USA > Ohio > Erie County > A standard history of Erie County, Ohio: an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, civic, and social development. A chronicle of the people, with family lineage and memoirs > Part 10
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Dr. Graefe is a member of the Erie County Medical Society : of the Ohio State Medieal Society : of the American Medical Association: of the North West Ohio Medical Association, which he served as president in 1896 : and is Fellow of the American College of Surgery.
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In 1891 Dr. Graefe married Catherine Dorn, a daughter of John Philip and Margaret (Kern) Dorn. Three children have blessed the union of Doctor and Mrs. Graefe, namely: Carl F., Catherine. and Elza. Mrs. Graefe is a very accomplished vocalist and graduated in Cincinnati from the Conservatory of Music and studied for two years in Berlin. She takes part in most of the musical events in her home city. She is a member of the library board and a member of the advisory board of the Good Samaritan Hospital.
JAMES D. PARKER. On January 18, 1915, James D. Parker passed from the scenes of his labors in Erie County, but the memory of his pure life, his many benefactions and his kindly deeds still remains. A man of sterling character, he was honorable in business, stanch in his friendships, sincere in his religious professions and true to every trust, and probably no man has ever lived in Perkins Township whose death caused more general regret and a sense of greater community loss.
James D. Parker was born near Monroeville, Huron County, Ohio, February 17, 1850, and was nearly sixty-five years of age at his death. ITis parents were Joshna and Jane ( Francis) Parker, both of whom were born in England and were of substantial English stock. They came to America and settled in Huron County, and for many years lived at Monroeville.
James D. Parker grew up near that village, and his primary educa- tion came from the public schools, including the Monroeville High School. When in his eighteenth year he went to Sandusky and for a time was a student in the old Buckeye Business College in that city. Here there came in evidence a quality which was manifested frequently in his maturer years. That was an ability not only to comprehend but to make others understand the knowledge which was so clear in his own mental channels. He became an instructor in the business college, and subse- quently bought the school and conducted it as its proprietor until 1875. when on account of ill health he was obliged to sell out.
Following this business experience Mr. Parker moved to a farm in Perkins Township, locating on what is known as Yankee Street, and was profitably engaged in general agriculture there for six years. He then turned his attention to merchandising, and bought the general store at the little Village of Bogart, and was the successful proprietor and the genial merchant at that point for more than twenty years, until 1902. It was only a logical expression of his character that in his work as a merchant he should be known for a strict integrity and high standard of commercial methods, which governed all his transactions. Ile had a large trade, and his customers were constant in their patronage. IF also served as postmaster of Bogart fourteen years, and in 1897 succeeded Thomas Wood as superintendent of the Sandusky, Milan and Norwalk Electric Railroad, and managed that interurban line during 1897, 1898 and 1899. He was one of the original promoters of this railway, which was a notable distinction as having been among the first electric inter urban lines in the United States.
In 1902 Mr. Parker retired from merchandising at Bogart and removed to the home where he had his residence thirteen years' until his death. During that time he served a number of years as justice of the peace in Perkins Township and was also a notary public. For three years preceding his death he was secretary of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company of Erie County.
llis part as a citizen was characterized by the utmost publie spirit. and throughout his life he labored unselfishly to improve conditions in his home township and county. In polities he was a republican, and was a member of the Erie County Humane Society and at one time president
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of the Erie County board of visitors. He was one of the prominent Masons of Erie County, having affiliations with Science Lodge No. 50, F. & A. M .; Sandusky City Chapter No. 72, R. A. M .; Sandusky City Council No. 26, R. & S. M .; Erie Commandery No. 23, Knights Templars ; and with the thirty-second degree of Scottish Rite. The Knights Templars had charge of his funeral services.
Aside from these varied interests Mr. Parker's enthusiasm was per- haps best manifested in his relations to the Perkins Grange. It is said that his activities in that body would constitute an important part of its entire history. He served for several years as master of the grange, and his genial manner and good humor brought pleasure to every gathering. He exemplified throughout his life a sterling Christianity. Personally he was noted for his dry humor, which always gave a certain spice of interest to his conversation, but probably his dominant trait was his tireless industry. He was for many years identified with the Methodist Church, which he served as treasurer, trustee and steward. Ile had united with the Methodist society in Sandusky soon after his marriage, and thenee transferred his membership to the Perkins church and sur- rendered his official places in that society only a short time before his death.
Mr. Parker was married November 3, 1869, to Miss Sarah S. Gurley, who survives him. Mrs. Parker was born at Avery in Erie County, Ohio, a daughter of William B. and Nancy J. (Stevenson ) Gurley, her father a native of Connectieut and her mother also of New England stock. Mrs. Parker's grandfather was Rey. William Gurley, one of the Methodist pioneers of Ohio. Throughout his career as a minister Rev. William Gurley displayed the enthusiasm which he had acquired by his early associations with the founder of Methodism, Rev. John Wesley. Rev. Mr. Gurley was ordained in Ireland by this noted divine and after coming to the new world located in Bloomingville, Ohio, in 1811. lle was one of the earliest circuit riders, and for many years carried on his arduous and self-sacrificing labors in behalf of humanity, and two of his sons followed his calling in ministry.
To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Parker were born five children: Eva J .. now deceased, who married Mr. James Jarrett, of Erie County : Laura F., who died in infancy ; Dr. Jay D. Parker, a successful and well known physician at Sandusky; Mrs. Jessie A., the wife of Lee S. Mer- riam, of Bogart, Ohio : and Leila M., who is a graduate of the Milan High School and lives at Bogart with her mother, Mr. Parker was also sur- vived by two half-brothers, Charles and Lewis Parker, of Shelby, Ohio. At the time of his death there were also seven grandchildren. Mrs. Par- ker and her daughter enjoy the comforts of a modest and desirable home at Bogart, and are esteemed members of social circles in Perkins Township.
JAMES D. PARKER, M. D. One of the leading homoeopathic physi- vians of Sandusky, James D. Parker, M. D., was born in Perkins Town- ship. Erie ('ounty, Ohio, a son of James D). Parker, Sr.
Joshua Parker, the Doctor's paternal grandfather, was born and reared near Boston, England. Immigrating to America when young, he came directly to Erie County, settling in the vicinity of Milan. Ohio was then but sparsely settled, and there being no railroads in the state Milan was a shipping point for a large stretch of country, people living a hundred miles distant taking their surplus products there to sell or exchange. Working for Thomas Butman, his first employer, a number of years. he saved his scant earnings, and later bought a tract of land Iving between Norwalk and Monroeville. On the farm which he cleared
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and improved, he spent the remainder of his days. Ilis wife, whose maiden name was Jane Francis, was also a native of England.
Born on the home farm in Huron County, February 17, 1850, James D. Parker, Sr., acquired his elementary education in the rural sehools of his native district, afterward continuing his studies at the Monroeville IIigli School. At the age of seventeen years he came to Sandusky to attend the Buckeye Business College, and after studying there a year became a teacher in the institution. Two years later he bought out the institution, which he conducted successfully for six years. Being foreed to give up teaching on account of failing health, he sold out, and moved to Perkins Township, where he carried on general farming until 1881. Disposing of his land in that year, he was engaged in mercantile pur- suits at Bogart until 1902, when he retired from active business, although he subsequently served as deputy county treasurer, and as deputy county auditor. He continued his residence in Bogart the remainder of his life, dying January 18, 1915. Ile was a member of Science Lodge No. 50. Free and Accepted Masons; of Sandusky City Chapter No. 72, Royal Areh Masons: of Sandusky City Council No. 26, Royal and Seleet Mas- ters ; of Erie Commandery No. 23, Knights Templars; and of the Toledo Consistory. He was a stanch republican in politics, and served as justice of the peace, and as postmaster at Bogart.
The maiden name of the wife of James D. Parker, Sr., was Sarah Gurley, who was born in Huron County, Ohio, a daughter of William D. Gurley. Her paternal grandfather, Rev. William D. Gurley, was born, reared and educated in County Wexford, Ireland, and there, after serving an apprenticeship at the silversmith's trade, was for a while engaged in the jewelry business. Converted, and ordained as a preacher by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, he, with other Protestants, was perseented and imprisoned. In 1801 he immigrated to the United States, and after spending a few weeks in New York City went to Nor- walk, Connecticut, where he was engaged in the jewelry business for ten years. In 1811, accompanied by his wife and five children, he made an overland journey to Ohio, coming by team to Erie County. From his brother-in-law, John Beatty, he bought land lying near the present site of Bloomingville, becoming a pioneer of that section of the state, and the first preacher to locate permanently in that vicinity. He preached in different places, assisted in organizing many churches, being ever an active, faithful worker in the Master's vineyard. Ile died at his farm house, near Spears Corners, his remains being laid to rest in the rural cemetery near Bogart. He married Susan Beatty, who was born in Ireland, and died on the home farm in 1848, the same year that he did, at the age of seventy years.
William D. Gurley, the Doctor's maternal grandfather, was born July 31, 1811, in Norwalk, Connecticut, and was but an infant when brought to Erie County, where he grew to manhood amid pioneer seenes. It is said that in 1832 he walked from Milan, Ohio, to Chicago, where he found a very small village, containing a fort, five stores, and six houses, all of which were made of logs. Returning to Ohio, he followed his trade of a wagonmaker in Perkins Township, and also engaged in general farming, remaining there until his death, in 1896, at the vener- able age of eighty-five years. The house which he and his family occu- pied was quite a pretentious structure for those days, having been built of stone in 1822. Ile married Naney Jane Stevenson, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1817, and died in Perkins Township in 1880. They reared six children, their daughter Sarah, the Doctor's mother, being now a resident of Bogart. To her and her husband four children were born, as follows: Eva; James D., the special subjeet of this sketch; Jessie ; and Lelia.
Vol. 11-5
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Completing the course of study in the district schools, James D. Parker was subsequently graduated from the Sandusky High School with the class of 1894. Going then to Cleveland, he attended lectures at the homoeopathic medical department of the Ohio State University, and was there gradnated in 1900 with the degree of M. D. He has since been successfully engaged in the practice of medicine at Sandusky, where his professional knowledge and skill have won for him an extensive and lucrative patronage.
The Doctor belongs to the leading medical organizations of the coun- try, including the Ohio Homoeopathic Medical Association ; the Amer- ican Institute; and the American Railway Surgeons' Association. Fraternally he is a member of Science Lodge No. 50, Free and. Accepted Masons; of Sandusky City Chapter No. 72, Royal Arch Masons; of Sandusky City Council No. 26, Royal and Select Masters; of Erie Com- mandery No. 23, Knights Templars ; and of the Toledo Consistory.
Dr. Parker married, in 1900, Frances Glen Day, who was born at Elmore, Ohio, a daughter of Amos and Edna Day, and into the pleasant home thus established five children have made their advent, namely : Ruth, Virginia, James, Watson, and Lester.
PHILLIP GRAEFE, M. D. Prominent among the pioneer physicians of Erie County was the late Philip Graefe. M. D., who was for many years actively and successfully engaged in the practice of medicine at San- dusky, where now, in 1915, two of his sons, Dr. William Graefe and Dr. Charles Graefe, are successful physicians, and where his other son, Henry Graefe, is president of the Citizens Bank. One of his grandsons, Henry Graefe, M. D., is likewise a physician, located at Sandusky.
A native of Germany, Dr. Philip Graefe was born, in 1825, at Weis- baden, where he grew to man's estate, and was liberally educated, as an earnest student delving deep into the sources of knowledge. As was natural to a man of his mental calibre, he chose a professional career, fitting himself for a physician. Taking an active part in the revolu- tionary movement of 1847 and 1848, he was forced to leave Germany. Choosing America as his future place of residence, Dr. Graefe came directly to Ohio, and for a time was engaged in the practice of medicine at Sandusky, where he first located in 1848. Being induced to go east, he spent a year or two in Orange, New Jersey, but did not like the place well enough to settle there permanently. Returning. therefore, to San- dusky, which was then but a small city, although an enterprising one, the Doctor resumed the practice of his profession, remaining here until his death. His skill and promptness in meeting and combating the various ills to which mankind is subject, and his devotion to his patients, gained him the good will of the people, and a place of note among the more popular and successful physicians of this section of the state.
Dr. Graefe married Dorothea Kranz. who was born in Weisbaden, Germany, a daughter of Balthazer and Elizabeth Kranz. She survived him. Four children were born of their union, three sons, William, Henry and Charles, who are mentioned above ; and one daughter. Elizabeth, who died at the age of thirty years. The Doctor never shirked the responsi- bilities of public office, but served acceptably as a member of the city council, and as a member of the Sandusky board of health. He was one of the organizers of the Third National Bank and its vice president for a number of years, later becoming one of the organizers of the Citizens National Bank, now the Citizens Bank, and in this institution he served as a director for a number of years.
DR. WILLIAM GRAEFE. Actively devoting himself to one of the most exacting of all the higher lines of occupation to which a man may bend
Philip Buenkle
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his energies, Dr. William Graefe has won a prominent position among the foremost physicians and surgeons of Sandusky, where he has a large and remunerative practice. Of honored German ancestry on both sides of the house, he was born January 18, 1851, in Orange, New Jersey, a son of Dr. Philip and Dorothea (Kranz) Graefe, of whom further account may be found on another page of this volume.
A small child when brought by his parents to Sandusky, William Graefe obtained his preliminary education in the public schools of this city, and under the wise tuition of his father began the study of medi- cine. Ile subsequently attended lectures at the Cleveland Medical Col- lege, from which he was graduated with the class of 1870. Desirons of further advancing his professional knowledge, Dr. Graefe then spent nearly three years in Europe, practicing in the leading hospitals of the more important cities of that country, gaining valuable experience and much skill in the use of medicine and surgery. Returning to Ohio, the Doctor located in Sandusky, where he has since made rapid strides in his professional career, and has gained to an eminent degree the confidence of the entire community.
Dr. Graefe is a man of good financial ability, and is an extensive owner of city property of value. He is also a stockholder in various corpora- tions, and is vice president of the Citizens Bank. lle takes an intelligent interest in public matters, and has served as a member of the Sandusky Board of Health, and for eleven years was a member of the Sandusky Board of Education.
Professionally the Doctor belongs to the Erie County Medical Society, to the Ohio State Medical Society, and to the American Medical Asso- ciation. Fraternally he is a member of Science Lodge No. 50, Free and Accepted Masons ; of Sandusky City Chapter No. 72, Royal Arch Masons ; of Sandusky City Couneil No. 26, Royal and Select Masters; of Erie Commandery No. 23, Knights Templar ; and is likewise a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
IION. PHILIP BUERKLE. A prominent and progressive citizen of San- dusky, Erie County, HIon. Philip Buerkle has ably and satisfactorily filled various municipal offices, for four years serving as mayor of the city. . 1 son of August Buerkle, he was born March 7, 1855, in Bergen County, New Jersey, on his father's farm. His grandparents on the paternal side spent their entire lives in Baden, Germany, as did most of their children, although two of them came to America, namely : August; and Caroline, who became the wife of Anton Giedemann, of Sandusky.
August Buerkle was born in 1828, in Orschweier, Baden, Germany, and there, soon after entering his "teens," he began an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade, and while thus employed became proficient in the art of making nails by hand, the only way known at that early day. During his early manhood he served in the German army, belonging to a company of heavy artillery. In 1854, accompanied by his wife, he eame to America, crossing the ocean in a sailing vessel and being sixty-two days on the water. Landing in New York, he at once proceeded to New Jersey, and there, in Bergen County, was for three years engaged in till- ing the soil. Migrating westward in 1857, he located in Sandusky, Ohio, where he first secured work in the blacksmith shops connected with the Mad River Railroad, later working for Ben Iceman. Early in 1865 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the termination of the war. Returning home, he became stationary engineer in the machine shop of Krotz & Kromer, and con- tinued with that firm and its successors the remainder of his active life. He died at his home in Sandusky in April, 1905, honored and respected by all who knew him.
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August Buerkle married Mrs. Barbara (Kek) Cordier, a widow with one son, Louis Cordier. She was born in the Village of Waldrenach, Wurtemburg, Germany, and died, in 1897, in Sandusky, Ohio. Of this marriage two children were born and reared, as follows: Wilhelmina, wife of Adolph Feglestahler; and Philip.
Acquiring his preliminary education in the public and private schools of Sandusky, Philip Buerkle entered the office of the Sandusky Herold, where he obtained a thorough knowledge of the art preservative. In 1872, having completed his apprenticeship, he began his career as a journeyman printer, working at his trade in various cities, including Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis. Returning to Sandusky in 1879, Mr. Buerkle was first employed in the office of the Tribune, later in that of the Register, and then in the office of the Demokrat, continuing at the
printer's trade until 1891. In that year Mr. Buerkle was elected mayor of Sandusky for a term of two years, and in 1893 had the honor of being re-elected to the same important position with a large majority of the votes cast at the polls. In 1895 he was appointed notary public by Presi- dent Mckinley. In 1897 Mr. Buerkle formed a partnership with Albert C. Lerman, with whom he has since been prosperously engaged in the insurance, real estate and loan business.
In 1882 Mr. Buerkle was united in marriage with Miss Sophia Giede- mann, a daughter of John and Theresa Giedemann, of whom further account may be found on another page of this biographical work. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Buerkle has been blessed by the birth of two chil- dren, namely : Wilhelmina, who married William B. Moon, and has two children, Virginia Moon and Richard Paul Moon; and Amelia.
Mr. Buerkle is now president of the Demokrat Publishing Company, which is in a flourishing condition. He has always been a steadfast ad- herent of the democratic party, supporting its principles by vote and voice. For four years he was an active member of the Sandusky board of education, and for four years served as a member of the city council, being president of that body during the last year of service.
CONRAD FREY. In the death of Conrad Frey on July 10, 1899, Perkins Township sustained the loss of an excellent and high-minded citizen, a man whose rugged integrity commanded confidence and esteem, and who well deserved all the success and popularity that came to him during his many years of residence in Erie County.
A resident of this county for half a century, Conrad Frey was born in Baden, Germany, January 4, 1836, a son of Conrad and Julia ( Wells) Frey. In 1848 the family left Baden and by one of the old-time and tedious sailing voyages arrived in America. They made settlement near Sandusky, in Perkins Township, and both the parents died in this county. Conrad Frey was about twelve years old when he came to this county, and his education, begun in the public schools of his native land, was continued in English schools here. He was self-supporting before he reached adult years, and by close attention to business and economy became head of a home and family and always bore a reputation for upright living and publie-spirited citizenship. During most of his active career he engaged in gardening and also conducted a retail butcher business. At various times his fellow citizens entrusted him with public responsibilities and for nine years he was a constable in Perkins Town- ship, and for three years, one term, was a director of the Erie County Infirmary. In politics he was a republican.
On November 7, 1860, Mr. Frey married Miss Johanna Plate, who was born in Prussia, Germany, February 9, 1842. Her parents, Carl and Marie (Cook) Plate, both natives of Prussia, brought their children to America in 1850, when Mrs. Frey was about eight years of age. They
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located in Erie County, lived for a time in Sandusky, where her father taught a German school, and finally made permanent settlement in Per- kins Township not far from the city. There her father died in August, 1874, while her mother had passed away in 1861. Mrs. Frey, who is still living at the old home on rural route No. 1 out of Sandusky, became the mother of eleven children, and the seven now living are: Louise M., wife of Walter Patterson, of Cleveland; Charles C., of Perkins Town- ship; Frederick C., of Sandusky; Emma, wife of Frederick Moss, of Leamington, Ontario; Mary, wife of James Werner of Perkins Town- ship; Conrad, whose home is in Cleveland; and Carrie S., widow of Edgar Brennan, late of Perkins Township. Mrs. Frey is an interesting lady, has a large circle of friends in her home township, and is a member of the German Evangelical Association in Sandusky. She and her daughter, Mrs. Brennan, occupy the old home.
WILLARD M. HARSH. In one of the most attractive suburban homes near the City of Sandusky, Mr. IFarsh is now living virtually retired, after a career of signal activity and influence in connection with rail- way affairs and other business operations of important order. Beginning his independent career as a telegraph operator, Mr. Harsh rose through his own ability and efforts to positions of great responsibility in the executive control and direction of railway operations, and his energy and initiative found other effective exemplifications in the domain of industrial activity, as later paragraphs in this article will indicate more specifically. He has been a man of much constructive and business abil- ity and after years of earnest and fruitful application he has relieved himself of the exacting responsibilities that so long rested upon him, and in his beautiful home, on South Columbus Avenue, just withont the city limits of Sandusky, he is enjoying to the full the rewards of former years of earnest endeavor. Ile is finding satisfaction and recreation in the developing of an excellent peach orchard on his rural estate of twelve aeres and is engaging also in the cultivation of other fruits, so that the attractions of his suburban residence will be greatly enhanced when his orchards attain to maturity. Mr. Harsh is one of the substantial and highly esteemed citizens of Erie County and is specially eligible for rep- resentation in this history.
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