USA > Ohio > Seneca County > A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio > Part 44
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In 1867 the Doctor retired to the old Kagy homestead, in Eden township, and to this he has since added until he now has a fine landed estate of two hundred and twenty-five acres. He has made this his home for many years, and save for intervals when official or business duties demanded his residence elsewhere, has continuously given his personal supervision to the cultivation of the farm and to the raising of a high- grade of live stock, having been very successful in both departments of his farming enterprise. The Doctor is one of the county's most pro- gressive and public-spirited citizens, and he has so ordered his life as to command unequivocal confidence and esteem in the county where he has passed practically his entire life.
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On the 29th of March, 1849, Dr. Kagy was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Taylor Martin, who was born in Perry county, Ohio, being the daughter of Samuel S. and Mary (McCormick) Martin. Three children have been born of this union, namely: Samuel T., who died in infancy ; Mary C., who is the wife of Thomas J. Frazier, of Zanesville; . and Hannah S., who is the wife of Dr. James S. Haly, of Napoleon, Ohio.
JOHN W. SPRAGGINS.
John W. Spraggins, general superintendent of the National Ma- chinery Company, of Tiffin, Ohio, was born in Cambridgeshire, Eng- land, January 30, 1861. When eight years old he accompanied his par- ents, Isaac and Mary Ann. (Granger) Spraggins, to America. In Eng- land the elder Mr. Spraggins was employed as a gamekeeper, but after locating in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1868, he became connected with the firm of Scofield & Wilson, which firm were the pioneers in the business which has developed into the gigantic corporation now known as the Standard Oil Company. Mr. Spraggins was a faithful employe and a hard-work- ing man until his death, which took place at the age of forty-nine years.
The mother of Mr. Spraggins, of this sketch, died at the age of fifty years, as the result of a street-car accident. The children who sur- vived infancy were as follows: Anna, who died early; John W., who is the subject of this biography; Alice, who married William Farrel, of Shelby, Ohio; Isaac, who is a boiler-maker for the Standard Oil Com- pany in Cleveland; Nellie, living at Camden, New Jersey ; and Anna, who is the wife of John Little, a resident of Cleveland, who has an in- terest in the Shelby Tube Works.
The school life of our subject closed at the age of nine years, when he had mastered the mysteries of the Third Reader. Although but a lad his growing needs had to be supplied by his own labor, and he accepted a position in a brick-yard in Cleveland, remaining there until he was made a messenger boy in the service of the Standard Oil Company. His
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father was long an employe, and was the inventor of the steam still now in use by this company. The youth continued in this situation for sev- eral years and then became a clerk in a shoe store in Cleveland, all the time gaining a firmer hold on the respect and in the esteem of those with whom he was associated. In 1878 he entered upon an apprentice- ship in Cleveland in the trade of machinist, and remained three years, becoming a skilled workman, his capacity and general character causing his engagement with the National Machinery Company when it removed its plant from Cleveland to Tiffin. This was on January 12, 1883, the business then being one of small proportions, but before the roof was on the new factory the confidence of his employers was shown to Mr. Spraggins by his selection by them as foreman, which position he most efficiently filled for the succeeding six years. In 1895 he was made general superintendent, and has filled this responsible position ever since.
The National Machinery Company is a large industrial plant, its capitalization being three hundred thousand dollars, and its force of workmen reaching some two hundred and sixty skilled mechanics, its output being shipped all over the United States and Europe. This business is the manufacturing of machinery for the making of wire nails, nuts and bolts and special machinery, the volume of trade having increased since its location in Tiffin to a wonderful extent.
Mr. Spraggins has followed the fortunes of this company from the bottom and much of its success must be regarded as a result of his efficient superintendence. In marked degree he possesses just the quali- ties required in such a position, and he enjoys not only the confidence and esteem of his employers but also the respect and obedience of those under his supervision.
On January 19, 1882, Mr. Spraggins was united in marriage to Miss Isabella McCoy, of Cleveland, and a family of three children has been born to them, namely: Charles A., who learned the machinist trade, and who has just finished a business course in Heidelberg Uni- versity ; and Linnie and William H., Jr., both of whom are at home.
In his political sympathies Mr. Spraggins has long been an active
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member of the Republican party and has many friends in its ranks, although he has not consented to hold office. Fraternally his connec- tion is with the B. P. O. E., Lodge No. 94, of Tiffin; Pickwick Lodge, No. 175, Knights of Pythias; Uniform Rank, No. 50; the Knights of the Maccabees, and the United Workmen. His family are attendants of the Presbyterian church of this city, where they are held in esteem.
It can not be otherwise than inspiring to consider a career like that of Mr. Spraggins and to note its results and rewards. His early en- vironment was shorn of almost every worldly advantage, but through sheer force of character he has surmounted the innumerable obstacles in his path and has won prominence and competency and the respect and affection of a large ircle of friends.
FREDERICK L. SMELTZ.
As a representative of one of the pioneer families of Seneca county and as one who has here passed his entire life, it is certainly consistent that we enter in this work a review of the career of Mr. Smeltz, who has long been identified with the agricultural and stock-growing inter- ests of the county, having a fine estate in Venice township and being honored as one of its representative men. He is a native of the town- ship in which he now maintains his home, having been born on the old pioneer homestead on the 17th of July, 1852, the son of Martin and Christianna (Lebold) Smeltz, who became the parents of ten children, of whom five survive, namely : Conrad, a resident of Venice township ; Franklin, whose home is in Caldwell county, Missouri; Frederick L., the subject of this sketch; Maria, the wife of John West, of Bloomville, and Sophia, the wife of Levi Hillis, of the old homestead.
Martin Smeltz was a native of Darmstadt, Germany, and was a son of Peter Smeltz, who emigrated thence to Pennsylvania when Mar- tin was a lad of seven years. Peter Smeltz afterward removed to Car- roll county, Ohio, where he became a pioneer farmer and where he
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passed the remainder of his life. Martin Smeltz, father of our subject, came to Seneca county while still a single man and here entered claim to a tract of three hundred and sixty acres of heavily timbered land in Venice township. Here he erected a log cabin and made ready to bring his family to the new home. Before starting on his return journey to Carroll county he placed his cooking utensils beneath the split-plank floor of his little cabin, and while on his way he encountered a family named Delaney, to whom he gave information as to the point where he had erected his house, and the family were given permission to occupy the same during the winter. Mr. Smieltz returned with his wife, whom he had married in Tuscarawas county in the meantime, and here he de- veloped a good farm, becoming one of the honored and successful farm- ers of this section. His wife died about the year 1855, and he sub- sequently married a Miss Mary Lenhardt, there being no issue of this union. Martin Smeltz lived to attain the venerable age of seventy-two years, his death occurring in Caroline in the year 1880.
Frederick L. Smeltz, to whom this sketch is dedicated, was reared on the parental homestead and received such educational advantages as were afforded in the public schools maintained in this locality in the days of his youth, while he early began to lend his assistance in the work of the farm. At the age of eighteen years he assumed charge of the home place and there continued to make his home for several years farther. He was married in the fall of 1878 and about a year later he removed to his present home farm at Caroline, which was then owned by his father-in-law and which he purchased in 1884. In 1880 he purchased a tract of eighty acres adjoining this farm, opposite his present home. In 1897 Mr. Smeltz purchased fifty-three acres contiguous on the south, and in addition to this his wife owns about eighty acres additional ia the township, so that the aggregate area of the landed estate is two hundred and forty acres. For the last few years our subject has been to a large degree retired from the active work of the farm, having his land cultivated by others on shares. He has one of the finest and most modern farm residences in the county, erected in 1880-1, and the family home is a center of generous hospitality. He is held in the highest
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esteem in his native county and is known as an able business man and as one whose probity is above question. Mr. Smeltz fully appreciates the charms and broadening influence of travel, and has visited nearly all the states of the Union. In politics he gives his allegiance to the Republican party, taking a lively interest in all that concerns the general welfare of the community and lending his aid and influence for all worthy objects. His religious faith is that of the Protestant Methodist church, of which his wife and children are devoted adherents.
On the Ist of October, 1878, Mr. Smeltz was united in marriage to Miss Christianna M. Lebold, who was born in Venice township, the daughter of Frederick and Rachel (Mckibben) Lebold, one of the in- fluential pioneer citizens of this locality, where he was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits until the time of his death, at sixty-eight. Frederick Lebold was born in Wittemberg, Germany, a son of Conrad and Chris- tianna (Eichenhofer) Lebold, and when one year old was brought to Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and at thirteen to Venice township, Seneca county. He was married at twenty-seven to Rachel Mckibben, who was born in Pennsylvania and brought to Seneca county when four years old, and who is still living at the old home at Caroline, aged sev- enty-three. Mrs. Smeltz was the only child to reach maturity and she. was born and reared' in this vicinity.
Our subject and his wife have two children,-Lawson F. and Inez A.,-both being popular young people and taking an active part in the social affairs of the community where they have been reared and educated.
WILLIAM CRAMER.
Honored and respected by all, William Cramer was for many years identified with the agricultural interests of Seneca county, Ohio, but he is now living retired at his pleasant home in Fostoria. He was born in York county, Pennsylvania, March 30, 1831, a son of John and Cath- erine (Sloat) Cramer. His father, also a native of that county, was
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born on the 25th of September, 1794. He was there married, and all of his children were born in the Keystone state. About 1836 he came with his family to Seneca county, Ohio, locating in Loudon township, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on the present site of the Cramer sawmill. There he also erected a sawmill, which was conducted by water power until about 1840, but it was in operation only about three months during the year. In this locality Mr. Cramer passed to his final reward on the 29th of June, 1859. Unto this worthy couple were born ten children, eight of whom still survive, namely : Daniel, who now makes his home with our subject ; Henry, a resident of Fostoria ; John, of Van Wert, Ohio; Emanuel, a resident of Ionia county, Michigan ; Adam, also of Fostoria; William, of this review; Sophia, the widow of Peter Wickerham and a resident of Big Spring township, Seneca county ; and Sarah, the wife of Augustus Elliott, of Ionia county, Michigan. Three of the children have now reached the eightieth mile- stone on the journey of life, and the youngest has passed the age of sixty- five years.
William Cramer, our subject, was reared amid the refining inflflu- ences of a cultured home, and the educational privileges which he enjoyed in his youth were those afforded by the common schools. At the age of twenty-four years and in company with his brother Daniel, he erected a steam sawmill on the site of his father's old mill, the latter having fallen into decay, but this property was destroyed by fire in 1860, and in the same year, in company with his brother-in-law, Morgan Snyder, Mr. Cramer erected the fine mill property which is still standing. After his father's death he acquired eighty acres of the old homestead, which he conducted in connection with his milling business, and for many years he also operated a threshing machine. In 1894, however, he sold his possessions to his son Daniel H., and removed to the village of Fostoria, where he is now living a retired life, enjoying the fruits of former toil.
On the 19th of October, 1856, Mr. Cramer was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte Snyder, a native of Mahoning county, Ohio, and the daughter of Abraham and Susannah (Smith) Snyder. The latter diedl of typhoid fever at Nashville, Tennessee, July 23, 1864, while nobly serv-
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ing his country in the Civil war. This union has been blessed with ten children, nine of whom are still living: Daniel H. ; William A., a travel- ing salesman of Fostoria ; Jennie, the wife of Isaac Stultz, of Jackson township, Seneca county; Morgan E., a member of the Fostoria fire department ; John J., an electrician of Fostoria; Nettie A., the wife of John Hazen, also of Fostoria ; Anna S., the wife of Edward Seeman, of Dunkirk, Indiana; Allie A., a saleslady ; and Fred V., also an electrician, at home.
The Republican party receives Mr. Cramer's hearty support and co-operation, and for one term he has served as a justice of the peace. His religious preference is indicated by his connection with the Meth- odist Episcopal church, of which he is an honored and esteemed mem- ber and for many years has served as its class-leader. Throughout his business career he was emphatically a man of enterprise, positive char- acter, indomitable energy and liberal views, and is thoroughly identified in feeling with the growth and prosperity of the county which has so long been his home.
DANIEL WILLIAMS.
How rapidly time is thinning the ranks of the brave boys in blue who went forth in defense of the nation's integrity during the dark and stormy epoch of the Civil war is evident to even the superficial observer, and the silvered heads of those who appear in the ranks of the veterans at the various encampments of the Grand Army of the Republic show whither the line of march is tending. The younger generation may well look in admiration and honor upon these valiant sons of the republic who saved to the world a grand and united country, and though time has thrown its beneficent influence over the story of the great conflict and the animosities of the past have been softened and chastened, yet never can there be aught but appreciation of the services of the men who followed the stars and stripes on the sanguinary battle fields of the south. One of the honored veterans of the war of the Rebellion is the subject of this
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brief tribute, whose home has been in Seneca county during the entire period of his life and who is to-day numbered among the successful farmers of this section of the state.
Mr. Williams was born on a farm in Jackson township, this county, on the Ist of May, 1842, being one of the eight children of John and Barbara Williams and one of the five who are living at the present time. Three of the sons went forth in defense of the Union during the war of the Rebellion, and one of the number sacrificed his life on the altar of his country. John Williams, who is now a resident of Michigan, was in the one hundred days' service, and David, who was a member of Company E, Forty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, enlisted at the age of eighteen years and was so seriously wounded in the battle of Stone River that he died from his injuries, passing away at Murfreesboro, Ten- nessee. The subject of this sketch was reared on the old homestead, securing his early educational training in the district schools, and he was but twenty years of age when he took up arms in defense of an imperiled Union, enlisting on the 13th of September. 1862, as a private in Com- pany E, Forty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, of which his brother David was a member, as has been noted. The first engagement of importance in which our subject took part was that at Stone River, and thereafter he was an active participant in many of the most memorable conflicts incidental to the great struggle for the perpetuation of the Union, including the battles of Liberty Gap, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, the Atlanta campaign in its entireity, the battle of Nashville and the engagement at Pickett's Mills, where it is evident that he was in the thick of the fray, since sixteen bullets passed through his clothes. Mr. Williams rendered valiant service and remained in the ranks until victory crowned the Union arms, being honorably discharged in June, 1865, and being mustered out at Nashville. General Rosecrans established a roll of honor of those soldiers who had become distinguished, and Private Daniel Williams was one of two named from Company E, and was dis- tinguished by wearing a special ribbon. After the demoralization of the forces during the battle of Stone River but six privates of his com-
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pany stacked arms that night. His action led his superiors to select him for this special honor.
After his discharge Mr. Williams returned to Jackson township and resumed his identification with agriculture. He has made this town- ship his home during his entire life and he took up his residence on his present well improved farm in 1893, having ninety acres and devoting his attention to general farming. He is highly honored in the community, is a Republican in his political proclivities and keeps in touch with his old comrades in arms by retaining membership in the Grand Army of the Republic, being affiliated with Norris Post, at Fostoria, of which he is a popular member. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Epis- copal church, of which both he and his wife are devoted adherents.
On the 24th of January, 1867, Mr. Williams was united in mar- riage to Miss Elizabeth Smith, who was born in Stark county, the daugh- ter of Philip Smith, and they became the parents of four children, namely : Martha E., the widow of Ernest M. Solomon and now residing with her parents ; she has one son, Hubert L .; Myrtie A. became the wife of Daniel Fell and died in this county at the age of twenty-six years; Ella is the wife of Frank Harrison, of Jackson township, and has two sons,-Roy W. and Ralph ; and John, the youngest of our subject's chil- dren, is associated with his father in the operation of the farm.
CHARLES R. LONG.
Charles R. Long, the leading liveryman of Fostoria, was born in Hancock county, Ohio, February 14, 1872, a son of John W. and Mar- garet (Ricketts) Long. The father also was born in that county, in 1851. His mother died when he was a child and he was afterward reared in the home of John Ricketts. When twenty years of age he was united in marriage to Margaret Ricketts, the niece of John Ricketts, also a native of the same county, and after their marriage they purchased a forty-acre tract and engaged in farming. In 1876 he removed to Dun-
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kırk, Hardin county, Ohio, where he embarked in the livery business and also engaged in the sale of buggies, thus continuing until 1895, and during that time he was very successful, having sold over fifteen hundred buggies in that village alone. In the latter year he engaged in the same line of trade in Findlay, but in 1901 he sold his livery busi- ness and has since given his attention to the supervision of his farm of four hundred and twenty-eight acres in Hardin county, though residing in Findlay. He gives his political support to the Republican party, and in his social relations is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Long was blessed with nine children, six now living, namely: Charles R., the subject of this review; James, engaged in the livery business in Findlay; Harvey, in the same line of trade in Napoleon, this state; Raleigh, who is engaged in business with his brother James in Findlay; Robert, who is in the employ with our subject ; and Hazel, at home.
Charles R. Long is indebted to the common schools of his native locality for the educational privileges which he enjoyed in his early youth, and afterward he became a student in the Ohio Normal University at Ada, Ohio. From 1895 until 1896 he was engaged in the livery business with his father, but in that year the latter sold his interest to George Rummel, which relationship was maintained through the suc- ceeding year, Mr. Long then selling his interest in order to remove to Rising Sun and engage in the same line of trade. For two years he was actively identified with the business interests of that city, but desir- ing a broader field for his operations he then, in 1899, took up his abode in Carey, conducting a successful livery business in that city until Sep- tember, 1901. That month witnessed his arrival in Fostoria, where he soon afterward purchased the interests of Russell E. Smith, one of the oldest and best known liverymen in this locality. He has a thoroughly equipped livery establishment, keeping twenty-five of the best roadsters, with a full complement of buggies, surreys, coaches, etc. Mr. Long has attained prominence in the business circles of Seneca county, while in private life no man in the community has more friends than lie, which have been won and are being retained by his honorable methods and his
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outspoken devotion to the best interests of the community and his mental ability.
The marriage of our subject was celebrated on the 25th of August, 1897, when Miss Nellie Babcock, a native of Akron, Ohio, became his wife. They have two children,-Joe and Franklin. Mr. Long gives his political support to the Republican party, and his social connection is with Carey Lodge, No. 393, K. of P.
MELCHIOR STARCK.
This well known farmer of Seneca county, Ohio, whose home is in Liberty township, was born in Germany in 1827, and is a son of Melchior and Margaret Starck. Reared and educated in his native land, he at length determined to try his fortune in the new world, and in 1848 sailed for America. After a long and tedious voyage of fifty- seven days he landed in Quebec, and proceeded at once to Seneca county, Ohio. He located in Liberty township, on the farm where he has since lived with the exception of five years. On coming to this country he was accompanied by his parents, but the father died about five months after his arrival here. In his family were six children, of whom our subject is the oldest.
In the midst of the forest Mr. Starck cleared and improved a farm, and built thereon a log cabin with a huge fireplace at one end. In this primitive home several years were pleasantly passed, but it has long since been replaced by a more commodious and pretentious brick dwell- ing. In his home farm he now has one hundred and sixty acres, and also owns another tract of eighty acres, making in all two hundred and forty acres, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation. He is a thorough and skillful farmer and in his labors has met with most excellent success
During the dark days of the Civil war Mr. Starck entered the service of his adopted country, enlisting in June, 1864, as a private in Company
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C, One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and remained at the front until hostilities ceased, repeatedly taking part in skirmishes and battles, including Winchester, Cedar Creek and Peters- burg, where he was wounded. receiving a bullet through his leg. Polit- ically he is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party and its principles, and religiously is a communicant of Liberty Catholic church. He is widely and favorably known in the community where he has so long made his home, and well merits the high regard in which he is uniformly hield.
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