USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 2
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 2
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.As a clergyman of the Central Ohio con- ference, Dr. Fitzwater's labors have been of great magnitude and productive of great good in furthering the interests of the church in both a spiritual and temporal way. His first pastoral call was to Arcanum, Darke county, Ohio, which charge he assumed in 1883 and retained until 1886. Here, as in after life. the doctor not only demonstrated his right to precedence in the ministerial functions and as a pulpit orator, but also proved himself supe- rior as an organizer and builder of church in- stitutions, showing marked discrimination and potent executive abilities. Beside adding to the strength of his congregation in a numerical way, he also brought about the erection of a fine church edifice in Arcanum, the cost of said structure having been $6,000.
Wauseon, Fulton county, was our subject's next field of labor. He here found the church property encumbered with a debt of $5,000, which had been standing for the long period of fifteen years. With his characteristic and al- most inimitable energy, he plunged into this labyrinth of difficulty, and so assiduously he applied himself that at the expiration of his three years' pastorage, the entire debt had been liquidated and the church interests ad- vanced in every phase. His next call was to Van Wert, whither he came in 1889, and as- sumed the pastorage of the First Methodist Episcopal church, which incumbency he re- tained three years. As indicative of his re-
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markable ability as a preacher and organizer, it is herein noted that he increased the church membership by 300 individuals within the three years. Equally significant was his work in connection with the organization of the young people of the Lima district into a district Epworth league-a work to which he was ap-
pointed in 1890. So rapidly did he perform his duty that the first convention of the asso- ciation was held in Van Wert within the same year, and so staple was the foundation on which the organization was erected that the association has grown to immense proportions, now having a membership of 5, 000 individuals.
In the fall of 1892 Dr. Fitzwater was trans- ferred to Ogden, Utah, and assumed charge of the First Methodist church of that place. In less than one year he effected the liquitation of the $30,000 debt which had been held against the church. He was recalled to Ohio in 1893 and was appointed presiding elder of the Lima district Central Ohio annual conference, which position he now holds. The district is the largest one in the conference, comprising the counties of Allen, Auglaize, Mercer and Van Wert, and having twenty-eight pastoral charges, and an aggregate of not less than 9,000 communicants.
Turning, in conclusion, to the domestic chapter of the life of our honored subject, we find that on September 26, 1883, Dr. Fitz- water was united in marriage to Mary. A. Clark, of Shinnston, W. Va., the daughter of Leonard and Mary (Rone) Clark, of Harrison county, that state. Her father was a farmer and continued his operations in this line until 1861, when he enlisted for service in the late war of the Rebellion, as a scout, under Gen. George B. McClellan. He was captured, and for twenty months was confined in the Libby prison. Upon his release he was promoted to a captaincy in the Third Virginia cavalry, and was killed in active service at Moorefield, W .!
Va., in 1865. His widow is now living in Wes- ton, W. Va. ; their children were four in number -Margaret, Arthur, Mary A. and Martha-the last named of whom died in infancy. Dr. and Mrs. Fitzwater are the parents of six daugh- ters, viz: Margaret, Mary, Lucy, Florence. Helen and Winfred.
Rev. J. H. Fitzwater is a member of the order of Odd Fellows at Arcanum, Darke county, Ohio, in which order he was initiated in the Tygarts Valley lodge-Beverly, W. Va., in 1874. He is also a member of the Masonic Van Wert lodge, having been received into the Blue lodge at Ithaca, Drake county, Ohio, and has attained to the degree of royal arch in Van Wert, Ohio.
ICHARD DAVIDSON, farmer and stock raiser of Union township, Van Wert county, Ohio, was born January 31, 1838, in Holmes county, Ohio. His father was Joshua Davidson, also a native of the Buckeye state, born in the county of Jefferson in 1813, being a son of Joshua David- son, whose birth occurred on Long Island, N. Y., about the year of 1775. The Davidson family is of Scotch descent, and were among the early settlers of the eastern states. Joshua Davidson, Sr., was a soldier of the war of IS12, and had previously taken part in the Indian war of 1794, under Gen. W. H. Harri- son. He lived for some time in Jefferson county, engaged in hunting and farming, and later, sometime in the 'twenties, moved to the county of Holmes, of which he was one of the pioneers. His death occurred in Holmes county about the year of 1850. Joshua David- son, Jr., father of the subject of this biography, was reared to manliood on the frontier farins of his father, in Jefferson and Holmes counties, Ohio. About 1848, he purchased a farm in Coshocton county, but soon after disposed of
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the same, and in 1848 moved to the county of Allen, where he purchased a small place and began clearing a farm. Subsequently he sold this land and took a claim of eighty acres of government land, which had been granted the canal, and resided upon the same until his death, which occurred in February, 1866. He was known far and wide for his generosity, and his charities were dispensed quite liberally upon all who applied to him for assistance. He was a progressive farmer, a good citizen, and his influence is still felt in the community where he formerly lived. His wife, Catherine Davidson, was the daughter of Richard and Violetta (Thompson) Ross. She was born in 1811, married Mr. Davidson in 1833. and be- came the mother of thirteen children, viz: James; Lucinda, wife of Henry Gallespie; Hugh, deceased; Richard; Margaret, wife of William P. Neely; John; George W. died in the Confederate prison at Salisbury, N. C., William; Peter; Mary A., wife of Charles Peterson; Catherine, wife of Stephen Cremean; Joshua, and Elizabeth, deceased. Richard Ross served in the Indian war under Gen. Har- rison, and in the war of 1812, and died in Jeffer- son county, at an early age, from injuries received while in the military service in defense of the honor of his country.
Richard Davidson, whose name introduces this sketch, and whose birth is noted in the opening paragraph, attended such schools as the country afforded in his youth, and while still a mere lad was apprenticed at the car- penter's trade, which he followed until 1861. In that year he laid aside his tools and re-
sponded the country's call for volunteers, enlisting in company I, Thirty-fourth Ohio infantry (First Zouaves), for three years' serv- ice. He was mustered in at Cincinnati, thence accompanied his command up the Kanawha river into West Virginia, where he participated in a number of minor skirmishes. He tock 9
part in the Shenandoalı valley campaign, and Hunter's expedition against Lynchburg, in the battles of Panther's Gap, and many other en- gagements, and was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, September, 1864, having acheived a most enviable military record.
After leaving the army Mr. Davidson, worked for some time as a day laborer, and in 1866 farmed his father's place, upon which he resided until his removal to the county of Van Wert in 1870. In the year last named he came to Union township, where he purchased land, erecting thereon a log house, which served as a residence for a number of years until a more comfortable and pretentious structure could be built. He has made a good farm, is in comfortable circumstances, and has the satisfaction of knowing that all he has of this world's goods was acquired by his own un- aided efforts. He is a democrat in politics, takes a lively interest in the success of his party, and has served in various official posi- tions, including those of township trustee and infirmary director, also as township treasurer three terms-the duties of which offices were filled with great credit to himself.
Mr. Davidson was married, in 1865, to Louisa Dunn, daughter of Beracha and Anna (Clark) Dunn. Mr. and Mrs. Davidson have had seven children: Edwin James, Mary L., wife of E. G. Linder, Charles R., Clarence W., Marion M., Burton and Alta C .- the last two deceased. Mr. Davidson has been a hunter of considerable note and has many trophies to show for his skill, and once killed a catamount with an old-fashioned trapper's spear. He was a brave and valiant soldier, and now draws $12 pension. He stands high in the esteem of his neighbors as a citi- zen and business man, and his services to his country and his efforts to advance the pros- perity of liis township and county are not with- out recognition. -
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S AMUEL WATSON FLEMING, of Van Wert, was born August 16, 1851. He is a son of Samuel Fleming, who was born in Pennsylvania, was of Irish descent, was reared on a farm, and fol- lowed farming all his life. Mr. Fleming, the father, was one of those whole-souled Irishmen that it is always a pleasure to meet, genial and kind-hearted, and way always striving to find some duty that he could perform for a fellow- man. In politics he was a republican, but cared more for family, home and friends than for official position, though he was true to his party convictions, and performed his duty as a private citizen in politics as well as in other and perhaps more important things. He was a member of the Christian church, and was married to Miss Lafferty, of Pennsylvania, who was also of Irish descent. To their marriage there were born the following children: Will- iam H., who is married and living in Kenton, Ohio; James S., who is also married and liv- ing in Kenton; Samuel W., married and living in Van Wert; Jane Ridney, married and living in Mansfield, Ohio; John, who died a single man. All the rest are living. Samuel Flem- ing, the father of these children, came to Ohio and married at an early day, settling in Hardin county, near Dunkirk. There he lived the rest of his life, his wife dying before him. John, his eldest son, enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, and died from the effects of a wound received in battle.
Samuel Watson Fleming, the subject of this sketch, was born in Pennsylvania, was reared on his father's farm, where he remained until he grew to mature years, and until his marriage, which occurred in August, 1871. His wife was Miss Alice Arnold, of Hardin county, Ohio. By her he had the following children: Esta M., siggle; Maud, born April 15, 1875; Fern, born February 11, 1880; James W., and Deborah J., the latter two both
single. Two of these children are dead, Fern and Maud. The mother of these children died in 1880, a good woman and a faithful mother, earnest in her religious convictions and always striving to impress her children with correct ideas concerning life and its duties. She was a member of the Methodist church, and died near Dunkirk, Ohio. Mr. Fleming's second marriage was with Mrs. Mary Gordon, a daugh- ter of Alexander L. Strothers, this marriage taking place in 1891 .* In 1887 Mr. Fleming removed to Van Wert, where ever since he has been employed as car inspector for the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad company. He is a republican in politics, and is in every way a very liberal man, as to his views and as to his means, as in all other things. He is in very comfortable circum- stances, and is living in. his beautiful home in Van Wert.
Mrs. Mary (Gordon) Fleming, his second wife, was born in Van Wert county, April 30, 1851. She lived with her father until her marriage, in 1871, to Charles Gordon, of Cincinnati, a very highly respected and popu- lar man. He was a member of the Independ- ent Order of Red Men; of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Odd Fellows. He died in 1891 and was buried with appropriate cere- monies all the lodges of which he was a mem- ber participating. Her father, Alexander L. Strothers, was born in Hancock county, Ohio, in 1820. He was educated and reared upon the farm, but in early age inechanical ability developed to suchi a degree and it was so pleas- ureable for him to exercise that ability, as com- pared with working on a farm, that he learned the trade of a machinist, and followed it all his life, or rather until late years, when he began to cultivate a market garden, in which he has been unusually successful. In politics he is a republican, and is a very charitable and liberal- minded man. He was married to Miss Han-
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nah Arnold, of Van Wert county, by whom he had six children, viz: Mary, Amanda, Marion (died in infancy), Harriet, Charles and Bertie (deceased). Those still living are all married. Alexander L. Strothers came to Van Wert county in 1832 and bought a farm in York township, containing 300 acres, all covered with timber. In 1861 he removed to Van Wert and established a machine shop, and was, in this new venture, very successful. In 1871 his wife died and he was married, the sec- ond time, to Miss Hannah Myers, of Cincin- nati, by whom he had one child, Ethel, who is at present attending school in Van Wert. Mr. Strothers and his wife are living quiet and retired lives in Van Wert, enjoying the even- ing of their days in peace and plenty.
J OSEPH FOOR, who owns one of the best tilled and neatest sixty-acre farms in Willshire township, Van Wert county, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, June 10, 1837, and is of German extraction. His father, John Foor, was born in Pennsyl- vania, whence he moved to Fairfield county, Ohio, where he married Sarah Young, and settled on a forty-acre farm, which he culti- vated until his death.
Joseph Foor, our subject, was reared on this farm, but, his parents being in somewhat straightened circumstances, his educational advantages were very meager. On reaching maturity he married Sarah Tower, who has borne him the following children: Mrs. Emma Murphy, Willian, Sarah A., Henry, Mary, Gustavus, John, Frank, Mrs. Ellie Douglass, Burt T., Jess L., George M. and Ollie G., who have all been fairly well educated. The David F. Fortney, our subject, was born June 13, 1872, in Dauphin county, Pa., was educated in the district schools and was reared a farmer. In 1863 he came west to Defiance father of this family came to Van Wert county when it was in a very wild condition, and bought forty acres of land, to which he has added forty acres, and now has the prettiest ; county, Ohio, and for about a year was em-
farm of its size in the county of Van Wert, all most excellently cultivated. His buildings are modern and substantial, and cost over $2,000, all of which Mr. Foor has earned by his own hard labor, assisted, to some extent, by his children and his faithful wife. In politics Mr. Foor is a republican, but he has never been in any sense an office seeker. He and wife are consistent members of the radical branch of the church of United Brethren in Christ, and Mr. Foor was one of those who liberally as- sisted in contributing toward the erection of a house of worship for the congregation at Will- shire. Mr. Foor is widely known as a method- ical, thrifty and skillful agriculturist, and his farm gives the best possible evidence of his taste, skill and good management. His social standing, as well as that of his large family, is all that could be desired, and he is universally recognized as an honorable and straightforward gentleman and useful citizen.
AVID F. FORTNEY, a respected and substantial farmer of Tully town- ship, Van Wert county, Ohio, is a son of John and Susannah (Crall) Fortney. John Fortney was born in Dauphin county, Pa., came to Van Wert county, Ohio, in 1860, and settled on farm land in Tully township. His children by his first wife were named Henrietta, David F., Alfred, John, Christian and Samuel; by his second wife. Harriet Sullinger, he was the father of two children-Sylvester and Charles. Mr. Fortney was a hard-working and respected farmer, and served his fellow-citizens of Tully three years as township trustee.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
ployed at farm work. March 16, 1864, he enlisted, at. Defiance, in company E, Four- teenth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years or during the war, and served until hon- orably discharged at Louisville, Ky., July II, 1865. He took part in the famous Atlanta campaign, fighting at Resaca, Kenesaw Mount- ain, Jonesboro, and engaging in constant skirmishing until the capture and destruction of Atlanta in September, 1864, and went onward with Sherman to the sea-marching through to Goldsboro, N. C., and then on to Washing- ton, D. C., where he took part in the grand review that celebrated the close of the war. At the battle of Jonesboro he was wounded in the nose by a splinter from a shell, and this wound has culminated in a permanent injury to his eyesight. He did his duty well and faithfully and was promoted to be corporal for his gallant and meritorious conduct on the the field. After the war was over Mr. Fort- ney came to Van Wert county, which he had first visited with his father in 1860, and was married in Defiance county September 5, 1865, to Miss Lavinia Noffsinger, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Noffsinger. Samuel Noffsinger was a Pennsylvania German, but came from Mont- gomery county, Ohio, of which county his father, Daniel Noffsinger, was a pioneer, was a farmer and a member of the Baptist church. Samuel and his wife early settled in the woods of Defiance county and cleared up a farm of 160 acres. Like his father, he was a German Baptist in religion. He and wife were parents of six children-Mary, Christian, Elizabeth, Lavinia, Alvora and Ida. Mr. Noffsinger died at the age of seventy years, an honored and respected citizen and the owner of a good farm.
After marriage David F. Fortney located in Dixon, Van Wert county, and for a time worked as a section hand on the P., Ft. W. & C. railroad, and next settled in Tully town-
ship, where he bought a farm of thirty acres and rented eighty acres additional. To his marriage with Miss Noffsinger have been born ten children, as follows : One that died young; Byron, John, William, Alvaro, Celeste, Mor- gan, Pearl, Ethiel and Samuel. In politics Mr. Fortney is a democrat and has served as constable. He is a man who has always worked hard to support his family, has reared his children respectably, and has been faith- fully- assisted by his amiable wife; he was a brave soldier and still suffers from the effects produced by his army life, yet maintains his position as a worthy and useful citizen.
S IMON FOSTER, a pioneer farmer and wealthy resident of Washington town- ship, Van Wert county, was born in Perry county, Ohio, December 2, IS28, and descends from one of the earliest pioneer families of the state.
His grandfather, William Forster (as he spelled the name), was born in Prussia; when fifteen years of age he came to America, and here became a Lutheran minister and for many years preached in Virginia and Ohio. He mar- ried in Pennsylvania and died in Perry county, Ohio, the father of twelve children, viz: William, Daniel, John, Samuel, Henry, Chris- tian, Andrew, George, Benjamin, Elizabeth, Magdalena and Catherine. Mr. Foster gave all his children in Perry ceunty 160 acres each, and died at the age of sixty-six years. George Foster, son of above and father of our sub- ject, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1789, and was a small boy when brought to Ohio. He was married in Perry county, to Christina Bean, a native of Pennsylvania, and to this union were born ten children, as follows: Jacob, Samuel, John, Mary, Willian, Daniel, Simon, Elizabeth, James and Salomi. Mr. | Foster inherited a farm of 160 acres from his
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
father, and this land he cleared up to a great extent, made a very good farm, and then, in 1848, came to Van Wert county and purchased a farm that lay partly in Ridge township and partly in York township, and also purchased 215 acres in Ottawa county. Mr. and Mrs. Foster led an honored life as a member of the Lutheran church, and Mr. Foster died in this faith, in 1858, at the age of sixty-nine years. He gave each of his children a good start in life and was in every respect a true man.
Simon Foster, the gentleman with whom this biography is most interested, was as well educated at the pioneer log school-house of his district as its limited curriculum would permit, was reared to an accurate knowledge of farm- ing, and was married at Lima, Allen county, Ohio, June 12, 1856, to Susannah Fisher, who was born October 5, 1834, in Perry county, Ohio, a daughter of Jacob Fisher, a native of Pennsylvania and of German descent, and an old pioneer of Highland county, Ohio. When Mrs. Foster was but two years old-about 1836-he settled one mile from Lafayette, Allen county, cleared up eighty acres of land, and died at the age of seventy-one years. Mr. Foster had received from his father 215 acres of land in the woods of Ottawa county, Ohio, but subsequently sold this land and in 1853 bought his present home of 168 acres, all of which was wooded with the exception of forty acres-for which he paid $12 per acre-all of which he has converted into arable land and productive fields. To Mr. and Mrs. Foster have been born seven children, named as fol- lows: Almonary, Ellen, Agnes A., Elizabeth Emma, (who died at the age of twenty years), Jacob H. and Harriet.
Mr. and Mrs. Foster are strict inembers of the Lutheran church, of which Mr. Foster was for many years a deacon, treasurer and clerk, and is now an elder. He lias always contributed freely of his means to the support of this re-
ligious body, and is ardent in the forwarding of its interests, and he had his brother Samuel erected the first edifice owned by that denomi- nation at Middlepoint from their own means, with the exception of $25 contributed by others of the faithful. In politics Mr. Foster is a democrat, and has filled in a most satisfactory manner the office of township trustee. He is one of the most respected pioneer residents of Washington township, and has done much in his day toward making it the prosperous town- ship it now is.
MANUEL S. FOSTER, a thriving farmer of York township, Van Wert county, is a native of Perry county, Ohio, and was born February 14, 1849, a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Sult) Foster, natives of Pennsylvania. but married in Ohio, becoming the parents of the follow- ing children: Benjamin, who died in child- hood; James S., who resides in Toledo, Ohio; one child that died in infancy; Emanuel S., our subject; Jacob H., who resides at Lovell. Ohio, and David, a resident of Perry county, Ohio. The father of these children died when the subject was but five years of age, and the mother was next married to Israel Zartman, and to this union heve been born three daugh- ters, viz: Dora, wife of Noah Snyder; Emna, wife of David Helser; and Louisa. wife of Vallandingham Shreider; the mother of our subject died February 13, 1895.
Emanuel S. Foster lived on the home farm until eighteen years of age, when he was granted his freedom, and then he went to work by the month, and was so employed un- til his marriage in March. 1872, to Emma Breeding, a daughter of Jolin 'and Elizabeth (Askins) Breeding, residents of Van Wert county, but natives of Auglaize county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Foster have had born to
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them seven children, viz: Lizzie, who has been successful as a school-teacher, and is noted for her gentle manners and good man- agement; Daisy, Charley, Homer, Pearly, Eva and Dewitt. Mr. Foster's present farm was entered by his grandfather, Andrew Fos- ter, and came into the hands of our subject through purchase from the other heirs. The original entry consisted of forty acres only, and when the title was vested in our subject, the land was absolutely without any improve- ment. Mr. Foster now has a splendid brick dwelling, costing $2,000, situated upon a natural eminence: his farm comprises 240 acres in one tract, and a wind-engine supplies his stock with water, and as a whole is one of the richest and best improved farms in the county.
Mr. and Mrs. Foster worship at the Pres- byterian church, and he votes the prohibition ticket, while his social standing is with the best citizens of the township. Still a young man, the field of agricultural practice has for him a scope that will embrace many new and interesting features not yet dreamed of by the most advanced cultivators of the soil, although Mr. Foster may well feel proud of the manner in which he has kept abreast of the times. Possessing one of the best farms in the county and a dwelling of which any farmer might justly feel proud, and surrounded by a most aimable and interesting family, there is but little left, however, for Mr. Foster to be de- sired as far sublunary matters are concerned.
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