A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio, Part 4

Author:
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 864

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he has served as trustee for many years, taking a marked interest in religious and educational affairs.

On the 16th of January, 1862, Mr. Wolfe was united in marriage to Miss Mahala A. Bowlus, who was born in Sandusky county, Ohio, the daughter of Henry and Catherine Bowlus, pioneers of that section. Our subject and his wife became the parents of five children, namely : George W., who was killed by a threshing engine at the age of twenty- six years ; Josiah, who assists in the management of the homestead farm ; Rosa, the wife of George E. Shroth, a prominent attorney of Tiffin; Catherine M., who now resides in the city of Chicago; and Howard E., who remains at the parental home.

WILLIAM GRAY.

The life of the subject of this review has been such as to bear aloft the high standard which had been maintained by his father, who was one of the pioneers of Seneca county and whose life was signally noble, upright and useful,-one over which falls no shadow of wrong in thought, word or deed. Such was the type of men who laid the founda- tions and aided in the development of this favored section of the Buck- eye state, and to their memories will ever be paid a tribute of reverence and gratitude by those who have profited by their well directed endeavors and appreciated the lessons of their lives.

William Gray, who is one of the successful farmers and stock- growers of Reed township, Seneca county, Ohio, is a native of this town- ship, where he was born on the Ist of May, 1844, the son of Harry and Sally (Reed) Gray. They became the parents of two children, one of whom died in infancy. Harry Gray was a native of New York state, having been born in Steuben county, in the year 1818, and there reared and educated. As a young man he came to Seneca county, Ohio, and here for a short time he was employed on a farm, but he soon effected the purchase of a tract of one hundred and thirty-two acres, in Reed town-

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ship, located on the turnpike road and at a point one mile north of the village of Attica. Shortly after acquiring this property he was married and he settled on his farm, his original residence having been one of the log cabins so common to the section at that epoch in its history. He here became eventually engaged in the raising of live stock on an extensive scale, and his excellent management and progressive methods brought to him a high degree of prosperity. He became the owner of a fine estate of six hundred and sixty-four acres in this township and was one of the most highly respected citizens of the county, influential in business and giving his support to all measures for the advancement of the best inter- ests of the community. He gave an unfaltering allegiance to the Re- publican party from the time of its organization, but never aspired to the honors or emoluments of public office. He was summoned into his eternal rest in the year 1894, in his seventy-sixth year. He was twice married, the mother of our subject having died in 1858, at the age of thirty-two years. For his second wife Harry Gray married Miss Mar- tha J. Hull, who bore him two children, one of whom survives,-Frank, -who is a farmer of this township. The mother of our subject was a daughter of Seth Reed, the first settler in Reed township, which was named in his honor. He removed here from Steuben county, New York, and was one of the representative pioneer settlers of the county.

William Gray, the subject of this sketch, was thirteen years of age at the time of his mother's death, and thereafter he and his father boarded in the homes of various families in this vicinity until he had attained the age of twenty, when his father was again married, and our subject continued at the paternal home for about three years. He then gave inception to his successful career as a stock buyer and shipper, and in this line he has ever since continued, his operations having been of wide scope and importance and having been of great incidental benefit in the promotion of the stock interests of this section of the state. In 1872 he purchased and removed to his present fine farm, which com- prises seventy-nine acres and here he has ever since continued to make his home, having a good residence and having made other excellent improvements on the place, while he has also become the owner of other

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farm land, in Seneca and Huron counties, having about five hundred and twenty acres in all. He has been consecutively engaged in the stock business for thirty-five years and has been very successful, being known as a careful and able business man and one whose integrity of purpose is beyond question. He is a stanch Republican in his political proclivi- ties, and he served one term as treasurer of his township. He is at this time president of the Attica Fair Association, of which he was vice- president for many years, taking a lively interest in its affairs.

On Christmas day, 1870, Mr. Gray was united in marriage to Miss Phœbe A. Post, who was born in Huron county, Ohio, the daughter of Christopher Post, a native of New York and one of the influential farm- ers of Huron county, Ohio, where he located many years ago. Mr. Gray has one daughter, Cora, who is the wife of Guy Hedden, of Huron county. Mrs. Gray died August 8, 1883, aged thirty-four years.

HENRY A. SALIERS.

This well known and highly esteemed citizen of Reed township is a worthy representative of one of the honored pioneer families of Seneca county. He was born in Orleans county, Vermont, on the 15th of Janu- ary, 1844, a son of Adolphus and Mary (Tisdale) Saliers. The father was born near Quebec, in Lower Canada, September 19, 1819, a son of Gabriel Saliers, who was a Frenchman and for seven years served as a soldier under Napoleon. He was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Waterloo, and was sent to Canada as a prisoner. He loved Napoleon as a father, and in speaking of him in after years the tears would start to his eyes. He was married in Canada, and there lived until about seventy-five years of age, when he removed to Michigan, there spending his remaining years, his death occurring at the home of one of his sons.

Adolphus Saliers, his son and the father of our subject, remained under the parental roof until sixteen years of age, when he went to

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North Troy, Vermont, and apprenticed himself to the carpenter and cabinet-making business, spending most of his time at the latter. In 1815 when our subject was but one year old, he came to Seneca county, Ohio, locating in Reed township, just across the road from where his son Henry now resides, and for seven years he there made his home, working at his trade. On the expiration of that period, however, he returned to his old home in Vermont, and there remained until March, 1861, when he came again to the Buckeye state. In the following year he purchased a residence and ten acres of land at Reedtown, but con- tinued to work at his trade throughout the remainder of his active busi- ness career. On the 16th of August, 1862, the father and son both enlisted for service in the Civil war, entering Company E, One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and in the following sum- mer they were put on detached duty as carpenters to assist in the erec- tion of the United States general hospital buildings at Clarysville, Maryland, the father having charge of the building operations, with seventeen men under his direction. In August, 1863, while working at the top of one of the buildings, our subject suffered a sunstroke, and from that time on he has never worked at the trade. In the following winter he was employed in carrying the mail from Clarysville to Cum- berland, and when the weather became warmer he was given employment in the office at Clarysville, under Major J. B. Lewis, surgeon in charge, thus continuing until his discharge, on the 12th of May, 1865. His father had received an honorable discharge from the service a few months previously, but was detained there as a paid employe, as super- intendent of construction, receiving seventy dollars a month, until his son's discharge, when they both returned home.

The father was called to his final rest in 1883, his death occurring quite suddenly from heart failure while employed in the moving of a building. In early life he was a member of the Congregational church, but later united with the Methodist Protestant, in which he was an active and consistent member until his life's labors were ended in death. His political support was first given to the Whigs, but after the forma- tion of the Republican party he joined its ranks and was among its most

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loyal supporters. His social relations connected him with the Grand Army of the Republic, in which he held pleasant relations with his old army comrades of the "blue." The mother of our subject was born in Canada, just across the Vermont line, and her people were from the latter state. Her death occurred in December, 1881. Unto this worthy couple were born four children, three of whom still survive, namely : Alice, the wife of Isaac Rosegrant, of Ithaca, Michigan; Lauraette, the wife of A. J. Harrison, a prominent farmer of Reed township, Seneca county ; and Henry A., whose name introduces this review.

The latter spent the early years of his life in his parents' home and in the common schools of the neighborhood he received the educational advantages which he enjoyed in youth. At the age of seventeen years he began working with his father at the carpenter's trade, and also fol- lowed that occupation for two or three years during the winter months after the close of the Civil war, but he finally abandoned the trade and in 1871 engaged in the sawmill business, erecting his present mill at Reed- town, which he has followed uninterruptedly until recent years. He is now living retired at his pleasant home in Reedtown, where he owns thirty-one acres of well improved and valuable land.

The marriage of Mr. Saliers was celebrated on the 22d of February, 1866, when Miss Amanda Cole became his wife. She is a native daugh- ter of Reed township. Her parents, Harrison and Ann Eliza ( Phil- lips) Cole, claimed the state of New York as the place of their nativity. They were married there, and in 1834 came to Seneca county, Ohio, locat- ing a mile and a quarter west of Reedstown. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Saliers has been blessed with four children, namely: Fred A., a resi- dent of Tiffin, Ohio; Cora B., the wife of Charles Williams, of Deshler ; Nettie M., the wife of Charles Williams, of Reedtown; and Earl A., a teacher in the district schools and still a member of his parents' house- hold, being still in his minority, and he is a student at Heidelberg.

Mr. Saliers gives his political support to the Republican party, and on its ticket he has been elected to many positions of honor and trust. For one term, of three years, he served as a justice of the peace ; was the efficient township assessor for one term, having accomplished

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his task six days quicker than any other assessor has been able to do it, either before or since; was the postmaster of Reedtown for twelve years ; during the past thirty years has served much of the time as a member of the school board; and is now serving his fourth year as a notary public. He is one of the leading and active members of the Baptist church, in which he has long held the office of deacon, and in his social relations he is a member of Rice and Craiglow Post, No. 112, G. A. R.

THE MYERS BROTHERS.

In a publication which purports to touch upon the history of the men and forces whose contribution to the development and material prosperity of Seneca county has been of distinctive scope and import- ance, it is but consistent that more than passing attention be accorded to the Myers Brothers, publishers of the Seneca Advertiser and the Tiffin Daily Advertiser. They have been of marked service to their city, county and state through various avenues of usefulness, and the papers with whose publication they have been long and intimately identified have wielded a wide and beneficent influence in the local field, while the enterprise involved is one which can not be considered as other than a potent factor in connection with the industrial activities of this fa- vored section of the Buckeye commonwealth. We are thus gratified in being able to here enter individual sketches of the careers of these honored citizens and representative business men of the city of Tiffin.

JOHN M. MYERS, who has the editorial direction of the weekly and daily editions of the Advertiser, is a native of Maryland, having been born in the town of Clearspring, Washington county, on the 13th of September, 1838, the son of Michael and Anna E. (Wagner) Myers, the ancestors of both having been of stanch German stock, and the orig- inal American representatives having located in Franklin county, Penn- sylvania, in the colonial epoch of our national history. In the year 1856 Michael Myers, in company with his wife and their four sons and

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two daughters, came from Maryland to Seneca county, Ohio, and here the parents passed the remainder of their lives, the father having been a contractor and builder by vocation. He was a man of sterling charac- ter and became one of the highly esteemed citizens of this county, mak- ing his home in Tiffin, where he died in the year 1891, at the age of eighty-one years. His wife passed away in 1876, aged sixty-four years.

John M. Myers had received his early educational discipline in the public schools of Maryland, and there also he had initiated his identifica- tion with the "art preservative of all arts," by serving an apprentice- ship at the printer's trade. In February, 1860, he became a compositor in the office of the Seneca Advertiser, and three years later, in Janu- ary, 1863, we find him installed as editor and publisher of this pioneer newspaper of Tiffin. In 1867 he became associated with his brother, E. Shelby, in the purchasing of a half interest in the enterprise, and in 1878 the third brother, E. Bruce Myers, became a partner also. The brothers continued to be thus associated in the conducting of the busi- ness until April, 1884, when they disposed of a two-thirds interest to L. A. Brunner and J. W. Geiger. During their connection with the Advertiser the Myers brothers had developed the undertaking in all of its departments, and had one of the best equipped newspaper offices in the state, while their energy and well directed efforts have insured a large and profitable business. In 1888, after the death of Mr. Brun- ner, the Myers brothers repurchased the plant and business of the Ad- vertiser, the daily edition of which had been established two years pre- viously. About 1890 they erected their present building, the entire plant being simultaneously enlarged and otherwise improved, while at the pres- ent time the equipment throughout is of the most modern and metro- politan type, including the latest designs in power presses and involving the operation of the linotype typesetting machine, of which one has been installed. The demands of the business are such, however, that at the time of this writing ( May, 1902) the brothers have in course of erection an addition to their building, and through this the floor space and ac- commodations will be doubled. The building as thus remodeled will be forty by ninety feet in lateral dimensions, and two stories and a

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basement in height. The plant includes a well equipped bindery for pamphlet work, and the job department has the best of facilities for turn- ing out all classes of work in the highest form of the printer's art and on short notice. New presses have been installed and the investment in the plant now reaches an aggregate of many thousand dollars. All machinery is operated by electric motors, each machine having its own individual motor. In connection with the publication of the papers a corps of twenty-two capable workmen is retained.

The brothers of whom we write have been associated in various other enterprises which have conserved the normal advancement and ma- terial prosperity of the city and county, and John M. has always been considered the head of the firm, whose policies have been regulated with marked discrimination and ability, the brothers being duly conservative and counseling together on all matters of importance. A fair view of pub- lic questions, clearly presented, will do more to form the general opinion of any community than any other one agency, and the Myers brothers have been potent factors in shaping pubic opinion, both in the matter of politics and in all pertaining to the well-being of the community, of whose interests they have made the papers able exponents. Their in- fluence has been exerted in support of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, but they have neither sought nor desired official prefer- ment for themselves. In 1879 they became associated with four other citizens of Tiffin in the purchase of the Ohio Stove Works, this part- nership obtaining until January, 1882, while in 1893 the works of the concern were removed from Tiffin to a point in Illinois. In January, 1882, the original partnership was abrogated by the organization of a stock company, which' was duly incorporated, and of the same Mr. Myers has been secretary and treasurer from the time of organization. He is associated with his brothers in the operation of an extensive cattle ranch in New Mexico.

In the year 1871 was solemnized the marriage of John M. Myers to Miss Lurena A. Frees, daughter of Wesley B. Frees, of Tiffin.

E. SHELBY MYERS was born in Clearspring, Washington county, Maryland, on the 18th of December, 1840, and is now actively asso-

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ciated with his brothers in their business enterprises, being also a stock- holder in and a member of the directorate of the Citizens' National Bank, in Tiffin. In 1870 he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Haas, daughter of John R. Haas, one of the founders of the Tiffin Agricult- ural Works.

E. BRUCE MYERS, who is business manager of the Seneca Adver- tiser and the Daily Advertiser, is likewise a native of Clearspring, Mary- land, where he was born on the Ist of February, 1851. He has prac- tically passed his entire life in Seneca county, having been a lad of five years at the time when the family removed to this section from Mary- land. In 1879 he was united in marriage to Miss Ella M. Cunning- ham, daughter of George W. Cunningham, a well-known miller and grain dealer of Tiffin. Mr. and Mrs. Myers have two daughters,- Bessie and Marie.

LEON B. MYERS, who is foreman of the news office of the Adver- tiser, both weekly and daily, was born in Maryland, in 1855, and was thus an infant in arms at the time his parents made the long trip from his native state to become pioneers of Seneca county, where he was reared and educated. In 1880 he was married to Miss Rebecca Mc- Donald, daughter of Major McDonald, of Bucyrus, this state, and they have two daughters.

In conclusion it certainly will not be malapropos to enter a brief resume of the history of the newspaper business which the Myers broth- ers have developed to an enterprise of so great importance. On the 4th of August, 1832, the Seneca Patriot was founded by J. H. Brown, the primitive hand press utilized having been one which was brought across the mountains about the year 1800, by James Colerick, and in 1816 it was in use at Mount Vernon, Ohio. The hebdomadal Patriot became defunct, and in 1834 Alonzo Rawson published in Tiffin the Independent Chronicle and the Seneca Advertiser. On the 6th of May. 1842, John G. Breslin appeared as publisher of the Seneca Advertiser. having purchased the office of the VanBurenite, which had developed from the earlier paper. In 1854 this well-known and honored citizen was elected to the office of state treasurer, and in the following year

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W. W. Armstrong assumed editorial charge of the Advertiser, of which he became sole proprietor in 1857. He, too, was called to distinguished public office, having served as secretary of state in 1862-3. John M. Myers and Lewis Beilharz leased the office at this time and the former became sole lessee in 1864, since which time the history of the enter- prise has already been a matter of record in this article. It may be further stated, however, that the Seneca Advertiser is issued on Thurs- day of each week, in the form of a six-column quarto, and that the Daily Advertiser, a seven-column folio, is issued each evening except Sunday, and is to be considered as unmistakably one of the brightest, cleanest and most attractive dailies issued in any of the smaller cities of the state.

IRVIN N. REX.

Irvin N. Rex, the efficient and popular county clerk, is numbered among the enterprising young men of Seneca county. He was born in Seneca township, January 8, 1871, and is a son of Jeremiah Rex. He spent his boyhood days in Tiffin and acquired his early education in the public schools. When eleven years of age he had a severe attack of rheumatism, which left him crippled in the right leg. After complet- ing the work in the common schools he entered Heidelberg College, where he continued his studies until twenty-one years of age, when he entered the office of the judge of the probate court, Judge J. C. Royer, as his deputy, and continued in that position until elected to his present position. In: 1896 he was chosen, by popular ballot, county clerk, and assumed his duties in August, 1897. In 1900 he was re-elected by a much larger majority than was given him the first term, showing that the people's confidence in his ability and fidelity was strengthened by capable service. He is a most loyal and trustworthy official and well deserves high encomiums from his fellow townsmen.

On the 13th of December, 1899, Mr. Rex was united in marriage to Miss Blanche E. Wentz, of Tiffin, a daughter of James H. Wentz,

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and they have a pleasant and hospitable home, whose social functions are greatly enjoyed by their many friends. Mr. Rex is identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in this place and in his po- litical views he is a stanch Democrat. He is one of the popular young men of the town, and has a wide acquaintance here, for he has spent his entire life in the county and much of it in Tiffin, where his official duties bring him into contact with many.

NICHOLAS PORTZ.

Among the most successful business men of Fostoria is numbered Nicholas Portz, who is engaged in real-estate dealing and is also a manufacturer of pipe fittings, carrying on the latter business under the name of the Fostoria Novelty Company. He is one of the native sons of Fostoria and has contributed in large measure to its upbuilding and progress. His birth here occurred in 1839. Two years previously his father, John Portz, had located here. The latter was a native of Merzig, in Rhenish Prussia, Germany, and after taking up his abode in Fostoria, he engaged in the manufacture of wagons until his death, which occurred in 1873, when he was sixty-seven years of age. He married Miss Mary Magdalena Bohna, also a native of Merzig, Ger- many, and her death occurred when she was forty-one years of age. The children born unto this worthy couple were as follows: Mary Magdalena, who became the wife of John Zimmer, of Crown Point, Indiana, and died at St. Cloud, Minnesota; Catherine, the wife of John Bick, of Fostoria; Ann Maria, who is the widow of Joseph Haines, of Fostoria; Nicholas, of this review; George; John; and Eva, the wife of George Hoot, of Fostoria. George and John were both soldiers of the Civil war. The former became a member of the Fifty-fifth Ohio Infantry and died at Chattanooga, while the latter was a member of the Fifty-seventh Ohio Infantry. He was the youngest soldier that went through the war, being only twelve years of age when he enlisted. He was then quite small for his years, but he carried a musket from the

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start and bore uncomplainingly all the hardships and trials of military life, dispaying valor equal to that of many older men. For two months he was at Andersonville prison and he was with Sherman on the cele- brated march to the sea. He now resides in Fostoria, and he has every reason to be proud of his military career.

In the schools of Fostoria Nicholas Portz, of this review, pur- sued his education, and he entered upon his business career as an en- ploye of C. W. Foster & Son. This was in 1851, when he was only twelve years of age. He became a clerk in the store and served in that capacity until the firm of Foster, Olmsted & Company was organized, the partners being ex-Governor Foster, Charles Olmsted and our sub- ject. The company was formed in 1863 and carried on general mer- chandising, doing a business which has never been exceeded or equaled in Fostoria. Their average annual sales amounted to two hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. The firm carried on business until 1867, when Mr. Portz and Governor Foster became the owners of the hard- ware department, carrying on that enterprise under the firm name of N. Portz & Company until 1892, covering a period of a quarter of a century. At that time our subject assumed the management of the plant of the Brass & Iron Works Company, of Fostoria, which was owned by himself and Governor Foster. It had been established in 1850 by Edward Bement and in 1860 became the property of Governor Foster, while in 1883 it passed into the ownership of Foster & Portz. Sixty men were employed. More than two hundred thousand dollars were invested, and the industry became one of the most important in the town. In 1893, however, business was suspended, but at the present time the plant is operated by the Schwab Safe Manufacturing Company, of Fos- toria. Mr. Portz was largely instrumental in securing the building of the Nickel Plate Railroad to Fostoria, in 1883. He personally assumed the financial obligations, in order to have the road extended from Ar- cadia to this place instead of through Tiffin, as had been previously planned by the railroad company. This obligation involved thirty thou- sand dollars and later was supplanted by another arrangement. For thirty-five years Mr. Portz was associated in business with Mr. Foster,

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A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio, Part 4

Author: Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 864

Author:
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 864