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 111
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lives in Vermilion Township. Francis Champney died at the age of eighty-five, while his wife passed away when only thirty-eight. They are buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery. Mary ( Webster) Champney was fifteen years of age when her parents eame to Vermilion Township. She was a daughter of Levi and Sarah ( Robins) Webster, who were early settlers in Vermilion Township, spent their lives on a farm here, and Levi died at the age of eighty-five and his wife at eighty-four. The Websters were members of the Congregational Church. After Louis Champney and wife were married they made their home on a farm near Axtel in Vermilion Township, and for a great many years the Champneys have been among the best known and most substantial people of that community. Lonis Champney died there in 1908. He was born in 1838. His widow is still living with her daughter Mrs. Albert Pease at the old Champney home near Axtel, and is seventy-one years of age and quite aetive though she has never been a very strong woman. She is a mem- ber of the Adventist Church. Mr. Champney was a strong democrat.
Mrs. Kropf by her first marriage had a daughter, Eva, who died in infancy. and a son, Roy A., who is married and lives in Elyria, Ohio, where he follows the business of insurance agent, statistician and enumer- ator. Mr. and Mrs. Kropf are the parents of the following children : Walter C., who lives at home and is in the second year of the high school ; Jessie, attending the Birmingham High School; Flossie B., also in high school; Fred Lonis, in the eighth grade; Edith E., in the sixth grade; Bernice E., in the fourth grade; and Nellie C., in the seeond grade. Mr. and Mrs. Kropf are members of the Adventist Church at Axtel, in which he is a deacon and superintendent of Sunday school. In polities he is a democrat and is always able to give a very strong and logical reason for his position in every political matter.
JOIIN WINITWORTH. The kind of business snecess which benefits not ouly the individual but the entire community was that which was won by the late John Whitworth of Sandusky. He helped to give that eity one of its largest industries, one by which the name Sandusky is known all over the country, and throughout his career was a conservative but publie spirited citizen, and everything that he touched was the better for his influence.
Ile was born in Paterson. New Jersey, in 1852, and died at his home in Sandusky. September, 13, 1907. Ilis parents, Jonathan and Nancy ( Walwork) Whitworth, were born in England and on coming to this country first settled in Paterson, New Jersey, and from there in 1854 came to Sandusky. Jonathan Whitworth was a machinist by trade and for a number of years was in the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Shops at Sandusky.
Practically the entire lifetime of John Whitworth was spent in San- dusky, since he was only two years of age when the family moved to that town. Ile had limited advantages in the way of- schooling, but was the type of man who succeeds no matter what his early handicap might be. Ilis first regular employment began at the age of fifteen as clerk in a grocery store. Ile was also employed by the old eo-operative store which once occupied the site of The Wagner Grocery Company. In a few years his thrift and energy had given him an independent position in local trade eircles, and he became senior member of Whitworth & Free, which later became Whitworth & Quinn.
However, his most important business connection was with the Ameri- ran Crayon Company, in which, after retiring from the grocery trade. he beeame a director and treasurer, and still later was made general manager for the company, and superintended its extensive operations up to the time of his death. The American Crayon Company is the
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largest eoncern of its kind in the world, and is largely due to the enter- prise and genius of Sandusky men. Mr. Whitworth was one of the execu- tive heads of the company while it was making its greatest growth and the industry deserves to be associated with his name and enterprise.
Mr. Whitworth also was well known as a banker and financier. IIe was at one time vice president of the old National Bank of Sandusky, and in September, 1902, when the Commercial National Bank was organ- ized and absorbed the Second and the Moss National banks, Mr. Whit- worth was chosen president of the new institution, and it was largely under his wise direction and counsel that it came to rank in the course of a few years with the leading financial institutions of Northern Ohio. He was also one of the organizers and was president of the Sandusky Building & Loan Association, was a director in the Sandusky Telephone Company, and his ability and services were utilized in many ways by the Chamber of Commerce, of which he was long an active member.
In July, 1889, Mr. Whitworth married Miss Carrie Curtis, a daugh- ter of W. D. and Caroline (Cowdery ) Curtis. W. D. Curtis helped to originate the manufacture of crayons in Sandusky, and out of the small business which he started nearly half a century ago was developed the American Crayon Company of the present time. Mrs. John Whitworth is still living at her home in Sandusky, and her children are: Mary and Millicent, and John Whitworth, Jr.
CUAS. J. KRUPP. Well known and highly esteemed as a professional and business man of Sandusky and noted throughout the State of Ohio as one of the pioneers in the advancement of the profession of embalming to its modern, seientifie state, is Chas. J. Krupp, who is now devoting his time and attention entirely to funeral directing and to the embahning profession. For forty years he has been prominent in business, fraternal and religious affairs of his city and during that time he has been in positions of trust under two state administrations. He was born in Sandusky, April 28, 1857, a son of John Krupp, who was born in Germany, but was a pioneer resident of Erie County.
Chas. J. Krupp's grandfather was Charles Krupp. The latter left the fatherland in 1833 and came with his family to Ameriea after a stormy voyage of sixty-two days, landing in New York. From there he came by the way of the Hudson River and Erie Canal to Buffalo, thence via Lake Erie to Venice, then a part of Huron County, Ohio. Proceed- ing to that part of Seneca County now known as Franks, he purchased a tract of forest-covered land, and having eleared a space, erected the rude log cabin which was the first home of the Krupp family in America. In comnon with other pioneers of his day, he labored with unceasing toil to improve his land, performing no inconsiderable part in helping to develop the resourees of that part of the country. Wild turkey. deer and other game were plentiful, helping largely to supply the family larder. He was industrious and energetie, and with the aid of his chil- dren, cleared from the wilderness a good farm, on which he spent his remaining days. The maiden name of his wife, whom he married in Germany, was Catherine Schabacher.
Born in Rhenish Bavaria, Germany, January 28, 1822, John Krupp was a lad of eleven years when he accompanied his parents to Ohio. Ile was the sixth oldest of ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Krupp. lle attended the pioneer schools of Seneca County and, as soon as old enough, did his full share in helping his father to elear and improve a homestead. While in his teens he served an apprenticeship of three years at the eabinet maker's trade at Tiffin, the first year receiving his board and $22 in money ; the second year receiving in addition to his board $32, that sum being increased the third year to $42. After work-
MR. AND MRS. JOHN KRUPP
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ing at his trade as a journeyman for a short time, he entered the employ of the Sandusky, Mansfield and Newark Railroad Company at Sandusky. This was in 1845. Mr. Krupp was associated with the railroad as a pattern maker for twenty-two years and two months. Resigning that position in 1870, he was engaged in the furniture and undertaking busi- ness at Sandusky until 1895 when he retired, being succeeded by his son, Chas. J. Krupp, who was already in partnership with him and his son- in-law, Henry T. Goebel.
After his retirement from the undertaking and furniture business, John Krupp continued to reside in Sandusky until his death which occurred February 25, 1911. He had been a very successful business man and aequired title to mueh valuable real estate within the City of Sandusky. He was one of the organizers of the Citizens Bank, of which he was vice president from 1886 until the time of his death. He was a devoted member of St. Mary's German Catholic Church.
On February 6, 1849, John Krupp was married at Thompson, Seneca County, Ohio, to Miss Catherine, the only child born to John and Cather- ine Simon, in what is known as New Prussia, in Germany, near Lorraine. She was in her twenty-second year at the time, having been born in 1827. To John and Catherine Krupp were born nine children, seven of whom have passed away. The departed ones were: Mary; Louisa, who was Mrs. Henry T. Goebel, of Sandusky ; Catherine, who became Mrs. Herbert Herb, of Erie County ; two sons each of whom was named John, Jacob and Jacob S. Those living are: Josephine, who is Mrs. Paul Miller, of Sandusky, and Chas. J., the special subject of this brief sketch.
Chas. J. Krupp attended the parochial schools of Sandusky until he was eleven years of age, after which he continued his studies at the Sandusky High School for two years. Ile was one of the youngest students who ever entered that institution. Ile gave up his sehool work at the age of thirteen, which was on May 1, 1870, to enter his father's employ. He soon became familiar with the business and at the end of eight years, was admitted to partnership, the firm name being John Krupp & Son. As stated above, the senior member of the firm retired in 1895 and the newly organized firm of Krupp & Goebel conducted the business for five years. The firm dissolved in 1900, Mr. Goebel con- tinuing in the furniture business while Mr. Krupp assumed the under- taking, which he has since carried on with unquestioned suceess.
In 1882. Prof. Auguste Renouard, arriving from France, started his elasses in seientifie embalming in this country. ITis first class after leaving New York, was that at Detroit. Mr. Krupp was one of the class of nineteen embalmers who took the first instructions ever given by Professor Renouard. From that time on, Mr. Krupp has been a leader in the ranks of embalmers skilled in the modern proeess. He has ever been abreast of advancement in his profession and his fame as an embalmer has not been locally confined. His offices are now in the Masonic Temple and his undertaking establishment is one of the finest in its equipment in this seetion of the state.
Mr. Krupp married, on November 5, 1878, Ida M. Palmerton. She was born in Erie County, Ohio, a daughter of Joshna Evans and Sarah Maria Palmerton. Mrs. Krupp died April 23, 1906, leaving two children. namely : Ida Estella and Ira C. J. Ida Estella married Thomas Arthur Hieks, who is the chief chemist for the Atlas Cement Company, pro- ducers of all the cement used in the construction of the Panama Canal. Fra C. J. Krupp, who married Emeline Moss, now owns and oceupies the homestead known as the Palmerton farm in Perkins Township, Erie County, Ohio.
On June 12. 1907, Chas. J. Krupp again married, his bride being Miss Mary Louise Buyer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony J. Buyer.
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Mrs. Krupp was for fourteen years organist at Sts. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church. In recent years Mrs. Krupp has been active in church and woman's organizations. She is treasurer of the Women's Building and Rest Room Association and is a member of the Catholie Woman's Study Club.
Mr. Krupp is prominently identified with various organizations. He is a member of the Ohio State Funeral Directors and Embalmers Asso- ciation, of which he was president in 1893; and of the National Funeral Directors' Association. For six years he was a member of the Ohio State Board of Embalming Examiners, being president two years and its secretary for an equal length of time. Governors Myron T. Herrick and Andrew L. Harris were the executives who appointed Mr. Krupp to the state board, each making an appointment for a three-year term. For one year Mr. Krnpp was vice president of the State and Provincial Board of Examiners for the United States and Canada.
Fraternally, Mr. Krupp is a member of Sandusky Council, No. 546. Knights of Columbus, of which he is past Grand Knight; of San- dusky Lodge, No. 285. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which he is past Exalted Ruler ; of Saint George Court. No. 238, Catholic Order of Foresters, of which he is past Chief Ranger; of Protection Tent, No. 7. Knights of the Maecabees: of Sandusky Camp, No. 54, Woodmen of the World; and of Sandusky Aerie, No. 444. Fraternal Order of Eagles. lle is also a member of the Sunyendeand Cluh.
REV. JOSEPH E. MAERDER. Concerning that distinctive portion of Erie County known as Kelley's Island a special article appears on other pages of this publieation. Many of the inhabitants of the island are Catholic people and they constitute the Parish of St. Michael's Church. This church has been in existence about half a century. Nearly all the families of the parish are connected in some way or other with the primary industries of the island, grape growing, stone quarrying and fishing.
The presence of Catholic people on the island caused it to be visited as a station and mission from Sandusky and Port Clinton beginning in 1861. In 1867 St. Michael's Parish received its first resident pastor. Since then the list of resident pastors has been as follows :
Rev. Charles Kueman 1867
Rev. Nieholas A. Moes, D. D. 1867-1868
Rev. Jno. Köhn 1868-1869
Rev. Charles Wardy 1869-1874
Rev. Henry Dörner 1874-1875
Rev. Francis Metternich 1875-1876
Rev. E. M. W. Hills. 1876-1878
Rev. William Finucan 1878-1880
Rev. Jno. Mertes 1880-1885
Rev. Jno. T. O'Connell, LL. D 1885-1887
Rev. Charles Reichlin 1887-1895
Rev. Albert Andlauer 1896-1898
Rev. Jno. Baumgartner 1898-1900
Rev. Jno. P. Schoendorff 1900-1909
Rev. Jno. Wagner 1909-1912
Rev. Joseph E. Maerder February 1, 1912
Special attention was called to St. Michael's by the recent (Novem- ber 7, 1915) rededieation of the parish church. This is the third dedi- eation in the history of the parish. The church as it now stands is
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architecturally a modified English Gothic style, and is well arranged and adapted for the different services carried on by the church.
Some of the pioneers and older families (in point of membership) still residing in the parish are Mrs. Honora Stokes, Mr. L. Hipp, Mrs. Erney; and the Bauman, Brennan, Duignan, Hauser, Healey, Lang, Leyden, MeGettigan, Moross, Miller, Riedy, Seeholzer and Sennish fami- lies.
Rev. Joseph E. Maerder was appointed resident pastor of St. Mi- chael's, Kelley's Island, on February 1, 1912, and in addition to his direc- tion of that parish he also attends the church at Put-in-Bay and the mission at Middle Bass.
G. WILLIAM DOERZBACH. There is no more widely known firm of contractors in Northern Ohio than G. William Doerzbach & Bro. This is a business of long standing in Sandusky. G. William Doerzbach is a master of the various trades connected with building contracting, and his experience has been limited not merely to Erie County, of which he is a native, since his firm has executed contracts for various business and public buildings all over the United States.
Born March 8, 1852, at Sandusky. G. William Doerzbach is a son of Christopher and Louisa Doerzbach. His father was born in Reilsheim, Baden, and his mother in Waldshansen, in Bavaria, Germany. Chris- topher came to America in 1847, making the journey alone so far as rela- tives or friends were concerned, and he soon afterward located in San- dusky. For a few years he was employed on the old Mad River & Lake Railroad, and later followed various lines until his death in 1872. As a citizen of Sandusky he stood very high in the esteem of all who knew him, and deserves the memorial of this brief record.
G. William Doerzbach is a man who has largely been the architect of his own fortunes. While he had a good home in his youth and the privilege of the local public schools, he was only eight years of age when he chose an independent course and began work as a messenger boy for the Western Union Telegraph Company. An encyclopedia of biography might be written of the successful Americans who were at some time or other in their early careers messengers with the Western Union Company. It should be said of Mr. Doerzbach that he has prac- tically paid his own way in the world almost since infancy. His first regular trade was cabinet-making, and he subsequently learned the car- penter's trade. For six years he worked as a journeyman carpenter and then went to Philadelphia and for one year was in the office of a leading architect, under whom he learned the fundamentals of his pro- fession.
On returning to Sandusky from Philadelphia Mr. Doerzbach took charge of the Andrew Biemiller Opera House in November, 1876, but in 1878 branched out into the business toward which his efforts and experience had been tending for a number of years. As a contractor he possesses all the qualifications which insure confidence in his work and his reliability of performance. He continued in the business alone up to 1900, at which date he formed a partnership with his brother under the present firm name of G. William Doerzbach & Bro. A large number of buildings stand as monuments to their enterprise not only in Erie County but in many other towns and localities. They have not confined their efforts to any one particular branch of building, though on the whole their facilities have been chiefly used in the construction of public structures, including churches, courthouses, jails and filtration plants, etc.
While one of the most successful business men, Mr. Doerzbach is also a very public spirited citizen of Sandusky, and at different times has Vol. II-47
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identified himself with the leading movements and undertakings that have brought about the growth and development of the city.
F. E. BRIGHTMAN. Not only in Sandusky but in manufacturing circles in a number of cities in the Middle West is the name of F. E. Brightman known and respected both for his executive ability and his genius as an originator and upbuilder in manufacturing lines. Mr. Brightman is now the head of one of the growing concerns in Sandusky.
He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, January 19, 1865, a son of J. W. and Deborah (Head) Brightman. His father, who was a native of Connec- ticut, came west in 1845 and thereafter lived in the City of Cleveland. He was married in that city and for forty years was connected with the Cleveland Paper Company, being its superintendent at the time of his death in 1885. He and his wife had five children, of whom F. E. Bright- man was next to the youngest.
Mr. Brightman grew up in Cleveland. attended the public schools there and until the death of his father was in the latter's paper mill. After that he was in the machinery business, and his work has always been along mechanical and industrial lines. He has what his friends regard as a special genius in the perfection of machinery for manufac- turing purposes. He was finally sent out to California to superintend a gold mine, and spent three years in that work, and his engagement was a very profitable thing to the company that sent him west. On his return to Cleveland Mr. Brightman was for a short time in his former business, and then moved to Pittsburg and for five years was at the head of the forging department of the Westinghouse Machine Company.
His relations with Sandusky business affairs have been continuous since 1907, when he was made general superintendent of the Brightman Nut Manufacturing Company. Five years later, in 1913, he organized the Marsh-Brightman Nut Company. This concern manufactures steel nuts for automobiles, and is one of the largest concerns of its kind in America. The plant comprises six unt machines, and each of these machines is the invention of Mr. Brightman. He also perfected a number of other devices and appliances for this industry, and the plant which means so much not only to him but to Sandusky as a city, has a capacity for turning out 80,000 nuts per week.
Mr. Brightman has taken over the business of the company as lessee, and now operates the plant independently.
Ile is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, with the Modern Wood- men of America and with the Fraternal Order of Eagles. In politics he is an independent republican.
WILLIAM H. TRUSCOTT. In the personal and ancestral histories of both Mr. Truscott and his gracious wife there are to be found many data of distinctive interest. Both are representatives of fine patrician stock and Mrs. Truseott comes of the stanchest of Colonial ancestry, as is specially indicated by the fact that so numerous were her aneestors who were patriot soldiers in the War of the Revolution that, in her affiliation with the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, she has the distinction of being entitled to eleven bars. She is further to be designated as a representative of one of the earliest pioneer fami- lies of Erie County, and the attractive little Village of Birmingham. Florence Township, where she and her husband now reside in the fine old homestead of her ancestors, was founded by her paternal grand- father, who settled in this part of Erie County more than a century ago. After many years of successful identification with business interests Mr. Truseott is now living retired. one of the loyal and publie-spirited citizens of Birmingham, and it is specially gratifying to present in this
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publication a review of his career and genealogy and also to pay similar tribute to Mrs. Truscott.
William HI. Truscott was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, in the year 1861. The Truseott family was one of ancient prestige in Wales, whence representatives of the name later went into Scotland, still later genera- tions becoming prominent and influential in England. Samuel Truscott, grandfather of him whose name introduces this review, was born and reared in England, a seion of a distinguished and aristocratie London family, as is significantly indicated by the fact that his paternal grand- father served as the first lord mayor of the world's great metropolis, and later a son of the grandfather likewise held the high- office of lord mayor of London, and having received the order of knighthood, under the name of Sir George Truscott.
Samuel Truscott was born in London and, being a younger son, he determined to avoid the comparative obscurity entailed by the system of primogeniture in his native land and to take advantage of the oppor- tunities afforded in America. He came to the United States with an appreciable financial reinforcement to enable him to lay the foundation for successful business, and established his residence in the State of New York, where was solemnized his marriage to Miss Roxana Cooley, who was there born and reared and who was a sister of the late Judge Cooley, long the distinguished dean of the faculty of the law department of the great University of Michigan and recognized as one of the most eminent legists and jurists, as well as law educators and authors, in the entire United States, the Cooley family having been one of special prominence and influence in the State of New York.
A number of years after his marriage Samuel Truscott removed to the Province of Ontario, Canada, where his death occurred, his widow later removing with her children to Cleveland, Ohio, where she passed the residue of her life and where she died at a venerable age. They became the parents of two sons and two daughters-Samuel, Jr., William H., Elizabeth and Eliza. Samuel, Jr., father of the subject of this review, is more specifically mentioned in a later paragraph. William H. Truscott became an honored and influential citizen of Cleveland, where he was prominent in public affairs and where he represented the Eighth Ward in the city council. As a member of this municipal body he intro- dueed and obtained the passage of the bill providing for the erection of the first great viaduet over the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland. Both he and his wife died in that city and were survived by two or more children. Elizabeth Truscott became the wife of Samuel Fernald, and they were survived by a number of children. Eliza Truscott married Maj. George Morris, and she preceded him to the life eternal. Major Morris was a gallant soldier and officer in an Ohio regiment during the Civil war, in which he rose to the rank of major, and in later years he was a captain in the marine service on the Great Lakes. He passed the closing years of his life in the Soldiers' Home at Sandusky, and he is survived by one child.
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