USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 5
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 5
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Edward Carmean was educated in the pioneer school of his childhood, but was an apt scholar. At the age of about nineteen years he enlisted at Lima, Allen county, Ohio, December 16, 1863, and was enrolled in Janu- ary, 1864, in company B, Eighty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry, under Capt. W. Titus, to serve three years or during the war, but his services lasted only until his honorable dis- charge, at Louisville, Ky., in July, 1865, on account of the close of hostilities. He fought at Resacca, Spring Station. Rome Cross Roads, and Kingston. Mr. Carmean, however,
had an attack of sickness during his service and was confined in hospital at Chattanooga, Tenn., and at Rome, Ga., was afterward de- tailed to the hospital department, being dis- abled, and later granted a furlough home for thirty days in November, 1864, at the expira- tion of which he reported for duty, but, his regiment being before Richmond, Va., and communications cut off, he was assigned to the militia corps, with which he served until ordered back to Louisville, Ky., to be mus- tered out and honorably discharged.
On his return home Mr. Carmean engaged in farming, and November 5, 1865, was mar- ried, in Allen county, Ohio, to Miss Mary M. Poling, who was born May 4, IS4S. He then lived in Allen county until March 9, 1867, when he came to Van Wert county and settled in the woods of Jackson township, when its voting population numbered but thirteen. Part of his tract he cleared up and sold, and then bought eighty acres additional in the same sec- tion, and also partly cleared this tract, on which he made one of the most pleasant homes in that township. He had, however, had much of his cleaning and improvement done with the help of others, having been badly disabled when a soldier. In IS91 he traded his farin for a general store in Wetsel, of which he has made an enviable success, being a man of naturally good business abilities.
To the happy marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Carmean have been born seven children, viz: Amanda C., John W., George W., Elizabeth, Freda V., Lydia O., and Ollie. In religion Mr. and Mrs. Carmean are both members of the United Brethren church and are strong ad- herents of the faith. In politics he is a repub- lican, and his first vote was cast for the re- election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency of the United States. Mr. Carmean holds an excellent position in the social circles of Jack- son township, and is recognized as an upright
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and straightforward merchant and gentleman in every respect. He has reared a respectable family, and during a residence of four years in Paulding county gave his children every facil- ity for a first-class education.
R. EZRA BURNETT, one of the more prominent of the rising young physicians of Jackson township, Van Wert county. Ohio, with his office and residence at Wetsel, was born in Jennings township, in the same county, January 29, 1868, and is a son of Daniel and Sarah (Bush) Burnett, of English descent and natives of Virginia.
Henry Burnett, grandfather of our subject, came from Virginia to Ohio, and settled in Fayette county on a farm, where he passed the remainder of his days, dying at the advanced age of eighty years, a highly respected citizen. His children were named Matthew, Jesse, Henry (killed in the Civil war). Danicl, Eliza- beth and Harriet. His son Daniel, the father of our subject, was born in Fayette county, Ohio, in 1824, and was married in the same county. About 1845. he came to Van Wert county and first located in Jennings township, then a wilderness, with but three houses between his place and Spencerville, Allen county. His brother, Robert, came about the same time, and together they entered 240 acres of land, all covered with a dense forest. Of this tract Daniel owned 105 acres, on which he built a log cabin, and by slow degrees and hard work succeeded in clearing up a good farm, a hewn-log house supplementing the round-log cabin, and later a neat frame dwell- ing took the place of the hewn-log structure. Daniel had born to him twelve children, named as follows, and all still living: Marshall, Hui- dah, James, Daniel, Jesse, Allen, Matthew, Robert, Ezra, Alice, Frank and Clinton. The'
father of this family was a republican, and held the office of township trustee; he was well known for his integrity, and died, an hon- ored pioneer, September 24. 1895.
Dr. Ezra Burnett was primarily educated in the common school of his district and then attended the western Ohio Normal school at Middlepoint; hc next taught public school for about four years, and worked out by the day to obtain money to pay his college expenses; then began his professional studics at the Columbus Medical college and finished at the Ohio Medical university, from which he grad- nated in 1893. He at once commenced the practice of his profession at Wetsel, where his skill was recognized and appreciated, and he soon became the favorite practitioner of the town and surrounding country. He is still a devoted student, gaining knowledge every day from his clinical practice and availing himself of the experience of older professional men through a well-stocked library of medical works by the most approved authors, as well as by close attention to the best medical peri- odical literature of the day.
The marriage of the doctor took place August 3, 1892, with Miss Euthema Sill, daugh- ter of George and Elizabeth (Slentz) Sill. thc wedding taking place in York township, at the home of Euthema, and to this happy union one child has been born-Edith R. Not only has the doctor attained a very high position in his chosen profession, but in his social relations he mingles with and is highly respected by the best people of his township and county.
ENRY CLAPPER, a well known farm- er of Jackson township. Van Wert county, Ohio, is a native of the Buck- eye state, and was born in Marion township, Allen county. November 24. 1842. His grandfather. also named Henry, was a na-
.
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tive of Pennsylvania, served in the war of 1812, and married Sarah E. Buzzard, a native of the same state, by which union were born the following children: Jacob, Andrew, Jere- miah, Emanuel, Mary, Nancy, Hannah and Susan. Henry, the grandfather, early came to Ohio, located first in Fairfield county, and then settled on Hog Creek, in Sugar Creek township, Allen county, cleared up a farm from the wilderness and died at the good old age of eighty-two years, a member of the Methodist church and in politics a republican -. having previously been a whig-and having passed the last few years of his life with his son, Andrew.
Andrew Clapper, father of our subject, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, married, in his native county, Stacy A. Schlegle, and had born to this union thirteen children, viz: Jacob, Hannah, Mary J., Nancy A., John, Henry, Elizabeth, Rachael, Daniel, Susan, Jemima and two that died young. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Clapper came to Allen county with his father, settled in Marion township, and here all the children were born, with the exception of Jacob, who was born in Fairfield county. Mr. Clapper cleared up a farm from the woods, and here died in 1882, aged seventy- two years, a member of the United Brethren church and a republican in politics. He had four sons in the Civil war-Jacob in the Ohio infantry, company and regiment not known, and John, Henry, and Daniel in company E, Ninety-ninth Ohio infantry.
Henry Clapper, our subject, was reared a farmer, and before twenty-one years of age enlisted, August 6, 1862, and was enrolled at Lima, Ohio, in company E, Ninety-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years or during the war, serving until honorably discharged at Salisbury, N. C., June 23, 1865. He fought in the battles of Stone River, Dalton, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek, Snow Hill, Pumpkinvine 1
Creek, Smoky Creek Gap, Kenesaw Mountain, Rocky Faced Ridge, Atlanta, Jonesboro, and all through the famous Atlanta campaign, and in many skirmishes. He was in the battles of Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Nashville, etc., and had his left arm badly wounded at Chickamauga, but otherwise not injured. He did his full duty and was a brave soldier, and still suffers from disease contracted through exposure while in the service.
August 20, 1866, Mr. Clapper was married to Miss Catherine Stemen, daughter of S. P. Stemen, mention of whom is made on another page of this volume, and this union has been blessed by the birth of the following children: William T., Edmund O., Anna M., Elvin C., Mattie D. and Hettie B. (twins), Charles MI. and Mary M. After marriage Mr. Clapper lo- cated on a farm in Marion township, Allen county, cleared sixty acres, then sold and came to Van Wert county and settled in Jackson township about 1881, settling on a partly cleared farm of forty-three acres, all of which he has since fully cleared up and turned into a cheerful, comfortable and profitable home place. Here Mrs. Clapper died August 2, 1888, a devoted member of the United Breth- ren church and a woman much respected for her many christian virtues. In politics Mr. Clapper is a republican, but has never been an office seeker. An industrious and upright man, and a true patriot, he has won the re- spect of all his fellow-citizens.
ENRY COLE. one of the most ex- perienced and prosperous farmers of Jennings township, Van Wert county, Ohio, is a son of Henry and Mary (Evey) Cole, and was born in Adams county, Md., January 24, 1829. His father, Henry.
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was born in Pennsylvania, about 1794, was of German descent, was reared on a farm, and also learned the brickmason's trade, following the latter until his marriage, about 1817, with Mary Evey, who was a native of Maryland, and was born in 1799. To this marriage were born eight children, as follows : George, de- ceased; a daughter who died in infancy, un- named; Andrew, deceased; John, deceased; Henry, out subject; Anne, of Detroit, Mich .; Mary, widow of Bernard Fitzpatrick, of Jen- nings township, and Levi, who died at the age of four years. After marriage, Mr. Cole re- sided in Maryland until 1834, when he came to Ohio and bought a farm of seventy-two acres in Chippewa township, Wayne county, part of which was cleared, and on which he passed the remainder of his life, dying June 20, 1859, and his wife in 1860, in the faith of the Catholic church, of which the entire family were members. He had served nine months in the war of 1812, and at the battle of Lundy's Lane, July 25, 1814, his hat was shot off his head. In politics he was a democrat, and, as a citizen, but few were held in higher esteem.
Henry Cole, subject of this sketch, was reared on his father's farm in Wayne county, Ohio, and April 7, 1853, married Miss Mary Fitzpatrick, daughter of Patrick and Margaret (Dowdel) Fitzpatrick. To this union have been born four children, namely : Margaret. wife of Michael Maloney, of Spencerville, Ohio; John, on the home farin; Edward, of Monti- cello, Van Wert county, and Mary Ellen, at home. Mrs. Mary Cole was born in Summit county, Ohio, June 17, 1834; her parents were natives of Ireland, the father having been born in county Caven, March 15, 1802, and the mother in county Westmeath. October 15, 1811. After marriage Mr. Cole farmed in Wayne county until 1860, when he came to his present place, at that time uncleared, but now as likely-looking a farmi as there is in the
county. Besides being a farmer, Mr. Cole is a practical mechanic and has worked at car- pentering as well as at blacksmithing, but agriculture is his favorite pursuit. In politics he is a stanch democrat and has served two terms as supervisor. He is a liberal con- tributor of his means to the support of the Catholic church. of which he is a member, and as a citizen stands high in the estimation of his neighbors and the general public.
Mrs. Mary Fitzpatrick, widow of Bernard Fitzpatrich, is a daughter of Henry and Mary (Evey) Cole, and a sister of Henry Cole, whose sketch is given above. She was born in Wayne county, Ohio, May IS, 1838, and April 15, 1856, married Bernard Fitzpatrick, son of Patrick and Margaret (Dowdel) Fitz- patrick, and to this union were born five chil- dren. viz : Bridget, of Chicago; Thomas J., merchant of Spencerville, Ohio; Henry, who died in childhood; Mary Margaret, wife of David Cooper, now farming the Fitzpatrick homestead, and Ellen, at home. Bernard Fitzpatrick was born in Clinton county, N. Y. April 21, 1833, and came to Wayne county. Ohio, in his youth, with his parents, and there his father was engaged in mining for twelve years, when the family moved to Holmes county, and in 1859 to Putnam county, where the father died in 1863 and the mother three years later. Their surviving children are Mrs. Cole, Mrs. Ellen Collins, of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Daniel, of North Baltimore, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Fitzpatrick were married in Wayne county, then lived in Holmes county two years, and then in the fall of 1858, came to Van Wert county, and settled on the farin which Mrs. Fitzpatrick now occupies and which the deceased husband cleared from out the woods. His death took place August 21. IS91, a member of the Catholic church. In politics he was a democrat, and was a promi- nent and influential citizen, and his death was a
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sad blow to his sorrowing family and a cause of mourning to a large circle of friends, as well as to the general public.
AVID DAVIS, M. D., of York township, is a native of Jackson county, Ohio, is a son of Morgan and Mary Davis, and was born in 1858. He grew to manhood on the farm, but at twelve years of age he lost his father and the care of the farm and his widowed mother developed on him and an elder brother, Jona- than, who still lives on the old homestead. At the age of twenty-one years Mr. Davis began teaching school; he had educational advan- tages above those of the average farm boy, hav- ing attended the Rio Grande college, and Mor- gan Brother's academy, at Oak Hill, In 1881 he began a medical course at the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical college, attended three years, and graduated in 1885. He at once began the practice of his profession in Kieferville, Putnam county, Ohio, where he remained until 1886, when he settled in Venedocia. In the mean- time he married Miss Elizabeth Evans, daugh- ter of John W. Evans, and to this union have been born four sons, all of whom died in infancy excepting one, who is named Morgan. The doctor and wife are earnest and devont mem- bers of the Calvinistic church. In politics the doctor is a republican, but has never been a seeker after office; fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias, and socially he enjoys the friend- ship of almost every resident of the county for miles around.
The professional career of Dr. Davis has been a phenomenal one from its incipiency, even his brief stay at Kieferville being attended with triumphs seldom attained by one who may at that time have been designated as but little more than a novice in his art. Since his resi- dence has been made in Venedocia, his profes-
sional career has been one of unvarying success, and well deserved remuneration has been the result. His exceptional ability as a physician and surgeon has been recognized through the surrounding country, and his worth as a citizen has placed him in a most favorable light in the eyes of his fellow-townsmen, who do not fail to accord him the fiull praise his merits deserve.
HE DUSTMAN FAMILY .- It was the summer of 1836 that George Dustman first came to Van Wert county. At that time the county was a wilderness inhabited by wild animals, Indians, and a few venturesome white men. On the site of the present city of Van Wert stood an Indian hut, but it was uninhabited, and Mr. Dustman and two or three companions passed a night there. He remained in the county a few days then walked to Lima, where, at the government land office, he purchased the quarter section of land upon which he now lives, paying for it the regular price of $1.25 per acre. The old government deed bears the name of Martin Van Buren, who was then president of the United States. At that time Mr. Dustman was twenty-five years of age. He was born in Washington county, Pa., in 1811, and was the son of Henry and Salome Dustman. His father was born in 1789, of good old Pennsyl- vania-Dutch stock, and came to Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1815, when his eldest son, George, the subject of this sketch, was but four years old. The elder Dustman spent the last years of his life at the home of his son, in Van Wert county, and died in 1872.
George Dustinan's education was received in the subscription schools in the then sparsely settled county of Fairfield. His father, who was a potter, was too poor to afford him a better education. As he grew up, George learned the potter's trade, and also that of car-
GEORGE DUSTMAN.
213 -214
MRS. ANNA M. DUSTMAN.
2/5-216
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
peuter, but he delighted more in farming than in either. For several years he worked out by the day during the summer, and taught school during the winter months. As a rule. he received half a dollar a day for the farm work, and for teaching he received $10 a month. and " board around." In 1839, three years after buying his Van Wert county land with the money he had saved, he married Anna Milla Peters, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Peters. In 1846, ten years after his first visit to Van Wert county, Mr. Dustman and his family came here to make it their home. The journey of more than 200 miles was made in a covered wagon, part of the way through the woods in which the ax had to be used to clear a road. A small log cabin had been erected on the northeast corner of his farm, and here. in October, 1846, the Dustman family settled in their home, the first they ever owned. Here Mr. and Mrs. Dustman endured all the hard- ships and enjoyed all the pleasures of pioneer life. The farm was covered with heavy tim- ber, and this had to be removed before crops could be raised. But this was not the worst feature; Mr. Dustman had no money on which to keep his family while he was clearing up his farm. He found it necessary to let his own work remain undone, and work for his inore fortunate neighbors, in order to secure money to buy the necessaries of life. It was not an encouraging outlook, but Mr. and Mrs. Dust- man had stout hearts, confidence in each other, and a never shadowed belief. that in the end all would be well.
Little by little the forest gave way to culti- vated fields. The children, too small to assist in the work, were kept busy during the late fall driving the wild turkey from the corn shocks. There was but a small market for surplus produce. Van Wert town contained but a few houses, and it was necessary to go to Mendon or Delphos to mill.
always took two days, and was never made without taking an ax to clear a road through the woods. And yet. in spite of such surroud- ings, and in spite of poverty and hard work, none were better contented than Mr. and Mrs. Dustman. Both of them of a lively disposi- tion. fond of a good joke, and hospitable to all comers, their little cabin in the woods was the scene of happiness, whether the home circle contained strangers or not.
In the early days of this new county, Mr. Dustman performed well his part in advancing all public improvements. He was always modest, and always willing to remain in the background, but his judgment was so good . that his counsel was always sought in public matters. First a whig and then a republican. he took a deep interest in political affairs, but never allowed himself to be drawn into the vortex of personal politics. He never held office except of a local nature, and this office had to find him. His farm has always been his pride. To its improvement he gave the best years of his life, and brought it up to such state of cultivation that it ranks to-day as one of the best, most beautiful, and most valuable farms in this county of good farms. In all of this work he was assisted and strengthened by his wife, whose excellent management and practical common sense made success assured.
Mr. Dustman is now past four score years, while Mrs. Dustman is nearing that mark. For a half-century they have lived on their Van Wert county farm. In their old age they find their last days their best days. and this, too, in spite of affliction, whose hand they have not escaped. But they live in the evening of lives well spent. surrounded by hosts of friends who honor and respect thein because their lives have been without a tarnish. They be- long to that class of pioneers to whom the county owes so inuch, and whose work tells
This trip , the story of lives well spent, both Mr. and
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Mrs. Dustman having been life-long members of the Lutheran church.
Mr. and Mrs. Dustman are the parents of eleven children, nine of whom are living. Maria, the eldest, died in infancy, and Salmon C., next to the youngest, died when two years old. Of the nine children living, six reside in Van Wert county, one in Allen county, one in Toledo, and one in Butler, Ind. The names of these nine children are John M., Sarah A., Sabina, Daniel C., Lodena, Henry C., Ella, Lydia, and Freeman L.
John M. Dustman, the eldest son, was born in Fairfield county, in July, 1840, and came with his parents to Van Wert county. He assisted his father in the farm work, and was educated in the district school. When the war broke out he tried to enlist, but could not pass a physical examination, and the second attempt also resulted in failure. He prepared himself for the ministry. and became pastor of two English Lutheran churches in Van Wert county. After serving these churches for some time he accepted a call to the English Luther- an church at Carey, Ohio, where he remained for thirteen consecutive years, going from there to a charge in Tuscarawas county. Since then he has been pastor of the English Lutheran church at Upper Sandusky, Ohio, Middlebury, Ind., and is now pastor of the church at But- ler, Ind. Before entering the ministry he married Nancy Poe, of Van Wert county. Two children have been born to them-Stanley B., and Almeda.
the best in Van Wert county. They have six children living, as follows: Emma, Eva, Ger- trude, Henry, Wilbur and Oscar. Mr. and Mrs. Waltz are members of the Methodist church.
Sabina Dustman was born but three years before the family came to Van Wert county. Like the rest of the children she enjoyed the advantages of a moderate education. She grew to womanhood on the farin and married Henry Sherrick, one . of the leading farmers and stock raisers of Allen county. They now live on their farm five iniles east of Delphos.
Daniel C. Dustman was the last of the children born in Fairfield county. He was educated in the schools of Pleasant township, Van Wert county, and was reared a farmer. In 1865, or as soon as he was old enough to do so, he enlisted in company F, One Hundred and Eighty-seventh regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, and saw service in Kentucky, Ten- nessee, Georgia and Alabama. He was mus- tered out at Camp Chase just one year from the time of his enlistment. In 1872 he pur- chased his present home in York township. It was then woodland, but is now a well culti- vated farm. In 1866 he married Margaret Larue, daughter of Abraham and Margaret Larue, of this county. To them nine children have been born, as follows: Marcus E., Hor- ace E. (deceased), Mary Alberta, Jennie, Wal- ter, Charles, George H., Edgar Francis, and Bessie. Mrs. Dustman was born in Richland county and came to Van Wert county with lier parents when but ten years old. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dustman are consistent members of the Methodist church. In politics Mr. Dust- man is a republican, and has held several local offices, but has never cared to make politics a business. He is an enterprising farmer, and owes his success to his own efforts.
Sarah A. Dustman was also born in Fair- field county, and was but a few years old when the family came to Van Wert county. Here she grew to girlhood and womanhood. the principal assistant of her mother in their early days in Van Wert county. In 1862 she married Josiah Waltz, and they now live on their farm in York township. They have been Lodema Dustman was born on the old farm a prosperous couple, and their farm is one of | in 1847, and lived with her parents until lier
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
marriage, in 1865, to Jacob Poe. Mr. and Mrs. Poe have always lived in Van Wert county, and for the past twenty years have lived. on the old Dustman homestead, which Mr. Poe and his sons are now farming. Jacob Poe was born and his early life was spent in Hancock county. Mr. and Mrs. Poe have three children-William, Rilla and George.
Henry C. Dustinan was born on the old farm in 1850, was educated in the country schools and was reared a farmer, which pro- fession he has since adopted. In 1872 he learned photography, and the same year re- moved to Monroeville, Ind., where he remained for two years. From there he went to Carey, Ohio, and remained three years. He then sold his business and returned to the farm, since which time he has farmed in Pleasant township. In 1872 he married Martha J. Hester, daughter of John V. and Anna Hester, of Pleasant township. Five children have been born to them-Minta, Elva, May, Willis A., and Mattie. Mrs. Dustman was born in Clin- ton county, in 1852, and came to Van Wert with her parents in 1868. Mr. Dustman is a republican in politics, and he and his wife are members of the English Lutheran church.
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