USA > Ohio > Allen County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 60
USA > Ohio > Van Wert County > A portrait and biographical record of Allen and Van Wert counties, Ohio, v. 2 > Part 60
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Robert B. Rhodes was educated in Gran- ville, Licking county, Ohio, and there learned the trade of gunsmith. In that county, also, he was married to Miss Catherine Calvert, Oc- tober 9, 1859. She is a daughter of Elisha and Sarah (Wichheiser) Calvert, and to their marriage there were born three children: John F., who died in 1882; Martha A. and Jennie L., both at home. The mother of these chil- dren was born in Savannah, Athens county, Ohio, November 18, 1840, her father having been one of the early settlers of Delaware county, Ohio.
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After his marriage the subject of this sketch
settled in Delaware county, where he followed his trade, in which he was very proficient and skillful. In 1860 he removed to Indiana, bought a farin and lived upon it five years, when he sold out and bought a farm in Mercer county, Ohio, where he lived until 1878. Dur- ing all of this time he carried on his trade as well as his farming.' In 1878 he removed to Willshire, where he has lived ever since, and where he worked at his trade until within a few years, and now is living retired from all active labor. In politics he is a stanch repub- lican, with strong predilections toward prohi- bition. For twelve years Mr. Rhodes has served as mayor of Willshire, and at the pres- ent time holds that office. He is a member of the Christian or Disciples' church and has al- ways been prominent in religious matters. He is one of the most public-spirited men in the county, and has done much toward building up the town of Willshire; in fact, he is nearly always the first to move in this direction. He was a most skillful workman in his trade, and through it made a good living for many years.
His younger daughter is a most gifted artist, is a fine musician and an excellent teacher. The elder daughter is the housekeeper, and makes a most successful one, home always be- ing pleasant where she is. His son, who was a very promising young man, died shortly be- fore he was to have graduated, to the great regret of his family and friends. He was the last male descendant of his line, and with his death the last hope of preserving the name to posterity became extinct.
ARMON FREDERICK RUMP, the popular and enterprising contractor and builder of Van Wert, Ohio, is a native of Germany, was born in Whithling, March 4, 1849, and at the early age
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
f seven years was brought to America and landed in New York. From that metropolis he was taken to Saint Louis, Mo., and later to Fort Wayne, Ind., where he made his home for eight years, learning the carpenter's trade while a resident of that city. In 1875. on the 18th day of November, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Lucette Bell Newcomer, a native of Richland county, Ohio, and in 1876 settled in the city of Van Wert, where he has since been most successfully employed in his present business, in all its various branches. His marriage has been blessed by the birth of two children-Harry, in 1877, and Romane, III 1894. The elder is now a promising young man and is pursuing a course of study in phar- macy at the university at Ann Arbor, Mich.
: David Newcomer, the father of Mrs. Lu- cette Rump, was born in Mansfield, Ohio, in 1827, was reared a farmer, and married Eliza- beth Ruth, a native of Richland county, Ohio. In 1857 Mr. Newcomer settled in Van Wert city and at first embarked in the dry-goods business, and later in the grocery trade-in both lines being very successful. In politics he was a warm republican, and after withdrawing from active business was elected to the office of in- firmary director, and also to that of township trustee for three years. He is the father of four children, named as follows: Hermie Albert, Lucette Bell, Emma May and Carey Bert, of whom the youngest alone is single and is now In China, attached to the United States man- f-war Detroit. In religion Mr. Newcomer Is a meniber of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. Rump affiliate with the American Lutheran church, in which both are earnest workers, and to the support of which they are free contributors of their means. In his busi- ness Mr. Rump has been quite prosperous and has established a most excellent reputation both as to superiority and his fair and square method of dealing.
HE TAYLOR FAMILY .- Conspicu- ous among the well-known and suc- cessful men of Union township, Van Wert county, Ohio, was the late Henry Taylor, the leading facts of whose family history are herewith given. His father, Fred- erick Taylor, was born in 1780, in England, received his education there, and when a young man came to the United States, settling in Pennsylvania, where he married and reared a family of five children. His vocation was that of a wood-worker, in addition to which he gave some attention to agriculture, after becoming a resident of this country. He. served seven years in the American army and bore a dis- tinguished part in the war of 1812. He spent the later years of his life in Van Wert county, Ohio, at the home of his son, Henry Taylor, and died in 1860, his wife following him to the grave a few years later. The following are the names of his children: Margaret, wife of William Golliver; Mary, wife of John Stabaugh; Susan, who married John Hipshire, and Henry.
Henry Taylor was born near Harrisburg, Pa., in 1815, was reared a farmer and adopted that as his calling for life. About 1835 he made a trip from eastern Ohio to Van Wert county on horse-back and entered 120 acres of government land in Hoaglin township, after which he returned to his home in the county of Carroll. In 1836 he again came to Van Wert county, and the following year was united in marriage to Naomi Keever, daughter of Jacob and Annie (Hoaglin) Keever. Mrs. Taylor was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, October, 1818, her father having been an early pioneer of that part of the state. When quite young she was brought by her parents to Van Wert county, making the greater part of the journey on horse-back, and here she grew to womanhood on the family farm in Tully township. (See sketch of Aaron Keever. )
After his marriage Mr. Taylor built a rude
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
log cabin for the reception of his young wife, and proceeded to clear a small patch of ground to which the term, field, could not, appropri- ately, be applied. The next year his small crop failed, in consequence of which he was compelled to abandon his little home for awhile and rent a larger farm, in Allen county, where he lived for two years. He then returned to his former place, went to work with a will, and in due time succeeded in removing the greater part of the forest from his land, and otherwise improving the same, until he had a very good farm in cultivation. In 1855 Mr. Taylor pur- chased the present home of the family in Union township, which, under his skillful manage- ment and industry, became one of the best places in the northern part of the county.
Mr. Taylor was an industrious, enterprising man, and useful, public-spirited citizen; he was noted for his liberal charities and kindness to the poor and unfortunate, and had an enviable standing among the people of his township. In politics he was a stanch democrat, and was frequently honored by his party with elections to local offices; he belonged to that hardy class of early settlers to whom the country owes so much for its development, and whose work tells the story of lives fraught with many hardships and dangers. His death occurred May 14, 1893. Henry and Annie Taylor were the parents of eleven children, only four of whom are living at this time, the others having died in infancy; the names of the surviving are James, a farmer of Union township; Aaron, whose sketch is given in this connection; Anna, wife of Jacob Fronefield, and Sarah, who be- came the wife of Joseph Goodland.
Aaron Taylor, son of the aforesaid Henry Taylor, is a native of Van Wert county, Ohio, in the common schools of which he received his education and upon his father's farin ex- perienced the first practical duties of life. After remaining under the parental roof about
the usual time, he learned the stone-mason's trade, and in 1876 married Emma White, daughter of Obadiah and Hannah (Diprey) White; to this union have been born nine chil- dren, viz: James A., Henry F., Roy C., Nora. Lola, Gertrude, Aaron B., Ina and Vera, the last two not living. Mrs. Taylor was born in Pennsylvania in the year of 1858. Left an orphan when but a child, she made her home with her grandfather, Edward Diprey, until her marriage. In 1870, Mr. Taylor enlisted in the regular army, company H, Eleventh United States infantry, and was at once sent to Fort Concho, Tex., where he did scout duty on the frontier, and guarded stage-routes and government property until the expiration of his term of service, in 1875. He ranked as ser- geant, and had charge of a wagon and provis- ion train and faithfully performed his duties, as a certificate signed by the officers of his regiment shows. On leaving the army, Mr. Taylor returned to his farm in Union town- ship, the old home place upon which he has since resided. He has made a success of his chosen calling, is practical and progressive. and has proven himself worthy of the conti. dence reposed in him by his fellow-citizens. He belongs to lodge No. 251, I. O. O. F., m Van Wert, and espouses the cause of the democrat party.
James Taylor, son of Henry Taylor, is a native of Van Wert county, Ohio, where he- birth occurred on the 11th day of October. 1839. Like the majority of boys in north- western Ohio, his youthful years were pass ) in the routine of farm labor, and his first work for himself was as sawyer in a mill, in why 4 he became very efficient, and worked as sth the greater part of the time until 1890. giv ": some attention in the meantime to agricult ::... pursuits in his native township. In February. 1864, he enlisted in company H, under Cafe Gleason, Fifteenth Ohio volunteers. Www.
-
Le Jossey sey
791-992
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
mustered into the service and sent to Knox- ville, Tenn., where his regiment joined the army of Gen. Sherman. He shared the vicissi- tudes and dangers of his command in the cam- paigns of Tennessee and Georgia, and took part in a number of bloody battles, among which may be noted Nashville, Franklin, Peach Tree Creek, and other engagements around Atlanta. Later, his regiment was sent to Texas, where he did guard duty until dis- charged at San Antonio, of that state, in Jan- uary, 1866. On leaving the army, Mr. Taylor returned to his home in Van Wert county, and the same year married Susan Harvey, daughter of Samuel and Susan (Drake) Harvey; Mrs. Taylor was born in the county of Van Wert about the year of- 1841. Mr. Taylor's second marriage was solemnized in 1868, with Mary Diprey, daughter of Edward and Mary Diprey, the result of which union is ten children: Ida, wife of Edward Hullinger; A. E .; Minnie, wife of Thomas Elder; Alice, wife of William Spitzenberger; Garret, Ada, Orvil, Cora, Vera, and an infant, deceased. The mother of these children was born in Berks county, Pa., in 1852, and died November 20, ISS7. In March, 1890, Mr. Taylor married his third wife, Mrs. Amanda Kelly, widow of the late John B. Kelly; she was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1855. In 1866, Mr. Taylor purchased his present home in Union township, since which time he has been one of the well known and highly respected citizens of north- ern Van Wert. He is a democrat in politics, has held various local offices, and fraternally belongs to Van Wert post, No. 100, G. A. R.
J OSEPH L. TOSSEY, the subject of this sketch, is descended, paternally. from an old New England family, his grandfather, Aaron Tossey, having been born in the town of Brintwood, Rockingham
county. N. H., August 10, 1792. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and on the 24th of March, 1814. in Essex county, N. Y., entered into the marriage relation with Elizabeth De- lano, who was born April 25, 1787, in Ver- mont. Aaron and Elizabeth Tossey had the following children: Lorenzo, William, Solon, Stephen D., Philemon (father of Joseph L., our subject), and Elizabeth (wife of John Richards), all deceased but the last two. Aaron Tossey moved to Union county, Ohio, about 1820, and there took up a grant of gov- ernment land, which he cleared, and upon which he lived till his death, November 7, 1877. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, a great reader and traveler, and he profited much by his experience; his wife died June 28, 1876.
Philemon Tossey, youngest son of the above, and father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Union county, Ohio, January 22, 1826, and there grew to manhood, attending, in the meantime, the indifferent country schools. At. the age of twenty he married Judith Graham, daughter of William and Betsey (Bell, Gra- ham, after which he began farming in his na- tive county. In 1851 he disposed of his in- terests in the county of Union and emigrated to Cumberland county, Ill., where he pur- chased land and engaged in agriculture. For some time he alternated between his Illinois home and the old place in Union county, living first at one and then at the other, until 1865, when he disposed of his real estate in the west and returned to the scenes of his youth, where he still lives. He is a large farmer and stock raiser, a successful business man, and now has a place consisting of 300 acres, including the homestead, nearly all of which land is in a high state of cultivation. He is a man of local prominence, a democrat in politics, and for a number of years has been a member of the Christian church, to the support of which he
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
contributes liberally of his means. The fol- lowing are the names of the children born to Philemon and Judith Tossey: Joseph L. ; Ziba; William; Betsey died in childhood; James, deceased; Eunice, wife of M. Haggard; Mar- tha, wife of James Edwards; and Lemuel A. The mother of these children was born in Union county, Ohio, September 13, 1827; her father, William Graham, was born October 22, 1800, in Scotland, came to America when qnite young, and was one of the earliest pio- neers of Union county, Ohio, where his death occurred October 28, 1877; his wife, Betsey (Bell) Graham, was born in Union county, Ohio, November 22, 1803, and departed this life on the 31st day of October, 1848.
Joseph L. Tossey was born in Union county, Ohio, September 21, 1847, and spent his youthful years in the place of his nativity and in Illinois, his father emigrating to the latter state in the year mentioned in a preced- ing paragraph. His advantages for obtaining an education were limited to the district school in the neighborhood of his father's place in Cumberland county, Ill., remaining there until the spring of 1865, when he returned to his native county with his parents and here he remained with his father, assisting with the work of the farm, until his removal, in 1871, to Union township, Van Wert county. For some time after settling in Union township Mr. Tossey farmed rented land, and in 1876 purchased a small place, to which he has made additions from time to time until he now owns 155 acres, nearly all of which is well improved and in a successful state of cultivation.
On the 5th day of October, 1872, Mr. Tossey and Fannie Samsel, daughter of Peter and Matilda (Baker) Samsel, were made man and wife, and their union has been blessed with three children: Ira P., born December 25. 1876; Clinton, October 13. 1878, and an infant that died unnamed. Mrs. Tossey was
born in Richland county, Ohio, March 10, 1854 but has been a resident of the county of Van Wert ever since her early childhood; she is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. and moves in the best social circles of the conimunity. Mr. Tossy is one of the success- ful self-made men of Van Wert county, a practical farmer and most reliable citizen. He takes an active interest in the affairs of the township and commands the respect of all who him. He takes a deep interest in matters edu- cational and is educating both of his sons in the best manner possible. Mr. Tossey is active in politics and stanchly espouses the cause of the democratic party.
RS. MARY M. THATCHER, widow of Stephen Thatcher, was born in Allen county, Ohio, July 27, 1838. being the daughter of Moses and Mary S. (Watts) McClure. Her father was born in Kentucky, and died September 27. 1884, at the age of eighty-four years, eleven months and seventeen days. Her mother was a native of Urbana, Ohio, and her death oc- curred March 18, 1888, at which time she had attained the age of seventy-four years, eight months and twenty-two days. The father was identified with agricultural pursuits throughout his entire life, and was among the early settlers in Allen county. Mr. and Mrs. McClure be- came the parents of ten children: John, a member of company F. Forty-sixth Ohio vol- unteer infantry, rose to the rank of lieutenant during his term of service, having been a resi- dent of Paulding county; Samuel, deceased. served throughout the entire Rebellion; Watt is deceased; William is a farmer in the state of Iowa; Sarah died in infancy; Margaret is the wife of Val Huffman, of Putnam county. concerning whom individual mention is made on another page; Mary M. is the immediate
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
subject of this review; James is deceased; Moses is a resident of Lima, and served throughout the war; and Nathaniel also served throughout the entire war of the Rebellion as a member of the Fourth Ohio cavalry.
The father of Mrs. Thatcher continued his farming operations in Allen county until within five years prior to his death, and then removed to Paulding county, where he passed the resi- due of his life; after his death the health of the mother became seriously impaired, and she thereafter maintained her home with her daugh- ter, Mrs. Thatcher, until she was summoned into eternal rest. She was a member of the Christian church, and her husband was a be- liever in the doctrines of Christianity, though not identified with any religious organization, but yet a close student of the Bible. In poli- tics he was a stanch supporter of the demo- cratic party.
The immediate subject of this review was reared and educated in Allen county, and there, on the 19th of May, 1853, was consummated her marriage to Daniel Wollet, and they be- came the parents of six children, viz : Joseph C., of Lima, Ohio; Mary S., born April 14, 1858, deceased, her death having occurred December 21. 1866; Lydia M., born January 9, 1860, is the wife of John Holt, of Putnam county; Sarah Elizabeth, born August 24, 1861, became the wife of William Wallace, and her death occurred December 5, 1889; and Charles E., born November 6, 1865, died February 7, 1870. Our subject's marriage to Stephen Thatcher was celebrated on the 5th of July, 1871. Mr. Thatcher was born in Putnam county, Ohio, in 1847, being the son of Marshall and Jane (Kerry) Thatcher. His death occurred January 18, 1884, at which time he had attained the age of thirty-seven years. His adopted son, Charles Edward, died one hour later. Mr. Thatcher saw active service in the late war of the Rebellion, hav-
ing enlisted, on the 15th of February, 1864. as a member of company A, Fifty-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry; he participated in fifteen different battles, and at Atlanta received a severe wound. He was a prisoner at Ander- sonville for two months, and he was honorably discharged from service July 4, 1865. By vo- cation he was a farmer, was a member of the Friends' church, and in politics was a demo- crat. Mrs. Thatcher also is a member of the Society of Friends, and is an earnest and de- voted christian woman.
After her marriage our subject maintained her residence in Lafayette, Allen county, for two years, and then removed to Van Wert county, where she remained until December, 1882, when she took up her abode in the city, where she holds the respect and esteem of all who know her.
HEODORE THATCHER, a well known citizen of Jackson township, Van Wert county, and an ex-soldier, was born in Kalida, Putnam county, August 17, 1843, and comes from an old Ohio family of English descent. His father, James Thatcher, was a single man when he came from Sidney, Shelby county, Ohio, settled at Kalida, and married Abigail Cary, to which union were born eleven children, viz: Hester A., John, Washington, Lydia A., Stephen, Martin, Theodore, Louisa. James, Alonzo and Abraham. Mr. Thatcher moved to Delphos, Ohio, before the end came, lived to be an aged man, and died at the residence of our subject in his seventy-eighth year, a member of the Methodist church and in politics a demo- crat. One of his sons, James, served in comll- pany I, Ninety-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry. was captured at the battle of Murfreesboro, and died in prison at Danville, Va.
Theodore Thatcher was between nineteen
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
and twenty years of age when he enlisted, August 21, 1862, in company I, One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, to serve three years or during the war, but, on account of the termination of hostilities, re- ceived an honorable discharge at Columbus, Ohio, June 22, 1865. He took an active part in the following battles: Kingstone, Tenn., December 4, 1863; Mossy Creek, December 29, 1863; Morristown, March 10, 1864; Buz- zard's Roost, Ga., May 9, 1864; Dallas, May 29, 1864; Lost Mountain, June 15, 1864; Pine Mountain, June 19, 1864; Kenesaw Moun- tain, July 1; 1864; Chattahoochee Heights, July 9, 1864; Decatur, July 19, 1864; Resaca; Atlanta, July 29 to August 1, 1864; Lovejoy Station, September 4. 1864; Rome, October 13, 1864; Columbia, Tenn., November 27-28, 1864; Springfield, November 29, 1864; Frank- lin, November 30, 1864, and Nashville, De- cember 15, 1864-making a splendid record for one so young as a soldier. His experience in the famous Atlanta campaign extended through a period of three months and twenty- eight days, all the time under fire, and no comment can add to the glory of so gallant and glorious a service.
While at home on a furlough, Mr. Thatcher was married, December 28, 1862, to Miss Margaret Hughes, who was born February 28, 1846, in Wales. Mr. and Mrs. Thatcher have reared two adopted children-James Rogers and Lucinda Thatcher, the latter a daughter of his brother, Washington. Mr. Thatcher, at the close of his military service, returned to Ohio and made his home in Van Wert county, but did not settle on his present farm in Jack- son township until 1874, and this he has cleared up from the woods and has made of it a neat, tidy and comfortable home. He and wife are consistent members of the United Brethren church, and in politics Mr. Thatcher votes with the republican party. Socially he
is much thought of by his neighbors, and well deserves the esteem in which he is held as a citizen and neighbor.
J ONATHAN TUMBLESON, a prosper- ous farmer of Pleasant township. Van Wert county, was born in Wayne coun- ty, Ohio, March 26, 1828, and is a son of John and Susannah (Bowers) Tumbleton. The birth of John Tumbleson occurred in Pennsylvania about 1800, and when but a lad he came with his parents to Ohio, the family being among the early settlers of the county of Wayne. Later, he went to Tuscarawas coun- ty, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, remaining there until 1838, when he changed his residenee to the county of Allen, thence, two years later, moved to Van Wert county, locating in Pleasant township, where he had previously purchased a tract of unimproved land. He at once erected a small log house, began the task of removing the forest, and in due season developed a good farm, upon which he lived until the latter part of the 'sixties, when he disposed of his place and emigrated to Polk county, Iowa.
John Tumbleson was married, about 1822, to Susannah Bowers, and the following are the names of their children: James, Joseph, Jona- than, Daniel, Eliza J. (wife of Samuel Miller), Franklin, Florella (wife of Eli Lane), and George. Mrs. Susannah Tumbleson was born in Bedford county, Pa., about the beginning of the present century, was reared in the Lutheran faith, but at the time of her death was a mem- ber of the German Baptist, or Dunkard church. Mr. Tumbleson subscribed to the Methodist creed, was originally a whig in politics, and later became a republican. He was called to fill, at different times, positions of honor and trust, and was one of the useful citizens of the community. He was a man of much natural
JONATHAN TUMBLESON
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MRS. JONATHAN TUMBLESON.
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OF VAN WERT COUNTY.
genius, readily adapted himself to any circum- stance, and wherever he lived enjoyed, in full measure, the esteem and confidence of all of his fellow-citizens.
Jonathan Tumbleson, the immediate sub- ject of this biography, received an English ed- ucation in the little log school-houses, com- mon many years ago, in Tuscarawas and Van Wert counties, and on attaining his majority, went to LaGrange county, Ind., where he learned the plasterer's trade. In 1850 he re- turned to Van Wert county and entered into a partnership with Lewis Heigh, with whom he worked for a period of ten years, at the end of which time, in 1860, he purchased his pleas- ant farm in Pleasant township, where he has since resided. As is well known, the country at that time was but sparsely settled, and Mr. Tumbleson did his full share toward its devel- opment, clearing the woods from his land, un- der-draining the same, and otherwise improv- ing it, until he now has a well-cultivated farm, supplied with good buildings and all the neces- sary equipments of modern agriculture. As a farmer he is progressive, and in addition to tilling the soil pays considerable attention to stock-raising, in which his success has been inost encouraging. He is active in promoting the best interests of his community, supports the republican party, and has been honored by his fellow-citizens by an election to the office of trustee, the duties of which position he has discharged very satisfactorily for several years.
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