A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1, Part 18

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 18
USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1 > Part 18

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Col. Lester Bliss received a liberal educa- tion at Gambier (Knox county) and Granville (Licking county). Ohio, and studied law in Mount Vernon, Ohio, under the Hon. Henry B. Curtis, a leading lawyer and a inan of wealth --- practiced his profession at Lima, Allen county, Ohio, until 1850. then removed to Delphos, where he continued in practice until the breaking out of the Civil war. in the meantime having been elected, by the demo- cratic party, twice as prosecuting attorney of Allen county; also, in (850, as the first mayor of Delphos, and in 1853 as a member of the state legislature: the same year he was also nominated for the office of lieutenant governor of the state of Ohio, but withdrew his name from the ticket in order to accept the position of superintendent of the Ohio & Indiana rail- road-an office be filled for several years.

Angust 1, 1862, Lester Bliss enlisted at Delphos, in the One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, and was at once ap- pointed quartermaster, with the rank of major;

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one year latter was commissioned lieutenant- colonel and served with Burnside in the east, and was also at the siege of Knoxville, and in many minor engagements, and served until ill- health compelled him to resign his commission in 1865. In 1863 he purchased his present farm, comprising 312 acres, on which he has . resided since the close of the war, when he discontinued the practice of his profession, ill- health precluding its further continuance. The first marriage of Col. Bliss took place, in 1844, to Miss Belinda Hover, daughter of Emanuel and Caroline (Adgate) Hover, and this union was blessed with two children-David M. and Lester L., of whom the latter was a soldier in the Civil war and died at Fort Scott. Kans. The domestic happiness resulting from the first matrimonial alliance of Col. Bliss was of short duration only, as Mrs. Bliss was called away in 1843, and the second marriage of the colonel was with Miss Aldulia, daughter of Willianı Curtis, the result of this union being one child only-Dr. Charles C. Bliss, of Del- phos. For thirty years Col. Bliss has been a meniber of the Methodist church, in which he has filled all the major offices. At the outset of his political career Mr. Bliss was a demo- crat, and at the outbreak of the war became a war democrat, and later on joined the repub- lican party; he is a member of the G. A. R. post at Delphos, and has ever been an active factor in the affairs of the county, which he has guarded with the utmost care.

David M. Bliss, the subject of this sketch. received his preliminary education in the com- mon schools of Delphos, and this was supple- mented by an attendance for two years at the Wesleyan college of Delaware, Ohio; he then read law with his father, but never engaged in practice. For two years he was in mercantile business at Delphos, and also conducted a newspaper at Sidney, Ohio, two years, and later a paper at. Lima. His first marriage was

with Miss Mary A. Lytle, who died of con- sumption nine months after the wedding, and Mr. Bliss, in 1870, was joined in wedlock with Alice J. Neel, of Lima, Ohio-this union being blessed with three children, viz: Lester L., Neel V. and Mary A. In religion Mir. Bliss is a Methodist; in politics he is independ- ent, but has filled the office of justice of the peace and township trustee, and has been a member of the board of education for fifteen years. He is a member of the K. of P. at Delphos and is well known throughout Allen county for his integrity and unswerving devo- tion to his word. His skill as a farmer is universally recognized, and his social standing, with that of his family, is with the best circles in the township and county.

J OHN M. BOND, of Spencerville, Allen county, Ohio, is among the best known citizens of the township and is a repre- sentative man among good inen. His birthplace is Summit county, Ohio, where he was born March 28. 1836. He is the son of Elijah and Catherine ( Whipple) Bond, who are supposed to be of English descent. The father of John M. Bond came to Allen county in the year 1814 and rented a sinall farul where the Lima cemetery is now located; later he purchased 100 acres in Perry town- ship, where he moved his family in 1842 and began clearing up the farm on which he lived until 1871, but had sold it in 1863 to a son-in- law, with whom he made his home until he and his wife moved to Lisbon, Ind., in 1871, where they died-the father in 1876 and the mother four years later. Mr. Bond was in every sense a public-spirited man, a good citi- zen and a zealous Christian. Seven children were born to this union: Mary, Philena, Char- lotte, Harriet, Jane, Marinda and John M.

John M., our subject, the youngest child.

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whose early years were spent in the shop, on young womanhood, was educated in the com- mon schools, and at the age of fifteen years was called to her long home, being sadly missed by her school-mates and friends. In September, 1860, Mr. Bond was united in marriage with Sarah Franklin, who died Au- gust 7, 1891, at the age of fifty-three years, having borne here husband three children, viz: Emma, Charley and Fanny, all now deceased. Again, in August, 1893; Mr. Bond chose for his third companion Mrs. Phebe Rose, who shares his lot and enjoys the comfortable home that he provided through his own industry and good management. Mr. Bond is one of the representative and well-to-do men of his neigh- borhood and he and his wife are both mem- bers of the Christian church, being numbered among the honored and highly respected citi- zens of Spencerville. the farm and in assisting his father in clearing up a home in Perry township, at the early age of eighteen years began life for himself in 1856, and thereafter operated the home farm and took care of his parents. In 1863 he made a vigorous effort to get into the service, but he did not succeed until May, 1864, when he enlisted in company D, One Hundred and Fifty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, and served four months, being quartered about Washing- ton. Returning west, he settled in Lima and began carpentering and building, which work he continued to follow until 1868, when he engaged as pattern maker in the Lima machine shops, remaining there four years. He then bought an interest in a marble shop and operated it for two years as traveling sales- man, after which he engaged in the grocery business for another two years, when he sold out and again began traveling for a Philadel- .... phia wholesale grocery firm, but after a year ILLIAM BOOGHER, a young. en- terprising and popular citizen of Hume, Allen county, Ohio, was born May 15. 1861, and is a son of Seeley and Margaret (Helwig) Boogher. The family have been residents of Ohio for at least three generations, the grandfather. Daniel Boogher. having been born in this state. His parents settled at an early day in Dayton, Montgomery county, and were among that city's first residents. going there in ist. Daniel Boogher was born in 1803. and was eight years old when his parents located in Dayton. What became of his parents is not stated, but when he arrived at manhood's es- tate he began operating a stage-coach between Dayton and Springfield, Ohio, which he con- tinued for some years. He subsequently be- came a traveling salesman for a Cincinnati house, and was one of the very first salesmen on the road from that city, and indeed from bought an interest in a grocery business at Lima. In the meantime he had traded for eighty acres of improved land in Spencer town- ship, and in the fall of 1882 moved to Spencer- ville, purchased a lot and built a commodious house, where he now lives, but has devoted much of his time to the improvement of his farm. Since 1860 he has affiliated with the republican party, and in politics, as in every- thing else he is interested in, puts a fair share of enthusiasm into it. In 1895 he was nomi- nated as candidate for county commissioner on the republican ticket, and has served as alder- man for four years in Lima. He has been an Odd Fellow for thirty years, is a member of Allen lodge, Lima, No. 223, and is also a member of Lima encampment, No. 62. Mr. Bond has been thrice married-his first wife was Miss Fannie Davis, who died in March, 1859, at the age of twenty-three years; one child blessed this union, Minnie, who grew to . any city in the country, although it has been

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claimed for Chicago that she was the initiator of this method of reaching the trade. Some time about 1850 he purchased a farm about five miles from Dayton, upon which he lived until 1883, when he died.

Daniel Boogher married Rachel Danford, of Dayton, by whom he had children as fol- lows: Mary, deceased, who married Cooper Crew; Samantha, widow of Daniel Andrews, of Mansfield; Daniel, who resides near Day- ton, and Seeley, the father of the subject. Seeley Boogher was born September 18. 1839, in Dayton, Ohio, was well educated in the common schools, and reared on the farm until 1862, when he enlisted in the Fourteenth Ohio battery, afterward, however, being trans- ferred to the mounted cavalry and was dis- charged in 1865, having served until the close of the war. His experience was very extensive and varied, all the ordinary hardships of the soldier's lot falling to his share, though he was not taken prisoner nor seriously wounded. The war having come to an end, he returned to the old homestead, where he lived until his death in 1872. Politically Mr. Boogher was a democrat and an unusually patriotic man. His wife survives him and now resides in Saint Mary's, Ohio. Seeley Boogher and his wife were the parents of two children-William, of Hume, and Alvin G., of Auglaize county.

ern Railroad company, and finally, in 1880. came to Hume, in Allen county, as telegraph operator and station agent for the company above named, and established himself. in 188 :. as a merchant in Hume. In 1890 he resigned his position as telegraph operator, but con- tinned in his position as agent for the rail- road company. At the same time Mr. Boog- her is engaged in purchasing grain and lumber for the eastern markets, finding in all ampk. opportunity for the exercise of good judgment and business talent.

Politically Mr. Boogher is an ardent re- publican, doing all that lies in his power, with- out reference to office or other reward, for his party's success. In 1892 he was elected town- ship clerk in a democratic township, overcon- ing an adverse majority of upward of ninety, a fact which by itself speaks volumes for his popularity. In 1882 he was appointed post- master at Hume, and held this office until 1893, when, on account of a change in the national administration from Benjamin Harri- son to Grover Cleveland, he was superseded by the present incumbent. Fraternally Mr. Boogher is a. member of Lima lodge, No. 91. K. of P. He was married August 13, 1882. to Miss Louisa Fritz, daughter of Adam Fritz. of New Bremen, Ohio, by whom he has had four children, viz: Alice, William F., Charles O. and Neilic-the latter deceased. Mr Boogher is a public-spirited citizen. active !! all good works, not only in local politics, but " in school matters, in religions matters, and education was secured at the public schools | in all social matters, where there is an oppor tunity to confer a benefit on his fellow-men.

The old homestead was the scene of William Boogher's boyhood days. There he worked at whatever his hands could find to do, assisting his father to carry on the farm. His of Dayton, which have been for many years well supplied with good teachers and the most modern school appliances. After leaving school he learned telegraphy, and for five years was J ACOB BOOK, one of the leading and prosperous men of Allen county, Ohio. is a resident of Spencer township. He was born in Marion county, Ohio, Juh employed in telegraphing and in the post-office at New Bremen, Auglaize county. After this he was located at Saint Mary's, in the same county. as operator for the Lake Erie & West- 24, 1844, and is the son of John and Cath-

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erine (Epley) Book, both deceased. They were natives of Wittenburg, Germany, but came to the United States before they were married, in the year 1819, settling in Marion county, where two sons were born to them, viz: Adam and Jacob. The father of our subject was born about the year 1811, and lived in Marion county until 1863, when he bought a farm of 240 acres in Spencer town- ship, Allen county, and Jennings township. Van Wert county, where Jacob Book, of whom we write, now resides, on section No. 27. His death occurred May 2, 1893, the mother's in 1878. A family of nine children were born to them: Mary, Catherine, Lydia, Jacob, Car- oline, Adam, Rosannah, Annie, and Louisa.

loss perhaps of his constituents. He is a Free- mason and also belongs to the local grange. He is a self-made man and is a product which no good man need be ashamed of. Honor- able in his dealings, industrious in his habits. and true in the best instinct of a generous na- ture, he has succeeded, as such qualities com- bined guarantee success. The parents of Mrs. Book were natives of New Jersey, and War- ren county, Ohio, and made their home in Jen- nings township, Van Wert county, until a short time prior to the father's death, which occurred December 10, 1891, when he was living with his daughter in Allen county. The mother died in 1855. The had seven children: Joseph and Wilson, deceased: Nancy; Isabella: Mahlan, deceased; James; and an infant daugh- ter, deceased; the father was of German de- scent and the mother of English extraction.

Jacob Book remained on the farm the most of the time until twenty-six years of age, working now and then at the carpenter's trade. At this time he married and located himself on the home farm, operating the same until now, devoting himself to stock raising of the higher ILLIAM S. BOTKINS, senior niem- ber of the firm of Botkins & Stol- zenbach, leading liverymen of Lima. Ohio, having the largest and mnost complete livery and boarding stable in this section of the state, with accommodations for seventy-five horses, and with the finest rigs in Lima, was born at Botkins Station, Shelby county, Ohio, February 22, 1855. He is a son of Russell and Catherine Elliott) Botkins. the father of the former of whom, Richard Botkins, was one of the early settlers of Shelby county, and entered and purchased 500 acres of land where the town of Botkins Station now stands. He was of English descent, and probably of English birth, and it is presumed emigrated from England and settled at that point. Russell Botkins, father of the subject. was born in Botkins Station, and lived there until he was thirty years of age, when he re- moved to Sidney, Ohio, where he engaged in grade and general farming. He is the happy possessor of 219 acres of excellently cultivated land, with improvements of the very best. In 1871 he was united in marriage to Miss Isabel Masters, daughter of William and Malinda (Ross) Masters. She was a native of Cler- mont county, Ohio, and born July 2, 1851. To this union were born nine children, viz: John F., an oil operator; Nancy, deceased; William, deceased; James A .; Joseph and Rosie, twins; Charley, deceased, infant daugh- ter, dcccased, and Emma. Mr. Book is a democrat in politics and a man of scrupulous integrity. He has been justice of the peace of Spencer township for the past six years, and also served part of a new, uncounted term, which he resigned March 3, 1893. He served his township as trustee for four years, and has been a member of the school board. He has often been solicited by his party to accept higher honors, but has so far declined, to the . the livery business, and during the war was an

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extensive purchaser of horses for the govern- ment of the United States. By his marriage with Miss Elliott he had three children, viz: Mattie, William S., and Edward, the latter of whom is also engaged in business in Lima.

. William S. Botkins was reared at Botkins Station, until he was ten years of age, when he went with his parents to Sidney, Ohio, and there received a good common-school educa- tion, and at the age of seventeen began work- ing as freight brakeman on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad. Holding this position for three years, he was then promoted to a similar position on a passenger train, which position he held also three years, and was then made conductor on a freight train. Three years later he was again promoted-to the position of conductor on a passenger train, running from Cincinnati to Toledo, and resid- ing in the former city. This position he held six years, and in 1887 located at Lima, Ohio, where he became engaged in the livery busi- ness with S. F. Large. Later he engaged in the same business with his brother, and in 1893 he became associated with Jacob N. Stolzenbach, his present partner. Mr. Bot- kins was married, in 1876, to Miss Ella Han- son, daughter of Samuel Hanson, of Lima. To this marriage there has been born one son, Harry Botkins. Mr. Botkins is a repubican in politics and is a member of the order of Odd Fellows and also of the O. R. C. He is a good man and citizen, and highly respected by all who know him.

DIMOTHY B. BOWERSOCK, a prom- inent man and a leading citizen of Allen county, was born in Noble county, Ohio, April 28, 1853. He is a son of John and Ruth (Bates) Bowersock, both of whom are now deceased. John Bow- ersock, the father of the subject, was born in

Pennsylvania, December 16, 1811, and died in Allen county, Ohio, March 1, 1889. Ruth Bates, his wife, was born in Noble county, and died March 21. 1862. John was a shoemaker in his earlier life, but later he became a miller, which latter trade he followed for ten years after his marriage. During the war he made considerable sums of money purchasing horses for.the government. In 1865, he removed to Allen county, where he purchased 176 acres of land in section No. 33, German township. partially improved but which he improved much more. Here he lived and followed farm- ing until his death. In politics he was a re- publican, and he was a member of the Chris- tian church. In every way he was above the average of men, mentally, morally and phys- ically; and of the powers with which he was endowed he made as good use as it was pos- sible for him to do. He and his wife, Ruth, had a family of eight children. viz: Ruth, born Jannary 22, 1842, and now residing on the home farm; Abigail, born February 2, 1844, and married to K. Deffenbaugh, of German township; Susannah, born March 21, 1846, and married to Benjamin Bowersock, of German township; Samuel, born july 25, 1848, and fol- lowing farming in section No. 33, German town- ship; Sarah, born January 11, 1851, and now the wife of William Sarf, of German township: Timothy B., born April 25, 1853; Luana C., born July 4, 1858, and married to Charles Herring, of Van Wert, Ohio. and Walter MI., born June 13, 1861, and now following farm- ing in Montgomery county, Kans.

Timothy B. Bowersock was about twelve years of age when the family moved into Allen county, and he remained at home with his father until he was married, September 25, 1873, to Miss Ellen Kemp. daughter of Rev. J. W. Kemp. She was born in Allen county, and died December 23, 1873. at the age of nineteen. Mr. Bowersock was next married

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March 25, 1876, to Miss Margaret L. Brew- baker, daughter of Mr. G. W. Brewbaker. She was born in Allen county, Ohio, October 16, 1857. G. W. Brewbaker was born in 1826, on the banks of Honey Creek, in Perry county, Ohio, and is a son of Jacob and Catherine (Smith) Brewbaker. When Mr. Brewbaker was seven years old his parents moved to Allen connty, settling in Shawnee township, where the father of the family leased a tract of land. After living in this township for some years, he removed to Franklin county, Ohio, where he died at the age of fifty-two years, his wife afterward dying in Illinois. They reared a family of seven children, viz: Delilah, deceased; Daniel, a resident of Springfield, Ohio; Kate, deceased; Polly. deceased; and George W., who, as stated, came to Allen county with the rest of the family when he was seven years of age. Farm life was his portion, and to this he has always been devoted, and since 1833 he has always lived in Allen county, with the exception of about three years. In 1852 Mr. Brewbaker was married to Miss Sarah Ridenour, daughter of Isaac and Lydia (Cotterman) Rid- enour, who was born in Perry county, Ohio, November 22, 1829. Mr. and Mrs. Brewbaker have six children, viz: George H., a resident of German township; Emma J., wife of Abra- ham Cremean, of German township; Margaret L., wife of T. B. Bowersock; William A., a resident of Amanda township; Viella, wife of William Clarke, of Lima, Ohio; and Winfield C., deceased. Mr. Brewbaker is one of the good honest and industrious citizens of Allen county, and is a member of the Christian church.

Mr. and Mrs. Bowersock have a family of eight children, viz: George A., born February 3. 1877: Walter M., born August 22, 1878; William H., born February 26, 1880; Nora M., born December 21, 1881; Roy E., born May 3, 1883; Theresa, born November 21, 3

1884 and died April 17, 1887; Oscar, born October 11, 1887, and Brice, born November 21, 1889. After his marriage Mr. Bowersock erected a log cabin in which he lived until 1892, when he erected his present home, a frame building 14x28 feet in size, with an " L " 14X14 feet. His farm contains twenty-three acres of land, in section No. 33, German town- ship, and in addition to this he leases 160 acres, which he has had under lease for several years. His little farm is known far and wide as the Lima Jersey Stock farm, and here Mr. Bowersock began in 1878 the breeding of thoroughbred Jersey cattle. Of this breed he has since made a specialty and sells annually from his farm a large number of fine animals. He carried this branch of farming on alone until the fall of 1894, when he took into part- nership with him his brother-in-law, S. W. Kemp, of Kempton, Allen county. From four to five times a year they have public sales of thoroughbreds, for beside raising cattle they both buy and sell, but handle only high grades. Mr. Bowersock devotes nearly the whole of his time to the superintendedcy of his farming and stock business, knowing that if he neglects it he will soon have no business to superintend. Politically he is a democrat, and has held a few local offices, but he has no time for politics. The offices which he has held were those of assessor. two terms, and land appraiser one terill. The offices he now holds are those of township trustee and president of the school board for his township. He has also been a member of the county executive committee for some time, and he has several times been a delegate to county conventions. Mr. Bower- sock is truly one of the most active and pro- gressive men in Allen county, and as such is highly respected by all. Although, as has been stated. he lias but little time to devote to poli- tics, he has always cheerfully done his duty when called upon by his fellow. citizens.

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ADISON L. BOWYER, one of the oldest living residents of Allen county, Ohio, was born in Virginia, January 12, 1826, and is the son of Isaac and Elizabeth (McMillan) Bowyer. Isaac was born in the Old Dominion in 1802; he was reared and married in this state, and in 1839, with his family, loaded in a wagon and started for Sangamon county, Ill., but on arriving in Ross county, Ohio, he was obliged to lay up for the winter, and, hearing flatter- ing accounts of Allen county, in the following spring he came here. leaving his family in Ross county, and entered 163, acres of land in the vicinity of where Elida now stands in German township. In 1831 he moved his wife and child -- our subject, Madison L .- to their new home and erected a log cabin, where they encountered the many hardships and had usual thrilling experiences of pioneers and frontiersmen. Mr. Bowyer bought a black- smith's outfit, erected a rude log shop, bought a couple of cows of the Indians, and life began in dead earnest. He did all the blacksmithing for miles around and continued doing this work until 1835, when he turned his attention to farming, which occupation he continued in until the time of his death, which occurred in 1842. Politically, in early life he was a democrat, but latter a whig. He was a man of unswerving integrity, industrious, benevo- lent and kindhearted, and a true friend and good neighbor. His religious affiliations were with the Methodist Episcopal church, and his home was the place of worship in his neighbor- hood for a long time. At his death Mr. Bowyer left an estate of 258 acres. Mrs. Bowyer married twice after the death of her first husband-William Briddy first, and Will- iam Denton second. She died at the hone of her son, Madison L., March 26, 1895, at the age of eighty-eight years.

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A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1, Part 18

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