USA > Ohio > Seneca County > A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio > Part 63
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It was on the 9th of June, 1859, that Mr. Rosenberger was joined in wedlock to Miss Harriett Lynch, and their union has been blessed with eight children: Marion, of Liberty township; Alvadore, of San- dusky county ; Jesse, at home; Newton, of Illinois, dealing in hardware and furniture; Della, a dressmaker of Gibsonburg, Ohio; Catherine, a milliner at Clyde, this state; Dollie, at home; and Minnie, a dressmaker at Gibsonburg.
Mr. Rosenberger is a stanch Republican in his political affiliations, and, as every true American should do, he keeps well informed on the issues of the day, so that he is enabled to support his position by intel-
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ligent argument. He has held the office of township treasurer and faithfully discharged his duties, but has never aspired to political honors. He has always lived the life of an honest, industrious and enterprising farmer and his activity has resulted in bringing to him a comfortable home and competence.
SAMUEL WAGNER.
The soldier who risks his life on the field of battle for a cause in which he believes, has always received the highest praise of men; next to him; stands the pioneer, who braves the dangers and hardships of the frontier, opening up new districts to the march of civilization. De- prived of the comforts and conveniences of the older settled sections, in quiet endurance of difficulties and the overcoming of innumerable obstacles, he works on, day after day, at the arduous task of making the wild land, hitherto uncultivated, bring forth the harvests that shall provide him and his family with sustenance. In the work of early im- provement and development in Seneca county the father of our sub- ject took part, as one of its pioneers, and as our subject himself is a native son of the county and was born in the pioneer epoch, it is needless to say that he too contributed his quota to this work, while he now stands as one of the prominent and successful farmers of the county, honored as a pioneer citizen and as a man of indubitable probity in all the relations of life.
Samuel Wagner was born on the old homestead farm in Eden township, on the 3d of November, 1838, being one of the eleven chil- dren of David and Susan (Up)' Wagner, the former of whom was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and the latter in Perry county, same state. The father had been previously married, and his first wife left at her death two sons, Jacob and John, both of whom are now deceased. Of the children of the second marriage the following are de- ceased : Polly, the wife of Jacob Anden; Christiana, the wife of Adam Gunber; Nancy, who married Jacob Von Blon; Annie, who married Samuel Balon; Daniel; and Sally, the wife of Jacob Sharp. The sur-
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vivors of the family are: Elizabeth, the widow of Christopher Wagner, of Miami county, Indiana; Lydia, the wife of Silas Thomas, of Kosci- usko county, that state; Catherine, the widow of Jerry Sailor ; Samuel, the subject of this review; and George, a resident of Defiance county, Ohio. In the year 1827 the father of our subject removed with his family to Seneca county, Ohio, settling in Eden township and taking up a tract of one hundred and sixty acres on section 19, where Wesley Crum now lives, and in addition to this he later secured in the same township eighty acres of government land, the entire tract being prac- tically unreclaimed from the forest wilds. There was a log cabin on the homestead, the same having been built by either Indians or hunters, and this primitive domicile constituted the first home of the family in this township. The father cleared and otherwise improved much of his land, and here continued to reside until his death, about the year 1864, at the age of seventy-three years, his wife surviving until 1869, when she passed away, at the age of seventy-four. They were folk of enterprise, piety and honesty, being industrious and unpretentious and representative of that exalted integrity which was characteristic of the noble pioneer element in Ohio.
The subject of this review grew to maturity on the old homestead, early becoming inured to the sturdy toil involved in its reclamation and cultivation, and having such educational privileges as were afforded in the pioneer schools. After the death of his father he assumed charge of the home farm, where he remained until 1873, when he located on a farm in Clinton township, there remaining two years, and he then came to his present fine homestead farm, in his native township of Eden, where he has eighty acres of highly productive land, while the improvements on the place are of exceptional excellence, including a commodious and substantial residence. Ever mindful of the duties of citizenship and taking a deep interest in all that concerns the advance- ment and stable prosperity of his native county, Mr. Wagner is known as a public-spirited and progressive citizen, and he exercises his fran- chise in support of the Democratic party and its principles.
In the year 1861 Mr. Wagner was united in marriage to Miss Maria Isabel Messer, who proved to him a devoted companion and helpmate,
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aiding and encouraging him in his efforts to gain a competency and a position of independence and proving a loving wife and mother. She was summoned into eternal rest on the 26th of September, 1899, leav- ing two sons,-William H. and Charles. William H. Wagner, who is a resident of Tiffin, married Miss Della Bour, and they have three chil- dren,-Irene, William and Paul. Charles Wagner, who has charge of the homestead farm, married Miss Cora Biles, and they have two chil- dren, -- Ross and Glenn.
WILDMAN LOOMIS.
The name of Wildman Loomis is inscribed high on the roll of Seneca county's honored pioneers and leading citizens; and the part which he has taken in founding and developing the county well entitles him to prominent mention in this volume.
His birth occurred in Fremont, this state, March 24, 1819. His father, Reuel Loomis, was born in Massachusetts, July 12, 1775, be- came a tanner, currier and shoemaker by trade, and in 1811 made the journey by team to Buffalo, and from that city went by boat to Detroit, where he worked at his trades. During the war of 1812 he served as a minute man and for about six months of the time was held as a pris- oner by the British at Detroit. In 1814 he moved to Fremont, Ohio, where he secured land and from that time until 1822 was engaged principally in agricultural pursuits.
In December of the latter year he came with an ox cart to Seneca county, locating in Eden township, on the farm which is now owned by our subject, securing there one hundred and six acres of school land, the purchase price being a dollar and thirty-seven cents an acre. The place at that time was covered with a heavy growth of timber, and in the midst of the forest he erected a round-log cabin, sixteen by twenty feet. In addition to the tilling of the soil, he also erected a tannery on his farm, where he followed the occupation of tanning for many years; and he also made shoes for the early settlers of the neighborhood.
As a companion on the journey of life he chose Anna Lyon, who
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was born September 22, 1782, and they had three children: Samuel C., who was born on the 15th of September, 1805, and died in 1843; Ro- dolphus, who was born June 23, 1812, and died near Bloomington, Illinois, in 1863; and Wildman, the subject of this sketch. On the farm which he had cleared and improved the father passed away in death, on the 15th of August, 1852, while his wife survived until 1857.
When three years of age, Wildman Loomis was brought by his parents to Seneca county, to the farm on which he now resides, and during early youth assisted in the arduous task of improving the land. Practically for four-score years this place has continued to be his home, and throughout his active business career he has been continuously en- gaged in the tilling of the soil. He has made many improvements on the place, while his landed possessions now comprise eighty-eight acres, whereon he is successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising. He early learned the wagonmaker's trade, but later became a carpenter and did contract work in addition to his farming operations. During the war of the Rebellion he offered his services to the Union cause, becom- ing a corporal of Company B, One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Ohio Infantry, in 1863, formerly the Sixty-ninth, and known as the Home Guards, and the same year they were taken out to Johnson's island to guard rebel prisoners. They were afterward mustered into the United States service, and subsequently the One Hundred and Sixty-fourth was called to Arlington Heights, near Washington, where they were en- gaged in defending the city for one hundred and eighteen days.
On the 17th of October, 1839, Mr. Loomis was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Myers, and their union has been blessed with five children, namely: George, who makes his home in Defiance, Ohio; Elizabeth, who died young; Lucy, who became the wife of Matthias L. Weagley and died at the age of forty-four years, leaving five children, mentioned a little further on; Mary, who died young; and Omar R., a prominent farmer on adjoining land in Eden township. Mrs. Weag- ley's children are: Wellington D., who was reared by his grandpar- ents and is now carrying on the homestead farm; Amos R., of Wood county ; Laura, the wife of Christ Lantz; Elmer, of Los Angeles, Cali- fornia; and Frank. of Eden township.
P
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Mr. Loomis, the subject of this sketch, is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, in which he has served as steward for more than forty years ; and his wife has been identified with that denomination ever since her fifteenth year. In political matters Mr. Loomis gives an un- faltering support to the principles of the Republican party. He has passed the eightieth milestone on the journey of life, and his path has been marked by good deeds, honest purpose, commendable industry and worthy motives; and when the final summons comes he will leave a record worthy of emulation.
REV. M. R. SCHMAUS.
Father M. R. Schmaus, in charge of St. Stephen's church, was born in Bavaria, Germany, on the 18th of May, 1867, a son of Leopold and Teresa (Fischer) Schmaus. They became the parents of nine children, all of whom survive and with the exception of our subject all are residents of their native country. Father Schmaus received a education in Dillingen and Augsburg, Bavaria, and after receiving a classical course he joined the Fathers of the Precious Blood and pre- pared for the priesthood. In 1886 he came to the United States and entered the St. Charles Seminary at Carthagena, Ohio, where he studied philosophy and theology. In 1891 he was ordained to the priesthood, first serving in the dioceses of Fort Wayne and Cincinnati, and since 1897 he has been located at St. Stephen's. The church was estab- lished about sixty years ago and its membership now numbers about twenty-nine families. Under his supervision a parsonage is now in course of erection, at a cost of twenty-five hundred dollars, and also a modern school building. Father Schmaus' influence is ever found on the side progress, liberty and right, and the effect of his labors has been far reaching. He has filled his daily life with that brotherly love and Christian charity which ever prove a light to guide many to the better way, and he is loved and honored by his parishioners and by all who know him.
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JOHN ROBERTSON.
John Robertson is an octogenarian and, in fact, has almost com- pleted the half of another decade, but old age is not necessarily a synonym of weakness or inactivity ; it need not suggest as a matter of course lack of occupation or helplessness, for there is an old age which grows stronger in many ways with the passing years. This is true in the case of John Robertson, who yet superintends his farming interests and keeps in touch to a large extent with the progress which is being made along many lines of activity in the world. He is a native of Paris, France, although of English parentage. He was born December 16, 1817, a son of Ed- ward Robertson, who took part in the famous battle of Waterloo, under the Duke of Wellington. When John Robertson was two years of age his parents became residents of Portsmouth, England, where he was reared to manhood and entered upon his business career, but the new world attracted him and he came to "the land of the free and the home of the brave," crossing the Atlantic in a sailing vessel, for it was before the day of rapid navigation in steamboats. The vessel in which he took passage dropped anchor in the harbor of New York city and he proceeded to Centerville, that state, where he worked at the weaver's trade until 1846, when he came to Ohio.
Mr. Robertson chose Seneca county as the scene of his future labors, and here purchased fifty acres of land in Liberty township. There he built a log cabin and began life in the west in true pioneer style, devoting his energies to the cultivation of the fields and the improvement of his farm until October, 1861, when he put aside all business cares and per- sonal considerations in order to respond to the call of his adopted coun- try for aid. He donned the blue uniform and joined Company F, Fifty- fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and with his regiment proceeded to the scene of action. The first battle in which he participated was at Bull Run, and later he took part in the engagements at Slaughter Mountain, Chancellorsville and Galesburg. He served faithfully and loyally for three years and then, with a creditable military record, returned to his home.
Again arriving in Seneca county, Mr. Robertson resumed work
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upon his farm, which he operated for seven years thereafter and then purchased his present home, which has since been his place of abode. The farm comprises one hundred and thirty-three acres and on it are many substantial improvements and modern equipments. This farm was entered from the government in 1820 by our subject's uncle, who was a resident of Virginia and never located on his Ohio claim. Throughout the long years of his residence in Seneca county, covering more than sixty years, Mr. Robertson has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and along this line of honorable business industry he has won a desirable competence. He has ever been as true to his duties of citi- zenship as when he followed the old flag upon southern battlefields. In politics he has been a stanch Republican since the organization of the party, and although he has never sought office he has done all in his power in a quiet way to secure the success of the party. He found in America the opportunities for advancement which he sought, and never has he regretted his determination to make his home in the new world or in Seneca county, where he is now an honored and respected citizen.
SAMUEL DRENNING.
The Drenning family of which our subject is a representative had its origin in England. His grandfather came to the new world, estab- lishing his home in Pennsylvania. There, in Bedford, Samuel Dren- ning, his son, was born, and there lived and died. He married Jane ยท Bridges, who was of Scotch lineage and a daughter of Abraham Bridges of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, whose father came from the land of the heather to the United States at an early period in American history.
Samuel Drenning, whose name introduces this review, was born in Bedford, Pennsylvania, in the year 1842. He spent his childhood and . youth in his parents' home and in the public schools of the neighbor- hood acquired his education. Wishing to try his fortune in a more western district than that in which he was reared he made his way to
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Fostoria, in March, 1863. Feeling that his country needed his services and aroused by a patriotic spirit, he enlisted in November, 1863, in Com- pany E, Forty-ninth Ohio Regiment. He started on the Atlanta campaign, but at the battle of Resaca he was wounded. This necessitated his ap- sence from further active field service until March, 1865. He after- ward served in Tennessee and in the southwest, being mustered out at Victoria, Texas, in November, 1865. On returning to Fostoria, Mr. Drenning engaged in the wood-working business, which he has since followed. In this line he has met with a fair degree of success, so carefully conducting his business interests that his patronage has stead- ily increased and his sales have been yearly augumented.
Mr. Drenning was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Milheim, of Fostoria, where she was born and reared, her father coming from the Keystone state. Three children grace the union of our subject and his wife, namely: Nellie, now the wife of W. E. Baker, of Findlay ; James, who resides in Toledo; and Laura, who is still under the parental roof. Mr. Drenning retains pleasant relationship with his old army comrades through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic, and with them likes to recount the incidents of the camp and the battle. During his residence in Fostoria he has become widely known and the elements of an upright manhood have gained for him the respect and confidence of all with whom he is associated.
WILLIAM MERGENTHALER.
For almost a third of a centry William Mergenthaler has been iden- tified with the industrial interests of the city of Fostoria, being well known as a carriage manufacturer. Seneca county numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Loudon township, on a farm located five miles south of this city, in the year 1850. His father, Godfrey Mergenthaler, was one of four brothers who settled in Seneca county at an early period in its development and bore a very active part in the work of improvement and progress. The other three broth-
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ers were Jacob, John and Gottlieb. All four came to Seneca county with their father and each took up land from the government and inaugurated the work of developing the same into fertile and productive farms. They were natives of Wittenberg, Germany, and on crossing the Atlantic to the new world made their way direct to Ohio. The father of our subject was twice married, his first union having been with Miss Heiserman, who likewise was a native of Germany, and they became the parents of two sons and one daughter,-Jacob and Melcher, who are well known citizens of Fostoria; and Mary, who is the wife of Philip Deywalt, and resides near Bascom, Hopewell township. After the death of his first wife, Godfrey Mergenthaler was united in marriage to Miss Magdalena Hilghay, who was born in Germany, and of this union five children were born,-Catherine, Henry, William, Caroline and Magda- lena,-all of whom are living with the exception of Henry, who died at the age of twenty-six years.
William Mergenthaler, the immediate subject of this review, passed the days of his boyhood and youth upon the old homestead farm, early becoming familiar with all the duties that fall to the lot of the agri- culturist, while to the public-school system of the place and period he is indebted for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. Since the year 1869 he has been identified with the manufacturing interests of Fostoria, having in that year here established a carriage manufactory, which he has since conducted with success. He purchased land on East Tiffin street, where his shop and brick block are now located. He sells his products throughout the state of Ohio and also ships to Indiana and Pennsylvania. He manufactures a full line of wagons and buggies and has recently inaugurated the manufacturing of automobiles. His plant is thoroughly equipped with the latest improved machinery for the facile carrying on of the business, and the excellence of his products, noted for their durability as well as style and workmanship, has secured to Mr. Mergenthaler a patronage which is steadily increasing and which has made him one of the prosperous business men of the attractive city where he maintains his home.
Mr. Mergenthaler exercises his franchise in support of the prin- ciples and policies of the Democratic party, but has never been an aspir-
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ant for office, his time being fully occupied by his business affairs, in which he is meeting with signal success. All that he possesses he has gained through his own efforts and unfaltering energy and enterprise. Ever alert to adopt new methods which commend themselves to his judgment as tending to improve or facilitate his business, he has stead- ily advanced along the highway which leads to definite success, and he is accounted one of the prominent and prosperous business men of Fos- toria, where he commands unequivocal confidence and esteem.
In 1872 Mr. Mergenthaler was married to Miss Mary Zennet, of Findlay, Hancock county, and they became the parents of four chil- dren, namely : Lulu, who died at the age of twenty years ; Harry M., who is now associated with his father in business and who is one of the popular and progressive young business men of Fostoria, being a men- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and still residing at the parental home: Laura, who is the wife of Delmo Eberhardt, of Fos- toria, and has one child, Florence E .; and Nellie, the youngest of the children, remains at the home of her parents.
JOSEPH VAN NEST.
One of the representative and honored citizens of the city of Tiffin, Ohio, is Joseph Van Nest, and such has been his life record as to par- ticularly entitle him to consideration in a work of this nature. Mr. Van Nest was born in Wooster, Wayne county, Ohio, on the 15th of January, 1843, being a son of Peter and Susan Van Nest, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania, on the 15th of May, 1813, and there he passed his earlier boyhood days, early starting out in life on his own responsibility, as will later appear in this connection. His parents were John and Catherine Van Nest, both of whom were native of Penn- sylvania, whence they removed to Wayne county, Ohio, in the early '3os, their son Peter having preceded them to that locality. John Van Nest, who was a valiant soldier in the war of 1812, was a harness- maker by trade, and this vocation he continued to follow until his death.
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His only surviving son is John, Jr., who still resides in this state, hav- ing attained the venerable age of eighty-six years.
As the name unmistabably indicates, the Van Nest family originated in Holland, where John Van Nest, the great-grandfather of Joseph Van Nest of this sketch, was born, emigrating thence to America and settling in New Jersey, where many of his descendants are yet to be found and where the family has ever been held in high regard and honor. Rev. Peter Van Nest, a brother of this original Holland an- cestor, became a renowned preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church, having been led into the ministry under the eloquent pleadings of the Wesleys.
Peter Van Nest, the father of our subject, began carrying the mail at the age of eight years, thus demonstrating the intrinsic energy and self-reliance of a lad who was eventually to become a large manufac- turer and succesful man of business. At the age of thirteen years he made his way on foot from Pennsylvania to Wooster, Ohio, where he entered upon an apprenticeship in a blacksmith shop. When he was about nineteen years of age he sent a conveyance to the old home in Pennsylvania and with the same his parents came through to Wayne county, passing the remainder of their lives in Ohio. Peter Van Nest retained his residence in Wooster until 1848, when he came to Tiffin, where he engaged in carriage-making, building up a business second to none of similar order in northern Ohio. He carried on this enterprise, with cumulative prosperity, until his death, on the 22d of February, 1877. He was a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal church, a man of great business ability and high moral worth, commanding un- qualified confidence and esteem in all the relations of life. His wife, whose maiden name was Susan Bucher, was a woman of noble Christian character. She was born in Maryland, on the 5th of September, 1818. and came thence to Wayne county, Ohio, with her parents, Christian and Elizabeth Bucher, the former of whom was born January 19, 1775. devoting his life to agricultural pursuits and passing away at the age of seventy-nine years, while his wife, who was born in 1771, lived to attain the extremely venerable age of ninety-eight years. Mrs. Van Nest was a girl when the family thus came to Ohio, and here she passed
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the residue of her life, her death occurring on the 15th of July, 1861. She was a devoted and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and her life was sustained and beautified by her Christian faith. Peter and Susan ( Bucher) Van Nest became the parents of the follow- ing children: Sarah, who now makes her home with her brother Jo- seph ; John, who served as a private in the Fifteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for three years, was wounded at Shiloh and he died at the age of forty-seven years ; William H. served about six months during the Civil war, being a member of the One Hundred and Thirtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and he is now a prominent business man of Tiffin, as will be incidentally noted later on; Joseph is the immediate subject of this sketch; George, who likewise enlisted in the Union army during the Rebellion, served about six months as a clerk in the depart- ment at Nashville, and he died at the age of forty-four years ; and Mar- tin died in childhood.
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