USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 47
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 47
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John George Rupright was early inured to
the toil of farm life and assisted his father on the home place until eighteen years of age, when he enlisted, in Union county, Ohio, August 18, 1862, in company I, One Hundred Twenty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years, was assigned to the army of the Cum- berland, and served with the command until September 20, 1863, when he was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga by a minie ball in the left thigh; he was then taken to New Albany, Ind., and, becoming convalescent, was transferred to company A. Eleventh Ohio volunteers, veteran reserve corps, which was engaged in transport duty until the close of the war, and also took part in the grand review at Washington, D. C. July 3, 1865, Mr. Rup- right was honorably discharged at Concord, N. H., and on his return to his home served an apprenticeship at brickmaking in Union county, where he remained until 1868, when he came to Van Wert and engaged in the manufacture of brick on his own account, turning out about 250,000,000 brick the first year, and using the old-fashioned hand-mold; the succeeding eight years were devoted to the manufacture of potash, at the conclusion of which time he began tile-making, and con- tinued thereat until 1882, when he added the manufacture of brick, which he has continued until the present time. His brother, J. Conrad Rupright, joined him in partnership in 1877, and the firm not only continued in the manu- facture of brick and drain tile, but made a specialty of the baling and shipping of hay, of which they handled, in 1894, 1, 100 carloads. They also do a large brokerage business.
The marriage of Mr. Rupright took place in Union county, Ohio, February 28, 1869, to Miss Margaret Nichol, who was born in that county June 21, 1848, a daughter of Leonard and Ursula (Star) Nichol, natives of Bavaria, Germany, and this union has resulted in the birth of four children, viz: Dora L., Clara N.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
(deceased), Anna K. and William C. Mr. and Mrs. Rupright are devoted members of the German Lutheran church, in which he is a trustee; he has also served as a member of the school board and as a member of the city council, and is also one of the trustees of the city water-works. He is an affable, good- natured gentleman, of fine personal appear- ance, and is universally respected.
J CONRAD RUPRIGHT, the junior member of the firm of Rupright Bros., manufacturers of brick and tile, Van Wert, Ohio, was born in Union county, October 15, 1852, and is a younger brother of John George Rupright, whose sketch precedes this notice. J. Conrad Rupright was reared on the home farm and educated at the com-
mon schools of his district, and at the age of twenty-one came to Van Wert and for two years was employed as an assistant to his brother, J. G., and was then engaged in the grocery business in company with Phillip Scaer for a year, and then was engaged for two years in the same business on his own account, and then, in 1877, formed a partnership with his brother, John G., in the manufacture of brick and tile, which partnership still exists and is doing a prosperous business.
J. Conrad Rupright was united in wedlock, at Van Wert, December 12, 1878, with Miss Elizabeth Germann, who was born in Van Wert, March 19, 1859, a daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Smith) Germann, and this union has been blessed by the birth of two children, Walter A. and Otto C. Mr. and Mrs. Rup- right are consistent members of the German Lutheran church, of which Mr. Rupright is also the treasurer. The family are quite prom- inent in the social circles in Van Wert, and have hosts of substantial friends.
'ILLIAM REED, one of the original pioneers of Tully township, Van Wert county, Ohio, is a son of Will- iam and Martha (Howey) Reed, the former a native of Chester county, Pa. Jacob Reed, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Ireland, and with his brother, Andrew, came to America prior to the war of the Revolution. In that heroic struggle Jacob served as a teams- ter, and Andrew as a brave soldier in the ranks. After the close of the war Jacob settled in Chester county, Pa .; later removed to near Greensburg, in the western part of Pennsyl- vania, while Andrew settled in Virginia. Will- iam Reed, Sr., in April, 1815, brought his wife from Pennsylvania and settled in Ashland county, Ohio, where he clearned up a farin of 100 acres from the woods, and there lived to be eighty years of age. He, also, was a sol- dier, and served in the war of 1812, was a member of the Methodist church, and was an honored pioneer. His six children, all born in Ashland county, were named Rebecca, Will- iam, Elizabeth, George, Rachael and Jacob.
William Reed, the subject of this sketch, was born December 25, 1815, on the farm which his father had opened in Ashland county, Ohio, the previous April. He was taught the carpenter's trade, and was married, in his native county, to Martha, daughter of Jacob and Lydia Martin. For three years after mar- riage he followed his trade in Ashland, then came to Van Wert county, and in 1839 entered eighty acres of land in Tully township, on which he settled October 18, 1842. He built a cabin in the woods and the first winter went to Fort Wayne for his provisions. By hard work and perseverence he cleared up his original farm and added to it from time to time until he owned 200 acres, hewn from a wilderness in- fested with beasts of prey, but abounding in wild game. Of the eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Reed, six grew to maturity and
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WILLIAM REED.
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
were named Ann, Lydia, George, Rachael, Clara and Alice. In politics M. Reed is a dem- ocrat, served one year as justice of the peace, several times as township trustee, lias served on the school board in his district, and has been township assessor two terms; in religion he is a Lutheran, and in this faith, also, Mrs. Reed was called to rest August 7, 1891. The six surviving children born to Mr. and Mrs. Reed were married as follows: Ann to the late John Keifer, a farmer of Tully township, to which union were born three children; George a farmer of Adams county, Ind., married Elizabeth Hines, . who bore six children; Lydia was married to Alexander Rodgers, a farmer now residing in Fort Wayne, with five children; Rachel, the wife of Henry Johnson, of Sacramento, Cal., has five children; Clara is married to Isaiah Clem, an engineer on the Fort Wayne railroad, and has two children; Alice is the wife of Peter Mozel, a fariner of Tully township, and is the mother of three children.
William Reed, our subject, has now living a family of six children, twenty-four grand children and nine great-grandchildren. He still retains eighty acres of his well cultivated farm, which he carved from the primitive forest when he first settled in the township; the woods occupied almost every rod of land, and were filled with game of all varieties, and it was his custom to carry a gun when visiting, or when passing through the forest for any purpose, and he frequently dropped a deer on the way; his wife herself killed two deer, and moreover, a turkey or two. These birds fre- quently came near the house in flocks of fifty or more, and the settlers had all the game they wanted.
Peter Mozel, father of the younger Peter. the husband of Alice Reed, is one of the respected citizens of Tully township, and was born in Prussia. His father was Ludwig Mozel, who married Elizabeth Beck, was a soldier in the
wars with Napoleon, at different times fought in both the French and German arinies, and was wounded in battle. He was the father of three children-Peter, Ludwig and Mary E., and died at the age of about fifty years, a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church. His son Peter, was reared a farmer and was educated in Prussia. At the age of thirty years he came to America, landed in New York in March, 1853, came directly to Ohio, and located in Holmes county, where he worked as a farm- hand, and in 1854 married Louisa Roswiler, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Young) Ros- wiler. Jacob Roswiler was a Hessian, was a weaver by trade and the father of four children -Peter, Caroline, Lousia and Elizabeth. Jacob Roswiler was a Prussian soldier in the Napoleonic wars, and he and wife died in Germany at about the age of fifty years. Peter Mozel and Louisa Roswiler became acquainted in Prussia, were passengers to- gether on the same sailing ship which brought them to America -- Louisa being accompanied by her brother, Peter, and sister Caroline- and they all located in Holmes county, Ohio, where the marriage of Peter and Lousia took place, as stated above. In 1862, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Mozel came to Van Wert county and bought forty acres of land near Convoy, on which they resided three years, then sold and bought their present place of eighty acres in the forest, which by industry and hard work, they have converted into a good home. Mr. and Mrs. Mozel are the parents of four children-Catherine, Peter (married to Alice Reed), Elizabeth and John. Mr. and Mrs. Mozel are members of the German Presbyte- rian church, and in politics he is a democrat. They are ranked among the most thrifty, in- dustrious and respected farmers of Tully township, are useful members of society. and disposed to aid all enterprises of use to the general public.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
MERY RUMMEL, an official of Har- rison township, Van Wert county, Ohio, and a highly respected citizen, is remotely of German descent, his lineage, however, being traced only to his grandfather, a native of Maryland.
John George Rummel, father of our subject, was also a native of Maryland, born March 28, 1799, and when but a lad was brought to Ohio by his father, who located in Mahoning coun- ty. John G. received a very fair education, learning io read and write the German and English languages, and being also taught the carpenter's trade. April 4, 1820, he married Susannah, daughter of Barney Faustnaught, a pioneer of Mahoning county. In 1846 Mr. Rummel brought his family to Van Wert coull- ty, accompanied, with horses and wagons, by the families of Joseph Whitenbarger, William May and William Brothers, and also by his wife's father, who rode in a one-horse bug- gy. Beside his wife, the family of Mr. Rum- mel consisted of eight children-Margaret, Sophia, Joseph, Susannah, Elizabeth, Caroline, Isaac P. and Emery. The settled on the farm now owned by our subject, in section No. 6, Harrison township. The tract was covered entirely with timber, and comprised 143 acres in Ohio and thirty-three acres across the line in Indiana, and through the usual persistency and industry characterizing the pioneer, a farmi was wrought out, that afterward became the equal of . any in the county. Mr. Rummel lived to be over eighty-two years of age- dy- ing November 25, IS81, a devoted member of the Lutheran church and in politics a stanch democrat.
tended three months in the year until he reached the age of seventeen years. April 3, 1870, he was married, in Adams county, Ind .. to Miss Lavina Barkley, daughter of Andrew and Hannah (Kahl) Barkley. The father, Andrew Barkley, was born in Ashland county, Ohio, was of German extraction, and at the age of eight years lost his father. His wife, a daughter of Henry Kahl, was born in Penn- sylvania, and became the mother of five chil- dren, viz: Lavina, John, Henry, Mary and James. Mr. Barkley was a soldier in the late war and is now living in retirement in Decatur, Ind., and, with his wife, is a member of the Church of God. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Emery Rummel have been born ten chidren, in the following order: Bertha A., now wife of Lawson Wallis, Mary E., John H .. George A., Della M., Lavina C., Mabel E., Ora S., Francis V. and Tessie H. The parents are devout members of the Evangelical Lutheran church, of which Mr. Rummel has been a deacon for several years, as well as superintendent of the Sunday-school. In politics Mr. Rummel is a democrat, and has served two terms as town- ship trustee and two terms as justice of the peace; he has also been a member of the school board and has served as supervisor; he is a member of the grange, and has always been a warm friend of the agricultural progress of his township as well as an ardent promoter of its educational interest.
LZA N. RUNNION. owner of a fine farm and a retired educator of Liberty township, is descended from German- English ancestry, and dates the pa- ternal side of her family history through several generations to the old world. His great grand- father. James H. Runnion, was born in Baden, Germany, came to America in the time of the
Emery Rummel was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, August 31, 1845, and was, of course, a mere babe when brought to Van Wert county. He was reared on the home farm and at the proper age was sent to the pioneer school nearest at liand, and this he at- | colonies, and served eight years in the war of
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
the Revolution, a part of the tinie as member of Washington's body guard; he was a farmer, and died a great many years ago in the state of New Jersey. Joseph Runnion, grandfather of Elza N., was born in New Jersey, served in the war of 1812, married Rachael Logan, and, later, moved to Belmont county, Ohio; thence to the county of Richland in the early develop- ment of which he took an active part. His wife died in 1862, and later he removed to Williams county, Ohio, where his death oc- curred. He is remembered as a highly re- spectable citizen and a man of much local prominence.
John L. Runnion, son of Joseph, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, November 26, 1816, and when a mere lad accompanied his parents to the county of Richland. He was a well educated man, a United Brethren in his church affiliations, originally a democrat in politics and later became a republican; he married Emily Bowers, daughter of Jeremiah and Anna Bowers, and had a family consisting of the following children, William A., Elza N., Albert, James S. and Logan. Shortly after his marriage, Mr. Runnion moved to Crawford county, Ohio, where his death occurred June 4, 1859. His widow subsequently married Matthias Corothers, and departed this life in Seneca county, September 8, 1893.
Elza N. Runnion was born in Crawford county, Ohio, April 12, 1850. He received a liberal education, attending first the public schools and later the Baldwin university, and for a period of eighteen years taught school in various parts of Ohio. Mr. Runnion has always been a student, and since retiring from the profession of teaching has paid con- siderable attention to literature, being one of the best read men in the county. On the 3d day of October, 1872, he entered into the marriage relation with Arletta Dellinger, daugh- ter of John and Mariah (Leister) Dellinger, of
Crawford county. The father of Mrs. Run- nion is a prominent citizen of the aforesaid county, a large fariner and stock raiser and successful business inan.
After his marriage Mr. Runnion settled in Crawford county, where he engaged in farming and teaching, purchasing land there and re- siding upon the same until his removal to the county of Van Wert. He has been a resident of Liberty township of the latter connty for twelve years, owning a good farm which is well improved and successfully cultivated. He has been a member of the school board of Ohio City since coming to the county, takes an active interest in matters educational and has done much for the schools of his town- ship. He is an earnest supporter of the re- publican party, and fraternally belongs to Wide-awake lodge, No. 571, I. O. O. F., in which he has passed all the chairs, and is also a member of the P. of H. and K. of P. orders. Mr. and Mrs. Runnion have had a family of six children, viz: Florence E., Minnie M. J., John E., Verna E., Viola and Albert, the last two both deceased.
A LBERT RUNNION, a prominent citi- zen of Pleasant township, Van Wert county, is a native of Ohio, born in the county of Crawford, in the year 1853. His paternal ancestors came originally from Germany, and were among the early set- tlers of Pennsylvania, in which state his grand- father, Joseph Runnion, was born and reared. Joseph Runnion was a pioneer of Richland county, Ohio, where, in 1817, his son, Jolin L. Runnion, father of the subject of this mention was born.
John L. Runnion spent the years of his youth and early manhood in his native county. and began life for himself as a farmer in the county of Crawford, Ohio, where the remainder
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of his life was passed. On the tenth of No- vember, 1842, in Richland county, Ohio, was solemnized his marriage with Emily Bowers, and six children resulted from the union, as fol- lows: Rachael, deceased; William, of Seneca . county; Elza N., of Van Wert: Albert, whose name introduces this sketch: James F. of Pleasant township, and John, deceased. Mrs. Runnion was born in Richland county, Ohio, in April, 1823, and is descended from Welsh ancestry. John L. Runion was known as an enterprising and successful farmer, a useful citizen, and a man of unquestioned integrity. He was for years a consistent member of the United Brethren church, for the promotion of which he gave liberally of his means, and po- litically supported the republican party in its infancy. He was a man of marked individu- ality. firm in liis convictions of right, and en- deavored to guide his life according to the principles of truth and justice. He took a deep interest in matters educational, possessed the confidence and esteem of all who knew him, and his death, which occurred in 1859, was an event sadly deplored in the community. About the year 1864, Mrs. Emily Runnion was united in marriage to Matthias Corothers, whose death occurred in 1877 (see sketch of J. L. Corothers). His widow survived him several years, and departed this life October 2, 1893.
Albert Runnion received his elementary education in the common schools, and subse- quently took a two-year course at Heidelburg college, Tiffin, Ohio, where he made substan- tial progress in the higher branches of learning. During a part of the time spent in college, and six years thereafter, he taught school in the counties of Crawford and Huron, and at inter- vals followed agricultural pursnits, in which he met with well deserved success. In 1882, he sold his farin on the boundary of Huron, Seneca and Crawford counties, and invested the pro-
ceeds in real estate in Pleasant township. Van Wert county. Three years later he purchased the farm where he now resides, which he has brought to a successful state of cultivation. Mr. Runnion is an intelligent farmer, a public- spirited citizen, and one of the well-informed men of the community in which he resides; politically he wields an influence for the re- publican party, and was honored by the citi- zens of Pleasant township, in the years 1893 and 1894, by being electen to the office of tax assessor, the duties of which position he dis- charged in a manner with credit to himself and satisfaction to all concerned. Mr. Run- nion was married. in 1877, to Jennie M. Coroth- ers, daughter of John and Susan (Mowery) Corothers, a union blessed with three children, namely: Francis, Loie B. (deceased, and Susie. Mrs. Jennie M. Runnion was born March 2, 1865, in Huron county, Ohio; she is a member of the Society of Friends, with which church her husband is also identified.
J F. RUNNION, son of John L. and Emily A. Runnion, and brother of Albert, notices of whom appear in the preceding sketch, is an Ohioan by birth, and first saw the light of day in the year 1856, in Crawford county. Left fatherless at the age of four years, his early training devolved upon his mother, who spared no pains, nor left unimproved any opportunity of instilling into his youthful mind the principles of truth and right which have since borne fruit in his active and useful life. His early educational training was received in the schools of Seneca county, supplemented by a two years' course in Heidel- berg college, and later, for a year and a half, he pursued his studies in the normal school at Valpariso, Ind., preparatory to engaging in the profession of teaching. At intervals,
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
while attending college, he taught in the schools of Crawford county, and thus suc- ceeded in procuring means to enable him to pay his way in the institutions above men- tioned. His success in the educational field is attested by the fact of his having taught four- teen terms in the schools of Crawford, Seneca and Van Wert counties; and when not en- gaged in his profession, he gave his attention to the pursuit of agriculture. In October, 1886, Mr. Runnion and Miss Lizzie Shade, daughter of Simeon and Louisa Shade, of Crawford county, were made nian and wife, and three children have resulted from the mar- riage-Lester Cleon, Simon Delbert, and an in- fant daughter, deceased. On the 12th day of April, 1881, Mr. Runnion, with his mother and brother, E. N. Runnion, moved to his present home in Pleasant township, where, for six years thereafter, he was engaged in teach- ing in connection with tilling the soil. At the end of that time he concluded to retire from educational work and devote his time exclu- sively to agriculture, which he has since done. He and wife are members of the Methodist church, and while taking no very active inter- est in matters political, he supports the repub- lican party with his ballot. ' Mr. Runnion has a well-stored mind, keeps himself posted in .current events, and his educational training enables him to discharge intelligently the duties of American citizenship.
The following is a brief outline of the lead- ing facts in the history of Mrs. Runnion's fam- ily. Her father. Simeon Shade, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, of which his father, a native of Pennsylvania, was a pioneer, and a farmer, which useful calling he followed all his life. He was married, in 1857, to Louisa Knierremen, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, in the year 1839. The following are the names of their children: Ilona, wife of Q. R. Brown, of Bloomville; Lizzie; Simeon A., of
Crawford county, and William E., of the county of Seneca. Both Mr. and Mrs. Shade are still living in Crawford county.
HARLES N. SCHEIDT, a well-known dealer in coal and wood in Van Wert, Ohio, was born in Bavaria, Germany, at Kaulbach, Rhine-Pfalz, August 20, 1855, a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Gehm; Scheidt. The parents were also natives of Bavaria, were there married and engaged in farming, and died respectively in 1861 and 1878, the parents of twelve children, viz: Jacob, Elizabeth (deceased), Michael, Phil- ipina, Henry (died in 1893), Catherine, an un- named infant (deceased), John, Caroline, Mar- garet, William (of Van Wert) and Charles N. (our subject). The father of this family was a very prominent man in his day, was for eight years mayor of his city, accumulated an estate valued at $20,000, and died a member of the German Protestant church, of which his wife was also a member.
Charles N. Scheidt, our subject, was edu- cated in Germany, and when sixteen years old, on the anniversary of his birth, sailed from Bremen for New York, in which latter city he landed September 11, 1871, and there found employment as a laborer in a furniture factory until March 29, 1879, when he came to Van Wert, and here entered the shop of Fife & Scheidt as an apprentice at the blacksmith trade, and served two years, after which he worked in Delphos, Ohio, at this trade, for nine months, when he returned to Van Wert, worked for the Van Wert Carriage company for one year, and then started his present place and did horse-shoeing and blacksmithing nntil 1891, when he engaged in the coal and wood trade, which he has since most successfully carried on, and now handles about seventy-five car-loads of coal per year. He has amassed
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
considerable property and has his residence on the corner of Walnut and Jackson streets; he also owns a lot, 44x132 feet, on North Market street, well improved with good buildings; also a residence block at the corner of Race and Greenwalt streets, and the lot No. 377 Tyler street, the greater portion of which property is the result of his prudent foresight and busi- ness sagacity, backed up by his untiring industry.
Mr. Scheidt was married, in Van Wert, February 5, 1882, to Minnie Heuschkel, an adopted daughter of Charles E. Heuschkel. This lady was born in Shelby county, Ohio, in March, 1861, and has borne her husband two children -- Florence and Clara H. Mr. and Mrs. Scheidt are members of Saint Peter's Re- form church, and fraternally he is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men. The family are highly respected in their neighbor- hood as well as throughout the city, and Mr. Scheidt stands in the front rank of the ener- getic and responsible business men of the city of Van Wert.
'OHN T. SCOTT, founder of the thriv- ing little city in Van Wert county, Ohio, bearing his name, is a son of Richard and Margaret (Lynn) Scott, and was born in Warren county, Ohio, March 25, 1851. Richard, the father, was also a native of War- ren county, and was born March 31, 1816, a son of Thomas Scott, a native of New Jersey, who, in turn, was the son of Jonathan, also of New Jersey. Thomas Scott, the grand- father of our subject, was the father of two children and of Scotch. descent.
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