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 51
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
807
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
business of so many Swedish people, and found employment on a Swed- ish vessel. Ile rose from galley boy to a regular sailor before the mast, and before he left the sea he had experienced all the romantic, trying and eventful experiences of the sailor. After sailing from Swedish to Norway ports for about two years, he shipped on an English sailing vessel, and made one or two voyages to Russia. Ile was lying ill of the cholera at Kronstadt at the time the old grand duke, later the czar, brought his bride from Copenhagen, Denmark, to her new home in the present Petrograd. While sailing with Holland boats he went to nearly all the seas of the globe, and called at many of the well known ports of the civilized world. While consorting with English sailors he learned their language, and made the ports of Cardiff and Swansea, Wales. From that port he shipped on board the Florenee Lee, which sailed from the port of Glasgow, and made a voyage to a port only a few degrees south of the equator. There the boat took ballast to Trinidad, West Indies, and took on a cargo of molasses and sugar for Amsterdam, Hol- land. From Amsterdam he shipped in a Holland bark to Wales, and then loaded Cardiff eoal for Batavia in the East Indies. This ship re- turned with a cargo of coffee, sugar and other East India products, and made the voyage around the Cape of Good Hope to Rotterdam. Then followed a voyage in the Holland bark Macassa to Singapore, a trip of a hundred days. From Singapore the ship proceeded to Rangoon, and there loaded with rice for Rotterdam. On this voyage they were 165 days without landing, and the crew all suffered from seurvy, and were nearly famished for food and water. This was among all his voyages the most trying experience Mr. Gustavus had as a sailor. He subse- quently made five other trips to India, at one time on the ship Ritestraw and then on the Noah I, Noah II and Noah III. These were all clipper ships, carrying first class passengers and general merchandise and re- turning with sugar, coffee and other products from Java. IIis frequent visits to the Malay countries gave him a familiarity with the Malasian language.
For sixteen years Mr. Gustavus sailed on the high seas, generally as a man before the mast and as sail maker. He had many narrow escapes, but was never in an important wreck. At one time his vessel was de- tained in port for twenty-one days on aceount of one of the typhoons which are the scourge of sailors in the Indian Ocean. When he returned on the Noah III to Holland in 1870, Mr. Gustavus decided to come to the United States on a Nova Scotia bark, and subsequently landed in Philadelphia with a friend, John Peterson, a shipmate. They reached Philadelphia during the winter and subsequently took passage on a sail- ing schooner to the West Indies and spent some time at Cienfuegos, Cuba. Three months later they returned to Philadelphia, where Mr. Gustavus decided to come north to the Great Lakes. He drew straws with his friend to deeide whether he should go with a party to the lakes or go around the IIorn, and the decision was in favor of the visit to the Great Lakes. Thus was decided a point which has really proved the most vital decision of his life. Mr. Gustavus with three companions arrived in Chicago in the spring of 1872, only a few months after the great Chicago fire. He shipped on a lake vessel from Chicago to Huron, Ohio, with Capt. J. D. Peterson, and continued in the service of that master seven seasons. He was seeond mate three years, and the last season spent on the Great Lakes was as first mate.
On leaving the lake as a sailor Mr. Gustavus engaged in the fishing business at Huron, with pound and gill nets. For five years that was his regular occupation, and as already stated, he built his first ice house in order to refrigerate his fish. Then came the fire, and that proved
808
IHISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
again a critical factor in his business career, diverting him into the ice business, which he has successfully followed for many years.
At Huron in September, 1884, Mr. Gustavus married Miss Christina Elenz. She was born in Huron in 1865, and has always lived in this one community. Her parents, John L. and Catherine (Leaf) Elenz were early settlers in Huron and vicinity. Iler father died here March 9, 1893, and her mother on September 6, 1895. They were farmers, and members of the Evangelieal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Gustavus are the parents of three children. Tony M., born July 31, 1885, is a high school graduate, and is now associated with his father in managing the ice business; Anna C., born November 25, 1887, was educated in the Huron public schools, and is the wife of C. W. Martin, a railway man with headquarters and residence at Toledo, and they have a daughter, Gene Rosalind, born March 22, 1914; Eda Christina, born July 4, 1892, was well edueated in the local high school and also took a commercial course in the Sanders College in Sandusky, Ohio. Mr. Gustavus is a member of the Lutheran faith, while his wife is Evangelieal, and the children have each taken an individual choice in the matter of religious affiliation.
Mr. Gustavus is one of the most helpful citizens the Village of Huron has had in the past thirty years. For fourteen years he was a member of the board of education and part of the time secretary of the board. He was a member of the board of public affairs at the time the new waterworks were built, holding the office of president at that time, and is still a member of the board. Mr. Gustavus is one of the leading mem- bers of the Knights of Pythias order in Ohio, is a past chancellor and district deputy grand chancellor, and for several years was county deputy grand chancellor. He was a regular attendant at grand lodge for fifteen years, and his son is a member of the Sandusky lodge of that order. To those who delight in stories of the sea and adventure there is no more interesting character in Erie County than Mr. Gustavus. In addition to his fund of reminiscences concerning the years spent on the high seas, he possesses many interesting relies of his earlier career. He still has his Swedish chest that traveled with him for many thousand miles on different vessels, and he also has an old time Swedish pipe, a collection of souvenir coins from many nations, including some that are very old, and all these he naturally prizes for their associations with that chapter of his career which was elosed when he settled down to the quiet routine of business in Huron more than thirty years ago.
EDWARD MANTEY. For a number of years the State of Ohio has enjoyed a well deserved reputation for the culture of the vine, the dark blue-black grapes from this region commanding a ready market in most of the great eenters of population. These are admirably adapted to the production of a light, wholesome wine, which, used in anything like reasonable moderation, is non-intoxicating but acts merely as a gentle stimulant. The use of such mild beverages in place of the strong and often poisonous liquors generally classed as spirits has been recom- mended by many eminent men, and, if adopted, would do much to advance the cause of true temperance, as it is well known that at least nine-tenths of the drunkenness prevalent comes from the use of spirits, drinkers of beer and light wines seldom going to injurious extremes. That the manufacture of such mild stimulants may be carried on in an honorable manner by an honorable man is proved by the example of Edward Mantey, one of the leading citizens of Margaretta Township, which he is now serving as a member of the board of education. Mr. Mantey was born near Warsaw, Russia, January 2, 1853, a son of August and Doretha (Pulaski) Mantey. Both his parents were natives of Rus-
809
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
sia, the mother being a member of the same family from which sprang the famous patriot Pulaski.
Edward Mantey was a babe in his second year when he was brought to America by his parents, they loeating first at Green Springs, Ohio, where they remained several years. Later they removed to Kelley's Island, Erie County, residing there for a short time during the Civil war period. From there, about 1863, they came to Margaretta Town- ship, of which locality they continued residents until their death. Young Mantey was about ten years old when his parents came to this township. Ile attended its publie schools and later was a pupil in the high school at Sandusky for three years. The next three years of his life were spent as a teacher in Margaretta Township, during which time he showed capacity and established a good record as an educator. In 1885 he engaged in the vineyard and wine manufacturing industry, in which he has continued up to the present time, having achieved a gratifying success. He turns out a clean and wholesome product and is so well known in the trade that he has served as president of the National Winegrowers' Association. That he is a man of ability and integrity is shown by the fact that he has been a justice of the peace in Margaretta Township for the last nine years, while he is now serving his second term as a member of the board of education. For one year also he was president of the school board, his service in this capacity being conscien- tious and whole-hearted, as the cause of education is one in which he has always taken a deep interest.
Mr. Mantey married Rosalie Schoenhardt, a native of Tiffin, Ohio, and daughter of Anthony Schoenhardt, formerly a resident of Sandusky, Ohio, but now deceased. He and his wife are the parents of five children, namely: Dora, the wife of Frank Ringholtz, of Sandusky, Ohio; Josephine, who married Frank Dick and resides with her husband in Margaretta Township; Aloysius F. married Loretta Messenburg, of Margaretta Township; Esther M. and Sylvester. Mr. Mantey and his family are religiously affiliated with the Catholic Church. In all move- ments and measures pertaining to the general good he is deeply inter- ested and his co-operation is active and earnest.
FRANK P. BALDUFF. Of the younger men who are now bearing the chief responsibilities of agricultural industry in Erie County should be mentioned Frank P. Balduff, who as a farmer and stock raiser located in the northeast corner of Oxford Township in 1907, and now has the practical management of the Balduff-Scheid farm. This place in its cultivation and productiveness is more than representative of the aver- age farms of Erie County and Mr. Balduff has proved himself an expert in getting the most out of a given acreage. Ile has the superintendence of 160 acres, part of which lies in Milan Township, and finds his profit in the staple crops of this climate and in the raising of good stock.
Nearly all of his life has been spent in Erie County and he was. horn at Sandusky, May 7, 1873, a son of Jacob and Rose (Rader ) Balduff, both of whom are natives of Germany. Ilis father, who was born in Baden, is now past seventy years of age and still active in the manage- ment of his farming interests in Perkins Township. He and his wife had four children : Jay, a resident of Sandusky; Frank P., of Oxford Township; Rosa, of Perkins Township; and Clara, wife of John Wie- land of Oxford Township. The father of these children came to Oxford Township when seventeen years of age, having benefited by instruction in the German schools up to that time and on reaching Erie County secured employment which eventually led him to independence as a farmer in Perkins Township, where he still lives. He is one of the well known members of the German community in that township, and sinee Vol. II-22
810
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
gaining citizenship has steadily voted and supported the republican ticket.
Frank P. Balduff grew up on a farm, obtained most of his education from the Sandusky publie schools, and from an early age has made him- self useful and has accepted every opportunity for his advancement. On May 28, 1907, he married Miss Bertha E. Scheid, who was born in Oxford Township, a daughter of William and Caroline Scheid. Her father was a prominent farmer in this township and is now deceased, while the mother is living with Mr. and Mrs. Balduff, being an oeto- genarian in age. Mr. and Mrs. Balduff have one son, Kenneth S., who was born October 27, 1908. In politics Mr. Balduff is a republican though with independent proelivities, and shows his public spirit by supporting the public schools and all other local institutions and enter- prises that will benefit the community as a whole.
GEORGE HOMEGARDNER. From the heavy responsibilities of an active business career which engaged him for many years in Erie County, George Homegardner retired to the attractive and not unprofitable busi- ness of managing a farm and chicken industry in 1910. His present country home is situated on South Mill Street in Perkins Township. Mr. Homegardner for many years followed railroad and other eon- tracting, and has built many miles of railway lines in this state.
His birth occurred in Sandusky, February 16, 1855, a son of George and Mary (Hermann) Homegardner. His father was born in Switzer- land and his mother in the Province of Alsace, then a part of France and now of Germany. George Homegardner, Sr., eame to America when about twelve years of age, his parents spending a short time in Richland County, Ohio, and during the '30s moving to Erie County. For many years the father lived at Sandusky and was a general contractor, build- ing roads and performing other construction work of that kind. He died in 1881. Ile was a staneh demoerat and a man whose success was mainly the fruit of his own work and good management.
Mr. Homegardner, Jr., grew up in Sandusky, and received his edu- eation from St. Mary's parochial schools and the Sandusky High School. His career has been notable for its industry, and for nearly forty years he was constant in his attention to business and allowed nothing to interfere with the main work which he had to perform in the world. For three years he was a locomotive fireman on the old Mad River Railroad. Later he took up railroad contracting, and assisted in the construction of the Washington Park in Sandusky. He did the grading for the Lake Erie and Western Railroad through Sandusky, and also performed the grading of the Musteash County Road through Margaretta Township for five miles, taking the grade through the Village of Venice. Another con- tract was the construction of twelve miles of the double tracking for the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railway near Glendale and Cineinnati. On leaving the business of railway contractor Mr. Homegardner was for about twenty years engaged in the manufacturing of soft drinks in Sandusky, his plant and industry being known as the Sandusky Bottling Works. Ile retired from that in 1910 and has since been employed in the quieter routine of farm management. He is now known as one of the most successful chicken raisers in the county and has made a spe- cialty of the White Leghorn. The equipment for his business comprises facilities and improvements of the most modern type, and he is in the poultry industry on a large seale. His farm comprises seventy-nine acres, and the land is devoted to general erops and he raises most of the feed for his own fowls.
Mr. Homegardner married Helen Walter, of Sandusky, a daughter of Philip and Caroline Walter. Her parents lived for many years in
Henry garreto
811
IHISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
Sandusky, where they died. Two sons have been born to their union : Roland P. and Albert.
During his residence in Sandusky Mr. Homegardner took an active and prominent part in public affairs. For four years he was a city commissioner and was also a director of public safety. He is a democrat in polities, and a member of Holy Angels Catholic Church at Sandusky. He belongs to several fraternal orders, and has a large acquaintance both in the city and in the country distriets of Erie County.
HENRY JARRETT. The family of which the honored subjeet of this memoir was a representative was founded in Erie County three-fourths of a century ago and the name has been most prominently and worthily linked with the history of the country, where its representatives have been strong and resourceful factors in the furtherance of civic and indus- trial progress. He to whom this memoir is dedicated was a mere child at the time of the family immigration from Pennsylvania to Ohio and was reared and educated under the conditions marking the pioneer epoeh in the history of Erie County. In later years he was for some time a resident of Iowa, but he eventually returned to Erie County, where he became extensively engaged in farming and stock growing, was the owner of one of the finest landed estates in the county, and was held in inviolable confidence and esteem as a citizen of influenee and as a man of impregnable integrity in all of the relations of life.
Mr. Jarrett was born in Upper Milford Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, on the 18th of February, 1827, and thus was seventy years and seven months of age at the time of his death, which occurred on the 29th of April, 1898, as the result of a pitiable accident. Ile had gone from his farm to the City of Sandusky with a load of oats, and while he was attempting to mount the load he fell to the ground, his horses started and the wheels of the heavily loaded wagon passed over him, the result being that his death occurred within a few minutes there- after. He had been tenderly removed to a place on the lawn of the Erie County Courthouse, and the best medieal aid was promptly ob- tained; his injuries were such that he soon expired, his tragic death having been deeply deplored in the county which had been his home dur- ing virtually his entire life, and in which his circle of friends was limited only by that of his acquaintances.
Mr. Jarrett was a son of Isaac and Polly ( Richie) Jarrett, both of ,whom were born in Lineolnshire, England, about the time of the open- ing of the nineteenth century, and both of whom were young at the time of the immigration of the respective families to the United States, both families having established their residence in Lehigh County, Penn- sylvania, where the majority of their neighbors were of German and Holland Dutch lineage. Both the paternal and maternal grandparents of Mr. Jarrett passed the residue of their lives in Lehigh County, and in that county Isaac Jarrett and Polly Richie were reared to maturity. After their marriage they continued their residence on a farm in Lehigh County until 1830, and there were born eight of their children, namely : James, Solomon, Mary, Lydia. Eliza, Rebecca, Clarissa and Henry. In 1830 the parents made the overland journey with teams and wagons to Ohio, and in the forest wilds of Erie County Isaac Jarrett obtained a traet of Government land in what is now Perkins Township and in the section locally known as the German Settlement. On his embryonic Farm he made a clearing and built the primitive log cabin which was the original domieile of the family, and he and his wife endured the full tension of pioneer life, for which they were well equipped, as they were strong and vigorous, earnest and industrious and animated by worthy purpose. With the passing of the years Isaac Jarrett and his sons
812
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
reelaimed the land which he has obtained, and as prosperity attended their efforts additions were made to the rear of the farm, which eventu- ally became one of the finest in Perkins Township. Isaae Jarrett at the time of his death was one of the most extensive landholders of Northern Ohio, and he well merited the success which he achieved through arduous toil and the application of enterprise and mature judgment. He and his wife continued to reside on their fine old homestead, honored by all who knew them, until they were finally summoned to eternal rest, in the fullness of years and in the gracious temporal prosperity that prop- erly rewards such earnest application and faithful service as had marked their lives. After their removal to Ohio two sons were born to. them, Isaac and John, and the latter is the only son now surviving them. The remains of the sterling pioneers, Isaac and Polly Jarrett, rest in the Sandhill Cemetery of Erie County.
Henry Jarrett was about three years of age at the time when the family made the weary overland journey from the old Keystone State to Ohio, and he was reared to adult age under the conditions and influ- enees of the strenuous pioneer days. He early began to lend his aid in the arduous work of the home farm and thus gained abiding appreei- ation of the dignity and value of honest toil, the while he availed him- self of such educational advantages as were afforded in the primitive common schools of the locality and period. Alert of mind and full of physical vigor, his ambition was early quiekened, and to such a man an early educational handieap means nought save that it may be overcome through self-application and through the lessons to be learned under the direction of that wise headmaster, experience.
Mr. Jarrett imbibed fully the pioneer spirit, and in 1847, when twenty years of age, with his financial resources represented in the gold coins strapped about his waist by a belt, he ventured forth into the West. He made his way to prairie wilds of Iowa and entered elaim to a large traet of Government land in the vicinity of the present little city of Marshalltown, Clayton County. As one of the sturdy pioneers of the Hawkeye State he essaved the task of bringing his land under cultivation and he had many interesting and numerous unpleasant experiences in connection with life on the frontier, on one occasion having been threatened with robbery at the hands of border despera- does. Ill health finally compelled him to dispose of his holdings in Iowa, at a distinet sacrifice, and after having remained several years in that now great and prosperous commonwealth, he was thus prompted to sever his allegianee thereto and to return to the old home in Erie Connty, Ohio. Here, in the early '50s, he obtained 240 aeres of fine land, in Huron Township, and on this now magnificent rural domain his widow and their only daughter still maintain their home. The farm is eligibly situated in the southwestern part of Huron Township, on the Milan Road and about seven miles distant from the City of Sandusky. the judicial center of the county.
With characteristie eireumspection, energy and progressiveness, Mr. Jarrett gave himself right vigorously to the improving and man- agement of his fine landed estate, and under effective direction it was developed into one of the best and most attractive country seats in this section of the state. In 1874 he ereeted on the farm the present substantial residence, which has twenty rooms, is equipped with the best of modern improvements and facilities and which was one of the finest rural dwellings in the county at the time of its ercetion, there being at the present time few that excel it, the while it is eertain none is better known as a center of gracious and refined hospitality.
Mr. Jarrett was a man of most genial and companionable nature, considerate and generous in his association with his fellow men, broad-
813
HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
minded and liberal in his views, appreciative of the personal steward- ship success involves, and always ready to do his part in the furtherance of measures and enterprises tending to conserve the civic and material welfare of the community. Ile won friends because he deserved them, and to him friendship was ever inviolable. He was direct, sincere and steadfast in all the relations of life, and thus it may readily be under- stood that his tragic death brought a distinct shoek to the entire eom- munity in which he had lived and labored to goodly ends and in which his name and memory are held in lasting honor.
Though essentially liberal and publie-spirited in his civic attitude and a staunch supporter of the cause of the republican party, Mr. Jarrett never consented to become a candidate for public office. Ile was a valued member of Perkins Grange No. 637, Patrons of Husbandry, and served as chaplain of the same, besides which he was an active member and supporter of the Erie County Farmers' Institute. He was affili- ated with Marks Lodge No. 639, Free and Accepted Masons, at Huron, and was an earnest member and liberal supporter of the Perkins Methodist Episcopal Church, his wife and daughter being zeal- ous members of the same at the present time.
In Milan Township, this county, on the 12th of May, 1864, was sol- emnized the marriage of Mr. Jarrett to Miss Delia Tillotson, who was born in Huron Township, at a point not far distant from her present home, and the date of whose nativity was November 2, 1838. She was reared and edueated in this county. After her husband's death it was found that the property was heavily involved, but through hard work she eventually cleared the farm of a heavy indebtedness of nearly $10,000. This was accomplished through the assistance of her son John and the other children, and today these children thank this mother for the lesson of industry she taught. Mrs. Jarrett is a daughter of Josiah and Sarah (Maekey) Tillotson. Josiah Tillotson was born in Erie County on the 13th of April, 1814, and his father, Phineas Tillotson, of stauneh Scotch ancestry, was among the very early pioneers of Erie County, where he established his home in the wilds of Milan Township. Ile attained to venerable age and passed the closing years of his life in the State of Indiana. His children were Josiah, Delia, Melinda, Rhoda, Stephen, William, Parenthena and John, and all of them are now deeeased.
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.