USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 10
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
James Tolan
257
OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
HOMAS ERWIN, deceased, was born near Staunton, Va., in November, 1812, a son of Edward and Mary Er- win, the former of whom was a large planter and extensive slaveholder. In 1832 Edward Erwin brought his family to Ohio and engaged in farming in Highland county. This occupation he followed until his death, that of his wife having taken place prior to his. They were of Scotch-Irish descent, and in re- ligion were pious Presbyterians, in which de- nomination all his sons were elders. Their family comprised eleven children, named as fol- lows: Stewart, John, Reuben B., Payton, Hannah, Thomas, Harriet, Newton, Peachy, Mary and Frank, all of wnom are deceased, with the exception of Peachy, who resides in Greenfield, Ohio.
Thomas Erwin, the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch and a few events of whose life it is our object to depict, was reared on the old Virginia plantation, and was twenty years of age when the family came to High- land county, Ohio. Here he was married, in 1835, to Mary Ann Wright, who was born in Bourbon county, Ky., in 1815-a daughter of Alexander and Mary. (Patten) Wright -- and at once engaged in farming in the same county, a vocation which he followed for several years, and then engaged in a fulling-mill, which he followed for several additional years, when he removed to Ripley, Brown county, Ohio, and entered the grocery business, which he fol- lowed until the close of his days. In 1854 he lost his wife, who was the mother of eight children, named as follows: Mary M., wife of S. C. Munger, of Waterloo, Iowa, and for forty-four years teacher and principal of schools in Ohio. Iowa and Nebraska; Alexander W., who died in 1861; an infant, deceased; Han- nah J., also deceased; Sarah E., in Van Wert; Catherine A., widow of James E. Morrison, late county clerk of Van Wert county, of
whom mention is made in full below; Thomas S., and John D., deceased. After the death of the mother of this family Thomas Erwin married, in 1854, Mary Campbell, a native of Brown county, who died in 1856. Thomas Erwin died December 12, 1872, a member of the Presbyterian church, a republican in poli- tics and a Son of Temperance-a man of sterl- ing worth and of sound integrity. His daugh- ter, Sarah E., who has made her honie in Van Wert since 1875, has devoted her life to teach- ing. She is also an artist, and has produced some very fine specimens of her skill.
Mrs. S. C. Munger has two sons-one a member of the legislature of Nebraska; the other a prominent young physician of Spencer, Iowa. Alexander W. Erwin, deceased, was married in Brown county, Ohio, to Araminta Smith, in 1856, by whom he had one son, H. K. Erwin, a prominent traveling man, of Saint Paul, Min. Mrs. Arminta Erwin died in 1872.
James E. Morrison, late county clerk of Van Wert county, was born in Franklin county, Pa., November 27, 1839, a son of Andrew J. and Sarah (Edwards) Morrison. James E. was reared in Fort Wayne, Ind., to which point his parents had moved when he was quite a child; thence he removed to Co- lumbia City, Ind., while still a lad, and then lived until he became of age; he then came to Van Wert and engaged in clerking in the hard- ware store of A. B. McCurdy until the fall of 1862, when he enlisted in company K, Forty- sixth Ohio volunteers, under Col. Alexander. He was made orderly sergeant September 10. 1864, served until the close of the war, was discharged in June, 1865, and then returned to Van Wert. He was twice married; first, in Mercer county, to Hannah Robinson, by whom he had one child-Hannah M., wife of Wesley Humphreys, of Montana. Mrs. Hannah Mor- rison was called away in 1870, and on the twenty-first day of March, 1872, Mr. Morri-
258
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
son married Catherine Ann Erwin, daughter of Thomas Erwin, of whom mention is made in full. To this union was born one child-James E. E. Morrison, who is now a clerk in the store of D. R. Bonewitz. James E. Morrison was very popular with the republican party, and under its auspices served as county clerk from 1865 to 1872, or two full consecutive terms; he was a charter Mason, and also a member of the G. A. R., and a genial, liberal man, beloved by all who knew him. His death occurred March 22, 1883. Mrs. Cath- erine A. Morrow, his widow, is a most esti- mable lady, and still has her residence in Van Wert, beloved by all who know her.
J POHN DUNLAP ERVIN, deceased, was a native of Ohio, and was born in Hills- borough, Highland county, November 12, 1846, a son of Thomas Ervin. John Dunlap Ervin was reared and educated in Ripley county, Ohio: in 1877 he removed to the city of Van Wert, and for twelve years acted as chief clerk, or head salesman, for Mr. Zimmerman; in 1889 he accepted a similar position in the dry-goods establishment of Mr. Seelburg, a situation he most satisfactorily filled until December 16, 1893, when he was called away by death. The marriage of Mr. Erwin took place in Van Wert March 12, 1878, to Miss Hattie Alma Tolan, who was born in Carrollton, Ohio, July 4, 1856, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Crabbs) Tolan, and this felicitous union was blessed by the birth of two children-Mary G. and Catherine E. - who are still living under the fostering care of their amiable mother. Mr. Erwin was an elder in the Presbyterian church for thirteen years, was very prominent in church affairs, was con- nected with all the societies of his church and very liberal in his contributions toward its sup- port. He was also a royal arch Mason, and
was interred under the solemn rites and beau- tiful ceremonies of that order. He was dili- gent and economical, and yet generous, and left behind him a life insurance policy for $6,000, and a fine residence and double lot, of sixty-six feet front, on Washington street.
Mr. Ervin throughout life was a most con- sistent gentleman in every respect-in business, domestic and social relations-and his native intelligence, suave manners and well-schooled mind led to his unvarying prosperity in the first relation mentioned. He was a kind husband and indulgent father, but ever kept his chil- dren in the way they should go, and his friend- ships were always warm and faithful. His an- cestral history will be found in the sketch of his father, Thomas Erwin, in close proximity, although, through some mutation, there is a different spelling of the name.
Mrs. Ervin, a most estimable lady, resides on the old home place, with her accomplished daughters as her companions, and surrounded by a group of admiring visiting friends. The daughters, who are unusually bright and intel- ligent, are true ornaments of society. and their acquaintance and companionship are eagerly sought for by the younger members of the community-and, indeed, by many of the elder members.
BIJAH GOODWIN, farmer of York township, Van Wert county, is a na- tive of Madison county Ohio, and was born February 23, 1834. the son of Jacob and Delilah (Keeth) Goodwin. both of Baltimore county, Md. Jacob Goodwin, the father of our subject, was both a black- smith and farmer; he came to what is now Van Wert county, Ohio, in the fall of 1835. and entered forty acres of land in York town- ship, where he spent his remaining days. He served as one of the first jurors, the court be-
263
OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
ing held at Willshire. At the time of his death, which occurred May 26, 1886, he owned 280 acres of land, and as a democrat served as trustee of his township for several terms and was also school director at the time of the building of the first school-house of this town- ship. He was a member of the Church of God, and his wife was a member of the United Brethren in Christ. To this worthy couple were born six children: Abijah. our subject, the eldest; Mary Ann, wife of Joseph Johnstown, of Colorado; Elizabeth, wife of Charles Kenipe, of York township; Sarah Jane, and two sons that died in infancy. The mother of these children passed away February 6, 1843, and Mr. Goodwin was next married to Martha Rice, three sons and two daughters being born as follows: Elijah, a resident of York township: Delilah, deceased wife of James Book: Jacob, Edgar ond Isabella, ail deceased. The second Mrs. Goodwin died November 16, 1858, and for his third wife Mr. Goodwin married Mrs. Margaret J. Sands, widow of Jacob Sands, who has borne him one daughter, Emma Nora, wife of Thomas Mor- ris, of Lima, Ohio. The widow of Jacob Good- win resides in Lima, with this daughter.
Abijah Goodwin, our subject, grew to man- hood on the home farm, but had only ordinary school advantages, having educated himself, though he avers he has felt the want of a thorough education, as the final words of his mother were "educate Abijah." He made his first purchase of land in 1878, and on this land the school-building now stands in Elgin. In 1866 he bought his present beautiful farm of 160 acres in the southwest corner of section No. 35, York township, but which was then an utter wilderness, our subject cutting the first tree therefrom. In 1878 he built a fine brick building, which cost $2,000, and tiled the farm thoroughly, making it a finely in- proved farm.
In 1857 Mr. Goodwin married Catherine Barber, daughter of Henry and Rebecca (Bailey) Barber, and to this union have been born twelve children, viz: Washington ; Joseph ; Albert, deceased; Jacob Henry: Harriet, de- ceased wife of Charles Goodwin; Elias. de- ceased; Leonard; Abijah, Jr., deceased; Lillie, wife of George Wagoner: Elijah, and Elida. a twin sister of the latter, now deceased; Eva, wife of Artie Coil and Charles. The mother of these children died March 5, 1879, and Mr. Goodwin next married Jane Roush, daughter of. Jacob M. and Elizabeth Roush, and to this union have been born three children-William. Johnzey and Ira-the latter named deceased. Mr. Goodwin again had the misfortune of losing his wife, March 23. 1889.
In 1867 Mr. Goodwin was elected to the office of county commissioner, by a majority of forty-two votes-while the state ticket was a tie-and served for a period of six years. As an evidence of his great popularity it may be stated that he was re-elected in the fall of 1876 and served for three years. The court- house was built during his incumbency and he is one of the commissioner who accepted the building on its completion. He further served as trustee of his township, school commis- sioner, supervisor, and in other official capac- ities. In July, 1894, he engaged in general merchandising, in company with his sous. Joseph Albert and Elijah. the style of the firm being Goodwin & Son, which continued until the death of his son, Joseph Albert, in August, 1895, when Mr. Goodwin sold the business. Mr. Goodwin was commissioned postmaster October 26, 1894, of Elgin. and has filled the office very satisfactorily until the present term. In his church affiliations he worships at the Church of God in the Union church, Mercer county. Socially Mr. Goodwin and his family mingle with the best people of the township and county.
264
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
SHER GREEN, one of the most well- to-do farmers of Washington town- ship, Van Wert county, Ohio, de- scends from an old and patriotic colonial family of Connecticut, and was born in Belmont county, Ohio, January 30, 1824.
The grandfather of our subject was also named Asher Green, was a pioneer of Belmont county, Ohio, coming from Connecticut with his wife, who bore the maiden name of Holmes, and there passed the remainder of his life, dying on his Ohio farm at the age of eighty years. His son Daniel, the father of our subject, was also a native of Connecticut, but was married in Belmont county, Ohio, to Jane Cree, a native of the county last named. and born about 1803-the union resulting in the birth of five children: Asher. Isaac, Syl- vester, Nancy A., and Savilla. Mr. Green was a farmer and owned a tract of land containing 160 acres, which he cleared from the forests of Belmont county, and on which he died in 1832, still a young man. His three sons were soldiers in the late war-Isaac serving in company F, Fifteenth Ohio infantry, and taking part in such conflicts as those at Pittsburg Landing, Chick- amauga, Murfreesboro, etc., and being killed near Marietta, Ga., during the Atlanta cam- paign; Sylvester was in the 100-day service, took part in two battles, then enlisted in the Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer infantry, was de- tailed as clerk of the military district of Ohio at Columbus, and served until the end of the struggle; the military record of Asher Green will be given in a coming paragraph.
Asher Green, our subject, was educated in Belmont county, reared on the home farin, and there married, December 9, 1849, Miss Eliza A. Wade, who was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, February 22, 1832, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Taylor) Wade -- both parents natives of Virginia, and the parents of seven children-Thomas S., James F., John 1
W., Eurana, Eliza, Eugenia and Hampton. William Wade was a cooper by trade, lived to be eighty years of age, and died in Wetzel county, W. Va. He had four sons in the Union service during the Civil war-Thomas, John, James and Hampton. He and wife were both closely connected with the Wade and Tarelton families of Virginia, renowned in the history of that state.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Asher Green made their home in Belmont county, Ohio, about twenty miles below Wheeling, W. Va., on a farm of eighty-four acres, which had formerly belonged to Daniel Green. Asher's father, and is yet in the family. Here Mr. Green enlisted, September 7, 1861, at Pow- hatan Point, in company F, Fifteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years or during the war. He fought at Pittsburg Landing and Corinth. He was taken seriously sick and sent to hospital at Hamburg. then to Louisville, and finally to Camp Dennison, Ohio, and at the latter place was finally discharged, March 17, 1863, on account of disability resulting from typhoid fever. He then returned to Belmont county, but later moved to Wetzel county, W. Va., and bought 249 acres of land, on which he lived eleven years, and in November, 18SI. settled on forty acres of his present farm in Washington township. Van Wert county, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Green have been born ten children, as follows: Oscar D .. Missouri S., Emina J. (who died after marriage ;. Helen (who died at sixteen years of age . Estella. Eveline, Isaac, Lydia and two that died young. Mr. and Mrs. Green are devout members of the Methodist church, and in politics Mr. Green is a republican. He is highly esteemed as a neighbor and as a useful citizen, and his integ- rity stands above reproach; he is charitable in his sentiments relating to all subjects, and is equally free with his means in aid of all things deserving aid.
265
OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
Is EWIS GRAVES, grocery merchant of Van Wert, Ohio, was born in Whitley county. Ind., November 2, 1859, a son of Henry and Hetty (Boyd) Graves, the former of whom was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, November 15, 1805. Henry Graves was a son of James and Amelia Graves, who were married in Coshoc- ton county, Ohio, where they were engaged in farming until 1812, when they moved to Whit- ley county, where they continued to farm until their respective deaths-he dying in June, 1853, at the age of seventy-two years, and she in March, 1853, aged seventy-eight. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom four yet survive, viz: James, Henry, Tacy and Maria. Both parents were devout Pres- byterians, and in politics he was a republican; at the time of death they owned 300 acres of good land. Their son, Henry Graves, was reared in Whitley county, Ind., from the age of seven, and remained with his parents until his marriage, though he had prepared for this event by the purchase of a farm of 140 acres, and on his union with Hetty Boyd settled on this farm and there has lived ever since. To the marriage of Henry and Hetty Graves were born six children, viz: Alexander and Wesley, twins, who died in infancy; Lydia A., also de- ceased; James, a farmer of Whitley county; Lydia, wife of John Wright, also a farmer of Whitley county, and Lewis, the subject proper of this sketch. The mother of this family died in February, 1861, and Mr. Graves next married, in 1862, Elinina Tucker, who has borne him two children -- William and Cassie. Mr. Graves, with his family, still reside, on his. Whitley county farm, in the full possession of all his faculties, at the advanced age of ninety years, honored by all who know him.
years, and for the next three years carried on a livery businsss at Columbia City, Ind. ; he then bought and shipped horses for two years, and then, September 23, 1889, came to Van Wert, Ohio, and was employed as clerk in the grocery house of A. P. Wisman for four years; was then a partner with Benjamin Yoh, under the firm name of Yoh & Graves, for eight months, when he sold his interest in this firm, and in May, 1894, bought the business he now controls. His place is well-known as the "Hub Grocery," is a room of 22 x 65 feet, and is stocked with a well selected assortment of groceries and provisions valued at $4,000; with a neat and well supplied meat market in connection.
Mr. Graves was married in Whitley county, Ind., February 24, 1872. to Miss Sarah Ann Lore, who was born in Pennsylvania, Cum- berland county, December 5, 1863, a daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Henry) Lore, and to this union have been born three children: Vernie, deceased; Merley, deceased, and Carl Dewitt. Mr. and Mrs. Graves are members of the Christian church and in politics he is a republican; fraternally he is a Canton member of the I. O. O. F. He owns a neat and mod- ern home on South Franklin street, and is a stockholder in the Van Wert Telephone ex- change. Mr. Graves is a wide-awake business man, keeps well abreast of the times, and is very popular as a merchant and citizen.
HARLES F. GERMANN, a prominent business man of Harrison township, Van Wert county, Ohio, is a son of Charles Germann, who was born in Berweiler, Germany, and in 1834 came to America, when a lad of thirteen, accompanied by his father, Henry J. Germann, who first located in Holmes county, Ohio, but in 1839
Lewis Graves was reared a farmer, and at the age of twenty-one years engaged in buying and selling timber at Coesse, Ind., for five ; came to Van Wert county, where he taught
.
266.
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
school a few terms in Harrison township. At the age of twenty-two years he married Eliza- beth Schmidt, daughter of Charles and Regina Schmidt, which union was blessed with six children -- Henry, Charles F. (our subject), Minnie, William A., Elizabeth and Louis J. After marriage he engaged in farming, at which he was very successful. He was a member of the German Lutheran church and one of the founders of that denomination in Harrison township, of which he became an elder. In politics he was a democrat, and served as jus- tice of the peace nine years, as county com- missioner six years and as county treasurer two years. His death took place in 1878, at about the age of sixty years. He had been very prosperous during life, and died the owner of 320 acres of fine farming land, all of which was well tilled and improved in each and every particular.
Charles F. Germann, the subject of this sketch, was born in Harrison township Febru- ary 22, 1849, received a good common-school education, and became a first-class farmer. At the age of twenty-three years he married Miss Hannah M., daughter of Louis and Barbara (Pflenger) Schumm. Louis Schumm, a pio- neer of Willshire township, Van Wert county, died in middle life in 1856, about thirty-six years of age. He and wife were members of the Lutheran church and the parents of nine children. To the marriage of Charles F. Ger- mann and Hannah Schumin have been born seven children, viz: Otto L., Rosanna, Minnie M., Felix E., Ette M., Emma P. and Mollie C. After marriage Mr. Germann located on a partly cleared farmi of 160 acres in Willshire township, on which he resided eight years, and then passed four years near Van Wert in tile making; in 1882 he came to his present farm, then consisting of eighty acres, which he has since increased to i80 acres and thoroughly improved. In 1882, likewise, he began the |
manufacture of tile on his farm, and in this business he has also made a complete success. Mr. Germann was one of the organizers, in 1879, of the Farmers' Mutual Aid association of Van Wert county-a company designed to reimburse loss in case of lightning or fire disas- ter -- and of this association he was elected secretary in the same year, and still holds the position. The association now has a member- ship of 1, 150 and is carrying risks amounting to $1,850,000. Mr. and Mrs. Germann are inembers of the Lutheran church, in which he is an elder. He has served as justice of the peace one term, is now re-elected, and in pol- itics is a democrat. He is a gentleman of fine business qualifications, is well known through- out the county, and is noted for his sterling integrity.
Henry Germann, an uncle of Charles F. Germann, mentioned above, is an old settler of Harrison township, Van Wert county, Ohio. He was born in Germany, a son of Henry Jacob and Elizabeth (Reidenbach) Germann. the former of whom was born January 22. 1790, and the latter June 10, 1787, and were the parents of nine children, viz: Mary E .. Annie E., Mary M., Jacob, Charles, Peter. Henry, John P. and Maggie-the last named of whom died at five years of age. In 1830, Henry Jacob Germann came to America, landed at New York, made his way directly to Ohio and bought 100 acres of land in Holines county. on which he lived five years, then sold out, and in 1839 came to Van Wert county and settled on 160 acres he had entered in 1837. and on which Henry Germann now lives. This farm, all woodland, Henry Jacob wrested from the wilderness and converted into a delightful home, where he resided until his death, which occurred January 6, 1873-he being a devout member of and elder in the Lutheran church. Beside his farm in Harrison township, Henry Jacob owned 160 acres in Tully town-
-
1
76. Serman. i
269
OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
ship, which he gave to his sons, Peter and Charles. Mr. Germannn held the office of school trustee and was widely known.
Henry Germann was born February 4, IS25, was nine years of age when brought to America and about fourteen when brought to Van Wert county. He was here reared to manhood and married Magdalena Bozer, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Stamm) Bozer. After his marriage he settled on the old homestead, on which he still lives, and which his only child Frederick, now manages. Mr. and Mrs. Germann are members of the Lutheran church, in which he is an elder, and in politics is a democrat.
ENRY GERMANN, JR., a well known farmer and business man of Harrison township, Van Wert county, Ohio, is a son of Charles and Eliza- beth (Schmidt) Germann.
Henry Germann, Jr., was born December 4, 1846, on a farm about a mile and a half north of his present residence. Henry was, like all neighboring farm lads, educated in the school of his locality. At the age of thirteen years he was set to work on the home farm and inured to agricultural toil, learning the lessons that he never after regretted in the life to come. At the proper age he married Mary Hertz, daughter of Peter Hertz, whose biography will be found in full on another page. For a time after marriage Mr. Germann lived on a farm in Willshire township, but, giving up this home of 160 acres in the woods, he removed to Har- rison township and purchased 160 acres, on which he resided until 1878, when he came to the old homestead of his father, Charles Ger- mann, mentioned elsewhere, and which home- stead now comprises 179 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Henry German, Jr., are the happy parents of three children, named Stephen E., Martha M.,
and Thomas F., and home is made still more pleasant by their presence. In 1878, also. Mr. Germann assisted in founding the Van Wert County Fariners' Mutual Aid association and became its treasurer. This association assures against loss by fire, lightning, etc., has a inen- bership of over 1, 150, and carries risks amount- ing to over $1, 850,000. In politics Mr. Ger- mann is a democrat and was two years treasurer of his township, two years township trustee. and nine years justice of the peace; he has also taken great interest in educational matters and has been a member of the board of educa- tion seventeen years. In religion both he and wife affiliate with the German Lutheran church. Beside attending to his large agricultural inter- ests, Mr. Germann has successfully been en- gaged in raising and dealing in live stock, and he has been instrumental in introducing some of the best grades of Holstein cattle that liave ever been brought to Van Wert county. His farm-the original Charles Germann homestead most of which was cleared from the woods by the father-is a model of neatness and com- fort, as well as productiveness. His stable comprises some of the best horse flesh in the county-one or more of the stallions having cost as high as $2,500 each, and for the past fifteen years he has never failed to carry off prises at the county fair for speed, beauty and endurance of his exhibit of stock. In 1890 he bought of J. L. Thompson, of Indiana, a breeder and importer, a flock of thoroughbred Shrop- shire sheep, of sixty-two head. Mr. Germann is a wheel-horse in the democratic party and is extremely popular with his party.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.