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 11
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On the homestead farm of his father in Carroll County, Ohio, Willard M. Harsh was born on the 22d of January, 1853, and he is a son of Nicholas and Jemima ( Leslie) Harsh, the former of whom likewise was born in Carroll County, where his parents settled in the pioneer days, and Mrs. Harsh also having been born and reared in Carroll County, a member of one of its old and honored families .. The paternal lineage of Mr. Harsh traces back to stanch German origin and the maternal aneestral line finds derivation in fine old Irish stock. Nicholas Harsh was one of the representative agriculturists of his native county for many years and both he and his wife continued to reside on their old home- stead farm until their death, when well advanced in years.
Willard M. Harsh found the period of his childhood and carly youth compassed by the conditions and influences of the home farm, and in the meanwhile he profited duly from the advantages afforded in the public schools of the locality and period. In 1874, soon after attaining to his legal majority, he initiated his apprenticeship to the trade of telegraph operator, and his initial service in this connection was in the station of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Oneida, a village in his native county, where he devoted two years to perfecting himself as a telegraphist. For five years thereafter he held the dual office of operator and station agent at. Dellroy. Carroll County, in the service of what was then the Cleveland, Canton & Southern Railroad, now a part of the Wheeling & Lake Erie,
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in the employ of which company he was later transferred to the position of station agent at South Cleveland, where he remained about five years. Ilis next position was that of general agent of the Lakeside & Marble- head Railroad at Marblehead, Ottawa County, and after retaining this position about three years he served seven years as superintendent of this road, of which he then became the general superintendent, a respons- ible office of which he continued the ineumbent about ten years, at the expiration of which he was appointed assistant general manager. His efficient administration of several years in this position led to his advanee- ment to the dual office of general manager and local treasurer of the company, the affairs of which he continued to direct with mueh of cir- eumspection and progressiveness until he resigned his office and. severed his association with the company, on the 1st of May, 1913. At this juncture he removed to Sandusky and purchased his present fine subur- ban home, where he and his family have sinee continued their residence.
In 1891 Mr. Harsh beeame associated in a financial and executive capacity with the Kelley's Island Lime & Transport Company, of which he was superintendent for about a decade, with headquarters at Marble- head, Ottawa County. A period of about the same duration thereafter found him in tenure of the position of general superintendent, and he then became assistant general manager, in which office he had full eharge of all new construction work, repairs and general operations at the plants of the company at Clay Center, Kelley's Island and Marblehead, Ohio, and at Akron, New York. He severed his active connection with this important corporation in September, 1912.
Liberal and public-spirited as a citizen and taking loyal interest in all that concerns his home community, Mr. Harsh is found aligned as a stanch supporter of the principles of the republican party, though in local affairs he maintains a somewhat independent attitude and gives his support to men and measures meeting the approval of his judgment, irrespective of strict partisan lines. He is prominently identified with the time-honored Masonie fraternity, in which he has received the thirty- second degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, his present York Rite affiliations being principally with the Masonic bodies in the City of Sandusky. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Presbyterian Church in Sandusky and are popular figures in the representative social circles of the community, the while their spacious and beautiful resi- dence is a center of hospitality. Mr. Harsh has made various investments in Erie County aside from the purchase of his fine home property, and he has been a member of the directorate of the Commercial National Bank of Sandusky from the time of its organization.
On the 17th of May, 1881, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Harsh to Miss Davis, of Dellroy, Carroll County, and they have three children : Earle C., Dwight B., and Wilda V. Earle C. Harsh is a graduate of the Case School of Applied Science, one of the leading technical insti- tutions of the Middle West, in the City of Cleveland, and he is now established in the work of his profession as a consulting engineer, with residence and business headquarters at Carey. Wyandotte County, this state. Dwight B. Harsh remains at the parental home, and the only daughter, Miss Wilda, is a member of the class of 1916 in the Woman's College of historie old Western Reserve University, in the City of Cleveland.
CORNELIUS SCHINAITTER. An octogenarian in years, Cornelius Schnaitter has spent more than half a century of his lifetime in the City of Sandusky. For over a quarter of a century he was well known to local business as a merchant tailor, but is now living retired, enjoying the fruits of his previous industry. He has pursued the quiet and even tenor
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of his way through life, has participated in few of the abnormal events, but his career is none the less deserving of praise and is fitly given record in this history of Erie County.
Cornelius Sehnaitter was born in the Town of Egern, Bavaria, Sep- tember 2, 1830. His father was Sebastian Schnaitter, whose birthplace was Dirnbach, Bavaria, where he was reared and educated, served four years in the army of the king of Bavaria, and completed an apprentice- ship at the tailor's trade. In 1847 he brought his family to America, living for several years in Canada, after which he came to Sandusky and lived in that city until his passing at the age of sixty-one. His wife, Catherine, was also a native of Bavaria. She reared seven children, all of them born in Bavaria, their names being Kunigunde, Henry, Kather- ina, Cornelius, Nora, Karl and Frances.
Cornelius Schnaitter as a boy attended school steadily until about the age of fourteen, and also took up and learned the tailor's trade under the direction of his father. Ile was sixteen years old when the family left Bavaria and eame to Ameriea. The trip was made on a sailing vessel which was sixty days from the time it left the European port until it landed its passengers at Quebee. Mr. Schnaitter lived in Canada until the spring of 1849 and then came to Sandusky. Here he was employed by the tailoring firm of Kneen & Knel, until after the outbreak of the Civil war. In youth as in later years he was a noted musician and volunteered his services as a musician and was assigned to the Fourth Regiment of Michigan Infantry. With that regimeut he experienced all the hardships and vicissitudes of a soldier's life for fourteen months, at the end of which time all the regimental bands were discharged. IIe then returned to Sandusky and resumed work at his trade as a journey- man. Soon after the war Mr. Schnaitter formed a partnership with Anton Buders and they did a flourishing business as merchant tailors for a period of twenty-six years. Since the firm went out of business Mr. Schnaitter has lived retired.
In 1855 he married Susanna Krantz. She was born in Weisbaden, Germany, August 12, 1831. Her father, Bathaser Krantz, was also a native of Weisbaden, and in 1848 brought his family to America. Arriv- ing in Erie County he bought a farm on the Huron road, three miles east of Sandusky, and spent the rest of his life as an industrious farmer. Mrs. Cornelins Sehnaitter died in 1896. Mr. Sehnaitter is now the head of a notable family, young men and women who have taken independent positions in the world, and he is surrounded not only by his own chil- dren but by his children's children and great-grandchildren. Ilis five sons and daughters are named Frank, Antoinette, Cornelins, Sarah and Hattie. The son Frank married Christina Boos and has four children- Antoinette, Edward, Gertrude and Florence. Antoinette, the second child, married Edward Moos, and her four children are Anna, Cora, Hilda and Wesley. Cornelins, Jr., married Christina Hertlein and has three sons-Engene, Irving and Arthur. Sarah is the widow of William ('lans, and her four daughters are Aimie. Mand, Susan and Mildred. Hattie, the youngest child, is the wife of Frank Wetzler, with two daughters, Lauretta and Susanna. Of the grandchildren the following are married : Antoinette Schnaitter married Freeland Smith, and has four children, Elizabeth, JJames, Frank and Margaret. Edward married Winifred Platt, and has two children, Robert and Alice. Cora Moos married JJoseph Gillard, and her four children are Richard, Sallie, Con- stance and Joseph. Hilda Moos married Ehner Brehm, and has a son named Edward. Aimie Claus is the wife of Jerome Herbig, and has a daughter, Ailien. Susan Clans married John Lay.
Cornelins Schnaitter from early youth manifested exceptional gifts as a musician, and when a boy learned to play the violin quite expertly.
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He has always been interested in musical affairs, and for many years was one of the leaders in musical activities in Sandusky. When a young man he joined the military organization known as the Jaeger Company. In 1852 he was one of the chief promoters of the first band ever organized in Sandusky and was its leader. There were few functions in Sandusky during the early days at which his services were not in demand for musical entertainment. Mr. Schnaitter is affiliated with MeMeens Post No. 19 of the Grand Army of the Republic.
WILLIAM Y. MURSCHEL. Enterprising, far-seeing and progressive, William Y. Murschel is numbered among the useful and valued citizens of Sandusky, where he is now living, retired from active business pnr- suits, although the management of his private interests keeps him quite busily employed. A son of Jacob Murschel, he was born February 10, 1859, in Norwalk, Huron County, Ohio, of substantial German ancestry.
Jacob Murschel was born in Bernhausen, Wurtemburg, Germany, where his parents spent their entire lives. One of his brothers, Michael Mursehel, came to America, settling in Sandusky, where numerous of his descendants are now living, and a sister, also immigrated to Ohio, and here married a Mr. Stump, of Flat Roek, Seneca County. In common with the boys of his native land, Jacob Murschel attended school until about fourteen years of age, after which he served a full apprenticeship at the baker's trade, and likewise spent three years in the German army. Enthused by the glowing stories told of the glorious opportunities Amer- ica offered for increasing one's financial condition, he decided to follow the ocean course previously taken by so many of his countrymen, and set sail on a staneh vessel bound for New York, where, at the end of six weeks, he landed. From that city he proceeded by rail to Buffalo, thenee on a Lake Erie boat to Sandusky, which was then but a modest-appearing village. Continuing his journey to Huron County, he worked a short time at his trade in Norwalk, and then bought the City Hotel, which he managed himself in addition to running his bakery. Shortly after he assumed its possession, an epidemie of cholera struck the eity, eighteen people dying of that terrible disease in his hotel. Closing it, he took his family to Flat Roek. Seneca County, where he remained until all danger from eholera had passed, when he returned to Norwalk, and resumed his former business pursuits.
In 1862 he removed with his family to Bellevue, Huron County, and was there in active business two years. The year following he was engaged in farming at Weaver's Corners, and in 1865 he came to San- dusky, and havin' purchased the Bing House, located on West Market Street, he conducted it successfully for five years. Then, buying out Leonard Good's grocery store, on East Market Street. he operated it four years, building up a good trade. Selling out in 1874, he removed to Ilayes Avenue, where he continued in the grocery business a few years. Again he made another change, disposing of his groeery, and buying the hotel located opposite the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway depot, which he condueted five years. IIe then sold the hotel, and subsequently lived retired until his death, in 1893.
Jacob Mursehel married Margaret Yingling, who was born in Rude- sheim, Wurtemburg, Germany, and at the age of fifteen years came to this country with several other young ladies of about her age. After living with a German family in Sandusky for a time, she went to Nor- walk, and there lived in the family of Mr. Gardner, the banker, who died in 1915, an esteemed and venerable man of ninety-five years. Mrs. Jacob Murschel survived her husband many years, passing away April 5, 1915. She was the mother of five children, as follows: William Y., the special subjeet of this brief sketch ; Charles ; Jacob ; Fred, and Albert.
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Ilaving completed the course of study in the public schools of San- dusky, William Y. Mursehel began as a boy to assist his father, working in hotel and grocery, and finally succeeding him in business. Mr. Mur- schel established the hotel known as the Murschel House, which stands opposite the new Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway station, and managed it successfully until 1910, being a most genial and popular host, ever attentive to the wants of his guests. Since leaving the hotel, he has lived retired, devoting his time and attention to the direction of his private affairs. At the present writing, in 1915, he and his son Alfred are erecting an up-to-date six-apartment building on West Washington Street.
Mr. Mursehel has been twice married. Ile married first, in 1881, Anna Scheadler, who was born on Kelleys Island. a daughter of August and Christina Seheadler. She died eighteen months later, leaving one daughter. Clara, who became the wife of Fred W. Grabel, and has one child. William Grabel. In 1884 Mr. Mursehel married for his second wife Elizabeth Louise Wilke, who was born in Allison, Clinton County, where her parents, Gottlieb and Johanna Louise (Arndt) Wilke, first lived on coming to Ohio from their German home, near Berlin, although they spent the larger number of their years in Ottawa County.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Murschel has been brightened by the birth of three children. Alfred. Arthur and Leona. Alfred married Adah Appel, and they have one child, a son named Alfred William. Leona married Donald Kelley, son of Ilon. Maleolm Kelley. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of the Maeeabees, and of Sandusky Lodge No. 285, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Murschel enjoys seeing new places and new things, and having traveled quite extensively he has gained a comprehensive knowledge of many parts of our own and other countries. In 1899, accompanied by Mrs. Murschel, he tonred Mexico, visiting the principal points of interest therein, and in 1900, with his son Alfred and his daughter Clara, made a trip to Europe, and while there went to Wurtemburg and saw the houses in which his father and mother were born. He also visited the more important cities of Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France and Eng- land, in Paris attending the World's Fair, then in progress, and later witnessing the presentation of the passian play in Ober Ammergau.
CHARLES KUBACH. Noteworthy among the native-born citizens of Sandusky who have spent their lives within its precinets, aiding as far as possible the city's growth and development, is Charles Kubach, a man of unquestioned ability and integrity. He comes of excellent Ger- man ancestry, his father, Frederick Kubach, and his grandfather, George Kubach, having emigrated from Germany to Ohio during the first half of the last century, settling in Sandusky.
George Kubach was born, in 1791, in the Village of Liedolsheim, Kingdom of Baden, Germany, and was there bred and educated. Fit- ting himself for a veterinary surgeon, he served as such in the German army for a number of years. In 1835 he embarked with his family on board a sailing vessel, and after a tedious ocean voyage of forty-two days landed in New York. Coming directly to Ohio, he arrived in San- dusky on June 8th of that year. Looking about for a desirable location, he bought a tract of timbered land in Perkins Township, five miles south of the Sandusky courthouse, on the Bloomingville road, now known as South Campbell Street. Clearing a space in the forest, he built a log house, covering it with elapboards rived by hand, and fastened with poles. ard making a clay and stiek chimney. This was the first home of the Kubach family in America. Bears, deer, wild turkey and other kinds of game were plentiful, and, with the fish caught in the near-by
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streams, were of much importanee in the filling of the family larder. A man of perseverance and resolution, he at once began the improvement of his land, for several years thereafter having no horse, but doing the work with oxen. With true German thrift, he utilized all the timber he cut off, selling the giant oaks to shipbuilders, and the cord wood to the boat owners, at the boat landings. He likewise burned ehareoal, which was then used by all blacksmiths, making a good profit thereby. He likewise established a smithy on his farm, and did blacksmithing for himself and his neighbors, making and saving money by so doing. IIe cleared thirty aeres of his estate, and subsequently replaced the original log cabin with a substantial two-story house made of hewed logs, and erected a frame barn. On the homestead which he so well improved, he spent the remainder of his life, dying in September, 1854.
The maiden name of the wife of George Kubach was Eva Catherine Heimberg. She was born, December 20, 1799, in the Village of Bleinken- loeh, Baden, Germany, and died September 4, 1878. To her and her husband eight sons were born and reared, as follows: Frederiek, Louis, August, Henry, John Albany, William, Adam, and Gottfried.
Frederick Kubach was born, in 1822, in the same village of Baden, Germany, in which his father first saw the light of this world, and as a boy of thirteen years came with his parents to Ohio. He assisted his father in clearing the land and tilling the soil for a few years, and then, being the eldest son of a large family of boys, began life on his own account. Moving into the City of Sandusky, he was busily employed in different kinds of work until his death, at the early age of forty-six years. His wife, whose maiden name was Magdalene Schoepfle, was born in the Village of Kreitzingen, Baden, Germany, and is now living in Sandusky, at the venerable age of eighty-two years. She bore her husband five children, as follows: Frederick, deceased; Christina, deceased ; August ; Charles, and William.
Acquiring his early education in the public schools of Sandusky, Charles Kubach began his aetive eareer when young as a clerk in the grocery store of his uncle, George Van Hansen, with whom he remained three years. Subsequently learning the trade of a sheet metal and copper worker, he eontinned at that occupation about seven years. For five years thereafter Mr. Kubaeh was connected with the grocery business, and the following two years belonged to the eity fire department. He was then employed for a while in the Baltimore & Ohio Express office, but resigned his position to become a clerk for Lay Brothers' Fish Com- pany. At the end of thirteen years he was appointed deputy eounty treasurer, and filled the position satisfactorily for three years, when he was elected county auditor, an office that he held for six consecutive years, his length of service in that capacity bespeaking his ability and trustworthiness. The following two years Mr. Kubach was in the employ of the Booth Fisheries Company .. Then, having become financially inter- ested in the Post Fish Company, he was made seeretary of the corpora- tion, and has held this responsible position sinee.
In 1877 Mr. Kubach married Miss Lena Hassenpflug, a daughter of George Hassenpflug, who emigrated from Germany to America, settling in Sandusky, Ohio. Four children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kubaeh, namely: Frederick, who married Elizabeth Schnei- der ; Lillian ; Allen, who married Minnie Schneider ; and Alma.
Politieally Mr. Kubach is a democrat. He served for twelve years as a member of the Sandusky Board of Edneation, ten years of the time being secretary of the board. At the present writing, in 1915, he is a member of the city council, having been elected as a member at large. Fraternally Mr. Kubach is a member of Sandusky Lodge No. 128, Knights of Pythias; of . Garfield Company, Uniform Rank No. 13; of
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Sandusky Aerie No. 444, Fraternal Order of Eagles; of IIobson Camp No. 5649, Modern Woodmen of America; of Sandusky Court No. 739, Independent Order of Foresters; and of Sandusky Lodge No. 285, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
CHARLES A. CRAIG. A business man of long standing at Sandusky, Charles A. Craig is now filling the office of county treasurer. Ile is well fitted for public responsibilities by his varied and successful experience in business affairs, and has the additional incentive to ereditable per- formance in places of publie trust because of the fact that his father gave up his life while battling as a soldier on the Union side during the Civil war.
Charles A. Craig, who represents an old American family of Scotch antecedents, was born in the City of Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. Ilis father was Capt. Alfred T. Craig, a native of Philadelphia, while the grandfather was William Craig, a native of New Jersey. William Craig, to trace the ancestry still further back, was a son of Elias, Jr., and a grandson of Elias Craig, Sr. The Craigs, on coming from Scotland, settled in New Jersey when that commonwealth was a colony. William Craig was a machinist by trade, and when a young man he moved to Philadelphia and lived in that city and worked at his vocation the rest of his life. He married Sarah Hutchinson, who was born in the State of Delaware and spent her last days in Philadelphia. Capt. Alfred T. was reared and educated in his native city, and took up the same trade followed by his father. In 1854 he came West and settled in Dayton, Ohio, was employed there until 1858, and then established his home in Sandusky. He was a capable workman and was quietly prosperous and influential until the outbreak of the war. Ile responded to the first call for troops, in a three-month regiment, and became a private in Com- pany E of the Eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. At the end of three months this regiment re-enlisted for a longer period, and Cap- tain Craig about that time received his commission as second lieutenant and subsequently was promoted to first lieutenant, then captain of Com- pany F' of the Eighth Ohio. IIe led his company gallantly and faithfully in its many battles and endured the hardships and shared with his com- panions the rigors of army life. He fought in many minor engagements, but the historie battles in which he participated were those at Fred- ericksburg, Antietam, Gettysburg. Winchester and the Wilderness. He was wounded at the battle of Winchester, was twice wounded at Antietam and on May 6, 1864. lost his life in the terrifie struggle of the Wilder- ness. ITis body was never recovered, and his companions reported that it must have been consumed by the flames.
Captain Craig married Eliza McCrea, who was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, of Scotch ancestry, having come to America with an older sister. She died in 1899 in her seventieth year. The four children reared by her were Fannie E., Charles A., Mary T., and Carrie W. The daughter Fannie married John B. Woolson, while Mary is the wife of Henry Hahn.
Charles A. Craig has lived in Sandusky since early childhood, and gained his early education in the public schools of that city. When his father went away to the war the family was left in very moderate circum- stances, and with the death of Captain Craig increased burdens of responsibility were thrown upon the shoulders of the young lad, then about thirteen years of age. Instead of attending school he began carning his living by work as a delivery boy in a grocery store. His next employ- ment was in the Woolworth handle factory, where he remained several years; was then for about three years elerk in the B. & O. express office, and for four years with E. R. Alvord & Company. Ih whatever capacity
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he has worked his service has been characterized by diligence and faithful- ness. For twelve years he was bookkeeper with E. B. Hodgman Manufac- turing Company, and after that for three years was with the Jarecki Chemical Company three years. He resigned his place with that firm to become manager and treasurer of Kilborn & Company, and is still offi- cially identified with that well-known Sandusky concern.
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