USA > Ohio > Seneca County > A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio > Part 51
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JOHN F. FRUTH.
Year has been added to year and decade to decade antil the aggre- gate of almost half a century has been attained since the time when the subject of this sketch came as a lad to Seneca county, of which his father was a pioneer, still living within its confines, as a venerable patriarch and as a man whose life has been such as to retain to him the high esteem of his fellow men. When the family took up their residence in Loudon township this section was still practically a frontier region, awaiting the awakening touch of the sturdy pioneers who would still further transform its wild lands into rich and productive farms and beautiful homes, establish villages, churches, schools and various com- mercial and industrial enterprises and thus continue the inceptive work of reclaiming the country for the uses and blessing of mankind. The natural advantages of this section attracted at an early day a superior class of settlers,-a thrifty, industrious, progressive and law-abiding
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people, whose influence has given permanent direction to the work of development and material advancement. Or this type was the father of our subject, who is one of the sturdy sons of the German fatherland who have taken up their abode in America to become an integral part of its social fabric and a valuable factor in conserving its normal and legiti- mate progress. The Fruth family is one peculiarly worthy of consider- ation in this work, touching Seneca county and its people.
John F. Fruth was born in the kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, on the 21st of May, 1853, being the son of Frank and Catherine (Fruth) Fruth, of collateral branches of one of the old and honored families of that section of the great German empire, where both were born, as were also their ten children, of whom only four survive, namely: Leonard, who makes his home with the subject of this review; Adam, a farmer of Scipio township; Catherine, the wife of A. Heinze, of Loudon town- ship; and John F., whose name appears at the head of this article. The father of our subject was born in Bavaria, on the 15th of September, 1813, and was there reared and educated and there learned the trade of baker, to which he continued to devote his attention in his native land for a number of years. He emigrated with his family to America in the spring of 1854, the subject of this review being at the time a child of about one year, and they located at a point about eight miles distant from the city of Cleveland, Ohio, where the father devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits about two years, his devoted wife having died only four weeks after the arrival of the family in the United States.
In 1856 Frank Fruth came with his children to Seneca county and settled in the township of Loudon, where he purchased a tract of one hundred and twenty acres of land, to whose reclamation he forthwith directed his attention, and here he has ever since maintained his honie, the old homestead farm being now owned by his son-in-law, Mr. Heinze, but being still the abiding place of the venerable father, now nearly ninety years of age, who receives from his children the deepest filial respect and solicitude. He has given his political support to the prin- ciples and policies of the Democratic party and his entire life has been
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one of sterling rectitude and honor, while his industry was unflagging until his advanced years necessitated his retirement from the active duties of business. He is a devoted member of the Lutheran church, with which his wife, who passed away so many years ago, was likewise identified.
John F. Fruth, to whom this sketch is dedicated, was reared on the old homestead and early began to lend his aid in the work of clearing and cultivating the same, while his educational privileges were such as were afforded in the primitive public schools of the period. His mar- riage occurred in the year 1873 and he then purchased forty acres of land in Loudon township, the same being in section 32, and in four years he traded this place in part payment for his present fine homestead, which comprises one hundred and sixty-six and a fraction acres. Here he has made excellent improvements, has brought the farm into the high- est state of cultivation, of diversified order, and has made it one of the attractive and valuable rural homes of this favored section of the Buck- eye commonwealth, where he has practically passed his entire life, which has been so directed as to retain to him at every stage in his career the high esteem of those with whom he has come in contact. Though he has never sought the honors of political office, Mr. Fruth has given a stanch support to the Democratic party and has shown at all times a deep interest in all that goes to further the general welfare of the com- munity. His religious connection is with the West Independent United Brethren church, of which Mrs. Fruth likewise is a member.
On June 22, 1873, Mr. Fruth was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary (Peter) Fruth, who was born in Loudon township, daughter of Jacob Peter, who removed from Germany to this county as a pioneer of the year 1833. At the age of eighteen years she had married Conrad Fruth, the brother of John F., and he died March 17, 1868, leaving two sons, John Henry Fruth, now a farmer of Hancock county, and Conrad, also of that county. They were both reared by their uncle and step- father, receiving such assistance as could be rendered when establish- ing homes of their own. Of the four children born to our subject and his estimable wife three are living at the present time: Jacob, a resi-
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dent of Hancock county, married Miss Lydia Mertz and has one son, Roswell R .; Millie remains at the parental home, as does also the , younger daughter, Catherine.
ALANSON S. OWEN.
Among the representative citizens of Seneca county, Ohio, few are. better known in Bloom township than is Alanson S. Owen, who has been an honored resident of this county for seventy years. Mr. Owen was born in Yates county, New York, on November 9, 1826, a son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Spooner) Owen, both families being promi- nent ones in Yates county. They reared in that state a family of seven children, the four survivors being as follows: Lewis R., who resides in Fairfax, Iowa; Charles, who lives in Eden township, Seneca county ; Mary, who is the wife of Lewis Blackman, and lives in Rock county,. Wisconsin; and Alanson S., who is the subject of this brief biography.
Nathaniel Owen, the father of our subject, was born in Orange. county, New York, in 1789, going in young manhood to Yates county, where he married and engaged in farming, remaining there until 1832. His attention had been called to the rich lands in Ohio which were await- ing settlers. The great canal system of that state was well under way, the spirit of progress was in the land, and with an idea of securing homes for his family of seven children, Mr. Owen decided to emigrate to the younger state. The journey was made in pioneer fashion and the new home was secured in Scipio township and was located two miles north of our subject's present home. Mr. Owen bought one hundred and ninety-three acres of land, for the sum of nine hundred dollars. Thirty acres of this tract had been partially cleared and the previous owner had built on it a house of hewed logs. This became the family residence and was thus occupied for almost fifteen years. Nathaniel Owen was a man of great physical strength and endurance, one who drove his work instead of permitting it to drive him, and this land soon became re -.
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munerative under his methods. As his children grew older he pur- chased additional land, consisting of four tracts of eighty acres each and another farm of forty acres, it always being his great desire to provide for his children. This good father was not permitted to reach old age,. although he had never known a day of sickness in his life prior to his. last illness. He died on September 14, 1847, being at that time aged fifty-eight years, eight months and fourteen days. Through life he. had been a consistent member of the Methodist church, filling its offices. and supporting it in a liberal manner.
The mother of our subject survived until 1882, her age at that time lacking but thirteen days of being ninety years. She was born December 6, 1791, in Yates county, New York. She was a woman of high Christian character, estimable in every way and one who met the demands made upon her with a kindness and forbearance which en- deared her to all who knew her.
Alanson S. Owen was but five years old when his parents settled in Seneca county, and in its subsequent development he has been an im- portant factor. As soon as his years permitted, he assisted in the clearing of the home farm, at the same time taking advantage of all educational advantages offered in this locality. At the age of nineteen years he began teaching the winter terms of school in his township, working through the summers on the farm, and four years were passed in this manner. Later three summers were spent in assisting his brother Lewis in his farming operations, on the share plan. Those were years. of happy industry, and under the combined efforts of Nathaniel Owen and these sons the lands owned by this family became noted for their evidences of cultivation and their abundant productiveness.
The marriage of Alanson S. Owen occurred on December 7, 1851 .. when he was united to Miss Lydia Slaughter, who was born in Yates county, New York, and became a resident of Seneca county, Ohio, in 1841, at which time her parents located here. Two children were born to this union : Myra B., who is deceased, was the wife of L. H. Hohe. and her only surviving child is Jean A., who is a lad of eleven years and who is living with his grandparents; and Eugene S., who is ex-
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county auditor and recorder and present county treasurer of Kidder county, North Dakota, residing at Steele.
Mr. Owen remained on his brother's farm after his marriage, working on the share plan, until 1855, when he purchased eighty acres of his present farm, and removed to his new home. In 1860 he en- tered three hundred and twenty acres of land in Gratiot county, Michi- gan, his deed bearing the signature of President Abraham Lincoln. He resided for four years on that newly acquired property, which his son now owns. Two years were passed in Sandusky county, Ohio, but the majority of his days have been spent in Seneca county, where he is widely known and much esteemed.
Mr. Owen has always been a member of the Republican party and has ever been its active supporter. He has been identified with the prosperity of this county and is a worthy representative of a family which has left an impress on its life,-a characteristic American family of the type that forms the back-bone of the country's greatness.
DAVID MYERS.
Among the well known and highly respected citizens and pros- perous farmers of Seneca county is David Myers, who as a practical .agriculturist has few superiors in this township.
The Myers family originated in Switzerland, from which country have come many of the hardy pioneers who have made the wilderness, in which they first settled in their new homes on this side of the Atlantic, blossom into productiveness and return wealth to their descendants. Among those who tired of the religious persecutions in his own coun- try was David Myers, a native of Switzerland, who settled, in its early days of occupancy, in Bloom township, choosing this location on account of its evident fertility and advantageous situation.
David Myers, the father of our subject, married Elizabeth Woolerd, and they became the parents of a family of nine children,-four sons and five daughters. Five of the family still survive.
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The first purchase of land made by David Myers was forty acres, which he entered from the government, his frugality and industry enab- ling him to add to his possessions until at the time of his death he owned an estate, in one tract, comprising one hundred and ninety-four acres. Mr. Myers was a hard-working man all his life, but his years extended to seventy-four, all of which had been usefully employed, his death occurring in 1881. The beloved mother of our subject survived until 1890, her death taking place at the age of seventy-four years. Both parents were beloved in the home and respected in the neighbor- hood. Their lives were circumscribed by the limits of this community, where they left to their children and neighbors records of quiet and worthy lives.
David Myers, who is the subject of this biography, was born on the old farm in Bloom township, the scene of his parents' early strug- gles. He received an excellent common-school education and has applied all his energies to the development of this farm. In connection with his father he cleared the additional purchases as they were made, and in his father's declining years he assumed full management. With Mr. Myers farming is not simply an occupation, his experience and knowl- edge have enabled him to enjoy it as a science. Nature has concealed few secrets from him; he thoroughly understands every branch of the business, the properties of the soil and its adaptation to the various veget- able growths, the horticultural possibilities of his land, and the econom- ical raising and feeding of stock.
The improvements which Mr. Myers has been continually engaged in making on his farm are substantial and of a permanent character, and render it both comfortable and attractive. As a general farmer his methods are considered excellent, his one hundred and ninety-four acres yielding crops which testify to his close attention to business as well as to the fertility of this part of Seneca county.
As a citizen David Myers enjoys the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens, many of whom have known him from his infancy. He has never taken any active part in political life, his home interests and employments proving more attractive. In the Independent Order of
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Odd Fellows, however, he has taken a deep interest, and he is one of the valued members of the lodge in Bloomville. In the peaceful fol- lowing of his vocation Mr. Myers has won the respect of all who know him, and also the solid comfort which is the just reward of duties faith- fully performed.
JOHN NEWCOMER.
In noting the prominent and successful agriculturists of Seneca county, Ohio, John Newcomer, who owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred and eight acres in Bloom township, deserves special men- tion. Not only has he demonstrated his practical knowledge of farming and stock-raising, but for a number of years he has also been a well known business man and is a public-spirited citizen.
Mr. Newcomer's native state is Ohio, and his birth occurred on March 3. 1836, in Medina county. His parents were Peter and Mary ( Rohrer) Newcomer, the former of whom was born in Washington county, Maryland, from which he moved into Medina county, Ohio, in 1833. There he purchased a tract of land, and there a log cabin was the family home for many years. Peter and Mary Newcomer had a family of nine children, their names being as follows: John, of this sketch ; Abraham, a resident of Medina; Margaret and Anna, twins, the latter being deceased: Jacob, of Medina county; Daniel, deceased; David, deceased; Henry, of Medina; and Mary. The parents of this family lived quiet, frugal lives and when they passed away left many friends who were sincere mourners.
Born and reared on a farm, John Newcomer, of this sketch, has followed an agricultural life with success, his early environment giving him a practical knowledge of this vocation. His education was acquired in the public schools, which he attended, with the sons of other farmers, during the winter sessions, the summers being usually given to work on the farm. In those days much of the labor which is now done by cunningly contrived machinery fell upon the youths, and hay time and
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harvest meant as much hard work for the school lads as for those who were older and stronger.
Perhaps this caused our subject to leave the farm for a short season and learn the carpenter trade, but he returned to farming life shortly afterward, employing the winter seasons in carpenter work. In 1861 Mr. Newcomer came to Seneca county and bought eighty acres of good land, in Bloom township, within one mile of Bloomville, living on that place for five years. Selling that place, he bought another tract of eighty acres, improved the same and cultivated it for ten years. He finally sold this farm also, and in 1876 he moved to his present farm, where he owns one hundred and eight acres of excellent land, which he has made into one of the best farms of this locality. The excellent and appropriate improvements on this place have been made by Mr. Newcomer, and they testify to his good judgment and practical char- acter. Here he has successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising, his land being well adapted to both industries. For the past fifteen years he has added another line of business, dealing extensively in fertilizers.
Mr. Newcomer was married on October 25, 1860, to Miss Susan Buckley, who was born May 18, 1840, in Bloom township, being a daugh- ter of George and Magdalena (Troxel) Buckley. A family of five children was born to this union, namely: Jerome L., who operates the home farm and is a capable agriculturist, married Millie M. Griffin and they have one child; Emily L. is the wife of Alvin Huddle, a druggist of Bloomville; Jennella is the wife of William Baldwin, an oil dealer of Bloomville ; Lillian M. is the wife of Harry Buckingham, a druggist of Bloomville; and Magdeline resides at the parental home. All of this family command the esteem of the communities in which they live, and are among the most intelligent residents. George Buckley was born in Berlin, Prussia, and at the age of thirteen years came to America with his parents, Michael and Barbara Buckley. They settled in Stark county, Ohio, and there he was married to Magdalena Troxel, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Troxel. Immediately after their marriage George and Magdalena Buckley came to Seneca county, locating in Bloom town-
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ship, where they passed the remainder of their lives. His death occurred in 18.42 at the age of thirty-seven years, while his widow survived him by more than fifty years, dying at the age of eighty-six. She had become the wife of Isaac Rohrer. Her five children by the first marriage were as follows: Elizabeth, the wife of Jacob Detweiler; Catherine, who died in her twenty-first year, unmarried; Michael, of Kosciusko county, Indiana : Susan, the wife of Mr. Buckley ; and Hannah, who is the widow of John Hahn and lives in Bloomville.
Mr. Newcomer is a Republican in his political views, and he has served efficiently in a number of the local offices, notably as township trustee. He has shown his interest in educational matters by serving for years on the school board, during which time his sensible and con- servative course did much to permanently improve this branch of the township's business. Both he and wife are members of the Mennonite church, holding association with the society in Medina county, and he is one of the honest and upright citizens of the class which has made Bloom township a leading section of the county.
STEPHEN A. SAUL.
The air of solid prosperity which attracts attention all over the state of Ohio is nowhere more apparent than in Seneca county, which stanchly upholds the state's reputation as a leader in valuable farms. Among those who have done good work in sustaining this supremacy is Stephen A. Saul, a highly esteemed resident and prosperous farmer of Bloom township.
Mr. Saul is essentially an Ohio product, his own birth, as well as that of his father and his grandfather, having occurred in this state. Stephen A. Saul was born on November 6, 1860, in Bloom township, Seneca county, on the farm now the property of Jacob Brodie. He is a son of Edward and Lavina ( Kagy) Saul, the former of whom was a son of Samuel Saul, who was born in Fairfield county, Ohio,
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in 1802. In 1825 Samuel Saul came to Seneca county and entered government land, living on his farm here until his death, at the age of eighty-six years. He was a well known and highly esteemed citizen and was serving as county commissioner at the time of the purchase of the county infirmary farm.
Edward Saul, the father of Stephen A., was born in 1826, in Eden township, soon after his parents' location in Seneca county. At the opening of the Miami reservation in Indiana Mr. Saul entered one hun- dred and sixty acres of government land, which he gave to his chil- dren and upon which his son, John K. Saul, now lives, in Howard county, Indiana. In 1857 he moved to the farm where our subject was born, this being the old home of his wife. Here he died in 1872, a man of prominence in his native county and the owner of land here and in Indiana. Lavina (Kagy) Saul, mother of our subject, is a daughter of Abraham Kagy, who resided in Bloom township, where she was born in 1832, and where she still lives, enjoying the tender ministrations of her attached relatives and many friends. A family of ten children was born to Edward and Lavina Saul, and eight of these still survive, as follows: Robert R. M., who is a resident of Lykens township, Crawford county; John K., who is a resident of Howard county, Indiana ; Isabella, who lives with her mother; Stephen A., who is the subject of this biography; Martha E., who is the wife of Alex Kingseed and who lives in Howard county, Indiana; Maria L., who is the wife of H. J. Weisenauer, of Howard county, Indiana; Eliza, who is the wife of H. J. Brodie, a resident of Bloom township; and Hannah, who married William Smeltzer, also of Howard county, Indiana. Those deceased bore the names of Lewis and George.
Although Mr. Saul, of this sketch, was reared on a farm, he enjoyed excellent educational advantages, supplementing the common-school course with a season in Bloomville and the Ada Normal school. At the age of nineteen he began to teach school, employing the winter seasons in this way for six terms, and giving excellent satisfaction, while he became popular and well known in that connection. The summers dur- ing this time were fully filled with farm work.
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Mr. Saul was married, on October 11, 1883, to Miss Susie Weis- enauer, and a bright and intelligent family of eight children have been born to them, namely: Mabel (who is a teacher in Bloom township), Jay O., Allen J., Mary, Arthur, Florence, Cora and Esther,-all living at home. Mr. Saul and his family lived on the old farm until 1888, when they moved to Howard county, Indiana, where they remained until 1893, at which time they returned to the present farm, where they have lived ever since. This farm, which was improved by Abraham Kagy, comprises two hundred and forty acres of as excellent land as is to be found in Bloom township. Mr. Saul owns a farm of eighty acres in Howard county, Indiana, and is still connected financially with some of its leading enterprises. During his residence there he was one of the organizers of the Howard Gas Company, and still retains a director- ship in it.
As a leading member of the Democratic party he exerts considerable influence, which, however, is never directed in the interests of political preferment for himself. As a farmer and stock-raiser he ranks very high in this county, and as a citizen he is regarded as a most worthy repre- sentative of one of the oldest and most honored of the county's families.
BENJAMIN F. MYERS.
Benjamin F. Myers, who during life was one of the esteemed teach- ers and prominent men of Tiffin, Ohio, was a descendant of one of the German pioneers of this state, his grandfather, Conrad Myers, coming hither from Pennsylvania, and settling in Mahoning county in 1796. Conrad Myers, the son of Conrad, married Leah Rauch, who was born in Pennsylvania, and in 1845 removed to Seneca county, settling on a farm in Jackson township. They had a family of five sons and four daughters, one of the sons being the subject of this biography.
Benjamin F. Myers was born May 2, 1833, in Mahoning county, Ohio. His early education was acquired in the primitive district schools,
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and as early as the age of sixteen years he began teaching, a profession which he followed for upward of thirty-seven years with signal success. Ambitious and energetic, he soon found a way to become a student in Heidelberg University, at Tiffin, where he entered the scientific depart- ment, becoming one of the most ambitious and determined students in his class. After leaving college he immediately resumed teaching, first in the district schools, but, as his ability became known, rising to the principalship of one of the most important schools in the city of Tiffin. For twenty years Mr. Myers was assistant superintendent of the city schools, and he became favorably known in all educational work, both in the city and county. For a period of thirty-seven years Mr. Myers was a leading educator, his scholarly attainments giving him promi- nence in higher educational circles, while his pleasing personality and thorough comprehension of the trend of educational life made his services of incalculable value. Particularly was he known as a member of the board of county school examiners, a position which he filled with credit for twenty years.
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