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 32
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George JJ. Haley was still a boy when the family removed to Ilardin County, and he came of age on a farm. Ile married at Kenton, Ohio, Rachel Gary, who was probably born in Hardin County and was of Irish stock. After marriage George J. Haley and wife took up the responsi- bilities of married life as farmers, and some of their children were born while they lived in the country district around Kenton. Subsequently they removed to Marion, Ohio, and while there the three youngest of their ten children were born, ineluding Frank A. All these children grew up and married, and three sons and two daughters are still living. In 1864 the family came to Huron Township in Erie County, and bought a farm which for thirty years was the home of these worthy parents. They then removed to Huron Village. When quite a young man George J. IIaley became much interested in the German Evangelical Church, in Vol. II-14
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which he worked as a member, and somewhat later was ordained as a minister. It was his duties as a minister that brought him to Erie County in order to preach the gospel on the lake circuit. Ile was kept active in his church work as a preacher and presiding elder in this eircuit for many years, and at some time or other had charge of all the churches in the circuit, including that at Huron. His last appointment was at Birmingham in Erie County. His death occurred at Huron, February 27, 1888. While never active in polities, he was a strong republican, and was especially loved in church circles, and though providing for his fam- ily through the business of farming, gave all that he could to his respon- sibilities as a minister. His wife survived him, subsequently passing some years in the home of her son, Frank A., at Huron, and died there November 26, 1897. She was born in 1817.
Frank A. Haley was born at Marion, Ohio, January 10, 1861, was reared on a farm, and had the advantages of local schools. At eighteen he was offered his choice of a three-year course in higher school or the sum of $200 when he should come of age. He wisely accepted the school- ing, and entered the Northwestern College at Naperville, Illinois, at which his father had purchased a scholarship. He continued his studies for two years in that school and then took up work as a teacher, a vocation he followed several years. Later he returned to the home farm in Erie County, managed its agricultural activities for several years, and finally bought part of the homestead, and as its independent owner entered with mueh vigor and characteristic energy upon its improvement. He erected good buildings, and still owns the farm of fifty-six acres, which is one of the best small farms in Huron Township. In January, 1913, Mr. Haley purchased the insurance business of the late W. R. Tyler. He now has the agency of sixteen general insurance companies, and offers the services of these companies to a large patronage. He also has the local agency for the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. In March, 1913, he was appointed notary public and on October 8, 1914, was appointed justiee of the peace. He is thus busied with his work in the insurance office and also in the handling of the affairs connected with these offices. He has also served as township trustee and as a member of both the school and village boards at Huron, and in 1910 was census enumerator in his township.
Politieally Mr. Haley is a strong republican, and fraternally has been especially interested in the Knights of the Maccabees. He has filled all the chairs in Lake View Tent No. 44 at Huron, and has been record keeper since 1900. He and his family are active in the Evangelical Church, and he is one of its trustees.
Mr. Haley married Anna H. Kuhl, who was born in Huron Township fifty-one years ago and was reared and educated in this vicinity. Her parents were Peter and Philipina (Meyers) Kuhl, both natives of Ger- many, but coming to America when young and marrying in Erie County. Her father became a substantial farmer and spent his life on a farm in Huron Township, where he died when past sixty, survived by his wife to the age of seventy-five. Both were members of the German Reformed Church and in politics he was a republican. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Haley are mentioned as follows: Lottie, who was graduated from the Huron High School in 1904, is now the wife of Frank Toomey, of Erie County, and they have a son, Robert Stanley ; William G., graduated from the high school in 1904, is now assistant ticket agent for the Monon Railway at Hammond, Indiana, and by his marriage to Flossie McCor- miek of Erie County has one son. Donald William; Ella, who has com- pleted the high school course, is living at home; Dorothy Rachel is now in the seventh grade of the public schools.
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JOHN C. STEINEN. The model farm home of Mr. Steinen is most eligibly situated in Perkins township and on the continuation of Colum- bus avenue in the City of Sandusky, the farm being practically in the direet suburban district of the county metropolis and judicial center. A house of modern architectural design and appointments of the most approved order is the abiding place of Mr. Steinen and his family, and the well kept grounds about the residence, with fine trees, shrubbery and flowers, make the place one of the most attractive of the many beautiful homes of Erie County, even as the home is widely known for its hospi- tality. Mr. Steinen is a representative of a highly honored pioneer family of Erie County, has maintained his home in this county from the time of his birth and his entire active career has been one of close and successful identifieation with the great basie industry of agriculture, and his well improved farm, devoted to diversified agriculture and the raising of fruits, comprises seventy-five acres of as fine land as is to be found in this favored section of the state. In all things Mr. Steinen may well feel that his "lines are cast in pleasant places," and he enjoys the generous prosperity that is the just reward for years of earnest toil and endeavor.
John C. Steinen was born in IInron Township, this county, on the 31st of January, 1868, and is a son of Joseph and Gertrude (Hacker) Steinen, both of whom are now deceased. Joseph Steinen was born in the Rhine Province of Germany, where he was reared and educated, and as a young man he came to the United States, where he felt assured of better opportunities of achieving independence and success through individual effort. Soon after his arrival in America he came to Ohio and settled in Erie County. Ile finally purchased a traet of heavily timbered land in Huron Township, where his original domicile was a log cabin of the type common to the pioneer days, and as one of the early settlers and industrions and ambitious farmers of Huron Town- ship he contributed his quota to the development and progress of that section of the county. After living many years on his old homestead. which he had developed into one of the fine farms of the county, he removed to the village of Bogart, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1912. Ile was one of the honored pioneer citizens of Erie County at the time of his death and survived his devoted wife by a number of years. Of their children five are now living. Christina is the wife of Charles Dildine, of Huron Township; John C., of this review, was the next in respective order of birth : Annie is the wife of William Lundy, and they reside in the City of Sandusky: Barbara is the wife of Daniel Simmons, of IIron Township; and David A. is a prosperous farmer of Huron Township.
On the old homestead farm in Huron Township John C. Steinen was reared to years of maturity and he early began to assist in the work of the farm, the while he was afforded the advantages of the public schools of the locality and availed himself of the same until he had laid a firm foundation for the broader education which he has since acquired in connection with the practical affairs of life and in association with men and business. He has resided upon his present fine farm since 1904, is known as an agrienlturist of the progressive type, and his thrift and prosperity have been in constant companionship during the entire period of his independent career. Ile is appreciative of the opportun- ities that have been his in Erie County and marks this by his liberality in the support of measures and enterprises advanced for the general good of the eounty and its people, his political allegiance being given to the demoeratie party and both he and his wife being communicants of St. Peter and Paul's Church, Roman Catholic, in the City of Sandusky.
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On the 10th of May, 1892, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Steinen to Miss Johanna C. Mainzer, who has been a resident of Perkins Town- ship from the time of her birth and who is a representative of one of the old and honored pioneer families of Erie County. She is a daughter of Peter and Christena (Smith) Mainzer, the former of whom was born in the Rhine Province of Germany and the latter in Perkins Township, Erie County, her parents having been numbered among the very early settlers of this county, where they established their home shortly after their immigration from their German Fatherland. Upon coming to Erie County, Peter Mainzer, settled in the midst of the virtually virgin forest in the southern part of Perkins Township, where he eventually became the owner of a valuable farm, the major part of the land having been reclaimed and improved under his personal supervision. There his death occurred in 1897, and the entire community realized the loss of a worthy eitizen whose life had been one of productiveness and kindli- ness. In addition to carrying forward the work of his large farm he found requisition for many years for his services as a skilled carpenter and builder, and he assisted in the ereetion of many houses and other buildings in his part of the county. His venerable widow, whose entire life has been passed in Perkins Township, is now more than eighty years of age. This pioneer couple became the parents of teu children, of whom nine are living: Mary, is the wife of William Esch and they reside in the Village of IIuron, this county ; Rosa, is the wife of Albert Kromer, a farmer in Margaretta township; Frank resides in the City of Sandusky; Barbara is the wife of Frederick Kromer, a farmer of Perkins Township; Johanna C. is the wife of the subject of this review ; and John, William, Anthony, and Sarah all still remain residents of their native township.
FRANK N. HILLS. One of the still active citizens of Perkins Township who in the course of a long eareer has witnessed many remarkable ehanges in the development and progress of this section of Northern Ohio, Frank N. Hills has had a career of varied activities, but has been chiefly identi- fied with farming and stock raising in Perkins Township, of which locality he is a native. For a number of years he was identified with lake marine, and his business success and the honors which have been given him as a citizen indieate his high standing in that locality.
Frank N. Hills was born in Perkins Township, August 2, 1842, a son of Norman and Electa Elizabeth (IIale ) Hills. Both parents were natives of Connecticut. Norman Hills brought his family from that state to Erie County in the early '30s, and was one of the pioneers in Perkins Town- ship, securing a tract of land a part of which is now in the farm of his son Frank. The land was then wild and uncultivated, and Norman Hills was one of the men who bore the brunt of the toils and hardships of the early settlers. His death occurred in 1854. The family is an old and prominent one of New England, and one of the daughters of Frank Hills has membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution, a membership which indicates the lineage of the family through Revolution- ary times. The grandfather was Jared Hills, a native of Connecticut, and of English deseent. Of the children born to Norman Ilills and wife the three now living are: Frank N .; Wilber, whose home is in Connecticut ; and Ilenry E .. of Perkins Township.
Frank N. Hills grew up in the same locality where he was born, attended the publie schools, and his early education has been greatly developed and supplemented by practical experience in later life. The first fourteen years he spent on his father's farm, and then for about nine seasons was a sailor on the Great Lakes. For nearly half a century, however, Mr. Hills has made farming his regular vocation. His home
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place, located on Rural Free Delivery No. 1 out of Sandusky, comprises 245 acres of rich and fertile land, and he employs it both for general farming and stock raising.
Mr. Hills married Miss Isabel Cowan, who was born in Huron Town- ship of Erie County, a daughter of Hugh Cowan, one of the early set- tlers in that locality. To their marriage have been born five children : Lillie, who was formerly a successful school teacher; Elma, now con- nected with the public schools at Akron, Ohio; Elsie, wife of John Wichel of Sandusky; Edna, wife of Daniel Wichel of Sandusky ; and Leroy F., still living in Perkins Township.
Mr. Hills served several years as trustee of Perkins Township, and is an active republican. Ile is a charter member of Perkins Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry. In the course of many years he has varied experiences with all branches of farming and has paid much attention to the sheep industry.
Ross D. L. RANSOM. It is substantial tribute to a family when it can be said that what one generation has secured and won from the dominion of the wilderness the next following has continued to improve and has increased in value many fold. That is real progress and without. its manifestation a community must stand still. Progress has been the dominant factor in the Ransom family in Erie County through three successive generations. Ross Ransom is now an enterprising young farmer who lives upon and operates the same farm which his grandfather redeemed from the wilderness in the early days. Perkins Township has had no better elements of citizenship than those supplied by the Ransom family.
Ross D. L. Ransom was born on the farm where he now lives in Perkins Township, January 23, 1884. His parents were George A. and Mary J. (Ross) Ransom. The former a native of Perkins Township and the latter of Ontario, Canada. The grandfather and the founder of the family in Erie County was Isaac Ransom, who was a New Englander, and one of the early settlers in Perkins Township. He located the land which is now being cultivated by his grandson Ross. He came when the country was largely covered with woods, and took a leading part in early affairs. The substantial brick house which he erected about seventy years ago is still seeing service and is one of the notable landmarks in Perkins township. In the early days Isaac Ransom served as a trustee of his home township, and that community was bereaved of a substantial citizen in his death in 1888. George A. Ransom, father of Ross D. L., died in 1896. Ile spent all his life on the farm first secured by his father, and was a man of many sterling straits of character. For a number of terms he held the office of assessor in Perkins Township, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he served as deacon, and was active in the Perkins Grange, and favored every movement which had for its dominating purpose the elevation of community life. The two children of George A. Ransom were Ross and Webster H., the latter now a resident of Libby, Montana. The mother of these children died in 1893.
Ross D. L. Ransom has spent all his life in Perkins Township, and was given a liberal eduration .. While growing up on the farm he attended the common schools, and in 1903 graduated from the Sandusky High School and for two years was a student at the Case School of Applied Science in Cleveland. From a business standpoint he has devoted himself to agricultural matters, and now has a fine place of 135 acres, with many standard improvements and with all the necessary facilities for the growing of field crops and the raising of high grade stock.
On August 2, 1905, Mr. Ransom married Miss Rosalie Badgley, who
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was born in Belleville, Ontario, daughter of Ira Badgley. To this union have been born two children, Bessie L. and Mary J.
Mr. Ransom is a republican in politics, is a member of the Perkins Grange and of the Perkins Methodist Episcopal Church.
IIENRY E. HILLS. One of the well kept and profitably managed farms along Rural Free Delivery Route No. 1 out of Sandusky is that owned by Henry E. Hills. This farm has been in the possession of the Hills family for about eighty years, and was part of the land settled upon by the father of Henry E. Hills and redeemed from wilderness conditions under his energetic labors.
Mr. Henry E. Hills is a native of Perkins Township, and was. born on the farm he now owns May 7, 1850. His parents were Norman and Electa Elizabeth (Hale) Ilills, both of whom were natives of Connecticut and came out to Erie County when most of its land was in the heavy woods. Norman Hills was a widely and favorably known citizen and from early life until his death was a useful worker in the sphere of his special activities.
Henry E. Hills grew up on the old homestead, attended the public schools in Perkins Township, and practical experience has had much to do with training and giving definite direction to his later life. As a boy he had the discipline of a farm, and has always made that his regular vocation.
Mr. Hills married Miss Rosa IIopf, who was born in Germany, and both her parents are now deceased. They have four children: Cora E., wife of Louis Meffort of Toledo, Ohio; Clayton W., of Los Angeles, California ; Morris E. and Lloyd A., both of Cleveland, Ohio.
Mr. Ilills has a farm of 150 acres, and devotes his land to general farming purposes. He is an active member of the Perkins Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, and in politics aets with the republican party. Ile has shown himself a friend of public schools and other local institu- tions and with his family worships in the Perkins Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN L. MOATS. Within a few miles radius of the village of Berlin Heights can be found some of the best examples of progressive farm- ing in Erie County. One of these places that attract attention by reason of their general appearance of thrift and good management and by the well known success which the proprietor has gained is the fruit and gen- eral farm of John L. Moats, a short distance east of the village. Mr. Moats has grown up and lived most of his life in Erie County, and he and his wife are people of most excellent social qualities and enjoy a high standing in that community.
John L. Moats was born at a place now included in the city limits of Cleveland, Ohio, September 10, 1872, and fifteen months later his par- ents removed to Erie County and located in Berlin Township, where he grew to manhood. His ancestry is English. His grandfather William Moats and his father Henry and other members of the family came across the ocean about 1850 and located at Rochester, New York. The grand- mother had died in the old country. From Rochester they removed to Niagara, New York, later spent a year or two in Canada, and finally set- tled at Cleveland. At Cleveland Henry Moats began learning the trade of machinist, but while still green in his apprenticeship the Civil war broke out and he enlisted at the first call for troops. He went out with the Cleveland Light Artillery for a term of three months. At the expir- ation of that term he enlisted in the regular United States service as a member of Battery B, and beeame sergeant in his company. He was
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one of the few soldiers who fought literally from the very beginning to the end of the great struggle between the states. On the expiration of the three years he veteranized and continued with the same artillery command until the close of the war, at which time he had given four years and three months to the cause of preserving the Union. Ile was in every engagement in which his battery participated, and saw much of the hardship of army life, but was able to report for duty every day, was never captured and was never in hospital, and with many narrow escapes to his credit was never wounded, though once a bullet passed through his coat and shirt sleeve. With the close of the war IIenry Moats returned to Cleveland and there met and married Jennie Proffit, who was also born in England. They began life as market gardeners. In the meantime grandfather William Moats had married for his second wife, in Rochester, Miss Martha Grail, who was also of English birth and parentage. As already stated Henry Moats and wife came to Erie county in 1873, and a little later grandfather William and wife came to the county and lived in a little home on the farm of their son IIenry until they passed away. William Moats died in 1903 and his wife about six months later. William Moats while living in Cleveland was employed by a firm of candle manu- facturers, and it is an item of interest that John D. Rockefeller was book- keeper for the same firm. When IIenry Moats and wife came to Erie County they bought a farm on the Berlin Heights and Norwalk Road, and there spent the rest of their days in quiet industry and with a reasonable degree of prosperity. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in polities he was a republican.
John L. Moats grew up on the old farm in Berlin Township, attended the public schools at Berlin IIeights, and with a thorough training for his chosen calling he has made himself a successful farmer. In 1909 he bought his place of 145 acres a mile east of Berlin Heights, and has sub- sequently done a great deal to develop its resources. He has an orchard of twenty-eight acres principally apples and pears, and he has done most of the development of this orchard, and the trees have quite recently come into full bearing. He has constructed a barn about 30x48 feet, and he and his family have the comforts and conveniences of a modern eight- room house. In addition to fruit growing Mr. Moats has a large aereage used for general crops.
At Milan he married Miss Loubertha N. Williams, who was born in 1872. Her parents were Charles R. and Helen H. (Hughes) Williams. Iler father was born in Batavia, Illinois, and her mother in Huron, Ohio, and they were married in Sandusky. The Williams family genealogy has been prepared and published by Rev. R. I. Williams, and from this it is learned that the original American of the name was Abraham, who lived at Marlboro, Massachusetts, as early as 1629. Charles R. Williams, the father of Mrs. Moats, was a graduate of Oberlin College and began his career as an educator, having served as principal of the Normal School at Milan. Failing health compelled him to abandon this vocation and in the vicinity of Milan he engaged in the raising of horses. At the age of twenty-eight years, while training a valuable raee horse, he was kicked and died from the injury three days later. ITis widow subsequently mar- ried Capt. L. B. Chapin, who was captain of a cavalry company in the Civil war and who died in Berlin township sixteen years ago. By this marriage Captain Chapin left two sons: Dr. E. HI. Chapin of Columbus, Ohio, and Dr. L. B. Chapin, a dentist at Milan. Mrs. Chapin, the widow of Captain Chapin, now lives with her son Dr. Chapin at Milan, and is sixty years of age. Mrs. Moats has one brother, JJudge Roy H. Williams of Sandusky, who was recently elected judge of Erie County in the fall of 1914, having twice previously served as prosecuting attorney. Judge
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Williams was graduated from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor at the age of twenty-one and married Verna L. Lockwood of Milan, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Moats have two children. Helen Lucile, born Septem- ber 4, 1894, completed her education in the Berlin Heights High School and is a cultured and promising member of the social community. Ronald Williams, the only son, was born in May, 1908. Mr. Moats is a republican, and takes an active interest in local affairs. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Berlin Heights Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is a steward and trustee.
JOHN EBERT. One of the progressive young citizens of Perkins Town- ship, John Ebert is a member of the board of education of that township and has built up an extensive business as a wholesale butcher and owns a well improved small farm at Bogart.
Born in Sandusky, Ohio, September 29, 1878, John Ebert is a son of Lewis and Catherine (Herbel) Ebert. His father was born in New York state, a son of John Ebert, who was a native of Germany, while Catherine Herbel was born in Germany. Lewis Ebert came to Erie County with his parents when a boy, grew up in Sandusky, was educated in the local schools, and now for many years has lived in Oxford Town- ship, and is likewise a butcher and farmer. He is a democrat in politics.
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