USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 41
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 41
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Ohio; John P .; Osa May, wife of Sheridan Bevington; Esther Alvetta, wife of Clark Ickes; Charles, who married Allie Flager; Susan Viola and Thomas F., at home. Mr. and Mrs. North are true christians and wor- ship at the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics, Mr. North is a republican. He owns a finely-improved farm of 106 acres, and lives in the enjoyment of the respect and friendship of all his neighbors.
ILLIAM O'BRYANT, a prosperous farmer of Tully township, Van Wert county, Ohio, is a son of Austin and Maria (Purkeypile) Bryant, natives of New England, and of colonial descent-the O' having been added to the surname by Aus- tin Bryant in order to distinguish his family from other families of the same name, Bryant, in his neighborhood-although he was not an Irishman by birth. Mr. O'Bryant, as he called himself when a young man, came to Ohio and located in Jackson county, finally moving to Champaign county. Of his eight children five lived to maturity, viz: William, Delitha, Re- becca, Isaiali and Chauncy. Of these William and Isaiah are the sole survivors. Austin, him- self, died in Champaign county.
William O'Bryant, our subject, was born in Champaign county, Ohio, April 21, 1836, and was but fifteen years of age at the death of his father, and the support of his mother, his own, and that of the younger children de- volved upon himself, and he provided a home for his mother as long as she lived. August 18, 1861, Mr. O'Bryant enlisted at Camp Chase, Ohio, in company B, Twentieth Ohio volun- teer infantry, under Capt. John C. Fry, for three years or during the war, and served until honorably discharged for disability, caused by chronic diarrhea, November 25, 1862. He fought at Fort Donelson and at Shiloh, took
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part in many skirmishes and did a great deal of scouting duty, and did his duty well. On his return home he recuperated until May 2, 1864, when he enlisted in company H, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio infantry, under Capt. Jacob Kress, for 100 days, served 123 days and was honorably mustered out at Co- lumbus, Ohio, August 31, 1864. His service was rendered between Pittsburg and Richmond, on patrol duty and on breastworks, and he was under fire for sixty-three days continuously, beside which he took part in several severe skirmishes. He was again attacked with his old ailment but would not go to hospital, and gallantly stood at the post of duty until the close of his term. On his return to Champaign county he was married May 16, 1865, to Miss Margaret Idle, daughter of Henry and Su- sanna (Roberts) Idle. Henry Idle was a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent, and was a pioneer of Champaign county, Ohio, where he hewed from the forest a good farm of 100 acres. He had born to him, by his first wife, two children-Sarah and Mary-the latter dy- ing in infancy; to his second marriage were born five children, viz: Joseph, Henry, Thomas, John and Elizabeth; to his third marriage, with Susanna Roberts, were born twelve children, viz: Jeremiah, Drusilla, Nancy, Harriet, Wes- ley, Eliza, Margaret, Ernestine, Daniel, La- vina, Phebe and Edward -- the last named dy- ing at the age of twenty-one years. The father of this numerous progeny died in Champaign county at the advanced age of eighty-two years. He was a patriot in the war of 1812, a men- ber of the Baptist church and an honest mail, " the noblest work of God."
After inarriage Mr. O'Bryant located in Hardin county, Ohio, later returned to Cham- paign, and in 1872 came to Van Wert, bought forty acres of this present place, deep in the woods, to which he has added, and has now a highly cultivated and profitable farm. Mr. and
Mrs. O'Bryant have had born to them a fam- ily of six sons, viz: Seymour, Edward, Ells- worth, Alva, Harvey and James. In politics Mr. O'Bryant is a democrat. He was a good soldier, is a respected citizen and a sincere Christian.
UGH V. OLNEY, one of the large land owners of Van Wert county, Ohio, was born in Marion county, February 25, 1848, a son of Benjamin and Eliza J. (Smith) Olney. Benjamin Olney, a native of Marietta, Ohio, was born in ISIS, a son of Gilbert Olney, a native of Nova Scotia, who for many years resided in Muskin- gum county, Ohio, but died in Wyandot county, the father of six children, viz: Hiram, Joel, Diana, Benjamin, Leroy J. and Sarah. The son, Benjamin, was reared in Marietta, and in 1838 went to Wyandot county, taught school a few years, then farmed until IS85, then passed three years in Van Wert, and then retired to Marion, Ohio. He was married, in 1846, to Miss Eliza J. Smith, who was born in Union county, Ohio, in 1826, a daughter of Hugh V. and Sarah (Crable) Smith, to which union were born five children, viz: An infant, deceased; Hugh V., our subject; Alice, de- ceased; Sarah and Elizabeth. Both parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The father is a republican, and for sixteen consecutive years served as a justice of the peace, and is also connected with the Ma- rion Manufacturing company; he is recognized as a gentleman of more than ordinary intelli- gence, and he has amassed a comfortable for- tune in real estate.
Hugh V. Olney, the subject of this sketch, lived on the farm with his parents until twen- ty-three years of age, when he engaged in the clothing business, in partnership with his uncle, Leroy J. Olney, at Ottawa, Putnam county,
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Ohio, for three years; he then moved to Ma- rion, Ohio, and was employed at carpen- tering until 1877, and then re-entered the clothing trade at Van Wert, continuing therein until 1888, when he sold out and carried on a boot and shoe house until 1891, when he dis- posed of this business and has since devoted his attention to his landed interests in Pleasant, Washington, Hoaglin and Union townships, Van Wert county. He is a director in, and treasurer of, the Van Wert Hedge Fence com- pany, and also owns the fine business block on Main street now occupied by Davies & Jones. clothing merchants, and Jones & Tudor, hard- ware dealers.
The marriage of Mr. Olney took place in Marion county, Ohio, September 26, 1871, to Miss Sarah O. Harvey, daughter of D. H. Harvey, and to this union have been born four children, named Clara, Edith (Mrs. Ed Doe), Myrtle and David K. Mr. and Mrs. Olney are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a trustee; he has served two years in the common council, and was one of the building committee that had charge of the erection of the new city hall and the fire department building, and is also one of the water-works trustees. Fraternally he is a knight templar Mason, a member of the Royal Arcanum, and of the National Union. He is a man of fine personal appearance, and is very popular with the people of Van Wert and ad- joining counties, and his business talents are far above the ordinary, rendering him capable of filling any position in life, public or other- wise, which he may choose to accept.
A NDREW B. OLIVER, a young and thriving farmer of York township of Van Wert county, was born in Butler county, Olio, August 7, 1851, a son of Ellis and Jane (Breese) Oliver, both
natives of Wales, who came to America in 1850, and on their voyage had the misfortune to lose their little daughter, Mary, aged two and a half years. The parents located first in Butler county, where they remianed until 1853. and then came to York township, Van Wert county, where the father entered the homestead now owned by our subject. Ellis Oliver was a man highly respected wherever known, but unfortunately died in 1863, from that dreaded disease, spotted fever. The estate left by this gentleman was earned by dint of hard labor, and came to our subject as the only heir.
On this farm Andrew B. Oliver grew to manhood; he received a fair education, and after the death of his father the responsibility of the care of the family rested upon his shoulders; but, young as he was, being a lad of twelve summers, he struggled manfully and eventually succeeded in developing one of the finest farms there is in the neighborhood. In 1871, Mr. Oliver married Sarah Coils, daugh- ter of William and Catherine (Stabaugh) Coils, both now deceased.
Immediately after his marriage Mr. Oliver engaged in the manufacture of lumber and for seven years operated a saw-mill in conjunction with farming. In partnership with C. R. Hiller, he was for two years also engaged in the manufacture of tile. Mr. Oliver, how- ever, at one time met with quite a severe loss through the utter destruction of his mill by fire, yet, nothing daunted, immediately re-built and then sold to John Benson, but shortly after- ward he and that gentleman formed a copart- nership, and then engaged in operating a steam flouring-mill. After meeting with some trifling obstacles, Mr. Benson withdrew from the undertaking and a stock company was formed. the capital stock of which was valued at $10. - ooo, which was purchased by the citizens of the vicinity, but it has finally merged into the hands of A. B. Oliver, W. C. Morgan, J. C.
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George, Sallie George and Evan Morgan. Mr. Oliver, has charge of the engine room and gives a general oversight to the business, and much of the success of this enterprise is largely due to his forethought and executive ability. The company purchase large quantities of grain, which they manufacture into flour, and this product finds ready market, as it is a very popular brand in the vicinity where known. They also buy and ship large quantities of grain, are noted as fair dealers, and the firm at all times pay the highest market price.
Mr. Oliver is one of the well-to-do men of his township, owning a fine homestead of nearly 200 acres, which is well tilled, and, under his able supervision, is very productive. This property is the fruit largely of his own labor, and it is a compliment to Mr. Oliver when we notice the success he has obtained since becoming a citizen of Van Wert county. In political matters he affiliates with the pro- hibition party, and is a very active worker. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Oliver are four in number, viz: Ellis Augustus, Minnie O., Reuben M. and Alta J. Mr. Oliver and wife are associated with the most respected residents of the county and are highly esteemed wherever known.
B ENJAMIN OWENS, a farmer of prom- inence in Harrison township, Van Wert county, Ohio, is a native of Richland county, Ohio. and was born October 24, 1851. His father, John Owens, was born January 9, 1809, in Fairfield county, and was a son of John Owens, a native of Ire- land, who was married in Virginia to Miss Nancy Agnes Barr.
John Owens, the younger, was a small boy when taken to Richland county by his parents and in that county he was reared and educated. July 14, 1842, he married, in Ashland county,
Sarah Whitmarsh, born January 5, 1824, in the county last named, and a daughter of Ben- jamin and Rhoda ( Drum ) Whitmarsh. Ben- jamin Whitmarsh was a native of New York, and his wife was of German extraction. Af- ter marriage John Owens and his wife resided in Richland county until February, 1852, when they came to Van Wert county and settled in Harrison township, on a farm of eighty acres, which Mr."Owens cleared up and afterward increased to 120 acres. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Owens were born seven children, viz: Nancy A., William. Sarah J., Benjamin, Rhoda S., John W. and Andrew. The parents are members of the Presbyterian church, Mrs. Owens having joined when she was twenty-four years of age. In politics Mr. Owens was a democrat and filled several township offices.
Benjamin Owens has been a resident of Harrison township all his life, having been less than four months old when his parents settled here. He was reared to farming and now owns eighty acres of land in section No. 16, and this land he has fully developed and im- proved to the utmost. Mr. Owens, as did his father, affiliates with the democratic party, and is well known thoroughout Harrison and ad- joining townships as a man of decided thought, integrity and usefulness. His eldest sister. Nancy A., is the wife of John McGill. a farmer of Adams county, Ind., and is the mother of seven children. William. eldest son of John Owens and eldest brother of Ben- jamin, is residing on the old homestead in Har- rison township; Sarah J., the second daughter in the family, is married to Benjamin F. Bow- ers, of Pleasant township, and is the mother of seven children: Rhoda Owens, the young- est daughter of the family, is still under the parental roof; John W. Owens married Nancy Stites, and died in Harrison township March 25, 1894; Andrew Owens, the youngest of the
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family, married Della Kirkland, and is the fa- ther of one child. Rhoda Drum, the maternal grandmother of the above-named children, was a daughter of William and Amy ( Adams ) Drum-Amy Adams being a grand-daughter of John Quincy Adams, sixth president of the United States.
J. OWENS, of York township, Van Wert county, Ohio, is a native of Wales, was born March 22, 1844, and is a son of Owen W. and Mary (Williams) Owens. In the year 1851 the family, including nine persous, came to Amer- ica, the children living named as follows: Margaret, born in 1821, is now deceased; Eleanor, born in 1824, has also been called away; Elizabeth is the widow of John W. Hughes; John, deceased, was a farmer of York township; Hugh died in 1855; Owen died in Wales; William is also deceased; Thonias is a farmer of York township; and D. J. is the sub- ject of this sketch. Owen W. Owens bought and settled on the land now occupied by our subject, where the father died in 1879, but his wife had preceded him to the grave in 1869, both members of the Welsh Presbyterian church.
D. J. Owens, our subject, attended school but two winters, and was chiefly self-educated; at the age of twenty-two years he was elected assessor of his township, and was re-elected four terms successively, serving in all four years, and about ten years as trustee. In 1874 he married Margaret Perry, daughter of John and Catherine (Roberts) Perry, and to this union have been born eleven children, viz: Owen W., in school at Chicago, Ill .; Annie, wife of T. T. Jones; Mary C .; Hugh J .: John P .; Maggie E .; Robert E .; William Oscar; David S .; Thomas Roger, and an infant who died unnamed. In politics Mr. Owens is a
republican, is very popular throughout the township, and counts his friends by the score. In 1884 Mr. Owens was appointed commis- sioner for No. I pike, Venedocia precinct, and has control of the bonds issued until the com- pletion of the pike.
Mr. Owens has been throughout life an in- dustrious and skillful tiller of the soil, and the land originally purchased by his father has been so added to and manipulated that it is now one of the handsomest farms in the county, improved with every convenience that modern agricultural science can suggest, and kept well up to the standard of progressive tillage. As a citizen, Mr. Owen fully does his duty, and but few movements for the public good are set in motion in which he does not take an active part, or iu aid of which he does not freely contribute.
HE PALMER STONE QUARRY .- In the year 1874 Mr. Davis Johnson of Van Wert, having in charge certain lands belonging to the Misses Palnier, was having a ditch dug through section No. 4. Ridge township, and at a depth of three feet encountered stone, which, upon investigation. proved to be limestone, and, as at that time there was no stone quarry in Van Wert county, he proceeded to prospect around a little and found a spot close by, where the stone was only two feet from the surface. Miss Zaide Palmer at that time lived in San Francisco, Cal., and Mr. Johnson wrote to hier the particulars of his discovery, and suggested that she come to Van Wert and consider the matter of opening a stone quarry. Miss Palmer, being of a rather enterprising nature and possessing good busi- ness ability, answered Mr. Johnson that she would come to Van Wert and investigate. Circumstances interfered, however, at this time, that delayed her coming east until the
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summer of 1875. When Miss Palmer arrived . she quickly came to a decision in the matter, and in a short time made all preparations for opening a quarry. Ridge township, north of the Ridge road, was then known as the North woods, there being but a comparatively small amount of land cleared for farming, and in such a flat, marshy, ground, with few ditches, no tiling, and almost impassable roads for six months in the year, it seems, at this day, as if it must have been a discouraging venture, but Miss Paliner was one who found difficulties only to overcome them. Van Wert villiage being the principal market, she soon found that, to promptly fill the contracts for building stone, she must have a different method of transportation than hauling over the mud roads. She therefore quickly arranged for a right of way to build a tramway from the quarry direct to Van Wert, and in a short time the " Palmer Stone Quarry " was known all over Van Wert county.
Shortly after opening the quarry Miss Pal- mer had the stone tested to find if it was of a quality suitable for lime, and, such proving the case, she soon had lime kilns in operation. The quarry being now in good running order, she began clearing and improving the farm and making improvements that greatly benefited the entire locality. The quarry road from the quarry to the Ridge road, was entirely new, and as its condition affected the business of the quarry to a great extent, with character- istic enterprise and energy she proceeded to macadamize her right-of-way, running along the quarry road from the quarry to the Ridge road, or pike.
In the course of time the matter of improv- ing the streets im Van Wert village was dis- cussed, and in a short time the village council decided to macadamize Main street, and Miss Palmer, securing the contract, proceeded with the work, and although the stone was
broken to the required size-by hand-the work was finished in such a manner as to call forth the commendations of the local newspa- pers and the people in general.
Before the contracts were awarded for the next street improvements Miss Palmer had purchased a No. 3 Gates stone crusher, and in the face of active competition secured the con- tracts, and in all work afterward done by the Palmer Stone Quarry no objection was ever raised as to its not being finished according to the specifications. To obtain the success which Miss Palmer did, meant work, and work of the hardest kind. Living for several years in the village, it was necessary for her to drive out to the quarry almost every day, four and one-half miles, morning and evening, in all kinds of weather; and, suffering the discom- forts of such a marshy, ague-breeding locality, we cannot wonder that her health became im- paired; consequently, in 1877, she was forced to give up her active business life and seek a change of climate. going east, where she remained most of the time until the sum- mer of 1890. when she returned home, but not renewed in strength, and here remained until her death, which sad event occurred August 12, 1891.
Those who knew Miss Zaide Palmer, testify as to her worth. Gifted as a business woman, possessing a superior education, which included several of the languges, she enjoyed life as few enjoy it. Exact in all her dealings, yet most generous of heart and purse, never refusing to relieve the suffering, and always ready to assist in any work for the betterment of lu- manity, she was esteemed by all who knew her. So lived and died Zaide Palmer, held in loved remembrance by all with whom she was intimate and with kindly memories by those with whom she came in contact.
The Palmer Stone Quarry at present is owned Mrs. M. Reta Palmer Semple. a
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younger sister, who was married, in Philadel- phia, Pa., to William J. Semple, June 15, 1893. Mr. Semple is a native of England, and since 1894 has had charge of the quarry and estate. He is a man of culture and refinement, and socially he and wife are very popular.
P ATRICK O'MARA, a citizen of Van Wert, Ohio, was born in 1849 in Ire- land, and came to the United States with his father, who settled in the city of New York, where his three children were born. Patrick O'Mara early in life learned the trade of brass finisher, and worked at this trade in New York city with success for a couple of years, at the end of which time he removed to Charlotteville, in Schoharie county, N. Y., when he remained two years. From Char- lotteville he went to Canada, and at length to Niagara Falls, where he became captain of a boat on the Welland canal, a very responsible position, which he filled with great success. From Niagara Falls he removed to Fort Wayne, Ind., where he became foreman in the yards of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Rail- road company, remaining there thus employed until 1881, when he came to Van Wert, and took charge of the section upon which he has been employed, as section boss, ever since, a period of fourteen years. That he is indus- trious and attentive to the interests of the com- pany that employs him is evident from the confidence reposed in him, for no man can hold a responsible poistion for a long series of years unless he possesses the qualities mentioned.
Politically Mr. O'Mara is a democrat, and religiously he is a Catholic, maintaining mem- bership in Saint Mary's Catholic church, of Van Wert. At Charlotteville, N. Y., Mr. O'Mara met and married Miss Elizabethi Lee, by whom he has five children, viz: Katie, born in 1874; John, born in 1876; Mamie, born in i
1878; Ida, born in 1880; and Thomas, in 1889. Katie was born in Warsaw, N. Y., and is one of the most charming young ladies of Van Wert, clerking in the Progress dry-goods store; Mamie, born in Milan, Erie county, Ohio, also clerking in the Progress dry-goods store, is a bright and very promising young lady ; John was born in Saint Catherine's, Canada, is now working with his father on the railroad, and is an industrious and excellent young man; Ida, born in Fort Wayne, Ind., is attending school in Van Wert, and Thomas, born in Van Wert, is also attending school in that city.
Mrs. Elizabeth (Lee) O'Mara was born September 25, 1856. Her father, John Lee, was born in Scotland. Farming was his occu- pation, and he was possessed of a goodly quan- tity of this world's goods. Coming to the United States when quite young, he landed in New York, and going thence to Charlotteville, he followed the occupation mentioned above, to which he was much devoted and at which he was more than ordinarily successful. He en- tered the army of the Union, but fortunately was never in battle, and in this connection it is proper to note that he was a second cousin of the great rebel commander, Gen. Robert E. Lee. John Lee was a pronounced democrat in his political convictions, and was a good Catholic, always faithful to his belief and to his church. At the age of nineteen he married Mis Mary Wesley of New York, by whom he became the father of ten children, viz: Charles, Elizabeth, Anna, Michael. John, Patrick, James, Thomas, Katie, and Mary. All of these children are living but one, Thomas, who died in 1877, while in attendance at college in Saint Louis, Mo. Both of the parents of Mrs. Lee are still living, comfortably situated in life. Elizabeth Lee, wife of the subject of this sketch, was born in Charlotteville, N. Y., and received a good education in the schools of that place. She was but sixteen years of age
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when she and Mr. O'Mara were married. She is a member of the Saint Mary's Catholic church of Van Wert, is true to her faith, and is a woman highly esteemed by all her friends and relatives, and also by the entire community.
ICHAEL F. OSSING, deceased, a patriotic and industrious naturalized citizen of the United States, was born in Prussia, Germany, July 31, 1828. He was a son of Frederick Ossing, who was born about the year ISco, and was in his own country a successful farmer. Frederick Ossing was married in Prussia to Miss Sophia Axthelm, and together with his family, when he was in the prime of life, he emigrated to the United States, in 1834. landing in Balti- more and going direct from there to Marion county, Ohio, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1844. He was liberal in his thought and charitable in his dealings with his fellow-men, and was religious and conscientious in his every-day life. He was a member of the. Lutheran church, and lived consistently with its moral precepts. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, viz: Ewald, Adelunda, Frederick, Michael F., Kuneyunde, Regina and Henrietta, all living but two, Ewald and Adelunda, who died in Germany -- all the rest coming to the United States with their parents.
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