A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2, Part 3

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : A.W. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1248

USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 3
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 3

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PILLIAM FRECK, ex-county com- missioner of Van Wert county, Ohio, ex-soldier and a prominent farmer, was born in Crawford county, Ohio, August 8, 1843, and is a son of John and Anna (Mauer) Freck, natives of Alsace and Lorraine, Germany, where they were married and where

they had born to them three children-eight more being added to the family after the ar- rival of the parents in America. John Freck, who was born July 4. 1804. was a tailor by trade, located in Crawford county, Ohio, in IS38; in 1852 he moved to Paulding county and bought eighty acres of wild land, of which he made a good farm; in 1863 he came to Van Wert county and here died, at the residence of his son, William, in 1878, at the age of seventy-four years. He was a strong Union man, voted for Lincoln, and had fonr sons in the Civil war, viz: Conrad, who died of spotted fever while in the three-years' service, Four- teenth Ohio infantry; John was shot dead in action at Bentonville, N. C .; Jonas died at Toledo, Ohio, a few week after his enlistment for three years, and William, whose service will be mentioned further. on. Mr. and Mrs. Freck were members of the German Lutheran church and were highly respected among their pioneer neighbors of Paulding connty.

William Freck was nine years of age when the family moved from Crawford to Paulding county. He was reared to the hard work of clearing and cultivating the farm, doing his part of this severe lobor in conjuction with his brothers-the boys doing all the clearing, for the reason that the father had never been trained to manual labor. The pioneer schools afforded him but a limited education, but he fully availed himself of such as could be ac- quired. At the age of twenty years he enlisted, February 27, 1864, at Junction, Paulding county, Ohio, in company F. Thirty-eighth Ohio volunteer infantry, under Capt. John Crosson, to serve three years or during the war. but owing topeace being achieved, was honor- ably discharged at Indianapolis, July 27, 1865. He had taken part In the battles of Resaca, Kene- saw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta and Jonesboro. In the last-named conflict, Sep- tember 1, 1864, he was simultaneously struck

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by three rifle-balls-one striking in the left hip, one on the left wrist, and one on the left shoul- der. He did not fall, but crowded his way to the rear, a distance of ten rods, and lay down behind a log to escape capture by the enemy, Here he lay from four o'clock in the afternoon until nine at night, growing weaker from loss of blood; he was then taken to the field hos- pital and placed under a tree until the next day, when, at sundown, his wounds were dressed; he was then taken eighteen miles to Atlanta, in a government wagon, over a very rough road, the trip causing him more suffer- ing than the shooting itself. He lay in the hospital at Atlanta until November, and was then furloughed home for thirty days, but the time was extended, and from May until July, 1865, he was on provost duty at Indianapolis, when, the war having long since been closed, he was honorably discharged, as already stated. After his return from the war Mr. Freck bought, in 1866, eighty acres of land in Tully town- ship, Van Wert county, all of which land was covered with a thick growth of timber, except one small patch.

October 18, 1866, Mr. Freck married Rebecca, daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (Roop) Mentzer, and went to housekeeping on his little farm; but he was industrious, and a good manager, and added to his possessions until at one time he owned 396 acres, of which he has donated to his children 156 acres. The 240 acres retained by himself are highly cultivated, extensively drained and im- proved with most substantial farm buildings, and is in reality one of the best farms in the county. To Mr. and Mrs. Freck have been born eight children, viz: Alexander, Emma, Annie, Susan (died at eleven years of age), Charles A. (died at five years). Wilson, Will- iam and Harley. Of these, Alexander mar- ried Mary Stephenson, has two children, and resides on the home farm; Emma married

David E. Bayles, farmer and school-teacher. and has two children. Mr. and Mrs. Freck are Lutheran in religious belief and in politics he is a democrat. He has the confidence of the citizens of the township and county and has served them two years as township super- visor, two terms as township trustee, and two terms as assessor: he has been a member of the school board five years and was one of the county commissioners from 1888 to 1893-six year's. He is a member of Capper post, No. 236, G. A. R., of Convoy, of which he was at one time adjutant, and for about six years he was master of the Convoy grange, No. 153. Mr. Freck is one of the most substantial cit- izens of Van Wert county, has acquired his extensive property by his individual industry and good management, and by his integrity and straightforward walk through life has de- servedly won the high position he holds in the esteem of his fellow-men.

ESLEY FRAGER, one of the thriv- ing farmers of Ridge township. Van Wert county. Ohio, was born in Stark county, April 27, 1842, a son of Lewis and Sidney (Harper) Frager-the lat- ter a native of Chambersburg, Pa. Lewis Frager was a boy when brought to Ohio by his parents. In 1852 he came to Van Wert county to take possession of a tract of land he had previously purchased in Union township. but had never seen, but on arriving found that the tract was all under water, and he conse- quently sought a new location, which he found in Ridge township, his present home, which then consisted of eighty acres, all in the woods, but to which he shortly added another tract of eighty acres. Here he erected a cabin and moved his family into it before the roof was upon it, and, of course, the rain fell in torrents before the roof could be adjusted to its place;

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but Mr. Frager devoted himself earnestly to the task of clearing and eventually developed as fine a farm as there was to be found in the county, although he possessed very limited means. To Lewis Frager and wife were born three children, viz: Wesley, our subject; Melinda, wife of Jerry Ross, a farmer of Ridge township, and Louisa, still at home with her parents. Mr. Frager has served as township trustee; with his wife he is a member of the Presbyterian church and is a highly respected citizen of his township.

Wesley Frager grew to manhood on the home farm, and in October, 1864, enlisted in company G, Fifteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, and faithfully served until his honorable dis- charge in February, 1865. He then began farming on his own account, owning, at one time, 140 acres in Ridge township. In July, 1892, Mr. Frager and Harrison Leathers en- gaged in the grain business at Middlepoint, where they are doing an extensive business. Mr. Frager is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge, No. 665, of Middlepoint, as well as the G. A. R., and in politics is a republican.

S OLOMON FRIESNER, a prominent business man of Van Wert, Ohio, was born in Hocking county, this state, April 18, 1839, a son of Fred and Leo (Fought) Freisner, natives, respect- ively. of Kentucky and Pennsylvania, and the former by vocation a farmer. Solomon, our subject, lived with his parents until he reached his twenty-third year, when he bought ninety- seven and a half acres in Hocking county and went to farming on his own account. In 1865 he sold his property and moved to liberty township, Van Wert county, where for seven years he engaged in the grocery businss. He then resumed farming on his 120 acres of land,

which he had here purchased, and followed this vocation until his wife's death, in 1882, when he sold his place, and in the spring of 1883 came to the city of Van Wert, and for two years was employed at labor work on the gas line and on the street cars. He then joined Willard Smith, in the grocery business, on East Main street, but at the end of four- teen months Mr. Friesner withdrew from the firm and was employed as elerk in one or more groceries until 1889, in January of which year he formed a partnership with George Wert in the stove . and tinware trade, on South Wash- ington street, where a successful business was carried on until 1891, when Mr. Friesner bought the lot and erected his present building on Main street, to which the firm moved and carried on their trade until August 1, 1893, when Mr. Wirt retired, leaving the business solely in the hands of Mr. Friesner, who car- ries a stock valued at $2,000. In addition to his regular trade in stoves and tinware, Mr. Friesner makes a specialty of handling old iron, and junk generally, in which trade he has ahnost a monopoly.

Mr. Friesner was first married January 2, 1862, in Hocking county, Ohio, to Miss Chris- tina Weaver, a native thereof, and to this union were born six children, of whom four survive, viz: Lovine, wife of George Spahr, a carpenter of Van Wert; Ida A., wife of Will- iam Ickes; John F., in the employment of his father, and Ora S., a grocery clerk. The mother of this family died September 25. IS83, and Mr. Friesner's second marriage took place in Mendon, Mercer county, Ohio. Sep- tember 15, 1890, to Mrs. Laura R. Rider. a native of Kentucky, born in 1837, and the widow of William Rider. Mrs. Friesner is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics Mr. Friesner is a democrat, under the auspices of which party he has served as city assessor two terms, as township

Jna. 2. Dull

.91-192

Mers. Me. H. Dull.

193-144

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clerk and as constable. Fraternally he is a master Mason. He is the owner of his resi- dence on Sycamore street, and a residence and business block ou Market street. Mrs. Freis- ner owns in her own right sixty acres in Mercer county, Ohio, beside five oil wells, which yield her an income of $150 per month. Mr. Friesner is a thorough business man and sells the Eclipse ranges and heating stoves, as well as his queensware and tinwarc, at No. 81 East Main street, strictly for cash.

OHN W. DULL, dealer in slate roof- ing, galvanized iron, etc., Kepler street, Van Wert city, was born in Willshire township, Van Wert county, Ohio, March 6, 1855. a son of Elias and Jane (Wal- ters) Dull. John W. Dull was educated in the common schools of his native township and re- mained with his parents until his marriage, De- cember 2, 1875. to Miss Mary A. Bay, who was born in Middlepoint. Washington town- ship, Van Wert county, January 27, 1855, a daughter of Rev. W. E. and Elizabeth (Mot- ter) Bay, natives of Auglaize county. Ohio. Her father is of Scotch-Irish descent, and a minister of the United Brethren church, with his residence at Wapakoneta, Auglaize county, Ohio, and her mother is of German extraction.

Immediately after marriage, John W. Dull and his bride settled on a farm of eiglity acres in Willshire township, given him by his father, and to this tract he added forty acres; this property he cultivated until 1884, when he be- gan handling slate roofing and galvanized iron work, operating throughout Mercer, Auglaize and Van Wert counties, and this business, in connection with the manufacture of brick in his own township, he continued until 1890, when he moved to Van Wert, since when he has devoted his entire attention to his present

business, the details of which will be men- tioned further on. He employs from six to twenty men at labor, while he himself does all the contracting. He has roofed the Presby- terian church, the water works, county jail and electric light plant in Van Wert, also C., J. & M. railroad shops: the carbon works at Fre- mont, Ohio; the Knoxville church; the opera house at Saint Mary's, Ohio, and the plow works at Bremen, Ohio; also the C., J. & M. station at Van Wert, and numberless residences and barns, reaching about 100 per season. Mr. Dull is also sole agent for the celebrated Climax brand of wool felt roofing: the Excel- sior fire-proof slate paint, for new and old shingles and felt roofs; the celebrated Ebon- ite varnish for tin and metal roofs, crestings, iron bridges. tanks, boilers and fences; he also deals in and applies all colors of roof- ing slate.

To the union of John W. and Mary A. Dull, have been born seven children, in the fol- lowing order: Armand R., a graduate of Van Wert Business college, and now an assistant to his father; Leola V., deceased; Ione, deceased; Neonto, Ethel, Zoe, Erma L., and John S., Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Dull are members of the Presbyterian church; politically he is a repub- lican, and has served as trustee of Willshire township; fraternally he is an Odd Fellow, and a member of the canton and encampment. and his wife is a member of Rebekah lodge. Mrs. Dull was educated in Westfield (Ills.) college, and also in Freeport academy, Canada. She began teaching in Auglaize county, Ohio. and held her position eleven terms, and like- wise taught one term in Willshire township, Van Wert county. After withdrawing from the profession for seventeen years, she passed a re-examination and was granted a five-year license. She is a lady of marked individuality and intelligence, and is strongly in favor of woman's rights.

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J OSEPH B. FRONFIELD, merchant, ex-soldier and farmer of Van Wert, Ohio, was born in Stark county, Ohio, June 30, 1839, a son of Jacob and Barbara (Wornewag) Fronfield, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania, was a black- smith, and was married in his native state to Miss Wornewag, who was a native of Ger- many and was but seventeen years of age when she came to America. In 1841, Jacob Fronfield emigrated from Pennsylvania and purchased a home in the woods of Union township, Mercer county, Ohio, on which he lived until his death in December, 1865, his wife having preceded him to the grave in September, 1862. The children born to Jacob and Barbara Fronfield numbered seven and were named as follows: William, of Van Wert; George and John, deceased; Mary, of Mercer county; Jacob and Barbara, both de- ceased, and Joseph B., our subject. In poli- tics the father of this family was a republican, and with his wife was a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, was successful in life, and left a farm of eighty acres in fine condition.

Joseph B. Fronfield was but eighteen months of age when brought by his parents to Mercer county, Ohio, and in the woods of Union township he grew to manhood and worked for his father until his majority, when he married, cleared up his own farm of ninety- five acres, and on it made his home until 1866, when he traded for another farm of eighty acres, on which he resided two years; he then traded for 112 acres, which he retained and cultivated for five years, and then sold and bought a farm of 160 acres in Ridge township, Van Wert county, which he still owns, and which he cultivated until 1889, and on which he lived with the exception of intervals, when he was engaged in business in Van Wert, in which city he took up his permanent residence in the year last named. In 1886 he began

the undertaking business in partnership with B. L. Vore, from which partnership he withdrew at the end of eighteen months, and a year later, in company with M. Gackenheimer, started business in the same line on South Washington street, which was profitably pursued until 1894, when Mr. Fron- field became the sole proprietor, and is still doing a general undertaking and picture-frame business. He is a practical embalmner, owns a fine hearse, and handles a well assorted line of caskets, etc.

The marriage of Mr. Fronfield took place April 23, 1861, in Mercer county, Ohio, to Miss Martha Yocum, who was born in Wayne coun- ty, Ohio, in October, 1840, a daughter of John E. and Betsey (Shelly) Yocum, and to this union three children have been born, viz : Morris M. and Mary Ann, deceased, and Joseph R., a farmer.

Mr. Fronfield has his military experience, having enlisted in February, 1864, in company C, Thirty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, under Captain Barber, for the term of three years or during the war, but was honorably discharged in February, 1865, at Camp Dennison, on ac- count of disability. His active battles were those at Missionary Ridge, Snake Creek Gap, Lookout Mountain, Big Shanty, Peach Tree Creek, and Atlanta, in all of which he nobly and faithfully acted his part. Mr. and Mrs. Fronfield are Presbyterians in their religious belief, and beside the 160-acre farm in Ridge township, they own their fine residence, corner of Cherry and Crawford streets, Van Wert.

ARVEY ADAMS, of Jackson town- ship, Van Wert county, Ohio, is of New England descent on his paternal side and of Pennsylvania-German on his maternal side. Emanuel Adams, his father. was a son of Absalom Adams, who, after spend-

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ing years of his life at sea, became a farmer of Ross county, Ohio, and was among the pio- neers of the state. He was the father of the following children : Emanuel, Robert, Will- iam, Betsey, Dorcas and Sallie, and, making a comfortable competence as a farmer, died a highly respected citizen. Emanuel Adams, the father of our subject, was born April 3, 1811, and was married in Ross county, Ohio, to Miss Lydia Huffman, who was born May 13, 1813, a daughter of John Huffman, a pioneer farmer. To Mr. and Mrs. Adams were born thirteen children. of whom eleven lived to maturity, viz. : Martha, William, Henrietta, Matilda, Arthlinda and Cynthia (twins), Har- vey, Mary, James, Stewart and Jane, all hav- ing been born in Ross county except the last two, Stewart and Jane, who were born in Auglaize county, whither Mr. Adams had moved and where he resided until 1886, when he moved to Wood county, where he is now living on his farm at the venerable age of eighty-four years. In politics he is a stanch democrat.

Harvey Adams, whose name opens this biographical notice, was born in Ross county, Ohio, March 30, 1845, and was early taken to Auglaize county, where he was reared on a farm. At a little over sixteen years of age he was enrolled in company E, Sixty-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years or during the war, veteranized in the same regiment, and was honorably discharged August 15, 1865, having served four years, less eleven days. The Sixty-seventh Ohio volunteers were organized at Columbus in the winter of 1861-2, with 1, 025 men, under Col. Alvin C. 1 Voris; started for western Virginia January 19, 1862, and then served until June; was then ordered to join McClelland's forces on the James river; remained with the army of the Potomac until December, and was then trans- ferred to North Carolina, with only 300 men

left for duty; served in South Carolina in 1863; the majority re-enlisted in January, 1864, were furloughed. and returned to duty in March; through the remainder of 1864 and in the early part of 1865 they served under Grant in Virginia, were under fire 200 times and had half their rank and file disabled or killed in action; they were present at the surrender of Lee at Appomattox Court-house, April 9. 1865, and then went on garrison duty at Tide Water, Va., until December, 1865; were mus- tered out at City Point, Va., December 7, 1865, and the heroes returned to their homes. Mir. Adams took part in every battle in which his regiment was engaged, going through the Georgia campaign with Sherman, and being everywhere except in the battle of Winchester, when he was on picket, but under fire. Mr. Adams escaped the hospital, and at one time, when sick, stood by his regiment and com- pany-the highest rank he ever attained being that of corporal, which was the only title he would accept.

The marriage of Mr. Adams took place in Auglaize county, October 3, 1867, to Miss Catherine Bowersock. who was born in Allen county, October 12, 1849, a daughter of James and Isabel (Sunderland) Bowersock. The father, James Bowersock, was a native of Pennsylvania, came to Allen county, Ohio, with his father when a boy, and was reared a farmer. His father was of German birth and mother of Irish stock. To himself and wife were born four children, viz: Catherine. Lo- renzo, Nancy and John. Some time after marriage he settled in Auglaize county and cleared up a farin of 100 acres and made a good farm. At about the first call to arms he enlisted, in 1861, in the three months' service, and at the expiration of his term enlisted in company E, Sixty-seventh Ohio . volunteer infantry, in December, 1861, reached the rank of orderly sergeant, and was killed at the

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battle of Fort Wagner, July 18, 1863, at the age of thirty-six years. His widow then bought a farm of forty acres in Allen county, where she reared her children in respectability, and where she died in the faith of the Meth- odist church, beloved by all for her inany womanly virtues. Valentine Bowersock, a brother of James, was also a soldier in an Ohio regiment.

After marriage Mr. Adams remained on a farm in Auglaize county until 1879, when he bought thirty acres of land in the woods of Jackson township, Van Wert county, which by diligence and hard labor he soon cleared up, made into an excellent home and increased in size, and has here found his home ever since. To this happy union with Catherine Bowersock have been born the following chil- dren: Josephine, born January 15, 1869; Lydia B., December 10, 1872; Nancy J., October 12, 1877; Bertha, November 18, 1879; Jolin W., January 7, 1881; Bessie, February 9, 1883; Glenn, November 9, 1885, and Hazel, August 19, 1890-of whom the three first were born in Auglaize county and the others in Van Wert county.

In politics Mr. Adams is a republican, but has never been an office seeker. He has been an ordained minister of the Christian Union church since October 24, 1886, and for a number of years has preached most accepta- bly to the congregations at Bethlehem and Wetzel, as well as other places-his wife being an earnest worker in the same religious organ- ization and being in all other respects a most worthy helpmate and a valuable aid in rearing their respectable family of children. Mr. Adams was a brave soldier, and a true patriot, serving his country when he should have been at school; he is a dilligent student at present, however, and has been since his return from the battle field; is a useful citizen, and is truly a christian gentleman.

B F. FRONFIELD, a prominent busi- ness man of Van Wert, Ohio, was born in this county in November, 1847, a son of William Fronfield, and this county and city have been his home up to the present time.

B. F. Fronfield was reared in Jennings township until seventeen years of age, when he left his parents and enlisted, February 20, 1865, in company D, One Hundred and Ninety-third Ohio volunteer infantry, was assigned to the Second division of the army of the Potomac, and served under Capt. Alexander Gable un- til August, 1865, when he was honorably dis- charged at Winchester, Va. He then came to the city of Van Wert, worked as a laborer in the old Warren & Wells stave factory for four years, then in the Eagle works for a year, and then, in 1880, in company with J. H. Fron- field, opened a meat market on South Wash- ington street, which they carried on for nine years. Our subject then engaged in the gro- cery trade in partnership with C. H. Brown for eighteen months; then was sole proprietor for a short time, when William Young bought a half interest, and the two did business to- gether for sixteen months, when Mr. Fronfield again became sole proprietor until January 15, 1894, when he closed out and retired; since then he has been assisting the city civil engi- neer on street improvements.

Mr. Fronfield was married in York town- ship, Van Wert county, January 7, 1866, to Miss Maggie A. Hanmond, a native of Mercer county, Ohio, and daughter of John and Cath- erine Hammond, and this union had been blessed by the birth of three children, viz: Ollie I., wife of Dr. William Kirkpatrick, of Lincoln, Ill. : Edith A., still at home, and an infant deceased. In politics Mr. Fronfield is a republican, and in 1892 filled a seat in the common council for six months, supplying a vacancy, and in 1894 was elected a member

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of that body for two years. He is a Free- mason, a member of the G. A. R., and of the National Union, and is a most agreeable and highly respected gentleman. He owns a tract of twenty acres adjoining Van Wert and considerable property in town, and has been the maker of his own fortune.

HOMAS A. ALBAN, resident of York township, Van Wert county, is a na- tive of Wales, born in October, 1828, the son of Thomas and Ann (Morgan) Ålban. The parents came to America, with their five sons, in 1835. The father made a permanent settlement in Jackson county, Ohio, purchasing 160 acres of land, which he cleared and sold, and then purchased 320 acres which are now in the same county, on which he re- sided until the time of his death in 1863-his widow surviving until 1889. In addition to the five sons born in Wales, four daughters were born in this country, named: Ann, the wife of David Davis, of Van Wert county, Ohio; Sarah, wife of Rev. Rowland H. Evans, of Wisconsin; Mary, wife of David Richards, of Gallia county, Ohio; Elizabeth, wife of Edward Edwards, of Jackson county, Ohio. Of the sons, David located in Marietta, Ohio, where he rose to eminence as a lawyer, served as prosecuting attorney of Washington county for a number of years, and died about 1882. John is a farmer of Jackson county, Ohio, and Evan resides on and owns one-half of the old homestead in the same county.

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A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2, Part 3

Author: Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago : A.W. Bowen Number of Pages: 1248

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : A.W. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1248