USA > Ohio > Seneca County > A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio > Part 45
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HON. AMOS DECKER.
Amos Decker was born in Thompson township, Seneca county, on the old Decker homestead which he now owns, his natal day being the IIth of November, 1839. His father, Jacob Decker, was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, in 1809, and was a son of John Decker, who emigrated with his family to Wayne county, Ohio, taking up his abode there in 1816. He entered a tract of land from the government and in 1830 came to Seneca county, establishing his home in Thompson township, where he again secured government land. This is now the property of Henry Luce. He married Julia A. Royer and in the pio- neer style of the times they began their domestic life. As the years passed Mr. Decker accumulated considerable land and he also entered from the government the quarter-section upon which our subject was born. He died in his sixty-fourth year and the community mourned the loss of one of its representative and valuable citizens, for he had taken an active and helpful part in many measures for the general good. He aided in organizing the schools of Thompson township, was an active worker in the Reformed church and co-operated earnestly in every move- ment which he believed would advance the general welfare and progress of his county.
Under the paternal roof Jacob Decker, the father of our subject, spent his boyhood days. His educational privileges were quite meager,
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both because his services were needed in clearing and developing his father's farm and because of the primitive condition of the schools at that time. He was only seven years of age when with his parents he came to Ohio, and thus amid the wild scenes of the frontier he was reared. In 1828 he began working at the carpenter's trade, which he followed for three years, and was then married, in 1831, after which he lived for one year on the old homestead. He then removed to the farm upon which the birth of Amos Decker occurred, and made that place his home until 1868, when he took up his abode upon an adjoining farm, remaining there for two years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Bellevue, where his remaining days were passed, his death occurring on the 7th of November, 1896, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-seven years. He married Miss Susan Billman, and they became the parents of six children, namely: Barbara, the wife of Joseph Sherck, of Bellevue; John, who is living near Brinkley, Arkan- sas, where he owns and operates a ranch ; David, who is a farmer and veterinary surgeon of Oklahoma ; Amos, of this review ; Milton, of Belle- vue ; and Jefferson, who died in infancy. In public affairs Hon. Jacob Decker was quite prominent. He served for two terms as county com- missioner and in 1849 was elected a representative of his district in the state legislature. Again he was called to that position, defeating Will- iam H. Gibson, one of the most prominent and influential residents of Seneca county. He was an active member of the general assembly of Ohio and to each question which came up for consideration he gave earnest thought and attention, fearlessly supporting the measures which he believed to be right, and with equal ardor opposing those which he believed would work to the detriment of his county and state. He voted with the Democracy and it was on the ticket of that party that he was elected to office.
Amos Decker, who was born and reared on the old family home- stead, entered the district schools at the usual age and afterward became a student in the Republic Academy under Professor Aaron Schuyler, the noted mathematician. When twenty-one years of age he took charge of the old home farm and throughout his entire life has been engaged
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in agricultural pursuits. As a companion and helpmate for the journey of life he chose Miss Lucy Paine, a daughter of Hon. John W. Paine and a granddaughter of John Paine, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Adams township, Seneca county. It was in that township that Mr. and Mrs. Paine married, and in 1865 they removed to Thompson town- ship to the farm upon which Christian Woleslagle now resides. Mr. Paine served as notary public and also held the office of justice of the peace in Adams township. He was an attorney at law and his knowl- edge of the principles of jurisprudence enabled him to discharge his duties as justice with excellent ability. He was called to represent his district in the state legislature, serving during the sessions of 1856-7 and succeeding Jacob Decker. For a second term he was elected and held the office in 1860-61. He left the impress of his individuality upon the legislation enacted during those periods and widely was he recognized as one of the most prominent and honored residents of his community.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Decker was celebrated October 20, 1864, and afterward he took charge of the old home farm. In 1866 he purchased a part of this, becoming owner of one hundred and eighty acres. He made his home thereon for nine years and then came to the farm upon which he now resides. Many excellent improvements has he placed upon his property. He has here sixty-seven acres, but his landed possessions aggregate three hundred and twenty-seven acres, in Thompson township. He carries on general farming and stock-rais- ing, having for many years purchased and sold stock in connection with his farm operations. In 1887 he became connected with the grain trade in Bellevue, where he remained for three years, associated with Mr. Gardner for two years of that time and afterward with his father, Jacob Decker. He next formed a partnership with Mr. Sherck, to whom he subsequently sold his interest. In all his business undertakings his effores have been characterized by enterprise, sound judgment and executive ability. He carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes and his labors have been crowned with a high degree of success.
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Decker have been born fourteen children: Emma, the wife of J. D. Royer, of Thompson township; Clara, the wife of S. F. Royer, a brother of Judge J. C. Royer, of Tiffin; Susie, the wife of E. E. Elliott, of York township, Sandusky county; Mary, who was engaged in teaching for several years and is living with her parents; Charles A., who makes his home in Thompson township; Mattie V., who for three years has been engaged in teaching ; Myra, Harry W., Ralph and Ross, all of whom are now under the parental roof; Irvin J. and Sarah, who passed away in infancy, as well as an infant not named; and Nelson, who died at the age of thirteen years.
Mr. Decker has for many years been recognized as a leader of public thought and opinion in his locality. In 1880 he was chosen to represent his district in the legislature, and by re-election served for two consecutive terms. He was an active and honored member of that body, served on a number of important committees, and to the best of his ability-and that ability is of no inferior order-he labored for the interest of his constituents and for the welfare of the commonwealth. He has also served in a number of local offices, for many years being a member of the school board, part of that time as its president. For four years he was township clerk and in 1890 was chosen justice of the peace, in which capacity he served until 1900. On two different occasions he was land appraiser. He has been a member of the central committee of the Democratic party and is generally found as a delegate to the principal party conventions. He is justly accorded a place among the prominent and representative citizens of Seneca county, for he belongs to that class of men whose enterprising spirit is used not alone for their own benefit. Mr. Decker is widely and favorably known throughout the state, his abilities well fitting him for leadership in political, business and social life. The terms progress and patriotism might be considered the keynote of his character, for throughout his career he has labored for the improvement of every line of busines or public interest with which he has been associated, and at all times has been actuated by a fidelity to his country and her welfare.
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ANTON SCHERGER.
Though no land is richer in opportunities or offers greater advant- ages to its citizens than America, success is not to be obtained through desire, but must be persistently sought. In America "labor is king," and the man who resolutely sets to work to accomplish a given purpose is certain of success if he has but the qualities of perseverance, untiring energy and practical common sense. Anton Scherger is one whose career excites the admiration and gains the respect of all, for through his diligence and persistent purpose he has won a leading place in agri- cultural circles in Seneca county, where he has made his home since the age of eight years.
Mr. Scherger was born in Germany April 15, 1837, a son of Anthony and Josephine Scherger, in whose family were three sons, our subject being the eldest. Constantine is now engaged in the marble business in Delphos, Ohio, and John Dolphus is a blacksmith at the same place. It was about 1844 that the father determined to seek a home in the new world, for, having heard favorable reports of the opportunities here offered, he believed that he might improve his financial condition in America. Accompanied by his wife and children, he took passage on a sailing vessel and on reaching the western shore of the Atlantic pro- ceeded across the country to Cincinnati, where he remained for about a year. He then came to Seneca county and purchased forty acres of land in Liberty township, for which he paid two hundred dollars. There was a log cabin containing one room upon the place and the trees had been cut down on a five-acre tract, but the brush had not been cleared. Mr. Scherger at once began the further development of the place and soon the monarchs of the forest fell before his sturdy strokes. As acre after acre was cleared he cultivated his fields, and in course of time golden harvests rewarded his labors. He continued to engage in agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred when he was seventy-three years of age. His wife survived him only a short period and then she, too, passed away. They were members of the Catholic church and were numbered among the worthy German citizens of Seneca county who have
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contributed in a large measure to the substantial improvement of this portion of the state.
Anton Scherger spent the first seven years of his life in the father- land and then accompanied his parents on the long voyage across the Atlantic. He was a youth of eight when the family arrived in Liberty township and he contributed his full share to the arduous task of devel- oping the home farm. The public schools afforded him his educational opportunities and through the winter months he pursued his studies, working in field and meadow in the summer seasons. On attaining his majority he began farming on his own account, taking charge of the old home place, which he has improved and operated until the present time. Here he has five hundred acres of valuable land, and he has elsewhere three other farms, so that his realty holdings aggregate eight hundred and sixty acres, constituting a very valuable and desirable property. His attention is given to general farming and stock-raising and in both branches of his business he is meeting with creditable success. All of the splendid improvements upon his place are monuments to his enterprise, industry and economy, and to-day his is one of the best equipped farms in this portion of Ohio. In 1889 he erected his beautiful nine-room residence, which is built of brick and has a slate roof. He has also built commodious and substantial barns and outbuildings and has a model country seat.
Mr. Scherger was united in marriage April 25, 1857, to Miss Dor- othy Albert, and unto them have been born ten children: Lawrence; Annie ; John, deceased at thirty-six ; Michael ; Theresa ; Henry ; Andrew ; Joseph, Mary and Frank. Annie is the wife of Martin Hammer, of Jack- son township; Therese is the wife of Joseph Burns, of Loudon township: and Mary is the widow of Stephen Hartenstine and resides with her parents. She has one child, Frank Alfred.
The parents and their children are communicants of St. Andrew's Catholic church, and in his political affiliations Mr. Scherger is a Dem- ocrat, who warmly endorses the principles of the party which he believes most conducive to good government. During all the years of his resi- (lence in Seneca county he has given his support to measures for the
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general welfare and has always been accounted one of the most pro- gressive and practical farmers since he became identified with agricult- ural interests. Careful management, good business ability and honesty in trade transactions have brought to him the high degree of success which he now enjoys.
JACOB COOK.
Jacob Cook is numbered among Ohio's native sons, his birth having occurred in Richland county on the 6th of November, 1826. He was born and reared upon a farm and continued there to reside until twenty- one years of age, when he went to Sandusky county and was employed as a farm hand for ten dollars and a half per month. He spent a year there and on the expiration of that period came to Seneca county, where he was employed in the same capacity until 1852, when, attracted by the discovery of gold in California and hoping to acquire a competence more rapidly than was possible to do by engaging in farm work, he started for the Pacific coast by way of the overland route. He traveled by team, riding over eighteen hundred miles upon a mule. It was upon the 15th of March when he started and it was not until the last of July that he reached his destination. The journey was long and wearisome, leading over the hot stretches of sand and other deserts, through the mountain passes and through regions inhabited by Indians, but at length Mr. Cook safely reached California and entered the mining regions on the middle fork of the American river. He afterward went to Hang- town, making that journey in order to get provisions, and he carried forty dollars' worth of flour upon his shoulder back to the camp. In the succeeding spring he went to Frenchtown, where he and a partner purchased a wagon and blacksmith shop, this being located at Shingle Springs. The first day the work which they did brought them in an income of one hundred and twenty-five dollars. Mr. Cook continued in that business for three years, meeting with excellent success, his services being in constant demand. He then sold his shop and returned
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home. He had saved three thousand dollars, but this he intrusted to the keeping of friends and lost all except sixty dollars. Having to begin business life anew, he then purchased a team and followed freighting over the mountains, driving eight and sometimes ten teams of mules to Virginia City, Silver City and other mining camps. He was one of the first teamsters to drive eight and ten-mule teams and the trips which he made covered from forty to one hundred and eighty miles .- He received excellent prices for his services, hauling one load for which he was given nine hundred and sixty-five dollars. It took him about a month to make a trip, for the roads were often very poor, as little travel had been done in the far west up to that time. For ten years Mr. Cook engaged in teaming. At one time he could have sold his eight-mule team for five thousand dollars, but he refused the offer. On the last trip which he made he had two wagons coupled together and carried twenty-five thou- sand pounds of freight. On selling out his business in that line he pur- chased a livery stable in Sacramento, California, and continued in that business for one year. He often received from forty to one hundred and twenty-five dollars per day as rental for his teams, but when a year had elapsed he sold out, clearing about one thousand dollars on his stable.
Wishing to return to Ohio, Mr. Cook disposed of his business inter- ests in the far west and once more took up his abode in Thompson town- ship, Seneca county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, making his home thereon for three years. He afterward lived for seven years in Flatrock village, and when that period had elapsed he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land where he now resides in Thompson township. To-day his landed possessions comprise one hun- dred and ten acres, constituting a rich and valuable farm, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and supplied with all modern equipments and improvements.
Mr. Cook was united in marriage to Miss Mary Tomey, and they have four children living,-John, Otto, Ina and Lee. The daughter is the wife of George Bowersocks, and the sons are still at home. Fromn his boyhood days Mr. Cook has held membership in the Evangelical 'chtirch, with which he is still identified, and his Christian principles have
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guided his life. His history, if written in detail, would form many an exciting as well as interesting story, for he lived in California at the time when there was no effective government organization, when the miners were largely a law unto themselves, and then the desperadoes often took matters into their own hands until the law-abiding citizens were aroused and established the vigilance committees. Mr. Cook knows what it is to endure all the hardships of life in a mining com- munity far from civilization. He has enjoyed, too, the pleasures of a quiet home life in his native state, and in Seneca county he has many friends who esteem him highly for his sterling worth.
OTHO A. BUNN.
Otho A. Bunn was born upon the farm where he now lives on the 30th of July, 1866, and is a son of John R. Bunn. The family is well known in Seneca county, having been established here at an early day. The father of our subject was united in marriage to Amanda Bower and they became the parents of four children: Samuel, who died in infancy; Ida, the wife of G. H. Park, a farmer of Liberty township; Otho A., whose name introduces this review; and Martha, who died at the age of six. The father was at one time a resident of Wyandot county, Ohio, and on leaving that locality came to Seneca county, settling in Liberty township on land which had been entered from the government by his father, David Bunn. On coming to this county he had secured" a claim of one hundred and sixty acres and it has since been a possession of the family, being now the home of our subject. David began the making of the farm and died here. John R. Bunn continued to carry on agricultural pursuits on this farm up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1888, when he was seventy-two years of age. His widow still survives him and is yet living on the old homestead at the age of seventy-three years.
The Bunn farm is dear to our subject, not only because it is the
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residence of his later years but also on account of childhood associations. He pursued his education in the common schools, mastering the branches of English learning usually taught in such institutions. During the sum- mer months, when school was not in session, he assisted in the work of the farm, and when twenty-two years of age he took charge of the old home place and has since worked it. He now owns ninety-seven acres of the land and is carrying on general farming. Everything about the place is indicative of the supervision of a practical and progressive owner who keeps in touch with modern improvement.
On the 21st of February, 1893, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Bunn and Miss Ellen Stuckey, a daughter of Philip and Mary Ann (Rosenberger) Stuckey. They now have two interesting children,- Russell and Dora. Mr. and Mrs. Bunn are widely and favorably known in the county and enjoy the warm regard of many friends. He is a Republican in his political views, but has never taken an active interest in political work, preferring to give his undivided attention to his busi- ness, whereby he is winning a comfortable competence. As many of his warmest friends are numbered among those who have known him from boyhood days it is an indication that his career has been straightfor- ward and honorable.
ELI KERN.
Among the native sons of Seneca county is numbered Eli Kern, who for more than sixty years has lived in this portion of the state. He was born upon the farm which is yet his home, in Thompson town- ship, his natal day being August 21, 1839. His parents were Anthony and Sophia ( Eberhardt ) Kern, who resided in Union county, Pennsyi- vania. They became the parents of ten children, five sons and five daughters, of whom eight are now living. It was in the year 1830 that Anthony Kern left the Keystone state and emigrated westward to what was then the frontier of Ohio, taking up his abode upon the farm in Seneca county which is now the home of his son Eli. His father, Peter
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Kern, had entered land from the government. It was covered with a heavy growth of timber through which the sunlight could hardly pene- trate to the ground beneath, but Mr. Kern was a man of resolute spirit and strong determination and at once began the task of clearing the land and transforming it into richly cultivated fields. It was arduous work, but in course of time it was accomplished and his labors were rewarded with rich and abundant harvests which enabled him to enjoy many of the comforts of life. He continued to reside here throughout his remain- ing days, passing away at the advanced age of seventy-seven years. His wife had been called to her final rest four years before.
It was upon the old family homestead here that Eli Kern was born and reared. At the usual age he entered school, walking to a little log school-house in which instruction was given after the primitive manner of the times. Like most farmer boys, his summer months were spent in the fields, where he assisted in the plowing, planting and harvest- ing, gaining a practical training which enabled him to carry on farm work on his own account successfully at a later day.
In 1876 Mr. Kern was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Bruner, and unto them were born three children, Elsie, Elva and Elma. The second daughter is the wife of John Drohen. After his marriage Mr. Kern removed to the village of Lodi, where he conducted a sawmill for a year, but finding that farm work was more congenial he returned to the old homestead. After three years he purchased and conducted a thresh- ing machine, making that his business through a long period. When his father died he returned to the old home place, which is now his property. It comprises eighty acres of land and in addition he owns and cultivates another farm of one hundred acres in Thompson town- ship. In addition to the raising of the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate he is also engaged in stock-raising, and upon his place are high grades of horses, cattle and hogs. In his business undertakings he is industrious, indefatigable and straightforward, and his efforts have been crowned with a creditable measure of success. His political support is given the Democracy, and his religious faith is that of the Lutheran church, in which he has long held membership. From pioneer days down
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to the present he has been an honorable and honored citizen of Seneca county, and though his life has been quietly passed it has ever been char- acterized by the faithful performance of duty and is therefore well worthy of emulation.
GEORGE H. PARK.
George H. Park is a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of Seneca county. When the greater part of this county was in its primitive condition, when its lands were wild and unclaimed, when its streams were unbridged, its forests uncut and when the work of progress and improvement was a thing of the future, the Park family was founded here by George Park, the grandfather of our subject, and since that time different members of the family have contributed in large measure to the general improvement and substantial advancement which have brought about the present prosperity. The grandfather con- ducted a hotel in Tiffin-the first one there-and entertained the pioneer settlers who traveled to this region. His son, Peter D. Park, the father of our subject, was the first white male child born in the city of Tiffin, and amid the wild scenes of the frontier he was reared. When he had reached adult age he sought a companion and helpmate for the journey of life and wedded Sarah Heming. They became the parents of three children : George H .; Sarah M., who died in childhood; and Charles L., a resident of Liberty township. The mother died when her eldest child was only eight years of age.
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