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 67
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twenty years of age, Joseph Niekols and wife and all the other mem- bers of the family moved out to Indiana in June. 1846, locating in DeKalb County. They afterward located in Steuben County, and from that locality two of their children, Milo and Lucy, the latter at that time the wife of a Mr. Sanders, went to California in 1849, and spent the remainder of their lives in that far western state. The following children were born to Joseph Niekols and wife: Lucy Ann, who was born December 3, 1822; llarvey, born September 11, 1824, and died August 23, 1826; Curtis, born September 2, 1826, and died July 31, 1903; Rufus Main, born February 2, 1828, and died February 23, 1899: Harriet Betty, born March 4, 1830; Joseph Milo, born February 10, 1832, died March 31, 1902; Norman, born February 22, 1834; George Washington, born June 1, 1836, and died April 22, 1857; Alexander Lot, born February 19, 1838; Victoria Louisa, born November 2, 1840, died December 11, 1870; and Hannah Delila, born April 3, 1842.
When sixteen years of age Curtis Niekols paid his father $75.00 for his time and bound himself as an apprentice to the blacksmith trade with a Mr. Stone of Stone Corners, now Ogontz in Berlin Township, in the same locality where Arthur J. Niekols now lives. His apprentice- ship was for three years, and during the first year he received $40.00, $75.00 in the second year and $100.00 for the third year. He developed into a skilled blacksmith and afterward acquired equal facilities as a carpenter and joiner, and for several years devoted much of his time to that class of work known as wheelwright. For several years he wrought at his trade in Chicago, and was also employed on the Soo Canal. He was married in Erie County in July, 1858, to Miss Mary Lewis. In the meantime he had bought ninety acres, and subsequently increased that to 160 acres. This farm lies adjacent to the one now owned and oeeupied by Arthur J. Nickols. Miss Mary Lewis was born in New York State about 1830, and her parents lived and died there. Her father passed away a few years before his wife, and she was nearly eighty when her death occurred. Mr. Lewis was for a number of years a cook on lake boats. After his marriage Curtis Nickols located on his farm of 160 acres on the Ridge Road in Berlin Township. His first tract of this farm was ninety acres, purchased in 1853 of Lanson Brooks. He brought about many improvements, his skill serving him well in the erection of a substantial home and good barns. He died there when nearly seventy-seven, while his wife passed away in middle life. at the age of forty-two. He was variously affiliated in polities, having at one time voted the whig ticket, again as a republican and was also a Greeley democrat. For a number of years he was honored with the office of town- ship trustee, and in every sense lived fully up to the obligations imposed upon citizenship.
Arthur J. Nickols spent his early life on the old homestead of his father and for a number of successive winter terms attended the neigh- boring district schools. Hard work and intelligent management have been the essential factors in his career, and since his marriage he has owned and oeenpied the old homestead of his wife's parents, comprising 142 acres, and he also has fifty-five acres of his father's okl estate. Nearly all of this land is improved, but one of its valuable features is a traet of fine native timber covering twenty-eight acres. At the present time he is developing a large fruit orchard, having about 1,500 young trees. ITis home is one of the best in that part of Erie County, being a large fourteen-room house, surrounded by excellent barns and all other facilities for handling his erops and livestock. Hle raises every- thing in large quantities, and from his herd of Jersey cattle sells quantities of butter and cream.
Mr. Niekols was married in 1886, on the farm where he now resides. to Miss Alice M. Smith. She was born on that farm and grew up and
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received her education there, and she and her husband were children together. Her parents were Horace T. and Susan (Johnson) Smith. Her father was one of the prominent men in his day in Berlin Township, and from birth spent practically all his life on the farm where Mr. and Mrs. Nickols now reside. This farm came into the Smith family direct from the Government, having originally been a part of the "fire lands" set aside for the benefit of those who suffered in Connectieut and other eastern states because of the depredations inflicted by the soldiers of Great Britain during the early American wars. Mr. Smith died there when about ninety years of age, and his wife was more than eighty when she passed away.
Mr. and Mrs. Niekols have four children. Lewis is now a merchant at Ogontz Corners, and by his marriage to Elizabeth Irish has a daugh- ter, Ruth. Lloyd is living at home unmarried. Ellsworth was grad- uated from the Berlin High School and is now a student in Chicago. Elton is still in high school. Mr. Niekols has long taken a prominent place in the Patrons of Husbandry, and is a past master of Florence Grange, No. 1844, while his wife is equally aetive in the woman's work of that order and has held every offiee given to the women members. Politically he is an independent democrat, and has given publie service chiefly as president of the school board for several years.
HON. LEWIS F. WHITE. A member of the Ohio State Senate from the Thirtieth Senatorial District, comprising the counties of Erie. Huron, Ottawa and Sandusky, Senator White has proved himself not only a representative but also a leader in the public life of those counties and in the state at large. Reared on a farm, with business experience eonneeting him with the important fishing industry along the lake shore, he possesses an unusual range of qualifications which put him in elose touch with the people whom he so ably represents.
Senator White was elected as representative to the Seventy-eighth General Assembly of Ohio from Sandusky County at the age of twenty- five years and re-elected to the Seventy-ninth General Assembly by an increased majority. His home is in Sandusky County in Townsend Township, in which loeality he was born October 9, 1882. His parents were Charles W. and Catherine (Wahl) White, his father a native of Prussia and his mother of Baden, Germany. Both parents are now deceased. Charles W. White came to America in 1849 and located in Sandusky County and was one of the eapable early settlers and farm- ers in Townsend Township, where he lived until his death in 1896. His position as a eitizen is indicated by the fact that for several times he served as a director of the Infirmary of Sandusky County, and for a number of years held the office of justice of the peace in Townsend Township.
Lewis F. White grew to manhood in his native township, was edu- cated in the public schools, and studied law under the then prosecuting attorney of Sandusky County, Michael W. Hunt. For some time he was also a student in the Ohio Northern University at Ada. By his early career he knows the life of the farmer and has a keen apprecia- tion of the needs of the rural community. For several years he has been engaged in farming and the fishing industry, and the people of his district recognize in him not only an able political leader but also as a man whose substantial accomplishment in a business way entitle him to confidence. Senator White married Mabel M. Mahan, who was born in Clyde, Ohio, a daughter of James Mahan.
Senator White is a demoerat, and for a number of years has been a leader in that party. He is affiliated with the Knights of the Mae- cabees at Whitmore, Tent No. 222; with Camp No. 4477 of the Modern Woodmen of America at Vickery; with Aerie No. 712 of the Fraternal
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Order of Eagles at Fremont. His legislative experience began with the seventy-eighth session of the Ohio General Assembly, and he was in the lower house four years, being a member of both the seventy-eighth and seventy-ninth assemblies. Previously he had for four years been a member of the Democratie Central Committee from Townsend Town- ship, and for three years of this time was chairman of the Sandusky County Central Committee.
During the Seventy-eighth Assembly he did an important work in securing the passage of several laws regulating the fishing industry on Lake Erie, and during the same session procured some important reforms in the hunting and game laws of the state. In that assembly he was a member of the following committees: Fish culture and game; Institute of the Blind ; ditches and drains: military affairs. In the seventy-ninth session he was chairman of the fish culture and game committee and a member of the committees on Federal relations, soldiers and sailors homes and agriculture. In the seventy-eighth session he had the dis- tinetion of being the youngest legislator. Credit is given him for all the important changes made in the fish and game laws during the Seventy-ninth Assembly. It was his ereditable work in the first session that led to his re-election to the House of Representatives by a substan- tial and increased majority.
Since taking his seat in the Senate in the Eighty-first General Assembly, Mr. White has been chairman of the drainage and irrigation committee, regarded as one of the most important committees beeanse of the schedule of proposed legislation for flood protection in the state. IJe has been a member of the committees on agriculture, fish culture and game, county affairs, claims, Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home, and labor. During this session he secured the appropriation for the erection of a memorial to commemorate the services of George Burton Meek, who was the first American to give up his life for his country during the Spanish-American war. On August 14, 1915, Senator White was appointed by Governor Willis of Ohio to serve as a member of the Ohio Building Commission and at the organization of the commission was elected its vice president.
Substantial as has been his achievements so far, a great many people in the Thirtieth Senatorial District believe that Senator White's career has only begun, and that he shows qualities which will eventually lead him to great prominence both in the state and perhaps in the nation.
HERMAN WELZ. In the course of human life the burdens borne by one generation are shifted on to the shoulders of the following, and thus there is a constant succession of the younger taking the places of the older in every community. Among the young people who have now assumed such independent responsibilities in affairs and are carrying forward the work begun and capably performed by their parents are Mr. and Mrs. Herman Welz, of Florence Township. They represent the live interests in their community, are popular people socially, and are doing their share in cultivating the land, supporting the schools and community institutions, and making for progress generally.
Oxford Township of Erie County is the native place of Herman Welz, who was born April 17, 1881, on Easter Sunday. His parents were German people, Jonas and Sophia (King) Welz, both natives of Baden. Ilis father was born in 1842 and his mother was a year or two older. Their respective parents spent all their lives in the province of Baden, where grandfather Welz was a large and prosperous farmer. Jonas Welz came to the United States when twenty-three, sailing from Bremen to New York City, and thence to Oxford Township in Erie County. There he joined his older brother, Jacob, who had come on some years before and who became well known in Oxford Township,
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where he married and reared a large family. Jonas Welz was married in Erie County to Sophia King, who had come with her parents when six years of age, on a sailing vessel from Bremen to New York City and thence to Oxford Township. In 1849 her father, Mr. King, went out to California to search for gold and wealth, and was never heard of afterwards. Ilis widow later died in Oxford Township, with a family of two sons and two daughters, all of whom are now deceased. Jonas Welz, after his marriage, started out as a farmer in Oxford Township and lived there until 1882, when he brought his family, includ- ing his son, Herman, to Florence Township, selecting as his location a choice piece of land of nearly 100 acres on the road between Berlin Heights and Florence Village. That was the scene of his thrifty endeavors the rest of his career, and he died there June 3, 1912. IIis wife passed away in 1898. Jonas Welz was a democrat in politics, and he and his wife attended the Congregational Church. She was a remarkable woman in many respects, not only in those indomitable qualities of virtuous character, but also mentally. Intellectually she was the equal of any man, and had even brilliant qualities of intellect. She was never at a loss in argument on political, religious and social topics, and had a well stored memory which furnished her with the material for exact and convincing statements. The children of Jonas Welz and wife were: Herman; Carrie, the wife of Theodore E. Welch, a record of whom is found elsewhere; Emma, the wife of M. E. Starks of Huron County, and their children are Leon, Cleora, Marion, Lucile and Menzo J .: Ida, who died at the age of thirty-eight after her mar- riage to Martin Purcell of Milan, leaving one daughter, Sophia MI .; and Otto, who died at the age of nineteen.
Reared and educated in Florence Township, Herman Welz grew up on the old farm, and in 1908 became owner of the homestead, and since then has developed into a most successful and prosperous agriculturist. All of the 100 acres secured by his father there more than thirty years ago are well improved and in cultivation except twelve acres of native timber. His father on taking possession farmed this tract of wild land with the exception of twenty-six aeres, and the work has gone forward steadily year after year until this is now one of the highly productive farms of Erie County. Herman Welz has performed his share in that improvement, and has made the land even more valuable by his prae- tice of returning to the soil the fertility which he takes away from it in erops. He grows all the cereals and potatoes, has a good orchard, has constructed a large basement barn 22 by 46 feet for his grain and stock. painted an attractive blue gray with white trimmings, and has a sub- stantial home of seven rooms. The county ditch crossing his farm fur- mishes complete means for drainage.
At Norwalk Mr. Welz married Miss Bertha M. Ileald. She was born at Birmingham in Florence Township November 16, 1889, was educated in the high school at that place, and is a matronly and attractive woman, presiding with dignity over her little household. Her parents were Charles A. and Florence ( Robinson) Heald. Her father was born at Birmingham in Erie County April 20, 1851, a son of George and Maria ( Shaffer) Heald, who came in early days from New York State and developed a farm and home in Erie County, where George Heald died at the age of seventy-four and his wife at seventy-five. They were well known people in Florence Township. Charles A. Heald is still living, and has spent most of his life in the vicinity of Florence Village, where he is active in democratie polities, and has held such local offices as town- ship assessor. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. His wife, the mother of Mrs. Welz, was born in Ulster County, New York, May 11. 1858, and died at Birmingham April 6, 1889. She was an active Chris- tian worker, and had grown up in New York State, where she married
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Mr. Ileald. Mrs. Welz was the only child of her parents. She and Mr. Welz have one daughter: Flora May, who was born April 10, 1909, and is now attending school. They are attendants of the Congregational Church at Florence, and in politics Mr. Welz is independent.
WILLIAM N. Fox. Nearly a century has fallen into the abyss of time since the Fox family was founded in Erie County, and the fine old homestead place, in Perkins Township, has been consecutively in the possession of this honored pioneer family during all these long years. The late William N. Fox, to whom this memoir is dedicated, was one of the most honored and influential representatives of the second genera- tion of this sterling family in Erie County, where he passed his entire life on the old homestead farm and where he had long been known as one of the prosperous agriculturists and stock-growers of Perkins Town- ship and as a citizen of great heart and strong mind,-a man of promi- nence and influence in the communal affairs and one who ever com- manded impregnable vantage-place in the confidence and good will of all who knew him. He lived and labored to goodly ends, made his life pregnant with lesson and incentive and accounted well for himself and to the world, so that there is all of consistency in according in this history a special tribute to his memory. On the old homestead that was endeared to him by the most gracious memories and associations, he was summoned to the life eternal on the 18th of December, 1912.
Mr. Fox was born on the pioneer farm widely known throughout Erie County as the old Fox homestead, and the date of his nativity was June 18, 1835. He was a son of Alvin and Frances (Johnson) Fox, both of whom were born and reared in Connecticut, as representatives of staunch old colonial families in New England. In the early part of the second decade of the nineteenth century Alvin Fox came with his family to Ohio and established his home in the forest wilds of what is now Perkins Township, Erie County, where he reclaimed a farm from the veritable wilderness and where both he and his wife continued to reside until their death, he having passed away in 1869, one of the best known and most honored pioneer citizens of Perkins Township. In this connection may properly be given brief record concerning other of the children than William N., to whom this memoir is dedicated. Chris- topher A., who was born September 15, 1845, died on the 11th of Sep- tember, 1914, having passed his entire life on the old family homestead farm and his death having been of pitiably tragic order. He was a bachelor and had insisted on maintaining his residence in a small frame building that he erected for the purpose and in which he received such severe injuries when the little domicile was destroyed by fire that he was literally burned to death. He served twelve consecutive years as assessor of Perkins Township, was a stalwart in the camp of the demo- cratie party, and was a man whose character and services made him worthy of the respect so freely accorded him during all the years of a long and useful life. In 1865 he lost his right arm as the result of an accidental gunshot wound received while he was on a hunting trip in Huron marshes. Solomon Fox, an older brother, was born May 13, 1837, and died April 29, 1903. He was long identified with navigation affairs on the Great Lakes, having served twenty-two consecutive years as second mate, on various vessels, and he finally established his home in Fulton County, where he continued to reside until his death.
William N. Fox acquired his early education in the primitive schools of the pioneer era and soon began to aid in the ardnous work of clear- ing and otherwise improving the old home farm, which continued to be his abiding place until the close of his long and useful life, as previously stated in this context. An alert and receptive mind enabled him to
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become a man of broad mental ken and mature judgment, and he was prominent and influential in publie affairs as well as in those of indus- trial order in his native township. Ile was a farmer of energy and thrift, was a stalwart advocate of the cause of the democratic party, and he served for a number of years as township trustee. Ile was one of the early and influential members of the Perkins Grange, Patrons of Hus- bandry, and both he and his wife were zealous in their church affiliation.
The wife of Mr. Fox, whom he wedded as a young man, was like- wise born and reared in Erie County, and she preceded him to eternal rest, her death having occurred on the 1st of February, 1908. She was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and her gentle and considerate life proved a veritable beatitude. These honored pioneers are survived by three children, and a son, Frank W., is deceased. Frances M. is the wife of Charles D. Cornwell, of Berlin Heights, this county : and Emory D. and Thurman C. are well uphold- ing the high prestige of the family name through their status as rep- resentative farmers and stock-growers of Perkins Township and as progressive and publie-spirited citizens who are at all times ready to lend co-operation in the furtherance of enterprises advanced for the general good of the township and county in which they have resided from the time of their birth. The two brothers are aligned as staunch supporters of the principles and policies for which the democratic party stands sponsor and are associated in the ownership of the aneestral homestead farm, which comprises 116 acres of most arable and produc- tive land. They are closely allied in their agricultural and stock-rais- ing operations and are substantial and highly esteemed citizens of their native county, Emory D. being still a bachelor. Thurman C. Fox wedded Miss Catherine O'Neil, of Fulton County, and they have four children, -William O'Neill, Dorothy, Dennis C. and Frank T.
FRANK J. FITZ. There is perhaps no township in Erie County that has a greater number of solid, industrious and influential citizens than Margaretta Township. A leading representative of this influential rural community is Frank J. Fitz, who is at this time serving as township trustee. His life has been spent in the community where he now resides, and his varied interests with that locality include the ownership of a well cultivated and profitably managed farm.
In Margaretta Township Frank J. Fitz was born February 27. 1869, a son of Dennis and Dorothy (Ott) Fitz. Both parents were natives of Baden, Germany, but eame to this country before their marriage. Den- nis Fitz had been reared in Baden, and while living there served his regular term in the German army. Soon after coming to this country he was married and then moved to Erie County, locating in Margaretta Township a short distance west of Venice. He was well thought of as a citizen, established himself as a prosperous farmer, and lived there until his death in the early '90s. Of his children seven survive: Emma, wife of Albert Bernhard of Sandusky; Philomina, wife of George IIark- ness of Margaretta Township; Leo, of Margaretta Township; Anthony, of Margaretta Township ; Henry, of the same township ; Frank .J., of the same township; Emil E., also of Margaretta Township.
Frank J. Fitz grew to manhood in his home locality and gained a substantial training in the public schools and has profited well by the experiences and lessons learned in the practical school of life. He owns a farm of fifty acres, and in addition to general farming has also for several years been identified with the fishing industry, which he pursues during the regular fishing seasons of each year. He is one of the well known fishermen along the southern shore of the lake.
Mr. Fitz married Miss Anna S. MeGookey of Margaretta Township.
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daughter of Michael MeGookey. To their marriage have been born two children : Miriam S. R. and Sarah E.
As to polities Mr. Fitz has been identified with the regular demo- eratie party, but does not allow national polities to interfere with his judgment in local matters. He is now serving in his second term as township trustee, and the locality has had many reasons to congratulate him for his capable service in that office. He is affiliated with Crystal Rock Tent of the Knights of the Maccabees and has held several offices in that order.
OREN A. PARKER. Groton Township has been the home of Mr. Parker since 1895, and in that time he has brought to a high state of perfection his attractive farm on the Monroeville and Venice road. He has proved himself upright and honorable in citizenship and business dealings, and is one of the vigorous men who are now carrying the burdens of agricultural management in Erie County.
Ile is a native of Sandusky County, having been born on a farm in York Township April 28, 1871, a son of Levi and Caroline ( Michael ; Parker. The Parker family has been identified with this country by residence for a number of generations. Levi Parker was born in Penn- sylvania while his wife was a native of Fremont, Ohio. The former is now deceased, while the mother is still living at the old home in York Township of Sandusky County, being now in her seventy-fifth year. Levi Parker was a son of Isaac Parker, who was born in Penn- sylvania in 1801 and moved out to Sandusky County, Ohio, in 1842, locating on a farm in York Township. Isaac Parker's father was a Revolutionary soldier, and was ninety-seven years of age when he died. Long life seems to have been characteristic of members of the Parker family, since Levi Parker was eighty-one when he died in August, 1905. The first of the Parker ancestors came from the vieinity of London, England, to the colony of Connecticut, from which state others of the family moved to Pennsylvania, and from there they came into Ohio.
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