USA > Ohio > Seneca County > A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio > Part 46
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George H. Park and his brother, thus deprived of a mother's care, went to live with Jacob Fleck, by whom they were reared, our subject remaining in his family until he had attained the age of twenty-two years, at which time he was married and went to a home of his own. At the age of eighteen he had begun working at the carpenter's trade and followed that pursuit for nine years, becoming a proficient builder.
On the 6th of January, 1881, Mr. Park was joined in wedlock to Miss Ida Bunn, and unto them have been born three children,-Alverda
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A., Lawrence C. and Minnie M.,-all yet at home. In 1886 Mr. Park removed to the farm upon which he now resides and which has since been continuously his home. Here he owns eighty acres and he also has another tract of eighty acres, all in Liberty township. He carries on general farming and stock-raising and has made most of the improve- ments upon his place. There are good buildings, well tilled fields, fine grades of stock and all modern accessories and equipments, and the farm is a very attractive and desirable country seat.
While he has led a busy life, devoting the greater part of his atten- tion to the operation of his land, Mr. Park has yet found time to faith- fully perform all duties of citizenship. He gives his political allegiance to the Republican party, which he has supported since age gave to him the right of franchise. He never falters in his allegiance to its prin- ciples and he keeps well informed on the issues of the day, thus being able to support his position by intelligent argument. He has served as a trustee of Liberty township for six years, and his long continuance in , the position indicates his faithfulness to the duties devolving upon him. His religious faith is shown by his membership in, and work in behalf of, the Evangelical church, in which he has served as steward for twenty years. No trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed, and his loyalty to truth and the right is among his strongest characteristics. He has spent his entire life in this county, and the fact that many of his warm- est friends are numbered among those who have known him from boy- hood is proof that his entire life has been straightforward and hon- orable.
ISAAC ROYER.
Isaac Royer is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Seneca county, and is now actively identified with agricultural pursuits, being accounted a practical and progressive farmer of Thompson town- ship. He was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, on the Ist of Jan- uary, 1820, and is a son of John and Mary M. (Romig) Royer, in whose fimi'y were twelve children, six sons and six daughters. Of this num-
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ber eleven reached mature years and those still living are Isaac, of this review ; Kate, the widow of James Fisher, of Michigan ; John, a resident of Sterling, Kansas; Neriah, who lives in St. Louis, Missouri; Lydia, who married John Matz, of Thompson township, who has passed away ; Marion, of Thompson township; and Jared, also of this township. Those who have passed away were Sarah, Annie, Samuel, Betsey and Mar- garet.
Deciding to establish his home in the Buckeye state, John Royer, the father of our subject, severed the business ties which bound him to Pennsylvania and with his family moved to Summit county, Ohio, where he remained for three years. He afterward spent a similar period in Wayne county, and in the year 1828 came with his family to Seneca county, taking up his abode in Thompson township, where he entered four hundred and eighty acres of land, constituting the farm upon which his son Jared now resides. He was the third man from Pennsylvania to settle in Thompson township, the forerunner of many others. The Seneca Indians were still here at the time of the arrival of the family, and the chief of the tribe and his squaw had been sheltered for the . night in the cabin home which belonged to the Royer family. The father of our subject erected a log house after the primitive manner of the times. It contained but one room, was covered with a slab roof and had a puncheon floor. When a number of years had passed, however, this pioneer dwelling was replaced by a more commodious and modern home. John Royer gave his time and attention to clearing, developing and improving his land and there carried on farming until his death, which occurred in the eighty-eighth year of his age. It was through his efforts that the Royer ditch in Thompson township was made, thus reclaiming land which now constitutes some of the finest farms in this section of the state. Mr. Royer also aided in building the first log church for the Reformed denomination in Thompson township, and for many years he served as a trustee and elder in his church. He was an important factor in all movements which led to the substantial develop- ment and improvement of the county in an early date, and his name should be placed on the roll of honored pioneers of Seneca county.
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Isaac Royer was but an infant when his parents left the Keystone state, and was a lad of only eight summers when they came to Seneca county. Here he was reared upon the old family homestead, remaining there until 1843. During that time he attended the public schools, but his training at farm work was not nearly as meager as the mental instruc- tion which he received. He early became familiar with the work of the fields and his practical experience in that direction enabled him to carry on farming on his own account with excellent success.
In the year 1843 Mr. Royer was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Stitler, a daughter of Henry Stitler, and unto them were born three children,-Elizabeth, John and Mary,-but all are now deceased, the mother having passed away in 1847. In 1849 Mr. Royer was again married, his second union being with Miss Julia A. Fridley, who was born in Seneca county, New York, in 1826, a daughter of Louis Fridley, who came to Venice township in 1838. Ten children have graced this marriage, of whom four are yet living : Mary, the wife of Edward Fobel, of Thompson township; Amanda R., the wife of Thomas Wolfe, also of this township; Sarah, who married Thomas Higgins and is living in Bellevue, Ohio; and Malinda, the wife of William Sears, of Bellevue. Those who have passed away are Benjamin F., Neriah, John J. and Josephine, twins, and two who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Royer now have eight grandchildren.
In 1849 this worthy couple removed to the farm upon which they now reside, and Mr. Royer here owns two hundred acres of valuable "land, while in another tract he has eighty acres. He cleared most of his land himself and all of the improvements upon the place are an indica- tion of his enterprise and business ability, while the substantial buildings stand as monuments to his labor and resolute purpose. His attention has always been given to agricultural pursuits, and as the years have passed the well tilled fields have returned to him golden harvests, from the sale of which he has realized a handsome income.
During the greater part of his life Mr. Royer has held membership in the Reformed church, to which his wife also belongs, and for many years he has been a deacon and elder in the church. He contributes
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liberally to its support and has used his aid and influence for the upbuild- ing and advancement of the cause of Christianity, while in his life he has exemplified his Christin faith. His political views are in harmony with the principles of the Democracy, but he has never had the time nor desire to seek office. He has the honor of being a resident of Thompson township the longest of all, seventy-four years having passed since he arrived here. Great changes has he witnessed through this period. He has seen the passing of the Indians and has watched the forest give way to rich and fertile fields, while the work of progress and improvement has been carried on in all lines which lead to business prosperity and substantial development. He has taken great pride in what has been accomplished in the county and has ever borne his part in the work of improvement. He relates many interesting incidents of these pioneer times, when people lived in log cabins and followed a path through the forest in order to visit neighbors. But true hospitality existed in those days and many pleasant hours were spent in the homes of neighbors, who perchance lived many miles away. There was much hard work to be done in clearing and improving farms, but as the years passed the labors were requited by abundant returns, and like others Mr. Royer has secured a comfortable competence through his enterprising efforts.
DAVID HOLMES.
It is but in justice due that in this volume should be accorded a tribute to the memory of one who was identified with the civic and indus- trial life of Seneca county in so prominent a way as was Mr. Holmes, whose abilities and unswerving integrity in all the relations of life gained to him unlimited esteem from all with whom he came in contact. Super- added to this, the memoir is the more consistent from the fact that he was a native son of the county and here passed his entire life, attaining marked success and becoming one of the representative and influential men of this section of the state.
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David Holmes was born on a farm in Venice township, Seneca county, Ohio, on the 12th of May, 1843, and here his death occurred on the 7th of February, 1898. His parents, John and Sabina ( Hillis) Holmes, had a family of eight children, of whom four survive at the present time, namely : Amos, who is a resident of Michigan; Rebecca, the wife of Lafayette Palmeter, is a resident of the state of Missouri; Sarah, the wife of Benjamin Slough, of Michigan; and John, who resides in Attica. The subject of this memoir was reared on the old homestead farm and received a common-school education, and as a young nan served an apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade, to which he de- voted his attention for a time, though agricultural pursuits constituted his vocation during by far the greater part of his independent business career, and through the medium of the same he achieved a high degree of prosperity. Mr. Holmes became the owner of two hundred and fifty acres of land in Huron county, Ohio, and also acquired the controlling interest in the old parental homestead of two hundred and twenty-six acres, the latter having been divided among the heirs subsequently to his death. Mr. Holmes was a man of a high order of mentality, was espe- cially progressive and discriminating in the management of his business affairs and was one who had a deep and abiding interest in all that made for the general prosperity and advancement of the community in which he lived and in which he was honored by all who knew him. In his political proclivities he was found stanchly arrayed in support of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, and for nine years he was incumbent of the responsible office of trustee of Venice township, and he also gave the benefit of his influence and marked executive ability in promoting educational interests in the county, having been for a num- ber of years a member of the board of school directors of his district. Mr. Holmes was one of those prominently concerned in the grange movement, and he gave his best efforts in the cause of this fraternal organization, through which he felt that much could be accomplished for the intellectual and material advancement of the agricultural com- munity. He was called upon to serve as master of Venice Grange,
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Patrons of Husbandry, in his township, and was one of the active and influential members of the order in the county and state.
On the 21st of January, 1893, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Holmes to Mrs. Isabella (Philhower) Sheely, the widow of Andrew Sheely. She was born in the state of New Jersey, as was also her father, Elias Philhower, who became a resident of Seneca county, Ohio, in the early '70s, and here passed the remainder of his life. Of the three children of Mrs. Holmes' first marriage two survive, namely: Mary, who is the wife of Jacob Heintz, of Crawford county ; and Francis A., a successful agriculturist of Seneca county. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes became the parents of three children,-Esther Sabina, Sarah Almeda and Oliver Wendall. Since her husband's death Mrs. Holmes has continued to reside on the homestead, which is one of the best improved and most attractive in this section of the county, and she has shown marked judg- ment and executive ability in the management of the farm and other business interests, and as a woman of gracious presence and true refine- ment she has gained a wide circle of friends in the community, and her home is a center of cordial hospitality.
ISAAC FEASEL.
It is an indication of the opportunities and advantages which Sen- eca county affords to her citizens that so many of her native sons still reside within her borders having no inclination to seek homes elsewhere. A representative of this class is Isaac Feasel, who is a resident of Lib- erty township and who was born in this township on the 26th of Au- gust, 1836, his parents being George and Jane (Anderson) Feasel, the former a native of Virginia. Unto this worthy couple were born eleven children, namely : Mary A .. Jacob, John and Margaret, who have passed away; Elizabeth, now residing in Henry county; Lucinda, de- ceased ; Isaac, our subject ; Andrew, who lives in Missouri : George, who has also passed away : Sarah, the wife of John Armstrong, a resident of
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Illinois ; and Rebecca, the widow of John Lynch. The family has long been identified with Seneca county and its representatives have ever borne their part in the work of public advancement and improvement.
It was in 1821 that George Feasel, who was then twenty years of age, arrived in Seneca county, making the journey by team, moving a family to this place. He then returned to Franklin county, Ohio, where he had previously located, making his home there almost before Colum- bus was established, the city then being but a hamlet containing a few pioneer homes. Mr. Feasel, however, was pleased with the appearance and prospects of Seneca county and in 1829, accompanied by his wife and four children, he returned to this locality and entered from the government a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres in Liberty township. There in the midst of the forest he erected a log cabin con- taining but one room and in primitive pioneer style the family began life in this portion of the state. Indolence and idleness were utterly foreign to his nature and his resolution and energy enabled him to carry on the work of improving his land until the richly cultivated fields re- turned to him golden harvests. He continued his farm operations throughout his active business career and lived upon the old homestead until his death, which occurred in 1886. His wife passed away at the age of eighty-four years. They were members of the United Brethren church and were people of the highest respectability. The father aided in laying out roads, in organizing schools and in promoting improve- ment in many lines of progress. Associated with other pioneers he made possible the present prosperity and progress of the county, and well does he deserve mention in a history of the leading and representa- tive men of Seneca county from early days down to the present.
It was upon the old family homestead that Isaac Feasel first opened his eyes to the light of day, and in Liberty township he was reared, early becoming familiar with the arduous tasks of developing a new farm in the midst of the forest. Trees had to be cut and the land pre- pared for cultivation before a return could be gained for labor. In company with his brother John he would take jobs of clearing new land, clearing about forty acres each season and receiving three to five
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dollars per acre for the heaviest timber, and so continued for about seven years, making several hundred acres that he assisted in clearing. He became very expert in the use of the ax.
He was the first man in the township to begin the use of tile in draining his land, and was yet three thousand five hundred dollars in debt when he bought his first tile, against the prediction of many friends, including his wife, that it would not pay. He persisted and in three years had paid his debts, not owing a dollar. The crops produced were nearly doubled and land that it was said' would not yield enough for his bread has never failed to produce excellent crops.
Mr. Feasel worked with his father until twenty-seven years of age, when he made preparation for a home of his own by his marriage to Catherine Good. Unto them have been born eight children: Orlando, a resident of Liberty township; Rosetta, at home; Jacob and Della, twins, the latter the wife of Franklin Hall; Sarah J., the wife of Charles Lightner; Lydia, who married J. F. Early; and John, who died in in- fancy.
After his marriage Mr. Feasel purchased eighty acres of wild land and his first home was also a pioneer log cabin, containing but one room. After two years he removed to the farm upon which he now resides and which has been his home for thirty-five years. It was then but partially improved, but with characteristic energy he began its further development and soon well tilled fields returned to him good harvests. At the time of the Civil war he put aside all personal consideration and on the 27th of September, 1864, enlisted in the First Ohio Heavy Artillery, joining his regiment at Cleveland, Tennessee. He then served until the close of the war and was a loyal defender of the Union. For five months he was in the hospital at Knoxville, but ultimately re- covered his health. In his political views Mr. Feasel is independent, supporting the man whom he thinks best qualified for office, regardless of party affiliations. He has never been an aspirant for office. as his farming interests have claimed his entire attention. He now owns one hundred and sixty-five acres of good land, and no better improvements can be found in the township than are upon his place. He has an at-
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tractive residence, substantial barns and outbuildings and the latest in- proved machinery. There are over fifteen miles of tiling on his farni and he successfully engages in the cultivation of the crops best adapted to this climate and in stock-raising, both branches of his business re- turning to him a good income. His business methods have ever been commendable and have gained to him the high regard of all with whom he has been associated.
JOHN PANKHURST.
The life history of him whose name heads this sketch is closely identified with the history of Seneca county, which has been his home throughout his entire life, and since attaining to years of maturity he has been closely allied with its interests and upbuilding. His life has been one of untiring activity and has been crowned with a high and well merited degree of success.
Mr. Pankhurst was born in Jackson township, Seneca county, on the 25th of November, 1852, a son of Jeremiah and Lucy A. ( Mc- Doughel) Pankhurst. The father was born in the far-off country of England, in 1809, and when nineteen years of age he crossed the At- lantic to the new world, landing in this country with but twenty-five cents in his pocket, a stranger in a strange land, and this amount he paid to a girl to direct him to a place where he could obtain employ- ment. In an early day he took up his abode in Seneca county. Ohio, settling in Loudon township, but later came to Jackson township, and became the owner of six hundred acres of land. He was a Republi- can in his political views and religiously was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. Pankhurst became the parents of thir- teen children, only seven of whom are now living, namely: Daniel. who makes his home in Sandusky county, Ohio; Peter, of Fostoria ; John, the subject of this review; Amanda, the wife of Robert Bigham, of Jackson township; Wesley, of Fostoria; and Celinda E. and Lucinda A., twins, the former the wife of James R. Chilcote, of Jackson town- ship.
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John Pankhurst, of this review, grew to years of maturity on his parents' homestead farm, and the educational advantages which he ac- quired in his youth were those afforded by the common schools of his neighborhood. After his marriage he located on one hundred and twenty acres of land in Jackson township, this tract having been inherited by his wife from her father, and at that time it was covered with timber. Mr. Pankhurst at once began the arduous task of clearing the land, living in a log cabin which stood thereon. Four years later, however, he sold the property and purchased his present home place, which consists of one hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land, and there he is extensively engaged in general farming. By persistent energy and the display of considerable foresight he has succeeded in his chosen line of endeavor, and he is now the owner of one of the most valuable and highly cultivated homesteads in the county.
November 16, 1871, when but nineteen years of age, Mr. Pank- hurst was united in marriage to Miss Marietta Trumbo, a daughter of Enoch Trumbo, an account of whose life will be found in the history of Phiny Trumbo in this volume. Three children have been born unto this union, but only two are now living,-Charles T., who is attend- ing the Western Reserve Medical College, of Cleveland, Ohio, and Irvin, at home. The eldest, a daughter, died in infancy. The Republi- can party receives Mr. Pankhurst's hearty support and co-operation, and for one term he served as the trustee of his township. At the present time he is serving as a member of the school board. In his social re- lations he is a member of Fostoria Lodge, No. 86, K. of P., and also of the Uniformed Rank, No. 59. He is of a social disposition, cour- teous and genial in manner, and throughout the county in which his entire life has been passed he has a host of warm friends.
GEORGE WHITMAN.
An enterprising and progressive farmer and honored citizen of Venice township is George Whitman, who has spent his entire life in the Buckeye state, his birth occurring in Attica, on the IIth of Decem-
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ber, 1857. His parents were Michael and Barbara (Vogelsang) Whit- man, and they had seven children, three of whom now survive: Fannie, the wife of George Jordan, of Attica; Margaret, the wife of William Conrad, also of that city; and George, the subject of this review. The father was born in Germany, but when a young man he left his home across the sea and came to America. He was a wagon-maker by trade, and after his arrival in this country he located in Mansfield, Ohio, where he was married and soon afterward took up his abode in Attica, there opening a wagon-making shop. At the outbreak of the Civil war he put aside all personal considerations and nobly offered his services to his adopted country. At the battle of Gettysburg he received a mortal wound, and he died in a hospital at Evansville, Indiana. After his death the mother married Andrew Myers, by whom she had one child, Anna B., the widow of John Cunningham. Mr. Myers was also a wagon- maker by trade, and was working for Mr. Whitman at the time of the latter's enlistment for the war, and conducted the shop during his ab- sence.
George Whitman, the immediate subject of this review, was but a little lad of ten years when he was obliged to begin the active duties of life on his own account, and for a time thereafter he worked for various farmers in Seneca county, his educational advantages having been thus necessarily very limited. In 1877 he purchased an outfit and engaged in the huckstering business, thus continuing through the four succeeding years, and in 1881 he became an employe in the saloon of Adolph Hassler, where he remained for three years. Later for four years he conducted a place of his own, when the building and contents were destroyed by fire, and he then became the owner of a farm in Reed township, continuing as a tiller of the soil for the following three years. On the expiration of that period, however, he left the quiet duties of the farm and once more returned to Attica, where he erected a brick block and for seven years was the proprietor of a saloon. In the spring of 1899 he purchased the farm which he now owns, known as the George Ringle farm, and consisting of one hundred and ninety acres in the northeast corner of Venice township, where he has ever
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since made his home. He has placed his land under an excellent state of cultivation, and his fields annually return to their owner abundant harvests.
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