A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1, Part 17

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : A.W. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1310

USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1 > Part 17
USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1 > Part 17

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William L. Bechtol, "the subject of this sketch, was born on the farm and brought up to all kinds of farm labor. His education was received in the old-fashioned log school-house. and with the inadequate facilities common in those days. As the land was all covered with timber there was plenty of chopping to be done, for that was long before the days of the use of the saw for felling trees. He was there- fore early initiated into the art of chopping down trees and chopping the fallen trees into

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OF ALLEN COUNTY.

logs, to be split up into rails and for other purposes. Thus he spent a good many years of his life, feeling that the bodily strength ac- quired by hard work was a sufficient compen- sation. Remaining at home with his parents until he was twenty-three years of age, he was then married, in November, 1872, to Miss Mary Cameron, who lived afterward only six years, and, dying, left two children, viz: Mary A., born January 3, 1874, and an infant, de- ceased. Mr. Bechtol married for the second wife Miss Nannie Blossom, by whom he had four children, viz: Earl, who died when six years old; Grover, who died at the age of three; Mina, born September 18, 1882, and Hazel, born July 24, 1886. The mother of these children died in 1888, March 13, and Mr. Bechtol married for his third wife Miss Anna Snyder, who was born in Van Wert county, and is the daughter of Lafayette and Mittie (Sidenbender) Snyder. His third mar- riage occurred November 3, 1889.

Mr. Bechtol began life for himself by rent- ing a large farm for six years. He then pur- chased fifty-five acres of unimproved land in Marion township, which he cleared and im- proved, and built upon it a good frame house, and barns, beside other out-buildings. This farm remained his home until 1886, when he erected a neat and cosy frame cottage in Elida, in which he has since resided. His time is occupied in looking after his farm, and in performing such duties as his fellow-citizens intrust him with. Politically he is a democrat and takes an active interest in anything that pertains to his party's success and good stand- ing. He has held the office of councilman and has been township trustee for three years. He is a member of Lima lodge, No. 205, F. & A. M., and Elida lodge, No. 818, I. O. O. F. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and are of high standing in the community.

J OSEPH T. BENEDUM, one of the lead- ing citizens of Allen county, Ohio, was born in Loudoun county, Va., Novem- ber 27, 1830. That he has been in- dustrious and economical is sufficiently evident from his success in the world, and he is widely known as a solid, substantial man. He has assisted his children to get a good start in the world, and he has always been a liberal, open- hearted and open-handed man, ready at all times to assist tlie cause of religion. the cause of education, any any other good and worthy cause, by which his friends and neighbors will be benefited in any way.

Joseph T. Benedum is a son of John and Mary (Carr) Benedum, who were respectively natives of Maryland and Virginia. John Bene- dum was a farmer and beside followed teaming over long distances, hauling freight from one part of the country to another, there being much of this kind of work to do before the age of the iron horse. Politically he was origin- ally a whig, but later he united with the re- publican party. He was also a devout mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was for many years a class leader. He was emphatically a good man. large-hearted and loved by all who knew him. Death overtook him when he was eighty-four years of age. in Carroll county, Ohio, his wife, who was, like him, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. dying when she_was eighty-six years old. John and Mary Benedum were the par- ents of nine children, viz: James, deceased: Edmund, a tinner by trade, living at Leesville. Carroll county, Ohio: William, a farmer living at the same place: Martha, deceased wife of George Long: Mary Ann, widow of John Moore, now living in Tuscarawas courts, Ohio; Josephi T., the subject of this sketch. Amos A., who died while in the service of his coun- try; Franklin, who died in Carroll county; and Susannah, deceased wife of Dr. Brower, of

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Coshocton, Ohio, of whom, it will be perceived, the majority grew to years of maturity.

Joseph T. Benedum was reared on a farm and received but a limited education in the public schools. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, at which time he rented a farm in Carroll county, and followed farming four years, when he married Miss Elizabeth Holmes, of that county. She was born in 1832. After his marriage he contin- ued farming on rented land for about two years, and then bought a farm of 100 acres in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, upon which he lived about eight years, when he sold that farm and bought another, containing 10 acres. to which he subsequently added forty acres, mak- ing 150 acres in all. Thiis farm he held two years, or until about 1863, when he sold out and removed to Allen county, driving through in wagons, and here purchased 200 acres in German township, in sections 20 and 29. Of these 200 acres he has cleared about 100, and he has from time to time added other acres un- til in all his farm would have contained 270 acres, but for his having given to his children some ninety acres, so that he has left but iSo acres. This is one of the best improved farms in the township, and has good buildings, honse, barn, and other buildings needed by the modern farmer who is abreast of the times. Mr. Benedum has always followed general farming and stock raising, and has met with gratifying success.

Mr. Benedum has always been a republican, and he and his wife are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. He has taken great interest in the work of both church and Sunday-school. having been assistant super- intendent of the latter for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Beneduin have a family of eight children, viz: William, a farmer, owning eighty acres of land in Amanda township: Mary, wife of Thomas Long, a farmer of Ger-

man township: John, also a fanner of German township; Charles, living at home; Obed, of Spencerville, Allen county, Ohio; Bertha, wife James Kennedy, of Allentown, Allen county; Thirza, wife of Charles Shook, of German township, and Ida, living at home.

DWARD R. BENTLEY, formerly and for some years the leading blacksmith and mechanic of Kalida, but since the fall of 1895 a resident of Bluffton, Ohio, was born May 8, 1866, in the last named place. His parents were James D. and Eliz- abeth (Fenton) Bentley, the former of whom was born in Youngstown, Mahoning county, Ohio, July 27. 1826. James D. Bentley was one of five children born to John Bentley, of Irish parentage, and his wife, Margaret (Patent) Bentley. He was educated in the common schools near his home, and early learned the trade of blacksmith. When a young man he came with his parents in a wagon drawn by oxen to Bluffton, where they were among the early pioneers of that part of Allen county. For some time he engaged in farming near Bluffton and afterward engaged in the huckster and trading business, spending several years of his life upon the road. employed by Abram Long. After settling in Bluffton he engaged in smithing with Robert Cox, and was one of the first blacksmiths in the eastern part of Allen county. For twenty years he success- fully pursued his trade until failing eyesight compelled him to give it up. He then again took to the road and sold one of the first sew- ing machines put upon the market. He after- ward engaged in contracting and building roads. Having recovered his eyesight, he re- turned to the forge and opened a shop on the present site of the city building in Bluffton. From that tune he continued blacksmithing until old age compelled him to give up active

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OF ALLEN COUNTY.

work. Along with his smithing he had en- gaged in farming to a limited extent.

January 1, 1830, he was married to Eliz- abeth, daughter of Robert and Mary (McRea) Fenton, who was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, in 1831, of Irish parentage. She was one of seven children, being the twin sister of John Fenton, of Bluffton. She was also edu- cated in the common schools of her native county, and when a child she came with her parents to Bluffton, where they were among the early pioneers of that part of Allen county, Ohio. Eight children blessed this union, viz: William P., ex-postmaster of Bluffton and now a successful livery man there; John M., ex- postmaster of Ada, Ohio, where he is now a grocer and farmer; Jeanie, the wife of Albert L. Clark, of Bluffton; Charles F., a painter of the same place; Minerva I., married to H. S. Martin, of Lima, Ohio; Della, who resides in Bluffton; Frank, deceased: Edward R., the subject of our sketch. Mr. and Mrs. Bentley were prominent members of the Methodist church, in the faith of which the wife died on September 22, 1890. The husband was a deacon in the church, and was also a charter member of the Bluffton lodge, No. 371. I. O. O. F., and member of the Rebecca lodge, No. 263, and was held in high esteem by its mem- bers. Politically he was a stanch supporter of the principles of the republican party, and was frequently elected by that party to local offices of the community. He was charitable and benevolent, honored and respected by all. His death occurred July 16, 1892.

Edward R. Bentley was educated in the Bluffton union schools, and learned the black- smithing trade of his father, with whom he worked for a number of years, and worked in various places in order to perfect himself in his chosen profession. In 1891 he opened his shop in Kalida, where he enjoyed a large and profitable business. On September 12, 1894.

he married Lillian M. Bowman, who was born in Columbus Grove, April 5, 1871, a daughter of Daniel B. and Martha J. (Galbreth) Bow- man, and a member of the Methodist church. Her father is a native of this county, and was born in 1853 of good old Irish ancestry; he was one of the twins born to Joseph and Cla- rissa (Bigum) Bowman, of Putnam county. Her mother was born in Allen county, in 1854. her parents being William and Christina (Ahlefield) Galbreth, formerly of Allen county, but now living in Kalida. To Mr. and Mrs. Bentley one child has been born. Leon D., born August 6, 1895. In the fall of 1895. as stated, Mr. Bentley found it to his advantage to remove to Bluffton, where he enjoys the respect of all who know him.

J OHN H. BERRYMAN .-- In the case of the family whose history is here to be briefly traced. there were seven brotli- ers, who came together from England to America. These seven brothers were named, so far as their names can now be re- called, John, James, George. William and Thomas-the names of two being lost. Their emigration was made prior to the Revolution- ary war, and their settlement in this country was made in New Jersey. From these seven brothers have sprung all the Berrymans in the United States, and they are now found in all parts of the country. From William have de- scended the Berrymans of Ohio. William Berryman served in the Revolutionary war against the mother country, having felt her oppression before his abandonnent of her some years before. He reared his family in New Jersey, and it is presumed, though it is not known, that he died in that state. He had one son. William, that emigrated to Virginia after the close of the Revolutionary war, and settled near Wheeling. Some time later he

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

removed to Montgomery county, Ohio, and lo- cated near Dayton, on a farm, upon which he lived some years, and then he removed to what is now Auglaize county, but before that county was organized. In Logan township he en- tered 200 acres of land, upon which he lived the remainder of his days, dying in 1830, and being buried in the Amanda grave yard. He was a soldier in the war of 1812-15 from Vir- ginia, in which state he married Miss Rachel Clauson, of New Jersey, whose parents enii- grated to Virginia when she was small, and by whom he had the following children: Thomas, who died in Allen county, Ohio; William, of Spencerville, Ohio; Russell, Ephraim, and. John, deceased; Eliza, who married, for her first husband, Abraham Whetstone, and for her second, Henry Noble; Mattie, deceased wife of Samuel Whetstone; Mercy, deceased wife of Dye Sunderland, who settled in Amanda township in 1820, and Annie M., who married a Mr. Gregory.

Russell Berryman was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1815, and when seven years of age removed with his parents to Allen county. During his boyhood days he spent much time with the Indians, making them his daily companions. Under these circumstances it was perfectly natural for him to learn their language, and the Shawnee language became almost as familiar to him as his native tongue. He was reared on the family homestead, and there spent the most of his life. So far as politics was concerned he was a deinocrat, and took great interest in political and public af- fairs; but office was distasteful to him, and the only office he could ever be prevailed upon to accept was that of director of the infirmary. He married Margaret Slain, of Virginia (now West Va.), she dying in 1846, the mother of the following children: Cornelia, wife of Dr. E. A. Stockton, who died in Mexico: Ephraim, who died in Spencer township;

Rosabel, wife of A. F. Blackburn, of Kansas; John H., of Lima, and James of Saint Mary's, Ohio. For his second wife Russell Berryman married Elizabeth Whetstone, by whom he had the following children: Flora, wife of J. G. Miller; Mercy, deceased; Abrahamn, of Paulding county; Margaret, wife of L. Cochran; William, of Auglaize county; Rosetta, wife of William Myers; Corabel, deceased wife of Ben- jamin Shoppel, and Warren, of Saint Mary's Ohio. The father of these children died Jan- uary 9, 1878, his widow surviving him.

John H. Berryman, the immediate subject of this sketch, was born August 19, 1843, on the old homestead, upon which he remained until he was twenty years of age, receiving in the meantime a good education in the common schools, which has been greatly extended and perfected by contract with the world. From the age last mentioned for about three years he was engaged in various Occupations, testing himself and testing the world, and in 1867 he settled down upon a farm in Shawnee town- ship, upon which he lived some twelve or four- teen years. In 1880 he purchased his present farm of 120 acres, to which he has since added forty-two acres, so that at the present time his farm is comprised of 162 acres. In 1891 he established his present dairy business, and in the winter of 1891-92 he established his dairy store in Lima. -

Politically Mr. Berryman is a democrat and he takes great interest in the success of his party. He has served two terms as township trustee and has been several times a delegate to county and state conventions. In 1896 he was a prominent candidate for nomination to congress at the hands of his party, showing the prominence of the position he holds in the estimation of his party friends. In religious belief he is a Methodist, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Shawnee township. Mr. Berryman was married March

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OF ALLEN COUNTY.

12, 1868, to Miss Sallie Boyd daughter of Abra- ham Boyd of Trumbull county, who emigrated from that county to Allen county in 1830. To this marriage there bave been born the following children: Myrtle, Margaret, John Russell, Mabel, deceased; Harriet, Robert and Waldo. From the foregoing sketch it is manifest that John H. Berryman is a man of more than ordinary ability and enterprise, and he is in point of fact one of the most progressive and extensive farmers and dairymen in the northwestern part of the state, if not in the entire state. To what extent his example has been contagious can not be fully stated, though it is doubtless true that his life has had a far-reaching influ- ence upon young men who have had before them in his career a demonstration that inde- pendence and influence may be obtained, with- out going into any co-operative plans and schemes, in which the individuality of each member must necessarily be absorbed by and swallowed up in the community to which he may happen to belong.

ILLIAM F. BLAIR, superintendent of the Orphan Home of Allen county, is a son of Dr. Brice and Rebecca (Perdew) Blair, the former of whom was a son of Brice Blair, of Bedford county, Pa. The family belong to that famous race, Scotch-Irish, which has given to this country so many of its sturdy sons, among them the eighth president of the United States, Andrew Jackson, whose personality produced such a permanent effect upon the destiny of the Union. The ancestors of Mr. Blair origin- ally came from Ireland, and settled in Cminber- land valley in Pennsylvania.

Brice Blair, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was one of the early settlers of Bedford county, that state. He married Agnes McCauley, who was born in Baltimore,

Md., and to this union were born the following children: John. Archibald, Edmund, James, Brice, Rebecca, Rachel, Mary, Susanna, Sarah, Elizabeth. Nancy. Mr. McCauley, father of Mrs. Brice Blair, passed his life as a farmer in Bedford county, where he died in the present century.

Dr. Brice Blair, father of the subject, was born January 22, 1813, in Bedford county, Pa. He read medicine with Dr. McPherson, of Tuscarawas county, coming to Ohio in 1835, and settling near New Albany, Tuscarawas county, practicing there until the fall of 1854, when he removed to Allen county, settling in Jackson township, where he purchased a farm of sixty acres of land. Besides this small piece of land in Jackson township he also owned 240 acres in Auglaize township, and also 160 acres in Stark county. Ind., which he. however, purchased some time later, so that he was somewhat of a landed proprietor at one time.

The farm in Jackson township he cieared up of its timber and improved as well as the one in Auglaize township, so that he found but little time to devote to his profession. He died in Jackson township on his farm, March 10, 1876, widely known as a wide-awake, active, industrious and enterprising man. Politically he was a democrat, and religiously a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, was a trustee of his church and took unusual interest in the work and success of the Sunday- school. Dr. Blair was married in 1843. His wife, born January 19, 1814, is a danghter of William Perdew, of Bedford county. Pa., and is still residing on the home farm in Jackson township, the father of the following children: Nancy. Sarah, Mary, William and Rebecca. By her marriage to Dr. Blair Rebecca became the mother of the following children: Jolm, of Anglaize township: Edward, of the same town- ship: Martin, who died in 1876; Nathan P., of

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

Auglaize township; Brice, of the same town- ship; William F .: James H. (deceased), of Auglaize township; Nancy, widow of Isaac Heffner: Clara, wife of Harrison Heffner; Jen- nie (deceased), wife of John McCnllough; Elizabeth, wife of Madill Fisher; and Mary, wife of David Applas, and Jessie Allen (deceased).

William F. Blair was born October 23, 1849, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and was reared in Jackson township, Allen county. His education was superior to that generally re- ceived by the young men of that time, as in addition to a good common-school training, he attended the high school at Lima, and Dela- ware college, and also the Western Normal university at Ada. Besides all this he read medicine with his father; but notwithstanding this preparation for the practice of one of the most useful of the professions, he preferred teaching school, for which he was eminently prepared. He therefore taught in the public schools of Allen county for twenty years -- in Jackson township, in Bath, in Auglaize and in Perry township. in all of which has he scholars who still pleasantly remember his work among them and for them. In 1879, tired of the life of a pedagogue, he settled down upon his father's farm in Auglaize township, and became a general farmer and stock raiser. The fol- lowing summer he purchased a farm in Jack- son township, supplying ample room for the exercise of any ability he might possess. Upon this fine farm he was occupied in the way just mentioned for twelve years, and then he ac- cepted a position with the Ohio Oil company, being engaged with them leasing land, etc., until 1893. when he was appointed to his present honorable position, that of superin- tendent of the Orphans' Home, Allen county, which he fills to the acceptance of all. While he was a resident of Jackson township he was made a trustee thereof. Politically Mr. Blair

is a democrat, and he is a member of the county central committee. Fraternally he is a inember of Lima lodge, No. 91, K. of P.

Mr. Blair was married, in 1879, to Miss Rosetta E., daughter of W. H. Craig, of Jack- son township, and has a family of children as follows: Luther C., Cliff, Harry, Ethel and Leah. W. H. Craig, father of Mrs. Blair, is.one of the progressive and substantial farm- ers of Jackson township. He is of English descent on both sides of his family. His great- grandfather, George Craig, came from England and settled in Washington county, Pa., and it is believed he was a soldier in the Revolution- ary war. He died in Washington county, in which county the grandfather of the subject's wife was born, was reared to manhood and was married to a Miss Pittinger. After the death of his wife he moved westward, to High- land county, Ohio, in 1833, and was there among the pioneers. He was always a farmer. did not remarry, and died in the last named county, being instantly killed while cutting down a wild cherry tree, when working on the public road.

Joseph Craig, his son, and the father of W. H. Craig, was born in Washington county. Pa. He was about twenty years of age when his father came to Ohio, where Joseph mar- ried a Miss Charlotte Rains, daughter of George and Nancy Rains. Joseph Craig and his wife. Charlotte, were the parents of the fol- lowing children: George T .: William H .: Louisa, who died at the age of eighteen. Martha, wife of W. F. Straw; Nancy, wife of Frederick Bashore; Angeline, wife of Thomas Bashore; and John. After their marriage the parents of these children lived for a number of years in Highland county, engaged in farming. but in :352 he removed to Jackson township. Allen county. Upon his 160-acre farm he en- gaged in general farming and in raising stock He was an old-line whig, later a republican,

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OF ALLEN COUNTY.

was township trustee, township treasurer, and a school-teacher, besides being one of the early pioneers. He died in 1872, his widow dying in February, 1881.

William H. Craig was born May 3, 1835, in Highland county, and was seventeen years of age when his parents removed into Allen county. While he received a good education in his youth, yet he always preferred farming to any other calling, thereby showing excellent judgment. Mr. Craig was married June 2, 1858, to Susan Hulliber, daughter of John and Mary (Keith) Hulliber, of Licking county, and has children as follows: Rosetta E., wife of Mr. Blair; Mary C .; Iva C., deceased; Ara- minta L .; Nora O .; Walter W. Mary C. is the wife of N. M. Boyd: Araminta L. is the wife of Clement Patterson; Nora O., is the wife of Percy A. Kershaw, a successful teacher of Jackson township, and a printer by trade. Mr. Craig enlisted in April, 1862, in company D, One Hundred and Sixty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, and campaigned in Maryland, the Dis- trict of Columbia, and Virginia, doing consid- erable skirmishing near the capital, and was honorably discharged in September, 1862. Immediately upon his marriage he settled on a farm of fertile land, well situated and well im- proved, which he has still more improved. He is a strong republican, but has never cared for office, preferring to devote his time to his legit- imate calling. He is widely known and a highly respected citizen.

.......

AVID M. BLISS, one of the most prominent agriculturists of Marion township, Allen county, Ohio, is a son of a pioneer, and was born in Lima, the county seat of Allen county, July 17, 1845, of good old English Puritan descent paternally.

Col. Lester Bliss, father of our subject, is

a putative son of Knox (now Morrow) county, Ohio, and was born August 10, 1847, although is claimed by an elder sister that the place of his nativity was Cooperstown, N. Y. Dr. David Bliss, father of Col. Bliss, was a practitioner at Cooperstown, N. Y., but was born in Con- necticut of English Puritan ancestry. He mar- ried Mary VanTress, of New York, of Holland descent. Samuel Bliss. great-grandfather of our subject, and father of Dr. David Bliss, was a patriot in the war of the Revolution. Dr. David Bliss was the pioneer physician of Sparta, Morrow county, Ohio, where he prac- ticed until his death, which occurred in 1846, at the age of about sixty years, and where he also served as a justice of the peace. He was the father of seven children, viz: Dr. Morgan L., Maria, Mason, Mahala, Porter, Lester and Mary A., all now deceased with the excep- tion of the two last named.

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A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1, Part 17

Author: Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago : A.W. Bowen Number of Pages: 1310

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : A.W. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1310