USA > Ohio > Seneca County > A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio > Part 27
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Sr., married Nancy Good and they had one son, Noah, who is living in Fairfield county, Ohio.
Amos Keller spent the first ten years of his life in his native county and then accompanied his family to Seneca county, where he pursued his elementary education in the public schools, later continuing his studies in Heidelberg College. There he remained as a student from 1857 until 1860. In 1861 he attended the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, with the intention of becoming a teacher of the higher branches of learning, but on account of ill health he was forced to abandon his college course. He was afterward engaged in teaching school until May, 1864, when he responded to his country's call for aid, joining Company A of the One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, for one hundred days' service. The regiment was sent to the defense of Washington, and on the expiration of his term Mr. Keller returned to Seneca county, where he worked on a farm during the sun- mer months and in the winter seasons continued his educational work, being a most successful and competent teacher. In the year 1866 he purchased a tract of twenty-eight acres of land, with a sawmill, the place being known as the old St. John property. For seven years he operated the sawmill and in 1874 he erected a gristmill. He also placed a circular saw in the sawmill, in 1877, and in addition erected a planing mill, conducting the three departments of his business, in all of which he has met with success. The capacity of the flour mill is fifty barrels per day. The plant is equipped with a full roller process and the flour manufactured is of a very high grade, thus finding ready sale on the market. His planing mill and sawmill are equally well adapted for the uses to which they are put and in both lines Mr. Keller is receiving a liberal patronage. Upon his place he has made splendid improvements, including the erection of a beautiful three-story brick house, which was built in 1883. He has ninety-five acres in the home place and his land has become very valuable by reason of the growth in population in the county and also owing to the many excellent improvements which he has placed upon his property. He also owns a separate farm, of one hundred and twenty acres, on which he has over sixty thousand tile,
RESIDENCE OF AMOS KELLER.
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whereby the place has been converted into a tract of rich fertility ; and also has a third farm, of fifty-five acres, making a total of two hundred and seventy acres.
On the Ioth of October, 1867, Mr. Keller was united in marriage to Miss Martha Sneath, who was born in Pleasant township, this county. on the Ist of September, 1846, being a daughter of William and Martha Sneath. The family came to Ohio from Maryland in the early pioneer days, first locating in Trumbull county and thence coming to Seneca county, where they were numbered among the early settlers of Clinton township. Robert Sneath, a brother of Mrs. Keller, is one of the repre- sentative citizens of the county. Mrs. Keller was summoned into eternal rest on the IIth of March, 1902, leaving two children,-Rufus E. and Abbie F. The daughter is a graduate of Heidelberg College, in Tiffin, in which her husband, Professor A. D. Keller, is now an instructor. Our subject and his wife also took into their home, at the age of four years, an orphan girl, Elsie May Somers, and she received the care and advantages which they accorded to their own children. Mrs. Keller was a woman of noble and gentle character, ever ordering her life in har -- mony with the deep Christian faith which was a dominating element in her nature, and being devoted to her home and family, though she thor- oughly enjoyed the advantages of travel, in company with her husband. She had been exceptionally strong and vigorous, both mentally and phys- ically, and her death came with slight premonition, casting a shadow over the entire community in which she had been so highly esteemed. Her memory rests as a benediction upon those who came within the sphere of her gracious influence.
In his political views Mr. Keller is a stanch Republican, giving an earnest support to the party, and for twelve years he has served as a meniber of the school board, being president of the board during this entire period. He also belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church at Mccutchenville, in which he is steward and trustee. Other offices he has filled, and he is ever interested and active in support of the cause. doing all in his power for the spread of Christianity. In the year 1900 he attended the Paris exposition and traveled extensively abroad. visit-
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ing France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Belgium and England. Mr. Keller well deserved this period of recreation and rest, for his has been an active and busy life. There is no element of indolence in him and his unremitting diligence has been the means of bringing him a handsome competence as he has carried forward his business affairs.
T. C. LOOSE, M. D.
During the years which mark the period of Dr. Loose's professional career he has met with gratifying success, and during his residence in Bloomville he has won the good will and patronage of many of the leading citizens and families of the place. He is a great student and endeavors to keep abreast of the times in everything relating to dis- coveries in medical science and methods of treatment. Progressive in his ideas and favoring modern methods as a whole, he does not dispense with many of the true and tried systems which have stood the test of years.
A native son of Seneca county, he was born in Clinton township. March 15, 1874, a son of Eli and Jennie (Bader) Loose. The father was a son of John Loose, who becaine one of the early settlers of the locality, coming to the Buckeye state from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and on his arrival here he took up his abode in Clinton township, three miles north of Tiffin, where the son Eli grew to years of maturity on the homestead farm. Later he became a student in Heidelberg College. where he prepared himself for the ministry, and was ordained in the Evangelical church. At the close of his studies, however, he purchased a farm adjoining his father's place, and for many years thereafter gave his attention to farming, preaching only at intervals, and without taking regular pastoral work. After devoting about twenty years of his life to agriculture he sold his farm and accepted a charge as resident min- ister of the United Brethren church at Attica, having in the meantime
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withdrawn from the Evangelical church on account of there having been no society of that denomination near him. Remaining in Attica for three years he accepted a charge in Oceola, where he remained for a similar period, going thence to Whitesville, where he spent the follow- ing three years. During the next two years he ministered to his church at Green Spring, and from that point went to Johnsville, Morrow county, his present location. During the past twelve years he has devoted his life entirely to the work of the Master, and his efforts have been blessed with a religious awakening that has been highly gratifying. His wife was born in Fairfield county, Ohio. Her father was a native of Germany, but when a boy he accompanied his father on his removal to America, and after their arrival in this country they took up their abode in Fair- field county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Loose were born three children, but only two are now living, the brother of our subject being Arthur, who is a resident of Green Spring, Seneca county, where he is engaged in the provision business.
T. C. Loose, whose name introduces this review, acquired his ele- mentary education in the schools of his native locality, and at the early age of eighteen years he became a teacher in the district schools, follow- ing that profession for two terms. Wishing to follow the practice of medicine as a life occupation, he accordingly, in 1891, entered the office of Dr. C. A. Force, of Attica, remaining under his preceptorage until his entrance into the Starling Medical College, at Columbus, in 1892, and during his vacations he still continued his reading under Dr. Force. In the spring of 1896 Dr. Loose was graduated in the Starling Medical College, receiving one of the five honorable mentions given by the college for best grades, and a set of gynecological instruments for the best work in gynecology. On the Ist of April following his graduation, he located in Bloomville, where he has built up a lucrative and constantly increasing practice.
In 1894 occurred the marriage of the Doctor and Miss Daisy .. Sutton, of Attica, a daughter of A. G. Sutton, a prominent banker of that city. One child has brightened and blessed the home of our subject and wife,-Bushnell A. Dr. Loose is a member of the Seneca County Med-
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ical Society, and also of Eden Lodge, No. 310, F. & A. M. His political support is given to the Republican party, and for a number of years past he has served as a member of the school board and as health officer.
JOHN B. ZIMMERMAN.
John B. Zimmerman, one of the leading agriculturists and most highly esteemed men of Seneca county, was born on the farm on which he now resides on the 16th of December, 1838, a son of Barney and Sarah (Sager) Zimmerman. The father, who was born in Maryland in 1804, served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, which he followed in the state of his birth until 1836, when he came with his wife and four children to Seneca county, Ohio, purchasing eighty acres of land near where our subject now resides. His wife proved to him a faithful helpmate during this early pioneer epoch and nobly assumed the management of their farm while her husband worked at his trade. He erected many of the pioneer log cabins for the settlers in this locality, and later, when the frame houses came in vogue, he formed a partnership with Josiah Hilderbrake, and together they followed contracting and building for many years. Mr. Zimmerman was an expert workman, but later in life he abandoned his trade and retired to his farm, where his life's labors were ended in death on the 3d of March, 1888, at the age of eighty-four years. He was very liberal in his political views, but his preference was for the Democracy, and on its ticket he was elected and served as county commissioner, serving for three years, while for about nine years subsequently he was an infirmary director. For more than sixty years he was a member of the German Reformed church, at Fort Seneca, during much of which time he held office. He was a man of sterling character, never having had a lawsuit throughout his entire life, and in all movements for the betterment of his community he took an active part. The mother of our subject was born in Maryland in 1810, and her death occurred in 1897, at the age of eighty-seven years Unto this worthy couple were born six children, five of whom still
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survive, namely : Jacob, a farmer of Pleasant township, Seneca county ; Solomon, who resides in Sheridan, Michigan; Margaret, the wife of Rev. David Sherrick, also of Pleasant township; John B., the subject of this review; and Sophia, the wife of Levi Repp, of Harlan, Indiana.
John B. Zimmerman grew to manhood amid the refining influences of a cultured home, and his education was received in the common schools of the neighborhood. On the 9th of September, 1861, he ran away from home and enlisted for service in the Civil war, entering Com- pany B, Forty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under General William H. Gibson, and until November, 1862, the regiment formed a part of the Army of the Cumberland. After the battle of Shiloh Mr. Zimmerman was detailed as an ambulance driver, but five months later was trans- ferred to the quartermaster's department, as assistant, and while serving in the latter capacity, on the 9th of October, 1862, he was captured near Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, and was taken to Nicholasville and there paroled the third day afterward. Reporting for duty at Columbus, he was sent home on a furlough, and for several weeks thereafter was a constant sufferer from rheumatism, on account of which he was dis- charged, in December, 1862, not even having been exchanged. After recovering his health he began farming the home place on the shares, and two years after his marriage he removed to Clinton township, lo- cating two miles north of Tiffin, where he began work at the black- smith's trade, in partnership with a brother-in-law, and though he had no special training he was able to perform all work demanded in the shop. Eighteen months later our subject left that place for Fort Seneca, where he opened up a shop and for seven years he was there engaged in work at his trade, following which he was engaged in the mercantile business at that point for five years, but the latter venture proved un- profitable and at the close of that period he found himself in debt to the amount of twelve hundred dollars. Coming thence to Liberty township. he rented his father's two farms, and succeeded in clearing off his in- debtedness. In 1880 he purchased a farm adjoining the old homestead, paying two thousand dollars in cash and assuming an indebtedness of four thousand dollars, and this he continued to farm in connection with
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his father's land. In 1898, after his mother's death, he purchased the interests of the remaining heirs in the old homestead, and this has ever since continued to be his home. He belongs to that active class of agriculturists who are never ready to settle down and to "take life easy," which seems to be the goal ever in view to multitudes of farmers ; he is not afraid of work and would not be content to live in quiet idle- ness and luxury, for he realizes that work is the salvation of mankind and idleness is a curse to one's self and the community.
In 1863 occurred the marriage of Mr. Zimmerman and Miss Anna E. Omwake, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Jacob and Anna E. (Beck) Omwake, who came to Seneca county, Ohio, in 1846. Two children have blessed the union of our subject and wife,-Henry A., a prominent agriculturist of this township, married Ida B. Ens- minger, of Kewanee, Illinois, and in company with his brother he re- cently purchased the John Birkey homestead; Homer D., who operates the old home farm. The Democracy receives Mr. Zimmerman's hearty support and co-operation, and in his social relations he is a member of General William H. Gibson Post, No. 31, G. A. R., of Tiffin. For thirty-six years he has been an active member of Shiloh Methodist Protestant church, in which he has served as class leader, and for twenty-four years he has been superintendent of the Sunday-school. In business circles he sustains an enviable reputation, and his energetic nature, strong determination, sagacity and capable management have brought to him a handsome competence. He carries forward to suc- cessful completion whatever he undertakes, and his business methods have ever been in strict conformity with the ethics of commercial life.
WILLIAM HARRISON NULL.
Residing in the town of Kansas and ranking with the representative farmers of Seneca county is found the subject of this review. He was born in Frederick county, West Virginia, on the 28th of February, 1821.
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son of Jacob and Susanna ( Puffenberger) Null. The father also claimed West Virginia as the state of his nativity, and there he was reared and married, following the occupations of farming and milling as a means of livelihood. When about twenty-eight years of age he came to Seneca county, Ohio, entering eighty acres of forest land in Liberty township, and also purchasing an eighty-acre tract located just across the road from the John Shoemaker farm. On the latter place was a hewed-log cabin, and there he spent the remainder of his life. With the aid of his sons he cleared the land, placed his fields under a fine state of cultivation and from time to time added to his landed possessions until he became the owner of eight hundred acres. His political support was given to the Democracy. Both he and his wife reached the ripe old age of eighty years, and she was called to her final rest just a few days prior to her husband's death. Four children were born unto this worthy couple, namely : William Harrison, the subject of this review ; Lovina, the wife of Joseph Cesna, of Eaton county, Michigan; Sarah, the widow of John Chester and a resident of Tiffin; and Clarinda, the wife of Samuel Schrodes, also of Tiffin.
William H. Null grew to manhood amid the pioneer surroundings of a new and unsettled country, acquiring but a limited education in the primitive log school-house, which he attended in his youth, for early in life he was obliged to assist his father in clearing and cultivating the: farm. After his marriage he farmed on rented land for two years, and then removed to a tract of one hundred and twenty-five acres which had been purchased by his father and which he deeded to our subject in the following year. Mr. Null is now the owner of two farms, comprising two hundred and five acres of excellent farming land, located in Liberty township, but for the past thirty years he has made his home in the village of Kansas, with the exception of three years when he returned to his farm. Ilis has been a busy and useful life,-a life filled with arduous and useful toil, but he is now the possessor of a comfortable competence.
Mr. Null was first married in 1846, Miss Catherine Brown becom- ing his wife, and after her death he wedded Miss Sarah Hawver, a
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native of Maryland. By the second union five children were born, namely : Ada D., the wife of Fred Veach, of Liberty township; Effie L., the wife of Elmer Leggitt, of Woodville, Ohio: Elizabeth, the wife of Mert Grant, of Pleasant township, Seneca county; John K., who re- sides on one of his father's farms; and William Harrison, Jr., who oper- ates the second farm. Mr. Null gives his political support to the Democ- racy. Throughout nearly his entire life he has been a resident of Seneca county, and has been identified with many of the interests that have contributed to its substantial development and improvement. His prob- ity, fidelity and sterling worth have won him the unqualified confidence of his fellow townsmen, and now, in the evening of life, his pathway is brightened by the veneration and respect which ever follow an upright career.
MRS. CATHERINE BOYD.
The subject of this review has passed her entire life in Seneca county and is a worthy representative of one of its sterling pioneer fam- ilies, as was also her husband, now departed this life, and thus it be- comes compatible that specific mention be made of both in this com- pilation.
Mrs. Boyd was born in Seneca county, being a daughter of George WV. and Elizabeth (Zimmerman) Elliott, the former of whom was born in the state of Pennsylvania, whence he came to Seneca county in an early day, locating in Bloom township, where he reclaimed a farm and there maintained his home for many years, being regarded as one of the representative men of the county, and being honored for his sterling integrity of purpose. He is still living, having attained the venerable age of eighty-four years, and he is now making his home with one of his sons, in Reno county. Kansas. The mother of our subject died when the latter was but two years of age, and her father subsequently mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Sheidler, who died three years later, and he there- after consummated a third marriage, Miss Polly Harnish becoming his
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wife. She was a woman of noble character, and under her solicitous care Mrs. Boyd was reared to years of maturity, receiving her educa- tional discipline in the public schools in the vicinity of her home.
On the 13th of December, 1867, Miss Catherine Elliott was united in marriage to Levi Franklin Boyd, who was born in Reed township, on the 24th of July, 1842, being the son of Hiram and Jane (Reed) Boyd, who were numbered among the early settlers in Reed township. Mr. Boyd was reared to manhood on the old homestead farm and was educated in the common schools of the locality and period. His intrinsic loyalty and patriotism were quickened into decisive action when the thundering of Confederate guns against the ramparts of old Fort Sum- ter announced that the nation's integrity was menaced by armed rebel- lion, and in 1861 he enlisted as a private in Company E, One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he was in active service for a term of three years, and the history of this valiant regiment is practically his own history during that period of strenuous conflict through which the Union was perpetuated. He was captured and was held in duress at Libby, Andersonville and other prisons of the south, and after receiving his honorable discharge he returned to his home and here in Seneca county he ever afterward gave his attention to agricul- tural pursuits. Just prior to his marriage Mr. Boyd purchased forty acres of the present finely improved homestead, subsequently adding to the same, and it now has an area of ninety-six acres and is one of the most valuable and attractive places in the township. Here he continued to make his home until his death, which occurred on the 23d of Decem- ber, 1893. For many years prior to his demise Mr. Boyd had been badly crippled with rheumatism, resulting from exposure and hardships dur- ing his term of service in the civil war, and he was practically unable to do any active work for eighteen years before his death. He was a man of spotless character and held the esteem of all who knew him. His political support was given to the Republican party, but he never sought official preferment. Fraternally Mr. Boyd was identified with the Grand Army of the Republic, and he ever maintained a warm interest in his old comrades who followed the stars and stripes on many a sanguinary battle-
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field of the south. He is survived by his widow and their one daughter, Jennie, who is the wife of James Harrison, who has the management of Mrs. Boyd's homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison have two children,- Hazel and Frank.
Mr. Boyd was a man of a high order of mentality, was progressive in his methods, animated by the highest principles, and was one whose life was prolific in good, while no citizen of the community was more highly honored than was he, who had here passed his entire life, aiding in the development of the county and lending his influence in support of all worthy measures for the general good. His death was sincerely deplored by a wide circle of loyal friends.
ROLLIN K. WILLIAMS.
The most elaborate history is perforce a merciless abridgment, the historian being compelled to select his facts and materials from manifold details. This applies to specific as well as generic history, and in the former category biography is placed. In every life of honor and useful- ness there is no dearth of incident, and yet in summing up the career of any man the writer must needs touch only the more salient points, giving the keynote of the character but eliminating all that is superfluous to the continuity of narrative.
Within the pages of this work will be found individual mention of many prominent and influential citizens whose lives have been practi- cally passed in Seneca county and who are representatives of pioneer families of this section of the Buckeye state. Of this number is Mr .. Williams, who was born on the old homestead where he now lives, in Adams township, and who is one of the progressive and successful farmers of the county. Mr. Williams was born on the 7th of December, 1844, being the son of Jeremiah Williams, Jr., who was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, in the year 1806, being the son of Jeremiah, Sr., a native of Anne Arundel county, Maryland, and a soldier in the Revolutionary
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war. He emigrated to Ohio in an early day, becoming a pioneer settler of Fairfield county, as did he later of Seneca county, to which he re- moved with his family in 1824 or 1825, taking up a tract of government land in Eden township, where he reclaimed a good farm. The last years of his life were passed with his son, on the farm where Rollin K. now lives, his death occurring at the age of eighty-five years, while his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Gaither, died here also at the age of eighty-two. They became the parents of four sons and six daughters, and of this number none are living at the present time. The children who grew to maturity were Reuben, Elisha, Susan, Elizabeth, Mary, Eli and Jeremiah, Jr. Reuben settled in Warsaw, Indiana, where he established a newspaper, the same being now edited and published by his son, General Reuben Williams; Elisha Williams removed to Fulton county, Ohio; Susan married Uriah Egbert and lived in Pleasant town- ship; Elizabeth and Mary married and removed from this county ; little is known as to Eli; and Jeremiah, Jr., was the father of our subject.
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