A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1, Part 23

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 23
USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1 > Part 23

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It will be observed, that the oldest son was named John, and the sixth John Daniel, thus making two Johns in the same family of chil- dren. This practice is characteristic of the Holland Dutch. The greater number of this family lived and died in the immediate locality in which they were born, and their descend- ants, now as numerous as the frogs were in Egypt, are found in the counties of Northamp- ton, Berks and Lehigh, Pa. Some of them still retain the old Dutch way of writing the name, while others have modified it into Critz: Crits or Crites. A few of the family, following the tide of emigration, settled in different see. tions west of the Alleghanies. Henry settled

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

in Washington county, just north of Pitts- burg. The descendants from this family have spread into the Muskingum valley of Ohio; quite a number live in and about Canal Dover, Tuscarawas county. The well-known poli- tician and statesman, Hon .. George W. Crites, is a member of this branch of the family.

John Daniel Crites, son of Adam Crieutz, and grandson of John Crieutz, was born in Linn township, Northampton county, Pa., May 21, 1778. After arriving at full age he took up his residence in Berks county, Pa. On the 6th day of November, 1799, he was married to Miss Catharine Petrie. They continued to live in Berks county until the year 1812, when they emigrated to Pickaway county, Ohio, and set- tled on a farm in Salt Creek township, near the present site of Stringtown, where he con- tinued to live until his death, which occurred on the roth day of September. 1854. His faithful wife, Catharine, had preceded him to the better land, she having died on the 20th day of February, 1842, from blood poison, which was the result of an accident. They were both firm believers in the doctrines of Christianity and lived the lives of faithful and consistent members of the German Reform church. They were the parents of thirteen children, eleven boys and two girls, as follows: Samuel. who was born in Berks county, Pa .. on the 21st day of September. 1Soo, and died in Fairfield county, Ohio, on the 14th day of July, 1879; Reuben, who was born in Berks county, Pa., on the 24th day of March, 1802, and died in Pickaway county, Ohio, on the 27th day of March, 1813, the result of having been thrown against a tree by a vicious horse; Jouin, who was born in Berks county, Pa., on the 20th day of July. 1803. and died in Pick- away county, Ohio, July 28. 1838: Julia Ann. who was born in Berks county. Pa., on the Ist day of November, 1805, and died in Adamis county, Ind., on the Ist day of March, 1859;

Charles, who was born in Berks county, Pa .. July 25, 1809, and died in.Allen county, Ohio; Cyrus, who was born in Berks county, Pa., on the 6th day of October, 1811, and died in Allen county, Ohio, on the 18th day of April. 1855; Amos, who was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, on the 13th day of October, 1813, and at this writing (March 2, 1896,) is still living on his homestead in Fairfield county, Ohio: Levi, who was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, on the 12th day of March, 1816, and died at Stoutsville, Fairfield county, Ohio, on the 24th day of February, 1894: Catharine, who was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1818, and died in 1843. Adam and Daniel, who were born in Pickaway county, Ohio, on the 4th day of November, 1820, and died, the former on the 24th day of September, ISet, and the latter on the Ist day of October, 1821 ; Jacob, who was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, on the 19th day of October. 1822, and lives iu Allen county, Ohio. (see biographical sketch. this volume), and Elias, who was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, on the 23rd day of June, 1835 and resides near the village of Elida. Allen county, Ohio.

.......

ON. CHARLES CRITES. deceased. Among the more prominent men of German township. Allen county. Ohio, was known the subject of our sketch, the late Hon. Chiarles Crites, who died June 24, 1891, aged eighty-two years, lacking one month. He was born in the year 1800. on the 25th day of July, in Berks county, Pa .. being one of the older sons born to John Dan- iel and Catherine ( Petrie) Crites, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, were mar- ried in Berks county, and became the parents of thirteen children, the father dying Septem- ber 10. 1854 and the mother February 2o. 1842-the former at seventy-six years of age

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OF ALLEN COUNTY.

and the latter at sixty-two years and five months. The father, John D. Crites, was born and reared in Linn township, Northamp- ton county, Pa., and in early manhood re- moved to Berks county, Pa., where he was married to Miss Catherine Petrie in Novem- ber, 1799, and there resided until the year 1812, when he, with his family came west and located in Salt Creek township, Pickaway county, Ohio, where he and wife lived the life of pioneers. In Pickaway county, Mr. Crites entered 100 acres of land, made a com- fortable home for himself and family, and, having learned the weaver's trade during early manhood, he gave all of his spare time in that direction, earning an honest dollar whenever he could, and by industry and economy be- came known as among the substantial and well-to-do people of Pickaway county.

Charles Crites, the subject of this mention, spent the first four years of his life in his native county and then, in the latter part of the year 1812, was brought to Ohio by his parents, who settled in Pickaway county, at Stringtown, where he was reared to manhood. His educational advantages were limited in the extreme, though, being of a studious dis- position and blessed with a retentive memory, lie laid by a fund of knowledge which in after years was increased by observation and in the school of experience, which made him one of the leaders of men in after years. He re- mained under the parental roof until eighteen years of age, when he was apprenticed to the blacksmith's trade for three years with his brother, Samuel, who then lived in Fairfield county, Ohio. He was a natural mechanic, took to the trade kindly, and was soon able to execute the most difficult work that was brought to the shop. He remained his full time and afterward carried on his chosen work at the villages of Leistville, Kinnikinnick. and Stringtown.

In 1832 he was married at Leistville to Miss Sophia Ludwig, the ceremony being per- formed by the Rev. Jacob Leist, grandfather of 'Squire Leist. of Elida, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Sophia (Ludwig) Crites was born at Bloomsburg. Pa .. July 14, 1813, and was the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Fink) Ludwig, both natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio in 1818 and settled in Tarlton, where Mrs. Crites was reared. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Crites, named as follows: Daniel L., died March 31, 1885; Jacob S., a resident of Wichita county, Tex. : Catherine. wife of Henry Roose, of Allen county, Ohio: Elizabeth, wife of Peter Kessler. of Van Wert county, Ohio; Rebecca, deceased wife of Amos Young, of Lima, Ohio; Cyrus and Elias L., twins-the former residing in Jefferson county, Ill., the latter at Elida, Ohio; Emanuel S .. of Elida, who will be further mentioned; Mary A .. wife of Emery Bradley, of Macon county, Ill. ; Charles, who died in infancy; George W. and Freda S., twins-the former living in German township, Allen county, and Freda being the wife of Jacob King. of Fremont, Ohio.

Charles Crites and family came to Allen county in the year of 1839 and settled on a farm one mile south of Elida, where he ita- mediately erected a blacksmith shop and plied his trade in connection with elcaring up his totally unimproved farin. Practical ability and easy and ready adaptation to legal affairs soon called him from his occupation into public life, and within thirteen years he administered upon sixteen different estates. He was com- missioned captain of the militia in 1840, and continued to hold this office until the repeal of the state militiary laws of that period. In 1854-55 he was sent to the state legislature from Allen county, where he served with dis- tinguished ability two years. For years he was justice of the peace, and the law rarely

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had a wiser or better interpreter. When he first located in Allen county, it was full of wild game and Indians, which prevented life from becoming prosy and monotonous. Long jour- neys were made for supplies, such as tea, coffee, salt, etc., to Sandusky and Toledo, and all the hardships of pioneer life were con- fronted with a brave and cheerful spirit. The year following his coming to this county a log house was erected, which the family lived in until 1867, when he built a handsome brick residence, in which he died. He was a inem- ber of the German Rcform church, a christian gentleman, a brave and good man, and one who left the imprint of his character on the age in which he lived.

MANUEL S. CRITES, son of the late Hon. Charles Crites, of Elida, was reared on a farm, was educated in the common schools, and enjoyed the hale and hearty life of out-of-door expe- rience of a farmer's boy. After arriving at his majority he applied himself diligently to edu- cating himself to teaching, which profession he followed in the winter and farmed in the summer. He taught fourteen terms in Allen county, Ohio, and one in Christian county. Ill. . He continued to reside on the old home farm until 1893, when he moved to Elida. Aban- doning teaching, since 1883 he has devoted himself to farming and plastering. He has been twice married: October 24, 1872, he was united in wedlock to Miss Emily Miller, daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Shobe) Miller. Miss Miller was born in Allen county, and died October 2, 1877, at the age of twenty-five years. The fruit of this marriage was three children, viz: an infant son, deceased; Urbanus B., died March 26, 1877, at the age of two years, and Samuel P. C., born Septent- ber 20, 1877, at home. December 31, 1881.

Mr. Crites was married to Miss Sarah E. Wat- son, daughter of Levi and Mary (Bodell; Wat- son, both deceascd. Five children have blessed this union, named as follows: Durfee D., born September 28, 1883; Daniel V., born September 23, 1885; Waverly W., born May 13, 1892; Zeldan E. and Zelpha M., twins, born December 10, 1894.

Mr. Crites is a member of the Odd Fellows, having joined in 1878, in Macon county, Ill., lodge No. 281; from thence he dimitted to Lima lodge, No. 581, in 1880, and thence he took a withdrawal card in order to institute a lodge at Elida in 1895. He is an enthuastic Odd Fellow and a splendid and efficient worker in this order. He has passed through the en- campment and awaits further promotion. He is honored and respected by all and is one of the essential men of the county-active, ener- gctic, intelligent. and ready and earnest in all good and worthy undertakings. To know and read of such men is a inoral tonic.

ACOB CRITES .- Among the pioneers and representative citizens of German township. Allen county, Ohic, there is none more highly respected nor more worthy than Jacob Crites, who has been fore -. most in assisting and encouraging all public improvements, who has been benevolent to a fault, and has proven a safe, conservative busi- ness man. He is the twotfth child and tenth son born to John D. and Catherine (Petric), who were the parents of thirteen children, ten of whom grew to man and womanhood.

John D. Crites, the father of our subject. was born in Lynn township, Northampton county, Pa., May 21, 1778. and died Septem- ber to, 1854. in Salt Creek township. Pick- way county, Ohio, to which county he had emigrated in the year of 1812. He grew to manhood in his native county, where he

JACOB CRITES,

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OF ALLEN COUNTY.

learned the weaver's trade, and where, later in life, he was identified with agriculture. In 1799 he wedded Miss Catherine Petre, one of the worthy daughters of his native county, where she was born September 15, 1779; she, also, died in Salt Creek township, Pickaway county, Ohio, February 20, 1842.

John D. Crites came to Ohio in 1812, in a covered wagon, making a selection of land in Salt Creek township, Pickaway county, but before he had his goods unloaded from the wagon, he shouldered his musket and went to the rescue of his country, serving during the latter part of the war of 1812. Later, Mr. Crites and his companion lived a true pioneer life in Pickaway county, forged from the forest a good home, reared and educated their family, and passed the remainder of their lives upon the farm they had entered from the govern- ment. Mr. Crites was a thorough farmer, but, to increase his revenues, worked at the weav- er's trade all of his spare time, thus becoming quite well to do. In politics Mr. Crites was a democrat, and he and wife were members of . the German Reform church and highly re- spected wherever known.

Jacob Crites, the subject of this sketch, was born in Pickaway county. Ohio, Salt Creek township, October 19, 1822, and spent his boyhood days on the farm with his father. He was educated in the primitive log school- house, having slab benches to sit upon and greased paper for windows, and warmed by the old-fashioned fireplace, in which was placed the large back-log, which called for the assist- ance of all the large boys in the school to put in place. He remained under the parental roof until sixteen years of age, when he began an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade, which vocation he followed for seventeen years. In 1842 he came to Allen county, and just west of Allentown bought ten acres of land. October 3, 1845, he was married to Mary J. | the country. 6

Carman and soon after went to housekeeping. She was born in Concord township, Ross county, Ohio, November 1, 1824, and died September 12, 1859, leaving a family of seven children, beside one who deceased in infancy, viz: Mary Adeline, Stephen, Emeline, Hen- rietta (deceased), Obed B., Cyrus D., and Daniel Hicks. Mr. Crites was married. the second time, February 5, 1860, to Mrs. Einily Sellers, widow of Jacob Sellers and daughter of James McDonel. One child has been born to them, December 5, 1863 .- Sarah Alice, wife of S. A. Post, of German township. Mrs. Emily Crites had one child by her first husband, James, born May 23, 1853.

Jacob Crites is a man ef great energy and industry, and plies a triple occupation-farm- ing. stock-raising (in which he makes a spe- cialty of Jersey red hogs) and blacksmithing. His farin consists of 173 acres, on which. in 1877, he erected the house in which he now lives. He has served two terms as county commissioner, one term of which was while the new court-house was being built, and by his wisdom and good judgment the county was saved many thousand dollars. He has also filled all the township offices, and in every sense of the word is a public-spirited man. For forty-seven years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has filled the office of trustee in it for forty-five years and superintendent of the Sunday-school for eleven years, during which time he missed only three Sabbaths. For a number of years he was a member of the grange and master of the lodge, and was three times a delegate to the state grange. He is also an Odd Fel- low, being a member of lodge No. 223, a member of encampment No. 62. and one of the incorporators of patriarch militant Orion temple, No. 22. Mr. Crites has also adminis- tered on more estates than any other man in

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James McDonel (deceased), father of Mrs. Jacob Crites, was born in Warren county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood upon the farm, and was educated in the pioneer schools of his days. He was the son of William and Sarah McDonel, of Scotch-Irish origin, who settled in Warren county, Ohio, soon after - Ohio was admitted into the Union. Mr. McDonel married in early life Miss Elizabeth Haines, who was born in Pennsylvania about 1792, and died November 11, 1855, in Allen county, Ohio, having borne her husband eight children, viz: Emily, who was born . February 10, 1822, and is the wife of Jacob Crites, our subject; Lydia and Mary (twins), born May 20, 1824, the former being the widow of William Cochran, and Mary the deceased wife of Robert Miller; Sarah, the widow of William Pangle, now a resident of Lima; William, de- ceased; James I., resident of Perry township; Nancy Ann, wife of David McClaine; and Elizabeth Ann, wife of Joseph Roney McDonel, who became one of the early settlers of Allen county, locating on land that is now a part of the city of Liina, when there were but twenty- one houses in the town; this was in the spring of 1833, having come an overland route from Warren county, Ohio. He purchased eighty acres of land near where the west side school- house now stands, which he redeemed from the forest and made his home for a series of years. In 1853 he platted his farin, reserving twelve lots for each of his eight children. He continued to reside in Lima until 1855, when, soon after the death of his first wife, he went to live with his son, James I., with whom he lived until 1862, when he married, for his second wife, Mrs. Martin, and soon after pur- chased the farm in Perry township, consisting of eighty acres, upon which he resided a few years, when he sold and located in Wisconsin, and a short time thereafter reinoved to the state of Iowa, where he died at the age of

eighty-seven years. Mr. McDonel had fol- lowed the agriculturist's pursuit through life, and was one of the successful men of his day, strictly upright and honorable in all his deal- ings, and a friend to every good cause. In early life he was a member of the Methodist church, but later withdrew from that organiza- tion and became one of the leading members of the Lutheran church. He was a quiet. unassuming mian, and quite domestic, and one that was respected wherever known.

LIAS CRITES, one of the well known and leading citizens of German town- ship, Allen county, Ohio, was born in Pickaway county, June 21, 1825. He is one of the younger boys of a family of thirteen children who were born to Jobn D and Catherine (Petrie) Crites, of whom further mention is made in the sketch of Hon. Charles Crites.

Elias Crites spent his boyhood days upor the farm and was early taught the lessons of industry, as, when but a small boy, he was asked to take a prominent part in the clearing up and the cultivation of the home farm. He received a limited education in the common schools of Pickaway county, which advantages were meager in that time, yet being quite studious at school, which he had the privilege of attending during the winter season, and by personal efforts at home during the long even- ings, he made fine progress, and upon arriving at carly manhood stood not far from the head of his class. While yet a young man in his teens he learned the carpenter's trade, and upon arriving at his majority followed that trade for a livlibood for eight years, acquiring an enviable reputation as a carpenter and builder. He then abandoned his trade and took charge of the home farm, living with In's father until the latter's death, which occurred

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OF ALLEN COUNTY.

September 10, 1854. Mr. Crites then pur- chased the homestead farm, where he resided until 1871, at which date he sold the farm and removed to Allen county, Ohio, where he pur- chased a farm of 208 acres of land in sections Nos. 7 and 8 in German township, on which he settled and has had a continued residence ever since. He has made many valuable im- provements on said farin and to-day it ranks second to none in the township of German or Allen county.

Mr. Crites is one of the enterprising and thoroughgoing men in his most worthy calling, and is an up-to-date farmer. He gives his attention exclusively to the tilling of his farm and stock-raising, and of the latter he makes a speciality of short-horn cattle. He has been a faithful adherent and stanch supporter of the democratic party all his life, and by this party has been honored by election to the office of township trustee ten years in succession. Mr. Crites is esteemed for his moral worth, busi- ness sagacity and his enterprising and benevo- lent disposition in aiding all worthy enterprises and for the interest he takes in the education of the young.

Mr. Crites has been twice married. For his first wife he lead to the altar Miss Catharine Mowery, June 8, 1851, who was a native of Salt Creek township, Pickaway county, Ohio, born February 28, 1831, and died May 3. 1862, having borne her husband three children, named Mary C., John D. and William W. The second wife of Mr. Crites was Mrs. Lean- nah (Mowery) Reichelderfer, the widow of Venis Reichelderfer, and the sister of his first wife and the daughter of John and Rachael (Dunkle) Mowery. Mr. Crites was born March 9, 1828, and by her first marriage became the mother of two children, George S., and Sarah J .. deceased. The father of Mrs. Crites was born in Berks county, Pa., March 12, 1805, and died in 1874, while the mother was a na-

tive of Ross county, Ohio, born December 20, 1809, and died in 1878. Mr. Mowery was a fariner and stock-grower by occupation, and a well-known and prominent citizen of Salt Creek township, Pickaway county. He was a prominent member of the Lutheran church and his wife of the Reform church. Thirteen children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Mowery, ten of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. viz: Leannah, Catherine, Polly, Rachael, Susan, William, Frank, George D., Louisa and Allen S.

O BED B. CRITES, one of the most prominent and substantial of the citi- zens of German township, Allen county, Ohio, was born May 16, 1853. He is a son of Jacob and Mary J. Crites, was reared on the farm and received the rudiments of his education in the public schools. His education was then completed by attendance at the Western Normal school at Lima. Being thus made competent, he be- gan teaching in district schools at the early age of seventeen, and continued to teach for twenty-one successive winters, in only six dif- ferent districts, seventeen of these winter terms being taught in three different districts only. He taught in both Allen and Auglaize counties-four years in Auglaize.

He erected the first house in Hume, AHen county, and in that hamlet operated a general store for three years. His first purchase of land was in 1879-fifty-five acres in section No. 31, German township. To this he added seventy-five acres on July 25. 1884, in Amanda township, and in November, 1889, he pur- chased eighty acres in the same township. In 1892 he purchased twenty acres more in sec- tion No. 5. Amanda township. His landed estate, therefore, at the present time con- sists of 230 acres, and it certainly is among the

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

best in the county. In 1879 his house was destroyed by fire and was a total loss, as it carried no insurance. He erected in its place a pretty, neat cottage, which is his present residence. Besides this dwelling he has erected good barns and other out-buildings for stock and grain. He carries on general farm- ing, but makes the raising of corn a specialty, in 1894 cribbing 2,800 bushels. He has a fine herd of Shropshire sheep, a kind of horned sheep peculiar to Shropshire, England, pre- vions to their introduction into this country. He also raises a fine grade of the Jersey red hog. In company with his brother, S. D. Crites, he some years since handled Yoggy's anatomical charts, placing them in every school-house in Allen county. He also spent two summers with this chart in southern Iowa, selling several hundred of them in that state. Politically Mr. Crites is a democrat, and has been a member of the school board for several years; fraternally he is a member of Lima lodge, No. 581, F. & A. M.

Mr. Crites was married November 11, 1875, to Miss Eliza R. Anderson, daughter of Dr. R. G. and Adelia Anderson; she was born No- vember 30, 1856, and died September 23, 1893. To this marriage there were born two children, viz: Ora B., born January 8, 1877, and Bessie V., born October 12, 1887. Mr. Crites married for bis second wife, August 9, 1894, Miss Lillie N. Hennon, daughter of Daniel and Ella Hennon; this lady was born in North Washington, Harding county, Ohio. April 27, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Crites are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and of high standing in church and other circles. He is one of the most progressive young nien of the county, and the success with which he has met in life is wholly due to his own efforts and industry. While he has, like others, met with reverses, sufficient perhaps in many cases to discourage most inen, yet he

has always risen superior to misfortune, and has in reality made such reverses stepping- stones to higher planes of success. His career has been such as to give encouragement to others, and is and must continue to be a credit to himself and to his entire family.

J JAMES ALLEN CULP .- The history of this distinguished family extends back of the Revolutionary war, the grand- .father of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch having been born about 1765, in Berks county, Pa. He married a Miss Hinely of the same county, and about 1803 removed to Pickaway county, Ohio. In this county he located upon a farm upon which he lived the rest of his life, dying at the great age of eighty-seven years. Following are the names of his children: Henry, who died in Fairfield county, Ohio; Sebastian, who died in Pickaway county, Ohio; Peter; Conrad, who died in Pennsylvania; Mary, who married a Mr. Stumpt; Hannah, who married a Mr. Def- fenbaugh; Sally, who married a Mr. Dum.

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A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1, Part 23

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