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 65
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Julia a. Carter.
& Carter
Han
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and his young wife. Ile was little used to hard manual labor and his wife had been reared in the comforts and conveniences of a metropolitan city. One of his first accomplishments on reaching his wilderness home was to start clearing the forest. With no proficiency in the handling of the ax, he made a hagling job of cutting down the first tree and hacked it completely around before it finally fell. A part of that tree is still preserved, being a timber under the porch of the first house which he built, and the roots are still in the ground nearby. Robert Carter soon developed skill in the use of the ax and of all the imple- ments of husbandry, and by hard work succeeded in clearing up a considerable tract of land, working up the trees into rails and planting the cleared space with his first erops of grain. This forty acres they developed into a first class homestead. In these modern times people take a great deal of pride in articles of old furniture, of the handsome and durable type, made after the designs of some of the great artists in furniture making of a century ago. It will be of interest to say that Robert Carter and wife brought with them across the ocean and into their wilderness home in Northern Ohio a number of pieces of solid mahogany furniture, and the chairs have been carefully passed on from one generation to the other, and are now prized possessions in the homes of their different grandchildren. Mrs. Carter was one of the finest types of pioneer home makers and mothers. She had been well trained in her Scotch home, and had developed special skill as a dressmaker. She met the conditions of the New World with remark- able courage and readily adapted herself to the simple customs and proprieties which governed society in Northern Ohio nearly a century ago. Accustomed to dress after the fashion of her home city, she was not willing to offend her neighbors by ostentatious display, and after coming to this country sold some of her fine rings as articles that could not well be worn in their new country. For a number of years she was the only woman who attended church dressed in a fine bonnet. Robert Carter was a giant physically, stood nearly seven feet high, and weighed more than 200 pounds. However, the constant and back-breaking work of pioneering undermined his constitution, and he finally suffered a stroke of paralysis that ultimately brought about his death when still in the prime of his years on November 15, 1865. Ilis wife survived him until July 12, 1872. While by birth and training she was a fine lady, she busied herself with all the homely vocations of a housekeeper in early Erie County, and was highly esteemed for her kindness and neighborliness. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Robert Carter voted first with the whigs and later with the repub- lieans.
The only child of these worthy pioneers was John Robert Carter, who was born on the old Carter homestead in Erie County February 29, 1836, just four years to the day after the marriage of his parents. After growing to manhood he succeeded to the ownership of the home- stead and under his own management increased its acreage to 8712 acres and improved and developed it in many ways. He con- structed some substantial buildings, and at home and in his relations as a citizen gave a most exeellent account of himself. For several years in his earlier life he taught school. His death occurred February 28. 1901. Ile was a man of excellent address, large and portly, though not of the manly frame of his father. Ile was a man highly respected and for a number of years served as township trustee, and at one time was candidate for county auditor, though his home was in a portion of the county which made it difficult for anyone resid- ing there to aspire to such a position. Politically he was a republican.
John R. Carter was married first on July 2, 1862, to July H. Graves,
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and one child blessed this union, Clara A., who married Carl Boehm on September 8, 1897, and they have several children. Mr. Carter mar- ried for his second wife, in Fredonia, New York, May 20, 1868, Miss Adelaide A. Gould. She was born in that section of New York State September 1, 1842, and met Mr. Carter while on a visit to Erie County, Ohio. She died at her home May 8, 1899, leaving two sons, Harry G. and Marvin G. The latter is now a locomotive engineer on the Lake Shore Railway living at Toledo. He began railroading as a fireman with that road in August, 1889, and soon rose to command an engine of his own. IIe has been twice married, first to Bessie Taylor, and had one child by that marriage. For his second wife Marvin G. Carter married Della Blair, of Vermilion, Ohio. and they have children. How- ard, Gertrude and Maurice. John R. Carter married for his third wife, November 28, 1900, Mrs. Rose R. Iloward, who is now living in Birmingham, Ohio.
On the old farm in Florence Township Harry G. Carter spent his youth and boyhood days. He was liberally educated and had home associations and traditions which could only inspire him to right and nseful manhood. He graduated from the business college at Oberlin with the class of 1890 and soon afterwards beeame a partner of F. Burk in conducting a general store, at Wakeman, Ohio. A year later he returned to the farm and managed his wife's old estate for several years. Then for one year he was a fireman on the Lake Shore Railroad. from that a position as motorman on the Lake Shore Electric Line, and finally became a clerk in the Lake Shore freight office at Elyria, Ohio. After these varied activities in a business way Mr. Carter in 1910, having sold his portion of the old homestead, bought 108 acres on the East Vermilion Road. This is his present farm, which in improvements and crops measures up to almost any standard set by Erie County farming. In a recent season Mr. Carter produced from his land 700 bushels of wheat, 400 bushels of oats, erops of corn and potatoes, and has a fine apple orchard of twelve acres. His farm home is one of the best in that section of the county, comprising an eleven-room house. He also has two barns, the larger 32x50 feet, with other buildings for the shelter of his cattle and horses, and he keeps a number of hogs on his farm.
On October 22, 1892, in Wakeman Township of Huron County Mr. Carter married Julia A. Denman. Her parents were William and Julia (Partello) Denman. Her father was born in Florence Township and her mother in Michigan, and after their marriage they located on a farm in Wakeman Township of Huron County. Her father died in December, 1892, and her mother is still living, making her home in Norwalk. The Denmans were among the most prominent early settlers of Erie County, and William Denman's father Martin came from New York State. Hle is assigned the credit of being one of the original "Johnny Appleseeds" of this country. Going back to New York State he returned on foot carrying a bag of apple seeds, which he distributed among his neighbors, and from these seeds were produced many of the first orchards in this section of the state. Martin Demman died in Florence Township, when quite an old man.
To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Carter have been born two chil- dren. Harold D., born February 17, 1900, is a promising young man now a student in the Wakeman High School. JJuva L., born December 15, 1903, is now attending the local grade schools. Mrs. Carter is an active member of the Wakeman Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Carter's parents were among the most active members of that church at Birmingham, gave liberally to its support and his father served for many years as a trustee. In his relations with the community Mr. Car-
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ter has a record of two terms of service as township trustee. He was elected to that office on the republican ticket. Mr. Carter's political views are now in harmony with the socialist party.
GEORGE OSWALD. During the long and active career of George Oswald, of Sandusky, he has been engaged in a variety of pursuits, and since 1908 has ocenpied the position of county commissioner of Erie County. While he has been in politics for only seven years, he is known as one of his community's most influential democrats, and his personal worth, integrity and general popularity make him a strong and valuable man in the ranks of his party. Mr. Oswald was born at Sandusky, Erie County, Ohio, January 1, 1865, and is a son of Andrew and Helen ( Frey ) Oswald, the former a native of Bavaria, Germany, and the latter of Switzerland.
Andrew Oswald came to the United States after reaching years of maturity, and about the year 1850 came to Erie County, Ohio, and located at Sandusky, on what is now Brown Street, where he passed the remaining years of his life, his death occurring in 1906. Ile was by trade a cabinetmaker and also operated a milk dairy for a number of years, continuing actively engaged in business until his death, although he was then in his eightieth year. He was a republican in his political views, although not an active politician. Of the large family of chil- dren born to Andrew and Helen Oswald, eight survive: Aloysius, of Sandusky, Ohio: Frances, who is the wife of Herman Otto, of Perkins Township, Erie County; Mary, who is the wife of Charles Jones, of Sterling. Michigan ; John, a resident of Sandusky; Paulina, who is the wife of Bernard Queenan, of Toledo: George, of this notice; Andrew, a resident of Sandusky: and Julius, of Toledo, Ohio. Three children are deceased, namely : Margaret, Frederick and Joseph. The father was an exceptionally well-read and well-informed man, particularly in Ger- man literature and upon German subjects. While not a politician, he always took an interest in the success of his party as it affected the welfare of his community, and when he died Sandusky lost one of its most valued and publie-spirited citizens. One of his sons, John Oswald. served on the board of public service for some years and was likewise a member of the Sandusky City Council for a period.
George Oswald was reared to man's estate at Sandusky and received his education in Saint Mary's Parochial School. IIe early displayed his ambition and industry by securing employment, and for more than twenty-two years was an employe of the Sandusky Street Railway Com- pany and later of the Lake Shore Electric Company, as a car con- duetor. During fourteen years of this period he had a run on the Milan Division of the Lake Shore Electric Company between Sandusky and Norwalk, mainly as conductor. The Sandusky Street Railway Company, by which he was first employed, merged into the Lake Shore Electric Railway Company, of which system it is now a part. During his career as a railroad man Mr. Oswald formed a wide acquaintance, in which he numbered many friends, a fact which was to prove of material benefit to him when he entered politics and public life. In November, 1908. he was first elected a member of the Board of County Commissioners of Erie County, for a term of two years. Ile subsequently was the victor in the elections of 1910, 1912 and 1914, and is now serving his fourth term, as a democrat. He has shown himself a capable and conscientious public servant, alive to the needs of his community and its people and faithful in his efforts to secure improvements for his native city. Ile is a member of Saint Mary's Roman Catholic Church.
Mr. Oswald was married to Anna Werner, who was also born at San- dusky, daughter of the late Joseph Werner, of Sandusky. Five children
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have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Oswald, as follows: George J .. who is a resident of Milan, Ohio; Edna K., who resides at Sandusky ; Elmer P., whose home is at Elyria, Ohio: and Lester and Norman, who reside with their parents.
FRED A. SIGGENS. Not all of Fred A. Siggens' maturer years have been spent in farming pursuits, but he has been identified with that industry since 1885, and in that time has established himself among the most reliable agriculturists of Florence Township. He has owned vari- ons properties in and about the township, but his present holdings are represented by an eighty-four-acre traet which he secured by purchase in 1909. This farm is in a highly improved state and is one of the best kept and most productive spots in the vicinity.
Fred A. Siggens is of English birth and parentage. He was born Herfordshire, England, on November 22, 1859, and is a son of John and Mary Ann ( Collins) Siggens, both natives of Herford. They were born in abont 1836 and 1838, respectively, and were the ehiklren of English parents. James Siggens, paternal grandfather of the subject, was a contractor and builder, and he lived and died in his native shire. He was seventy-two years old when he passed away and his wife was some years older than her husband at her death. John Siggens was one of their sixteen children. Others in the family were William, David, James, George, Thomas, Edward, Ann, Charlotte, Emma, Mary A. and Millie. George and John came to the United States. The former was a brickmason and he settled in Sandusky, Ohio, there engaging in that work, and still has a home on First Street of that city.
John Siggens had but little education in England. IIe there learned the trade of a brickmason, and in early manhood married Mary Ann Collins, a daughter of an old family of Herfordshire. Her mother died young, though her father lived past his eightieth year. These young people were the parents of three sons and one daughter when they sailed for America on the steamer Peruvian in the autumn of 1870. They landed at Quebec, coming thenee to Sandusky, where the father took up his trade, which he plied for about twelve years. Then he went to Perkins Township, Erie County, and made his home there until his death, on December 24, 1913. His wife passed away in 1909. Five children were born to them : Fred ; Alfred, a sailor, who married Alma Matson, and has two children, Gladys and Ray ; Albion, a Huron County farmer, married Myra Staley, and has three daughters, Elsie. Beulah and Grace; Florence, deceased, who married Frank Sharp, and their children are Bert, Ida May and Alma; and George, who was born after the arrival of the family in Sandusky, died at the age of eighteen months.
Up to the age of ten years Fred Siggens was given such educational advantages as their native community afforded,, and after coming to this country he finished a course in the Sandusky High School. Later he beeame identified with the stonemason's trade, which he followed for some time, and still later he turned his attention to farming. He suc- cessfully operated the Truman Taylor farm for eleven years, and that experience was sufficient to convince him that he wanted a farm of his own. Ile accordingly purchased a place in Perkins Township, ran it eleven years, and bought another farm of 1441% acres on the State Road in Florence Township. This place he also sold after about a year of ownership, at a reasonable advance in the price, after which he purchased his present farm of eighty-four acres on the Butler Road, near Bir- mingham. Ilis snecess in the farming industry has been marked, and his present home is one of the most attractive in the community. The buildings are ample and appropriate, and add much to the comfort and wellbeing of the family. The house, a well-planned nine-room structure.
Ja Siggens Urs Lillie & Siggens
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is most attractive, and a barn, 32 by 60 feet in dimensions, indicates that the place is highly productive, as indeed it is. The success that has been Mr. Siggens' portion may well be said to have come as the direct result of his own good management, for he has won his present position unaided by any of those more fortunate eireumstances that have been the material allies of so many so-called successful men. Thrift, integrity, good judgment and long acquaintance with hard work have heen Mr. Siggens' aids through life.
Mr. Siggens married Lillie E. Weeks, who was born in New York City July 19, 1863, and came to Perkins Township, Erie County, while still very young. She was adopted by the family of Elisha Storrs, who cared for her and gave her such advantages as were within their means. To them have been born six children. Nelson, William and Gertrude live at home; Clara, the wife of William Glime, lives in Lorain County, Ohio, and has two children. Lucille and Lillian, and John and Emna.
Mr. and Mrs. Siggens are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are active in its support. Mr. Siggens is a republican and he is a leader in the political labors of the community. Ile has twice served as a member of the board of education, and has done excellent work in the interests of the schools of the township. Ile has been a member of the Maccabees for the past twenty-six years.
WILLIAM SHERMAN TAYLOR. The Taylor family has been identified with Erie County through three successive generations. In each gen- eration there has been one or more members of the family who have been active in public affairs and have held important local offices. William S. Taylor, of the present active generation, is now serving as clerk of Perkins Township, and has been otherwise influential in local affairs. He is a man of great publie spirit, and the industry which has enabled him to succeed in a business way has not been without results of benefit to the community in which he has spent his life. Ilis home is on the Bloomingville Road.
William Sherman Taylor was born in the house he still occupies, on June 5, 1865. His parents were Charles W. and C'aroline E. ( Wright ) Taylor. His father is also a native of Perkins Township, while his mother was born in Dutchess County. New York. Nelson Taylor, the grandfather, was born in Connecticut, and was one of the pioneers in Perkins Township of Erie County, where he settled when most of the country was in the woods. He cleared up land and put a strong shoulder to the wheel while eivilization was making its first progress through this country. Nelson Taylor was one of the early county commissioners in Erie County and did his duty to the public as well as to himself and family. Charles W. Taylor some years ago served as clerk of Perkins Township. He is still living, at the age of eighty, and one of the oldest native sons of Perkins Township.
William Sherman Taylor grew up on the old homestead, which he still occupies. His education eame from the public schools, and for a short time he attended the high school at Sandusky. He was also a stu- dent in Baldwin University at Berea, near Cleveland, Ohio. His active work has been as farmer and stock raiser. and he is also a dealer in foundry and brick molding sand, and has followed that occupation more or less actively for many years.
In polities he has acted with the republican party sinee casting his first presidential vote for Benjamin Harrison, and is now in his second term as clerk of Perkins Township. For two years he was a member of the Republican Central Committee from Perkins Township and for a number of years has been one of the Perkins Township Board of Educa- tion, and is now clerk of the board. Fraternally he is affiliated with the
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Knights of the Maccabees at Bloomingville, and wherever his name is spoken it is associated with the qualities of industry, integrity and publie spirit. He does farming on a large scale and is always willing to contribute time, labor and means to local improvements.
JAY J. TEMPLE. Mention of this name introduces a number of well- known families in Erie County, where the Temples and their connections have lived since the middle of the nineteenth century. Jay J. Temple is one of the prominent farmer citizens of Florence Township, living with his family on a farm estate and in a substantial home on Rural Route No. 1 out of Birmingham.
His birth occurred at Birmingham, in Florence Township. November [1. 1856, and he is a son of Edgar and Sarah ( Green) Temple. His father was born in New York State April 29, 1828, while his mother was born in Branch County, Michigan, September 4, 1838. Edgar Temple was a son of John and Mary (Austin ) Temple. John Temple was born in Vermont of New England stock, while his wife was a native of New York State, and they were married in the latter state and came into Erie County with their family in 1852, locating in Florence Township, where John and Mary Temple spent the rest of their days. She died when past fifty-five, while John, who was born May 27, 1799, passed away in January, 1876, in his seventy-seventh year. There are some things about the career of John Temple which should be given definite record. By trade he was a cabinetmaker and wagonmaker, and was one of the most efficient followers of those trades ever known in Erie County. In the early days he constructed a number of hand-made coffins before such articles were carried in undertaking shops as is the custom in later times. At his shop he also constructed wagons for farm and home nse and some of these farm wagons and spring wagons are said to be still doing service, testifying to the substantial character of their maker. He was not only a skilled worker, but a man of utmost honesty and stood high in the esteem of any community where he lived. He had begun to learn his trade when only ten years of age. After the death of his wife he went to live near Toledo, and followed his trade there until his death. In polities he was first a whig and afterwards became a republican.
Sarah ( Green) Temple, the mother of Jay J. Temple, was a daughter of Silas and Elizabeth ( Howe) Green, both natives of New York State and of New England ancestry. After their marriage they moved out to Branch County, Michigan, where settlement had its first beginning in the decade of the '30s. and Mrs. Green died there. Her husband later moved to Hastings, in Barry County, Michigan, and died there when a little past middle age. When the Green family settled in Branch County there were only three other white families, and some Indians came to their aid in raising the rough frame of their log cabin home. They were members of the Methodist Church, and in politics Mr. Green was a whig and republican.
Edgar Temple and wife after their marriage started ont as farmers in Florence Township, and three of their children were born there: Mary E .: Jay J., and Ida E., now deceased. In the fall of 1861 the family removed to Henry County, Ohio, locating on an unimproved tract of land, where Mrs. Temple, the mother, died in 1875. Edgar Temple later moved out to California. and died in 1904 at Bishop, in Inyo County. He and his wife were Methodists, and in polities he was a republican. Other children living outside of Erie County were: Altha J., who is a farmer in IInron County, and has a family of children; Della is the wife of Louis Morgan, living in Toledo, and has one dangh- ter: William lives at Fillmore, California, and is married, but has no children.
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Jay J. Temple grew up in Ohio and other states, and in the course of his career has lived for varying lengths of time in five different states. He finally located on the Florence and Vermilion Road in Florence Township, and since his marriage has operated the farm of 117 acres where his wife formerly lived before her marriage. This is a farm of excellent improvement and has been most capably managed by Mr. Temple.
On the farm where he now lives Mr. Temple was married in 1887 to Miss Alice Jarrett. She was born, reared and educated in Erie County, a daughter of George and Sarah ( Mason) Jarrett. Her father was born in the County of Kent, England, on the Isle of Sheppy, and was ten years of age when brought to the United States and to Erie County. His father and two children, George and Richard, were the first of the family to come to America. The mother, Sarah (Green) Jarrett, came one year later with the remainder of the family of six children. After growing up, he secured the 117 acres where he has since lived, and also owns two improved farms of a fraction over fifty acres each in the same township. Ile is now seventy-five years of age, and well preserved in all his faculties. His wife passed away April 6, 1914, and on the following day would have been seventy-three years of age. She was of Massachusetts parents, but was reared and educated in Erie County.
Mr. and Mrs. Temple have two children: Sarah Etta, born July 3, 1888, is the wife of Edward N. Boone, of Erie County, and they now live on a farm near Florence Village; George E., born February 25, 1891, after completing his education in the public schools took up farm- ing and is still pursuing that vocation, being unmarried. Mr. Temple is a republican in politics, but votes independently in local affairs,
GEORGE S. PECK comes of an old New England family. Men of the name established the family on these shores early in the seventeentl: century, and the family record is easily traceable baek through 400 years. This brief sketeh deals only with such of the family who have been identified with the growth and development of this county through more than 100 years.
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