USA > Ohio > Seneca County > A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio > Part 59
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HARMON H. COOK.
The life history of him whose name introduces this review is closely identified with the history of Seneca county, which has been his home for many years. His business career was begun in this county, and through- out the years which have since come and gone he has been closely allied with its interests and upbuilding. His life has been one of untiring activity and has been crowned with a degree of success attained by com- paratively few. He is of the highest type of business men, and none more than he deserves a fitting recognition among those whose enter- prise and abilities have enabled them to climb to the topmost round of the ladder.
Harmon H. Cook was born in Prussia, Germany, January 14, 1849, a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Determan) Cook. The name was orig- inally spelled Koch, but the present generation have adopted the English spelling of Cook. The father was also born in Prussia, his birth occur- ring in 1820, and he was there reared and married. While residing in his native land he was principally engaged in the manufacture of wooden shoes.
In 1854, with his wife and four children, he left his little home across the sea and came to America, locating in Adams township, Sen- eca county, Ohio. He was then in poor circumstances, and was enabled to make the journey here only through the assistance of his wife's broth- ers,-John H. and Harmon Determan, who were among the earliest pioneers of Adams township. There the father of our subject worked by the day at clearing land and at whatever honorable occupation pre- sented itself, and from his savings he was soon enabled to purchase one hundred and thirty acres of land. This he was able to free from all indebtedness in a few years, and as the years passed by he added to his
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possessions until he owned five hundred acres of well improved and val- uable land. His life's labors were ended in death in 1894, at the age of seventy-two years. His wife's brothers, John H. and Harmon Deter- man, both began life in this country poor boys, and they, too, became wealthy. The sons and grandsons of these are all now well situated in life, and thus the Cook and Determan families are influential ones in this portion of the state. Henry Cook was a stanch Democrat in his political views and was an active worker in the Reformed church. His wife survived his death but two weeks, when she, too, passed away, dying at the age of sixty-eight years. This worthy couple became the parents of nine children, all of whom still survive, namely: Catherine, the wife of Melchior Kechly, of Nebraska; Harmon H., the subject of this review; Henry, a prominent farmer of Reed township; Frederick, who makes his home in Scipio township; Louis, also of that township; Eliza, the wife of Wilson Cole, of Reed township; John, a prominent agriculturist of Scipio township; Anna, the wife of Robert Stroub, also of Scipio township; and Daniel, of Thompson township, Seneca county.
Harmon H. Cook is indebted to the common schools of the neigh- borhood for the educational advantages which he enjoyed, but these, however, were extremely limited, as he was the eldest son of the family and much of the burden of the farm work fell on his young shoulders. At the age of twenty-one years he left his parents' home and began the active battle of life for himself, working as a farm hand for the follow- ing two years. He then continued agricultural pursuits as a renter, and two years after his marriage he purchased ninety-six acres and a fraction over, a part of his present home, while about six years later he increased the boundaries of his possessions by purchasing forty-eight acres ad- joining, thus making his farm one of one hundred and forty-five acres. When he first purchased his land he assumed an indebtedness of four thousand dollars, but industry and economy, combined with excellent management and sound business judgment, soon reduced the amount,; but when his second farm was purchased the debt was again increased to four thousand dollars. However, this he was enabled to pay off through the same means, and in 1895, taking advantage of the depression in prices, he purchased one hundred and forty-six acres in Huron county,
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Ohio, which is a valuable property. During the present year, 1902, he became the owner of a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in Scipio township, Seneca county, and he also owns a farm of forty acres in Ne- braska, thus making him the possessor of four hundred and ninety-one acres. His business career furnishes a splendid example of what may be accomplished through determined purpose, laudable ambition and well directed effort, for the position that he has attained in life has been won entirely through his own endeavors.
In 1875 Mr. Cook was united in marriage to Miss Mahala Seiple, a native of Seneca county and a daughter of John Seiple, now deceased. To this union six children have been born, but the second child, Edson, died at thirteen years of age, as the result of an accident. Those living are: Lillie, Amana, Vernon, Lorena and Roy, all at home. Mr. Cook gives a stanch support to the Democratic party, but has never been an office-seeker, preferring to give his undivided attention to his extensive business interests. He is a worthy member of the Reformed church.
REV. JOHN P. PUETZ.
Among the highly steemed citizens of Tiffin, Ohio, no one is more universally respected by all classes than is Rev. Father John P. Puetz, . rector of St. Joseph's Catholic church. He came here in 1885 and his faithful service has been given for years to this parish, where he has had the satisfaction of seeing abundant blessing bestowed upon it.
Father Puetz was born on German soil, in a Rheinish province, De- cember 20, 1833. His parents were John P. and Mary Ann (Schrid) Puetz, both of whom were born, reared and married in the same prov- ince. They were respected and industrious farming people, who left their native land to find better opportunities for their children in the United States. In 1846, when their son John was thirteen years of age, they emigrated from Germany to Ridgeville township, Lorain county. Ohio, where they continued an agricultural life until the death of Mr. Puetz, at the age of fifty-four. His widow survived until in her seventy-
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second year. They were devout members of the Catholic church, in which faith their family of eight children was carefully reared.
ยท The early life of the future priest was similar to that of other lads of his age, who grow up on a farm and attend the district schools, al- though from early youth a serious mind had disclosed the trend of his inclinations. This induced his parents to send him, at the age of eighteen, to be instructed in St. Mary's Seminary and College, at Cleveland, where he remained for five years under the scholarly influence of noted teachers who thoroughly prepared him for entrance upon the special study of the- ology. Due progress was made in this department and in 1865 he was ordained to the priesthood, in Cleveland, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Rappe.
Succeeding his ordination the young priest was placed in charge of the parish and church at Galion, Crawford county, Ohio, the results of his five years' pastorate there being the erection of a school-house, the extension of a large and interested congregation and an impulse given to the religious work of the community, which has ever since borne fruits. Father Puetz then went to Sherman, Huron county, Ohio, where he re- mained for three years, busily engaged in building up and strengthening the religious institutions of his church. From there he was transferred to Milan, Erie county. Father Puetz came to that parish when it was in sore need of help, and there he faithfully labored for eleven years, serv- ing three churches, building a flourishing parochial school and leaving . the church in a prosperous financial condition.
These unremitting labors, however, had told upon his health, and the succeeding eighteen months were spent in rest in Europe, where he devoted much time to visiting the venerable and historic landmarks of his church. On June 15, 1885, he and his brother, Rev. Martin Puetz, came to Tiffin, and together assumed the pastorate of St. Joseph's. For twelve years they labored as mutual coadjutants, this association being broken only by the death of Father Martin, at Los Angeles, California, on January 21, 1897, the immediate cause being an affection of the lungs.
Much has been accomplished in the seventeen years since Father Puetz came to this congregation. The interior work of the church has been renewed, a steam-heating apparatus installed and paintings and
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statuary appropriately placed. There is seating capacity for one thou- sand persons. The congregation numbers about five hundred families. The rectory, a magnificent structure, was erected in 1887, at a cost of nine thousand dollars. A commodious school-house, which accommo- dates four hundred and sixty pupils, was erected in 1895, and the school is in charge of the Ursuline Sisters. The older boys are under the man- agement of lay brethren. There are two libraries in the school, free to young people. The management of so large a parish and the cares at- tendant upon it keep Father Puetz a busy man, although he is never too much otherwise occupied to take an interest in all outside matters look- ing toward the prosperity of this community. A scholar, he is widely read in various fields of literature; and he is an earnest advocate of those refining and uplifting influences that make for human elevation. He counts his friends in Tiffin by the score, as they are not, by any means, confined to the limits of his own congregation, his quiet, orderly, useful life having gained for him the esteem of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
It was in the years 1873-4 that he visited Europe. May I, 1873, he left home and visited Glasgow, Scotland, and Edinburg and Castle Mary Queen of Scots; spent three days in London in general sight-seeing; two days in Paris; traveled south through France to the Pyrenees, visiting Lourdes, famous for the cures by "Our Lady of Lourdes;" east to Mar- seilles, by steamer on the Mediterranean sea to Leghorn, Italy, Genoa, the birthplace of Columbus, Valencia and Naples; ascended Mount Ve- suvius to the crater, breathing its sulphurous fumes; visited Pompeii. Rome, and saw the Pope, Pius IX; visited the great art galleries at Rome, and St. Peter's church, one of the seven wonders of the world : also the catacombs, Venice and Milan; thence by stage to Switzerland. where he remained from August, 1873, to May, 1874; visited Carlsbad, Bohemia, and through Germany to his birthplace in Freiberg, where he found but two persons whom he knew, and finally back to London and Liverpool, and thence by the White Star line to America, reaching New York in October.
Rev. Martin Puetz, two and a half years younger than the subject of the foregoing sketch, his brother, pursued the same educational cur-
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riculum and was ordained by Bishop Rappe two years previously to his brother. He was stationed at Monroeville, Huron county, this state, twenty-one years, erecting there a new and beautiful church and having a large congregation. Joining his brother, he came to Tiffin.
He devoted special attention to Sicilian music and had one of the finest choirs at Monroeville; and here in Tiffin he developed the same idea, supplementing the operatic style, with the happy result of forming as fine a choir at St. Joseph's church as could be found in the diocese. This place has developed a fine touch of art in the music of the church, there being now about twenty-five voices in the choir. His interest in the church was great and he was rigorous in his efforts to have the musical services imposing. He was well liked by all regardless of church relations.
Failing health led him to resort to Los Angeles, California, which place he had barely reached when his useful life ended in death. His body was brought back to his old home here and great honor was paid him at the funeral.
LORENZO D. RICKETTS.
When it is stated that the father of the subject of this sketch was a native son of the Buckeye state it will be evident in a prima facie way that he was a representative of one of the early pioneer families of this section of the Union, while it was also his to be numbered among those sterling pioneers of Seneca county who laid broad and deep the founda- tions of the present prosperity and advanced position of the county. Coming here in an early day he took part in subduing the wild land and reclaiming it for cultivation, and during the long course of a half celi- tury he was numbered among the honored and influential citizens of the county. Here also was born the subject of this review, and he has ably sustained the high reputation achieved by his sire, and is one of the leading farmers and stock-growers of Loudon township, where he has a finely improved landed estate and where he has practically passed his entire life, setting at naught the old adage, in its wider application, that
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"a prophet is not without honor save in his own country," for he com- mands the confidence and esteem of the people of the community in which he was born and reared and in which he has directed his efforts to so goodly ends. He well merits representation in this work.
Mr. Ricketts was born on the old homestead farm in Loudon town- ship, Seneca county, Ohio, on the 9th of September, 1837, being a son of John and Dorcas ( Shippy) Ricketts, of whose four children three are living, namely: Lorenzo D., our subject; Lydia, who makes her home with him; and Perry, who is also a successful farmer of this township. John Ricketts was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, in the last year of the eighteenth century, 1800, and was there reared under the influences of pioneer life, receiving such educational advantages as were implied in a somewhat desultory attendance in the primitive schools of the day, these being maintained mostly on the subscription plan, while the "temples of learning" were rude log cabins, equipped with puncheon floors and slab benches. In 1828 he left his native county and came to Seneca county, which was at that time practically a virgin forest, and here he was again to renew his pioneer experiences and to endure those arduous labors and encounter those vicissitudes which are ever the lot of the one who thus aids in the initial stages of the march of progress as the star of empire takes its way to the west. Upon his arrival he entered claim to a tract of eighty acres of wild land in Loudon township, and here erected a log house, to which he removed his family in the follow- ing year. Later he took up an additional forty acres and he then set himself vigorously and courageously to the task of reclaiming the land, the greater portion of which he brought under cultivation. He here con- tinted to make his home until his life labors were ended, his death occur- ring in 1875, in the fulness of years and well merited honors. His po- litical allegiance was given to the Democratic party, and in the early days he served as trustee of his township, being one of the first incumbents of this office. His wife passed away on the old homestead, having been to him a true helpmeet and a devoted mother to her children, who will ever revere her memory, which rests as a benediction upon all who came within the sphere of her influence.
Lorenzo D. Ricketts, the immediate subject of this review, was
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reared under the sturdy and invigorating discipline of the old homestead farm, and his educational training was secured in the public schools of his native township. Upon attaining maturity he assumed charge of the paternal farm, and was successful in the cultivation of the same and also in the line of stock-raising, to which he has continued to devote con- siderable attention. He still owns and operates forty acres of the old farm, while in 1896 he purchased the farm of forty acres, in the same township, on which he now makes his home, having a commodious and comfortable residence and the best of improvements in all other essential lines, while he is known as a progressive and able business man, not con- tent to follow entirely along the beaten path, but standing ready to avail himself of all appliances and methods which will add to the success of his farming operations. He also takes a commendable interest in all that concerns the well-being of the community, and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. His political proclivities are indi- cated in the stanch support which he accords to the Democratic party, whose cause he espoused upon attaining his legal majority. He has never married and his sister presides over the domestic economies of his home, where a generous hospitality is extended to a wide circle of their friends in the community where both have passed their lives.
GRATTAN H. BAKER.
One of the earliest families making permanent settlement in Sen- eca county was that now worthily represented by the gentleman whose name forms the heading of this article. For many years they have been identified with the agricultural interests of this locality, and have aided materially in the development of the resources of Seneca county, taking an active part in everything calculated to promote the welfare and hap- piness of the majority.
Judge Samuel Baker, the grandfather of him whose name heads this review, was of the fifth generation from Thomas Baker, who was born in England in 1618, and after coming to America he located at
HOME OF GRATTAN H. BAKER.
GRATTAN H. BAKER.
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East Hampton, Long Island. In 1639 he settled at Milford, Connecti- cut, and in 1650 returned to East Hampton. Judge Samuel Baker be- came a prominent sheepraiser of Steuben county, New York, where he also held the important office of judge of the court of common pleas. In his family were twelve children, eight of whom, four sons and four daughters, came to Seneca county. Thomas J. and Franklin came to this county in 1822, settling in Eden township, where each secured three hundred and twenty acres of government land on section 13, but the latter was only permitted to enjoy his new home for a few years, being called to his final rest in 1831. In 1822 a sister, Mary, who became the wife of Joseph Baker, also came to this county and settled in Scipio township. John Baker came to Seneca county in 1828, locating in Eden township, and in the same year his sister Sophia, with her husband,. George Stearns, found a home in this locality. Two others, Ann, the wife of Zelolus Knapp, and Lucretia, the wife of Sylvanus Arnold, also came to Ohio, but both afterward removed to Garden Grove, Iowa.
Richard Baker, the father of our subject, was born in Urbana, New York, in January, 1809, and there he received his education in the public schools and was early inured to the labors of the farm. In 1835 he joined his brothers and sisters in Seneca county, locating on the farm on which our subject now resides, and here he became the owner of four hundred acres of land on sections 26, 35 and 36. His home place was. on section 26, and at that time only a few acres had been cleared and a small log cabin had been erected. As the years passed by prosperity" rewarded the well-directed efforts of Mr. Baker, and he was enabled to" add to his original purchase until he became the owner of one thousand acres of rich and fertile land, and there he was extensively engaged in the raising of sheep, having been the first to import a fine grade into Seneca county, bringing a fine drove of Spanish Merinos from the state of New York in 1836. In 1872, however, he left this valuable place to the care of our subject and removed to another farm in the township, there making his home until called to his final rest, when he had reached the eightieth milestone on the journey of life, passing away in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he had been long an active
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worker. In 1836 Mr. Baker married Miss Fannie Wheeler, who was born in 1819, a daughter of the Hon. Grattan H. Wheeler, who was formerly a state senator from Steuben county, New York, and for sev- eral years he was also a member of congress. The ancestry of the Wheeler family can be traced back to John Wheeler, who served as a sergeant at Concord, Massachusetts, as early as 1639. Mrs. Baker's grandfather, Silas Wheeler, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and in 1775, after following Arnold through Maine, he was wounded and captured in Canada, and was taken to Ireland, where, owing to the inter- vention of Henry Grattan, he was released. Mr. Wheeler promised to name his first male child Grattan Henry, and he was the father of Mrs. Baker. Mrs. Baker was called to the home beyond in 1887.
Grattan H. Baker, the immediate subject of this review, was born on the farm on which he now resides, on the 15th of September, 1848. His elementary education was received in the common schools of his neighborhood, and later he entered Hillsdale College, at Hillsdale, Michigan, where he enjoyed superior advantages. About the time of his marriage he became the owner of the old home farm of four hundred acres, where he has ever since continued to make his home, and as time has passed he has increased his landed possessions until he is now the owner of six hundred and seventy-five acres, six hundred acres of which are in Eden township. Three hundred and sixty acres of his place are under an excellent state of cultivation, and in addition to the raising of the cereals best adapted to this soil and climate he is also extensively engaged in raising short-horn cattle and black-top Merino sheep. His is one of the finest improved farms in Seneca county.
On the 4th of January, 1872, Mr. Baker was united in marriage to Miss Franke Fleet, a daughter of William and Eliza (Ogden) Fleet. The father came to Ohio in 1830, and became the owner of sixteen hun- dred acres of land in Eden township. His death occurred on the 20th of June, 1880. He was twice married, his first union being with Mrs. Sophia Stearns. Mrs. Baker was born in Eden township, Seneca county, and was educated in the public schools and Heidelberg College. When twenty-one years of age she gave her hand in marriage to Grattan H.
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Baker, and they have four children,-William F., who is a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan University, and is now a member of the firm of Pad- dock & Baker, whose office is in the Calumet building, at 189 La Salle street, Chicago: July 20, 1901, he married Miss Catherine Paddock, a daughter of George L. Paddock, a prominent attorney of that city; Richard G., who is at present engaged in the cattle business in Colo- rado; Eliza O., who is a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan University and is now at home; and Florence, who is a member of the senior class of the same institution. Mr. Baker gives his political support to the Re- publican party, and in religious belief he is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
EDSON F. GRAY.
It argues well for the advantages of Seneca county that so many of her residents have never cared to change their place of abode, finding here good business opportunities as well as pleasant social life and edu- cational opportunities.
Edson F. Gray is numbered among the native sons of the county, his birth having occurred September 25, 1845, upon the farm where he now resides, in Scipio township. He is a son of Samuel B. and Jane (Striker) Gray, both natives of Steuben county, New York. In the year 1831 they came to Ohio, establishing their home in Eden township, Sen- eca county, temporarily, and in 1832 he settled upon the farm in Scipio township which is now the home of our subject and which had been entered by his father from the government. It was a tract of land of two hundred and fifteen acres, upon which he erected a log cabin built of round logs and containing but one room. All around the little dwelling stood the tall forest trees, but in course of time these fell before the sturdy strokes of the woodman's ax and the sunlight showered across the grain in fields which had been cleared through his efforts. He remained upon the farm until 1851, when he went to California, where he was engaged in prospecting and mining. After two years spent upon the
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Pacific coast, however, he returned to Seneca county and remained on the old homestead here until his death, which occurred January 20, 1880, when he was sixty-nine years of age. He long survived his wife, who had departed this life in 1850. In connection with general farming, Samuel B. Gray was a land surveyor and civil engineer and followed those pursuits for many years, being actively associated with the work of land surveying in this county. In politics he was a stanch Republi- can and had served his township as assessor. In his family were seven . children, of whom five reached maturity. Marcus, who was born July 4, 1841, died at Lexington, Kentucky, in December, 1862, when a mem- ber of Company K, Forty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Charles, who was a member of the same company, was captured while on scouting duty and died in the prison hospital from injuries received when cap- tured, at Richmond, Virginia, December 28,. 1863. Edward F. is the next of the family. Jane is the wife of James Merchant, of Tiffin. Mary is the wife of Daniel Smith, of Republic, Ohio.
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