A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1, Part 71

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 71
USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1 > Part 71

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learning both English and German. He re- mained on his father's farm until 1864, marry- ing, in 1863, Anna M. Koch, of Seneca county. when he came to Spencer township. Allen county, where he purchased a farm of 120 acres. This land was unimproved and was chiefly in woods. He erected a log house, into which, with his wife, he moved. and began at work clearing up the land. His wife died on this place March 5, 1870, and October 24, 1871, Mr. Bockey was united in marriage to Agnes Koch, a sister of his first wife, who was born in Seneca county, on January 21, 1850. The parents of Mrs. Bockey were Adam and Catherine (Smith) Koch, both natives of Mendlesheim, Bavaria, Germany, and came to America in 1834, and were married, at Tiffin, Ohio, May 9, 1841. The mother died May 10, 1860, leaving six out of eight children, four of whom are now living: John C. Koch. who is the attorney of the Northwestern Railroad company, and a leading citizen of Eagle Grove, Jowa; Mrs. Bockey; George W., a citizen of Bowling Green, Ohio, and Mrs. Mary Bohnlein, of Allen county. From Seneca county, the father removed to Wood county, Ohio, where he died on July 10, 1882. He was born Feb- mary 2, 18IS, and his wife was born July 7. 1819. April 22, 1875, Mr. Bockey removed to Stewart, Adair county lowa, where he pur- chased property and engaged in the milling business; but the milling business not agreeing . with his health he remained there but a short time, returning to his farm in Allen county, Ohio. There he remained until :885, when he purchased 268 acres in sections Nos. 15 and 16, Washington township, upon which he re- moved. Of the farm there are 142 acres cleared and under cultivation. At the time he moved on, the front part of his present large two-story residence was built, since when he

Our subject was reared on the farm in Sen- eca county, and attended the common schools, ' has added the balance. In 1891 he built his.

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

barn, which is the largest in Van Wert county, and one of the finest to be found anywhere. It is an L building, dimensions as follows: Front L, 76x40 feet; the other L is 112x40 and is what is known as a bank barn. The height of the sides is twenty feet, and from the ventilators to the ground is forty-nine feet.

In 1890 Mr. Bockey sold forty acres of his unimproved land in Allen county, to the Stand- ard Oil company. This land he purchased in 1864 for $17 per acre, and sold it for $100 per acre. When Mr. Bockey came to Allen county he was possessor of but small capital, his assets amounting then to about $500. What he now has he has earned himself, relying en- tirely on his own energy and ability. The principal crops of Mr. Bockey are wheat and corn. In 1894 he produced over 4,200 bush- els of grain beside other crops. He also raised large quantities of peaches, he having about 300 peach trees; he also grows all kinds of other fruit and berries. He grows large herds of beef cattle, and in 1894 raised the finest cattle ever shipped from Delphos. Four of his beef cattle were shipped to Europe, the four weighing 6, 340, receiving $238 for them. He keeps on an average of forty head.

The children of Mr. Bockey are as follows: Margaret. Catherine, Mary, Adam Raphael, Annie [., Lucy S., John Edward, Arthur M. Mr. Bockey and family are members of the Saint John's Roman Catholic church. In politics he is a democrat. Ile is a self-made man and has accumulated his property by his own exertions. He has endured many privations and hard- ships, and now, at his time of life, is entitled to enjoy the comfort of his fine home and sur- roundings. Mr. Bockey has for years run a threshing machine and clover buller in his home vicinity, and no man that has served the public has given better service or better satis- faction than he. He is an affable gentleman to meet and one who inspires confidence at homestead until 1833, when he moved to East

every torn. Mr. Bockey is known as one of the progressive and benevolent men of his neighborhood and county, and is also greatly respected wherever known.

AVID R. BONEWITZ, the leading dry-goods merchant of Van Wert, · Ohio, is a native of Fayette county. Pa., and was born January 9, 1831, a son of Jacob and Catherine (Franks) Bone- witz, the former of whom was born in Maryland, May 5, 1787, and a son of Jacob and Sarah (Spiker) Bonewitz, the last named Jacob also born in Maryland, and a son of jacob who was born in Baden. Germany, and was one of three brothers-John. George and Jacob-who came to America together. Of these, John went north, while George and Jacob-located in Maryland, where, it is supposed, they passed the re- mainder of their lives. Jacob Bonewitz. the grandfather of David R., our subject, settled in Fayette county, Pa., in 1800, where he was engaged in farming until his decease. The eight children born to himself and wife Sarah were named Jacob, John. Joseph, Solomon, Rosanna. Ann Marie, Catherine and Elizabeth, all now deceased. Jacob Bonewitz, the eldest of the above family and the father of our sel- ject, was reared in Fayette county, Pa .. lived with his parents until twenty-one years of age, learned shocmaking, was foreman of a shop in Pittsburg in 1810, and went thence to Marit Vernon, Ohio, where he was foreman for the John Shaw Boot and Shoe factory unty le- father's death, when he returned to Pennsyl- vania and acted as administrator of the estate He was there married, in :Szo, to Catherine Franks, who was born in Pennsylvania, in. 1802. a daughter of Jacob and Sarah Franks. also natives of the Keystone state. Atter its marriage, Mr. Bonewitz resided on the '!

OF VAN WERT COUNTY.

Union township, Wayne county, Ohio, and ' which measures 22×1 32 feet, and is filled with passed the remainder of his life. He was the the most select stock to be found in north- fother of nine children, viz: F. J., H. W., . west Ohio. Sarah J., David R., Julia G., M. V., Eliza- beth, Martha and Joseph A.

David R. Bonewitz was reared from three years of age to maturity in Wayne county, Ohio, and in 1854 came to Van Wert county, located in Tally township, and engaged in · farming until he was drafted in October, 1862, for nine months, and was assigned to company G, Twentieth regiment, Ohio volunteer in- fantry, Seventeenth army corps; at the ex- piration of his time, on his return home, with $600 given him by his father, he engaged in general merchandising in partnership with his brother-in-law, A. Eyman, at Convoy, in Tully township, which trade was successfully con- ducted for eight years, when he sold his inter- est and resumed farming for two years in Ridge township. when he returned to Convoy, farmed until 1876, and in 1877 located in Van Wert city, formed the firin of Bonewitz, Schumm & Co., and dealt in dry goods, car- pets, notions, etc., until 1879, when the firm name was changed to Bonewitz & Schumm, and so remained until 1884. when Mr. Bone- witz became sole proprietor, since when he has kept the most popular and fashionable establishment in its line in Van Wert, his stock, in all departments, being unsurpassed in the city.

Mr. Bouewitz was married in Van Wert, January 9, 1866, to Catherine Richie, a sister of II. G. Richie, of whom mention is made elsewhere, and to this happy union have been born four children, viz: Lec, Van and Horace, assistants in their father's store, and Mary, at home. The family are members of the Pres- byterian church and are very highly respected in the community. Mr. Benewitz is the owner of the imposing three-story building in which he carries on his business, the salesroom of

OSIAH BOWERS, a well and widely known citizen of Harrison township. Van Wert county, Ohio, was born in Whetstone township, Crawford county. Ohio, July 9, 1830. of Scotch lineage. His father, Benjamin Bowers, was born in :Sos. near Hagerstown, Md .. and was a small boy when brought to Ohio by his father, who set- tled in Stark county. Benjamin there grew up among the frontiersman, and there mairie d Rebecca Lichtenwalter, and later moved to Crawford county, Ohio, where he developed from the wilderness a farm of 320 acres, and owned, beside, a large amount of land in other parts of the country.

Josiah Bowers was reared to manhood on his father's homestead, and April 10. 1851. married Hemiette Bare, daughter of Jobn Bare, and to this union were born three chil- dren who died young, and one, Rebecca, who is now the wife of Amos Hawkins, a farmer of Nebraska. In 1852 Mr. Bowers came to Van Wert county and settled on eighty acres of land in Harrison township, where he made a good home. He lost his wife in 1858. when he went to Van Wert village and engaged in the clothing business, and later moved to Celina. Ohio, where he engaged in the same trade an- til May 14, 1861, when he enlisted in company D. Third Ohio battery, state troops, for three years, but at the end of six months received his discharged and enlisted again for three years or during the war in the Third independ- ent Ohio battery, which was mustered into the United States service, and in this he served until honorably discharged, on account of dis- ability, at Saint Louis, Mo., in 1863. He poxt served about six months in the One Hundred

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

and Sixty-second Ohio volunteer infantry, then a year, or during war, in the One Hundred and Sixteenth regiment, and was finally dis- charged, in 1865, with the rank of first sergeant.

February 22, 1866, the second marriage of Mr. Bowers took place to Margaret Jane Miller, and to this union have been born six children, viz: Henriette, married to Jasper Lyons, of Harrison township: Lulu, wife of Enos Britt- son, now deceased; Vinta, married to Sherman Albright, of Harrison township; Jesse W. Fre- mont, Jasper and Harlan. After marriage, Mr. Bowers settled on a farm of 105 acres in Harrison township, and in 1882 opened a gen- eral store at Middlebury, where he is still doing a successful business, also superintends his farm of forty acres adjoining the town. Mr. and Mrs. Bowers are members of the Baptist church, and in politics Mr. Bowers is a repub- lican. He is a gentleman who has always had a steady purpose in life, has worked hard and acquired a competence, and it may well be said that this family is one of the most highly respected in Van Wert county.

EV. JOHN T. BOWER, deceased, was born in Blair county, Pa., De- cember 27, 1834. His parents, Daniel and Rosanna Bower, were natives of Germany, and early in IS34 came to America, making their first home in Blair county, Pa., but shortly afterward came to Ohio, located in Perry county, and in 1840 removed to Marion county, where the father, after a useful life as a farmer died in 1868, and the mother in 1872. Their thirteen chil- dren were named, as follows: Frederick, Ro- sanna, Caroline, Theophilus, Louisa, Charles, Augustus, Lewis, Hannah. John T., Samnel, Elizabeth and Daniel. Of this family seven are deceased, viz: Caroline, Theophilus,

Charles, Augustus, Elizabeth, Hannah and John T.

John T. Bower was reared on the farm it. Marion county, attended the common schools until nineteen years of age, then passed a year in the Delaware university, of Ohio, and in 1854 received a license to preach, receiving. also the same year, a local preacher's license in the Methodist Episcopal church. At the annual conference ensuing he was received on . trial and appointed as junior preacher in the Mount Victory circuit, with William H Taylor as preacher in charge and Henry Pilcher as presiding elder. After filling this position one year, Mr. Bower was called to Zanesville. Ohio, where he remained two years, following which he had charges in Ohio as follows: Ver- sailles, two years; Greenville, one year: Fort Seneca, one year; Antwerp, two years; Airs- ville, two years; Saint John, two years: Mc- Comb, two years; Cairey, one year; Arcanum, three years; again at McComb. three years: Lakeside, one year; Airsville, again, one year: thence he came, in 1875, to Van Wert, where he officiated until 18So: lience to William Centre, two years; Hardin, two years, and Center, one year. Froin Ohio he was trans- ferred to Athens, Tenn., where he remained three years and then, in 1892, returned to Van Wert, Ohio, and here served as a faithful servant in the Master's vineyard until February 14, 1893, when he was called from labor to eternal rest.

On June 26, 1861, Rev. John T. Bower was united in the holy bonds of matrimony, mn at Paulding, Ohio, with Miss Rachel W. Wiyans, who was born in Troy, Ohio, Novem- ber 24, 1841, a daughter of John C. and Mary Y. (Clark) Wiyans, of Holland descent, and the parents of six children, born in the follow- ing order: Delilah Ann (deceased), Mary J. (deceased), Josephine H., Charles, John de- ceased), and Rachel W. (Mrs. Bower). To

WILLIAM J. BIEBER.

63-04-05-62

OF VAN WERT COUNTY.

the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bower were born three children, viz; Frank W., a painter; Inez G., a clerk, and Harry C., at home with his mother. Mrs. Bower has a comfortable com- petency left her by her lamented husband. She is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church, is highly respected in society, and is much admired for her amiability and lady-like demeanor.

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PILLIAM BIEBER, a highly respected business man of Van Wert, was born in Van Wert, Ohio, a son of Charles Bieber, mentioned in full below. When but a child he went with his mother to Toledo, where, with her, he resided until 1873, there receiving his education. He first moved to Philadelphia, Pa., where he learned the cigar maker's trade, which he fol- lowed there until 1890, when he and his mother came to Van Wert, and here he took charge of his inheritence, which amounted to about $4,000, mostly in realty, and continued to support his mother until her death in 1893, since when subject and sister have made their home together. He is a democrat in politics and a Methodist in religion. He is an ener- getic business man and a whole-souled gentle- man, who has made hosts of friends and enjoys the respect of thein all, as well as that of the public in general.

Charles Bieber, late of Van Wert, was born in Sweibrecken, Germany, and descended from noble ancestry, yet at an early age learned the business of a baker, at which he worked for a unmber of years. He emigrated to this conn- try when he was twenty-one years of age, landing in New York, and going thence to New Orleans, He then went to Philadelphia, where he was married, and returned to New York, in the meantime continuing to work at his trade in each place, in order to secure 1

money with which to pay his expenses. Still later he spent five or six years in traveling through southern states. In. 1854 he finally settled down in Van Wert, where he lived until his death, which occurred April 15, 1889. For some time after locating in Van Wert he worked at his trade and then established him- self as a merchant, meeting with success, and retiring from active life in 1875, on account of old age. He was a member of Saint Peter's Evangelical church, and was always charitably disposed, giving his means in aid of all worthy enterprises that appealed to him. Mr. Bieber and his wife were the parents of five children. viz: Louisa, widow of Andrew Richter, whose sketch appears on a following page, Mary. Emma, Elizabeth, and William, only two of whom are now living, Louisa and William, both residents of Van Wert.

ILLIAM BOWER, one of the pio- neers of Harrison township, Van Wert county, Ohio, and whose la- mented death occurred June 25. 1895, descended from an old Pennsylvania family of German extraction. John Bower. his father, was a native of York county, Pa , was reared on a farin, and married Elizabeth Warner; to this marriage were born the fol- lowing children: William, Jacob, John, Levi, David (who died young). Catherine, Elizabeth. Sarah A. and Lydia A. John Bower, early in 1825, came to Ohio and located in Harrison county, and in 1839 came to Van Wert county. and settied on 160 acres in Tully township. He was a shoemaker by trade, as well as farmer, a highly respected citizen, and a mem- ber of the Lutheran church.

William Bower, whose name opens this mention, was born in York county, Pa , May 3, 1813, and was twelve years of age when brought to Ohio. He grew up a farmer, and

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

in 1836 married Sarah Tenner, daughter of John and Mary (Tipton) Tenner. of Harrison county. Three years after his marriage Mr. Bower, in October, 1839, came to Van Wert county and entered 160 acres in the wild woods of Harrison township, before the Indians had left the country and when the forest was abound- ing in wild game. In due course of time he succeeded in clearing up his farm and in mak- ing a good home. He became a represent- ative citizen, and a popular democrat, and served as township clerk, assessor, trustee; was twice a member of the school board and a supervisor several times, and, indeed, filled all the offices of the township, with the excep- tion of justice of the peace. He was a mem- ber of the Lutheran church, was one of the organizers of the first Lutheran congregation in Harrison township, and filled the offices of elder and Sunday-school superintendent. To Mr. and Mrs. William Bower were born eight children, viz: John T., Emanuel, Mary, Kate, Andrew, Daniel, Rachael and Clara. Two of the above-named sons served in the late Civil war. Emannel was in the Forty-sixth Ohio infantry and served nearly four years; Andrew was in the Fifty-second regiment, Ohio infan- try, and was killed in the trenches before Atlanta.

John T. Bower, the eldest child of the above named family, and was born in Harrison connty, Ohio, February 15, 1837, and was about two years of age when brought to Har- rison township, Van Wert county. He re- ceived the ordinary education given to pioncer farmers' lads, was reared to farin life, and in early life married Clara A. Pomeroy. To this nnion were born eight children, viz: Sarah A., Lucy, William, Bert, Bertha, Charles, Della and John W. Mr. Bower is a democrat in politics and has served as township clerk, as assessor, and as clerk of the school board. He lost his wife April 10, 1893, and has never

ceased to monrn his deprivation. William Pomeroy, father of the late Mrs. Bower, ceme from the state of New York, was of New Eng- land descent, and died in Michigan, aged more than seventy years.

AMES BRADLEY, one of the older farmers of Hoaglintownship, Van Wert county, Ohio, and mill-owner, is of Scotch-English descent. John Bradley, his grandfather, on coming from England, lived in Pennsylvania for a considerable time, but in 1820 came to Objo and entered eighty acres of land in Richland county, on which he made his permanent home. He married a Miss Powell, reared a family and died on his farm, a member of the Presbyterian church. Wilj. iam Bradley, son of John, above mentioned. and father of our subject, was born in Penn- sylvania, and was eighteen years of age when he first came to Ohio, prior to the coming o! his father, and selected a farm on which he made the first improvement; subsequentis wrought out an eighty-acre farm for himself. He married Miss Priscilla Hoy, who bore him the following children: Jane (deceased), Mar- garet. John (deceased), Richard (deceased). Mary, Elizabeth, Thomas and Priscilla, besil .. our subject; the parents both died in Richlan 1 county, members of the United Presbyterian church.

James Bradley, whose name opens this biography, was born in Richland county, Ohio. March 25. 1838, and has been engaged in farming and milling and mechanical work ever since boyhood. On reaching his majority. ! he married Miss Catherine Light, daughter o! Michael and Catherine (Hinkst) Light. Th . marriage took place in Crawford county, Ohs .. but house-keeping began in Richland counts whence, three years later. the young col . moved to Allen county, where Mr. Brail

OF VAN WERT COUNTY.

farmed for seventeen years, and then came to Van Wert county, where he has resided twelve years. The result of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bradley is the following family: William M., Cora E. (deceased), Lydia J., Homer, Hattie M., Mary C. and George F.

Michael Light, the father of Mrs. Bradley, was born in Dauphin county, Pa., March 25. 18og, and his wife, Catherine Hinkst, was a native of York county, Pa., born December 4, 1821. They were married in Richland county, Ohio, where the parents of each had long before settled. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Light were nine in number, and were born in the following order: Mary (deceased), Daniel, Samuel, John (deceased), Catherine and Lydia (twins), George, Michael (deceased) and Margaret. The grandparents of Mrs. Bradley, John and Nancy (Landis) Light, came from Danphin county, Pa., to Richland county, Ohio, in the pioneer days, entered a tract of sixty acres, and were among the first to give tone to the respectability of their township.

The farm now owned and occupied by James Bradley, our subject, comprises 119 acres, and is unexcelled in its arable character by any other in the township. It has been brought to its prosent state of productiveness wholly by the labor and skill of Mr. Bradley himself, who is an adept in agricultural affairs. But his ingenuity and skill are not confined solely to farming. He also owns and operates a saw-mill, threshing machine, shingle ma- chine, and a feed-mill connected with his saw- mill. In all his worldly or temporal affairs Mr. Bradley has evidenced wonderful sagacity and exercised a prodigious amount of energy, both mental and physical. His moral senti- ment is intensly developed, and is manifested in his every act. He is a trustee in the United Brethren church, and was active in promoting the erection of the house of worship now owned by that denomination in Hoaglin township,

and was extremely liberal in his pecuniary aid for the purpose. In politics Mr. Bradley is an ; ardent prohibitionist, and socially he and fam- ily rank among the best of Van Wert county.

RANK M. BRICKNER, one of the well known farmers of Washington township, Van Wert county, Ohio, and trustee of the township, is a . native of Ohio, having been born at Tiffin, Seneca county, on April 22, 1861. He is a son of John and Caroline (Shull) Brickner. The father is a native of Ausbach, Bavaria. 1 Germany, born December 11, 1831, and the mother was born in Tiffin, Seneca county, Ohio, October 7, 1838. The father came to America in 1839, when a boy of eight years. his father, Michael Brickner, settled in Seneca county, Ohio. In 1863, John Brickner re- moved to Van Wert county and purchased the land where he now resides in Washington township, three miles northwest of Delphos, and here he has since resided.

Our subject is the eldest of nine children born to his parents, seven of whom are living. He was reared on the farm in Washington township and secured his education in the pub- lic schools. When about nineteen years of age he left home and worked on the farms in the neighborhood of Delphos, and for three months at Tiffin. On October 7, 1884, he was united in marriage to Mary Elizabeth Baumgarte, who was born in Washington township, Van Wert county, Ohio, on June 28, 1860, and is the danghter of Conrad Baumgarte, one of the well known farmers of Van Wert county and Washington township. To Mr. and Mrs. Brickner four children have been born as follows: Ida C., born August 16. 1885: Edward J., born August 19, ESS ;: Lucy C., born March 29, 1890; Theodore 11 . born June 26 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Brickner

the

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

are members of the Saint John's Roman Catli- olic church of Delphos.

Mr. Brickner has always been a democrat in politics, and has always takeu an active in- terest in political and public matters. In April, 1895, he was the candidate of the demo- cratic party for trustee of Washington town- ship, and was elected by the usual majority, going into office on the tenth day of April. Mr. Brickner is one of the best known of the younger farmers of Washington township. He is a good business man, and will no doubt give general satisfaction in the discharge of his official duties. He is enterprising and ener- getic, and is public spirited in every way. For nine years Mr. Brickner was engaged in the manufacture of tile upon his farm and made quite a success of the business. He sold out that business in 1891.

B ENJAMIN BRITTSON, a substantial fariner of Harrison township, Van Wert county, Ohio, is a son of one of Van Wert's pioneers, and is of ante- Revolutionary descent. His grandfather, Isaac Brittson, came from Beaver county, Pa., to the far west in 1830 and settled in Adams county, Ind., where he was killed at a barn raising at the age of fifty-six years. Isaac Brittson, Jr., son of the Isaac aboved named and the father of Benjamin, our subject, was born September 27, 1818, in Beaver county, Pa., was reared from the age of twelve years on his father's farm in Adams county, Ind., came to V'an Wert county in early manhood and first married Elizabeth Pring, daughter of Richard Pring, a pioneer of Van Wert county, and the father of ten children. After marriage, Isaac Brittson, Jr., settled on wild land in the central part of Harrison township. To his children, Florence and Mary. Mr. Brittses first marriage were born nine children-Mary, "has been a church elder for five years, anti Daniel, Jeremiah, Martha, Benjamin, John, politics he is a democrat; he is also a meist. .

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A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1, Part 71

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