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 101

Author: Peeke, Hewson L. (Hewson Lindsley), 1861-1942
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1018


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 101


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On the 23d of November, 1882, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Trinter to Miss Edna M. Hlageman, who was born and reared in Lorain County and whose father, Conrad Hageman, for many years a promi- nent farmer of Black River Township, that county, is now living retired in the City of Lorain. Mr. and Mrs. Trinter became the parents of eight children, namely : Philip C., Elmer C., Lydia E., Edna M., Wil- liam E., Catherine E., Anna M. and Nellie M. All of these children are living and doing honor to the family name. Elmer C. is his father's able manager of the homestead. Lydia E., who is now the wife of Lloyd Bacon, was a successful teacher in the public schools of Vermilion Township for several years prior to her marriage, and she and her hushand now reside in Brownhelm Township, Lorain County. Edna M. is a popular teacher in the public schools at Berlin Heights, Erie County ; and Catherine A. is employed as a skilled stenographer in the office of the Sandusky Foundry & Machine Co. of Sandusky, Ohio.


BURTON P. ROOT. In carrying on the diversified agricultural enter- prise of Milan Township one of the important factors is Burton P. Root, a young man of marked enterprise and business capacity, the interest of whose career is increased by the fact that he represents some of the older family stock in this section of Ohio. The farm he owns and occu- pies in Milan Township comprises 127 acres of excellent land, with high grade improvements in buildings and other facilities, and he is steadily prospering as a manager of the resources entrusted to his care. IIe grows all the staple crops, and raises excellent stock.


Born in Milan Township, March 23, 1879, Burton P. Root grew up and received his education in that locality and has spent practically all his life on the farm he now owns. His parents were John O. and Sarah (Fairchild) Root, also natives of Ohio.


John O. Root, his father, who is now living retired in Milan Village, having a nice home on Williams street, was born at Spears Corners in


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Milan Township, April 20, 1848, a son of Perry and Celia (Hardy ) Root. Perry Root and his wife were both natives of Connecticut, and came as children with their respective parents to Ohio, the Roots settling at or near Spears Corners while the Hardys located in Berlin Township. Both families were among the pioneers of Erie County. Perry Root likewise played a pioneer part in this section, improved farm lands from almost a wilderness condition, and constructed a large brick house which was one of the landmarks among the early homes of Milan Township, and in which he and his wife spent their last years. However, for several years after his marriage Perry Root lived in different localities, but finally bought the homestead near Spears Corners, where he died at the age of fifty-five and his wife at the age of sixty-five. They were not members of any church, but in politics Perry was a democrat and served as school director and supervisor of roads. He and his wife have three sons and three daughters, five of whom grew up and four were married. John O. Root and his sister, Elizabeth R., widow of R. M. Wilcox of Bowling Green, Wood County, Ohio, are the only ones now living.


John O. Root grew up on his father's farm at Spears Corners and was married in Townsend Township, of Huron County, to Sarah Fair- child. She was born in 1851 in Townsend and was reared and educated there, a daughter of Burton and Melissa (Squires) Fairchild, who were natives of New York State and early settlers in Townsend Township, of Huron County, where they married. Burton Fairchild was a cooper by trade, carried on a small farm in conjunction, and he spent his life in that county. He and his wife were active members of the church, and he was a lay preacher and a power in revival work. In politics he was a republican. Burton Fairchild was twice married and had children by both wives. Mrs. John O. Root was the only daughter of her mother, but she had a brother, William, who married and reared a family and is now deceased. After his marriage John O. Root located on the farm now occupied by his son Burton. He lived there and went ahead with its management and improvements and finally retired with a competence to the Village of Milan in 1912. In politics he is a democrat. He and his wife became the parents of three children. Elma is the wife of William Olemacher, a machinist and department manager, and their children are Burton, Zelta and Howard. Jay O. Root, the other son, is now a farmer in St. Clair County, Michigan, and is the father of two sons and one daughter, Clair, Delmar and Gladys.


Burton P. Root was married in Milan Township to Miss Charlotte M. Everett. She was born in Huron Township, of this County, June 20, 1878, grew up in that locality and received her education there and at Toledo. Prior to her marriage she taught school several years. Her parents were Elias and Emma (Ifind) Everett, both natives of Huron. They were married in that township, and Mr. Everett died in 1906 and his widow is now living, at the age of about sixty, in Norwalk, Ohio.


To Mr. and Mrs. Root were born four children: E. Everett, now ten years of age ; John B., aged eight ; Robert P., aged three ; and Ada L., one year old. Mr. and Mrs. Root are active in the social affairs of their community, and politically he votes with the democratic party.


JACOB EDWARD KISHIMAN. It is doubtful if Erie County has a better managed farm and a more attractive and comfortable rural homestead than that of J. Edward Kishman, whose place is in Vermilion Township along Market Road No. 13, not far from Lake Erie.


Mr. Kishman might be classed as a general farmer and stock raiser. Ile owns and conducts seventy-four acres of highly improved land, with all of it except a very few acres under cultivation. His residence is an especially attractive feature of the landscape. It is a ten-room


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house, with all the improvements found in a city home, including hot and cold water, furnace heat, and electric light. There are several large barns in an excellent state of repair, the largest being 32 by 72 feet. Ilis farm grows all the staple crops, including wheat, corn and oats, and his fields in an average season produce about a hundred bushels of corn to the acre, twenty bushels of wheat and forty bushels of oats.


This farm has been in his ownership sinee his father died eight years ago, and in that time he has constructed most of the buildings which now mark it out so prominently in this rural community. Mr. Kishman has lived on the same farm for twenty-one years. As a stoek man he takes pride in his animals, and keeps from ten to fifteen head of cattle besides horses and hogs.


In this township near the Village of Vermilion J. Edward Kishman was born August 1, 1866, and was reared and educated here. He is the son of Werner and Elizabeth (Lutz) Kishman. His father was born in Hesse, Germany, and was seventeen years of age when he came across the ocean to the United States. His first location was in Lorain County, where he reached mature years, and afterwards learned the blacksmith trade in Vermilion Village. He was employed for a number of years at his trade in the ship yards performing the iron work for the sailing vessels constructed by the Bradley firm of ship builders. Later he bought a farm west of Vermilion Village on the lake shore, and there he and his wife spent their declining years. Werner Kish- man and wife were members of the German Reformed Church, and in polities he was a democrat. The Kishman family is one of the older stock in Vermilion Township, and reference is made to its members on other pages.


J. Edward Kishman is the second child of the family. He was married in this township to Miss Martha Dickel. She was born in Vermilion Township December 3, 1873, a daughter of George Dickel, the Diekel family also having representation on other pages. Mr. and Mrs. Kishman are members of the Mittewanga German Reformed Church, in which he is serving as deaeon, and of which his parents were charter members. In politics he is a democrat.


COURT C. SMITH. One of the vigorous and independent young farm- ers in Vermilion Township is Court C. Smith, whose homestead which was also his birthplace, is located on the south side of the township. During his father's lifetime and since then Mr. Smith has applied him- self vigorously to the work and management of this excellent farm and the success with which he has pursued his chosen calling has been reflected in a generous estimate of his abilities and good citizenship.


Born on the farm where he now lives June 28, 1883, he was reared and educated in that community, and is a son of the late Charles and Anna (Nixon) Smith. His father was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, in 1840 and died in 1899 at the old home in Vermilion Township. His mother was born in New York State in 1859 and died at the Vermilion Township farm in 1892, when in the prime of life. These parents were married in Vermilion Township, and were quiet, industrious people who worked hard to improve their sixty aeres of land, and left it to their son as a very valuable property, During his lifetime the father put up a good set of farm buildings, including a substantial nine-room two-story house. He was a man who took an active interest in loeal affairs and was a demoerat. Charles Smith was a son of Hiram Smith, who came from the East to Ohio and married in this State Miss Hardy. They spent their last years in Florence Township of Erie County, At the time of his death Hiram Smith was eighty-three years of age. He had been affiliated with the republican party for a number of years.


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Mrs. Anna Smith, mother of Court C., was an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Iler father, Mr. Nixon, was born in New York State and enlisted at Lewiston for service in the Civil war. He was captured and thrown into a Southern prison, and died while there trom exposure and suffering, being then in the prime of his years. lle left a widow with two daughters, the elder being Anna Smith, and the younger being Jennie, now the wife of James Jones, living in Cleve- land. With Mrs. Jones lives her mother, who married for a second time John McDowell. Mrs. McDowell is now past eighty-six years of age, still vigorous in spite of her years, and a devout Methodist.


Court C. Smith is the older of two children, his brother Glenn having died at the age of ten months and Mr. Smith naturally succeeded to the ownership of the old homestead in Vermilion Township on the death of his parents. He grew up in that community, attained a substantial edu- cation in the local schools, and for the past fifteen years has been an active farmer.


Iu 1904 in Vermilion Township he married Miss Myrtle Risden. She was born in Nebraska June 5, 1886, but was reared and educated in Vermilion Township, being a daughter of Almor G. Risden, a well known Vermilion Township citizen. In politics Court C. Smith votes an independent ticket.


CURISTIAN HAUFF. In the years that have come and gone since Christian IIauff first became identified with Erie County as a farmer, he has contributed a great deal of productive labor to local agricul- tural enterprise and it is in the enjoyment of comforts and plenty that his earlier period of industry enabled him to accumulate that he is now enjoying retired life in his home on Darrows Road in Vermilion Township.


Ilis present place of residence is a good home and a small farm which furnishes him all the opportunity for work he cares to indulge. Ile has lived there for the past three years. He came to this location from his main farm near the lake shore in Vermilion Township, and which he had occupied and owned since 1875. The lake shore farm comprises sixty aeres, all of which was improved under his immediate supervision and by his own labor, including the erection of a number of buildings, among them a good new house. Under his management he kept the place up to the best standards of crops and livestock.


Christian Hauff was born in Wurtemberg. Germany, November 4, 1850, a son of Frederiek and Fredericka (Siebold) IIauff, both of whom were born in Plockingen of Wurtemberg. They grew up and were married in their native country and town and spent all their lives in Wurtemberg. Frederik Hauff was sixty-eight years of age when he died, and was a man of rugged constitution. This was evidenced by the fact that though dentistry was not practiced then as it is now he had every tooth in his head when he died. His wife lived to be seventy years of age, and she too was possessed of a strong and vigorous consti- tution. Christian Hauff had three brothers, Jacob, John and Gottlieb, and two sisters, Rosina and Catherine, all of whom still live in their native province. All are married and have children of their own.


Christian Hauff grew up in his native town, and was well edueated according to the German custom. He was a young man eligible for the army when the Franco-Prussian war broke out in 1870, and in order to avoid military service he left his native land and come to free America. Ile took passage at Hamburg in February, 1870, on a steam- ship which twelve days later landed him at Castle Garden. From there he came west to Erie County, and was first employed on a farm in Ber- lin Township. Subsequently he invested his accumulations in the sixty


THE LITTLE EVERGREEN FARM, RESIDENCE OF CHRISTIAN HAUFF


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acre farm near the lake shore in Vermilion Township, and that was the scene of his most productive labors in Erie County. That farm is now under the management of his son.


While living in Vermilion Township Mr. Christian Hauff married Ernestine Seitz. She was born in Germany, in Baden, in 1846, and was a young woman when she came with her brother William to the United States and located in Sandusky. A few years later she married, and she died at the old home in Vermilion Township in 1888. She was survived by four children: Catherine is now the wife of Orlando Edwards, a farmer in Ashland County, Ohio, and their children are Mabel, Earl and Dorothy Belle. Christian is now living in the State of Washington and is still unmarried. Bertha is the wife of William F. Fichtel, a farmer of Vermilion Township, and their children are Ernest, Catherine, Earl, Frederick, Henry and Lydia. Gottlieb now eonduets his father's farm, and by his marriage to Anna Bartzen has a son Harvey and a baby as yet unnamed.


At Sandusky in 1912 Mr. Hauff married Mrs. Freda Lutz. She was born Lutz, and married her cousin. Both were natives of Wurtem- berg, and Mrs. Hauff came to Ameriea in 1892, while Mr. Lutz followed several years afterwards. They were married in Brooklyn, New York, and Mr. Lutz died there in 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Hauff are both mem- bers of the German Reformed Church. Politieally Mr. Hauff is a democrat. Mr. Hauff visited Germany and his old friends after having been away for forty years. Two years later he made another visit.


W. J. SPROW. It requires energy and ability to get as far ahead in the business world as W. J. Sprow has gone during the comparatively brief thirty-three years since he first saw the light of day in Erie County. Mr. Sprow is now the chief executive head of The Wagner Quarries Company, the largest industry of its kind in Ohio, and has a number of other interesting relations with business and civie affairs in his home City of Sandusky.


Born December 23, 1882, he is a son of Paul J. and Mary (Sullivan) Sprow. His father, who was also born in Erie County, in the year 1851, made a fine record in the railroad service. 1Ie early became a trainman on the old Mad River Railroad, the first railroad in Erie County, and from one post was promoted to another until he became a passenger conductor, and came to be known to thousands of the traveling public in that capacity. 1Ie had charge of the first freight train ever run over the Lake Erie & Western Railroad. He was a contemporary and close friend while in railroading of George Randolph, who was born in Norwalk, Ohio, and is now first vice president of the Baltimore & Ohio system, and was also intimate with D. F. Hill, who is now general superintendent of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad. Paul Sprow was one of the best liked men in the railroad service and had a host of friends who keenly lamented his death in 1899.


The youngest in a family of three sons, W. J. Sprow had a good praetieal education, acquired in the grammar and high schools. On graduating from high school in 1900 he soon afterward entered the employ of The Wagner Quarries Company as clerk, and two years later his efficiency was rewarded by his eleetion as treasurer and secretary of the company. In 1912 in addition to the duties of those offices he was also made general manager. The plant of The Wagner Quarries Company has the largest capacity in Ohio for the production of lime- stone in all its forms and commercial produets. Its quarries are directly connected with six railroads radiating in all directions, and the output goes frequently to a great distance. The company has five different plants in operation, and altogether produces about one million tons of erushed stone besides a fine grade of dressed limestone used in the con-


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struction of church and school buildings. All the latest machinery is found installed in the company's plants, and the highest standard of mechanical equipment is everywhere maintained. The company fur- nishes for different purposes ballast, crushed stone, screenings, lime- stone sand, building stone and macadam material. The business offices of the company are in the Laurence Building at Sandusky.


Besides this business, with which he has been identified now for fully fifteen years, Mr. Sprow is a director in the Peoples Loan & Savings Company, in the Mayfield Estate of Cleveland and the Lake Road Realty Company of that city ; is president of the Portland Vintage Wine Company; and is president of the A. Schmidt Bros. Wine Company, and the B. F. Sexton wholesale liquor house. 'He is a member of the Federated Commercial Club of Sandusky, a member of the Sunyendeand Club, is a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Elks. On June 15, 1912, in Erie County he married Miss Elsie Schmidt, a daughter of August Schmidt, Jr., of Sandusky, Ohio.


A. W. ALLENDORF. For many years the name Allendorf has been associated with the business affairs of Sandusky, and one of the men of that name is now cashier in the Commercial National Bank, while his son is an active insurance man.


The firm of Schaub & Allendorf of which A. W. Allendorf is a member, was organized in March, 1914, and has already built up a large business in general fire and life insurance and real estate. A. W. Allen- dorf was born August 31, 1890, in Erie County, and for a young man of twenty-five has already achieved a more than ordinary business success.


Ilis parents were William L. and Mary (Kunzman) Allendorf. ITis father, a native of Germany, came to America early in life, and has long been known in Sandusky. He was in the lime business for the Ohlemacher firm up to 1900, and then entered the Second National Bank. and subsequently hecame cashier of the Commercial National Bank, a responsibility which he now holds.


A. W. Allendorf was educated in the public schools of Sandusky and in the University of Michigan, and for two summer terms was a student in Culver's Military Academy in Indiana. In a business way he first became identified with the Easiest Way Manufacturing Com- pany at the time of its organization, and was made secretary. In 1913 he became a clerk in the Commercial National Bank, but since 1914 has given all his time and attention to the insurance and real estate business.


WILLIAM H. LUNDV. In 1912 the people of Erie County chose for the office of sheriff a eitizen whose fitness for such responsibility and honor is unquestioned and exeeptional. Sheriff Lundy is now in his second term, and has spent most of his life in this county, has been a praetical and successful worker and faithful to every responsibility, and has always been noted for his honesty and efficiency, qualities which have rendered his record as sheriff of exceptional value to the county at large.


Sheriff Lundy since taking office has done a great deal to carry out all the duties of his office, and has two very capable deputies in Edward J. Hartman and Fred C. Stafffor.


William H. Lundy was born July 12, 1870, in Erie County, a son of John W. and Anna ( Haley ) Lundy. His father was born in Ireland and came to America in 1849, first locating in Huron, where he spent two years as a laborer. Ile then moved to Sandusky and was employed by a Inmber company for a time, but later purchased a farm, which he operated the rest of his life. He died JJanuary 29, 1914. He married in


august. V. Leadrach


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Sandusky and became the father of five children, four of whom are still living.


Fourth in order of age, William II. Lundy was educated in the district schools, and at the age of twenty-two found employment with the Inter- urban Electric Line known as the Sandusky, Milan & Norwalk Street Railway. For many years he was a conductor on that line, and has the honor of having taken the first electric car into the City of Norwalk. After retiring from the interurban service he engaged in merchandising and conducted a general store at Bogarts Corners in Erie County for ten years. He was called from the quiet routine of a country store in the fall of 1912 to the office of sheriff, and the choice of the people manifested in popular election was never better justified than in the case of William H. Lundy.


In politics he is a democrat and has done a great deal to support and maintain the party organization in this section of Ohio. In religions belief he is a member of the Catholic Church and also belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Knights of Columbus and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.


In Sandusky on November 7, 1894, Mr. Lundy married Miss Anna Steinen, a daughter of Joseph Steinen of West Huron, Ohio. To their marriage were born two children: Marie, born July 22, 1895, and William, born August 8, 1897.


AUGUST W. LEADRACII. For several interests and activities August W. Leadrach is one of the leading business men and best known citizens of Vermilion Township. Perhaps the occupation by which he is best known in that section of Erie County is as a cheese maker. He has been identified with that industry fully a quarter of a century, and is now president, treasurer and general manager of the Diamond Cheese Com- pany, which has its large plant and offices at Axtell in Vermilion Town- ship. Mr. Leadrach has also extended his holdings and enterprise to stock breeding and farming, and has an established reputation as a breeder of thoroughbred Holstein cattle. IIe has done a great deal to promote dairy interests in Northern Ohio and is an able and in- fluential citizen of his township.


Ilis family lived for many years in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and he was born in Auburn Township of that county August 1, 1864, a son of Gottlieb and Magdalena (Zimmerman) Leadrach. His father was born in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland, while the mother is a native of Tuscarawas County. Gottlieb Leadrach when nineteen years of age set out for America, and settled with his parents in Tuscarawas County, and he followed farming in Auburn Township of that section until his death in June, 1913.


Reared on a farm, educated in the country schools, August W. Leadrach at an early age determined to make his life count for some- thing in the world. From the schools of Anburn Township he subse- quently entered upon and completed a commercial course in the North- ern Ohio University at Ada, and on finishing there in 1888 at once came to Erie County. For one year he was a partner with C. Bauman in the manufacturing of cheese at Axtell in Vermilion Township, but in 1890 he bought his partner's stock and became sole proprietor. He con- ducted this as a successful industry for the making of cheese until 1899, and then incorporated the business under the name Diamond Cheese Company, of which he has since been president, treasurer and general manager. This company manufactures domestic Swiss cheese and find markets for most of its goods in the large cities of New York State, though the product is also sold in other states. The factory is equipped with the most modern and improved machinery known to


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the trade of cheese making, and the plant at Axtell has long been a recognized factor in the prosperity of a large surrounding community.


As a successful business man Mr. Leadraeh has done much to build up his community, and for a number of years has been a member of the board of education of Vermilion Township, and for part of the time was president of the board.




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