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 7
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for many years a prosperous farmer and stock man, and now living quietly retired at his home in Sandusky.
Stephen Henry Rogers was born in Margaretta Township of Erie County, October 28, 1838. The family was early settled in New York State, and the father, Stephen Rogers, was born near Schenectady in December, 1814. When a young man he came to Erie County, bought a tract of unimproved land in Margaretta Township, and there built the log house in which Stephen H. Rogers was born. Though the county had been settled a number of years a large portion of it was still an unbroken wilderness, and the Rogers family was among those who added to the area of cultivated lands and improved the resources of civilization in this section. For many years after coming here Stephen Rogers gave all his energy and time to clearing up and cultivating his land, and after a few years replaced the old log house by a substantial stone structure, which is still standing, and an interesting landmark in Margaretta Town- ship. This old house has a poreh the entire length of the front, a large lawn with numerous shade trees, and is one of the very attractive coun- try places in this county. Stephen Rogers lived there until his death in 1864. Ile married Eliza Hartwell. She was born in Margaretta Town- ship of Erie County July 11, 1815, and her family was among the earliest pioneers of this region of Northern Ohio. She first married Benjamin Rogers, a brother of Stephen, and one of the early settlers of Margaretta Township, where he died not long after his marriage, leav- ing one son, Benjamin. Stephen Rogers and wife were the parents of five children, named Mary L., Stephen Henry, Phebe Maria, Martha E. and Allida. The mother of these children lived to the great old age of eighty-five, passing away in 1900.
Stephen Henry Rogers grew up on the country place above de- seribed, attended the neighboring country sehools, and when still a boy was actively engaged in running the farm. Ile continued his labors in that manner until October 21, 1861, when he answered the call for troops to defend the Union and enlisted in Company A, of the Seventy- second Regiment of Ohio Infantry. Ile went South with his command and was with the regiment in all its service up to July, 1863. In that month he was detached for special duty as a carrier of dispatches, and served in that capacity successively under Gen. Ralph P. Buckland, General Asboth, Gen. James M. Tuttle, Gen. Joseph A. Mower, and finally with General MeArthur. He saw service in the states of Ken- tucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas and Texas, and had a most interesting and varied military career. Mr. Rogers now has in his possession a number of souvenirs of the war. One of these is a drinking cup in a leather case captured from Colonel C'lack of the Sceond Louisiana Independent Cavalry. He also has a belt with revolver and cartridges and a long sword captured from a rebel major at the battle of Henderson Ilill. On the brass clasp of the cartridge belt is embossed a pelican, showing that it belonged to a Louisiana regiment. Ile has a number of other eurios picked up on different battleficks. Perhaps the most cherished of his keepsakes from the war period is one that he carried with him from the time of his enlistment until his return home. This was a "housewife" given him when he enlisted by his sister Martha. It was made of silk, bound with leather, and contained a comb, needles, thread, buttons and other little necessities for his use in repairing his clothing. Mr. Rogers still has this "housewife," and in it the comb which he carried all through the war.
At the close of his term of service, in the fall of 1864, Mr. Rogers was honorably discharged, and on returning home resumed his position on the old homestead farm. He finally succeeded to the ownership of the place. In 1869 he bought a farm in the west part of the same town-
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ship and was there successfully engaged in general farming, raising cattle, horses and hogs, and was for many years one of the most sub- stantial and successful farmers of that vicinity. In 1899 Mr. Rogers removed to Sandusky, where he is now living retired, though still owning the farm, which is rented.
On October 26. 1865, Mr. Rogers married Maria Louisa Bardwell. She was born in Margaretta Township February 19, 1838. Her father, Salmon Dickinson Bardwell, was born in Hatheld, Massachusetts, Feb- rnary 29, 1796. Ile was reared and was married in that town, and in 1834, accompanied by his bride, came out to Ohio. The journey was made by wagon and team as far as Albany. New York, at which point they embarked upon a canal boat over the Erie Canal as far as .Buffalo, and thence by lake boat to Iluron, and there again wagon and team were brought into service to convey them to Margaretta Township in Erie County. In that locality he bought land and built the log house in which Mrs. Rogers was born. This old house had a stone chimney and fireplace, and as there was no stove. the mother of Mrs. Rogers for many years did all her cooking over the open fire. Mr. Bardwell subsequently erected a substantial frame house, and lived there until his death in 1852. He married Lucy Ann White, who was born in Hatfield, Massa- chusetts, July 22, 1806, and died on the home farm in 1873. Mrs. Rogers had one sister, Sarah Ann, who first married William Graves and later James Snowden.
Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have reared four children: Addie A., Carrie A., Henry Stephen, and James G. The daughter Addie married Jeffer- son Fleming, and died in 1900. Carrie A. married Thomas M. Farmer, of Toledo, Ohio. llenry S., of Sandusky, married Edna Gander, of Norwalk. James G. is a resident of Arizona. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers are Universalists in their religious belief. Mr. Rogers is affiliated with Me- Meens Post, No. 19, of the Grand Army of the Republic.
JAMES HI. EMRICH. A few years ago Sandusky lost one of its veteran merchants in the death of James H. Emrich, who for more than half a century had been identified with the drug trade in the city. He was a careful business man, liberal and helpful in his attitude toward local affairs, and his name was a synonym with integrity and honor.
His birth occurred in Kusel, Rhenish Bavaria, August 13, 1829, and his death came nearly eighty years later on May 7. 1909. His father, Philip Emrich, was born in Foeckelberg. Rhenish Bavaria, February 12. 1798, and the grandfather, Jacob Emrich, was born in the same village in 1771. Jacob had his rearing and education there, served six years with the Bavarian army, and when an old man came to America, in 1840, with some of his children, and died at Piketon, Ohio. He married Elizabeth Weber, who died in Germany. The oldest of their ten chil- dren was Jacob, who was with the Bavarian troops in the army of the Emperor Napoleon, and the last heard of him was when he went away under the emperor on the fatal invasion of Russia. The other nine children all came to America, named Katherina, Philip, Christian, Peter, Karl, Ileinrich, Theobald, Elizabeth, and Daniel.
Philip Emrich lived in Bavaria until 1840, having in the meantime received his education and spent six years in the army. Ile had served a thorough apprenticeship at the trade of wagonmaker and followed that vocation until coming to America. IIe embarked his little family, wife and three children, on board the sailing ship Anson, and after a voyage of sixty-five days, attended with some bad weather, landed at New York City. Their destination was the State of Ohio, and their course in reaching that country was by boat up the Hudson River, by canal to Buffalo, and thence by water and overland to Piketon. There Philip
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became associated with his brother Theobald in the manufacture of wagons and carriages, remaining about one year, continuing the same business at Chillicothe until 1868, after which he lived retired in San- dusky until his death on March 18, 1884. Philip Emrich married Louise Engelhardt, who was born at Baumholder, Prussia, March 23, 1799. She reared three children: JJames H., Philipina and Philip. Philip located in Sandusky and was in business with his brother James until his death in 1876. The daughter Philipina married Charles Dick, and resides in Sandusky, which is also the home of her son, Carl Emrich Diek.
James H. Emrich was eleven years old when brought to Ohio, and the education began in the schools of his native village was continued only briefly at Chillicothe. When still a boy he was working and earning his way as clerk in a drug store of that time, and that experience gave him the permanent direction of a career. Later he was at Cincinnati and New York City, and along with experience in practical management of a drug business also acquired an expert knowledge of chemistry and pharmacy.
It was in 1856 that he came to Sandusky and bought an interest in a drug store on Water Street, and of which, within a year thereafter he became sole owner. IFis next location was the West House, and after purchasing ground and building a store on the east side of Columbus Avenue, he continued in business until the close of his life. Ilis store was one of the landmarks of the business district, and he practically outlived all his competitors who were in business when he came to Sandusky.
In 1880 Mr. Emrich erected the substantial home at 1006 Washington Street where he lived nearly thirty years and which is now occupied by his daughter. Mr. Emrich was married at Akron, Ohio, in November, 1856, to Henrietta S. Townserd. Her father, Alfred R. Townsend, who was born at Cazenovia, New York, February 14, 1810, after learning the trade of tailor, came to Ohio in 1834 and established himself in that line of business. Later he became a factor in the transportation business along the canal, and was also a figure in public affairs. He was the first marshal of the Village of Akron. and was also tax collector, deputy sheriff. internal revenue assessor, and director of the county infirmary. Ile con- tinned to live in Akron until his death in November, 1887. In 1834 he married Evelina Blodgett, who was born in Starksboro, Vermont, and died at Akron, January 22, 1888. Of her three chlidren, Mrs. Emrich was the oldest. John A. Townsend is now a resident of Rochester, New York, while Emala G. died unmarried.
Mrs. Emrich died in April, 1861. Her only daughter, Minnie L., is now owner of the home built by her father in 1880. While Mrs. Emrich was a member of the Congregational Church, her husband was quite liberal in religions matters. Despite the exactions of his busy life. he was a student. kept in close touch with politieal and other topics and is remembered by all his old friends as an entertaining and instructive conversationalist.
FRANKLIN FREES LEHMAN, M. D. For more than twenty years engaged in the practice of medicine at Sandusky. Doctor Lehman has an excellent practice, and has worthily won his place in professional life. As a young man he was ambitious to secure a liberal edneation, and worked for most of it teaching school and by other occupations defraying his expenses until graduating from college and medical schools, and as a result of this experience and his self-made career, was all the better equipped for a sneeessful accomplishment in his chosen field of work.
Franklin Frees Lehman was born on a farm near Wooster in Wayne County, Ohio. IFis father, Ephraim Lehman, was born in the same
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locality August 11, 1826, while the grandfather John Lehman was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, August 14, 1792. The great-grandfather, Martin Lehman, was a native of Alsace-Loraine, and so far as known was the only member of his immediate family to come to America. He came to this country when a young man, located in Berks County, where he married a German girl, and they spent the rest of their days in Pennsylvania, and were the parents of a large family. Grandfather John Lehman was reared and educated in Berks County, and there learned the trade of miller. On leaving Pennsylvania he came to Ohio, accom- panied by his family, and making the entire journey by the overland ronte with wagon and team. He located as one of the pioneers in Wayne County, where he bought a tract of 160 acres of land about four miles from Wooster. The only improvements on this land comprised about four acres of cleared ground with a rude log cabin. Nearly all the rest of it was covered with a heavy growth of timber. John Lehman was a vigorous type of the early pioneer, possessed industry and the faculty of hard work with good business judgment, and with increasing pros- perity continued to buy other lands and in time had a large estate. IIe lived in Wayne County until his death at the advanced age of ninety- seven years. Ile was twice married, was the father of eighteen children, and thirteen of these reached maturity. The maiden name of his first wife, the grandmother of Doctor Lehman, was Miss Bear. For a number of years the grandfather lived in a log cabin, but subsequently built a substantial house of hewed timber, and that was occupied as a dwelling until recent years.
Ephraim Lehman grew up on the old farm, and at the time of his marriage located on a place adjoining the old homestead, subsequently succeeding to the ownership of the old farm of his father. He continued successfully as a general farmer and stock raiser for many years, but now lives retired at Bloomington, a suburb of Wooster. Ile married Susanna Frees, who was born in the same locality as her husband August 11. 1834. She was one of the seven children of Jacob and Salome ( Billman) Frees. She died in October, 1913. The three children who grew up were Franklin Frees, Cora, wife of W. M. Glasgow of Wooster. and Floyd Vinton, a resident of Seville in Medina County, where he successfully conducts one of the largest ntility poultry farms in the state
Doctor Lehman spent his boyhood on the old farm in Wayne County. His first advantages were given him at rural schools, and he received his preparatory college education in the University of Wooster. During the four years he attended that institution he boarded at home, and rode back and forth to school, a distance of four miles, every day. Following this he was for three years a student in the Ohio Northern University at Ada, and paid most of his expenses by teaching school in Miami County during the intervals of his own school attendance.
Doctor Lehman acquired his higher literary and professional educa- tion in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In the fall of 1884 he entered the University of Michigan and was graduated A. B. in 1888. Then followed one year of teaching as principal of the high school at Marquette, Michi- gan. He then returned to Ann Arbor and entered the homeopathic department of the university, graduating with the degree of MI. D. in 1891. The following eighteen months were spent as an interne in the homeopathie hospital at Rochester, New York, followed by general prac- tice in Rochester until November, 1893. Since the latter date Doctor Lehman has been located at Sandusky, and with mature experience and a reputation for skillful work enjoys a large practice and a fine reputa- tion as a physician and surgeon.
In 1904 Doctor Lehman married Mrs. Mary A. Raikes, daughter of William and Jane Coles, an old Erie County family, record of whom is
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given on other pages. Dr. and Mrs. Lehman have two children: John Frees and Ellen Margaret. Doctor Lehman is a member of the North- western Ohio Homeopathic Medical Society, the Ohio State Homeopathic Society and the American Institute of Homeopathy. He is affiliated with Seience Lodge No. 50, F. & A. M., with Sandusky City Chapter No. 72, R. A. M., and with Sandusky City Council No. 26, R. & S. M. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Neighbors of America and to the Sunyendeand Club.
FREDERICK PAUL ZOLLINGER. A representative business man of San- dusky, and one of its leading citizens, Frederick Paul Zollinger, president of the Third National Bank, is recognized as one of the most able and successful financiers of Erie County. A son of Charles W. Zollinger, he was born, July 10, 1858, in the City of Sandusky, which at the time of his birth could scarcely claim a population of 8,000 people. His paternal great-grandfather, Gottlieb Zollinger, a life-long resident of Germany, was for many years burgomaster of Weisbaden, where his children were born and bred.
Johann Zollinger, Mr. Zollinger's grandfather, was born, June 16, 1778, in Weisbaden, and there grew to manhood. As a member of the German eontingent of the army of Napoleon I, he followed his com- mander to Moscow and back, in 1812, and from the effects of that long march, and the terrible exposure incidental thereto, he never recovered, his death occurring in 1814. Two of his sons subsequently came to the United States to settle, namely : Christian and Charles W.
Arriving in New York, Christian Zollinger made his way to Indiana, locating at Fort Wayne, where he followed the trade of a turner for many years. Ile subsequently bought land in that vicinity, and in addition to farming owned and operated a sawmill, residing on his farm until his death. He was the father of seven sons, one of whom, Charles A. Zollinger, enlisted, during the progress of the Civil war, in the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served with such gallantry and bravery that at the early age of twenty-six years he received his commission as colonel of his regiment. He subsequently served as mayor of Fort Wayne, and as sheriff of Allen County, Indiana.
Born July 23, 1813, in Weisbaden, Germany, Charles W. Zollinger was but an infant when left fatherless. His school life ended, he served an apprenticeship at the cabinet maker's trade, and after its completion turned his face toward America, lured hither by the hope of gaining wealth in a newer country. Coming directly to Ohio, he located in Sandusky, which was then a mere village, while Erie County was a part of Huron County. The country roundabout was very heavily wooded. with here and there a small opening in which stood the modest log cabin of a pioneer. Opening a shop on the east side of Wayne Street, just north of the corner of Washington Street, he established himself in business as a furniture maker and undertaker. The products of his factory found a ready sale among the people of the county, his patronage becoming quite extensive. Moving one block north in 1860, he there continued in active business until his death, May, 1867. In polities he was identified with the whigs until the formation of the republican party, when he became one of its most earnest supporters. Both he and his wife were members of the Salem Church, German Evangelical Asso- eiation.
The maiden name of the wife of Charles W. Zollinger was Christina Smith. She was born in Baden, Germany, a daughter of John and Maria Smith, who immigrated to America at an early day, and having purchased a traet of timbered land near Fremont, Ohio, erected a log cabin, and on the farm which they cleared from its original wildness reared their
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fannly of two sons and five daughters, and there spent their remaining days. Mrs. Charles W. Zollinger died in September, 1889, having survived her husband upwards of a score of years. She reared ten children, namely : Mary, who became the wife of Rev. Charles Negele ; John C., of whom a sketch may be found elsewhere in this volume; Henrietta, who married Jacob Weis; Charles T .; Katherine, wife of Henry Schneerer; William R .: Frederick P., with whom this sketch is chiefly concerned; Christina, wife of Frederick Crass; Elizabeth, who married Edgar Wonnell ; and Frank T.
Having completed the course of study in the public schools of San- dusky, Frederick Paul Zollinger, in February, 1875, became a messenger boy in the Third National Bank of Sandusky, with which he has since been connected. Remaining with the institution through its different changes, he has been promoted from time to time, serving as elerk, assistant cashier and cashier, and finally as president becoming head of the bank. Energetic and enterprising, Mr. Zollinger is also actively identified with various other industrial enterprises of the city and county, his influence in business cireles being far-reaching. .
On September 6, 1882, Mr. Zollinger was united in marriage with Lucy M. MeLonth, who was born in Sandusky, a daughter of O. C. and Elizabeth ( De Witt) MeLouth. Three children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Zollinger, namely: Laura, who married Edward A. Allstaeler, has two children, Frederick L. and Elizabeth ; Marion, wife of Edward M. Koch, and Panl, who died at the age of seventeen years.
Prominent in Masonic organizations, Mr. Zollinger is a member of Perseverance Lodge No. 329, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons; of Sandusky City Chapter No. 72, Royal Arch Masons; of Sandusky City Commeil No. 26, Royal and Select Masters; of Erie Com- mandery No. 23, Knights Templar ; of the Toledo Consistory ; and also of Zenobia Temple, Ancient Arabie Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also associated with the Knights of Pythias. Mrs. Zollinger is a member of the Congregational Church, and belongs to Martha Pitkin Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, which she has served as regent.
CHARLES EDDY COOKE. Of the families and individuals who had most to do with the early settlement, development and latter day growth of the City of Sandusky, one that deserves conspicuous mention was represented by the late Charles Eddy Cooke, who was for many years a prominent merchant at Sandusky and whose death took away from that city a man whose business and personal character was of the highest type.
Charles Eddy Cooke was born in Perkins Township in Erie County, Ohio. His father was Prof. Angustus Cooke, a native of Connecticut, and what was uncommon at that time a man of college education. Ile came to Erie County about 1830 and was usefully identified with the community in the capacity of an educator and lived here until his death. Augustus Cooke was twiee married, and the maiden name of his second wife was Mary Ann Eddy. She was born in Connecticut, a daughter of Roswell Eddy. Roswell Eddy was also a native of Connecticut, was reared and married there, but soon after the War of 1812 joined a com- pany of several families and came out to Ohio. They came over the mountains and ont to the Southern shore of Lake Erie with wagons and teams. bringing household goods. farm implements, live stock and poultry. The chickens and turkeys were driven ahead of the teams by the children. At night these fowls would take to the trees and then the company vamped wherever the poultry determined upon a roosting plaee. After several weeks of travel they reached what is now Perkins Township in Erie County, but then a portion of Huron County. There Mr. Eddy
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bought a tract of timbered land, erected a typical log cabin, and began life in what was then the westernmost state in the Union, all the country to the west as far as the Mississippi being a sparsely inhabited region under territorial form of government. Mr. Eddy eleared up a farm out of the wilderness, and continued to live there until his death. Roswell Eddy married a Miss Taylor. Their daughter, Mary Ann ( Eddy ) Cooke survived her husband many years and died at the home of her son William at the age of eighty-four. She reared three sons: Charles Eddy : William Joseph, who was for many years bookkeeper in banks in Sandusky, and George Augustus, who was associated with his brother Charles in business.
Charles Eddy Cooke was twelve years old when his father died, and after that he lived with his maternal grandparents. Ile was given a good education, and was advised to take up the profession of medicine, and acting on this counsel he studied for a time with Doctor Tilden. The profession not proving to his liking, he turned to merchandising, and beeame clerk in the store of David Everett at Sandusky. Ile soon mastered the details of the business, saved his earnings, and then invested in a stock of goods and began business on his own account. His brother George soon afterwards beeame associated with him, and by close atten- tion to their work and with increasing capital they enjoyed a position among the foremost merchants. Mr. Cooke invested his surplus capital in city real estate, and after disposing of his business ten or fifteen years ago devoted all his time to the management of a property which had greatly increased in value. IIe died at Sandusky in 1909.
Charles Eddy Cooke married Mary A. Turney. She was born in Syracuse, New York. Her father, William Latta Turney, was born in Philadelphia, a son of Prof. Samuel Turney, who was a native of Con- nectient and of early English ancestry. He was a lineal descendant of Nicholas Pynchon, at one time Lord Mayor of London. The line of (lescent is as follows: Judge William Pynchon, son of Nicholas, came to America and was treasurer of the Massachusetts Bay Colony ; his son, Col. John Pynchon, has been referred to in history as one of the "Con- nectient River Gods" (see History of Springfield, Massachusetts, and Encyclopedia Brittanica) ; he married Amy Wyllys, daughter of Gov. George Wyllys; their son Col. John Pynchon, Jr., married Margaret Hubbard ; their son Maj. John Pynchon married Bathsheba Taylor; their son Joseph was the father of Margaret Pynchon, who in turn was the grandmother of Prof. Sanmel Turney. Prof. Samuel Turney was a college graduate, held the position of tutor in Yale College, and after his marriage removed to Philadelphia and was in educational work in Pennsylvania until failing health caused him to go South to South ('arolina where he was a tutor in the family of Governor Laurens. Itis death occurred in middle life. William Latta Turney, father of Mrs. ('ooke, was still a boy when his father died, and thereafter lived with his unele and grandparents in Connecticut, where he was given a liberal education. Ile inherited the estate of his uncle, and going to New York engaged in mercantile business in that state, and was a prominent man at Syracuse until the early '50s. Ile was attracted to the new State of California, shipping a stock of goods around the cape and himself cross- ing the Isthmus. IFe contracted a disease during the voyage and died soon after landing in California. William L. Turney married Aznba Hoyt, who, after the death of her husband, went to Wisconsin and lived in Portage City for a time, but spent her last years with Mrs. Cooke in Sandusky. She reared three daughters: Elizabeth K., Mary Angusta and Josephine A. The first of these daughters lives in Minneapolis and the last with Mrs. Cooke.
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