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 13
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In his political affiliations Mr. Winters is a demoerat. He has ren- dered excellent service as a member of the Sandusky Board of Education, and for six years was prosecuting attorney of Erie County. In 1905 he was elected as a representative to the Ohio State Legislature, and has had the honor of being three times re-elected to the same high position. While in that body he served as chairman of the Committee on Cities, on Codes, Courts and Procedure, and as a member of the Committee on Ways and Means. He is an authority on matters pertaining to legal affairs, and is well known as the author of the publie utility law.
Mr. Winters married, in 1874, Helen E. Clason, who was born in Logan County, Ohio, where her father, Dr. Thomas S. Clason, was a prominent physician and surgeon. Six children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Winters, namely : Bessie H., wife of Howard II. Brown; Cyrus B., who married Dorothy Streetman; Mabel I .; Thomas C .; Katherine, and Richard.
HAYES M. ADAMS. Widely and favorably known as county auditor of Erie County, Hayes M. Adams, of Sandusky, has proved himself emi- nently worthy of the confidenee and trust reposed in his integrity and ability, invariably giving to his work, however humble it may be, his highest efforts. IIe was born August 29, 1875. in Crawford County, Ohio, which was likewise the birthplace of his father, Ephraim H. Adams, a son of Eli Adams, a pioneer settler of that county. Coming
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from honored New England ancestry, he is a descendant in the sixth generation from John Adams, the second President of the United States, and his wife Abigail (Smith) Adams, their grandson, Ephraim Adams, having been his great-grandfather.
Born and bred in Massachusetts, Ephraim Adams lived there until after his marriage. Migrating to New York State with his family in 1806, he beeame a pioneer settler of Cayuga County. After the burn- ing of Buffalo by the British in 1813 he again started westward with his family, going with a team to Lake Erie, thence by sehoooner to Ohio, landing at Ogontz Place, the present site of the City of Sandusky. Nearly all of Ohio was then a wilderness, being the hunting ground of Indians, who had held the country for centuries and were not pleased with the advances of the white-faced strangers. Taking up a tract of heavily tim- bered land on the present site of Milan, he erected a log cabin, and on the homestead which he improved he and his wife spent their remain- ing years.
Born near Boston, Massachusetts, March 13, 1803, Eli Adams was searee three years of age when brought by his parents to Erie County. Growing to manhood beneath the parental rooftree, he assisted his father in the pioneer task of elearing the land, freely giving his time and labor, and at the death of his father receiving, it is said, as his share of the estate, a seythe, which he at once traded for a pair of shoes. Subse- quently taking up Government land in Texas Township, Crawford County, Ohio, he built the eustomary log cabin of the pioneer, and in the course of time improved a productive farm. He spent the later years of his life with his children. in Bloomville and La Timberville, dying at the home of a son in the latter named place at the advaneed age of eighty-six years. He married, in 1827, Myra Angeline Andrews, whose father, James Andrews, a native of Chester County, Pennsylvania, was a pioneer of Crawford County, Ohio. She died in Bloomville, Ohio, in 1875. Four of the sons horn of their union served during the Civil war in the Union army,
Ephraim H. Adams was born December 9, 1831, in the log cabin ereeted by his father in Texas Township, Crawford County, and there grew to man's estate, as a youth learning the earpenter's trade. He sub- sequently settled in Lykens Township, Crawford County, and at the breaking out of the Civil war there enlisted in the regiment known as the "Mechanies' Fusilcers," an organization that had not been author- ized by the Government, and was not accepted. Enlisting, in 1864, in Company E, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, he went with his command to Virginia, and there continued with his regiment until honorably discharged from the service at the expiration of his term of enlistment. Returning to Crawford County, he worked at his trade until 1880, when he moved to Syeamore, Wyandot County, which was his home for three years. In 1883 he came to Sandusky, and has been a resident of this city, or of Clyde, ever since. The maiden name of the wife of Ephraim II. Adams was Letitia Brown. She was born, of English ancestry, in Hamilton, Ontario, a daughter of Asa and Nancy (Lee) Brown, and died in 1887. Three children were born of their marriage, as follows: Asa Eli; Harry, who lived but five years; and Hayes M.
Asa Eli Adams was born in Crawford County, Ohio, August 28. 1864, and at the early age of ten years began working at the carpen- ter's trade. An able mechanie, skillful in the use of tools, he soon be- came proficient at his trade, which he has followed continuously in San- dusky since 1884. He married, July 4, 1887, Miss Sallie Livinia Martin, who was born at Martins Point, Margaretta Township, Erie County, Ohio. Her father, C. Nelson Martin, was born July 21, 1834, in San-
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dusky, where his parents, Richard and Sallie Martin, were pioneer set- tlers, and married in early manhood Phebe Reed. Mr. and Mrs. Asa Eli Adams have four children living, namely: Phebe Letitia, Gracie Maude, Ceeil Livinia, and Mahel Dorothy.
Gleaning his first knowledge of books in the rural schools of his native district, Hayes M. Adams subsequently continued his studies in Bloomville, and later attended the public schools of Sandusky, making his home with his brother Asa in the meantime. At the age of fourteen years he began an apprenticeship at the barber's trade, with which he was actively associated for nine years. Ile afterwards entered the em- ploy of the Sandusky Gas Company as meter reader and collector, and while thus occupied made good use of his leisure time by taking a corre- spondenee eourse in bookkeeping. Ile was subsequently twice promoted by his employers, first to the position of teller, and later becoming cashier of the company. At the end of seven years Mr. Adams severed his connection with the gas company and accepted the position of general bookkeeper in the Citizens Bank, in which he was later made individual bookkeeper. continuing with the bank in that capacity until his election as eounty auditor of Erie County. When Mr. Adams was first chosen to this responsible office, in November, 1912. he had a majority of 106 votes only, but in November, 1914, he received a majority of 2,893 of the votes cast, the large increase in his favor showing his popularity as a county official.
Mr. Adams married, in 1899, Miss Katherine L. Bier, who was born in Sandusky, and was there brought up and educated. Her father, Henry Bier, a native of Hessen, Germany, immigrated to America in 1852. settling in Sandusky, where he met and married Mary L. Stocker, who was born in Berne, Switzerland, and came to this country in 1871.
A stanch republican in politics. Mr. Adams cast his first presidential vote for William MeKinley, and has ever since taken an active and in- telligent interest in public affairs. He is officially identified with various fraternal organizations, being a member and ehaneellor commander of Sandusky Lodge No. 128, Knights of Pythias: a member and past eom- mander of F. W. Stevens Tent No. 1293, Knights of the Maccabees; a member of Sandusky Lodge No. 285, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; a member of Sandusky Aprie No. 444, Fraternal Order of Eagles ; and of Sandusky Herd No. 471, Loyal Order of Moose.
IION. MALCOLM KELLY. Bringing to the practice of his chosen pro- fession an earnest zeal, a well trained mind, and habits of industry, Hon. Malcolm Kelly, a leading citizen of Sandusky, has won snecess as an attorney-at-law, and holds an honored position in the legal circles of Erie County. A son of the late John Kelly, he was born in Danbury Township, Ottawa County, Ohio. of excellent Irish ancestry on his father's side, and Puritan New England ancestry on his mother's side.
Ilis paternal grandfather, William Kelly, was born in 1779. in the Parish of Gardaughy, County Down, Ireland, where he began life for himself as a linen draper. Shortly after his marriage with Jane Reed, a native of County Down, he started for America in 1805, arriving in Philadelphia, and from there going to New York State. In 1818, taking passage at Buffalo on the sailing vessel Perseverance, he came to Ohio, landing in Sandusky after a lake voyage of six weeks, in the month of December. With his family, he spent the following winter in a log cabin that had been used as a cooper's shop. He was very well educated for those days, and for some time after coming to Ohio was employed as clerk in the office of the eounty auditor at Port Clinton, Ottawa County. He spent the last of his life with his son John, dying there in 1867.
I. Wichnam
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John Kelly was born in Troy, New York, in 1809, and as a lad of nine years came with his parents to Ohio. In early life he worked at the mason's trade, but afterwards bought land in Danbury Township, and was there successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1883. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Pettibone, was said to have been the first white child born in Newburg, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, her birth having occurred there in 1814. 1Ier father, Truman Pettibone, a native of Vermont, migrated to Ohio in early manhood, and for awhile followed his trade of a eabinetmaker. Mr. Pettibone married Phebe Wolcott, a daughter of Benajah and Eliazbeth (Bradley) Wolcott. Mr. Woleott, a native of New Haven, Connecticut, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, being a member of the Forty-first Connecticut Regiment. In 1809 Mr. Pettibone came with his family to Ottawa County, Ohio, loeating in Danbury Township, on land donated to his wife by Epiphras Bull, to settlers coming in. After the surrender of Hull, in 1812, the Indians of that vicinity were very trou- blesome, and all of the whites fled, the Pettibones going to Newburg, where they remained until peace was restored. On their return to the home farm they found that nothing had been disturbed, a fact that he attributed to the influence of his friend, Chief Ogontz. For some time Mr. Pettibone had charge of the Marblehead light. His death occurred in 1832.
After leaving the rural schools of his native township, Malcolm Kelly attended the Sandusky High School two years, after which he taught school two or three terms. Going then to Oberlin, he completed the course of study in a business college, where he was subsequently employed as a teacher for two years. Ile then began the study of law, for which he had a natural aptitude, with Homer Goodwin, and in 1873 was grad- uated from the law department of the University of Michigan. Going to Chicago, Mr. Kelly was soon admitted to the Illinois bar, and continued the practice of his profession in that city for two years. Returning to Ohio in 1875, he was admitted to the Ohio bar, and immediately opened a law office at Port Clinton. In 1898 Mr. Kelly located in Sandusky, where. he has since continued in active practice, holding high rank among the more able and successful lawyers of this section of the state. In 1891 he was elected judge of the first subdivision of the Fourth Judicial Circuit to fill both an unexpired term and a full term, and remained on the bench for six years, filling the position most acceptably.
Mr. Kelly married, in 1876, Susan Smith, who was born in Fremont, Ohio, a daughter of John and Eleanor (Bowland) Smith, pioneer set- tlers of Sandusky County. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly have three children, namely : Amy R., Bessie A., and Donald M.
REV. JOSEPH S. WIDMANN. For nearly a quarter of a century the Rev. Joseph S. Widmann has been associated with Saint Mary's Church at Sandusky, first as curate and later as pastor, and during his long period of service he has labored diligently in the interests of the parish, being a tireless and earnest worker in the cause of the faith. A son of Daniel Widmann, he was born in Rice Township, Sandusky County, Ohio.
Daniel Widmann was born, bred and educated in Germany, the home for many generations of his ancestors. His sympathy with the revolu- tionists of 1848 was so clearly evident he as soon as possible after that historical event was obliged to leave the Fatherland. Taking passage on a sailing vessel, he landed in New York six weeks later, and going from there by rail to Albany, he continued his journey westward to Buffalo by way of the Erie Canal, and thence by Lake Erie to Sandusky, arriving in that city a stranger in a strange land, with but fifty cents to his name.
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Seeking employment, he subsequently worked for different farmers in the vicinity of Norwalk, Bellevue and Fremont. Being industrious and prudent in his expenditures, he acenmulated some money and in due course of time was enabled to buy eighty acres of land, paying $11 an acre for the tract. A small clearing and a set of log buildings constituted the only improvements that had been made on the place. Succeeding well in his undertakings, he afterward purehased a traet of timbered land at $8 an acre, but subsequently disposed of that property. He improved the greater portion of his land, erected a substantial set of frame buildings, and continued his residence in Rice Township until his death, at the age of sixty-two years. The maiden name of the wife of Daniel Widmann was Mary Hafner. She was born in Germany, and at the age of eleven years eame with her parents to America, locating with them in Ohio, where she still lives, making her home with her ehil- dren since the death of her husband. She reared seven sons and one daughter.
Ilaving acquired his elementary education in the rural schools of his native township, Joseph S. Widmann subsequently continued his studies in Toledo for two years, and at the age of twenty years entered the classical department of Canisius College in Buffalo, where he remained five years. Going then to Cleveland, he entered Saint Mary's Theological Seminary, and was ordained to the priesthood by the late Bishop Horstmann from that institution on April 8, 1892. Coming directly to Sandusky, he served as curate of Saint Mary's Church for nine years, from April, 1892, until April, 1901, when he assumed his present responsible position as pastor of the church. Father Widmann is a man of scholarly attainments, earnest and thorough in all of his work, both spiritual and corporal, and has been largely instrumental in advaneing the social and intellectual life of his parish, especially among the young people. Outside of the sanctuary he is a polished and pleasant gentleman, very popular, not only with his parishioners but with the masses of the people, and it is a real pleasure to meet him.
JACOB DIETZ. In 1913 the City of Sandusky made a fortunate choice for the office of mayor in the person of Jacob Dietz, who is a native of Sandusky, has known the eity and its people from early youth, and is a snecessful business man who has yielded to the importunities of his fel- low citizens and has devoted himself disinterestedly to the management of municipal affairs.
Jaeob Dietz was born in Sandusky, a son of Lewis Dietz. His father was a native of Bavaria, was reared and educated in his native land, and after leaving school served an apprenticeship under his father at the trade of tailor. Then following the practice of trade workers in the old country, he began his journeyman period, during which he traveled from city to city, working for a time in each place and before leaving securing a certificate of good character and workmanship from his em- ployer. After a few months of journeyman's experience he left the old country and set out for the New World. He was accompanied by his widowed mother and sisters. They took passage on a sailing vessel, were on board sixty-three days, almost twelve times as long as the fast Atlantic steamers now require, and after landing at New York came west to San- dusky. Here Lewis Dietz engaged in business as a merchant tailor, and continued to make his home in the city until his death on April 6, 1896. He was twice married, and his wives were sisters. His second wife, the mother of Mayor Dietz, bore the maiden name of Catherine Knerr, who was also born in Bavaria, and died at Sandusky December 31, 1889. Her first husband was Paul Clauer, by whom she was the mother of five children, named Louise, Caroline, Paul, Daniel and Lizzie. By her
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marriage to Lewis Dietz her two children were Emma and Jacob. The daughter Emma married Daniel Heffman, of Sandusky, and her two liv- ing children are Frederick and Emma, while Lewis died at the age of thirty-two and Daniel at the age of twenty-seven.
Jacob Dietz secured his education in the city schools of Sandusky. He was reared in the habits of industry and while still a boy was em- ployed in the factory of the Sandusky Wheel Company. Then followed an apprenticeship at the trade of cigarmaker, and that gave him the basis for his permanent business eareer. From the savings of his work as a journeyman he embarked in business on his own account, and has now for many year been one of the leading eigar manufacturers of San- dusky. He finally formed a partnership with Daniel Mischler, under the firm name of Dietz & Mischler, and they have a large plant employ- ing a number of hands, and besides the manufacture and distribution of their prodnets they conduet a well appointed store on Columbus Avenue for the sale of tobacco and smokers' articles.
Mr. Jacob Dietz was married May 19, 1886, to Louise Sehlenk. She was born in Sandusky, a daughter of Solomon and Mary (Kaechle) Schlenk. Mr. and Mrs. Dietz have two ehildren: Arthur and Marie.
Jacob Dietz is affiliated with Sandusky Lodge No. 128, of the Knights of Pythias; with Sandusky Lodge No. 285, of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks; and Sandusky Aerie No. 444, of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Sinee reaching manhood he has been identified with the democratie party, and at different times has worked effectively in its campaigns. He served one term as president of the eity eouneil and was elected mayor in 1913.
JOHN F. HERTLEIN. An active and able member of the Erie County bar, John F. Hertlein has met with well merited success in his profes- sional eareer, through his own efforts attaining a noteworthy position among Sandusky's most talented attorneys-at-law. A native son of Ohio, he was born on a farm near Sandusky, coming from excellent German ancestry.
His father, the late George Hertlein, was born and bred in Bavaria, Germany, where his parents spent their entire lives, as did his brothers and sisters, he having been the only member of the parental household to cross the ocean. Acquiring a good common school education in the days of his boyhood and youth, he served an apprenticeship at the mill- wright's trade, after which, as was customary in his native land, he worked as a journeyman in several different places, from each of his employers receiving a certificate testifying to his good character and skillful workmanship. At the end of three years he became a master workman, and continued at his trade until twenty-six years old, when, in 1843, he set sail for the New World. Five weeks after his embarka- tion he arrived in New York, and from there went to Buffalo, where he boarded a steamer bound for Sandusky. Going to Cincinnati a few weeks later, he remained in that city several years, being variously em- ployed. Desirous then of wisely investing his earnings, he returned to Sandusky, and having purchased a small traet of land on the line of Perkins and Portland townships, turned his attention to truck farming, and was there a resident until his death, at the age of seventy-six years.
The maiden name of the wife of George Hertlein was Catherine Biegler. She was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1825, and died on the home farm in Erie County, aged seventy-eight years. Her father, George Biegler, was born, roared and educated in Bavaria. He there married, and several years later, in 1839, he formed a colony of twenty-one peo- ple, including himself, wife and five children, and came in a sailing vessel to the United States, the land of bright hopes and much promise.
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Landing in Baltimore, he secured a six-ox team and a prairie schooner and made an overland journey across the mountains and through the intervening wilderness to Cincinnati. For awhile thereafter he lived at Lick Run, and then bought a farm at Delhi, a few miles west of Cincin- nati, and was there busily employed in the culture of fruit the remainder of his life.
Brought up on the parental homestead, John F. Hertlein gleaned his first knowledge of the common branches of study in the rural schools of his native district. Subsequently for a number of years he alternately sailed the lakes during the seasons open to navigation and at other times attended the Ohio Northern University, at Ada, where he was graduated with the class of 1893. Mr. Hertlein, as natural to a young man of such distinctive energy and ambition, had previously formulated plans em- bracing a professional career. In 1887 he taught one term of school in Margaretta Township, then taught the Castalia High School for a period of five years, and subsequently became superintendent of the Kelley's Island schools for a like period, during which time he was a member of the county board of teachers' examiners for four years.
While teaching Mr. Hertlein studied law with King & Hull, and on giving up his position as teacher entered the law department of the Ohio State University, from which he was graduated in 1900. Being then elected clerk of courts, he served six years in that capacity, and since that time has been actively engaged in the practice of law at San- dusky; where he has won professional precedence by reason of his ability and devotion to his work.
Mr. Hertlein married, in 1899, Alice Kelley, a native of Margaretta Township, and daughter of Michael and Mary Kelley. Prominent in fraternal circles, Mr. Ilertlein is a member of Science Lodge No. 50, Free and Accepted Masons; of Sandusky City Chapter No. 72, Royal Arch Masons; of Sandusky City Council No. 26, Royal and Select Masters : of Erie Commandery No. 23, Knights Templars; and of the Toledo Consistory, being a thirty-second degree Mason.
JOHN H. HOMEGARDNER. For fully sixty years the name Home- gardner has had important associations with the business and indns- trial affairs of Sandusky. When the family was first established in this section of Northern Ohio they had come only recently from Europe, and while people of great thrift and of excellent character, they were in exceedingly modest circumstances, and only by the unusual ability and enterprise of its members was the name raised to be one of distinction in the life and activities of the city. In a business way one of Sandusky's leaders for fully half a century was the late John Homegardner, who, beginning life a poor boy, was before his death a wealthy and influential citizen. His son, John H. Homegardner, has an even greater place in local business affairs, and his judgment and integrity have been factors in the shaping and successful progress of a number of Sandusky's busi- ness institutions.
For a great many years the family name has been associated with the sand industry, and John H. Homegardner is now president of the Homegardner Sand Company. He is president of the Sandusky Ter- minal Dock Company; a director of the Citizens Banking Company, of the Portland Vintage Company of Sandusky, of the Sandusky Abstract Company, of the Consumers Ice Company.
John H. Homegardner was born in Sandusky July 29, 1854, a son of John and Mary (Lieblan) Homegardner. His father was born in Swit- zerland and his mother in Germany. The late John Homegardner was brought to America when three years of age, coming on through New York to Sandusky, where his father died not long after the family
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arrived. John Homegardner was thrown upon his own resources by the death of his father, and from an carly age helped to support the household, and in the course of time gained an enviable position. For forty years he was engaged in the sand business and made that the basis of his successful career. For a long time he conducted it as sole pro- prietor under his individual name, and was also a timber contractor for a number of years. For twenty-four years he served as a member of the city council of Sandusky and for two terms was a county commissioner of Erie County. In politics he was a democrat, and his judgment was as much esteemed in public affairs as in business. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.
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