a farm in Sandusky county, which continued to be his home until 1894. In that year he came to Kansas, Ohio, where he and his wife still reside. She bore the maiden name of Mary Sprout, and their marriage was blessed with four children, three of whom still survive, namely : Isaac, the subject of this review; David F., who still makes his home in Sandusky county ; and Jacob C., a prominent agri- culturist of Liberty township.
Isaac W. Cookson chose as a life occupation that to which he had been reared, and at the age of twenty years he began farming on rented land, thus continuing for the following ten years. In 1886 he removed to Sycamore, Ohio, where he gave his attention to the creamery business for the following three years, and on the expiration of that period, in 1889, came to this city to engage in the hardware business with his
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brother, David F. This relationship was of short duration, however, for within a year our subject became its sole owner and has ever since conducted the business alone. Since entering upon an independent career he has made good use of his opportunities and has prospered from year to year, conducting all business matters systematically and in all his acts displaying an aptitude for successful management. But not alone in the business world has he won prominence, for in the ranks of the Repub- lican party he is recognized as a leader. While a resident of Sycamore he was elected and served as a member of the town council, but was obliged to resign that position on account of his removal from the city. In 1892, under Harrison's administration, he was made postmaster of Kansas, in which capacity he served for four years, discharging his duties in that important position to the satisfaction of all concerned. In his social relations he is a member of Kansas Lodge, No. 183, Knights of Pythias, and of Kansas Lodge, No. 405. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he is a past grand and past chancellor, respectively.
December 19, 1876, Mr. Cookson was united in marriage to Miss Laura Byers, a native of Loudon township and a daughter of Philip Byers. They have two children,-Lulu. the wife of Ralph Smith, of Fremont, Ohio: and Maud E., at home. The family hold membership with the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Cookson has served as a steward and as president of the Epworth League.
AMOS KELLER.
Amos Keller is one of the prominent business men of Seneca county, his home being in Seneca township. He has met with creditable success and has commanded uniform confidence and respect by his business methods, so that the record of his career is full of interest. In all his trade transactions he has been honorable : at all times he has been ener- getic ; he forms his plans readily, carries them forward to successful completion, and is now enjoying well merited prosperity.
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Martha 6 Heller
Amor Heller
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Mr. Keller was born near Lancaster, Fairfield county, Ohio, De- cember 26, 1839, and is a son of Joseph Keller, whose birth occurred in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1797. The grandfather of our sub- ject was Henry Keller, who, about the year 1809, removed with his family to Fairfield county, Ohio, and there Joseph Keller was reared to manhood upon a farm. He was about twelve years of age at the time of his removal to the Buckeye state, and through the period of his youth he assisted in the operation of the old homestead. On attaining his majority, he began working at the cabinet-maker's trade, which he fol- lowed for two years, and then decided to resume farm work, purchasing a tract of land which he owned and operated until 1849. In that year he removed to Clinton township, Seneca county, and became the owner of two hundred acres of valuable land, two miles from Tiffin. This is now owned by Mr. Schoffner and Mr. Schreikel. This farm was par- tially improved when it came into the possession of Mr. Keller, and he and his family became the occupants of a log cabin that had previously been erected upon the place. While his wife attended to the household dutics he took his place in the fields and continued the cultivation of the soil until 1855, when his life's labors were ended in death. He held membership in the Evangelical Association and his life was consisteat with the teachings of that denomination. He was three times married, his first wife being Mrs. Catherine Hite, by whom he had one child, who died in infancy. For his second wife he chose Miss Elizabeth Tussing, and they became the parents of six children, namely: Mary, who be- came the wife of Solomon Meisse and died in 1899: Rcuben, who was a resident of Seneca county and died in 1882: Sarah, who is the widow of David Meisse and makes her home in Springfield, Ohio: Isaac W., a resident of Fairfield county, this state; Amos, the subject of this review : and Joseph, who died during the civil war, while at Camp Dennison. in 1864, was wounded at the battle of Stone River, but the immediate cause of his death was an attack of smallpox; he belonged to Company H of the One Hundred and First Ohio Volunteer Infantry, of which he was orderly sergcant. After the death of his second wife, Joseph Keller.
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