USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 55
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 55
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and enjoyed life in the forest. The United Brethren church was the first religious denom- ination in Auglaize county, and Mr. Spray was one of the earliest converts. He ardently es- poused its cause, euentually became an or- dained minister, and for twenty-two years was an itinerant preacher of acknowledged elo- quence and power. The second wife of Mr. Spray was also called away by death, and his third marriage was with Harriet Givens. of Hardin county, Ohio, to this marriage were born four children-Jane, Mary, Nancy and Helen.
Mr. Spray gave three sons to the service of his country during the late Civil war, who served as follows: Ebenezer L., three years in company G. Seventy-first Ohio volunteer infantry, returned without wounds but with shattered health, and died in November, 1876, as a result; James M., served four months and ten days in company K, Fifteenth Ohio volun- teer infantry, and then three years in company G, Seventy-first regiment, then veteranized for three years, February 1, 1864, and was honorably discharged in June, 1865; was shot through the right hip December 16, 1864, and died July 3, 1883, near Wapakoneta, from the effect of the wound. The father himself died December 25, 1860, at the age of fifty-five years, on his farm, in politics a Jacksonian democrat and a greatly respected citizen.
Sergt. Joseph C. Spray was educated in an old log cabin frontier school-house, learned to read, write, became quite thorough in arith- metic, and was reared on a farm. At the age of about nineteen years he enlisted at Wapa- koneta in company K, Fifteenth Ohio volun- teer infantry, for three months, under Capt. George W. Andrews, served four months and ten days, and was honorably discharged August 28, 1861; he re-enlisted at the same place September 1, 1861 -- this time in company G, Seventy-first Ohio infantry, under Capt. John W. Moody, for three years or during the war,
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filled out liis term and was honorably dis- charged and mustered out at Gallatin, Tenn., February 1, 1864, and veteranized the same day for three years longer, or during the war, and was finally again honorably discharged May 17, 1865, at Cincinnati, with the rank of duty sergeant. During this long and faithful service¿ Sergt. Spray took part in the following principal engagements, which list is not en - tirely completed: Red House, W. Va .; Co- lumbus, Ky., 1862; Shiloh; Fort Donelson; Clarkesville, Waverly, Tenn .; several fights with Wheeler's cavalry; the second fight at Fort Donelson, 1863; Flin Lick, Hartsville, Tenn .; all through the Atlanta campaign, be- ing nearly four months under fire; Dalton, Resaca, Big Shanty, Snake Creek Gap, At- lanta, Jonesboro, Lovejoy Station, on the march to Nashville with Gen. Thomas; at Columbia, Spring Hill, Franklin, November 30, 1864, then for two weeks on a skirmish around Nashville, and then the siege, Decem- ber 15 and 16, 1864, and on the 16th was shot through the right arm while carrying the regi- mental colors as a volunteer, two of his com- rades having already fallen while performing this duty, and, after our subject fell, his own brother, James M. Spray, fell shot through the hip, with the flag in his hands. : Sergt. Spray was confined in Cumberland hospital two weeks and in the hospital at Louisville, Ky., two and a half months, and here the arm was twice amputated before it would heal, the sec- ond amputation being made January 22, 1865, close to the shoulder.
The marriage of Sergt. Spray took place, while he was home on a furlough, March 6, 1864, near Wapakoneta, to Miss Tamzon Cath- erine Shinn, who was born in Warren county, Ohio, November 17, 1844, a daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (Roberts) Shinn. The father was a farmer in Warren county, moved to Auglaize county, in 1848, and settled on
160 acres in the woods, and died June 19, 1855, aged about thirty-seven years, the father of the following children: Robert, Franklin, Tam- zon C., Martha, Ruhamie, Adrew, and George. Mrs. Shinn, the mother, lived to be over eighty years of age and died at the home of our subject. The son, Franklin Shinn, served in the Civil war in company G, Seventy-first Ohio volunteer infantry, and also in the Seven- teenth Indiana volunteers-making a total of four years. After the war Mr. and Mrs. Spray settled in Spaulding county, on thirty acres of land, all in the woods, resided there eleven years, the sergeant teaching school thirty-seven months of the time, and then came to Van Wert county, in August, 1879, and bought a home in Middlepoint and other valuable real estate in the town.
The marriage of Mir. and Mrs. Spray has been blessed with seven children, now living, and named as follows; Arthur A., Jane, Mar- tha G., Emma, Laura, Joseph S., and Blaine. Mr. and Mrs. Spray are conistent members of the United Brethren church, in which he is a trustee, and in politics he is a republican. He is very popular with his party, and under its auspices has served as mayor two terms, and town marshal, six years as city councilman, and as president of the school board for six years; also as assessor two years, and is now a notary public. He also served four years as postmaster of Middlepoint under the Harrison administration. He was one of the charter members of the Zeller-Hamilton post, No. 260, G. A. R., has served as post commander two and one-half years, and is now filling the office of quartermaster. As a citizen, the sergeant holds a most enviable position in the esteem of the community, and his military record shows that he was one of those grand soldiers never to shrink from duty in time of action, and his bravery at Nashville will make him for all time an honored man.
1
Daniel . Snyder
735-736
*
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MRS. MARY A. SNYDER.
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
0 ANIEL SNYDER, one of the promni- nent and influential farmers of Union township, Van Wert county, Ohio, was born in Perry county, Ohio, January 30, 1834, a son of John and Catherine (Nunnamaker) Snyder, of whom the former was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., May 5, ISO8. The father of John Snyder was named Henry, who was also born in Pennsyl- vania, about the year of 1769, and was the son of a colonel in the Revolutionary army of German birth. Henry Snyder settled in Perry county, Ohio, in 1817, where he entered a tract of 160 acres, built a two-story log house -an unusual feat for that day-and also a large barn of logs, and, being a mechanic, made most of his house-hold furniture: he also, beside clearing up his farm, planted a large orchard. He died in 1852, an active member of the Presbyterian church.
John Snyder, father of our subject, Daniel Snyder, was a mere lad when brought to Ohio by his parents, and was here reared in Perry county, where he was inarried, in 1828, to Catherine Nunnamaker, who bore him ten children, five of whom are still living, viz : Susan A., wife of S. A. Shockey; Catherine, wife of Henry Good, of Auglaize county ; Eliza J., wife of William Hill, of Allen county; Har- riet, wife of Jacob Brown, of Allen county, and Daniel our subject. The father of this family had early learned tanning in addition to farin- ing, but after his marriage he devoted his en- tire attention to agriculture. In 1852 he moved to Allen county and purchased a farm of exceeding fertility, which he converted into one of the nnest in the state and on which he grew the largest tree in Ohio-a walnut-thir- ty-three feet, nine inches in circumference, and seventy-four feet in height from the ground to the first branch. For many years Mr. Sny- der was a lieutenant in the state militia; he was an active member of the United Brethren 32
church, and was noted for his liberal contri- butions thereto; in politics he was a stanch democrat. His death occurred June 28, 1890, and that of his wife September 22, 1883.
Daniel Snyder, whose name opens this bio- graphical sketch, grew to manhood on his father's farm and received a sound common- school education in his native county. May 31, 1855, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Smith, daughter of John and Sarah (Miller) Smith, of Allen county, Ohio, and to this union have been born five children, viz : William H .; Howard M., deceased; Izilla A., wife of J. W. Willmore; Sarah L .. deceased, and Minda A., wife of Jasper Collins. In 1862 Mr. Snyder settled on his present home in Union township, Van Wert county, buying at that time eighty acres of swampy woodland, which he has cleared, underdrained and im- proved and added to, until he now owns as fine a farm of 220 acres as there is in the county. In February, 1865, Mr. Snyder en- listed in company C, One Hundred and Nine- ty-second Ohio volunteer infantry, under Capt. James W. Titus, and served in Virginia until mustered out in September. 1865. He is now a member of Van Wert post, No. 100, G. A. R., and in politics is independent, but was elected township trustee in 1866, and served one term. He is highly thought of in Union township, and the social standing of himself and family is with the best in the county.
a ILLIAM SPRINGER, a retired farm- er, an ex-soldier of the Union army, and a highly esteemed citizen of Van Wert, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, November 18, 1827. Remain- ing in Fairfield county until 1849, he then re- moved to Van Wert county, and has since been a resident thereof. Up to the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he followed
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
the quiet and uneventful, but hard working, life of the farmer, and when thirty-four years of age was drafted into the army, becoming a member of company I, Forty-sixth Ohio volun- teer infantry. He served under Col. Walkit in the grand army commanded by Gen. Sher- man. He fought at the battle of Hollow Springs, Cannon county, Tenn., and in other battles, but was so fortunate as not to receive a wound. He was faithful in the discharge of every duty as a soldier, and won the confidence of all his comrade, private soldiers and officers alike. He was honorably discharged in 1863, and then returned to the peaceful pursuits of private life. For his services in the war he is now receiving a pension of $12 per month. Since the war Mr. Springer has followed farm- ing until within the last few years, and now he is living a quiet, retired life in Van Wert, en- joying the reflection that although his life has not been as eventful as those of some others, yet the duties that have confronted him as he has passed along on the pathway of life have been done conscientiously and well.
William Springer was married, February II, 1849, to Miss Susanna Wycuff, by whom he became the father of ten children, as fol- lows : Henry, who was born in Fairfield county, November 13, 1849, and died in Van Wert, February 20, 1860; Sarah, born March 2, 1852, married January 21, 1870, to John Myers, and living in Van Wert; Wesley, who was born in Van Wert county, October 20, 1855, and died in same county, May 3, 1866; Louis, born in Van Wert county, June 28, 1858, married Etta Buskirk in 1881, and is living in Van Wert county; Margaret, was born in Van Wert county, December 30, 1860, and died in the same county, May 30, 1874; Will- iam, born in Van Wert county, May 20, 1863, married Catherine Hurless, March 22, 1885, and lives in Van Wert county: Amanda, born in Van Wert county, March 16, 1866, died in
the same county August 1, 1867; Albert, born in Van Wert county, October 27, 1868, mar- ried Cora Miller, December 27, 1891, and re- sides in Van Wert county; Melvian, was born November 18, 1871, and resides in Van Wert county, and Alexander, born in Van Wert county, December 26, 1875, resides in Van Wert county.
Susanna Wycuff, wife of William Springer, was born in Hocking county, Ohio, January 13, 1831. In 1847 she removed to Perry county, where she married Mr. Springer, when she was eighteen years old. Her father, John Wycuff, was born in Ohio, December 3, 1807. and died January 14, 1870. His wife, Sarah, was born in Ohio, April 8, 1810, and died De- cember 26, 1878, aged sixty-eight years and nine months.
Henry Springer, father of the subject of this sketch, married Margaret Fast. They were the parents of twelve children, as follows: Catherine; Jemima; Sarah, who died in Adams county, Ind .; Henry; William, the subject: Samuel, who died in Adams county, Ind. ; George; Jacob, who died in Mercer county. Ohio; Margaret; Melinda, who died in Monroe- ville, Ind .; David, and Delilah. Jemima. Henry, George, Margaret, David and Delilah, all resides in Harrison township, Van Wert county, Ohio.
J AMES SPRIDGEON, a well-to-do and experienced farmer of Ridge township. Van Wert county, Ohio, is a native of Lincolnshire, England, and was born December 30, 1834, a son of William and Mary (Robnet) Spridgeon, who were the par- ents of four sons and one daughter. In July. 1851, Mr. Spridgeon came to the United States; with other members of his family, and passed one year in the northern part of Indiana; he then came to Van Wert county, Ohio, and for
-
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
a while worked on the grading of the Pittsburg railroad. In the winter of 1853, he and his brother Thomas made a trip to the gold fields of California, where they were moderately suc- cessful. At the end of two years our subject returned to Van Wert county and purchased eighty acres of land in Ridge township, and this land he resided on and cultivated for six years, then sold, and purchased his present farm, which then comprised 100 acres, to which he has since added twenty acres. In the month of September, 1856, Mr. Spridgeon was united in marriage with Miss Susanna Chaffin, daughter of William and Nancy (Spen- cer) Chaffin, and this union has been blessed with four sons and three daughters, viz: Will- iam, a farmer of Ridge township; Mary, wife of Simon Steward; Addie, married to Philip Balyeat, of Van Wert city; Webster, Joseph; Clara, deceased wife of William McCleary; and Elinore, at home.
In religion Mr. and Mrs. Spridgeon are sin- cere Methodists, and in politics Mr. Spridgeon is an unswerving republican. He has served for more than twenty years as trustee of his township, and during this long term of service has made many friends, both inside and out- side his party, having been greatly instru- mental in promoting the efficiency of the pikes of Ridge township. He was at one time a candidate for county commissioner, but, owing to his advanced ideas regarding the necessity of good roads, met with defeat. During the World's Fair Mr. and Mrs. Spridgeon paid a visit to that famous exposition, and from it not only learned numerous valuable lessons, but derived much pleasure and entertainment. Mr. Spridgeon's farm is a model in cultivation and adornment, giving evidence on every side of the skill and good taste of the owner. In their social relations the family stand very high, and very few people in their township are more highly respected.
AVID STEWART, a prudent and sagacious fariner of Ridge township, was born in Van Wert county, Ohio, February 25, 1849. His father, Ebgon Stewart, was a native of Carroll county, born March 6, 1818, and there married Eliza- beth Capper, who was born in the same county in 1824, the union resulting in the birth of sixteen children, viz: Mary, who died at the age of forty-four years, the wife of H. H. Hudspeth; Edward, married to Adelaide Zim- merman and residing in Wisconsin; Martha, wife of John F. Leathers, of York township, Van Wert county, Ohio; Ellen, married to J. S. Baxter, also of York township; Jane, de- ceased wife of M. H. Mullen; David, subject of this sketch; Mahlon, who wedded Nettie Baxter, but who is now deceased; Amanda, deceased wife of William Knittle; John, who died in infancy; Charley, the husband of Belle Hill; Alonzo, who died in infancy; Milton, who married Ida Crates and now resides in Gas City, Ind. ; Emma, wife of P. M. Ireland, of Lima, Ohio; Newton, of Putnam county, Ohio, and married to Mattie Hill: also there were born to this union twin daughters, who died unnamed. In the fall of 1841 Mr. Stewart came to Van Wert county and located on land in Harrison township that had been entered by his wife's father, Mr. Capper, and there Mrs. Stewart died in 1868; for his second wife Mr. Stewart married Harriet Boyer, and in 1870 removed to Ridge township and pur- chased a farm of 300 acres, on which he re- sided until his death, which occurred January 28, 1887. In religion Mr. Stewart was a Methodist, and in politics was a republican.
David Stewart, the subject of this sketch, was reared on his father's farin, also received the full benefit of the local schools, and for a time attended the Van Wert high-school, be- coming well qualified as a teacher, and for six terms followed. that vocation. In Iszi he
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
wedded Miss Malissa Gilliland, the only living child of Hugh Gilliland, of whoin an extended notice is given elsewhere in this volume. To the marriage of David and Malissa Stewart have been born four children, viz: Nannie, wife of A. B. Osborn, a book-keeper of Van Wert; Hugh G., Oscar D. and Clyde M. In 1882 Mr. Stewart purchased his present home of eighty acres in Ridge township, on which he has made many modern improvements and placed under a fine state of cultivation. Mr. Stewart is a member of lodge No. 218, F. & A. M., of Van Wert, and in politics is a re- publican. He is held in great esteem by his neighbors in Ridge township and by his friends in Van Wert, and is regarded as an enterpris- ing fariner and useful citizen, who will in the near future stand forth as a leader among the residents of the county.
J OHN M. STEMEN, deceased, was an old pioneer of Washington township, Van Wert county, and was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, August 13, 1825, a son of Christian and Margaret (Moyer) Ste- men, of Pennsylvania-Dutch descent. At the age of about nine years he was taken to Allen county by his father, and was there educated in the district schools, as well as instructed in the mysteries of farming. At about thirty years of age, November 15, 1855, he married, in Allen county, Miss Lydia E. Myers, who was born in Fairfield county, September 14, IS39, a daughter of Levi and Rachael (Spitler) Myers. the former of whom was a son of Daniel Myers, who was also of Pennsylvania- Dutch stock, a substantial farmer of Fairfield county, Ohio. and the father of fifteen chil- dren, of whom fourteen lived to adult age and one to adolesence, and were named as follows: Nancy, Fanny, Inda, Mary, Rebecca, Lee,
Caroline, Elizabeth (died at fourteen), Reuben, Etta, Samuel, Levi, Daniel, Noah and Joseph. The father of this family died in Fairfield county at an advanced age, a member of the German church.
Levi Myers, the father of Mrs. Lydia E. Stemen, married in Fairfield county, and had born to his union with Rachael Spitler seven children, viz: Aaron, Catherine, Lydia E., Alvina, Louis H., Noah and David Y., all born in Fairfield county, where the father owned a fertile farm of eighty acres. In 1852 he moved to Allen county, Ohio, and settled on a farm of eighty acres in Sugar Creek town- ship, which had been partly cleared, and which he afterward made into a good farm and culti- vated until his death, at the comparatively early age of forty-one years, a member of the German Reform church. Of his sons, Aaron served during the Civil war, about one year, in an Ohio regiment: Louis served three years in the Ninety-ninth Ohio infantry, and Noah, when a lad of eighteen, served about six months.
John M. Stemmen, after marriage, settled, September 11, 1856, on the farm now occu- pied by his widow. The tract comprised ninety-five acres of dense woodland, on which he built a log cabin, which is still standing. But he was an industrious, hard-working man, and changed this primitively rude condition of things to one of comfort and beauty. To him- self and wife were born eight children, viz: David B., Mary A., Martha A. (who died at the age of twenty-one years), William E., Louis H. (who died when twenty-five years old). Benjamin F., and two that died in in- fancy. The death of Mr. Stemmen took place at the age of fifty years, on his farm, October 9, 1875, in the faith of the Lutheran church, and in politics a democrat. He was a kind and affectionate husband and father, a good farmer and obliging neighbor, and a patriotic and useful citizen, whose death was deeply de-
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
plored by his sorrowing family and a large cir- cle of friends.
After the death of her husband Mrs. Ste- men managed the farm with care and prudence and reared her children to become respected members of society, giving them all good edu- cations and thoroughly preparing them for the dities of life. Mary A., now twenty-one years old, is an accomplished school-teacher; David B. is united in marriage with Mary E. Bressler, lives on the home farm, and is the father of six children; Mary A. is married to James Wallace, of Ridge township, Van Wert county, and is the mother of two children; William E. married Leah Stemen, is a farmer of Ridge township and is the father of one child. Mrs. Stemen is a devout member of the Methodist church, and enjoys the esteem of a large circle of friends, who truly honor her for her many motherly, neighborly and christian virtues.
ILLIAM G. STREIT, a native of Plymouth, Ohio, was born Ayril IS, 1858. He is a son of John G. and Catherine C. (Seitters) Streit, the former of whom was born in Baden Baden, Germany, in 1829, and emigrated to the United States with his parents when he was twelve years of age. They located in Sandusky city, Erie county, Ohio, where the father established a grocery, and where the son, John G., after receiving his education, assisted for a time in his father's store.
From Sandusky city, John G. Streit re- moved to Plymouth, where he also established a grocery and operated it until within three years of his death, which occurred October 12, 1891. His wife, Catherine, who was a daughter of Jacob and Martha (Allbright) Seit- ters, had died in December, 1881. To them were born four children, viz: William G., the
subject of this sketch; Josephine, born in Jan- uary, 1860, and married to Charles McClinchey. and now residing in Plymouth, Ohio; Albert G., who was born in 1866, and died when ten years of age at Plymouth, and Harriet Ada, who was born in 1870, is married to Fred. E. Schaeffer. and now resides at Marion. Marion county, Ohio.
William G. Streit received the rudiments of his education in the public schools of Ply- mouth, and afterward took a thorough course in a commercial college at Sandusky city, Ohio. After clerking with his father and two years with a grocery firm in Monroe, Mich., he re- moved to Van Wert, Ohio, in 1882, and there embarked in the grocery business for himself. This he followed three years, and then sold out and went on the road as a commercial traveler for the Moore Bros., wholesale grocers of Lima, Ohio. Remaining with these gentle- men four years he resigned to accept a similar position with Berdan & Co., the largest whole- sale grocery firm in the state, and located in Toledo, Ohio. With this firm he is still engaged.
Mr. Streit was married November 22, 1883. to Miss Olive McGavren, of Van Wert. Ohio, and daughter of Dr. Hugh.C. McGavren, a full biographical sketch of whom may be found elsewhere in this volume.
ON. CHARLES M. SUTPHEN, a prominent citizen and attorney-at- law of Van Wert, was born in Fair- field county, Ohio, March 6, 1850. and is a son of Richard D. and Sarah (Zirkle) Sutphen.
Richard D. Sutphen was born in Somerset county, N. J., August 30, 1807, and lived with his parents in that state until 1832, when they removed to Fairfield county, Ohio, where Richard D. engaged in farming until 1865.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Then, removing to Toledo, he there lived six years, then removed to Carey, Wyandot coun- ty. He was married in the state of Virginia, August 15, 1833, to Sarah Zirkle, who was born in Virginia in 1809. To this marriage there were born the following children: Judge S. T., of Defiance. Ohio; James Z., of Carey, Ohio, a clothing merchant; Catherine, residing in Carey, widow of Henry Houk; Mary, de- ceased wife of Noah Blauser; D. C., a grocery merchant of Columbus, Ohio; Edward G., a clothier of Carey, and Charles M., the subject of this sketch. Richard D. Sutphen is a pros- perous man. Religiously he and his wife are Presbyterians, and politically he is a democrat. He has served as justice of the peace for twenty-one years in Fairfield county. He has also served as lientenant-colonel and as colonel in the Ohio state militia, two years in each po- sition, and assistant sergeant-at-arms of the Ohio house of representatives, besides having held minor political offices. He has always been held in high esteem by his fellow-citizens, and has lived a life of usefulness and patriotism.
Charles M. Sutphen was reared with his parents until 1870, when he went to Toledo, Ohio, to attend the public schools of that place. Accepting, after his school days were over, a position as traveling salesman for Hol- lister & Co., manufacturers of baking powder, he represented that firm on the road for one year, afterward having charge of a branch house at Saint Louis one year. In 1872 he began reading law with Judge I. D. Clark, of Van Wert, and was admitted to the bar in 1873. Not long afterward he began practicing with C. P. Edson, remaining with him two years, and when Mr. Edson was appointed probate judge, Mr. Sutphen became his deputy and served in this capacity until the expiration of Mr. Edson's term of office. Forming a partnership with his brother, Judge Sutphen, of Defiance, Ohio, he remained there in the
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