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 25
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114
On August 24, 1860, at Norwalk in Huron County, Mr. Ritz married Miss J. Wilhelmina Foss, who was born in the Kingdom of Hanover. Germany, May 13. 1828. Both her grandparents and parents spent their lives in Hanover, and were all quite old before they died. Her parents were Frederick and Maria (Lavas) Foss, and her father was a ship car- penter. It was a substantial German family and all were members of the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Ritz was the only one' of the several chil- dren born to her parents who reached maturity, and in 1857 in com- pany with several other young women from the same neighborhood she took passage on the stanch sailing ship Cledo and four weeks later landed in Castle Garden. She came on west to Norwalk, Ohio, and there entered the domestic service of the well known banker, Mr. Gardner, and was also in the home of Mr. Pennewell until her marriage. She has been a most capable wife and mother, has shared with her husband the credit of their liberal prosperity, and the large family of children and grand- children gladly pay her love and respect. John Ritz. Sr., and wife had nine children born into their home. The oldest, John, Jr., is a prosperous citizen of Erie County mentioned on other pages. Elizabeth is the wife of Charles Lander, another well known Berlin Township farmer. Emma is unmarried and living at home. Sabina is the wife of Jay Young. liv- ing at Shinrock in Berlin Township, and they have a daughter named
635
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
Mylitta. Fred, who lives at Norwalk, married Anna Burch, and their two children are Theodora and Aletha. Catherine is the wife of David Simpson, a merchant in Oakshade, and their daughter is named Agnes. Peter W. is a farmer in Berlin Township and married Lenore Abby. Theodore and Lewis are twins, both farmers in Berlin Township, and Theodore by his marriage to Nellie Burdue has two children named Rob- ert and Lyle, and Lewis Ritz married Tessie A. Sarr, and they have a son and daughter, Olive and Eldred. Mr. and Mrs. Ritz were both reared in the faith of the Lutheran Church, but are not regular members of any society of that faith.
JOHN JARRETT. Of a family that has been identified with Erie County through three generations, John Jarrett is a native son of the county, and for many years has been engaged in the well ordered enter- prise of agriculture in Perkins Township. Mr. Jarrett is a business- like farmer, and a citizen whom the people of that community respect for his many sterling traits of character.
Born in Huron Township of Erie County September 3, 1868, John Jarrett is a son of Henry and Delia (Tillotson) Jarrett. His father was born in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, of English extraction, and when a child was brought to Erie County by his parents, who were among the early settlers. The Tillotson family is said to have originated in the Highlands of Seotland. Henry Jarrett was reared in Perkins Township, and on reaching years of maturity went out to Iowa, but remained in that state only a brief while, after which he returned to Erie County and bought a farm south of Bogart and was one of the prosperous agrienlturists in that section until his death on April 29, 1897. His death eame as a result of an accident which he received in Sandusky. Ile was a republican in politics and a member of the Per- kins Methodist Episcopal Church. He was also affiliated with the Masonie order at Iluron, and he was buried with Masonie ceremonies at Oakland Cemetery at Sandusky.
Mr. John Jarrett grew up in Huron Township, was educated in the publie schools and also had the benefit of instruction in the normal school at Milan, and for a time was in the college at Ada. ITis chief occupation through his aetive career of about thirty years has been farming, and he now owns 133 acres in Perkins Township, a farm that is well improved with buildings and has been made to produce abun- dantly of general crops and stock.
On February 28, 1908, Mr. Jarrett married Marie Ray, who was horn in Erie County, a daughter of the late John Ray, a resident of HIuron Township. Mr. Jarrett is a republican in politics, and a public spirited citizen who puts himself behind any movement that is for the benefit of the community.
JOHN P. WALDOCK. About four miles out from Sandusky in Per kins Township on South Hayes Avenue. is the Waldock farm. It is owner and proprietor, Mr. John P. Waldock, has spent a very active career in Erie County, and for a great many years was associated with his father in the stock buying and butcher business. His activities are now those of a'general farmer, and his business success is coupled with an uprightness of character and a publie spirit which make him one of the effective leaders in Perkins Township.
Ilis birth occurred in England sixty. miles from the City of London. August 23, 1852. Ilis parents were Frederick D. and Fannie ( Green Waldock, who were also natives of England, and the Waldocks have a lineage in that country extending back for a number of generations. In 1857 the family emigrated to America, and located in Erie County.
636
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
For a number of years their home was in Oxford Township, but later they came to Perkins Township and settled in the woods. While the Waldlocks eame after the first generation of pioneers, they lived in con- ditions that approached those of pioneer times, and added their share to the improvements which have transformed Perkins Township during the last century. Frederick D. Waldoek became well known as a stockman and wholesale buteher, and conducted agriculture at the same time. Ile was practically the first to engage in butchering on a large scale in that part of Erie County. Though a poor man when he came from England he was prosperous in his endeavors and at the time of his death owned an estate of 365 aeres. He was a republican in politics, a man of utmost publie spirit, and he and his wife were among the founders and long active members of Sandhill Methodist Episcopal Church. Through his extended business relations he became known not only in Erie County but in adjoining sections of Northern Ohio. His death occurred October 12, 1911, and his wife passed away December 13, 1912.
Reared to man's estate in Perkins Township, John P. Waldock has possessed that self reliant nature which enables a man to succeed inde- pendently of circumstances. For his education he attended the Bloom- ingville public schools, but gained most of his knowledge by practical experience. In 1877 he married Lydia Koehler, who was born in Per- kins Township, a daughter of Jacob and Annie ( Easterday) Koehler, who were early settlers of Perkins Township. Her father was a native of Germany and her mother of Crawford County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Waldock have two children. Gladys A. is the wife of Jesse Hummel of Perkins Township. The son Eugene F. still lives in Perkins Township. Mr. Waldoek and his family attend the Sandhill Methodist Episcopal Church. Hle is a republican in politics, and a fine type of publie spirited citizen. For over a quarter of a century he assisted his father in the wholesale butcher business, and there should also be mentioned to his credit the work he did in helping to clear up about eighty acres of land and remove the timber and place it in cultivation.
HIENRY L. SCHEID. Oxford Township has no more sterling citizen and practical man of affairs than Henry L. Scheid, who is now serving as township treasurer and during the last fifteen or twenty years has been variously identified, always helpfully and progressively, with local affairs. His father was one of the fine old citizens who came into Erie County from Germany, and Mr. Scheid now resides on and occupies the farm which his father hewed out of the wilderness in Oxford Township. As a farmer Mr. Scheid has the operations of 235 acres of land, and having made this industry profitable to himself has laid a substantial basis for the confidenee which he enjoys as a citizen. Besides acting as township treasurer he is also a member of the board of education of the township.
Ile was born in that section of Erie County on August 8, 1866, being a son of the late Peter and Catherine (Heuser) Scheid. His parents were both born in the old Duchy of Nassau, Germany. Peter Scheid was still a youth when he came to America with a brother, and had been educated in the common schools of his native land. 'He lived for a time in Huron County and then settled in Oxford Township of Erie County on the farm now occupied by his son Henry. He was one of the early settlers of his nationality in Oxford Township, and pursued a long and industrions career until his death in October, 1905. Of his children six survive: Charles P. of Milan, Ohio: Henry L., of Oxford Township: Catherine. wife of G. W. Waldoek of Perkins Township ; Louis W. of Huron Township; Julia, wife of V. Pascoe of Sandusky ;
637
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
and Alda M. of Milan. Peter Scheid likewise held the office of town- ship treasurer in his time, and was also a trustee. His widow is now living at the age of seventy-three, residing at Milan.
Henry L. Scheid grew up on the farm where he now resides and attended the local schools, supplementing this education by further training in the private normal school at Milan. Since reaching man hood he has given his endeavors to farming as a vocation and now has one of the best improved places in Oxford Township, every building. fence and field giving evidence of his thrifty and capable husbandry. For a number of years he has been a member of the township board of education, served several years as president of the board, and still looks after the interests of the schools in his locality. Ilis appoint- ment as treasurer of Oxford Township came in May, 1915, but he had previously served two terms in the same office.
Mr. Scheid married Miss Louise Mowry of Oxford Township, daugh- ter of John Mowry, a late resident of that locality. The mother is still living in the township. To their marriage were born five children : Ethel M., Catherine L., Dorothy, J. Peter and Robert. With his family Mr. Scheid is a member of St. John's Lutheran Church at Union Corners in Milan Township, and is one of the trustees of that congregation.
WILLIAM C. MARSHALL. One of the well improved farms of Perkins Township is that owned by Mr. Marshall, who has been a resident of Erie from his boyhood days, though he claims Michigan as the place of his nativity, his parents having been residents of that state for only a few years.
Mr. Marshall was born in Calhoun County, Michigan, on the 20th of January, 1858, and is a son of Joseph and Lucinda ( Chapman) Mar- shall, the former of whom was born in England, in 1821, and the latter of whom was a native of the State of Connecticut. Joseph Mar- shall was reared and educated in his native land, and in 1841, when twenty years of age, he came to America and establish his residence in Erie County, Ohio, where he continued to reside during the ro- mainder of his life, save for a period of four years passed in Michigan. He was one of the prosperous farmers and highly esteemed citizens of Perkins Township for many years and here died on his old homestead, in the '90s, his wife having survived him by only a few months. Of their children three are living,-Hannah, who is the wife of Charles Keller, of Toledo, this state; Rose, who is the wife of Solomon Sheffel. a prosperous farmer of Perkins Township; and William C., who is the immediate subject of this review.
William C. Marshall was reared to adult age on his father's farm in Perkins Township and his early educational advantages were those afforded in the schools of the locality and period. He has been con- tinnously identified with agricultural pursuits in Erie County and his excellent farm, which comprises forty-three acres, is under effective cul- tivation, with every evidence of thrift and prosperity, though its com- paratively small area does not imply that the owner has not consulted expedieney by concentration of effort and by obtaining the maximum returns for his well ordered endeavors as a general agriculturist and stork-grower.
Mr. Marshall is a man of strong individuality, is well fortified in his conviction and has the boyant and genial temperament which ever begets popular confidence and good will. He is one of the progressive and publie-spirited citizens of Perkins Township. is a stanch republican in his political proclivities, and he served four years in the office of township trustee, a preferment indicating the estimate placed upon him in the community that has so long represented his home. Ho and his
638
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
wife are active members of Perkins Grange, Patrons of Husbandry : he is affiliated with the lodge of Free & Accepted Masons in the village of Milan : at Bloomingville he is a prominent member of the Knights of the Maccabees of the World, in which he has held various official positions, including that of commander. He has achieved prosperity through his own efforts and he and his wife enjoy unalloyed popularity in the social cireles of their home township.
On the Ist of January, 1884, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Marshall to Miss Lucy Graves, who was born in Huron Township, this county, and who is a daughter of Chester and Caroline (Sharp) Graves, the former of whom was born in one of the New England states and the latter of whom was a native of England. Mrs. Marshall was but seven years old at the time of her mother's death and was reared to adult age in the home of a neighbor family in Perkins Township, where she was afforded the advantages of the public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall have four children: Edna L. is the wife of Henry K. Zorn. of Sandusky ; Earl J. is one of the energetie young farmers of Perkins Township ; Raymond C. is employed in the City of Sandusky; and Ida A. is the wife of Floyd Coombs, of Sandusky.
JAMES E. POST. A name that has been identified for more than half a century with the Great Lakes marine and the fishing industry is that of Post. James E. Post of Huron has been active as a fisherman in that village for a quarter of a century and now operates a business of his own. each year taking many tons of fish out of Lake Erie, and is also one of the substantial citizens of Huron, where he is serving on the village council. Mr. Post recently completed a beautiful modern home on Center Street, the best residential street of Huron, and there he and his family enjoy the comforts of modern life, their home being equipped with all convenienees, and it is also one of the attractive cen- ters of social affairs.
Capt. John E. Post, father of James E., is one of the best known of the veterans in the lake and fishing service of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. His career covers a period of more than sixty years. He began as a fisherman when still a boy at Fairport, Ohio, and some years later became a sailor with his unele Bliss Wilcox, and was finally graduated to the responsibilities of both captain and master. He had charge of one of the boats of his uncle for a number of years, and later became an independent operator as a fisherman, with headquarters at Fairport. His active eareer continued along those lines for forty years, in fact until his death at Painesville in Lake County twelve years ago. At that time he was sixty-eight years old. Captain Post was born in the State of Connecticut in 1834 of Quaker parentage. His father, Daniel Post, brought his family to Ohio in 1836, making the journey hy land with wagons and ox teams as far as Buffalo, and then embark- ing on a small lake vessel which carried them to Fairport, Ohio. Daniel Post located on a farm near that village, improved his land, and con- tinued to reside there until his death. IIe was seventy-two years old, while his wife reached the age of ninety-one. After they came to Ohio they transferred their membership from the Quaker Church to the Congregational Chureh.
After John E. Post became captain of a lake boat he carried the first cargo of iron ore shipped into the harbor of Lorain, Ohio. That was before the Civil war. He was one of the best known mariners on Lake Erie in his lifetime and had a large acquaintance in nearly all the harbors and lake towns of Northern Ohio. Mr. Post was married in Painesville, Ohio, to Margaret Allen, who was born in Lake County. Ohio, and died there in 1898 at the age of fifty-eight. She was a woman
639
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
of great worth, kindly character, and a devoted mother. Her children were as follows : Thomas, now a fisherman at Ashtabula, Ohio, is married and has two daughters; Elizabeth is the wife of John Gibson of Painesville, and has a large family of sons and daughters; the next in order of the children is James E .; Jasper lives in Cleveland and is married : Mary is the wife of Joseph Kieffer of Cleveland and has two sons and one daughter; Lena is the wife of George Watters of Ashta- bula and has one danghter ; John E., Jr., died at the age of four years.
James E. Post was born at Painesville, Lake County, Ohio, July 4. 1871. and up to the age of thirteen lived at home and had the advan- tages of the local schools. At that tender age he got his first experience as a practical sailor and fisherman, soon aequired a proficiency which made him invaluable to his father, and continued to be associated with ('aptain Post until 1890. In that year he removed to Huron and found employment as a fisherman and docks engineer, and that was his regular work until 1910. In that year Mr. Post beeame an independent operator in the fishing industry, and has an equipment for fishing with gill net and trap net. All his operations are in Lake Erie waters and his large catch sold to the Kishman Fish Company.
Mr. Post was married in Huron to Frankie M. Barram. She was born in Huron September 27, 1872, and was educated both in the grade and the high schools. Her parents were John S. and Margaret (Garritt) Barram, who are still living in Huron, now full of years. Her father is of English and her mother of German aneestry. Mr. and Mrs. Post have a danghter, Leota D., aged eighteen, and a graduate in 1914 from the Huron High School, and Helen Barram, who is now in the first year of the high school. Mr. and Mrs. Post and daughters attend the Presby- terian Church, of which Mrs. Post and her daughters are active members. Mr. Post is republican, is affiliated with and has passed the chairs in Huron Lodge No. 504, Knights of Pythias, and enjoys a splendid popu- larity as a citizen and business man and his name is familiar to the fishing and lake trade all around the southern shore of Lake Erie.
(. SCOTT. In naming the men or firms most active in the fishing industry along the lake shore and Erie County, one that comes first to claim attention is that of Seott. The firm of C. Scott & Sons have one of the largest establishments and are among the most extensive opera- tors in the waters of Lake Erie. Mr. Seott, the head of the firm, has been engaged in fishing from the Port of IIuron for nearly a quarter of a century and in recent years his son William has been his capable assistant and partner. They have a large amount of capital invested in boats. nets and warehouses. They operate thirty large double pannel trap nets of the Earl pattern, known among fishermen as the "hell devil" net. Each of these nets measure from 22 to 25 rods in length, and with such equipment and with their experience and skill in placing the nets the firm produce a large annual eatchi and dispose of it direet to wholesale dealers. The greater part of the fish taken by this firm are blue pike. Mr. Scott is known among all his friends and acquaintances as a man of absolute veracity, and the truth of the following record catch in his experience can therefore be vouched as accurate. It was in the '80s when he was with a fishing crew that took up from one pound net seventeen tons of herring at one catch. Ile has been active in the fishing industry since 1876, operating both pound and trap nets, and has been on his own account sinee 1882. During most of this time he has worked with the modern trap net. With Mr. Scott this has been a life industry and vocation, and his reeord is such as to place him among the leading business men of Erie County. His son William has been associated with him in the industry for the past ten years, and
640
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
has brought to the business not only capable experience but the use and energy of a younger generation. The firm has among its equipment a twine and net house that is one of the most modern along the lake shore. standing on a foundation 30x60 feet, with a full sized loft. This large house is necessary for the storage of the nets and also for repairing. since the heavy weather is necessarily destructive to this part of the equipment. The fishing season runs about eight months in the year. beginning after March 15th, which is the legal date of the opening. During July and August it is not practicable to fish in Lake Erie, but without exception the open season extends until the waters are elosed by winter. Mr. C. Scott has been a resident of Huron since the fall of 1877. He was born in Huron County, Ohio, March 4, 1856, and spent the first fifteen years of his life in that locality. He then became identified with the activities along the lake shore, and at the age of twenty was em- ployed as a regular fisherman at Stoney Point, Michigan. Eighteen months later he removed to IInron, and that village has been the head- quarters of his constantly expanding operations. It is not surprising. considering the energy with which he has pursued his ealling and the business like judgment which has regulated its management, that Mr. Scott is a man of substantial fortune.
Ile comes of old New England stock on both sides of his parentage. Ilis parents were among the pioneers in Northern Ohio, and knew Huron when it was only a cluster of little houses around the harbor.
Edward M. Scott, the father of Mr. Canaris Scott, was one of the remarkable men of Northern Ohio in his time. He was a native of Con- necticut of New England parentage, born in 1808, grew up in his native state, and was married there to Lucinda J. Hyatt, who was of similar birth and ancestry. Not long after their marriage, in the early '30s, they came out to the Western Reserve of Ohio, making their journey by slow stages according to the primitive transportation methods of the time, and arriving at the little Port of Huron on the vessel Eliza Jenkins. All the surrounding country was then alnost an unbroken wilderness. and it presented a splendid field for the skill and energies of Edward Scott. His life work was that of fisherman, trapper and hunter. Many stories have been written about the marvelous skill, endurance and craft of the American woodsmen, and it can be truthfully said that Edward Scott was the peer of any of his kind. For their ability in combating the hardships and solving the problems of the virgin forests the Indians have been given a reputation for prowess above all races, and yet Edward Scott possessed the unerring instinet of the Indian. was his equal in handling gun or boat, possessed the same qualities of wood craft in traeking and hunting the wild creatures of the forest, had a like courage in the presence of danger, and conld endure the rigors of exposure, heat or cold, hunger and thirst, along with the best of the red men. It is said that he would take his hunting boat where no one else dared venture, and has been known to shoot his frail craft over river dams ten feet high without upsetting. He was absolutely fearless. and at the same time his courage was fortified with a marvelous skill which was sufficient to instill in him absolute confidence. Edward Scott might well be called the Kit Carson or Daniel Boone of all this region. As a marksman many stories are told of him. It is said that he could take his trusty rifle and at a distance of twenty paces strike the head of a ten-penny nail and drive it into the hardwood. In sneh exhibitions he seldom failed his mark. He enjoyed all the romantic experiences of the frontier and as a lmunter, fisher and trapper was one of the best known characters all around Lake Erie. Like many of his kind, he possessed an inordinate love of nature, especially in its primitive dress, and spent practically all his life in the untrammeled freedom of the great woods
PHILIP A. HUFFMAN
641
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
and the streams. Many of his later years were passed at Milan in Erie County, and he was almost constantly in the woods that bordered the Iluron River. He died at Milan in August, 1871. Ilis widow subse- quently came to the home of her son, Mr. (. Scott, in Huron, and died there April 1, 1903. She was born May 6, 1815, and was therefore nearly eighty years of age at the time of her death. Edward Scott was a republican in politics, and he and his wife were reared as Baptists, but were members of no church in later years.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.