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 15
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WILLIAM SCHNEE, JR. While speaking of the old-time families of Oxford Township that of Schnee is one that frequently comes into the records both as substantial farmers and as citizens who have held the local offices of trust and honor. William Schnee, Jr., is township trustee at the present time and has a well managed and valuable country home on Rural Ronte No. 3 ont of Monroeville.
A native of Oxford Township, he was born January 1. 1867, and his father was the late William Schnee, a native of Nassau, Germany. Wil- liam Schnee came to America when a young man, having aequired his edneation in the old country, and not long afterward permanently set- tled in Oxford Township, where in the course of his long and active career he became identified with its institutions and was one of the lead- ing farmers. He likewise served a term or so as township trustee. In polities he was a democrat, and in every relation was helpful and a valu- able factor in the community. His death ofeurred in his sixty-ninth year. Ten of his children survive: Emma, wife of William Meyer, of IInron County; Frederick P. of Oxford Township; Catherine, wife of
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Frederick Ohlemacher, of Erie County ; Sophia, wife of Julius Leber, of ITuron County ; Louise, wife of Philip Leber, of Huron County ; William, Jr., of Oxford Township; Maggie, wife of William Mayer, of Sandusky ; Elizabeth, wife of Charles Ohlemacher, of Milan; Jennie of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ; and Gustave of Oxford Township.
William Schnee, Jr., grew up on the home farm and secured such advantages as the public sehools of Oxford Township could bestow. Mature years have developed him as a capable farmer, a man known for his thrift and good judgment, and it was these qualities which eansed the community to choose him for the responsibilities of trustee.
He married Miss Eliza A. Turner, who was born in Oxford Town- ship, a daughter of the late John Turner, who died in that locality when about seventy-five years of age. Ile was an early settler of Oxford Town- ship, and was a native of England, having located in Oxford Township soon after his arrival in this country. Mr. and Mrs. Schnee have one son, Floyd E., who was born August 26, 1900, and is now a student in the local schools. In polities Mr. Schnee is independent, voting for the man whom he considers best fitted for office regardless of his party stamp. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Knights of the Maccabees at Bloom- ingville, Ohio, and he and his wife are both interesting people and socially well known in their home community.
FRED A. MARTIN. One of the capable young business men of San- dusky, where he has made his enterprise a source of service to the com- munity and has taken great pains to supply some standard food products, Fred A. Martin is a native of Belgium, and has lived in Sandusky for the past fifteen years.
He was born January 27, 1882, but in early childhood he came to America from his native land with his parents, Julius Martin and wife. They first located in Kent, Ohio. Julius Martin was a glass worker, and pursued his calling in various other cities in Ohio and Indiana. He came to Sandusky in 1901 and continued to follow his calling as a glass worker until his death in 1912.
The youngest in a family of ten children. Fred A. Martin, received most of his education in the public schools of Kokomo and Hartford City, Indiana. ]Ie began as a boy worker in the glass plant with his father, and continued to follow that vocation up to 1910. He then entered the confectionery and ice cream business in Sandusky, and he now has one of the largest plants for the manufacture of ice cream in Northern Ohio. This factory has a capacity for turning ont 3,000 gallons per day, and is equipped with all modern improvements. Mr. Martin has always given special attention to the purity and quality of his product, and in con- neetion with the manufacturing and wholesaleing of ice cream he con- duets a large ice cream parlor, and in connection has a very complete cafeteria, where every day hundreds of Ioeal citizens serve themselves with choicely selected and cooked meals. His most important enterprise is in the manufacturing of high grade eandies, employing a corps of expert workmen, and the products are of the highest standard.
Mr. Martin is a member of Perseverance Lodge No. 329, F. & A. M .. of the local lodge of Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, is a member of the Sunyendeand Club, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the United Commercial Travelers. In polities he is independent. On August 23. 1905, at Sandusky he married Miss Alpha H. Steen. Their two children are named Harry T. and Fred J., Jr.
JOSEPH L. MORROW. To mark the passing years with personal honor and worthy achievements is man's justification of his being and the crite-
Ofred a Martin
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rion by which judgment is passed upon him. The career of this well known citizen of Erie County, which has praetieally been his home from his childhood days, has been significantly one of integrity of purpose, of consecutive industry, of self-reliance aud of well merited advancement in temporal prosperity. He has been virtually dependent upon his own resources since boyhood and that he has wrought well needs no further certification than his present status as one of the substantial representa- tives of the agricultural industry in Erie County and his high standing in the confidenee and good will of the community which has so long been his home. He was one of the valiant young patriots who represented this county as a soldier in the Civil War, and his loyalty in the "piping times of peace" has been of the same order. He is the owner of a small farm in Perkins Township and, now having attained to the age of three score years and ten, he has virtually retired from the arduous toil which marked his more active career.
Mr. Morrow was born in Bellevue, Huron County, Ohio, on the 25th of September, 1845, and is a son of William and Jemima (Taylor) Mor- row, the former of whom was born in Ireland and the latter in the State of Connecticut. William Morrow was reared and edneated in the Em- erald Isle and as a youth of eighteen years he immigrated to the United States, having been for a time identified with the boot and shoe business in New York City, whence he finally came to Erie County, Ohio, and engaged in the same line of enterprise at Sandusky, he having learned the trade of shoemaker in his native land. He finally settled on a tract of land in Perkins Township, on what is now Columbus Avenue of the City of Sandusky, and he reclaimed this farm of thirty-six aeres from the virgin forest, developing the same into one of the prodnetive farms of the county and here continuing to maintain his home, a worthy and highly respected citizen, until his death in 1880.
Joseph L. Morrow, the immediate subject of this review, was a child at the time of the family removal to the pioneer farm in Perkins Town- ship and was but ten years of age when his mother died. He gained his early education in the somewhat primitive schools of the lecality and period, but his broader discipline has been that aequired in his long and active association with men and affairs, and his alert mentality has made him a man of well fortified views and excellent fund of information. When still a mere boy Mr. Morrow gained fellowship with honest toil and began to provide for his own maintenance. He was not yet sixteen years old at the time when the Civil War was precipitated on a divided nation and yet he waited only the possibility and opportunity for giving patent evidence of his youthful patriotism. In the winter of 1863 Mr. Morrow enlisted as a private in Company G. 123rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which gallant command he served until the elose of the war. a faithful and valiant young soldier who was ever found ready to discharge promptly every assigned duty. He served in turn under Gen- erals Sigel, Hunter, Sheridan and Grant and took part in many impor- tant engagements marking the progress of the great conflict between the States of the North and the South. For much of the time he was identified with military operations in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and later his regiment was with the Army of the James for a period of about six months. Among the more important engagements in which Mr. Morrow participated may be noted the battles of Winehes- ter. Newmarket. Five Forks. Opequan, Cedar Creek, ard the siege of Petersburg. Three days prior to the surrender of General Lee. on the field of Appomatox, Mr. Morrow's entire regiment was captured by the enemy, at Farmville, Virginia, but the members of the command were promptly released when the surrender of Generals Lee and Johnston became known. With his comrades Mr. Morrow returned to Ohio. and in \n). II- 7
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its capital city they received their honorable discharges in June. 1865. The military career of Mr. Morrow is one that will reflect enduring honor. and his interest in his old comrades in arms is shown by his active affili- ation with that noble and patriotic organization, the Grand Army of the Republic, the ranks of which are being so rapidly thinned by the one invincible adversary, death.
After the close of the war Mr. Morrow returned to Erie County, where he remained until 1870, when he removed to Mound City, Illinois. where he resided several years. He then established his home in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, where he remained until 1882 and where he followed various lines of business activity. In the year mentioned he returned to Erie County and established his permanent residence on his present fine little homestead farm, the area of which is sufficient to permit him to maintain his activities in a produetive and successful way without assuming the heavier burdens of responsibility that long rested on his shoulders.
Mr. Morrow is one of the liberal and public-spirited citizens of Erie County and is always ready to do his part in the furtherance of meas- ures advanced for the moral, educational, social and material welfare of the community, the while both he and his wife are held in unqualified esteem by all who know them, both being zealous members of the Per- kins Methodist Episcopal Church, and his political allegiance having been given to the republican party from the time he attained to his legal majority to the present.
As a young man Mr. Morrow wedded Miss Annetta Hopkins, of Erie County, and of the three children of this union two are living-Marian, who is the wife of Otto Erickson, of Cleveland, and Olive, who is the wife of Thomas Mays, of Akron, this state. John W., the third child of this marriage, is deeeased. For his second wife Mr. Morrow wedded Miss Susan J. Banks, who was born and reared in Perkins Township and who is a daughter of the late William Banks. The one child of this union is Vincent B., and he resides in the City of Cleveland.
GEORGE HINDE. The community of Perkins Township sustained a great loss in the death of George Ilinde in August, 1899. Mr. Hinde was a native of Erie County and possessed just the proper combination of industry, good judgment, ability as a farmer and financier and a spot- less integrity which enabled him to accumulate not only a substantial material prosperity but also the fond regard and respect of all who were acquainted with him personally or with his attainments.
He was born at Iluron, Ohio. July 18, 1838, a son of James J. and Margaret (Broderick ) Ilinde. His father was a native of Ireland and an early settler in Perkins Township of Erie County, where his name deserves a place among the pioneers. He died in that township and spent most of his years as a farmer.
On March 6, 1871, Mr. Hinde married Ann H. Graham, who was born in Huron Township of Erie County. a daughter of John and Jane (Crozier) Graham. The Grahams were also early settlers in Huron Township and natives of Ireland. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hinde: May A., wife of John C. Peterson, of Perkins Township : Margaret J., wife of Gustavus Kelley, of Perkins Township : John ( .. now deceased ; Mabel N. lives in Perkins Township; and John G., second of that name, also a resident of Perkins Township.
JOSEPH T. BURNHAM. The president of the Berlin Heights Banking Company. Mr. Burnham is one of the vigorous business leaders in this section of Erie County, and while it has been his own home for only a few years, he may claim through his parents and his grandfather asso-
D. J. Punham
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ciations with some of the earliest pioneer history of Northern Ohio. The Burnhams were Connecticut people who came to Northern Ohio as claimants of some of the land granted as a remuneration to the sufferers from British invasion, known as the "Fire Land."
Mr. Burnham's grandparents were Ellsworth and Maria ( Walker Burnham, both natives of Connecticut, the former of English and the latter of Scotch lineage. Ellsworth Burnham grew up and married in Connecticut, and about 1815 he and his brother Moses eame to Ohio. Their father, Captain Burnham, was a Revolutionary war veteran, and had previously come out to Northern Ohio and entered more than three hundred acres in the district known as "Fire Land." The family had suffered losses at the hands of British invaders, and their names appear on the list of fire land grantees found on other pages of this history. Ellsworth and Moses Burnham made the trip from Connecticut on horse- back and located on a ridge of land on the old State Road between C'leve- land and Toledo in Berlin Township. Their settlement was in the midst of the wilderness. Dense woods surrounded them on all sides, and they like all other first eomers lived in a log cabin and endured all the incon- yeniences and hardships of frontier life. Indians were at that time fully as unmerous as whites, and the readiest means of subsistence to the settlers was the abundance of wild game that every hunter eould secure at will. Here they built up and improved extensive farms. A number of years later Moses sold his interests and moved to Indiana. About the close of the American Civil war Ellsworth Burnham also left Erie Connty. While living in that county three sons were born to him and wife: Joseph T .; Dr. Norman G., who is eighty-three years of age and is still in the practice of medicine at Denver, Colorado; and Henry, who now lives at Sylvania, near Toledo, Ohio.
Ellsworth Burnham on leaving Erie County moved to Saginaw, Michi- gan, when that was a rough and stirring town primarily existing as a eenter of the Inmber industry. Ellsworth Burnham and wife died at Saginaw within a year of each other, and were at that time past four- score years. They were active members of the Methodist Church, and were among the leaders in upbuilding the church of that denomination at Berlin Heights, being eharter members and he an active official in the organization. Ellsworth Burnham was a whig in the early days, and not only voted and worked for the interests of that party but was strongly aligned with the early abolitionists. and his home was one of the sta- tions on the underground railway. After the dissolution of the whig party he became equally influential as a republican.
Joseph Trumbull Burnham, father of the Berlin Heights banker, was born on the old homestead above described in Erie County. He grew up in the environment of a frontier country, and for a number of years operated a sawmill with water power in the vicinity of Berlin IFeights. The loss of his right arm in the fly-wheel of the machinery caused him to give up milling, and about the close of the Civil War he took his Family to the Saginaw Valley of Michigan. There he engaged in lumbering and also operated a general store at St. Charles. Subso- quently he moved into the City of Saginaw, and died there in 1902. Ile was a republican in politics, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. lle was married in Berlin Heights to Julia Hine, who was born in Erie County in 1826 and died at Saginaw, Michigan, in 1904. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church. While Joseph T. Burnham and wife lived in Erie County two children were born. Ella, the first, died in Chicago in 1894, the wife of C. M. Pahner of Chicago. The other daughter. Sarah, is now the wife of Dr. W. P. Morgan, a dentist at Sagi- naw. After the family removed to Michigan two sons were born. Frank Ellsworth and Joseph T.
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The first born, Frank Ellsworth, died in September, 1880, at the age of twenty-six, his death following injuries received while he was riding through a prairie dog town in Wyoming, his horse having stumbled and thrown him.
Joseph T. Burnham was born in Saginaw, Michigan, October 4, 1869, and was given a liberal education. From the public schools he entered the Michigan Agricultural College at Lansing, and also was a student in the Presbyterian College at Alma, Michigan. For one year he lived in Otsego County, Michigan, engaged in the lumber industry, and after that was a resident of Chicago until 1900. He returned to Saginaw for three years, and soon afterwards located in Berlin Township of Erie County. He was engaged in the management of a farm here, and in 1905 was elected a director in the Berlin Heights Banking Company, a state institution, subsequently was made first vice president, and on the death of George W. Close, the president, in August, 1912, was elected his successor, and has since had the executive responsibility of this old and substantial institution.
The Berlin Heights Banking Company was organized in 1883. Its first president was William Henry Hine, who at his death was succeeded by George W. Close, and thus Mr. Burnham is the third to hold the office of president. The bank has kept its original eapital of $50 000 and has made a splendid record as a conservative and solid institution, fur- nishing a reliable service in general banking. In February, 1914, the company took over the Citizens Banking Company of Berlin Heights.
At Berlin Heights Mr. Burnham married Margaret Reynolds Tilling- hast, who was born on the old Tillinghast homestead in Berlin Town- ship, the only child of her parents that lived to maturity, there being one daughter. Ruth, who died aged about eighteen years. The place where Mrs. Burnham was born comprised land secured direct from the Government by the grandfather, Oliver C. Tillinghast, and he lived and died there. having been one of the early and honored residents of Ber- lin Towrship. Mrs. Burnham's father was the late Oliver C. Tillinghast, Jr., who lived in the Burnham home and at the time of his death was eighty-three years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Burnham have two children :
Julia E .. who died in 1903. when nearly five years of age; and Oliver Trumbull, who was born December 6, 1907, on his grandfather's old homestead in Berlin Township. Mr. and Mrs. Burnham are aetive mem- hers of the Congregational Church, and for nine years he served as its trustee. He is also a member of the local school board, is a republican in politics, and a member of Lakeview Lodge No. 391, Knights of Pythias.
GEORGE W. WALDOCK. One of the oldest families of Erie County is represented by George W. Waldoek, whese name and personal activities as a farmer and stock dealer are well known throughout this section. Mr. Waldock is a native of Erie County and from an early age has given most of his attention to that branch of business and farming connected with the raising and handling of live stock. His work has been of value to the community at large, and he is connected with several business institutiors of Erie County, and at the present time is a trustee of Per- kins Township, in which loeality he has had his home for many years. He also does some business as a real estate broker.
George W. Waldock was born in Erie County June 10. 1868. one of the children of Frederick D. and Fannie Jare ( Green) Waldoek. His parents were born in Hunterdonshire, England. and were of substantial English stock. In 1857 they emigrated to America. locating almost immediately in Erie County, in Oxford Township, but not long after- wards in Perkins Township, where the father became engaged in agri- culture on a large scale. He soon built up for himself a reputation as
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one of the leading cattle dealers in Ohio, and was in active business along that line for many years. His death occurred several years ago. He was a skilled and able business man, a competent financier and in a busi- ness way had a reputation much beyond his home locality. He was well edneated, was independent in politics, and possessed a genial straight- forward nature that eaused everyone to have implicit confidence in him. Of his children six survive, as follows: Frederick J. of Perkins Town- ship ; John P .. also of Perkins Township; Charles 1., of Sandusky : Wil- liam A. of Sandusky ; George W .; and Fannie J., wife of J. C. Clark of Sandusky. Five of the children are deceased.
George W. Waldock grew up on his father's farm in Perkins Town- ship and gained an education in the local schools. That training was supplemented by practical experience, and in many ways he possesses the fine qualifications as a business man and citizen enjoyed by his father. At the age of sixteen he and his brothers were making themselves useful as helpers to their father in the cattle business, and he subsequently embarked in the same line of enterprise for himself. His home has always been in Perkins Township, and in April, 1899, he removed to his present farm, which he has occupied and improved during a residence of more than fifteen years. This homestead contains 100 acres and his holdings also include two other farms in Erie County.
Mr. Waldock married Katheryn L. Scheid, daughter of Peter and Catherine Seheid. Her father was a late resident of Oxford Township, Erie County. To their union have been born two children : Verna Ivea and G. Howard S. Mr. Waldock is now serving his second term as a trustee of Perkins Township. He is a member of the United Commer- cial Travelers, is a director in the Ameriean Banking and Trust Com- pany, an ex-director in the Duroy & Haines Wine Company of Sandusky, a director in the Portland Vintage Company, and a director in the Herb Brewing Company. He is a member and trustee of the English Lutheran Church at Sandusky. In polities his relations have always been with the republican party. Mr. Waldock has an extended acquaintance over Erie County, is recognized among its public spirited and influential citizens, and gives his support and favor to every improvement that will enhance the attractiveness of this part of Ohio as a place of business and resi- denee.
GEORGE F. ILARTUNG. One of the individual enterprises of Erie County that should be considered in these pages is the Campbell Street Gardens, located in the suburban distriet of Sandusky, in Perkins Township. Gardening is an important branch of the agricultural industry which has seen remarkable development in recent years, consequent upon the concentration of population within large centers. The Campbell Street Gardens was one of the first enterprises of this kind to be formally estab- lished and promoted to supply the increasing demands of the people of Sandusky for all kinds of vegetable products. The business was started about thirty years ago, and George F. Hartung, the present proprietor of the Gardens, grew up in the business and has succeeded his father in the management and proprietorship. Mr. Hartung is a capable business man, energetic, thrifty, and with a thorough knowledge of what the busi- ness and the people require in his particular line.
JIe was born in Sandusky, April 18, 1872, a son of F. A. and Regina (Streit ) Hartung. Both parents were natives of Germany. F. A. Har- tung was a boy when he came to America more than half a century ago. and his father was one of the carly gardeners on the Huron Road in Perkins Township. Thus the business has been a family occupation for three successive generations in Erie County. F. A. Hartung was for a number of years in business as a gardener, and established the industry
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on Campbell street, now conducted by his son, about 1885. His death occurred April 8, 1904. He was a man notable for his industry and a conscientious. hard-working citizen. His widow survived him and now resides at 108 Plum Street in Sandusky. The father was a republican in politics, and had a high standing among all classes of people.
George F. Hartung grew up in Sandusky and attended the public schools there. When about thirteen years old he moved into Perkins Township with his parents, and has ever since lived on the old home- stead, better known as the Campbell Street Gardens.
Mr. Hartung was married January 2, 1895, to Miss Emma L. Stur- zinger, who was born in Perkins Township, a daughter of Gottlieb Stur- zinger. Iler parents are both now deceased. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ilartung have been born eight children, named as follows: Mar- garet. Harold, Gertrude, George, Dorothy, Chester (deceased), Wesley, and Donald. This is a fine family of children and all of them growing to useful manhood and womanhood.
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