USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 28
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 28
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Michael Long, the subject of this biography. was debarred of the usual educational advan- tages, beginning hard work for his living as a farm hand while still young. He married, in Seneca county, Margaret Smith, who was born in Germany in September, 1828, a daughter of Nicholas and Margaret Smith. Nicholas Smith was a farmer and came to America about 1833, settled in Seneca county, Ohio, cleared up a farm from the woods, and there died, a devoted member of the Catholic church. His six children were named, in order of birth, as follows: Nicholas, Catherine, Elizabeth, Eva, Margaret and John. Mr. Long and wife continued to live, after marriage, on the home farm of forty-seven acres, which he had cleared himself from the woods while still young, and there made his home until 1850. when he came to Van Wert county and bought eighty acres of land in the woods of Washing-
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ton township, all of which he subsequently cleared and converted into a fertile and prof- itable farm. During the earlier day, beside working at his own clearing, he assisted to erect the first Catholic church edifice in Del- phos, devoting two days each week to this purpose until its completion. He had also as- sisted in building the first Catholic church in Seneca county, and later aided in erecting all the Catholic churches of his neighboring towns, including those at Landeck, Ottoville and Van Wert, and also contributed very liberally of his means to the magnificent structure at Delphos. To Mr. and Mrs. Long have been born three children, viz: Nicholas, who dicd when five years of age; Louisa, who died at the age of twenty-five years, a married woman; and Mary F.
Mr. Long has by thrift and well directed labor greatly increased his farming property and is now in prosperous circumstances. For four years he was a councilman of the Catholic church at Delphos, and as a democrat has held the office of school director. He is a self-made man in the true sense of the word, and an honored citizen, standing high in the esteem of all the residents of Washington township and of the adjacent country for miles around.
PILLIAM N. LONGSWORTH, M. D., of Convoy, Tully township, Van Wert county, Ohio, is one of the oldest and most honored mein- bers of his profession of Van Wert county, and was born in Frederick county, Md., Feb- ruary 13, 1818, of English and German de- scent. Solomon Longsworth, grandfather of the doctor, came to America while still a young man, was married, in Baltimore county, Md., to Miss Nelson, daughter of Henry Nelson, the union resulting in the birth of eight children,
viz .: Solomon, Basil, Susan, Harriet, Betsey. Nancy, Sirak and Caty.
Solomon Longsworth, son of the Solomon inentioned in the above paragraph and father of our subject, was born in Baltimore county, Md., in 1789, received a common-school edu- cation, became a fariner and made his home on the old farm in Baltimore county, Md., un- til he was married to Katie Boyer, of German descent, but a native of Montgomery county. Md., and this union resulted in the birth of nine children, viz .: John W., Caleb, Joshua, William N., Enoch G., Solomon R., Mary A ... Susan (deceased in infancy), and Cornelius. who also died in infancy. In 1832 Mr. Longs- worth removed with his family to Guernsey county, Ohio, where he bought a farm of 160 acres, which he increased to 200 acres, but, two years later, in 1834, he removed to Rich- land county, and early in 1846 came to Van Wert county, and purchased eighty acres of land in the unbroken forest of Washington township. This land he also cleared up and then purchased eighty additional acres, but lived to enjoy his new possessions two years only-dying late in 1848, at the age of fifty- eight years. His widow, however, continued to reside on these premises for several years. and then sold. Mr. and Mrs. Longsworth both were members of the Methodist Protest- ant church, of Mr. Longsworth was a local preacher, and, as may well be supposed, a de- voted Christian and laborer in the vineyard oi the Lord. He was a patriot, and of his nine children he gave one, John W., to the service of his country during the late Civil war, and John W., in turn, gave up three children of his own to the service.
Dr. William N. Longsworth received his preliminary education in his native county. and in 1832 came to Ohio with his parents. with whom he resided on the farm until 1844. when he began the study of medicine at Con-
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
gress, Wayne county, under Dr. Leander Fire- stone, who was a prominent medical man of his day, and who, before his death, occupied a chair in the medical department of Wooster university. Dr. Longsworth next attended lectures at the Cleveland Medical college, and after graduation began practice in Lorain county, but at the close of three years he re- linquished this somewhat contracted field and chose Van Wert county as the scene of his future professional labors; here he located in Van Wert, in 1853, and practiced until 1873, becoming known as one of the most skillful physicians that had ever entered Van Wert county, and enjoying the respect and confi- dence of the people of Van Wert and adjoin- ing counties. He accumulated a handsome competence, and for a time sought relief from the active practice of his profession, but he was of too nervous a temperament and of too active a mentality to entirely abstain from business.
In 1873 the doctor established a factory in Lima, Ohio, for the production of wooden handles for agricultural implements, etc., and carried on the factory over eleven years; he then sold his factory to his son, Ira R. Longs- worth. In 1885 the doctor settled in Convoy, Van Wert county, and here resumed the prac- tice of medicine, meeting with the saine suc- cess that had elsewhere attended him, but at the close of four years he again relinquished the practice of his profession and established a notion store, and also became agent for the Adams Express company, a position he still retains.
The first marriage of Mr. Longsworth was solemnized September 22, 1847, with Miss Sarah A. Doolin, a daughter of William and Sarah ( Ury) Doolin, of Wayne county, Ohio, and this union resulted in the birth of one son, Myron V. Longsworth, the mother dying in 1855. The second marriage of the doctor
was with Miss Olive Richey, daughter of M. F. and Sarah ( Eaton) Richey, the former one of the oldest settlers of Harrison township, Van Wert county. To this second inarriage of the doctor have been born eleven children, viz: William (died at the age of thirteen years ), Ira R., Lawrence R., Clara P., How- ard, Lucy, Walter ( died in infancy), Horace, ( also died in infancy ), Reece F., Shirley N. and Katie. Dr. and Mrs. Longsworth are members of the Presbyterian church, of which he has been an elder many years, and in poli- tics he is a stanch republican. He is a strict temperance man, and a Good Templar, and in 1886 was elected mayor of Convoy.
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LFRED L. LONGWELL, dealer in imported horses, Van Wert, Ohio, is a son of James and Phœbe (Leo- nard) Longwell, and was born in Delaware county, . Ohio, August 19, 1839. James Longwell was born in Kentucky in 1803. a son of Robert, a native of Ireland; Robert was married in Kentucky, where he carried on farmning until late in life, when he came to Ohio and located in Delaware county and passed the remainder of his days. There were born six children, viz: Lafayette, Ezekiel, James, George and two daughters, all now de- ceased. James Longwell remained with his parents until he was married, in 1825, to Phoebe Leonard, who was born in Pennsyl- vania in 1812. To this union were born seven children, viz: an infant, deceased; Mary J. and Ira, both deceased: Cecelia, wife of John Eckelburg of Delaware county, Ohio; Alfred L., our subject; John, of Delaware county, and Sarah E., wife of J. C. Reed. The par- ents of these children were members of the Methodist church, and in politics Mr. Long- well was a republican; he was a successful
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
farmer, and at the time of his death, in Dela- ware county, owned a fine farm of 218 acres.
Alfred L. Longwell was reared and educa- ted in Delaware county, Ohio, remained at home until twenty-two years of age, or until his marriage, August 22, 1861, in Delaware county, to Mary Reed, who was born in Vir- ginia September 13, 1841, a daughter of Robert and Rebecca Reed, to which union were born seven children, viz: James R .; Minnie, wife of H. Johnson, farmer of Illinois; William John, with the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad; Frank, with the same road; Emma V., deceased; Charles, a student of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Edith A., a milliner. After his marriage, Mr. Longwell farmed in Delaware county until 1862, then came to Van Wert county and located on his farm of 160 acres of wild land, which he occupied for two years; he then sold and purchased eighty acres in Ridge township and eighty acres in Jackson township, and there made his home until 1872, when he again sold out and bought a tract of 160 acres in the south part of Ridge township, and another tract of eighty acres, where he began, in 1884, buying fine stable horses and brood mares. His first purchase was Bazaine, No. 1994, a French draft horse, which he kept three years; he then bought Liberator, in 1887-a Belgium horse that died; then bought the Norman mare Bibi, which he still owns; then Cæsar, now six years old; then Clyde King; Hayno A. Clyde, a Kentucky colt; Coast Guard; Hendrian, a German coach; also Col. Brice, a Norman. His stable now consists of four full-blooded colts, two brood mares and ten stallions, as well as other stock. His farm comprises 240 acres of land, well improved; also commodious barn, a large feed yard, and stock in the patrons' warehouse, at Van Wert, and a picturesque dwelling. Mr. and Mrs. Longwell attend the' Methodist Episcopal church and have their residence on South
Washington street, near Maple street, in the city of Van Wert, where they are surrouded by a host of genial and social neighbors.
Q HARLES R. LONGSWORTH, senior member of the firm of Longsworth & Agler, photographers of Van Wert city, was born in Pleasant township. Van Wert county, Ohio, October 25, 1870, and is a son of Solomon R. and Catherine (Somerset) Longsworth. He comes of a long line of honorable ancestry, most of whom fol- lowed the occupation of agriculture. The father, Solomon R. Longsworth, was born in Frederick county, Md., June 7, 1830, and was a son of Solomon Longsworth, also a native of Maryland, but born of English parents. Solo- mon Longsworth, about 1832, emigrated to Van Wert county from Maryland and died a year later. He was an old-time whig in poli- tics, was a farmer by occupation, was a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and married Catherine Boyer, who died about IS71. She, like her husband, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was the mother of the following children: Wesley, deceased; Mary A., widow of James Clarke, of Noble county, Ohio; Joshua, deceased, who lived in Kansas; Phillip, deceased; Dr. William, of Convoy; Enoch, of Worthington, Ind .. and Solomon R., deceased.
Solomon R. Longsworth, as may be readily inferred by what has been said above, was quite young when he was brought to Van Wert county. Here he was reared by his mother, was educated in the common schools of the day, and brought up to perform farm work, that being the most that could be done at that time. On November 11, 1851, he married Catherine Somerset, daughter of John and Rachael Somerset, who, when they came west, first settled in Allen county, but later
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removed to Van Wert county. Mr. Somerset was a republican in politics, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, served in the war of 1812, and died in 1872. His wife died about 1860. Their daughter, Catherine, who married Mr. Longsworth, was born November 24, 1831, in Allen county, Ohio, but was educated in Van Wert county, to which county she had been taken in her youth by her par- ents. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She and her husband were the parents of nine children, viz: Samuel W., deceased; William A .; John F., a merchant of Van Wert; Elmer A., engaged in buying, pressing and selling hay in Van Wert; Frank, a railroad man of Fort Wayne, Ind .; G. W., a telegraph operator of Continental, Putnam county, Ohio; Charles R., of Van Wert; Chloe R. C., a teacher of Van Wert; and S. O., a clerk in Van Wert.
After his marriage, Solomon R. Longs- worth settled down on a farm near Middle- point, which he cleared and improved, and which, about 1863, he sold, and then pur- chased a farm of 120 acres, where his son, William A., now lives. Some time afterward he purchased forty acres more, and still later, forty other acres, making his farm consist of 200 acres of land. This is now one of the best farms in Van Wert county, and is well improved. In politics Mr. Longsworth was a republican, and he was a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. Of his church he was a trustee for several years, and he was active in its support. He was drafted into the service of the government during the war and served 100 days. His death was caused by small-pox in 1873, and his widow died in 1879 of heard disease.
Charles R. Longsworth was but two years old when his father died, and only seven years of age when his mother was taken away. Thus thrown upon the world, he was reared
by different relatives until he was twelve years of age, when he went to live with J. H. Springer, of Ridge township, remaining with that gentleman four years. He then attended school at Middlepoint for about one year, when he received a certificate to teach school, and taught his first term in Union township. This profession he followed four years, in the mean- time studying photography with the view of adopting that as his profession for life. In IS92 he opened a studio in Rockford, Ohio, remaining there about a year, and in 1893 re- moved to Van Wert, where, in company with D. E. Agler, he opened a studio and has been engaged in business there ever since.
Mr. Longsworth was married in Van Wert March 25, 1891, to Lydia E. Klinger, born in Van Wert, Ohio, October 8, 1867, and a daughter of Jacob A. and Jane (Holden) Klinger, both natives of Ohio. To this mar- riage there has been born one child, Orr E. Mr. Longsworth is a republican in politics, and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Both are good people and are highly esteemed by all who know them.
PILLIAM LYBARGER, a highly re- spectable retired farmer of Ridge township, Van Wert county, was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, March 1, ISIt, and is therefore eighty-five years of age. He is a son of John and Jane (McNeal) Lybarger, the foriner of whom was born in Erie county, Pa., in 1785. John Ly- barger was reared a farmer. and married Jane McNeal in 1806, soon afterward locating in Ashtabula county, Ohio, living there until 1826; he then removed to Pennsylvania, where he remained three years on rented land, and at the end of this time he purchased sixty-seven acres, upon which he lived until his death,
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which occurred in 1845. His wife died in 1850. In politics Mr. Lybarger was a demo- crat; he was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was also in numerous battles with Indians. Mr. and Mrs. Lybarger were the parents of two children, viz .: Eliza, deceased, and William, the subject of this sketch.
William Lybarger lived in pioneer days from his boyhood up to his arrival at manhood's estate. His education was received in one of the old log school-houses frequently described in this volume in connection with the lives of early settlers. He began work upon the farm when yet a boy, continuing thus occupied until his marriage, which occurred in 1841. His wife, whose maiden name was Abigail Lake, was born in Knox county, Ohio, in 1819, and was a daughter of Nicholas and Sallie Lake, both natives of New England. After living on rented land for three years, they removed to Van Wert county, in 1846, and located on land Mr. Lybarger had previously entered from the government, and upon which he has lived ever since. a period of fifty years. During this time Mr. Lybarger has witnessed almost a complete transformation of every industry in the county, and the growth and development of many new industries. The methods of trav- eling both on land and on water have since been completely changed. From the slow- going ox team, and the not much more rapidly moving horse team, the world has passed to the fast flying steam locomotive on the best possible form of road. Farm labor has also been as much transformed as any other form of labor, steam having in many departments supplanted horse power, as horse power some years since took the place of oxen. Much of Mr. Lybarger's farm work in the early days of his life in Van Wert county, was done by the slow plodding ox team; plowing, harrowing, hauling logs, hauling rails, and fire wood, almost every kind of team work was done by
means of the patient, toiling, mild -eyed ox. We are now living in a rapid age, then we were living in a slow age. Now we are living in the age of iron and steel and steam; then we were living in the age of muscle and of wood. Mr. Lybarger, as he is now living, retired from all active participation in practical affairs, looks back upon the progress of the last fifty years and then turns to the end of the next fifty years, and tries to imagine by what means and by what power agriculture, locomotion and industry will then be carried on.
Mr. and Mrs. Lybarger reared a family of eight children, and had one child that died in infancy. The eight were as follows: Shan- non; Sarah, widow of Peter H. Miller: John, Edward, Charles B., George, Eliza and Eva. Mrs. Lybarger, the mother of these children, died August 28, 1894. She was a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Lybarger is in politics a democrat, and has held several of the minor offices within the gift of his party. He has always been an active, industrious man, and a careful and economical manager. What he possesses he acquired by his own efforts, and it may truthfully be said of him that in every way he is one of the self-made men of the county in which he has lived so many years.
Charles B. Lybarger, son of William Lybarger, was born October 22, 1856. Edu- cated in the common schools, he remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age. assisting his father on the farm. He was mar- ried December 28, 1881, to Miss Florida White, born February 20, 1863, and a daughter of Addison D. and Rebecca M. (Monser White, both natives of Ohio. By this marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lybarger are the parents of four children, viz .: Franklin H. ; Veonie, Jessie and Freddie. After his marriage Mr. Lybarger located on forty acres of land he owned in Ridge township, Van Wert county, and there
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he continued to reside with his family until March 6, 1895, when he removed to the old homestead to take care of his father. In politics Mr. Lybarger is a democrat, active in the support and defense of his party's princi- ples. He is a young man, full of hope and energy, and is also full of ambition. But, as is his duty, he has left his own home and farm and is taking the best care possible of his aged father, who is far past the allotted three score and ten years of age. He is a young man of excellent character and disposition and has the good will and best friendship of all who know him and his respected family.
a ILBUR C. LAWRENCE. - The gentleman whose biographical sketch is herewith.presented is a native of New York, in which state his ances- tors, both paternal and maternal, located in colonial times, the former coming to the new world from France. The family for many years were residents of Westchester county, of which part of the state the subject's grand- father, Norman Lawrence, was a native. Nor- man Lawrence married Hannah Pardee, also of the county aforesaid, and reared a family of eight children, whose names are as fol- lows: Mollie, Gertrude, Cyrus, Frank, Zophar, Hattie, Lydia and George, all but two of whom are still living, namely: George, met his death before Richmond, while gallantly defending the country's flag, being twenty-eight years of age at the time, and Zophar, who died in 1895. The parents of these children were Presbyter- ians, as were many of their ancestors, and the father, a farmer by occupation, was a man of sterling worth and unimpeachable integrity.
Cyrus Lawrence, the third in order of birth in the above family and father of Wilbur C., was born at Lewisboro, Westchester county, N. Y., in April, 1825, and received his educa-
tional training in the schools of his native town and county. When nineteen years of age he began teaching school and with the capital thus acquired, and possessed of a laudable ambition to increase his scholastic knowledge, he further educated himself, alternately attending and teaching school until his twenty-eighth year. He then withdrew from the educational field and engaged in mercantile business at South Salem, N. Y., with which branch of trade he has since been identified. In the spring of IS52, he married Clarinda Bouton, daughter of Enoch and Ursilla (Read) Bouton, who was born in Westchester county, N. Y .. in 1830, and they became the parents of the following children: Wilbur C., whose name appears at the beginning of this sketch; Cornelia F., deceased; Martha J., wife of J R. Tucker of Colchester, Conn., and George, who resides with his parents. Cyrus Lawrence is a man of much more than ordinary mental powers and for many years has been potential in the public affairs of his town, where for a quarter of a century he filled the office of justice of the peace. For eight years he was index clerk in the general assembly of New York, and also served some time as justice of the county court of Westchester county sessions. In politics he is an ardent supporter of the republican party. and like the majority of the family subscribes to the Presbyterian creed, of which religious body his wife is also a member.
Wilbur C. Lawrence, the leading facts of whose life are herewith presented, was born June II, 1853, in Lewisboro, Westchester county. N. Y., and passed his youthful years in his native town, in the school of which he laid the foundation of liis intellectual training. He remained under the parental roof until his twenty-eighth year, in the meantime acquiring a practical knowledge of business in his father's mercantile establishment.
Mr. Lawrence was induced to locate in
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Van Wert upon the solicitation of a friend, A. M. Bouton, who preceded him hither, and the two became partners in the hardware trade, which they carried on successfully for a period of ten years. At the end of that time Messrs. Lawrence & Bouton disposed of their stock, after which, the subject became secretary of the Van Wert Furniture company, which posi- tion he held until the establishment went into the hands of a receiver in 1893, Mr. Lawrence being appointed receiver. During the succeed- ing year he gave his attention to the closing out of the company's business, and in May, 1894, in partnership with A. W. Cox, pur- chased the insurance agency of Wolcott & Wolcott, which, under their joint manage- ment, was consolidated with the Augustine agency, theirs then becoming one of the largest and most reliable insurance firms in north- western Ohio. The company represents twenty of the largest insurance companies in the world and does an extensive business throughout Van Wert and other counties of northern Ohio. During his residence in the city and county of his adoption he has earned the reputation of a clear-headed and capable business man, and in his social intercourse none can be more pleasant and agreeable. In disposition Mr. Lawrence is aimable and gentlemanly, traits which have contributed not a little to his success in business and which have won for him many friends throughout the county. Politically he is an earnest republican, and while active in behalf of his party, is quite popular with all classes, irrespective of political affiliations, as is attested by the fact of his having been nomi- nated, in 1895, as candidate for the office of clerk of courts, over two well-known competi- tors, many of his political adversaries having used their influence in his behalf. The bur- den of the fight lay upon Mr. Lawrence and another candidate on the republican ticket, and it is only justice to him to say that he won
the victory by straightforward, honorable methods, without the aid of money. He takes possession of his office August 3, 1896. Mr. Lawrence is very popular with all classes of people, and it is altogether probable that to this is to be attributed his success in a large degree, for as "love laughs at locksmiths," friendship often leaps over party lines.
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