USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 25
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 25
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Joseph La Rue was born in Richland county. Ohio, July 24, 1836, received the ordinary education and was reared to farming and also to the carpenter's trade. He came to Van Wert county with his parents, and April 30.
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
1857, married Miss Matilda Eller, who was born June 16, 1839, in Richland county, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Hilburn) Eller, who were of German and Irish descent respect- ively, and the parents of nine children, viz: . Polly, John, Frederick, Betsey, Sarah, Jere- miah, Matilda, Miriam and Rachel. Jacob Eller was a son of Abraham Eller and came from Richland county to Van Wert county in 1849, cleared up eighty acres of land in Pleas- ant township, and here died. Two years after marriage Joseph LaRue came to Harrison township, in the spring of 1860, settled on a forty-acre farm, on which he lived about twelve years, and later increased it to eighty acres.
May 2, 1864, Mr. LaRue enlisted, at Van Wert, in the 100-day service and served until honorably discharged, at Camp Chase, Ohio, August 28, 1864. He then veteranized, Sep- tember 1, 1864, in company B, Seventy-eighth Ohio infantry, and in June, 1865, was mus- tered out, on account of the close of the war, at Columbus, Ohio. He saw service at Point Lookout, Md., was with Sherman on his cele- brated march to the sea, and at Milton, Ga., was injured by an iron rail falling on him while tearing down a railroad water-tank; but hecon- tinued on the march, although he could not always carry his knapsack, and eventually reached Washington, D. C., with the victori- ous troops and witnessed the grand review of May 23-24, 1865.
To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. LaRue have been born seven children, in the follow- ing order: Sarah J., Harlan F., Col. Ells- worth, Orland Sherman, Almon V., Iona D. and Viola M. Mr. and Mrs. LaRue are mem- bers of the Baptist church, and in politics is a republican. He is also a member of the G.A. R., Capper post, No. 231, at Convoy, and likewise a member of the grange. His social standing, it is needless to add, is among the inost respectable families of Harrison township.
ARRISON LEATHERS, a prominent farmer and miller of Ridge township, Van Wert county, is a native of Fair- field county, Ohio, and was born Oc- tober 31, 1834, a son of Christian and Cather- ine (Shupe) Leathers, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Mary- land, and each was about four years of age when brought by their parents to Ohio. Chris- tian Leathers became quite well to do, through inheritance, and died in Van Wert county, honored and respected by all who knew him, September 17, 1864, a member of the English Lutheran church. Mr. Leathers came to Van Wert county in 1852, and of his family of eight children, brought with him, the survivors are three sons and two daughters. The eight alluded to were named, in order of birth, as follows : Noah, who died in infancy; Louis, who grew to manhood and reared a family, who are now all deceased; Eliza, deceased wife of Job Fowler; Mary, wife of Asa Pollock; Harrison, our subject: John F., who reared a family of his own, and died in 1894: Abrahamn, a Lutheran clergyman, and Sarah, wife of S. R. Moneysmith. The father of this family made his first purchase of land in Van Wert county in section No. 34, of Ridge township, part of which land is now in the possession of the sub- ject of this sketch.
Harrison Leathers was reared on his father's farm and also enjoyed the usual school advan- tages. April 15, 1858, he was united in wed- lock with Miss M. A. Cummings, daughter of Emanuel and Mary (Redman) Cummings- the former a native of Logan county, Va .. and the latter of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Cum- mings had born to them a family of ten chil- dren, as follows : Mrs. Leathers, called Ade- line by her friends; Lucretia E., who died in childhood; May Margaret, deceased wife of William Hill-also deceased, having been killed in battle: James Wesley, who died at
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the age of eight years; Rebecca Jane, widow of David Hart; Susannah, who died when three years old; Sarah, who also died in childhood; Nancy, died an infant; Malissa Ann, is the wife of George Null, and William Jefferson, who lives in Noble county, Ind. The mother of this family died December 27, 1855, and Mr. Cummings next married the widow of Judge Beard; this lady bore the maiden name of Eliza Jane Scott. After the death of this lady, Mr. Cummings took for his third wife Rachael Margaret Todd, who bore him two daughters- Irene and Maggie-and she, too, was called away by death. Mr. Cummings next married Susan Bell, now also deceased, and he himself died December 28, 1887. To the marriage of Harrison Leathers and Miss Cummings have been born four children, viz : E. A., residing on a farm near his father's, and wedded to Jennie Bell; W. C., in the employ of the Cin- cinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad com- pany, and who first married Ella Young and then Jennie Leslie; Delora Virginia is the wife of W. C. Gilliland, and Florence Emma Bell, the youngest child born to Mr. Leathers, is the wife of J. G. Prill.
At the age of twenty-eight years, Harrison Leathers enlisted in company A. Ninety-ninth Ohio infantry, in August 1862; he was in a number of raids and battles, was on one oc- casion disabled and confined some time in a hospital, but served until the close of the war, receiving an honorable discharge, and on his return home re-engaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Leathers are inembers of the Lutheran church, in which he has been an officer the past thirty years, and also for many years has been a superintendent of the Sunday-school. Politically, Mr. Leathers is a republican, and has served as clerk, trustee and assessor of his township. Mr. Leathers is the owner of 172 acres of fine farming land in Ridge township, beside some valuable lots in Middlepoint, and
is doing a large grain business. His social standing is as excellent as his business relations, and his integrity and strictly honest methods of dealing have won for him the respect of all who know him. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 251, Van Wert, Ohio.
B ENJAMIN JONES, one of the most progressive farmers of Willshire town- ship, Van Wert county, was born in Richland county, Ohio, now known as Ashland county, January 17, 1837, and is descended from one of the oldest Welsh fami- lies in America. His great-grandfather, also named Benjamin, came to America with a colony, that settled in Maryland on land at present partly occupied by the city of Balti- more, and there died. James, a son of Ben- jamin, was born in Baltimore, but soon after reaching his majority came to Ohio and located in Columbiana county in 1808, being a pioneer in the full sense of the word. He had married, in Maryland, Rachael Arnold, and with his family moved from county to county, including Stark, Wayne, Medina and Richland -- dying in the last-named county in 1840, and his widow in 1845. James Jones, father of our subject, was born in Maryland, near Baltimore, in December, 1807, and in Medina county, Ohio, in July, 1834, married Miss Catherine Deweese, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Shaffer) Deweese, and to this union were born the following children: Joseph (deceased , Benjamin (our subject), Elizabeth (deceased , Urialı (deceased). Daniel (deceased), John and James. The parents lived successively in Medina and Richiland counties, Ohio, and in Adams county, Ind., where the father died. a member of the Catholic church and in politics a democrat; the mother is still living, in Will- shire township, Van Wert county, Ohio.
Benjamin Jones was early inured to farm
BENJAMIN JONES.
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MRS. BENJAMIN JONES.
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
labor on his father's place, was educated in an old-fashioned log school-house, and in August, 1861, enlisted in company A, Forty-seventh Indiana volunteer infantry, and served in Ken- tucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, Louis- iana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Texas, taking part in all the marches, skirmishes and battles in which his regiment was engaged, in- cluding Fort Madden, Mo., Jackson, Miss., Grand Couteau Bayou, La., Muddy Bayou, La., Marksville and Atchafalaya, La., Spanish Fort and Fort Blakley, Ala., and Mobile, Ala. He was also at the siege of Vicksburg, Riddle Point, Pemberton, Port Gibson and Champion Hill, Miss., and in all these fights escaped in- jury, with the exception of being hit by a spent ball, which caused a slight fracture of the skull, but was still a " close call." He was appointed sergeant October 30, 1862, and was honorably discharged November 1, 1865, after a service of over four years.
The marriage of Mr. Jones took place December 24, 1865, with Miss Mary Dailey, who was born November 12, 1846, a daughter of James and Mary (Johnson) Dailey, natives of Athens and Harrison counties, respectively. James Dailey was born September 23, 1819, and his wife was born in September, 1823; they were married in Van Wert county, owned 600 acres of fine land, and died, respectively, February 27, 1863, and December 4, 1886, highly honored by all who knew them. Mr. and Mrs. Jones, at their inarriage, settled on their present farm, then not much improved, but now containing 290 acres, with a fine brick residence and three barns. The soil is well drained and cultivated, and everything denotes the control of a master mind. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones were named as fol- lows: Emma, Eva, Dailey D., Esaias T., Oscar B., James (deceased), Charles J., Har- vey H., Mary A., Harry O., Clarence C., Fred C. and Clara A. Of these, Dailey and Esaias i ants removed from Virginia to Pennsylvania, 19
attended Middlepoint Normal college, and have both taught school. In politics Mr. Jones is a republican and is a member of the G. A. R. post at Willshire. He is devoted to his fainily, and for his helpmate, who has done so much toward aiding his progress through life, there is no limit to his affection.
EORGE LAWHEAD, a carpenter and conservative business man, was born in Clinton county, Ohio, July 25, 1836, and is a son of John and Phoebe (Hibben) Lawhead, both natives of Fayette county. Pa., and respectively of Scotch-Irish and English extraction.
His paternal ancestors came to America about 1745 and settled on an English land grant in the colony of Virginia, where they lived until the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, when the grandfather of the subject of the present sketch enlisted in the patriot army under Gen. Washington and served throughout the entire period of that struggle. Although only a boy in years at the time of enlistment he endured all of the hardships of the winter at Valley Forge and took part in the famous campaign in which the Continental troops forced a passage through the icy Delaware river, and although badly frozen, he was in the front ranks with his regiment at the battle of Trenton. After the war ended he married, and in a few years removed to Pennsylvania.
Mr. Lawhead's forefathers on the maternal side were also of old colonial stock, the Hibben family coming to America from England about 1750. Joshua Hibben, although quite an aged man, shouldered a musket in defense of the country of his adoption and for four years fol- lowed the destiny of the colonies in their struggle against the mother country. At the beginning of the present century his descend-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
and in 1812 Mr. Lawhead's grandfather en- listed in the service of the young republic in its war with Great Britain. John Lawhead and Phoebe Hibben were married in Fayette county, Pa., and came to Ohio, in 1820, set- tling in Clinton county, where they followed farming until his death in 1865. In early life John Lawhead was an old-line whig, but be- came a republican upon the organization of that party, remaining a member of the same the remainder of his life. In his religious views he was a Presbyterian. His wife died in 1871, a life-long member of the Christian church. She and her husband were the parents of six children.
George Lawhead is the youngest of these six children. He was educated in his native county, where he spent the earlier part of his life, and there was married, October 7, 1856, to Eliza J. Mathew, and continued to reside in that county until 1867. Miss Mathew is a daughter of Jonah and Sarah (Stokesberry) Mathew, both natives of Culpeper county, Va., and 'respectively of Welsh and English ex- traction. Both came to Ohio with their par- ents in 1812, these parents entering land grants in Clinton county, and as soon as their families were comfortably settled in their new homes the male heads of each volunteered to serve their country in the war then going on between this country and Great Britain. Peace being soon declared, they returned to their families in Ohio. Jonah Mathew died in Clin- ton county in 1865, aged seventy-two years, and his wife died in 1890 at the age of eighty- eight. Both were members of the Christian church.
George Lawhead enlisted in the Union army May 1, 1864, in company K, Forty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, and immediately went to the front. His regiment participated in the battles of Perryville and Monocacy Junction. Mr. Lawhead was deprived of any further
privilege of fighting the rebels by being detailed to the quartermaster's department; yet he served out his time and was honorably dis- charged in September, 1864. In 1867 he removed to Van Wert county and settled in Pleasant township, where he lived on a farm until 1871, when he removed to the city of Van Wert, where he has since resided. While he is a carpenter by trade, which he learned in early manhood, he has not and does not follow that trade exclusively. Soon after coming to Van Wert he was elected sexton of Woodland cemetery, being the first to hold that position, and it is but justice to him to say that to him perhaps more than to any person is due the credit of converting this beautiful spot from the dismal swamp and forest to the lovely Woodland of to-day. In politics Mr. Lawhead is a republican and does not belong to any secret society.
Mr. and Mrs. Lawhead are both members of the Society of Friends' church and are highly reputable members of society, and have many friends. They are the parents of six children, as follows : Loretta, deceased; Emma T., wife of C. M. Smith, of Van Wert; Charles E. and Matthew J., both of Van Wert; Harvey H., deceased, and Millie M., who still resides with the parents at their home on North Elm street.
Emma T., the eldest living child, was edu- cated in the Van Wert public schools and ob- tained an enviable reputation as a successful and competent teacher in the county schools She followed this vocation until her marriage to C. M. Smith. of Van Wert, April 2, 1882. They live in a pleasant home on Tile street in southwest Van Wert.
Mathew J. also received the benefits of an education in the Van Wert schools and a prac- tical business education in actual commercial life, having spent several years in the restau- rant business in Latty and Lima, Ohio, where
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
he was well known as a popular caterer to the wants of his customers. At present he resides on West Jackson street, Van Wert. His es- timable wife, formerly Miss Orpha Cook, of Latty, Paulding county, Ohio, was a popular and successful teacher in the public schools of that county.
Miss Millie M., the youngest child, is a graduate of the Van Wert high school, and for the past two years has been engaged as a teacher in the primary department of the same school. She is an accomplished young chris- tian lady, noted for her earnest work.
Charles E. Lawhead, the eldest son of George and Eliza J. Lawhead, was born near New Antioch, Clinton county, Ohio, October 1, 1862, and was five years old when his par- ents moved to Van Wert county. He received a common-school education for a limited time. At the age of fourteen he commenced work in the timber factories of Van Wert, and finished his studies in private night schools. He worked at the house-painting trade from ISSI to 18S4, when he became book-keeper in the wholesale cigar and tobacco store of F. C. Arnold. He continued to act in that position until 1889, when he became the traveling representative of the firm, then largely en- gaged in the manufacture of cigars; filled that position until 1892, since which time he has been engaged in business of his own at No. 16 North Washington street, Van Wert. Believ- ing in the principles of untiring industry and strict business integrity, he has been success- ful. Politically he is a stanch republican. Mr. Lawhead was married October 7, 1883, to Miss Jessie F. Allen, who was born in Van Wert, June 6, 1865, and who is a daughter of Harvey E. and Louisa (Van Horn) Allen. To this marriage have been born two sons-Fred C. and Edward W. Mrs. Jessie Lawhead is and for years has been a devout member of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Van
Wert, and is a lady of many excellent and at- tractive qualities. Born and reared in Van Wert, she enjoys the respect and friendship of a wide circle of warm personal friends and acquaintances.
J OHN LEESON, at the head of the ex- tensive cooperage firm at Van Wert, Ohio, known as the Leeson Cooperage company, was born near Montreal, Canada, July 20, 1837, a son of Edward and Mary ( Quigley ) Leeson. The father was born in England in 1800, was a soldier in the Brit- ish army, was married in England, settled in Canada in 1830, and was there engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1873, being followed to his grave by his widow in IS7S. Both were members of the Episco- pal church. The seven children born to Ed- ward and Mary Leeson were named Margaret, Anna, Maria, John, Elizabeth, Thomas and Fannie.
John Leeson was reared and educated in Canada and there learned the machinist's trade. Early in 1860 he came to the United States and followed his trade at Peoria, Ill., until July of the same year, and then worked in the railroad shops at Fort Wayne, Ind., un- til 1864, as a journeyman; he was then made assistant foreman and filled that position until ISSo, when he was promoted to the general foremanship, which he held until 1882, when he came to Scott, Van Wert county, lived there two years, and in IS84 came to the city of Van Wert, where he has since made his home. In 1882 lie purchased the hoop factory at Dawkins. Ind., moved it to Scott, Ohio, operated it until 1888, and then formed a stock company, composed of H. Batler, L. Dorin, and himself, for the manufacture of hoops, staves, headings, etc. ; in 1889, the company was reorganized, the stockholders being Mr.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Leeson, G. H. Marsh, and J. B. Smith, under the title of the Leeson Cooperage company, of which Mr. Leeson is the manager. Mr. Lee- son is also interested in a cooperage plant at Mill Shoals, Ill., and owns a farm of 248 acres in Van Wert county, Ohio; he is also inter- ested, with others, in 300 acres in Van Wert county, and 1,000 acres in Paulding county; likewise he owns 1, 140 acres of timber land in Hamilton county, Ill. He also has valuable town property in Fort Wayne, in Van Wert, and in Mill Shoals. Mr. Leeson, with his family, of whom mention will directly be made, is a member of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a republican, and for four years served as a member of the city council of Van Wert, and has also served as a mem- ber of the board of health; fraternally he is a Thirty-second degree Mason --- it being as high a degree as any of the brethern of that order care to reach.
John Leeson was united in matrimony, at Fort Wayne, Ind., June 11, 1863, with Miss Mary P. Tower, a native of that city, born January 5, 1840, and a daughter of Benjamin H. and Catherine (Paul) Tower. Her father, Benjamin H., was born in Hamilton county, N. Y., and her mother, Catherine, was a native of New York city. They were married in Detroit, Mich., January 9, 1837, and to their union were born eight children, viz: Mary P., wife of Mr. Leeson; William H., deceased; Margaret A., of Fort Wayne; Ben- jamin H., of Toledo, Ohio; Katie, deceased; Agnes, deceased; Mack, a machinist of Fort Wayne; and John, deceased. The parents settled in Fort Wayne after marriage, and there for many years Mr. Tower followed cab- inet making. Mrs. Catherine Tower died in that city July 6, 1856, and Mr. Tower, Sep- tember 23, 1872-both members of the Pres- byterian church. In politics Mr. Tower was a democrat, and for some years was a council-
man. The children that blessed the union of John Leeson and his wife, Mary P., were five in number and born and named as follows: Kate E., born October 19, 1864-died March 27, 1881; Benjamin B., born April 14, 1873. -- a medical student in Philadelphia, and a member of the Masonic order; Margaret A., born June 1, 1874-died January 16, 1878; John Alexander, born March 27, 1876-died March 24, 1878, and Mary L., born July 28, 1879. Mrs. Leeson is one of the twelve mem- bers of the Van Wert library association, and one of its most active workers, while Mr. Lee- son, it is needless to add, is one of the most useful citizens of Van Wert. The elegant family residence is at the corner of North Washington and West First streets, where domestic happi- ness may be found, if found anywhere in this. wide world.
J OHN PETER KLEIN, deceased, was born in Outenberg, Bavaria, Germany, June 17, 1841. His father, Andrew Klein, was born in the same place, and at an early age learned the miller's trade, was very skillful and successful, and followed this trade until his death in 1868, when he left his. family in very good circumstances. At an early age Andrew Klein married Miss Proffit, who lived near his home in Bavaria, and four children were born to them, viz: Lizzie, Jacob, Andrew and John P., the first and last of whom came to America. Immediately after landing in New York they came to Van Wert, where Miss Lizzie still lives and is yet unmarried.
John P. Klein, the subject of our sketch, passed his childhood and early manhood days in the old home in the fatherland, and there received a good education and learned the shoemaker's trade, at which he worked until he was twenty years old, when (in 1861) he
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
came to America with nothing to battle with life but the determination to succeed and pros- per in the land of his future adoption. He settled in Van Wert and worked at his trade until the war broke out, when he, as did many others from the land of his birth, entered the army of his adopted country to fight for its preservation. He enlisted in company K, Forty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, Septem- ber 23, 1862, served faithfully and bravely through the war, and made an excellent rec- ord, for which he afterward drew a pension until his death.
On June 10, 1865, Mr. Klein was mustered out of service at Washington, D. C., returned to Van Wert and went to work at his trade, . and on April 5, 1866, married Anna Hauder- shield, who was born in Switzerland on Jan- uary 11, 1845, and when but three months old was brought to America by her parents. Her father, John Haudershield, was born on the 18th of February, 1804, in the same place, where, afterward, his children were born; he was a cutler by trade, at which he was very skillful. He was married to Anna Raber, also a native of Switzerland, and this marriage was blessed by the following-named children: Mary, Jacob, Christ, Anna, John and Henry. He followed his trade until middle life, when - he emigrated and came to America, landing in New York, where he lived a while and then moved his family to Athens, Ohio, where he remained for seven years, and then inoved to Van Wert and bought a farm, cultivated it for four years and prospered, and then retired and went to live with his daughter, Anna, with whom he remained until death called him away. He was in very comfortable circum- stances at the time of his death.
Soon after his marriage Mr. Klein gave up the shoemaker's trade and took up mercantile business, at which he was very prosperous, and continued until his health broke down. In
the spring of ISSo he went to Germany to visit the scenes of his boyhood and in hopes of regaining his lost health. After spending five months there, he, on October 5, 1880, again landed on American soil, here to remain until his death. He was a perfect gentleman, much liked and esteemed by all who knew him. He was a progressive, careful business man, pub- lic spirited, and had the confidence of all with whom he came in contact. Politically he was a democrat; he was an active worker, also. in Saint Peter's Evangelical church, of which his widow is still a faithful member. During life he was the organist of this church, and gave liberally to its support, as he did to all good and worthy canses. He left his widow, a most worthy lady, who resides in Van Wert, in very good circumstances. She is comforted in her old age by her five children, namely: Amelia, born March 9, 1867, and married to Charles Hott, of Van Wert; Louis, born July 23, 1869, who is a prompt clerk in A. Lynch's grocery, being a young man of exemplary habits and popular with all with whom he comes in con- tact; Mary, born July 9, 1875, now one of Van Wert's brightest and most charming young ladies and holding a very good position in D. R. Bonnewitz' dry-goods store; Frederick, born April 20, 1877, is a very promising young man and is progressing finely in his chosen profession, telegraphy; Florence, born January 28, 1883, is still at home with her mother. They form a happy family and are a joy and comfort to their mother.
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