A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio, Part 8

Author:
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 864

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Henry Klaiss, of this review, received his early education in the common schools of this neighborhood, and until his marriage he made his home with his parents on the old farm. He then removed to a farm of one hundred and forty acres in Seneca township, where he made his home for thirteen years, and on the expiration of that period he again returned to the home of his youth, buying the interests of the other heirs. The place now contains a tract of one hundred and twenty- three acres, ninety-three acres of which is under an excellent state of cultivation, and there he is engaged in general farming and stock-rais- ing. His life work has been crowned with success, but his prosperity has come to him as a result of energy, perseverance and hard work, his career thus illustrating most forcibly the power of patient and per- sistent effort and self-reliance.

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September 6, 1877, Mr. Klaiss was united in marriage to Miss Eva Stuckey, and they have one son, Dorsey F., aged twenty-two years. Mr. Klaiss gives his political support to the Democracy, and he has ever been zealous in its support, believing firmly in its principles. His religious preference is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church.

CHARLES F. SMITH.

Another of the enterprising and successful farmers and stock- growers of Seneca county is Mr. Smith and to him also is given the dis- tinction of being a native of the county and a member of one of its honored pioneer families, so that there is manifest consistency in here entering a review of his career.

Mr. Smith was born in Liberty township, on the 7th of Septem- ber, 1859, the son of Henry Smith, who was born in Germany, whence he accompanied his parents on their emigration to America, being five years of age at the time. They came to Ohio and settled in Seneca county, about the year 1821, and here Henry Smith was reared to maturity. He married Miss Barbara Fry, and they became the parents of eight sons and five daughters, of whom eight are living at the pres- ent time. When our subject was five years of age his father removed to Clinton township, where he made his home until 1870, when he located on the farm, in Pleasant township, where Charles F. now lives. Here he continued in agricultural pursuits until his retirement from active life, when he established his home in the city of Tiffin, where he died September 14, 1889, at the age of sixty-three years. His widow now resides with her son Daniel, near Bascom.

Charles F. Smith was reared on the home farm and his educational advantages were such as were afforded in the public schools. After his marriage, in 1885, he took charge of the homestead farm, and he now owns the place, having made the best of improvements, including an attractive and modern brick residence, while the area of his farm which is bordered by the Sandusky river, is one hundred and twenty-eight

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acres, the place being devoted to diversified farming and the raising of high-grade live stock. In his political allegiance Mr. Smith is identified, as was his father, with the Democratic party, and he has at all times been deeply interested in public affairs of a local nature, doing all in his power to forward the educational and other normal interests of his community. He has served as director and supervisor of his school district, but has never sought any distinctively political office. His re- ligious faith is that of the Catholic church in which he was reared, and he is a communicant of St. Mary's church, at Tiffin.

On the 24th of November, 1885, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Anne B. Lutz, who is a native of Defiance county and a repre- sentative of one of its pioneer families, being the daughter of the late Michael Lutz. Our subject and his estimable wife are the parents of four children, all of whom remain beneath the parental roof, namely : Eugene, Estella, Ralph, and Cecelia.

MAHLON A. THOMAS.

Mahlon A. Thomas, who is engaged in the real-estate business in Fostoria ranks among the more enterprising and progressive business men. The prosperity of any community, town or city depends upon its commercial activity, its industrial interests and its trade relations, and therefore the real upbuilders of a town are those who stand at the head of the leading enterprises. Mr. Thomas is especially well in- formed concerning realty values and handles property not only in Fos- toria and Seneca county but also throughout the state.

A native of Huron county, Ohio, he was born in Ripley town- ship, and is of English lineage. His paternal great-grandfather Amos Thomas, came from Great Britain and took up his abode in Otsego county, New York. The grandfather of Mahlon also bore the name of Amos Thomas, and he married Elmira Baker. Among their children was Delos L. Thomas, whose birth occurred in Otsego county, New

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York, where he spent the days of his childhood and youth. He wedded Abbie J. Hulbert, a daughter of Hatzel Hulbert, of Otsego county, New York. Two of their sons are now living,-Mahlon A., and Will- iam Leonard, who resides in Toledo. Soon after their marriage the parents emigrated westward, taking up their abode in Huron county, Ohio, about 1850. There the father engaged in farming and general business and there, in 1900, he was called to his final rest, being seventy- four years of age.

Mahlon A. Thomas spent the days of his boyhood at home, and to the public schools of his native county and at Plymouth, Ohio, he is in- debted for the educational privileges enjoyed. He was married October 21, 1880, to Miss Ida J. Hammond, of Huron county, an estimable lady, who shares with him the high regard which is uniformly his. They became residents of this city in 1892, when he established a general mercantile store, which he conducted with success for five years. On the expiration of that period he engaged in the real-estate business, and in his new field of endeavor he has met with results beyond his expecta- tion. His operations extend over a wide area and he has conducted many important real-estate transfers. In association with his brother he owns several farms, in Huron and Wood counties, Ohio, amount- ing to about five hundred acres, and they have made extensive improve- ments on their land and are now interested in the operation of these farms. Mr. Thomas has also made extensive improvements in city prop- erty, and he and his brother are also oil operators in Wood county, where they have leases of about six hundred acres, with about fifty wells in production. Mrs. Thomas is a worker in the Presbyterian church and has served as president of the Ladies' Aid Society. Mr. Thomas is also a stockholder in the Mechanics' Bank, and in his chosen field of labor he is meeting with that creditable success due uniform urbanity and busi- ness acumen. In political thought and action he has always been a Re- publican, but in local matters votes for those he considers best qualified. In business he has achieved success through honorable effort, untiring industry and capable management, and in private life he has gained that warm personal regard which arises from true nobility of character,

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deference for the opinion of others, kindliness and geniality. Mr. Thomas is fond of hunting and has found recreation in numerous ex- cursions in forest and field with his gun, visiting the best hunting grounds in Michigan and in the south. His home is one of the most attractive residence properties in the city of Fostoria, and is a center of refined hospitality, both he and his wife being prominent in the social life of the community.

HENRY ZIEGLER.

There is no one nation that has contributed to the complex com- position of our American social fabric an element of more sterling worth or of greater value in fostering and supporting our national in- stitutions than has Germany. Germany has given us men of sturdy integrity, indomitable perseverance, high intelligence and much business sagacity,-the result being the incorporation of a firm and strength- giving fiber, ramifying through warp and woof. A man who may well look with pride upon his German-American ancestry is the subject of this review, who is a native of Seneca county, where he has passed prac- tically his entire life, devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits, possessing the dominating characteristics mentioned above and attaining a success worthy the name, with the concomitant confidence and regard of his fellow men.

Mr. Ziegler was born on the old homestead farm, in Venice town- ship, Seneca county, on the 23d of March, 1860, being the son of Henry and Louisa (Keller) Ziegler, the former of whom was born in Baden, Germany, and the latter in the kingdom of Bavaria. The father was reared on a farm in the fatherland, where he received his educational training and where he remained until 1854, when he emigrated to Amer- ica, making the voyage on one of the sailing vessels common to that period and being on the deep for forty-eight days. He came to Seneca county soon after his arrival and located in Bloom township, where he began working on a farm by the month, continuing to be thus em-

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ployed about three years, within which time, by his frugality and inde- fatigable toil, he accumulated sufficient money to justify him in the purchase of forty acres of land, in Venice township. He was married in 1858 and soon afterward took up his abode on his farm, where he continued to make his home until 1864 when he purchased eighty acres of land in Eden township, a portion of the same having been cleared and a log house and barn constituting the principal improvements. He subsequently purchased an adjoining eighty acres, and this continued to be his home until his death, on the 9th of November, 1877, at the age of fifty-two years and five months. He was a devout member of the Reformed church, as was also his wife, who accompanied her par- ents, Peter and Susanna Keller, on their emigration to America, in 1852, the voyage being forty-two days in duration. They likewise settled in Bloom township, this county, where they passed the residue of their days. Mrs. Ziegler survived her honored husband many years, passing away on the Ioth of October, 1897, at the age of sixty-three years and ten days. They were people of sterling character, rearing their children to lives of usefulness and honor and being valued citizens of the com- munity. Of their eight children we incorporate a brief record, as follows: Jacob is a farmer of Bloom township; Henry is the subject of this sketch; John lives on the homestead farm, in Eden township : Susanna M. is the wife of W. H. Brouse, of Lykens township, Craw- ford county ; George is engaged in farming in Eden township; Chris- topher L. follows the same vocation in Wyandot county ; and Emeline K. and Adam A. remain at the old homestead. A few years after the death of the father the estate was enlarged by the purchase of an ad- joining tract of ninety acres, upon which a new and commodious resi- dence was erected and other admirable improvements made, and there the mother made her home until her death.

The immediate subject of this review was but four years of age when the family came to Eden township, and here he was reared to maturity, receiving a good common-school education and remaining on the homestead farm until his marriage, in 1887. He then located on a farm of eighty acres, in the same township, devoting his attention to

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its cultivation until 1891, when he removed to Lykens township, Craw- ford county, where he had a farm of one hundred acres. At the ex- piration of two years he came to the farm where he now lives, in Eden township, owning one hundred and sixty acres in the home farm and forty-three acres in Texas township, Crawford county. He has made his homestead one of the fine places of. this section, the same having the best permanent improvements and being maintained under a high state of cultivation, while he also devotes considerable attention to the raising of high-grade live stock. Mr. Ziegler is recognized as one of the pro- gressive and influential farmers of his native county, using marked dis- crimination in the conducting of his agricultural enterprises and thus winning the merited reward of definite success. He is a Democrat in his political proclivities and his religious faith is that of the Reformed church, of which his wife also is a devoted member. He has lived in this community from his childhood and his life has been such as to gain and retain to him unqualified confidence and esteem.

On the 27th of September, 1887, Mr. Ziegler was united in mar- riage to Miss Clara S. Klaiss, likewise a native of Seneca county, and they are the parents of seven children, all of whom remain at the pa- rental home, namely : Frank L., Fannie M., Blanche N., Raymond A., Eliza E., Cora A. and Howard A.

JOSIAH GOODING.

The annals of Seneca county give evidence that the Gooding fam- ily has been identified with its history from the early pioneer epoch, and thus added interest attaches to the consideration of the career of the honored subject of this sketch, who is one of the prominent citizens and successful farmers of the county, in which he has passed his entire life, commanding the same confidence and esteem as did his venerated father, who located here when this section of the state was essentially an un- broken wilderness, the virgin forests standing where now are valuable and finely improved farms and thriving cities and villages. The stren-

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uous life of the pioneer has been the theme of many a writer, and yet never can too much be written concerning those who have blazed the way for progress and prosperity in the various sovereign states of our great republic and have been the founders of our enlightened common- wealths.

Josiah Gooding was born in Adams township, Seneca county, on the 16th of October, 1835, being the son of Josiah and Amelia (Cooper ) Gooding, the former of whom was born in England, on the 12th of Jan- uary, 1803, and the latter in Dutchess county, New York, on October Ioth of the same year. In 1821, when eighteen years of age, the father of our subject emigrated from his native land to America, locating in New York city, where his marriage was solemnized. Of this union ten children were born, namely: Mary, born November 10, 1828, be -! came the wife of John Beigh and is now deceased; George, born De- cember 2, 1827, resides in Hillsdale county, Michigan; William H. died in infancy ; Sarah J., born February 17, 1831, died on the 13th of January, 1865, having been the wife of Michael Bowerman; Cath- erine, born August 27, 1833, is the wife of Daniel Wyant, of Seneca county ; Josiah is the immediate subject of this sketch; Amelia, born April 26, 1837, became the wife of Hiram George and resides in Idaho: Lydia, born July 23, 1838, is the wife of Augustus Hoppes, of Henry county, Ohio; Elizabeth, born November 25, 1840, died on August 16th of the following year; and John C., born July 9, 1842, is a carpet weaver and resides on the old homestead where he was born. Josiah Gooding, Sr., came from New York to Seneca county about the year 1830, locating in Adams township, where he took up one hundred and sixty acres of government land, upon which he built a log cabin of the primitive type, with puncheon floor and wide fireplace. The land was heavily timbered, but he set himself vigorously to the task of reclaiming his farm from the wilderness, and had accomplished this at the time of his death, which occurred on the 6th of December, 1841, when he met with an accident that terminated his life, being thrown from a horse in such a way as to break his neck. His widow survived him many years, passing away on the 7th of November, 1875.

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Josiah Gooding, Jr., the subject of this sketch, remained on the old homestead farm until he had attained the age of sixteen years, early beginning to contribute his quota to its work and securing such edu- cational advantages as were afforded in the district schools of the pio- neer days. When he had reached the age noted, the.homestead was sold, and he then began working by the month as a farm hand, con- tinuing to make his home with his mother until his marriage, in 1859. He then engaged in agricultural operations on his own responsibility, renting a farm for two years and then purchasing eighty acres in Adams township, which tract is a portion of his present valuable estate. A log cabin had been erected on the place and this continued to be his abid- ing place for a number of years, the primitive domicile being far different in order from his present commodious and attractive farm residence. He now has a well improved and highly productive farm of one hundred and seventy acres, and gives his attention to diversified agriculture and to the raising of high grade live stock. Reverting to his youthful days, it should be stated that Mr. Gooding supplemented his common school education by a course of study in the academy at Republic, and when nineteen years of age he put his scholastic acquirements to practical test by engaging in pedagogic work, receiving seventy-five cents per day and continuing to teach, at varying intervals, for ten terms. In poli- tics he has ever given a stanch allegiance to the Republican party, and his religious faith is that of the Lutheran church. He has never sought official preferment, but served for three years as justice of the peace in his township. His life has been ordered upon a high plane of integrity and usefulness, and to him is accorded the unequivocal confidence and es- teem of the people of the community.

Mr. Gooding has been twice married. On the 21st of April, 1859, he wedded Miss Mary A. Petticord, who was born on a farm now owned by her husband, the daughter of Daniel and Sarah ( Rule) Petticord. She was summoned to eternal rest on the 26th of March, 1896. Of this union six children were born, namely: Elvira J., the wife of Benjamin F. Swander, of Adams township; Harry M., a farmer of Pleasant town- ship; William, who died in infancy ; Emma, the wife of J. E. Shellham-

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mer, of Scipio township; George E., who is a farmer of that township; and Herbert A., of Adams township, who is engaged in teaching school, being also incumbent of the office of justice of the peace. On the 23d of April, 1898, Mr. Gooding was united in marriage to Mrs. Nancy M. Pontius, who was born in Adams township, the daughter of James Paine. She became the wife of William Pontius, who died in 1888, leaving four children, Schuyler, Hubbard A.,, Estella and Homer, the last two being now deceased. Mr. Gooding also made a home for Edith Fifer, of Indiana, who remained in his home from the age of eight years until the death of Mrs. Mary A. Gooding, the first wife of our subject.

HENRY K. HERSHISER, M. D.

The life of Dr. Henry K. Hershiser compassed the psalmist's span of three-score years and ten, covering a period of usefulness in which he lived and labored for his fellow men, carrying help and comfort to many. Not only his professional skill but his private life won for him the highest respect of all, and in his death the community lost one of its oldest and most prominent citizens.

Dr. Hershiser was a native of Bedford, Pennsylvania, born July 7, 1832, and on the paternal side was of German lineage, his grandparents having been natives of Germany. Henry Hershiser, his father, was born and reared in Bedford, Pennsylvania, where he learned the dis- tiller's trade, as a boy, though at twenty years of age he secured em- ployment on a farm. In 1833 he came to Seneca county and settled in Venice township, where he entered one hundred and sixty acres of gov- ernment land, covered with a dense growth of timber ; but soon the mon- archs of the forest fell before his sturdy strokes, and as the land was cleared he placed it under cultivation, continuing his residence thereon until five years prior to his death, when he sold his farm and removed to Columbus. In his business affairs he met with a fair degree of suc- cess, securing a comfortable competence. He was generous, warm-

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hearted and kindly, and his life was in harmony with his professions as a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He gave his political support first to the Whig party and afterward to the Republican party, and although he strongly endorsed the principles which he upheld by his ballot, he would never consent to become a candidate for office. He married Maria B. Kegg, who was born and reared in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and who was of Scotch-Irish descent. Like her hus- band, she was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and, surviving him for thirteen years, she died at the age of eighty-one.

Henry K. was about a year old when brought to Seneca county, where he passed his youthful days upon the farm, working in the fields through the summer months, while in the winter season he attended the public schools until sixteen years of age. He then went to Columbus, where he resided with his brother, William Hershiser, who was chief clerk in the state treasury department for eighteen years. He there se- cured a position as salesman in a drug store, where he remained for about eight or nine years, during which time he began reading medicine, hav- ing become imbued with the idea of making its practice his life work.

After about five years' reading he attended lectures in the Columbus Medical College. In 1861 he began practice, and for a short time served as assistant surgeon of the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Regiment of Ohio Volunteers. He was then transferred to Camp Douglas, at Chicago, Illinois, where he was engaged in treating small-pox patients for fourteen months.

In 1865 the Doctor came to Tiffin, purchasing a drug store, which he conducted with success for nine years, having a large and well merited patronage. On the expiration of that period he sold his store, and up to the time of his death gave his attention entirely to his practice, which became large and lucrative. He kept informed concerning the advance- ment continually being made in his profession, and all improvements of practical nature he readily adopted, ever earnestly desiring to attain as high a degree of perfection as possible in the prosecution of his life work, in order that his efforts might be of greatest benefit to his fellow men. His skill and ability were again and again demonstrated each year by

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the masterly manner in which he handled difficult cases, and solved the perplexing problems which continually confront the physician.

Dr. Hershiser was united in marriage to Miss Susan D. Myers, a native of Clear Springs, Maryland, who died in 1871. She was a con- sistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a most estima- ble lady. They had two children ; but the son died in infancy, while the daughter, Jessie D., is now librarian in the city library of Tiffin.

Socially the Doctor was connected with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Tiffin Lodge, No. 77, F. & A. M .; Seneca Chapter, No. 42, R. A. M. ; Clinton Council, No 47, R. & S. M., and De Molay Command- ery, No. 9, K. T .; while in the Scottish rite he attained the eighteenth degree, in Columbus. The Doctor belonged to the Seneca County Medical Society and to William H. Gibson Post of the Grand Army of the Re- public. For sixty-nine years he resided in Seneca county and during the greater part of that period was connected with its business interests, either as a representative of commercial or of professional pursuits. He commanded public confidence and respect to a high degree and his life was ennobling to his fellow men. His name is associated with meri- torious deeds, and all through Seneca county his work brought relief and comfort to thousands of homes burdened by sickness and distress. He passed away October 8, 1901, at the age of seventy years, three months and one day, and the honors conferred upon him by devoted friends were but a just recognition of the exalted worth, untarnished in- tegrity and commendable character of a widely esteemed man.

JACOB DEWALD.

Within the pages of this work will be found specific mention of many sterling citizens who are native sons of Seneca county and who have here passed their entire lives, becoming identified with the industrial activi- ties of this section of the state, and gaining success through their well directed endeavors. Of this number is the subject of this sketch, who is one of the progressive and highly esteemed farmers of Hopewell town- ship.

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Mr. Dewald was born in Loudon township, this county, on the 14th of March, 1860, being one of the nine children of Peter and Barbara ( Smith) Dewald, of whom individual mention is made elsewhere in this work, so that further recapitulation in regard to them and the family genealogy is not demanded in this connection. Jacob grew up on the old homestead farm, early becoming inured to the sturdy duties pertaining to its operation and receiving his educational discipline in the public schools. His marriage was celebrated in 1886, and after this import- ant event in his career he rented eighty acres of land from his father, in Loudon township, and there successfully engaged in general farm- ing for a period of fourteen years. At the expiration of this time, in July, 1900, Mr. Dewald purchased his present fine farm of eighty acres, in Hopewell township, taking up his residence on the place in the spring of the following year. He brings the most approved and scientific meth- ods to bear in his farming industry, realizing that in this, as in all other lines of business enterprise, the highest results are to be attained only by the means of discrimination, careful attention to details and the utili- zation of all available facilities. His farm is under a high state of cultivation, is well improved and is one of the valuable places of this sec- tion. In politics Mr. Dewald gives his allegiance to the Democratic party, and both he and his wife are members of the Reformed church.

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A centennial biographical history of Seneca County, Ohio, Part 8

Author: Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 864

Author:
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 864