A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2, Part 44

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 44
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 44

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Elmer Rader, son of Rawson Rader, our subject, is a graduate of the Western Ohio Normal school, of Middlepoint, Ohio, andh as been a successful school-teacher for three years. Mr. Rader served in the Civil war, having enlisted, at the age of seventeen years, at Marysville, Union county, Ohio, and, hav- ing run away from home for the purpose, his parents objecting to his enlistment on account of his youth. He was mustered in, however, in July, 1863, in company B, Eighty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, under Capt. James Fields, for six months, and took an active part in the repelling of the rebel general, John Morgan, who was at that time ravaging the fair state of Ohio. His regiment struck Morgan's

trail at Eagle Ford, twelve miles from Zanes- ville, on the Muskingum river, and followed him to Bellaire, Ohio, where the rebel was captured, but later escaped. Mr. Rader also served in Kentucky, and was on duty during the bitterly cold New Year's day of 1864. He is now a member of the G. A. R. post, No. 260, in which he has held the office of com- mander and other offices. John Rader, elder brother of Rawson, served in company G. Ninety-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, was in many battles, but escaped unwounded.

a ILLIAM LUTHER RANK, the leading undertaker of Van Wert, Ohio, was born in Richland county, Ohio, May 13, 1843. His father. Joseph Rank, was a native of Cumberland county, Pa., born November 10. 1815, and son of George and Christina (Ely) Rank. George Rank was also born in Pennsylvania. was reared a farmer and was educated both in German and English. He was married in his native state and in 1829 came to Ohio, and purchased land near Shelby, in Richland county, where agriculture engaged his atten- tion until his death in November, 1851, his wife surviving until July, 1852. They were the parents of twelve children, viz: Nancy. Samuel, Susan, George, Catherine, Sarah, Joseph (father of our subject), John, Lydia. Christina and two that died in infancy. The par- rents of this family were members of the Ger- man Reforin church, and in politics Mr. Rank was a democrat.

Joseph Rank, son of the above and father of our subject, was reared on the pioneer home farm in Ohio until he reached manhood. when he returned to Pennsylvania and served an apprenticeship at shoemaking with his brother Samuel. He worked at his trade as a journeyman until his marriage. November 6,

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1838, to Miss Eliza Myers, a native of the Keystone state, born November 1, 1813, and a daughter of Adam and Elizabeth Myers, also natives of Pennsylvania. After marriage Joseph and his young wife settled on a farm in Richland county, Ohio, near Shelby, and there he tilled the soil until 1854, when he brought his growing family to Van Wert county, Ohio, and purchased 160 acres in Union township, where he followed farming until his death, June 18, 1891, having lost his wife December 8, 1886. The family of Joseph Rank and wife was comprised of six children, viz: Sebina, wife of Isaac Hoaglin, of Hoaglin township, Van Wert county; William L., the subject of this sketch; George A., a farmer of Union township; J. F., a photographer of Van Wert; Pricilla A., wife of S. Painter, of York township, and Margaret L., wife of Charles Barrow, of Union township. The father of this family was a steward in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife was also a devout member; in early life he was in poli- tics a democrat, but later became a prohibi- tionist; he was well read and took great inter- est in the county schools was a man of deter- mination and a good and honorable citizen, and by his industry was enabled to leave his heirs a fine farm of 200 acres.

William Luther Rank had reached the age of eleven years when his parents settled in Van Wert county, with whom he remained until he reached his majority. He then engaged in farming on his own account for one year on a tax claim in Union township, when, February 7, 1865, he enlisted in company B, One Hun- dred and Ninety-second Ohio volunteer infan- try, for one year, and served under Capt. Isaac W. Patrick until honorably discharged at Winchester, Va., September 1, 1865: he then located in Van Wert, and engaged in shoe- inaking until 1874. when he joined his brother. J. F., in photographic work until 1885, in 12, 1874, with Miss Ada Pope, daughter of

February of which year he embarked in the undertaking business and funeral directing, which is his present employment, and in which he has ever since been a public favorite. The marriage of Mr. Rank took place in Union township, Van Wert county, October 20, 1863, to Miss Lydia Hattery, who was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, September 6, 1841, a daughter of Andrew and Sarah (Jervis) Hat- tery, natives of Virginia, who came to Van Wert county in 1843 and farmed in Hoaglini township until the end of their days. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Rank has been blessed by the birth of one child Vernilis A., January 7, 1877, but whom they had the misfortune to lose July 18, 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Rank are members of the Episcopal church, in which he is a class-leader and exhorter, and he is also a master Mason, an Odd Fellow, and a member of the Royal Arcanum and of the National Union; in politics he is a republican. He owns considerable property, and in connection with his undertaking business handles picture frames, moldings, easels, etc., and is very popular as a business man generally.

EORGE A. RANK, a progressive and ·prosperous farmer of Union township. Van Wert county, Ohio, is a son of Joseph and Eliza (Myers) Rank, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in full detail in the sketch of W. L. Rank, and was born in Richland county, Ohio, in 1845. When he was ten years of age his parents brought him to Van Wert county, where he has grown to manhood. He was reared on his father's farm and was an able assistant in developing the same from the wild woods, and his education was acquired in the primitive log school-house of his early days. He resided with his parents until his marriage, November

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Cordon and Esther (Barrow) Pope, to which union have been born two children-Alta A. and Joseph O. Mrs. Rank was born in Dela- ware county, Ohio, February 9, 1850, her parents being natives of the Buckeye state, but at the early age of eleven years lost her mother, after which sad event she lived with her uncle, Edward Barrow, of Richland county, until her marriage.

After his marriage Mr. Rank settled on a part of the old homestead, and with the help of his young wife continued the improvement already begun. Later he purchased a portion of the old home farm, and, on the death of his father, received yet another portion as his legacy. He later removed to his present home, which comprises eighty acres, all but ten acres cleared, well drained and in an excellent state of cultivation. Mrs. Rank was christened in the Lutheran church, but Mr. Rank is an active and influential member of the Meth- odist church, to both of which denominations he contributes liberally. In politics he is a conservative democrat ; fraternally he is a mem- ber of the Royal Arcanum lodge of Van Wert, No. 196. He is an enterprising, public-spirited citizen, and he and family are highly respected throughout the township and county.

J F. RANK, the leading photographer of Van Wert, Ohio, is the third son of Joseph and Eliza (Myers) Rank. (For history of the Rank family see biography of W. L. Rank. )

J. F. Rank was born August 17, 1847, at Shelby. Richland county, Ohio; his parents moved to Van Wert when he was seven years of age, and here he was reared and had the advantage of both the select and common schools of the town until he reached the age of eighteen years. He taught in the public schools of the county for some four years most

successfully ; then for a time he became a clerk in a grocery store. In 1872 he entered the photograph gallery of Mr. Hartsock as a stu- dent; two months later he purchased the estab- lishment of Mr. Hartsock and carried on the business successfully for some twenty-one years, when he disposed of it, and during the following two years traveled over a large por- tion of the United States; he witnessed the stirring scenes attending the opening of the Cherokee strip in 1893, and then went south, obtaining photographic views of the Indian settlements along the Texas border. After- ward he joined his family in Iowa, and later located at Schuyler, Nebr., where he was in charge of a photograph gallery for a short time. Subsequently he purchased a residence in Lincoln, Neb., where he remained for some two years, and then returned to Van Wert, where he established his present gallery July 1, 1895. This gallery is located at No. III West Main street, and contains a suite of eight rooms, including reception, waiting, working and operating rooms, all supplied with elabor- ate furniture, and with apparatus of the latest invention, in every detail up to date. This establishment is conceded to be the finest in northwestern Ohio. Success has attended Mr. Rank in this, his second venture in the busi- ness, for which he is well adapted by reason of his urbane and courteous manners. In con- nection with his gallery he also carries an extensive line of all kinds of picture frames.

Mr. Rank, in 1874, married Miss Mary J., daughter of W. F. McBride, of Oskaloosa, Iowa. To this union four children have been born, viz: Harry, who died at the age of two years; Ethel and Mabel, twins, and Myrtle. The twins, Ethel and Mabel, are so wonder- fully alike in size, color of eyes, hair, con- plexion and tones of voice that their parents are sometimes puzzled to tell which is which. Mr. Rank has been a consistent member of the

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Methodist Episcopal church since the age of twelve years; he is an enthusiastic worker in the Sunday-school, of which he has been superintendent some two years; politically Mr. Rank is a republican, and fraternally a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., well up in the degrees, having passed all the chairs. No family in the community stand higher in the estimation of their neighbors.

HARLES EDWIN REDRUP, a loco- motive engineer on the Cincinnati, Jackson & Mackinaw railroad, and the oldest employee of the road in any capacity, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., March 7, 1855. His parents, James and Anna (Phelps) Redrup, were born in Buckingham- shire, England. in 1815, immigrated to the United States in 1836, and settled in Cleve- land, Ohio, remaining there, however, only a short time, when they removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., where Mr. Redrup purchased and operated a dairy. In this business Mr. Redrup continued until about 1851, when he returned to Ohio, this time locating in Mansfield and engaging in the business as a grocer. After several years thus spent he turned his atten- tion to milling and was thus occupied until his removal to Van Wert county, in 1866. Pre- vious to this removal he had traded his milling property in Mansfield for a farm in Tully township, Van Wert county, and it was to this farm he removed his family, with the view of following farming the remainder of his active life, and he did follow farming until 1881, when he removed to the city of Van Wert and became engaged in handling musical instru- ments and sewing machines. Three years later he removed to Warren, Huntington county, Ind., where he was engaged two years as a liveryman; then returned to Van Wert, where he died in 1887. In religious faith Mr. Redrup

was a Baptist, and at the time of his death lie had been a member of that church fifty years. Mrs. Redrup, a notice of whose family history may be found in connection with the biography of Mr. O. A. Balyeat, died in 1885, when she was fifty-five years of age.

Charles Edwin Redrup, the subject of this sketch, spent his boyhood in the same manner that other American boys spend theirs, working upon the farm and attending school until he was fourteen years of age. ' He was then en- gaged in farming until 1880, when he turned his attention to railroading. At this time the Cincinnati, Jackson & Mackinaw was still a narrow-gauge road, and Mr. Redrup began that year to work for this company, filling from that time on the positions of teamster, section hand, brakman, and finally that of locomotive engineer, taking charge of the sec- ond engine that ran upon the road, and thus he is now the oldest employee of the road in any capacity. He took charge of this engine in 1884, and has thus been a locomotive en- gineer for the past twelve years, of which six years has been spent in the passenger service. Up to the present writing Mr. Redrup has met with no accident of importance, so fortunate and so careful has he always been, but it should be borne in mind that even the great- est possible care and caution will not always prevent an accident, though in the responsible position filled by Mr. Redrup, and locomotive engineers in general, these two qualities are of the highest value.

With the exception of a short time spent in Greenville, West Manchester, and Carlisle, Ohio, Mr. Redrup has lived in Van Wert ever since he began working for this company, he being stationed in those places only while the road was extending southward. He is a mein- ber of the brotherhood of Locomotive Fagin- eers, and in religious belief he is a Me nodist. In politics he is a republican, taking a lively

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interest in the success of that party. He and his family live in a comfortable home on Sec- ond street in Van Wert, surrounded by numer- ous good, kind-hearted neighbors and friends.

On April 20, 1880, Mr. Redrup was mar- ried to Miss Fagan, a daughter of Thomas and Jane (Crow) Fagan, residents of Van Wert. Thomas Fagan was born in New Jersey in 1828, and in 1834 was brought by his parents to Ohio, they locating in Montgomery county. In 1856 Mr. Fagan was married to Miss Jane Crow, and removed to Tippecanoe City, Miami county, Ohio, where he engaged in the ready- made clothing business. Remaining their un- til 1862 he then removed to Mendon, Mercer county, where, until 1873, he was engaged as a lumber merchant, and in the last named year he removed to Van Wert. Mr. Fagan is a man of more than ordinary mechanical and inventive genius. He is a skilled machinist, and has invented several improved agricultural implements, among them plows, ditching ma- chines and harrows. His father was born in New Jersey in 1804, and during his early man- hood was a sea captain, but in later years he was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church. His death occurred in Marion, Ind. ; in 1872, his wife, who was born in 1803, dying in the same city the same year.

Miss Jane Crow, who married Thomas Fagan, was born in Miami county in 1836. Her father was a native of Virginia, born in 1792, and removed to Miami county, Ohio, in 1835. In the latter county, with the excep- tion of a few years, he followed farming until . 1875, when he removed to Van Wert and there conducted a cooper shop, returning to Miami county and dying there in 1879. Mrs. Fagan's mother, Mary Rhorer, was born in Pennsylvania in 1800, came to Ohio in 1835, and died in Van Wert in 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Fagan have five children, four daughters and one son, all married and residents of Van Wert.

ILLIAM J. REED, a prominent cit- izen of Pleasant township. Van Wert county, is a son of Jacob Reed, and was born September 8, 1851. Jacob Reed was born in Ashland coun- ty, Ohio, September 15, 1825, was reared on a farm and is still living in comfortable cir- cumstances on his farm in Ashland county. He was married, in 1849, to Miss Mary Strick- land, of Ashland county, Ohio, and to this marriage there were born five children, viz: William, born in 1851; Joseph, born in 1853; John, born in 1855; Anna, born in 1860, and Ella, born in 1861. All are living but Ella, who died in 1862. William and John are both married and living in Van Weit, Ohio; Joseph is single and living in Ashland county, and Anna is married to George Ohl. Jacob Reed, the father of these children, is in politics a democrat, and is a member of the United Brethren church. He is of Irish descent, and is in every way a very liberal man.

William J. Reed was born in Ashland coun- ty, was there brought up on a farm, and his education was received in the common schools. At the age of twenty-one years he left home and came to Van Wert county, purchasing a farm in Tully township, upon which he lived for twenty-two years. At the end of this period, or in February, 1895, he purchased another farm close to Van Wert, upon which he now lives. In politics Mr. Reed is a democrat, and in religion a Methodist. He is a man that has made his own way in the world, has been suc- cessful and is respected by all.

On February 11, 1873. he married Miss Fanny B. Staman, and is by her the father of five children, viz: Olin, born in 1873; Myrtle, born in 1876; Frances E., born in 1879; Pearl. born in ISSI, and Millie, born in 1884. All are living except Myrtle, who died in 1879. Those living are attending school except Olin, who is a very promising young man, and now".

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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.

studying telegraphing in the Van Wert office of the P., Ft. W. & C. Railroad company.

Miss Fanny B. Staman was born Septem- ber 19, 1852. Her father was born in Penn- sylvania October 9, 1812, and at an early age began working for his father, who ran a grist- mill and a tannery. Remaining with his father, thus engaged until his father's death, he inher- ited some valuable property, and continued the business his father left him. In this he was very successful, and being a careful and eco- nomical manager, acquired a good deal of valuable property. In 1841 he was married to Miss Fanny Lantz of Pennsylvania. Mr. Lantz was a German by birth, a republican in politics, and a member of the Menese church. He was the father of nine children, viz: Will- iam, Abraham, Anna, Mary M., Curtis J., Fanny B., Harriet D., Francis. L. and Lizzie E. All are living but Harriet, who died in February, 1885. The rest are married and the heads of families.

Fanny B., the wife of the subject of this sketch, was born in Ashland county, and at the age of twenty years was married to Mr. Reed. She was well educated in her youth, and is a bright, pleasant and intelligent woman, a good wife and a loving mother. Both she and her husband stand high in the estimation of the community in which they live. Both are pub- lic spirited and are willing to aid any material improvement and any charitable enterprise that should be sustained by the public at large.

ICE BROS., marble and granite deal- ers of Van Wert, Ohio, are proprie- tors of one of the best appointed shops devoted to this purpose in the city, the firm being composed of Samuel and George W. The parents were Paul and Eliz- abeth ( Funk) Rice, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. Paul

and Elizabeth were married in Pennsylvania, and later came to Ohio and located in Wayne county, where Paul was employed in farming and coopering until 1847, when he moved with his family to Mercer county, remained there until 1868, and then came to the city of Van Wert, where for many years he carried on cooperage, but is now retired. The children born to Paul and Elizabeth were ten in number, viz: Jeremiah, deceased; John, of Delphos; Hezekiah, of Van Wert; Samuel, of Rice Bros .; Thomas, of Delphos; George, of Rice Bros .; Mary Anna, wife of William Mahan, of Van Wert; Emma T., deceased; Rebecca J., deceased, and William F., of Van Wert. The mother of this family was called to hier heav- enly home January 23, 1871, dying in the faith of the United Brethren church.

Samuel Rice, the fourth born in the above family and one of the firm of Rice Bros., was born in Wayne county, Ohio, April 8, 1854, and was but two years of age when his parents moved to Mercer county, where he attended school and remained with his parents until he reached his sixteenth year, when he hired ont by the month as a farm laborer -- working five years for one employer; he then came to Van Wert and was here employed in teaming until 1889, and also made the moving of buildings his occupation for five years; he next entered the fire department, and drove a fire team four years, and also in 1889 formed a partnership with his brother George in the marble and granite trade. Of course it will be seen that he was engaged in more than one occupation during the intervals of time mentioned.

George Rice, the sixth of the family born to Paul and Elizabeth Rice, was bore in Mer- cer county, Ohio, March 28, 1858, and was brought to Van Wert county by his parents, with whom he remained until he was twenty years of age, when he engaged in general labor until 1882, when he joined his brother Samuel

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY

in his building-moving occupation; in 1889 the two brothers bought out the marble yard of W. S. Hughes, and in this line do a business of about $6,000 per annum. George Rice was married in Van Wert, November 1, 1885, to Millie A. Willett, a native of Hillsboro, Highland county, Ohio, and this union has been blessed with two children-Raymond E. and Helen Idora. Mr. and Mrs. Rice are de- voted members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a republican and has served in the city council four years. Like his brother, he is the owner of considerable real estate.

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ARRY C. REDRUP, of Van Wert, Ohio, was born in Wyoming territory, December 27, 1868, a son of Thomas and Mary J. (Rickets) Redrup, and was but one year old when brought by his par- ents to Richland county, Ohio, where they re- sided about five years, and then came to Van Wert county, where our subject grew to man- hood. He attended the city school the neces- sary period, and the high school held him for three years; he also took a commercial course, by which he was well prepared for business purposes. He remained with his parents until 1891, when he entered the employ of the Daily Bulletin as general collector and reporter, and held the position until November 23, 1892, when he married Miss Elida Maddox, a native of Ohio, born February 6. 1869, and daughter of George and Catherine (Tingle) Maddox, also natives of the Buckeye state, the father being a Methodist Episcopal minister. For nearly a year after his marriage. Mr. Redrup employed himself in general collecting, and in the fall of 1893 he and his wife opened the most fashion- able millinery establishment in Van Wert, at No. I South Washington street. Mrs. Redrup being a lady of taste and refinement, and be-

ing thoroughly acquainted with the business, soon brought the enterprise to the favorable notice of the ladies of Van Wert, and the con- cern now does a trade of about $3,000 per annum. Mr. Redrup, moreover, is a valuable aid, being a gentleman of tact, ability and in- telligence. Unfortunately for Mr. Redrup, he is somewhat incapacitated for manual exercise or labor, having had the misfortune, in the winter of 1879, of meeting with a fall while skating, which seriously injured his hip joint, which injury still causes him much annoyance, but his mentality is exceptionally sound.

In politics Mr. Redrup is a republican, and under the auspices of that party he has served as assessor in the Second ward two years, in the Third ward one year, and in the Fourth ward one year. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, with the teachings of which they strictly conform. Mr. and Mrs. Redrup own a nice residence property in the west end of town, and enjoy the friend- ship and esteem of their neighbors, as well as the respect of the community at large.

HARLES P. RICHEY-Or 'Squire Richey, as he is commonly called, ex-sheriff of Van Wert county, Ohio, and at present justice of the peace, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, Novem- ber II, 1819, is a son of George and Catherine (Porter) Richey, who were both natives of the north of Ireland, and there married. On coming to' America the father was employed in teaming until 1819, in Pittsburg, Pa., when he and his family moved to Pickaway county. Ohio, where he entered land on a military warrant and was engaged in farming until his decease. They were the parents of seven children, four of whom died in childhood; the three that were reared to maturity were named Andrew, since deceased; Charles P., our sub-

WM. H. H. DENISTON, DECEASED.

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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.

ject, and Eleanor, also deceased. The par- ents died in the Protestant faith, leaving a well improved farm of seventy acres.

Charles P. Richey was reared on the home farm in Pickaway county, and there married, April. 21, 1839, Martha T. Maddox, a native of the county, born September 6, 1822, a daughter of Severn and Elizabeth (Hill) Mad- dox, the result of the union being five children, viz: Nancy E., now of Delphos, Ohio; Mar- garet J., of Wisconsin; Elizabeth C., deceased; George W., a farmer of Van Wert county, Ohio, and Martha Ann, deceased. The la- mented mother of this family was summoned to her final home July 24, 1866, and her mor- tal remains were interred in the Van Wert cemetery. She was a pious and devoted mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and beloved by all who knew her. Jauuary I, 1874, Mr. Richey was married to his second wife, Mrs. Missouri T. (McConahay) Scott, widow of Captain William C. Scott, whose bi- ography appears elsewhere in this volume. In religion Mr. Richey is a Methodist and Mrs. Richey is a Presbyterian, but this difference in church membership has in no manner con- flicted with their conjugal happiness. Since their marriage, 'Squire Richey and wife have made the city of Van Wert their permanent home.

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A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2, Part 44

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