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 28
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It was in the year 1872 that the Huttenloeher family left Germany on the ocean liner Ansonia from Hamburg and arrived in New York ('ity two weeks later. From there they came on to Sandusky and a year later to Tiffin, Ohio, where the father and sons became market gardeners. At that occupation the father died, and the children then took up life individually and on their own accounts.
Charles A. Huttenlocher was fourteen years old when the family came to America, and in less than three years later was deprived of the care of both mother and father. He had to content himself with meager advantages in the way of schooling, and a year after his father's death found employment at Sandusky. After two years or more he married and then moved out to Berlin Township and bought sixty-six aeres from William Henry Hine at Shinroek. Upon this land he has since bestowed his vigorous efforts through a period of more than thirty years and has developed an excellent farm. He grows all kinds of grain and potatoes and practically every foot of the land except one acre is under cultiva- tion. He lives in a nice white eight-room house with good substantial farm buildings, including a barn 50x50 feet. The secret of his success has come from hard work and the practical handling of every issue as it arose.
In 1884 in Sandusky Mr. Huttenlocher married Miss Catherine Balderf. She was born in Sandusky November 25, 1848, was reared and educated there. and throughout the thirty years of her married life has proved an effective assistant to her husband and deserves mueh credit for their present prosperity. Her parents were Joseph and Catherine (Forefelter) Balderf, both natives of Baden, Germany, the former born in Winegarten and the latter in Waldorf. They came to the United States when young on one of the old-fashioned sailing ves- sels which required many days to cross the ocean. This was in the early '40s, and they met and married in Sandusky, where with the exception of two years spent at Clyde, Ohio, they lived the rest of their lives. Iler father died at the age of eighty and her mother at seventy- five. For many years he followed the oceupation of drayman in San- dusky. They were Lutherans and he a republican.
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Mr. and Mrs. Huttenlocher have one son, Carl Albert, who was born June 24, 1886, and received his education in the local schools of Berlin Township. He is still at home and now assumes a large share of the responsibilities of the farm management. After reaching manhood he married Edith Ferber of Berlin Township. She died at Shinrock seventeen months after her marriage, and only a few days after the death of her first and only child. Mr. and Mrs. Huttenlocher and son are all members of the Evangelical Church at Huron, in which Mr. Huttenlocher has been a trustee for a number of years. He and his son are republicans in national politics, and the latter is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World at Shinroek.
RICHARD W. KNIGHT. The most satisfying rewards of rural experi- ence have compensated the untiring labors and well directed efforts of Richard W. Knight, who is one of Erie County's progressive and enter- prising farmers, and the owner of a valuable estate in Berlin Township. Ilis property has grown and developed under his management, and while always an extremely busy man with his private interests he has still found the time and inclination to assist in movements that would benefit the community.
An Englishman by birth, Richard W. Knight was born in Edgerly, Devonshire, June 29, 1846. Hlis ancestors lived in the same community of Devonshire from which came the famous Boone family to which Daniel Boone belonged. Mr. Knight was still an infant when his parents emigrated to America and located in IIuron and a little later in Berlin Township of Erie County. Here he grew up and received his educa- tion in the local schools and has thus lived nearly all his life in this prosperous rural community.
llis parents were Simon and Ann ( Wheaton ) Knight. The -paternal grandparents were John and Jane (Alvord) Knight, both natives of Devonshire, where they spent all their lives and were past eighty when they died. The grandfather worked at farming and they were Epis- ropalians. The maternal grandparents were Rev. James and Jane Wieks) Wheaton, also Devonshire people, where they spent their lives. Rev. James Wheaton was a Methodist minister and died at the age of sixty-four while his wife passed away at eighty-one.
Richard W. Knight was only three years of age when his father came from Plymouth on a sailing vessel under the command of ('apt. George Moon, and six weeks later they landed at Montreal, Canada. From Mon- treal they came down as far as Chippewa on one of the old strap rail- roads in a car drawn by horses. From there they came up the lake to Sandusky in the boat Magnet, and thence to Huron Township, where Mrs. Knight's unele, Richard Wheaton, was then living. From Huron they moved into Berlin Township, and the father bought land, but subsequently secured another farm in Huron Township. He was an excellent farmer and a good business man, and eventually became the owner of more than 400 acres in the different townships mentioned. He died April 16, 1901, aged eighty-two years four months, at his beautiful home now owned by Michael Schats on the Berlin Heights and Huron Road. His wife had died August 17, 1888, at the age of sixty-four years and six months. All their lives they were members of the Methodist Church.
In Erie County Richard W. Knight grew to manhood, and after his marriage settled on sixty aeres of first class land given him by his father. This was in Berlin Township and has been the nucleus of his home and farming interests ever since. Ile has been successful as a grower of the staple erops of wheat, corn, oats and potatoes. On January 20, 1875. in Berlin Township he married Miss Mary E. Eggleson. She
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was born in New York State January 16, 1852, and when five years of age her parents moved to Fitchville Township in Huron County, and there she grew to young womanhood and received her education. Her parents were John and Elizabeth (Cudahy) Eggleson. Her father was born in the north of Ireland of Scotch ancestry, and while living there married Jane Dailey. After two children were born to them, John and Elizabeth, they came to this country and located in New York City, where the wife died in the prime of her years, one other child, Susan, having been born in New York City. Mr. Eggleson then married Eliza- beth Cudahy, who was born in Ireland but of Scotch parents. While they continued to live in New York City three children were born, and they then came to Huron County, Ohio, and here seven children were added to their household, making ten in all by the second mar- riage. All of these grew up and married exeept one, so that there were a large family of Egglesons. Mr. Eggleson was employed by Pro- fessor Morse, the inventor of the telegraph system, and worked on the first telegraph wire used by Professor Morse between Baltimore and Washington, District of Columbia. This wire was wound with eloth.
Mr. and Mrs. Knight have lived in their first home nearly all their married life, and have worked and labored together to secure the com- forts which they now enjoy. They have reared a family of five children. Edith is now the wife of William Ramsey, and they live in Sunny Vale, California, and are the parents of two sons and two daughters. Nellie, is the wife of George Jenkins, an Erie County eitizen whose lite is sketched on other pages. The son Philip died at the age of twenty, and Irvin at the age of three years. Leland, now twenty years of age, was educated in the Berlin Heights High School and by a course in the International Correspondence School, and is an active assistant to his father in the management of the farm. Mr. and Mrs. Knight are aetive Methodists, and he and his son are republicans. He has held several minor township offices, especially on the school board, and is affiliated with Marks Lodge No. 359, A. F. & A. M.
GEORGE M. JENKINS. For one who was left to the tender mercies of the world at the early age of eleven and has since shifted for himself. George M. Jenkins is one of the most prosperous residents of Berlin Township, where he owns a large and handsome farm situated on the Huron rural ronte No. 2. He and his wife are excellent people, have an interesting family of children, and without doubt they deserve all the prosperity that has come to them.
Mr. Jenkins is still comparatively a young man, having been born in Berlin Township, August 9, 1876. Ilis parents were William and Melvina (Hill) Jenkins. His father was born in New York State, a son of Elisha and Elizabeth Jenkins. To these grandparents were born in New York State William and Albert, and when they were still small children in the early '50s they all came to Ohio and located at Harvey's Corners in Berlin Township, where Elisha set up a smithy, and continued his trade as a blacksmith, which he had followed in New York and which was his occupation throughout his career in Erie County. Later he moved to the Village of Berlin Heights, and while living there his two sons already mentioned enlisted for service in the Union army and the father later followed them as a substitute for George Hill. They all made a reeord as faithful and capable soldiers, were in the army for two years or more, and though returning home with impaired health they escaped without wounds. Elisha died not long after the close of the war, being still less than three score years of age. William Jenkins, father of George M .. died in 1894 when still in the prime of life. His brother Albert is still living, resides in Berlin Heights, and draws a pension for his service in
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the war. After Elisha Jenkins came to Erie County the other Juldren born to himself and wife were: George, Elisha Jr., Elizabeth and Mary, all of whom are now deceased. Wilham Jenkins enlisted for service in the war when still little more than a boy and was still under age when he came home. He subsequently found employment as a shop worker for the Lake Shore Railroad Company, and in that vocation was engaged most of his active life. He died in Berlin Heights. His first wife, Melvina Hill, died when her only child George was eighteen months old. William Jenkins later married Sarah Ewing of Perkins Township, and she died in 1900 leaving four children.
After the death of his mother George M. Jenkins went to the home of his maternal grandparents, John and Charlotta (Swartwood Hill. Ile had their kind protection and care until he was eleven years old, when they both died within ten days of each other, victims of pneumonia. From that time forward George M. Jenkins made his own way in the world. He secured a somewhat limited education, and his principal resource in his early years was his inheritance of thirty aeres from the estate of his grandparents located in Vermilion Township. He later sold his land, and engaged in general merchandising for five years at Ashmont, Ohio. His next venture was the purchase of a threshing outfit and it is as a thresherman that Mr. Jenkins is perhaps most widely known to the grain raisers and general farmers of Erie County and vicinity. In 1914 he invested his surplus capital in his fine farm of 117 aeres, situated in Berlin Township not far from Shinrock and Berlin Heights, and known as the Van Benschoten Farm. It is all good land, well improved, and produces excellent crops of corn, oats, wheat and potatoes and Mr. Jenkins has been particularly snecessful as a potato raiser. Ile and his family reside in a large yellow house, containing twelve rooms, and with all the needed comforts and conveniences. \n even more substantial evidence of his farm prosperity is the presence of two large barns, one of them nearly new, 24x54 feet, and the other 35x70 feet. Mr. Jenkins specializes in Shropshire sheep, and his flock is headed by two rams of the highest grade, and he keeps only the better grades of stock of all elasses. His farm is well known over that part of Berlin Township as the Maple Grove Farm.
Early in his career Mr. Jenkins was married in Berlin Township to Helen E. Knight. She was born in IIuron Township. Erie County. Sep- tember 17, 1878, and received her education in Berlin Township. Her parents were Richard W. and Mary E. ( Eggleson) Knight. Iler father was born in England in 1846 and was brought to the United States in 1849. Iler mother was born in New York State in 1852 of Scotch parents. They were married in Huron County, Ohio, and subsequently moved to a farm in Berlin Township, where they are still living, and her father is now sixty-nine and her mother sixty years of age, and both are of the Methodist faith.
To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins were born the following children: Clifford Leroy, born November 29, 1899, now a student in the high school; Philip T., born April 15, 1902, and attending the eighth grade of the local schools : Edna L., born May 11, 1904, and in the seventh grade; Marion E., born June 18, 1906, and in the fourth grade : Robert Leslie, born January 21, 1911, is in the second grade; and Ruth, who died in infancy at the age of eight months. Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins are well known socially in Berlin Township and have a most hospitable and attractive home. Mr. Jenkins is affiliated with the Tent of the Macra- bees at Vermilion and in polities is a republican.
CHARLES II. CONKLIN. Some of the family names best known and most highly esteemed in Berlin Township require mention in considering
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the life and activities of Charles H. Conklin, who bears the reputation of being a real farmer, a man who makes agriculture a successful busi- ness instead of a haphazard pursuit, and has deservedly prospered. He has the capable assistance in his home of Mrs. Conklin, who is herself a fine housekeeper, and is a woman not only of refinement but of valid judgment. Their home is on the Wikel Road in the western part of Berlin Township.
The Conklin family lived for several generations on Long Island in the State of New York. IIis father, John Conklin, was born at James- town, Long Island, September 21, 1846, and died at his home in Milan Township, May 2, 1880. Ile came to Milan Township in 1864 with his parents, David and Hannah (Sweeze) Conklin, both of whom were natives of Long Island, and became substantial farmer citizens in Milan Township. David Conklin died at the age of sixty-nine and his wife passed away at eighty-four. They were members of the Congregational Church and her father, Reverend Mr. Sweeze, was a Congregational preacher. Their children were Benjamin, Moses, Nehemiah and John, all of whom married and all are now deceased.
Jolin Conklin grew up in Milan Township, became a farmer and was actively and prosperously engaged in that business until his death. He was married in Milan Township to Emma R. Ilyatt, who was born at Bronson in Branch County, Michigan, July 18, 1851. After their mar- riage they lived on David Conklin's farm for a time, until John bought a place of his own. After his death Mrs. Conklin married Fred J. Groves, a substantial farmer of Berlin Township. She is still living and resides on her farm of ninety aeres in Berlin Township. By her marriage to Mr. Groves there are three children: Nelson A .. who is a Milan Town- ship farmer and by his marriage to Edna Bemis of Clyde, Ohio, has a daughter, Frances E., who was born in February, 1912: Olive L. is the wife of Charles Doust, superintendent of schools at Versailles, Ohio, hoth of them being capable educators, graduates of the college at Wooster. Ohio, where Mr. Doust continued his studies in the University of Ohio at Columbus, and they have a son Grover E., who was born in September. 1913; and Harold HI., who graduated from the Berlin Heights Iligh School in 1915 and is living at home with his mother. Mrs. Groves is a (laughter of Nelson and Klimelia (Butler) IIyatt, both of whom were born in Ohio and were married in Milan Township. Later they removed to the vicinity of Bronson in Branch County, Michigan, and for twenty years lived on a farm there where Mr. Hyatt operated a sawmill by water power. While back in Milan Township on a visit the mother of Mrs. Groves died in 1860 at the age of thirty-seven. Mr. IIyatt afterwards married a second time in Michigan and died there in 1871 when about seventy years of age. Mrs. Nelson ( Butler ) Hyatt was a daughter of Daniel and Jemima (Bishop) Butler, both of whom were born in Massa- chusetts, were married in that state and were among the very early settlers of Northern Ohio, having come out about 1812, making the entire journey by teams and wagons to Berlin Township. They had to blaze their way through the dense woods to their chosen location on the west line of Berlin Township and there they lived in a log cabin and in the midst of bears and wolves, Indians, and all other features of the frontier environment. Mr. Butler died there at the age of seventy-six and his widow subsequently removed to Michigan and died in that state at the age of eighty-four. The Butlers were members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and they gave land from the corner of their farm in Berlin Township as a site for the Methodist Church in that community.
Charles H. Conklin is one of six children. His sister, Minnie, died in infancy ; Hattie is the widow of George Capen, lives in Berlin Heights and has four daughters and two sons; Lydia is the wife of John James
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Mason, a farmer and fruit grower on the State Road in Berlin Township, and they have a daughter named Ina; the next in age is Charles Il .; Benjamin is a successful farmer in Milan Township and married Mabel Greenman; Sadie died in March, 1877, when very young.
On the old Conklin farm in Milan Township, Charles Il. Conklin was born August 16, 1875. His early life was spent much in the manner of other farmer boys, and his education came from the common schools and like many others he derived much inspiration as well as instruction from that notable educator, Job Fish, of Berlin Heights. Ilis duties kept him at home until April 25, 1899, at which date he bought and moved to his own farm of fifty-one acres in Berlin Township, not far from where he was born. Though not a large farm, this is one which might be taken as a model for its intensive cultivation and excellent improvements. Mr. and Mrs. Conklin reside in a new nine-room house, well and taste- fully furnished and with all the arrangements and conveniences required for comfortable living. Outside stands a large barn on a foundation 30x56 feet, attached to which is a sixteen-foot shed. Mr. Conklin's crops set a high standard as to yield per aere and he grows corn, wheat, oats. and potatoes, and also has made somewhat of a specialty of growing sweet corn for seed, having about fifteen aeres planted in that crop. Ile also keeps good grades of live stock. During the season Mr. Conklin operates a threshing outfit for the service of the grain growers over a large territory around his home.
Mrs. C'onklin was Miss Nora Wikel, and they were married in Milan Township. She was born in Sanders County, Nebraska, April 25, 1876. but when eight years of age her parents returned to Erie County and located in Milan Township where she grew up and received her educa tion. Iler parents were John C. and Mary II. (Seow ) Wikel, her father born in Lime Township of Huron County, Ohio, May 31, 1848, a son of German parents who were early settlers in Iluron County. Mr. Wikel died at his home in Milan Township, March 30, 1904. Ile was a demo- erat, and for a number of years held the office of township trustee and was a man of high character, solid attainments and enjoyed the confi- dence and esteem of a large community. He was married in Nebraska, his wife being a native of Norway. She was born August 2, 1853, and when eighteen years old accompanied her parents to the United States, settling in Nebraska, where she lived until her marriage. She is now residing on the Wiket home in Milan Township. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which her husband also belonged. and of their children six are still living: George, Lewis, Mrs. Conklin, Heury, Marion and Belle.
To Mr. and Mrs. Conklin was born a daughter, Dorothy Bell, on February 28, 1903, and now in the seventh grade of the public schools; and a son, John Clifford, was born May 16, 1908, and is now in the second grade. Mr. and Mrs. Conklin are members of the Friends Church in Berlin Township, and he is one of the officials in that society. Both he and his wife are identified with the Milan Grange No. 345 of the Patrons of Ilushandry. In polities he is a republican.
CHARLES B. DICKEL. Practically every successful career is actuated by an earnest purpose and an energy of action sufficient to carry out definite plans of accomplishment. As a result of such qualities Charles B. Dickel has made himself one of the leading general farmers and stock raisers in Berlin Township. From an early age he has been self-reliant and independent, and for his success owes more to himself than to any influence or environment.
On the rural route No. 2 out of Huron is located the well improved 'arm of Mr. Diekel, comprising eighty-seven acres. Conspicuous among
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the improvements is a comfortable seven-room white house, and near by is a large and substantial barn, 36x64 feet. As a stock farmer he gives attention to the best grades of animals, has Jersey red hogs, and a number of excellent horses and cattle. Tle has succeeded in growing all the staple erops of Northern Ohio, and has raised as high as 300 bushels of potatoes to the acre. Mr. Diekel bought his first farm in 1902, and the fine buildings above mentioned have been all erected since the beginning of his management.
Though a native of Germany, Mr. Dickel has spent practically all his life in Erie County. He was born May 10, 1870, and when two years of age eame with his parents and three sisters to the United States, land- ing in New York City, and thence going to Vermilion Township. His early life was spent in Vermilion, and his education came from local schools. On reaching his majority he came into Berlin Township, and for seven years eondneted the Monroe Black farm. He not only made a living and gained valuable experience while operating this farm, but also accumulated the capital which he invested in his present place.
He is a son of George and Catherine (Cook) Dickel, both of whom were born in Germany and were reared there on a farm and after their marriage set out in 1872 for America. The four children they brought with them were Mary, Eliza, Anna, and Charles B. The family first lived as renters on a farm in Vermilion Township, and the father subsequently bought a place of his own. In 1901 the mother passed away at the age of seventy-one years, nine months to the day. Mr. Dickel has since mar- ried Catherine (Fox) Heins, and they now live on their farm in Ver- milion Township, Mr. Diekel having celebrated his seventy-eighth birth- day on February 25, 1915. From early youth he has worshiped in the Reformed Church, and the same religious faith as held by his wife. In politics he is a democrat.
In Vermilion Township Charles B. Diekel married Anna C. E. Aeker- mann, who was born in that township, June 8, 1868. From the age of eighteen she was for seven years a domestic in the Gus Black family, and came into a home of her own well trained by experience and with many qualities of heart and mind which have excellently fitted her for the duties of housekeeper and motherhood. Her parents were Martin and Mary (Bachmann) Ackermann, who were natives of Germany and came when young people to Erie County, where they met and married in Ver- milion Township. They later moved to another seetion of the same township near Ruggles Corners on the lake shore, and died there after having improved and paid for a good farm of sixty aeres. Mr. Acker- mann died in February, 1896, when fifty-five years of age, and his widow is still living on the old homestead and was seventy-two years old October 12, 1914. She is a member of the German Reformed Church and her husband donated the land for the church building on a portion of his farm. In politics he was a demoerat. Mrs. Diekel is one of six daughters and two sons, all of whom are living and of the six that are married five have children.
To Mr. and Mrs. Diekel were born two children : Albert M., who was born February 19, 1895, was graduated from high school in 1014, and is now a student in the Sandusky Business College. Adaline, born June 15. 1897. was graduated from high school in 1915. Both these young people have shown the qualities which give promise of useful and hon- orable careers. The daughter has musical talent, and for several years has been under the tuition of good teachers. Mrs. Diekel is a member of the Reformed Church while her husband is a demoerat in polities.
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