A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2, Part 34

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 34
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 34

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In the year 1862 Mr. Mathew entered the army, enlisting in company D, Eighth Ohio volunteer infantry, for nine months' service, at the end of which time he returned home and resumed milling, in which he had been en- gaged, as mentioned above. Subsequently, in 1864, he re-entered the service as a member of company K, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Ohio infantry, which formed a part of the army of the Potomac, and took part in the hard-fought battle of Monocacy, Md., beside other engagements, in all of which he acquit- ted hiniself as a brave and gallant defender of the flag. At the close of the war he returned to his business in Clinton county and there re- mained until his removal to the county of Van Wert in the year referred to above. Mr. Mathew is a consistent member of the Society of Friends and belongs to that large and re- spectable class of men whose success has been achieved by their own efforts, and to whom the county is greatly indebted for much of its prosperity. Politically he is a republican, and has intelligent opinions on all questions of the day. He has been honored by the citizens of his township with several official positions, the duties of which he ever discharged in a manner highly satisfactory to all concerned.

Sanford Mathew, son of Eli D., was born in the year 1855, in Clinton county, Ohio, re- ceived his education in the common schools, and on arriving at the years of maturity chose the noble calling of agriculture for his life work.

He was married, in 1882, to Mary E. Sidle, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Hedges), Sidle, and is the father of five children, whose names are as follows: Martha M., Chauncy L., Albert E., Nellie L. and Samuel R. Mrs. Mathew was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, and is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Mathew is one of the. progressive men of his township and well de- serves mention in this volume for his sterling worth and public spirit.

OSES H. McCOY, one of the oldest and most substantial farmers of Ridge township, Van Wert county, Ohio, and one of the leading and most popular citizens, is a native of Fayette county, born November 8, 1828, and is a son of Alexander and Eliza ( Gillispie ) McCoy- the former a native of Virginia, born July 27, ISoo, and the latter a native of New York state, born March 27, 1809. Alexander Mc- Coy was a blacksmith and followed his trade until some years after his marriage, when he purchased some land in Madison county, Ohio, but shortly afterward sold and came thence to Van Wert county, in 1839, where he had en- tered 300 acres in Ridge township about four years previously, and on this farm he resided until 1868, when he moved near Van Wert, where his death occurred in October, 1891. His widow, now eighty-six years of age, re- sides with her son Joseph, in Ridge township. Alexander and Eliza McCoy were the parents of eleven children, who were born in the fol- lowing order: Samuel, who died in early man- hood; M. H., the subject of this sketch; David, a member of the Ninety-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, who died in the service in 1861 ; John, who died in 1883, leaving a widow at Van Wert; Alexander, who was a soldier in the. Ninety-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry and is

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now doing business as a grocer in Van Wert; William, who disappeared from home in mid- dle life, and has never since been heard of; Margaret Jane, deceased wife of Judge John E. Richey, of Lima, Ohio; Joseph, who was a soldier in the Eighty-eighth Ohio volunteer infantry and now resides in Ridge township; Charles, a resident of Wichita, Kans. ; Elmira, widow of Isaac Weible, of Van Wert, and Franklin, also a resident of Van Wert. The parents of this family were reared in the Presbyterian faith, but later united with the Methodist Episcopal church.

M. H. McCoy, our subject, was reared on the home farm, was well inducted in the les- sons of agricultural life, and attended the sub- scription schools of his early boyhood, acquir- ing a very good education. December 24. 1851, he married Elmira F. Gilliland, daughter of James Gordon and Margaret (Lawson) Gilli- land. (See sketch of Gilliland family.) Im- mediately after his marriage Mr. McCoy settled on his present beautiful farm, of which ninety- one acres were earned by day's and month's work, and eighty acres additional donated by by the father of his bride, making in all 171 acres. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy have since reared a family of three children, viz: T. S., a rail- road surveyor of Wichita, Kans., and married to Maria Adams; Florence, wife of John J. Humphreys, of the wholesale firm of Hum- phreys & Hughes, Van Wert, and G. G., a dent- ist of Delphos, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy stand very high in their social relations to the people of their township and county. They and their family are all members of the Pres- byterian church, and both the sons are gradu- ates of the Michigan university at Ann Hrbor. Fraternally Mr. McCoy is an Odd Fellow, and as a republican he has served in almost every elective office his township affords, and once served, by appointment, an unexpired term as director of the infirmary. His sterling traits

of character, well-known honesty and integrity, have served to endear him to his neighbors and fellow-citizens, all of whom recognize in him one of the very best citizens of the township. and one whose life reflects great credit upon himself and the community.

J OSEPH MAY, capitalist of Van Wert. Ohio, is a native of Bensheim, Hessen Darmstadt, Germany, and was born January 28, 1844, a son of George and Anna Marie (Gamble) May-the former of whom was born in the same province in 1807. was there married in 1829, and lost his wife in January, 1872. He conducted a bakery and restaurant. was a popular and successful caterer, and died March 25, 1876, the father of five children, viz: Adam, Elizabeth, Margaret, Henry J. and Joseph, our subject. Both parents died in the faith of the Catholic church.

Joseph May attended the public schools of his native town for seven years, and then attended college three years. He learned the baker's trade under his father, with whom he remained until his twenty-first year, and then bade farewell to parents September 28, 1865. and set sail for America, on the Borussia, via Hamburg, September 30, 186 ;. and landed in New York. October 20, 1865: he sojourned in that city four weeks, and thence came to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was engaged with his brother, Adam, in the bakery business for two years; then went to Cincinnati, remained there until 1868, and then came to Van Wert. where he followed his trade for one year: he next went to Bluffton, Ind., where he was en- gaged in business on his own account until September, 1872, when he again came to Van Wert. Ohio, where he opened a restaurant. which he conducted with profit until is91.

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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.

when he withdrew from the business and en- tered upon the brokerage and real estate busi- ness. . In the meantime, April 6, 1876, he made a visit to Germany to see his father, but on his arrival home was dumbfounded at the sorrowful intelligence that his father had died about a month previously. the date being given above. He felt like returning to America im- mediately, but was delayed until September 15. Mr. May is now one of the wealthy and substantial citizens of Van Wert, and owns a subdivision of eighteen acres adjoining the city 011 the east, beside several brick business blocks in the city proper, on Main, Jackson and Court streets, eight valuable residences and his own beautiful dwelling on South Washing- ton street, while in Union township, Van Wert county, he owns 160 acres of choice farm land; he is also a stockholder and di- rector in the Van Wert Natural Gas company, and a stockholder and director in the Van Wert National bank and director in the Van Wert Building and Loan association. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, the National Union and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

Mr. May was most auspiciously married, April 19, 1870, in Van Wert, to Miss Mary E. Miller, who was born Nevember 8, 1852, and this marriage has been rendered the more blissful by the birth of eight children, viz: Lillie (deceased), Hattie, Ida, Frank, Flnora, Florence, Arthur and Earl. The parents are both devout members of the Catholic church, and manifest in their daily walk through life the sincerity of their belief in its teachings. The family are universally respected. and it will readily be seen that Mr. May has been "the architect of his own fortune," and his thrift, industry and good management afford an example well worth the imitation of younger aspirants to wealth and the esteem of their fellow-men.

'SAIAH P. MAY, one of the present trustees of Tully township, Van Wert county, Ohio, and a leading farmer, is a son of William May, who was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, July 24. 18 !; , of Pennsylvania-German descent. William May was reared a farmer and a carpenter, and married Sophia Rummel, who was born Au- gust 28, 1825, a daughter of George Rummel, and to this union were born ten children, viz: Moses, born April 8, 1844, died a soldier in the Civil war; Abialine, born November 2, 1845; Emroy, born April 23, 1850, now de- ceased; Louisa, born July 31, 1852; Charles. born July 15, 1855; Isaiah P., born August 12, 1859; Oliver, born April 29, 1863; Parmelia, born March 16, 1866, and two that died in- fants. William May moved from Ohio to Ad- ams county, Ind., in 1846, and entered 160 acres in the woods, which, with the assistance of his sons, he cleared up and converted into a pleasant farm. He became popular and use- ful, and as a democrat served as township as- sessor, even at the age of seventy-seven years, although he has invariably declined to accept nomination for county office. Mrs. May is a member of the Lutheran church and all the family are highly respected in the community in which they live.

Isaiah P. May was born on his father's farm in Adams county, Ind., was fairly edu- cated, and at the age of twenty-six years, March 15, 1885, married Matilda Kever. daughter of Aaron and Sarah A. (Clem Kever, and to Mr. and Mrs. May two children have been born-Walter and Sarah M. A year after his marriage Mr. May bought his present farm of forty acres, to which he has since added twenty-two and one-half of the old May homestead across the state line. con- taining the home building. In politics he is a democrat and is well known to the people of Tully township, whom he has served one year

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as township trustee with credit to himself and satisfaction to the people. His veracity is un- impeachable and his ability unquestioned.

RS. MARY E. McCOY, relict of Charles H. McCoy, and daughter of John and Sarah (Chenowith) Franklin, was born in Allen county, Ohio, August 3, in the year 1845. The father of John was born in New York state in February, 1809, was named Thomas, and died in Allen county. Ohio, about 1848. It is probable that John Franklin came to Ohio with his parents, and was reared among. the early settlers of Allen county. Here he mar- ried Sarah Chenowith about 1828, and to his marriage were born ten children: Rueben C., of Monroeville, Ind. ; William T., who servedin the Civil war; Hannah A., deceased; John H., deceased; Amos, killed in the army; Sarah E., deceased; Nancy C., wife of A. Snyder, of Lima, Ohio; Mrs. C. H. McCoy; James A., of Allen county, and Joseph I., who died in in- fancy. The mother of the family was called away June 23, 1873. John Franklin, the father, was at one time a large land owner and a successful farmer of Allen county, own- ing a part of the land on which the city of Lima now stands. He took no active part in politics, but supported the principles of the republican party; he and his wife were devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the faith of which he lived and died, Feb- ruary 7, 1875.

Mrs. McCoy grew to womanhood in the country home of her parents and was united in marriage, April 9, 1861, to Charles H. McCoy, and to this felicitous union nine children were born in the following order: Joseph, deceased, Henry W., Sarah C., Jopn N., Elijah C., Frank H., Jesse L., Lulu M. (deceased in childhood) and Reuben A. The father of this

family, Charles H. McCoy, was a son of Eli- jah and Sarah (West) McCoy. Elijah was born in Pennsylvania about the year 1812, of sterling Irish parentage; he was a pioneer of Allen county, Ohio, became one of its substan- tial farmers, and there died in 1872. Sarah (West) McCoy was a lady of many virtues, beloved by friends and acquaintances where- ever known. She was the mother of four chil- dren, viz: Caroline, deceased wife of Joseph Boggs; Andrew, deceased; Charles H .. de- ceased, and Amanda J., deceased wife of Nel- son Stephenson. This aimable and loving mother was called away in 1847. Charles H. was born in Allen county. Ohio, March 16. 1841. Being early deprived of a mother's care, he lived among relatives and friends, but manfully struggled to repay them for furnishing him a living. At the age of sixteen he went to Champaign county and for some time worked on a farm, then returned to Allen county, and, after his marriage, here purchased a farm, on which he lived eighteen months and then sold out; he then purchased the present home of the family in Van Wert county, in 1872, but continued to lived in Allen county, on rented land, until IS89, when he came to his farm in Van Wert county, and here made his residence until his death, which occurred November 16. IS93. Mr. McCoy had had some army ex- perience; he responded to the first call for troops in May, 1861, and enlisted in company A, Twentieth Ohio volunteer infantry. for three months, but soon, however, was attacked with measles, which, with exposure, brought on a serious illness, and he was sent to the hospital, but on his recovery he rejoined his command and served out his term; in 1862 he enlisted in company D, One Hundred and Fifty-first Ohio state troops, and went to the defense of Washington, and for these services he was granted a pension of $6 per month. In politics, Mr. McCoy was a republican, and

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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.

in religion he was, as his widow now is, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was an affectionate and kind husband, an indulgent father, a firm friend and an honor- able man, and died an honored and respected member of the community in which he had lived so many years.

R. CHARLES A. MELSHEIMER, deceased, and late efficient treas- urer of Van Wert city and Pleasant township, was born in Stark county, Ohio, January 8, 1826, a son of Henry E. and Mary (Kimmell) Melsheimer. The father of Henry E. Melsheimer was a great favorite among the nobility of Europe and was a very highly educated man, having written several volumes on entomology, which were very much valued. His son, Henry E., father of this subject, was born in Germany and early in life came to America and located in York county, Pa., and there engaged in the saddlery business until 1816, when he came to Ohio, located in Canton, and continued in the sad- dlery trade until 1820, when he became a minister in the Lutheran church, in which church he continued to labor until his death, which occurred February 29, 1864. He had married, in Hanover, Pa., Mary Kimmell, who was a native of Pennsylvania, and by this union four children were born, viz: Edwin, de- ceased; Timothy, a printer. of Indianapolis, Ind .; Malinda, wife of E. M. Slough, of Indianapolis; Charles Augustus, our subject.

Charles A. Melsheimer, was reared to man- hood in Stark county, Ohio, and there re- ceived his education in Canton. He read medicine under Dr. L. M. Whiting for four ' years; then began the practice of medicine in New Corydon, Ind., where he remained three years; then removed to Willshire, Van Wert county, Ohio, where he remained six years, 23

then, in 1860, when he quit the practice, he opened a drug store in Van Wert, where, in 1864, he built his business block, the room being 22x75 feet, which he occupied until his death. He was married in Milwaukee, Wis., April 27, 1852, to Miss Eliza Ann Hawk, a native of Pennsylvania. By this union five children were born, viz: Wallace W., Laura F., Etta A., Ellis E. and Leon. Dr. Mels- heimer was a member of the Lutheran church, and was an Odd Fellow. In IS84, he was elected city treasurer; in 1876 was elected township treasurer; in 1869 he was elected treasurer of the Van Wert Agricultural society, which position he held until the spring of 1894. He was a candidate for representative in 1877, but was defeated. He was a stanch republi- can and a good, honored citizen, well respected by all who knew him. His lamented death occurred on the 21st day of January, 1895, and the funeral obsequies were held at the Lutheran church on the afternoon of the 24th day of January, under the imposing auspices of the I. O. O. F.

ALLACE W. MELSHEIMER, an accomplished druggist and expert pharmaceutist of Van Wert, Ohio, was born in Willshire, Van Wert .county, January 29, 1855, the eldest son of Dr. C. A. Melsheimer, late city treasurer, whose bi- ography appears above, was but five years of age when his parents located in the city of Van Wert, in the public schools of which city he received his education, attending them until sixteen years of age, rendering assistance to his father, in the meantime, in the drug store, from the age of ten years. On quitting school he en- tered this store permanently, and, under his father, received a practical education in phar- macy, and in 1876 became a partner in the business. June 19, 1884, Mr. Melsheimer was

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happily united in the bonds of matrimony with Miss Ada May Moltz, a daughter of G. W. and Mary (Hall) Moltz, and born in Richland county, Ohio, April 17, 1858. To this union have been born three children, viz : Ethel, Anna (deceased) and Eva. Mr. Melsheimer has been treasurer of the National Union ever since its organization, and he and wife are members of St. Mark's Lutheran church.

Leon Melsheimer, youngest son of Dr. C. A. Melsheimer, was born in the city of Van Wert, August 10, 1869. He attended the city schools until sixteen years of age, when he began learning telegraphy at the depot of the P., Ft. W. & C. railroad, studying one year, and then took charge of the city telegraph office. which for nine years he conducted in his father's store, where, during intervals in the telegraph busi- ness, he also rendered assistance in the drug business. His marriage took place May 16, 1892, in Van Wert, to Miss Nettie Campbell, who was born in Van Wert September 27, 1870, a daughter of Jacob and Belle (Engler- eight) Campbell. Mr. and Mrs. Melsheimer are members the Lutheran church and are highly thought of by a large circle of friends.

LLIS E. MELSHEIMER, a prosper- ous young farmer of Union township, Van Wert county, Ohio, was born in the city of Van Wert, July 22, 1862, a son of Dr. Charles A. Melsheimer, whose biography is given above. Ellis E. was edu- cated in the schools of Van Wert city, and at the age of eighteen years entered the office of the P., Ft. W. & C. railroad company to learn telegraphy, and was so apt a pupil that he was retained in the employ of the company for six years. His next engagement with the Western Union Telegraph company, was at Chicago, where he remained a year and a half, and then was employed by the Postal Telegraph com-

pany at Bryan, Ohio, with which he remained until 1889. He then took a course in the Bryant & Stratton Commercial college at Chi- cago, whence he went to Georgetown, Ky., where he had charge of the office of the Cin- cinnati Southern railroad, whence he was transferred to the office at Sadieville, Ky .; from that point he was sent to Sherwood, Ohio, and, after two years of faithful service, was placed in the office at Canton, Ohio, where he remained one year. Although an expert at telegraphy, he preferred the peaceful and health-giving vocation of the husbandman, and in the fall of 1894 purchased forty acres of land in section No. 33, in Union township. Van Wert county, upon which he moved in Novem- ber in the same year, and still makes it his happy home.

The marriage of Mr. Melsheimer took place at Logansport, Ind., October 20, 1886, to Miss Flora A. Neff, who was born in Champaign, Ill., in 1870, a daughter of Alfred J. Neff, by which marriage there has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Melsheimer one child-Charles A. The parents are members of the Lutheran church, and in politics the father is a repub- lican. Mr. Melsheimer has been as prosperous as an agriculturist as he was successful as a telegrapher, and enjoys the respect of all who know him. He is progressive and skillful, and is very well up to the times in the management of his well tilled farm.

LEXANDER MENTZER, JR., of Tully township, Van Wert county, Ohio, is a son of Alexander Mentzer, Sr., whose biography will be found as an apendix to this sketch. Our subject was born on his father's farm January 19, 1852, and was there reared. April 28. 1887, he married Hattie Miller, who was born Novem- ber 13, 1860, a daughter of Smith and Calisto

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(Bronson) Miller, who were old settlers of Van Wert county. The Miller family were of Pennsylvania descent and the Bronsons came fron New England. William Miller, grand- father of Mrs. Mentzer, came from Fayette county, Ohio, in 1835, and died in February, 1894, at the age of eighty-eight years. His children were ten in number, and were named Smith, Martha, Sarah, Mary A., Samuel, Calvin, Elizabeth, Nancy, John N., and Simeon. After his marriage, Alexander Ment- zer, Jr., began farming on land he had bought in 1879, which then comprised ninety-two acres, but which he has since increased to 160 acres, and this tract, which is now his home, he has brought under a most excellent state of cultivation, having cleared all from the woods, with the excption of forty acres only. Mr. and Mrs. Mentzer are the happy parents of two children-Marian and Leila M., who are being reared within the pale of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which the mother has been a member since she was sixteen years of age. In politics Mr. Mentzer is a democrat, and under the auspices of that party has served as trustee of his township two terms, and also two terms as assessor. Fraternally, Mr. Mentzer is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, and of the P. of H. He is a man of undoubted business talent, and has been a member of the school board since 1890.

Alexander Mentzer, Sr., a pioneer of Tully township, Van Wert county, Ohio, and the father of the gentleman whose name heads this brief sketch, as given in the preced -. ing paragraph, was formerly a farmer of great repute in Tully township and well de- serves the reputation he has gained as a prac- tical farmer. He sprang from an old colonial family of Pennsylvania, and descended from Conrad Mentzer, of Swiss origin, who settled in Pennsylvania about the year 1724. Conrad had one sou, Michael, who married Ann Maria;

and to their marriage were born seven sons and seven daughters. Prior to the Revolution, Michael moved to Washington county, Md .. where he died at a very advanced age. George Mentzer, son of Michael, and the father of Alexander, Sr., was born in Lancaster county, Pa., April 24, 1766, and was a boy when his father moved to Maryland. He learned the trade of tailor and for seven years worked as a journeyman at Hagerstown. He married Susannah Hoover, who bore eleven children, named Mary, Nancy, Susan, Elizabeth, John. Christine, Sarah, George, Samuel, an unnamed infant, deceased, and Alexander. In 1814, the parents of this family moved to Columbi- ana county, Ohio, where the father bought a half section of land, on which he lived until 1332, when he moved to Crawford county, bought 160 acres, and there passed the re- mainder of his days, dying in 1838, at the age of seventy-two years-a member of the Lu- theran church. His widow lived to be eighty years old, a member of the Dunkard church. Alexander Mentzer, Sr .. was born in Colum- biana county, Ohio, March 31, 1819. and was reared a farmer. At the age of thirteen years he accompanied his father to Crawford county, and October 8, 1843, married Elizabeth Roop. a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Roop, who were old settlers of Crawford county, Ohio. and to this union were born four children -- Susannah, Joseph, Elizabeth, and John. Both parents died in Crawford county, members of the Lutheran church.

Mr. Mentzer settled in Tully township, Van Wert county, on October 8, 1846, on the land which Mr. Roop-his wife's father -- had en- tered, and which covered 160 acres in the wild woods, but which Mr. Mentzer afterward con- verted into a beautiful farm, and increased to Soo acres, of which he gave 400 to his children. and later sold 160 acres. To Alexander Ment- zer and his wife were born seven children.

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A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2, Part 34

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