USA > Ohio > Seneca County > A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio > Part 30
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After his return to Tiffin, Mr. Haines had the satisfaction of being able to purchase the old home farm, where he continued to reside until 1870, at which time he sold it, its present owner being James Pennington, and removed to the farm which he now occupies. Here he has a fine farm of ninety-four acres which he has placed under a fine state of culti- vation, while he has also made substantial and permanent improvements, which have added greatly to its appearance and value.
Mr. Haines was married, in 1858, to Miss Nancy Terflinger, and a family of six children was born to this union, named : Levi, Esther, Ida M., Charley, Leroy and Bertha, all of whom are still living.
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In his political connection Mr. Haines has been all his life identified with the Republican party. In 1864 he enlisted as a private in Company B, One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was with his regiment when it was sent to the defense of Washing- ton city. He is a member of General W. H. Gibson Post, G. A. R., of Tiffin, and is a very active member of the Masonic fraternity, with which he has been connected for forty-eight years. He was one of the charter members of Wyandot Lodge, No. 315, of Mccutchenville, with which he is still in connection, and where he has served in a number of official positions. The only other charter members still living are George Mul- holland, of the vicinity of Adrian, who is still a member, and Benjamin Brundage, of Bakerville, California.
Mr. Haines is one of the very intelligent, substantial and responsible men of this township. He has been a successful agriculturist and has done much to develop the resources of his fine estate, making another of the fine farms which are the pride of Seneca county. He enjoys the respect and esteem of the public as a man of integrity, while he is much beloved in the narrower circle of private life.
HON. JAMES V. MAGERS. .
Among the distinguished citizens of Tiffin, Ohio, James V. Magers has been prominent for a number of years, being a well-known educator and successful business man, as well as a leader in political life, and a factor of value in the development of this section of the county. He is now occupying the highest political office in the gift of his fellow-citizens, that of mayor of the city of Tiffin.
Mr. Magers is a product of the state of Ohio, his birth having taken place in Canton, Stark county, May 17, 1842. The home of the paternal ancestors of our subject was for several generations in the state of Mary- land, his great-grandfather having belonged to the company of gentle- men who accompanied Lord Baltimore in his visit to the colonies. Law-
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rence Magers, the grandfather of James V., was a resident of Baltimore, Maryland, and there occurred the birth of Joseph E. Magers, the well known father of our subject, of this city. As soon as Joseph E. Magers attained a suitable age he entered upon an apprenticeship to a millwright, and when proficient made his way to Canton, Ohio, where there was need of his skilled services in the construction of mills. He was there engaged in mill construction, when, on account of failing health he was obliged to give up his work. He came with his family to Seneca county and en- gaged in farming, having invested in land in Seneca township. After- ward he bought another farm situated two and one-half miles east of Tiffin and resided here from 1871 to 1894, at which time he retired from active agricultural life, thenceforth residing in this city until his death in the following year at the age of seventy-seven.
Mr. Magers had been for years prominently identified with Demo -. cratic politics and served this county as commissioner for six years with the greatest efficiency, filling at various times other offices of responsibilty. He was long a justice of the peace, also served in the capacity of infirmary director. He was a man of strong political convictions, never swerving in his adherence to the party of his choice. He was married in Stark county to Miss Mary A. Sneeringer, who was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, and who accompanied her mother to this locality. Her death took place in 1897, at the age of seventy-three years. A numerous family consisting of eleven children was born to Mr. and Mrs. Magers, six of whom grew to maturity.
James V. Magers was ten years old when his parents located in Seneca county. His early years were passed in attendance at school, and when about seventeen he entered Heidelberg College, at Tiffin, where he was pursuing his studies at the outbreak of the Civil war, which in- terrupted his college course for the time being. This interruption caused Mr. Magers to turn but more closely to an intellectual life, and he natur- ally engaged in teaching, occupying his winters in this way, while there was always need of his assistance on the farm during the summer seasons. For nine years prior to 1881 he devoted the entire school year to teaching in this county, making his home in New Reigel and becoming one of the
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most popular educators in the county. During this time he served for two years as clerk of Seneca township, and seven years as clerk of Big Spring township, during all these years making warm and loyal friend- ships. In 1881 Mr. Magers was elected clerk of Seneca county. Aban- doning the professional life he moved to Tiffin to enter upon the duties of his office. These obligations were performed in a manner which re- sulted in a re-election in 1884. Later he became part owner and manager of the Tiffin Weekly News, a journal which had' a large circulation throughout the county. While engaged in this line of business he was appointed assignee of a large manufacturing concern, the Belgium Glass Works Company, and as the affairs of this company were in a complicated condition he severed his connection with the paper and gave his whole attention to the final adjustment of the company's affairs.
Mr. Magers then embarked in the business of fire insurance, which he carried on until 1900, although in 1899 he had been elected by his fel- low citizens to the office of mayor. So well did his administration suit the populace that his re-election in 1901 gave universal satisfaction. As a public official Mr. Magers has upheld the dignity of the place and with commendable public spirit has encouraged all the measures which he has been assured would reflect honor upon the city.
Mayor Magers was united in marriage on January 7, 1868, to Miss Mary J. Adelsperger, of this county, and six children have been born to this union, two of whom died in infancy, the survivors being: Charles F., who is a rising young physician, of this city; and Olive I., Camilla E. and Victor L., the last mentioned a student of Heidelberg University. The family is one of culture and refinement and prominent in social circles.
Mr. Magers has been a consistent politician, never wavering in his devotion to the Democratic party, in which he has been active since his sixteenth year. He has personal friends by the score and his political friends know that he has always been true to them. Mr. Magers is highly esteemed in Tiffin ; while many do not agree with him on political matters, they give him unbounded credit for the excellent administration he has given their city.
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MICHAEL ARBOGAST.
Michael Arbogast, who is engaged in general farming and stock- raising in Seneca township, was born in Pendleton county, Virginia, August 1, 1824, and is a representative of one of the early families of the Old Dominion. His grandfather was Henry Arbogast, whose son, Peter Arbogast, the father of our subject, was likewise a native of Pen- dleton county. When he had attained his majority he married Sophia Arbogast, who was born in the same locality, and they became the par- ents of four children: Jesse, who died near Bushnell, Illinois; Phebe, who became the wife of T. J. Windsor; Christina, who married Aaron Carr; and Michael. With the exception of our subject all have now passed away. It was in the fall of 1826 that Peter Arbogast, accom- panied by his family, together with Andrew Arbogast and his family, left Virginia for Ohio. The Buckeye state was just then being opened up to civilization. Some districts had previously been settled, but the greater part of the land still belonged to the government and progress and improvement were scarcely known. The party left Virginia with a four-horse team and traveled across the country, fording streams and making their way through almost impenetrable forests until they reached Seneca county. Casting in his lot with its pioneer settlers, Peter Arbogast purchased one hundred and eighty acres of land in Hopewell township. This had previously been entered from the gov- ernment and upon the farm was a log cabin containing one room. There was also a log barn and a few acres had been cleared. It is a part of the farm now owned by Mr. Zarges. Mr. Arbogast resided upon that place until his death, which occurred in 1835. He aided in laying out roads and in organizing schools, always performing his share in every frontier work which has led to the present development and progress of the county. His wife survived him many years, pass- ing away in 1861. She had received the constant care and attention of her son whose solicitude was never abated.
Michael Arbogast, the youngest child, was only two years of age when brought by his parents to Seneca county, where he has spent
M. Arbogast
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all the years of his childhood and manhood. He aided in the difficult task of clearing the farm and preparing the fields for cultivation, and when the land became arable he bore his part in the work of plowing, planting and harvesting. As his father died when he was only nine years of age, he and his mother carried on the farm, together operating the land, with the aid of an ox team. It was in 1855 that he took up his abode upon the place where he is yet living. All through the years of an active and useful manhood he has devoted his time and energies to agricultural pursuits and in the legitimate channels of business he has won a very desirable competence.
On the IIth of March, 1852, Mr. Arbogast was united in mar- riage to Miss Jane R. Stoner, a daughter of Henry and Sarah (Reagan) Stoner, and she died June 23, 1882, their union having been blessed with nine children, namely: Alice, who married Jacob Staib, is now deceased; John F. is a resident of Seneca township; Nettie is the wife of Robert E. Lutz, of Oklahoma; Lewis is a mechanic and resides in Tiffin ; Charles resides near Bushnell, Illinois; Rush operates the home- stead farm; and three sons passed away in childhood.
Mr. Arbogast put forth every effort to make a comfortable home for his family and to give his children those opportunities by which they were well prepared for the practical and responsible duties of life. He first purchased, in 1854, one hundred and twenty-three acres of land, the improvements on which consisted of a log house and a log barn. He went in debt for the entire amount, three thousand six hun- dred and ninety dollars, and this was all paid in three years. Fifty acres had been cleared and in course of time his fields were green with the crops that promised golden harvests. As his financial resources in- creased he added to his landed possessions and within the borders of the home farm are now comprised two hundred acres. He also owns another farm, of one hundred acres, in Seneca township, and upon both he has made excellent improvements, erecting in 1875 one of the most pretentious brick residences in the vicinity. He has used the latest machinery for facilitating farm work, has erected good barns and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock and has in every
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way a very valuable and desirable property. He has never sought office, for his attention has been claimed by his business interests. His resi- dence in the county covers more than three-quarters of a century, and the present generation cannot realize the changes which have occurred during this period. Mr. Arbogast remembers seeing many Indians in the locality and has driven through Tiffin with ox team many a time when the mud came up to the hubs of the wagon wheels. The flourish- ing city then contained only a few pioneer cabins and the county gave little promise of its present splendid development. However, the pio- neer's laid broad and deep the foundation for its present progress, Mr. Arbogast performing his full share in the work of citizenship. He has ever favored reform and improvement, and his labors have been effect- ive in promoting the general welfare. Owing to his father's death he early had to take up the responsible duties of a business career, and industry, economy and honesty have been salient features in his his- tory, enabling him to advance steadily until he now occupies a promi- nent place on the plane of affluence.
AARON SHIREMAN.
In recalling the well-known and highly esteemed citizens of Seneca county, Ohio, who, by honest and industrious lives have accumulated property and attained prominence in this locality, Aaron Shireman, a resident of Seneca township, demands mention.
Mr. Shireman is a native not only of the county but also of the town- ship where he now lives, having been born here on January 26, 1842, and his useful life of more than a half century has been passed in this state. His parents were Conrad and Margaret (Seip) Shire- man, both of whom were born in Germany, where they were mar- ried and from which country they subsequently started for the United States. After reaching this country Mr. Shireman located first at Buffalo, New York, where for some time he worked at his trade, which
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was that of blacksmith. Later he moved to Seneca county, Ohio, started into business in Mccutchenville, and there conducted a blacksmith busi- ness for a number of years. He died at the age of seventy-four years, in 1877, the death of his wife being some ten years thereafter. They had five children, consisting of four sons and one daughter. The daughter, Kate, and one son, David, are now deceased, the survivors being as fol- lows: Conrad, who carries on a prosperous shoe business in McCutch- enville; Jacob, who is a skilled carpenter of the city of Fostoria; and Aaron, who is the subject of this sketch.
The boyhood and early youth of our subject passed away in Seneca township. Here he attended school, was a good student and became well grounded in the elementary studies. His father's farm afforded enough employment, in addition to the assistance he could give at the forge, to keep him employed until he had decided his own vocation in life.
At the age of eighteen the youth entered upon an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, having always had a natural leaning and skill in that direction. He closely applied himself and soon became an excellent workman, and for some forty years his services have been in demand though the county. He can point with justifiable pride to a number of substantial structures which testify to his industrial ability, and a number of these have been built from his plans or suggestions.
Mr. Shireman is also a farmer and stock raiser, his farm of eighty acres being in a good state of cultivation, showing that his talents do not all lie in one direction. His buildings are commodious and substantial, his home being one of the most comfortable in the township.
Mr. Shireman was married in 1870 to Miss Emmarilla Harmon, who was born in Seneca township, a daughter of William and Mary Harmon. One child was born to this marriage, Ida M., who married Daniel Zeis, a talented young dental student in Columbus, Ohio.
In his political convictions Mr. Shireman has always been identified with the Republican party, but he is not a seeker for any political promo- tion, although strong, reliable, capable men like Mr. Shireman are the ones who most faithfully bear the responsibilities of office. Whatever success has attended Mr. Shireman's efforts is due entirely to his own
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energy, industry and ability. From small beginnings he gradually at- tained a prominence in his vicinity which entitles him to be regarded as a leading citizen of his township. His reputation is that of a man of busi- ness integrity and he is esteemed by all who know him.
SCOTT J. MATTHEWS.
In connection with an industrial enterprise of marked scope and importance the subject of this review has attained a high degree of suc- cess and is known as one of the representative business men of Seneca county, of which he is a native son.
He was born in the village of Bascom, this county, on the 8th of March, 1869, being the son of Henry W. Matthews, of whom specific mention is made on another page of this work. His early years were passed in the town where he has ever maintained his home, and after securing his rudimentary education in the public schools he became a student in that fine old Episcopalian institution, Kenyon College, at Gambier, Ohio, where he completed a thorough scientific course. As early as his fifteenth year Mr. Matthews initiated his active business career by being employed in the saw and planing mill of his father, who was one of the founders of the town of Bascom. In 1890 our subject went to Tennessee, in the employ of the Matthews Lumber Company, of which his father is the principal owner, and he there remained as lumber inspector during the greater portion of the time until 1894, when he returned to Bascom and assumed charge of the lumbering interests of his father, acquiring an individual interest in the business, and has con- tinued to operate the mill ever since.
His mechanical ability early became manifest, and soon after attain- ing his majority he began manufacturing small boats, of the skiff type, and from this he has developed an enterprise in the line that is one of marked importance. About the year 1892 Mr. Matthews constructed his first naphtha launch, the same having been made for his own use.
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The boat proved to be a greater practical success than he has anticipated, and led to his making a careful study of the science of boat-building, in which he gained a high reputation for practical skill. In 1897 his ability in this line having attracted the attention of George Burwell, super- intendent of the Lozier Manufacturing Company, of Toledo, now of Plattsburg, New York, which then controlled bicycle plants in the cities of Toledo, Ohio, Westfield, Massachusetts, Toronto, Canada, and Thom- sonville, Connecticut, and he was given an order for a naphtha launch of his own design. The matter of providing a satisfactory motor came up, and Mr. Burwell decided to buy the castings and manufacture the motor in the Toledo shops. The practical result was most satisfactory, and from that time on Mr. Burwell has devoted his attention exclusively to the manufacture of motors of this type, his success having been as pronounced as has that of our subject in the line of boat-building. After Mr. Matthews had constructed the boat for Mr. Burwell they entered into a copartnership in the industry of building boats in Bascom, and the enterprise is now one of the most important in Seneca county. The motors used are all manufactured by the Lozier Motor Company, Platts- burg, New York, and the boat factory in Bascom is known as the western branch of this company, though the business is conducted under the firm name of Matthews & Company.
In the local factory employment is given to a corps of about forty expert workmen, and the products of the establishment have a high reputation, the business having had a consecutive expansion under the able direction of Mr. Matthews and now standing as one of the leading industrial enterprises of this section of the state. Starting with a capital of one thousand dollars in 1892, it has now an investment of twenty-five thousand dollars, from thirty-five to forty thousand dollars being paid annually for operating expenses, and annual sales in the two plants amounting to two hundred thousand dollars. All sales are made through the Plattsburg office, the boats being in demand on the great lakes and on both coasts of the United States, with a large and rapidly growing business from foreign countries. The new five-horse-power gasoline motor for Emperor William's yacht tender was made by this
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firm, which was selected after thorough tests by expert engineers. While Bascom is not a pretentious town, selection for such an industry was a wise one, labor conditions and abundant supply of material giving it precedence, and it may honestly claim to be the center of one of the important industries of the country.
In 1899 Mr. Matthews exhibited one of his naphtha launches at the International Export Exposition, in Philadelphia, and secured a medal on the same, ivhile in 1900, at the Paris exposition, in competition with fully one hundred other manufacturers, his boat received the high- est award, this fact being sufficiently significant to require no further statement as to the superior excellence of the boats manufactured by the concern.
Mr. Matthews is one of the able young business men of the county and is held in the highest regard by all who know him. In politics he exercises his franchise in support of the principles and policies of the Republican party, and while he is essentially public-spirited in his attitude he has never been an aspirant for political office. He is a member of Pickwick Lodge, No. 175, Knights of Pythias, at Tiffin, and is also identified with the uniformed rank of this order.
On the Ist of August, 1894, Mr. Matthews was united in marriage to Miss Martha J. Miller, daughter of Wesley W. Miller, the present postmaster of Bascom, and of this union two children have been born,- Carl L. and Ward A.
JOHN SEITZ.
John Seitz, one of the most prominent citizens of Seneca county, was born on the farm where J. K. Spitler now resides, in Bloom town- ship, on the 12th of March, 1829. His paternal grandfather, Elder Lewis Seitz, was a native of York county, Pennsylvania. About the year 1800 he removed to Fairfield county, Ohio, settling near Lancaster, where he soon became recognized as one of the most enterprising and progressive citizens of the locality. At the public land sale he pur-
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chased about two hundred and forty acres of land, but he never removed to that property and it was afterward divided among his children. He became a minister of the Primitive Baptist church, and throughout his life he was an active worker in the cause of the Master.
Elder Lewis Seitz, Jr., the father of him whose name introduces this review, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, October 21, 1802, and there he received his education and was early inured to the work of the farm. He, too, became a minister of the Baptist church, but as a means of livelihood followed the tilling of the soil, for he never received any compensation for his work as a minister. In 1825 he located on a part of the land which had been purchased by his father in Bloom town- ship, on which he erected a one-room log cabin, in the woods. The land was then in its primitive condition, containing large groves of black walnut, butternut and poplar timber, but as the years passed by he suc- ceeded in clearing and improving one hundred and sixty acres, and there he made his home until 1864, his landed possessions at that time con- sisting of two hundred and forty acres. In that year, however, he left his pioneer home and for a few years thereafter was a resident of Wyan- dot county. after which he returned to Bloom township, there main- taining his residence until his life's labors were ended in death, in 1890. For sixty-six years he served as the pastor of the Baptist church at Honey Creek, in Bloom township, and he also held various township offices, his political support having been given to the Democracy.
For his wife Mr. Seitz chose Miss Barbara Kagy, and they became the parents of fourteen children, twelve of whom grew to years of matur- ity : Catherine, who became the wife of D. H. Patterson and is now deceased; Lydia, the deceasd wife of Jacob Seiple; Elizabeth, the wife of Eli Bretz and a resident of Wyandot county, Ohio; John, the subject of this review ; Mary, who married A. D. Bretz and makes her home in Marion county, Ohio; Annie, deceased, who married Samuel Bretz ; Bar- bara, Hannah, Abraham, Daniel and Lewis, all deceased ; Aaron, a prom- inent farmer of Bloom township; Lovina, who makes her home in Bloom- ville ; and Jonas, also deceased. The mother of this family was called to her final rest when she had reached the age of forty-two years. She,
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