A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1, Part 67

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 67
USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1 > Part 67

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against which not the slightest breath of sus- picion was ever uttered. His death occurred in Van Wert May 18, 1856; his faithful com- panion survived him a number of years, de- parting this life on the 24th day of January, 1892. The following are the names of their children: Philip B., killed April 6, 1862, in the battle of Shiloh; Rebecca J., deceased; Hiram C.,and Edith P., who died in 1865.

Hiram Clark Glenn was born in Tuscara- was county, Ohio, October 8, 1838, and when only four months old was brought by his par- ents to Van Wert county. His early literary education embraced the branches taught in the public schools of Van Wert, in which he made commendable progress, and this supple- mented by subsequent study and wide general reading, has made him not only a good scholar. but a broad-minded, intelligent man of affairs. When twenty years of age he turned his atten- tion to teaching, which profession he followed in this county several years, a part of the time in the city of Van Wert, where he carned the reputation of an efficient and painstaking in- structor. Not being satisfied with the educa- tional field as a life work, Mr. Glenn next en- gaged in journalism, and for aboat one year was editor of the Van Wert Bulletin, a local sheet which gained for him some reputation as a writer. Later he yielded to a desire of long standing to enter the legal profession, and, in 1865. began the study of the same under the efficient instruction of J. H. Kroh, a promni- inent lawyer of Van Wert, in whose office he remained for a period of one year, subsequently pursuing his reading with Judge O W. Rose. with whom he remained until his adniss.on to the bar in the fall of 1867. Soon after engag- ing in the practice of his profession Mr. Glenn was elected justice of the peace for Pleasant township and Van Wert. the duties of which position hie discharged in an eminently satis-

William Gienn was a man of excellent rep- utatior, possessed, in a marked degree, the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens, and left as a heritage to his family a name : factory manner antil 1820, in which year he 2

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

turned his attention entirely to the law and soon succeeded in building up a lucrative prac- tice in Van Wert and adjoining counties. In 1879 he cffected a co-partnership with Hon. G. M. Saltzgaber, with whom he was associ- ated for a period of ten years, under the firm name of Saltzgaber & Glenn, doing a large business in the meantime, and gaining much more than a local reputation as a safe coun- selor and successful practitioner.

Upon the dissolution of the above partner- ship, Judge Glenn became associated with W. S. Johnson, under the firm name of Glenn & Johnson, which lasted two years, when the latter retired, Mr. Glenn continuing the prac- ticc alone until 1893, at which time the law firm of Glenn & Wolcott was established, H. K. Wolcott becoming his partner. The part- nership thus formed continued until Mr. Wol- cott's removal from Van Wert, in 1895, but in the meantime Mr. Glenn was appointed, by Governor Mckinley, to fill the vacancy as common pleas judge caused by the resig- nation of Judge Day, of Celina. The duties of this honorable position he dis- charged in such a satisfactory manner as to clicit the highest praise from his official as- sociates, and those having business to transact in his court. As an evidence of the ability with which he discharged his official functions the following complimentary notices from the courts of Mercer and Van Wert counties are respectively cited :

"In his short career as common pleas judge, Mr. Gleen has gained an enviable rep- utation. His decisions have been uniformly just and in compliance with his extensive knowledge of the law. It is no wonder that the lawyers honor him. At a meeting of the Mercer county bar, held on Friday evening, December 16, 1892, the following was man- imously adopted and ordered to be recorded in the minutes of the court as a part of that day's proceedings:

"Whereas, The Hon. H. C. Glenn, long an honored member of the bar and now judge of the common pleas, retires from the bench thereof,

"Resolved, That we cheerfully express our appreciation of his services, singleness of purpose, and honest and efficient labor in the most important tribunal of the state; that dur- ing his official life he has maintained, in an eminent degree, judicial integrity and upright character, and on his retirement from the bench and resumption of the practice of his profession, we wish him that success which his learning and gentlemanly qualities entitle hin.

" Resolved, That copies of the above be furnished by the clerk of court to the press of Mercer and Van Wert counties for publi- cation."

The following worthy tribute is from records of the Van Wert bar:

"This day being the occasion of the end of the present term of court held by the Hon. H. C. Glenn, judge, we, the undersigned members of the bar of Van Wert, practicing in the court of Judge Glenn, hereby desire to express our high appreciation of his judicial services For his continuous urbanity, for his diligent labors, for his uprightness, intelligence and ability, and for his impartiality in the dis- charge of his duty while on the bench, he is deserving the thanks of suitors and the public, and the attorneys who have been privileged to practice before him. In whatever sphere of life duty may call him, we earnestly hope that Judge Glenn may find it to him useful, honor- able, profitable and pleasant. W. H. Daily. G. L. Marble, S. S. Burtsfield, H. G. Richey. W. H. Alexander, Clem V. Hoke, C. M. Sut- phen, G. M. Saltzgaber, H. Kemper. C. V. Fromme, H. W. Blachley, John Darnell, H. K. Wolcott, J. Y. Todd, W. J. Beers."

Addition to his professional career, Judge Glenn has a business record of which any man might feel deservedly prond. He was one of the original stockholders of the Van Wert Gas Light company, and has served as presi- dent of the same ever since its organization. being at this time sole owner of the plant.

OF VAN WERT COUNTY.

The city of Van Wert has ever found in him a warm friend and a liberal patron of every en- terprise having for its object the public good. and to many of the unfortunate of the con- munity he has proven himself, on more occa- sions than the public is aware, a friend indeed. Politically the judge is a firm adherent to the principles of the republican party, and as such has been a potent factor in a number of cam- paigns, having for years been an active worker, not only in local politics, but state and national as well.

As already stated, one of the judge's first official positions was that of justice of the peace; he also held the office of township clerk three terms, and from 1870 to 1872 was mayor of Van Wert, beside holding minor positions, among which was that of member of the school board, in which capacity he did much to advance the educational interests of the community. In 1884 he was his party's nominee for congress in what is now the Sixth district, but while suffering defeat in the gen- eral landslide of that year, was complimented by a vote 1, 500 in excess of the general ticket, a fact which speaks much for his popularity with the masses.

Judge Glenn is prominently identified with the Odd Fellows' fraternity, in which he has served as deputy grand master, and is now chairman of the board of trustees of the State Orphans' home of the order. He is also a inember of the I. O. R. M. As stated in a previous paragraph, Judge Glenn is a wide reader; and that he is acquainted with the best authors is attested by his library, which is considered the best collection of standard works in the city. The judge was married in Richland county, August 16, 1865, to Georgi- ana C. Baughman, whose birth occurred in the town of Plymouth, Ohio, February 3, 1846. Mrs. Glenn is the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Armstrong) Baughman, natives of

Pennsylvania, and has proved a most valuable helpmate and companion, and not a little of her husband's success in life is directly attribu- table to her wise counsel and encouragement. The marriage of Judge and Mrs. Glenn resulted in the birth of three children, all deceased, but they have since reared an adopted daughter, who is now the wife of M. B. Evers, Jr., of Van Wert.

In all his public relations, Judge Glenn is recognized as possessing a strong sense of truth and justice, and as endeavoring to shape his life according to these principles. As a lawyer he is a methodical and systematic, and is dis- tinguished in his profession for his untiring industry and an ambition to excel. He is a safe counselor. possesses the rare faculty of being able so to probe questions of law as to command the respect of the court and his pro- fessional associates, and his conduct toward his adversaries is noted for courtesy and fair- ness, never permitting his zeal to induce bita to seek success by disreputable practice He possesses a strong personality and dignified presence, impresses all with whom he comes in contact as a gentleman by nature and of strict integrity, and he enjoys, in full measure. the confidence of his fellow-citizens. Such, in brief, are the leading facts and character- istics of one of Van Wert's most honored citi- zens, and it is with pleasure that this tribute to his worth as a man and citizen is given a place in this volume.

ILLIAM ANDERSON, deceased, was born in Ohio June 22, 1813. was reared on a farm, and at the age of twenty-one years embarked in the mercantile trade near Wooster. Ohio. where he remained until 1856, when he cude to Van Wert, and resumed his business as a merchant, continuing in trade until his death.

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

when impaired health compelled him to retire. He was a prominent member of the republican party, and shortly after his retirement from business he was elected by that party to the office of county clerk, and it was while he was filling this position that he died, October 17, 1860. He had married, in New Pittsburg, Pa., Amelia Goodfellow, a daughter of Judge Goodfellow, of Wooster, Ohio; by this mar- riage were born two children-Agnes J., de- ceased, and William Goodfellow. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Anderson, on June 7, 1850, wedded Miss Mary West, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, January 16, 1831, a daughter of Clement and Anna (Mc- Manus) West. Clement West was born in Pennsylvania and his wife in New Jersey, but were married in Wayne county, where Mr. West was employed in farming. In 1839 Mr. West and his family moved to Richland county, Ohio, thence to Allen county, Ind., where the father died, and also the mother, in 1834. They were the parents of five children, viz: Abigail and Lydia, deceased; Leisure, of Kansas; Mary (Mrs. Anderson), and William, deceased.

William Anderson had born to him, by his marriage to Miss West, three children. named as follows: William H., deceased; Clara, at home, and Minnie, deceased. In his religious views Mi. Anderson was a Presbyterian and fraternally was an Odd Fellow; in addition to his position of county clerk, he filled, at the time of his death the office of justice of the peace, and he was able to leave his widow and her children in comfortable circumstances.

DAM ARMSTRONG, one of the sub- stantial farmers of Washington town- ship, Van Wert county, Ohio. is a son of Thomas and Sarah A. Saum) Armstrong, and was born Novembe: 4, 1847,

in Delaware county, descending from one of the oldest pioneers of the state who was of Scotch-Irish descent.

The great-grandfather of our subject was one of the original pioneers of Ross connty, Ohio, and there met his death at the hands of the blood-thirsty redskins. He was a com- panion of the famous hunters and scouts, Daniel Boone and Lewis Wetzel.

Joli Armstrong, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Virginia, whence he moved to Kentucky and thence came to Ohio with the pioneers, and was married in this state to Malinda Hinton. The Hintons were a quite wealthy family and owned the first stage line between Columbus and Mount Vernon, Ohio. Mr. Armstrong was a gallant soldier in the war of 1812; he was also an expert salt-malter and passed twenty years of his earlier manhood in the Kenawha salt works, but later made his home in Knox county, Ohio. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. John Armstrong were born the following children: Henry. Thomas. Joshua, George, Jolin, Charles, Mary, Susan and Rachael. The father of this family died in Knox county at the age of about eighty- four years, honored as a pioneer and venerated and respected as a man.

Thomas Armstrong, father of Adam, our subject, was born at the Kanawha salt works. Va. (now W. Va.), January 27, 1814. He was reared a farmer, and received the usual education attainable by farm lads at that early day. His marriage took place in Knox county, Ohio, in 1844, with Sarab Saum. a daughter of Adam and Margaret Saum. of Virginia, the union resulting in the birth of nine children, of whom four lived to ma- turity, viz: John, Lafayette, Adam and Ellen. After marriage Mr. Andstrong resided one year in Knox county, then for a short time in Delaware county, Ohio, and 184; came to Van Wert county, purchasing 170.

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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.

acres of land in the woods of Washington township, on a part of which the city of Mid- dlepoint has since been built; a few years later, about 1851 or 1852, he purchased 213 acres of his present farm, to which he removed at once. This land was all in the woods, one small spot only being cleared. He proceeded to clear away the remainder, with the excep- tion of 120 acres, and continued to add to his estate until he owned over 300 acres of fine farming land, of which he has given his chil- dren a goodly portion. Mr. Armstrong is recognized as one of the pioneers of the county, there having been but few houses in the city of Van Wert at that time. He has done a vast amount of hard labor, and the township is greatly indebted to him for its development from the forest into its present agricultural and civilized condition. Of his children, John is a substantial farmer and is settled on the home farm; Lafayette is settled near by: Adam is the subject of this sketch, and his daughter Ellen is married to L. D. Moore, a school- teacher and farmer of Ridge township, Van Wert county. The mother of this family was laid in her grave some twenty years ago, but the father still survives to enjoy the love and esteem of all who know him.

Adamı Arınstrong, with whose name this biographical record opens, was but a babe in arms when brought to Washington township by his parents in 1847. In this township he has passed his entire life. attending the dis- trict schools and working on his father's farins in the woods among the pioneers, and under- going many of the privations of early frontier life. This life, however, hardened his muscles 'ILLIAM H. AYERS, farmer and stock raiser of Liberty township. also trustee of the same. is of Ger- man-Irish descent. both branches and early inured him to toil, and when old enough he began his business life, for his own account. April 19, 1882, he married, in Allen county, Ohio, Miss Mary Reeder, daugh- of the family having settled in Pennsylvania ter of George and Rebecca (Manning) Reeder. " many years ago. His grandfather, James M. George Reeder was a farmer, was a volunteer . Ayers, a native of Wayne county, Pa., me-

in a regiment from Ohio in the late Civil war and died in the service, leaving his widow and a child. now Mrs. Armstrong. to mourn his loss. The widow Recder subsequently mar- ried John Hepfer, a cooper by trade and now living in Delphos, Ohio, and to this marriage have been born three children, Eliza, John and Melvin Hepfer, all of whom, however. arc now deceased. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong have been born six children, viz: Etta, Chester, Rossie (died at cight and a half-years of age), Bessie, Otis (died at four years) and Francis.

After marriage Mr. Armstrong settled on his present farm, which he had purchased when it was a vast wilderness. But Mr. Arm- strong had been trained to frontier farming and soon elevated this faim to a state that compared favorably with any other in the township, thoroughly draining, tiling and oth - wise improving it. His dwelling, out-bail !- ings, etc .. are all any reasonable man could desire, notwithstanding the fact that he has been greatly afflicted for the past twelve years with rheumatism and heart trouble, yet he bears his affliction with christian resignation and cheerfulness, and with these exceptions is as comfortably situated as the majority of mankind even hope to be. He is a man of undoubted integrity and stands high in the es- teem of his neighbors, with whom he ranks, although quite a youngster when he came here, as among the "old settlers" of Washington township.

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

ried Jane Richie, and a few years later immi- grated to Ohio, settling in Ashland county, where he was an early pioneer. His son, Cyrus Ayers, father of William H., was born June 20, 1826, in the county of Ashland. He was a farmer, and after his marriage, Septem- ber 5, 1848, with Rachael Butler, settled in Ashland county, thence in 1850 moved to the county of Van Wert and entered forty acres of land in the township of Liberty, which forms a part of the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch. Cyrus Ayers was a dem- ocrat in politics and a minister of the regular Baptist church, to which he was expecting to devote his life. On the 3rd of April, 1858, while felling timber, he was caught by a fall- ing tree, and his spinal column broken; he lived, in great agony, for seventeen days after the accident, and his death was a great loss, not only to his immediate family, but to the community as well. His widow is still living. Following are the names of the children of Cyrus and Rachael Ayers, together with the dates of birth: Martha J., July 9, 1849; James M., January 2, 1851; William H., Sep- tember 2, 1853; Cyrus S., January 28, 1857, died October 3, 1862, and Rachael M., whose birth occurred March 19, 1859. The parents of Mrs. Ayers were John and Mary (Lindsey) Butler, the father a native of Bedford county, Pa., and the mother of Tuscarawas county, Ohio.

William H. Ayers, whose name introduces this biography, and the date of whose birth is noted in the preceding paragraph, is one of the lead- ing farmers of the township of Liberty, and has devoted his attention to agriculture ever since beginning life for himself. He was mar- ried October 30, 18;8, to Alvina VanGundy, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Exline) VanGundy, the parents natives, respectively, of Ross county, Ohio, and Bedford county, Pa. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ayers the

following children have been born: Vernon M., September 2, 1879; Emery L., October 1, 1881; Orley, March 21, 1884; Tony G., September 12, 1887; Ethel B. E., December 1, 1889, and Agnes E. M., November 7, 1892. all living.

Mr. Ayers has been successful, financially. and has a well cultivated farm of 240 acres. He was elected as a democrat to the office of township clerk, the duties of which position he discharged satisfactorily for two terins, and for three years served as treasurer of his township; he also held the office of township trustee two terms and is the present incumbent. Mr. Ayers was nominated by acclamation for the office of county commissioner, but went down with his party, which was defeated that year. not only in Liberty township, but throughout the entire county: He was never defeated for office in his own township, which fact may be taken as an evidence of the confidence which the people repose in himn. In religion he ac .- cords the utmost liberty to all, and fraternally is a member of Liberty grange, No. 322, P. of H.

ESSE W. BAIRD, a well known citi- zen of Van Wert, was born in Beaver county, Pa., November 11, 1842. His father was James Baird and died in

1872. His mother, Margaret (Warwick) Baird, was born in 1813 and is still living in Jennings township, Van Wert county. Jesse Baird, our subject, when but nine years of age was brought by his father to Jennings town- ship, Van Wert county, where Mr. Baird was reared by one of the pioneers of that township. as at that time there were no roads save those that were blazed through the woods, and not a school-house nor church was in the town- ship. It was here in the woods that Mr. Baird secured his early training in industry and!

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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.

economy, which has guided his steps to a great extent through life. He attended the district schools during the winter seasons, taking the advantage of the best means at hand, and, being of a studious disposition and having a retentive mind, laid by the usual fund of knowledge it was possible to obtain in those days. He worked on his father's farm until June, 1862, when he answered his country's call for troops and enlisted in the Eighty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, and served until peace was declared, taking part in eighteen general engagements, also the siege of Atlanta, and marched with Sherman to the sea and from there through the Carolinas to peace, coming out with three gun-shot wounds.

After the war was over Mr. Baird returned to Jennings township and went upon a farm, and has since purchased a farm near Van Wert. On October 23, 1872 he married Mary E. Bush who was born in Fayette county, Ohio, on June 6, 1855 and had come to Jen- nings township with her parents when she was quite young. Her father R. E. Bush is still living in Jennings township; her mother, Elizabeth (Powell) Bush, died in 1888. After his marriage Mr. Baird continued on his farm until 1877, when he gave way to the allure- ments of a political career and entered the arena, having been nominated for the office of county recorder on the democratic ticket. After a lively campaign he was elected by a majority of 100. In 1890 he was renominated and elected by the next largest majority ever given to any candidate on the democratic ticket in the county. His second term expired in 1893 and he retired from the arena, but still retains his interest in politics. He lives in Van Wert, visiting frequently his fine farm, which is only two miles from town. His family consists of four bright aimable children: Margaret Elizabeth, who is the wife of Frank P. Edson, who was until recently deputy

county auditor and whose sketch will appear elsewhere in this volume; Effie Elmira, Wilda Thurman and James Richard.

HE BALYEAT FAMILY is of French origin, and the earliest authentic men- tion of the name is traceable as far back as the year 481, at which time it appears that one Balliet, as originally pro- nounced, was an officer on the army of King Ludwig of France. The offspring of this Bal- liet lived in the southern part of France, and many years later the name appears to have been closely interwoven with the history of the Huguenots. Among those who escaped the massacre of St. Bartholomew was one Jacob Balliet, who, with his family and others as unfortunate, but equally* as fortunate, was obliged to travel in a single season over 800 miles until they reached a Protestant village by the name of Schaltbaugh, province of Salin, where he found refuge from his relentless per- secutors. Here the family lived nntil the afore- said province again came under the control of France, when the former massacre was re- peated. a number of the Balliets falling victims. while others escaped, making their way to dif- ferent countries of Europe and to America. As early as the year 1738 Paul and Joseph Balliet, grandsons of the aforesaid Jacob, came to America from the province of Alsace and settled in Pennsylvania, the descendants of the former locating in what was then Whitehall county, and those of the latter in what has since been known as the county of Northum- berland.

From the most reliable information obtain- able, it appears that the above Josept Baly eat, as the name was afterward spelled, became the progenitor of that branch of the family of the United States to which the families of Van Wert connty belongs. One of the direct de-

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

scendants of Joseph, if not his son, was Leon- ard Balyeat, who was born in Pennsylvania February 27, 1758, and who reared a family consisting of the following-named children: John, Stephen, Leonard, Daniel, Eve, Joseph, George, Henry, Jonas, Jacob and David. From what can be learned of the Balyeats during the early history of the family in the United States, they all appear to have been men of unusual physical vigor, with strong, well-knit bodies, while their morality and integ- rity, inherited from a deeply religious and highly honored ancestry, have been reproduced in their descendants down to the present time.

Jonas Balyeat, ninth in order of birth of the above-mentioned children of Leonard Bal- yeat, was born February 27, 1798, in Pennsyl- vania, and came west to Ohio as early as the year 1820, settling in Richland county, but seven and a half miles east of Mansfield, where he became a large land owner. He married Catherine Hum, and raised a large family, eighteen children in all, whose names are as follows: David, died in 1892; Jacob, a resident of Van Wert county; Abraham, ex-county treasurer, died shortly after elected to that office; Jonathan, a farmer near Middlebury, Ind. : Sarah, the deceased wife of Philip Troup; Aaron, a retired citizen of Van Wert: Eliza, wife of Aaron Hoover; John, deceased, aged five years; Moses, a resident of La Grange, Ind .; Joseph, deceased; Phoebe, the wife of Philip Troup; Benjamin, who enlisted in the ninety-day service in the late war and died at Point Lookout; Joshua and Caleb, twins, both deceased; Emanuel, farmer in Harrison town- ship; Reuben; Mary, the wife of John Patter- son, and Marquis De Lafayette, deceased.

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A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1, Part 67

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