USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1 > Part 75
USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 1 > Part 75
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Israel D. Clark was a native son of the Buckeye state, having been born at Shelby. Richland county, on the 22d of April, 1820. the son of Thomas and Nancy (Dille) Clark, both of whom were natives of the same county, of which their respective parents figured as among the earliest pioneer settlers. They were identified with agricultural .pursuits and were people of sterling integrity. The father was one of the successful and influential farm- ers of the pioneer locality and his life was characterized by that ceaseless toil and en- deavor which insure success in temporal affairs. He was a republican in his political adherency. and both he and his wife were Presbyterians in their religious faith. They became the par- ents of six daughters and two sons. all of whom are now deceased.
The subject of this review was the fourth child in order of birth, and he was reared under the sturdy and invigorating discipline of the parental farmstead, receiving his prelimi- nary educational discipline in the common schools. On the 24th of September, iSão. he was united in marriage, in his native county,
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to Abbie Cook, whose death occurred on the 3d day of January of the succeeding year. September 26, 1841, at Mansfield, Ohio, was consummated his marriage to Miss Rachel Scott, whose demise occurred April 15, 1875. She left three children: John Willis Clark and Rilla Clark, deceased, and Mrs. C. M. Sut- phen, whose death occurred in 1894. To the third marriage of our subject due reference will be made in succeeding paragraphs.
Major Clark removed from Mansfield to Van Wert county in the year 1842, and in 1848 he received the appointment as post- master of the city of Van Wert, proving a most capable and discriminating executive. Ile had devoted 'his attention to a careful course of reading in the law, and in 1854 he secured admission to the bar. His personal popularity and integrity, as taken in connection with his marked professional ability, secured to him within the succeeding year the election to the office of probate judge of the county, in which important and exacting position he served with signal fidelity for a term of three years. After his military career (which will be con- sidered later on) was terminated, he was accorded still further public recognition, having been prosecuting attorney of the county from 1864 until 1868: justice of the peace from 1870 to 1873; and having served the munici- pality of Van Wert both as a member of the common council and in the highest office in the gift of the city, that of mayor, his adminis- tration as chief executive of the city's affairs having been one of marked houesty and one in which the best interests of the community were carefully conserved. In 1858 he was associated with other representative men of the city in the publication of the Ohio Weekly Bulletin, which was edited by the late Capt. W. C. Scott and which wielded an unmistak- able and beneficial influence in this section of the state.
The thundering of rebel cannon on Fort Sumter raised a responsive protest in the nature of our subject, who was thoroughly patriotic and loyal to the cause of the Union. and whose patriotism was one of decision and action. He was one of the first to respond to President Lincoln's call for troops to assist in suppressing the Rebellion, and he immedi- ately organized and enlisted a company, which was assigned to the Fifteenth Ohio volunteer infantry and became company E. He was commissioned captain of his company and proceeded with his command into Virginia. They were engaged with the enemy at Philippi and Laurel Hill, and in the conflict at the latter place the Confederates lost their first general, Garnett, who was killed in action. At the close of their three-month tein of en- listment, the regiment returned home, and upon the subsequent call for 300,000 more men for a three-years enlistment, Capt. Clark forthwith proceeded to raise another company. his efforts meeting with ready response and the organization becoming company A of the Fifty-second regiment, which was assigned to the army of the Cumberland. Their initial engagement was at Perryville, Ky., where the regiment lost many of its brave men, and where Capt. Clark rendered such valiant serv- ice as to secure to him a commission as major of the regiment. His efforts in behalf of the union were zealous and indefatigable, and he endured the dangers and vicissitudes of mili- tary life with that fortitude which is begotten of a full sympathy with and determination to defend a righteous cause. Finally the hard- ships and exposures of the service made such serious inroads upon his health that he was compelled to resign his counmission and to bid a reluctant farewell to his comrades in arms. realizing that his usefulness on the field of battle was thus ended by untoward circum- stance. He returned to his home, with shat-
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tered health, and he never regained his consti- tutional vigor, but suffered from heart disease and other incidental ills during the residue of his days, bearing the sequela of his milatary service with as great patience as had he val- iantly borne arms on the field where grim- visaged war reared its horrid front. Such were the defenders of our nation's honor, and to their memory should there be granted a perpetual reverence and homage. Though thus afflicted by disease and attendant suffer- ing, Maj. Clark continued in the practice of his profession, though the organic disorder of his heart compelled him to abandon all active duty at irregular intervals. For a year prior to his demise he was confined almost entirely to his home, but was an heroic sufferer, and uncomplainingly awaited that denouement which could alone bring him relief. He entered into eternal rest on the 9th of January, 1884, aged sixty-three years, eight months and seventeen days, and the community mourned the loss of an honored veteran of the late war and a man of innate nobility of character.
In his political adherency he was a stal- wart supporter of the republican party and its principles, and in addition to the various other official positions he had held he also served as United States marshal for some time after his return from the war. He was prominently identified, in a fraternal way, with the Masonic order, being one of the oldest members of the same in Van Wert, as is shown in the fact that the records bear evidence that he was the first man initiated into the mysteries of the order in this city, the date of this ceremonial having been October, 1852. He became a member of the First Presbyterian church at the time of its organization, and continued to be a de- voted adherent until the time of his death. He was also one of the honored members of Scott post, No. 100, Grand Army of the Republic.
In conclusion we revert to the domestic chapter in the life history of Maj. Clark, find- ing that, on the 14th of August, 1877, was consummated his marriage to Sarah M. Pearce, of Willshire, this county. She was born in Champaign county, Ohio, June 5, 1840, the daughter of Lorenzo and Catherine (Bishop) Pearce. Her father came to Van Wert county and settled in Willshire iu 1847, and was there engaged in agricultural operations until the time of his death, which occurred June 25. 1882. His wife was born in Champaign county, Ohio, June 29, 1816, and as the result of their union were born the following-named children: Anna E., wife of Dr. N. Croninger, of Kan- sas City, Mo .; Cinderella, deceased; Sarah M., widow of our subject: Mary C., deceased; Af- falander S., deceased; Thomas, deceased; John M., of Elwood, Ind. They were all members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The mother died December 14, 1854. Major and Sarah M. Clark became the parents of two children: Roscoe Dille, who died at the age of eight months, and Fred P., who re- mains as a comfort and solace to his mother. Mrs. Clark and her son are members of the Presbyterian church, with which the honored husband and father was so prominently iden- tified. Maj. Clark left to his widow and son a comfortable competency, Mrs. Clark being the owner of valuable property on South Wash- ington street.
AMES H. CLIME, the popular and efficient county auditor of Van Wert county, Ohio, was born in Mahoning county, this state. March 20, 1840, and is of German descent. His father, Amassa Clime, was. a native of Lancaster county, Pa., born in November, 1868, and was a son of Daniel Clime, a native of Phila- delphia, Pa. The father of Daniel came from
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Germany in 1753 and settled in the City of Brotherly Love, spelling the family name, at that time, Gleim, and this emigrant, or im- mediate descendant, became prominent during the Revolutionary war, was a paymaster and took part in the battle of Yorktown. Daniel Clime was a miller, was the father of a large family, and settled in Lancaster county, Pa., where he died, a well-to-do citizen: His son Amassa was married in Lancaster, in 1830, to Mary Strunk, and in 1832 came to Ohio and engaged in farming in Mahoning county until 1851, when he came to Van Wert county, farmed here until 1857, when he moved across the line to Allen county, where he died on his farm in 1863, his widow surviving until 1873, when she was accidentally burned to death, having been stricken, it is surmised, with apo- plexy, while smoking, and thus setting her clothes on fire.
James H. Clime is the fifth in a family of twelve children and was but eleven years of age when brought by his parents to Van Wert county, where he was educated and lived until twenty-one years old. In September, 1861, he enlisted in company A, Thirty-second Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years, but at the end of three months was honorably discharged on account of disability. But his heart had been fired with patriotic ardor, and he soon again enlisted, this time in the 100-day service, company A, Twenty-third Ohio volunteer in- fantry, and served out the term on guard duty at Washington, D. C. He next went to the front as a substitute, and was assigned to a company in the Twenty-third Ohio volunteer infantry, and was on provost and transporta- tion duty until after the close of the war, and was one of those who stood guard over the corpse of President Lincoln. After his final discharge at Columbus, Ohio, in May. 1865, Mr. Clime returned to Van Wert county and farmed for a year, and then began carpenter-
ing, which he followed until 1880 in Allen and Van Wert counties, in connection with con- tracting. In 1880 he made his home in Del- phos and began handling lumber in addition to contracting and building, and has been thus engaged ever since, doing a most prosperous business. In 1893 Mr. Clime was elected county auditor of Van Wert, and took posses- sion of this office in October, 1894; he is also a councilman of Delphos, is vice-president of one building and loan association and a direct- or. The marriage of Mr. Clime took place in Piqua, Ohio, March 20, 1873, to Miss Anna E. Merriman. a native of Dayton, Ohio, born August 6, 1845, and this union has been blessed by the birth of two children, viz: Mate DeFrees, now the wife of Charles E. Ward, deputy county auditor; the younger child died at the age of five years, without a name, but fondly called Babe. Mrs. Clime is a devout member of the Presbyterian church and is greatly respected for her many amiabilities.
ICHAEL CLOUSE .--- Among the successful farmers and stock dealers of Liberty township, Van Wert county, Ohio, the name of Michael Clouse is deserving of special mention. As the name indicates, Mr. Clouse is of German de- scent, and traces his family history back to the fatherland, from which his grandparents on the father's side immigrated to America a great many years ago, settling in Pennsylvania. The family afterward located in Wayne county. Ohio, on a farm of 160 acres, which Grand- father Clouse pruchased by the proceeds of his trade of tailoring. George Clouse, father of Michael, was born in the county of Wayne. and there married Elizabeth Kesler, daughter of Jacob Kesler. a native of Pennsylvania. Shortly after their marriage George Clouse and
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wife came to Van Wert county, and his was the third family in the township of Liberty .. On their arrival they began housekeeping in the shade of three large oak trees, and lived thus until a smail cabin could be erected. George Clouse began the battle of life with little, if any, assistance, but by energy, and long years of constant toil, succeeded in ac- cumulating a goodly amount of property, in- cluding.a farin of 160 acres, the greater part of which he cleared and brought to a high state of cultivation. The following are the names of the children of George and Elizabeth Clouse: Jacob, Solomon (deceased), Michael, William, George W., Mary J., Esli, Elizabeth (deceased), Hughey (deceased).
Michael Clouse was born in the township where he now lives March 10, 1841. He at- tended the pioneer log school-house at inter- vals during his minority, and remained with his parents until the latter part of the war, at which time he left wife and home in order to do battle for his country. He enlisted Oc- tober 7, 1864, and participated in a number of campaigns in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia, and was with his command in many of the bloodiest battles of the war, in one of which, the engagement at Nashville, he lost the second finger of his right hand. He was also knocked senseless by being struck with a missile on the head, and was reported as dead. After doing service as a brave and gallant soldier, Mr. Clouse was honorably dis- charged in April, 1865, and immediately there- after returned to his home in Liberty township and resumed the pursuit of agriculture, which he has since successfully carried on. He owns a beautiful farin of 256 acres, well improved and supplied with good buildings, and also has other lands in different parts of the county and three acres within the limits ot Ohio City. With the exception of about $1,000, Mr. Clouse earned his property with his own hands,
and is, in the true sense of the word, one of the successful self-made men of his commu- nity. In politics he supports the democratic party and in religion is a member of the United Brethren church. Mr. Clouse was . married October 28, 1862, to Mary, daughter of Simon and Sarah (Newcomber) Clouse, a union blessed with the birth of the following children: Sarah E., George F., William, John W., Oscar A., Dora B., Alice May (de- ceased), and an infant, deceased.
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R. S. B. COLLETT, retired physi- cian of Van Wert, was born in Clin- ton county, Ohio, September 24, 1833, a son of Judge Daniel and Sarah (Kyie) Collett. Judge Daniel Collett was a native of Stanton; Va., and was born October 15, 1809, a son of Isaac Collett, who at one time was also judge of the court of Clinton county, Ohio, for several years, and there owned over 400 acres of fine land. - He was the father of ten children, named as fol- lows: Daniel, the father of our subject: John. who was an attorney for forty years in Lima, Ohio, and for several years filled the office of judge; Isaac, Frederick, Joshua, Moses, Jacob. Mildred, Mary and Catherine, all deceased. The father of this family was in religion a Presbyterian and in politics a whig, while in worldly affairs he was quite successful. Judge Daniel Collett was reared and educated in Clinton county, aud at eighteen years of age began the study of law in Wilmington, Ohio; he was admitted to the bar at Lebanon, Ohio, in 1831, and began practice at Wilmington. where he resided until the breaking out of the late war, when he went ont as a nurse and general assistant in hospitals, and remained ont three years, although not a participant in any battle. He returned to Ohio, and pur- chased 125 acres of land in Greene county, on
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which he resided until his death, which took place in 1866. The marriage of Judge Collett took place in Xenia, Ohio, in 1830, to Sarah Kyle, who was born in that town February 24. 1808, a daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Smith) Kyle, the result of the union being eleven children, viz: James I., deceased; Sam- uel B., the subject proper of this sketch ; John, deceased; William, of Van Wert; Seth, of Greene county; Daniel, who commanded a company in the Union army, and died after returning from the war; Joshua, Frank and Mildred, all three deceased; Julia, wife of J. O. Stout, justice of the peace and attorney at Lima, Ohio, and Ella, deceased. Mrs. Col- lett, the mother of this family passed away at her late residence on East Main street, Van Wert, June 4, 1895, in her eighty-eighth year. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was her husband. Daniel Collett was a republican in politics, and under the auspices of his party served as judge of Clinton county, Ohio, for several years.
Samuel B. Collett was reared to manhood in Clinton county, and remained with his par- ents until twenty-four years of age. He re- ceived his preparatory education in his native county, and at the age of twenty-two entered the Ohio Medical college at Cincinnati, from which he graduated in 1857, and at once be- gan practice in Walkerton, Ind., where he had a most successful career for fourteen years; he then removed to Huntertown, Ind., where equal success attended him for ten years, and then, in 1881, came to Van Wert, where he achieved a fine reputation and continued to practice until 1887, when he retired.
town, Ind., leaving one child, Blanche; now postmistress at Jamestown. The second mar- riage of Dr. Collett took place in Van Wert, April 11, 1885, to Mrs. Elizabeth Fox, widow of Simon Fox and daughter of John Zimmer- man. The present Mrs. Collett was born in Washingtonville, Ohio, September 11, 1828, and comes of a very prominent family. Dr. and Mrs. Collett are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are highly esteemed by the public at large. The doctor. in politics, is a republican, and is a Freemason fraternally. He is passing his declining years at his home on the corner of Fulton and Car- oline streets, Van Wert.
O REN J. COMER, proprietor of the popular cigar afid tobacco establish- ment on Main street, opposite the court house, Van Wert, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, May 4, 1838, a son of Joshua and Leticia (Bryant) Comer. The father, Joshua Comer, was born in the Shen- andoah valley, Va., and after reaching his na- jority came to Ohio, and engaged in the grocery business in Dresden, Muskingum county, and also kept a hotel until his death in 1850. He was also married in Dresden. about 1834, and to his marriage were born four children, viz: Martha, Oren J., Louisa and John. The mother of this family survived until 1872, when she expired in Dresden, a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Oren J. Comer was but twelve years of age at the death of his father, and remained at home, aiding his widowed mother, until his marriage. in February, 1861, of which impor- taut event mention will be made further along. but it must not be surmised that he neglected
The first marriage of Dr. Collett took place in Jamestown, Ohio, May 20, 1857, to Miss Susie Alexander, who was born in Jamestown in 1843, a daughter of Matthew Alexander. : This lady, after a life of connubial bliss of his maternal parent after the happy event nearly a quarter of a century, died at Hunter- I occurred. Four years after his marriage he
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went to Roscoe, Coshocton county, Ohio, where for four years he was general superin- tendent of a woolen-mill; he then went to Bucyrus, and was there employed in a similar position until 1869, when he came to Van Wert and assumed the superintendency of the Buckeye woolen-mills, and retained this responsible position until the plant was de- stroyed by fire two years later; then, in company with others, he erected the Van Wert woolen mill, which Mr. Comer conducted for one year, when he was appointed deputy sheriff for four years under Fred Billman, and also acted as coroner a part of the time. In 1878 he began handling tobacco and cigars with a very limited capital, but he was a good business man and was affable and obliging to his customers, and his trade steadily increased. In 1883 he began a tobacco jobbing business throughout the surrounding counties, handling about eighty different brands of tobacco and selling some 30,000 pounds per annum.
The marriage of Mr. Comer, before alluded to, took place in Dresden, Ohio, February 6, 1861, to Miss Annette Chamberlin, who was born in New York, November 18, 1838, and to this union was born one child -- Norma C., wife of William A. Bickford; Mr. Comer also adopted, in 1874. his brother's son, Oren J., Jr., who has been with him ever since. Mr. Comer is a thirty-second degree Mason, and in politics is a republican, and during 1894 was a cemetery trustee, his term of appointment be- ing for three years, but he resigned in the spring of 1895. His stock in trade is exten- sive and choice and his business is constantly on the increase. In religion Mrs. Comer is a member of the Lutheran church.
Mr. Comer is a " mighty hunter, " and since 188o has explored the north and south woods in search of game and has a large collection of birds and beasts of his own catch, including eight bears, and he has preserved the antlers
of most of the deer he has killed. In 1894 he captured in Washington county, Miss., an alli- gator gar that measures six feet, nine inches, and this ichthyological specimen of his powers he has had nicely conserved, or mounted.
William A. Bickford is a native of Ohio, was born August 10, 1860, and is a son of Frank C. Bickford, of Van Wert. He was educated in the city schools and here learned the printer's trade, becoming an accomplished journalist. February 23, 1887. he married Miss Norma C. Comer, who was born October 22, 1861, a daughter of Oren J. Comer, whose biography is given above. To Mr. and Mrs. Bickford has been born one child, Annette, September 2, 1889. In religion he is a Lu- theran and in politics a democrat, and is in all respects a useful and highly esteemed citizen.
OBERT CONN, deceased, was born in Mansfield, Richland county, Ohio, July 19, 1828, and was a son of An- drew and Margaret (Patterson) Conn, well known residents of Mansfield and highly respected throughout Richland county.
Robert Coun, our subject, was reared to manhood in his native county, was educated in the public schools, and at the age of twenty- one left the parental roof and came to Van Wert. Here he became quite well known as a dry-goods merchant and also as a handler of grain. He was married, in Van Wert. May 12, 1861, to Miss Catherine Slater, who was born in Fayette county, Pa., April 10. 1831, and is a sister of Mrs. O. W. Rose, whose biography appears on another page- the fruit of the union being one child, Andrew P., now an insurance agent of Van Wert. November 7. 1864, Robert Conn was natimely called away, dying in the faith of the Presby- terian church. He was a democrat in politics, and had accumulated considerable property.
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Mrs. Catherine (Slater) Conn, after her hus- band's death, engaged, in 1866, in the millinery business, which she followed with rare success until 1890, when she sold, but in 1894 resumed the business, and being a lady of most engaging manners and of exquisite taste, has as many patrons as formerly. She owns her own sales- room on Washington street, beside three resi- dence properties, all of which she has secured through her own tact and enterprise in the millinery business, in which she carries a stock valued at $2,000. Mrs. Conn was a teacher for nineteen terms in the schools of Van Wert county, in which profession she was also phe- nomenally successful. In religion she is a Christian spiritualist.
J OHN COLLINS, a pioneer of Ridge township, Van Wert county, Ohio, and a thriving farmer, is a son of Sam- uel Collins and was born in Hocking county, Ohio, September 24, 1824. Samuel Collins owned no land, and he and his son John made their living by working out by the day or month until the latter reached his majority. John then started out on his own account, and until twenty-three years of age worked principally for three men-Samuel Strous, John Strous and Solomon Riegle-in the meantime work- ing hard and faithfully and living economically. As fast as he earned twenty-five or fifty dollars he would place the sum at interest in the hands of some good farmer. His first earnings, how- ever, he had invested as part payment on a forty-acre farin, and this money he made by cutting corn for Hiram Flanagin, who married Polly Strous. Corn-cutting was the harvest of Mr. Collins, the season lasting about three weeks, during which period he made as much money as he otherwise could in two months. To use his own expression he " would make his ties and cut the inside round after night, ter. He walked a mile night and morning to
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