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 106
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Harley Brownell Gibbs, who was born in his father's home at Milan, March 13, 1849, acquired his early education in the local public schools and had a brief experience as clerk in a local store before entering the Bryant & Stratton Business College at Chicago, from which he graduated. For six years he was bookkeeper in a commission house at Chicago. and in 1871. on the organization of the King Bridge Company of Cleveland. he went to that city as shipping clerk for the company. Subsequently he became a stockholder, director and treasurer in the company, and was actively identified with those interests for forty years. In 1890, asso- ciated with a number of Cleveland business men. including Zenas King. Charles A. Otis, Dan P. Eells, John M. Gundry and others, he assisted in organizing the Lake Shore Bank of that city. He is one of the four directors who have been on the board constantly for twenty-five years. and through all that time has held the position of vice president.
Mr. Gibbs lives six months of the year at Winter Park. Florida, and the other six months of the year at his home on Elm Street in Milan.
In Masonry Mr. Gibbs is affiliated with all the important bodies of that order at Cleveland, including Tyrian Lodge No. 307, A. F. & A. M .: Royal Arch Chapter No. 148, Cleveland Council, Oriental Commandery of the Knights Templar, Lake Erie Consistory, and Al Koran Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Union Club, the Roadside Club and the Enelid Club of Cleveland, the New England Society of ('leveland, the Firelands Historical Society of Norwalk, Ohio. and the Ohio Society of New York City.
In 1878 Mr. Gibbs married Miss Emma Johnson of Hudson, Ohio. She died in 1894 at the age of forty-two. She was a daughter of Enoch Johnson, formerly superintendent of the Cleveland, Akron & Columbus Railway Company. Mrs. Gibbs left no children.
In 1912 Mr. Gibbs married Mrs. Nellie Standart Hobbs. Her former husband, Fred Hobbs, was born in South Berwick, Maine, in 1859, and died in 1908. Mrs. Gibbs is a daughter of George HI. and a grand- daughter of Needham M. Standart. Her grandfather was born Sep- tember 9, 1797, in Massachusetts, and in 1818 came to Milan, Ohio. Here he became prominent in the great grain industry which at that
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time centered at Milan, and it is said that in the high tide of the business Milan was the second greatest grain market in the world. Needham M. Standart was associated in this business with his brothers-in-law, Daniel and Thomas Hamilton. This firm shipped great quantities of grain from Milan. In 1836 Mr. Standart went to Cleveland, and his business operations made him one of the commercial leaders in that city. For many years he shipped grain under the firm name of Whitman & Standart, and his firm as an experiment during the late '30s shipped a full schooner load of wheat by way of the Welland Canal to Liverpool. England. This was a new venture at the time, though there is no record that the firm followed it up. Under the same firm name they also did business as private bankers in Cleveland for a number of years. Need- ham M. Standart died December 4, 1877.
George Henry Standart, father of Mrs. Gibbs, was born in Milan. May 17, 1829, and died in the State of Colorado April 17, 1898. In 1858 he married Miss Myra Allen. She was a lineal descendant of Ebenezer AAllen, a cousin of Ethan Allen. whose exploits during the Revolutionary war are familiar to every American school boy. She was a woman of many noble and beautiful traits and qualities of character. Her death occurred some time before that of her husband, on August 9, 1887, at Cleveland. Myra Allen was born January 28, 1831. George II. Standart had a brother, Capt. William Standart, who was commander of the Standart Battery at MeMinnville, Tennessee, and made a gallant record in the ('ivil war. Another brother was Judge Charles W. Standart, who is now living at San Antonio, Texas. Mrs. Gibbs had a sister, Lucy A .. who married Charles S. Wilgus, who was born February 4, 1865, and died suddenly April 9, 1893. ller brother, Henry Needham Standart, is an expert public accountant of Cleveland, is married, but has no children. Mrs. Gibbs is a charter member of Sally De Forest Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution at Norwalk. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs are members of the Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Gibbs is a republican.
EDWARD WARD. For nine years the administration of the munici- pality of Kelley's Island has been under the direction of Edward Ward. mayor. That is not the only important relation Mr. Ward has sus- tained to the life and affairs of that distinctive portion of Erie County. Ile is related with one of the very earliest families of the island, and both he and his people have been identified with the industry of grape vulture on the island ever since it was established on a commercial seale.
On every side can be pointed out important improvements made in the village during Mr. Ward's mayoralty. The streets and sidewalks have come in for mueh of the attention and expenditure under the Ward administration, and particular pains has been taken to keep the streets and the village elean and sanitary. Mayor Ward was the one who inaugurated the eustom of oiling the streets and keeping up the roads as standard for automobile traffie. Another improvement which has been much appreciated was the adding of a comfort station to the town hall.
Edward Ward was born on Kelley's Island, a son of Edmond and Charlotte (Titus) Ward. His father was born in New York State and came to Erie County in 1845, locating on Kelley's Island, where he rented a small farm from the Kelley estate. Charlotte Titus, who became the wife of Edmond Ward after his arrival on the island, he- longed to a family that was among the very earliest permanent inhab-
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itants of Kelley's Island. After his marriage Edmond Ward began in a small way to be interested in grape culture, and in 1859 he planted a vineyard to which he devoted his best energies from that time until his death. He was one of the stockholders in the Kelley's Island Vineyard Company. In early life he was a whig and afterwards a republican. There were eight children, and Edward was the seventh in order of birth.
His youth and early manhood were spent on the old home in Kelley's Island, and when he arrived at his thirtieth year his father gave him a piece of land in his own name. There he started his grape growing, and he now owns a profitable vineyard of six aeres, and also rents another vineyard of similar extent. Mr. Ward is a practical vine- yardist, and the grapes and other products from his vineyard have for years been distributed in the general markets. Mr. Ward resides in a beautiful residence fronting the lake channel.
He is also a director in the Kelley's Island Dock and Steamboat Company. For a good many years he has been one of the active leaders of the republican party on Kelley's Island and in the county at large. In his home community besides his work as mayor he has served as street commissioner three years; chairman of the sehool board three years ; for four years held the postoffice on the island under Harrison's administration; and for seven years was in the custom house serviee as collector of Kelley's Island ports. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
On November 21, 1887, Mr. Ward married Miss Jennie Duysing. Her father is Adolph Duysing. They have one son, Stewart A., born March 24, 1891.
GEORGE M. MUEHLHAUSER. The tendency to shift the heaviest busi- ness responsibilities upon the shoulders of the younger generation is quite well illustrated in Sandusky, where many of the hardest working and most successful business men are hardly yet in their forties. One of these is George M. Muehlhauser, who though only a little past thirty- five have been more or less closely associated with business concerns in Sandusky for twenty years. He is now proprietor of one of the largest garage and automobile repair and accessories establishments in the county.
He was born in Sandusky, March 10, 1879. a son of C. A. and Eliza- beth (Fettel) Muehlhauser. His father, a native of Germany, eame to America in 1876 alone. He was married in Sandusky several years after he located there. He was a cabinet maker by trade, and worked for one company, the George R. Butler & Company, for twenty-two years. Ile had all the thoroughness of the typical German, and was equally expert in many of the most difficult departments of cabinet. making. Later he was associated with the Sandusky Furniture Com- pany five years, and in 1898 he organized the Sandusky Fixture Com- pany, and remained with that eoneern for three years. After the busi- ness was sold he organized the Swessinger Manufacturing Company and became its superintendent, an offiee he filled for five years. Since then he has had his home in Cleveland, and is now superintendent of a large Cleveland furniture house.
George M. Muehlhauser, who was the older of a family of two children, received his early education in the public schools of Sandusky. Quite early in life he started regular employment under his father in the furniture business. After six months there he was connected with the old Sandusky Furniture Company until 1896, and then spent a
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year with the A. B. Conradi & Caswell Company. This firm failed in business, and the concern was then carried on by Mr. Caswell for a short time, and young Muehlhanser was in the service of Mr. Caswell up to 1899. In that year the new firm of Franz & Hines, organizers of the Sandusky Automobile Co., came into existence, and Mr. Muehlhauser became foreman, an office he held until 1905.
In that year he organized the Dunbar Manufacturing Company and in 1906 became its superintendent, remaining in that capacity until 1908. In that year Mr. Muehlhauser organized the Ogontz Garage, of which he has since become sole proprietor. This is a large garage, furnishing a very reliable service for Sandusky and environs. In connection there is conducted a large repair shop, with ample storage room and sales rooms. Mr. Muehlhauser handles the local ageney for the Cadillac and Reo cars.
In polities he is independent, and fraternally is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Foresters and United Commercial Travelers. Sandusky Council. On June 25, 1900, he married Miss Susan Eckler of Sandusky. To their marriage were born four children: August C., Mildred, Junior George and Wesley.
JOHN E. STANG. In his rise from the position of day laborer to that of directing head of one of the largest industries of its kind in the state: from modest circumstances and obseurity to financial independence and prominence, and from the grind of daily manual toil to a position where his tastes may be gratified in participation in congenial occupations. John E. Stang has exemplified the value of the homely virtues of industry, perseveranee and honorable dealing. He started his eareer with but few advantages; no fortnitons circumstances aided him in bis struggle for the attainment of position ; but hard, continued and unabat- ing work brought its reward, and as vice president and general manager of the Cleveland-Sandusky Brewing Company, of Sandusky, Mr. Stang has an assured position among business men of this part of Northern Ohio.
Mr. Stang was born December 10, 1860, in Monroeville, Huron County, Ohio, and is a son of Peter A. and Lena (Hannen) Stang. His father was born in Germany and was brought to America by his parents when a mere lad, the family locating in Huron County, Ohio, about eighty years ago. There Peter A. Stang was reared and educated and adopted the voeation of farming. continuing to be engaged in agricul- tural operations during the remaining years of his active life. In connection with this occupation. in his early years he followed the blacksmith trade, but as his farming interests grew he gradually gave up the trade. He died at the age of eighty-six years, one of the sub- stantial men of his community. In the family there were three sons and two daughters, all of whom survive.
John E. Stang was edueated in the parochial and district schools of Huron County and at Saint Mary's Institute, Dayton, Ohio. After completing his course at the latter institution, he returned to the home farm, where he remained for one year, and then, with his brother, Frank Stang, came to Sandusky and embarked in the brewing business. At the start he did the work of a day laborer, but subsequently was advanced to the position of traveling salesman for the concern, which was operated under the name of the Stang Brewing Company. He continued to act in this capacity for twenty-seven years, during which time he formed a wide acquaintance among business men all over the state, and in 1890, when his brother withdrew from the coneern. John
John & Stang.
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E. Stang was elected president. The business under his management grew and developed to important proportions, and in 1896 was con- solidated with the Kuebler Brewing Company, then assuming the name of the Kuebler & Stang Brewing Company, of which Mr. Stang became vice president. Two years later the business was sold to the Cleveland- Sandusky Brewing Company, and Mr. Stang was made vice president and manager of the new concern, and of the brewery operated at Cleve- land. This company now controls and operates fifteen branches, all of which are under the general management of Mr. Stang. It is one of the largest and most important industries of its kind in the state and much of its success must be attributed to the foresight, energy, aeumen and business experience of its vice president and manager.
During the thirty-seven years of his residence at Sandusky, Mr. Stang has been an important factor in many activities outside of the immediate field of his business. Ile is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Fraternal Order of Eagles and is decidedly popular with the members of these fraternities. Always an unswerving democrat, he was the candidate of his party for state senator about ten years ago, but the issue of the three-cent railroad fare operated against him and he was defeated by a small vote. During the ten years that he served as a member of the Sandusky City Council he was instrumental in securing the passage of a number of ordinances which have aided the city in its development, and at all times he has been an ardent and generous supporter of worthy and beneficial movements. A number of leading business enterprises owe their existence to his abilities and efforts. He is a direetor in the Citizens Bank of Sandusky and of the First National Bank of Oak Harbor, Ohio.
Mr. Stang was married in 1873 at Sandusky, to Miss Mary Wester- hold, and of the seven children born to this union four are now living : ('harles J., Florence. Roland and Arnold.
JOHN W. HOLLAND. One of the oldest of the old-timers of Sandusky is John W. Ilolland. His career has been stretched out to a magnificent length, and his experiences eover the various activities and life of Sandusky sinee the very early times.
He was born October 15, 1824, in Montreal, Canada, and in 1832 came to the United States with his parents. His father, also named John Wesley Ilolland, who married Mary Kent, was born in Ireland, emi- grated from there to Canada, and on coming to the United States located in Sandusky. Sandusky in 1832 was a very small village. Various de- scriptions of the town as it was about that time have been reproduced in the first pages of this publication. The Holland family came to San- dusky down the lake on boat from Buffalo, and John W. Ilolland often told his friends and members of the family that they did not stop at Cleveland because the prospects of acquiring a fortune in a rapidly developing town did not appear as flattering there as at Sandusky. Mr. Ilolland's father was a carpenter by trade and he followed that vocation until his death in 1852. There were seven children in the family, five girls and two boys.
John W. Holland is the only one now surviving. He had a very limited education in the district schools, and acquired most of his learn- ing by practical experience. When a boy he left his own home to live with a brother-in-law, who taught him the trade of painter, and he continued to work under this relative for seven years. Having com- pleted his apprenticeship he was then offered work as a journeyman, but he steadfastly declined any such proposition, and never throughont his career except while serving his apprenticeship did he work for others.
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That independent spirit was the dominant characteristic of his active career. As a painter and decorator he continued in active business at Sandusky until about seventeen years ago, when he retired.
His interests in the meantime had extended to various other affairs in Erie County. During the '50s he was engaged for two years in the fish business in partnership with a Mr. Bear under the firm name of Holland & Bear. In 1866 he bought a vineyard and gave his attention for four years to the growing of grapes at Put-In-Bay. Fifty years ago grapes brought eight cents a pound, while they now sell for only two cents a pound. Grape culture was profitable under such condi- tions, and Mr. Holland acquired considerable revenue from his brief experience in that industry. One success led to another with him, and his friends say that he never turned his attention to anything without making a success of it. Many years ago he accumulated sufficient prop- erty for all the needs of himself and family, and has long been in independent circumstances.
In early life he was a whig voter, and then joined the republican party, and has been one of its stanchest adherents. However, polities has never been a personal interest with him, and he has used his influence only on behalf of good government and for the election of his friends. For three years he held the office of city assessor in Sandusky, and this was the only official honor he ever would accept. His church member- ship has been with the Congregational denomination, and he contributed liberally to all its working departments.
Mr. Holland was twice married. In 1849 he married Eliza Gustin. She died leaving three children, all of whom are now deceased, except Jay K. Holland, who lives in Sandusky, Ohio. In 1860 he married Miss Susan Ainslie of Sandusky. To this union were born four children, and the three now living are Harry, Mary and Mabel. Mabel has been a successful teacher in the publie schools of Cleveland for a number of years.
PAUL MILLER. A Sandusky business man whose generous prosperity and success had very meager beginnings, Panl Miller first became identi- fied with Erie County more than forty years ago in mercantile lines. Ilis name is widely known both in a business capacity and for his active participation in public affairs.
His birth occurred April 8. 1853, near the famous Bingen-on-the- Rhine in Germany. When fifteen years of age he came alone to America. That was in 1868. His first location was at Columbia City, Indiana, where he was employed in a dry goods store, working hard and long hours for $5 a month and board. He kept at that one year, and then look successive positions as a messenger, bell boy and porter in the Avalon House at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and he was paid for these services respectively wages of $8, $15 and $50 per month. From hotel work he got into the railroad service, learned telegraphy at Warsaw, Indiana, and soon had to give up the confining duties owing to ill health. For a short time he was brakeman on the Pittsburgh. Ft. Wayne & Chicago Railroad, and then entered a dry goods store in Warsaw, and from there came to Erie County, Ohio, in November, 1873. Ilis first work here was as manager of a wholesale flour and feed establishment. and he continued that business for six years. He was then in the same line of business for four years on his own account. After selling out. he went back to Europe, remained there visiting old seenes and friends and relatives, and on returning in 1884 established his home permanently in Sandusky. In January, 1888, Mr. Miller became teller for the Third National Bank of Sandusky. Ile remained with that institution a year
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and a half, and in 1889 was appointed administrator of the G. Icman Estate. After settling its affairs he became associated with the Johnson & Miller Manufacturing Company, and remained as manager, secretary and treasurer of the company for ten years. Since leaving that concern he has been practically retired from business, though he is as active as ever in a public capacity.
His name has at different times been closely associated with several important business enterprises in Sandusky. Ile has shown a great deal of civic pride in the city which has been his home for more than forty years, and from 1884 to 1885 he was a member of the city council, was again elected and served in the same office from 1892 to 1898, making seven years in all, and four years as president. He was a member of the Sandusky Board of Equalization in 1890 and 1900, a member of the City Board of Equalization for three years, and in 1906 was appointed a member of the City Board of Review, a commission he held for eight years. In December, 1913, he was appointed by Governor Cox as district assessor, an office from which he resigned in order to devote himself to other duties.
Mr. Miller is a stanch democrat and for many years has been active in the interest of his party and a delegate to numerous district, county and state conventions. Ile is a member of the Catholic Church and is affiliated with the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Knights of Columbus. IIe was one of the originators of the old Sandusky Light Guards, the predecessors of the present Company B, Sixth Regiment, Ohio National Guard, and in the former body was commissioned first lieutenant by Governor Bishop.
On August 1, 1876, when still a struggling young business man, Mr. Miller was married in Sandusky to Miss Josephine Krupp, a daughter of John Krupp. To their marriage were born eleven children, and the six now living are: John W., Mary S., Catherina, Paul E., Louisa and Ida. John W., a civil engineer, married Elizabeth Gawn and has two children, John Paul and Mona G. Ida married Walter II. Appell.
JOHN KERBER. There are certain commodities which are indispens- able to the comforts and health of modern people. One of these is ice. The ice service is a large and important business in any up-to-date community. One of the veterans of the ice trade in Sandusky is John Kerber, now president of the Consumers Ice Company, one of the most perfect organizations along the southern shore of Lake Erie for handling this invaluable commodity.
Mr. Kerber was born February 8, 1865, in Sandusky, and is a son of Vincent Kerber. He received his early education in the public schools of his native city and in Sandusky Business ('ollege. Immediately on leaving school he entered the ice business, since his father, Vincent Kerber, was one of the pioneers in that industry. The firm soon took the name of Vincent Kerber & Son, this son being Frank Kerber. John Kerber continued this connection until 1892, after which he was for one year with the Wagner Lake Ice Company, then for two years employed by Alex Motry, and for five years with Leser and DeWitt.
Finally Mr. Kerber became treasurer of the Kerber Lake Ice Com- pany, but after two years, in 1901, he organized the Consumers Ice Company. This business was incorporated during the same year, and he was made its first president and general manager, a responsibility which he still carries on his very capable shoulders.
Fraternally Mr. Kerber is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and in polities is a republican. He is the father of a very delightful family and has one of the attractive homes of Sandusky. On March 21, 1889, in this county he married Vol. II-45
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Miss Christina Knauer. Four children have been born to them: Anna, born December 31, 1890; William, born October 1, 1893; Lawrence, horn September 2, 1895; and Norma, born December 17, 1898. The son William was for two years a student in Kenyon College. Lawrence is now a student in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. The dangh- ter, Norma, is in the high school at Sandusky.
FRANK R. MONTGOMERY. For more than forty-five years the name Montgomery has been closely associated with the industrial life of Sandusky. Frank R. Montgomery is one of that city's leading merchants, and is widely known for his varied interests and public spirited citizenship.
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