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 71
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ALFRED K. BARNES. A career of steadfast industry has had its usual and merited reward in the case of Alfred K. Barnes, one of the most highly respected and substantial farmer citizens of Florence Township. His home is on Rural Route No. 2 out of Wakeman, and most of his early life was spent in Wakeman Township of Huron County, and part of his farm extends over into that eounty. Ife has lived so effectively as to gain prosperity and contentment, and represents some of the ster- ling English stock which has been so prominent in the development and settlement of this section of Ohio.
Born at Royalton, in Lorain County, February 23, 1855, Alfred K. Barnes is a son of George and Sarah (Heith) Barnes. Both parents were born near London, England, his father in 1820 and his mother in 1827. Both were of families of farmers, and in the early days they participated in the methods of husbandry employed in the old country. The father reaped grain with a sickle, and his wife spent many days in the harvest fields binding up the ent grain. During their married life in England three children were born, William, Charles and Thomas. The last was only a few months old when the family started for America in 1852. They took passage on a sailing vessel at Liverpool, were six weeks in making the voyage to New York City, and after some months they came on West and settled at Royalton, in Lorain County. While living there two more children were born, Elizabeth and Alfred K. About 1857 the father brought his family to Camden, in Lorain County, rented farms in that locality for several years, but later bought 130 aeres in Wakeman Township of Huron County. That was the perma- nent home of the Barnes family, and after a career of well-merited prosperity the father died there in 1893. The mother, who passed away in 1911, was a woman of wonderful physical vigor and is said to have never been sick a day in her life until her final illness. Both were mem- bers of the Wakeman Congregational Church, and in polities he was a republican. A brief record of all their children is as follows: William, who is a farmer in Townsend Township of Huron County, is married and has two sons and three daughters; Charles died in Wakeman Town- ship after his marriage, leaving two sons and two dughters; Thomas, who is a resident of Camden Township, in Lorain County, has been twiee married, having a son and daughter by his first wife and a daughter by his second ; Elizabeth is the widow of (. D. Baeon, who was a farmer in Wakeman Township, and she still lives there and is the mother of two daughters; the next in order of age is Alfred K .: George is a farmer in Wakeman Township, and by his marriage to Miss Braley has two sons and two daughters; Edward, a resident of Townsend Township,
Delbert G. Williams
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has four sons and a daughter; Fred, who as a farmer occupies the old homestead in Wakeman Township, is married, but has no children.
It was on the old home in Wakeman Township that Alfred K. Barnes grew to manhood, combining the advantages of the local schools with the salutary discipline of farm duties and responsibilities. Ile was married in that township to Miss Nettie R. Erswell. She was born in Wakeman Township, and was reared and educated there. IIer parents were Thomas and Mary J. Walden Erswell. Her father was also a native of England, coming to the United States when a boy with his parents who spent the rest of their lives in Huron County, and he grew up there and married Miss Walden, who was a native of IIuron County. By trade Mr. Erswell was a carpenter and house builder, and after constructing his last house in Wakeman Township died in 1872 when in middle life. His widow is still living in Huron County, and is now seventy years of age.
It was in 1892 that Mr. and Mrs. Barnes moved to Florence Town- ship, and here for the past twenty-three years they have steadily advanced in material prosperity. His homestead comprises forty acres in Florence Township, with forty acres adjoining in Wakeman Town- ship of Iluron County. All the land is well improved. and his build- ings are especially creditable to his enterprise and ability as a home- maker. IIe has a large and comfortable eight room house, its white front set in the midst of green trees, and also has a large basement barn 32 by 40 feet and other buildings needed for the care of his stock and crops. Besides the cultivation and productions of his home place Mr. Barnes does an extensive business in the buying and shipping of wool, and also buys and ships large quantities of general stock.
Mr. and Mrs. Barnes are both members of the Congregational Church. They have one son, Charles Alfred, who was born May 23, 1874, graduated from the Wakeman Iligh School, and quite early in life entered the employ of the Standard Oil Company, beginning as a ditch laborer, and working up until he is now head operator in the main office at Cleveland. He married Bess E. Balford of Brunswick, Ohio, and their two daughters are named Dorothy and Dora. Both Mr. Barnes and his son are active republicans in politics, and while the father is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees at ('leveland his son is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity.
DELBERT E. WILLIAMS. During nearly all the years since Erie County was a pioneer country some member of the Williams family has been actively identified with its development, especially in agricul- tural lines. As a family they have possessed qualities of exceptional industry, rugged integrity, and that enterprise which produces good farms and good homes as well as good people.
On the third generation that has lived in Erie County, Delbert E. Williams has made his success as a general farmer and stock raiser. Ile is known in that capacity all over Milan Township, where he occupies a fine farm of 260 acres, and operates ninety-seven acres in addition to the homestead. None of this land is further than a mile and a half northeast of Milan Village, and is located on the Huron Road. Mr. Williams owns what has long been known as the Michael Schafer Farm, and has enltivated its generous and fertile acres for the past fourteen years. Among improvements should be mentioned two large barns, a eorn crib 30x50 feet, a combined tool shop and ice house, and every- thing about the farm indicates thrifty and efficient management. Mr. Williams pursues a rotation plan of crop growing, and raises all the staple grains, but for several years has specialized in sweet corn. He
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also raises large amounts of potatoes, usually about twenty acres each year.
Ilis home has been in Erie County all his life. A short distance east of his present residence in Milan Township he was born on No- vember 13, 1867, and grew up and received his edneation in this locality, being a graduate of the Milan Normal School. One experience of his earlier years was teaching six terms in Erie County. Later he settled down to his real career as a farmer, and his success in that vocation can be judged by the high opinion his neighbors have of him and by such brief statistics as have already been reported.
The Williams family came from Pennsylvania. His grandfather, John Williams, was born in that state, but quite early in life came to Ohio and married Mary Pittenger of Richland County. Several children were born to them while they lived in Richland County, and from there in October, 1843, they moved to Erie County, locating on a farm on the Berlin Road in Milan Township. That farm even to this day is known as the John Williams Place, though for several years he has lived retired in Milan Village. His farm comprised 125 acres. Ile has reached the remarkable age of almost a century, and on No- vember 4, 1915, if he is spared, will celebrate his ninety-ninth birthday. Ile is well known all over the township not only on account of his venerable years, but for the worthy influence which he has exercised in this locality continuously for more than seven decades. Ilis wife died at their country home in Milan Township in 1896, and was then quite old. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and John Williams is a strong republican, having east his first presidential vote for the whig president, William Ilenry Harrison. In earlier years he was honored with such offices as township trustee and other places of trust.
Peter Williams, father of Delbert E., was born in Richland County, Ohio, a short time before the family moved to Erie County. As a boy he attended local schools and the old Huron Institute at Milan, and early adapted the vocation of farming. For a number of years he lived just east of the IIardin A. Tucker farm in Milan Township, and effected numerous improvements to that estate, but later bought the farm of his wife's father, the Michael Schafer place, which is now owned by Delbert E. Williams. Peter Williams finally retired to Milan Village and died there in May, 1904. He is deserving of remembrance . as a man of sterling worth, of good judgment in business affairs, and a citizen who stood for the best things in the community. He was a strong republican, and served for some time as trustee of the township.
Peter Williams married at the home of the bride, Sarah A. Schafer, the daughter of Michael Schafer. Mrs. Williams was born September 3, 1855, in Seneca County, New York, and died at Milan August 1, 1893. She was quite young when brought to Erie County, and was carefully reared and trained by her parents. After her marriage she proved a devoted wife and mother and reared five children who did her honor and all of whom married and became heads of families.
The second in the family of children, Delbert E. Williams, has for many years been an effective worker among the farming class of Milan Township. Ile first married Amelia Heimberger. She was born at Cedar Point May 16, 1868, and died at the home in Milan Township, August 13, 1904. Of this union the oldest child is Peter H., who was born December 16, 1891, was educated at Milan, and is now assisting his father in the management of the farm. G. Fred, the next in age, was born January 4, 1893, studied in the Milan High School, and is still living at home. Sarah L., born August 28, 1894, finished her
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education in Milan and in Collingwood, Ohio, took a course in the San- dusky Business College and is now a stenographer at Unionville, Ohio. Morley, the youngest, was born March 16, 1896, and has completed his education in the local schools and is still at home. All these young people were carefully trained and possess habits and talents which will take them far in their respective spheres of activity.
After the death of his first wife Mr. Williams was married in Milan Township to Miss Elizabeth Weilnau. She was born in Oxford Town- ship, November 18, 1876, and is the daughter of John Weilnau. More extended referenee is made to the Weilnau family on other pages of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have two daughters: Dorothy M., born August 4, 1906, and now in the fourth grade of the publie sehools ; and Mary E., born October 22, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Williams attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a republican, and he served one term as township trustee.
PETER ROBERTSON. One of the sonrees of industrial prosperity in Florence Township are the stone quarries operated by The Cleveland Stone Company. The presiding genius of this industry is Peter Robert- son, who for twenty-three years has been superintendent, and not only has an assured business position but is also a citizen of many esteemed characteristics and is the head of one of the excellent families in that locality.
The stone quarries now under the superintendency of Mr. Robert- son constitute an old industry in this township. They were originally opened on the east side of the Vermilion River in 1877 by the firm of Nichols & Miller, who conducted them until 1887. In that year The Cleveland Stone Company was organized and bought this property, but it was left unworked until 1892. In that year the company turned them over to Superintendent Robertson, who reopened the quarries and worked them out. In 1902 the company acquired a large traet of land on the west side of the river, and Mr. Robertson began the develop- ment of these quarries in Angust, 1903. He has since made this a large and profitable industry, and keeps from sixteen to twenty men employed in the quarries, with an annual production of about 20,000 cubic feet of stone. With the exception of brief intervals these quarries have been in regular operation for many years. The quarries are located on the property known as the old Dr. Turnbull estate, and comprises about fifty acres of land. Mr. Robertson bought the old quarry property of fifty-one acres, known as the Wood Farm.
Mr. Robertson eame to Florence Township from North Amherst, Ohio, where he had been connected with The Cleveland Stone Com- pany 's business as a quarryman one year, and as derrick boss for three years. He is a quarryman of many years' experience, and his work at Amherst had so commended him to the confidenee of the company, that he was given full charge of the quarries in Florence Township when made superintendent. Ile comes of a family which has furnished many workers in the stone industry, and was born in Edinburgh, Scot- land, April 3, 1858. IIe was reared and educated there, learned the trade of quarryman, and was already an expert workman when he came to Ameriea.
His grandfather. James Robertson, was born in 1794, and married Jeannette Smith, who was born in 1799. They spent all their lives about Edinburgh, where the grandfather died in 1849 and the grand- mother in 1874. They were striet members of the Presbyterian Church, and that has been the family religion through all the generations. Among their children was Peter Robertson, Sr., who was born Mareh 25, 1828, and died September 13, 1899. For forty-nine years he was
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employed in a carpet factory in Edinburgh, was promoted to different grades of the service, and was finally pensioned and allowed to spend his last years in retirement. He married Graee Christie, who was born in the same part of Scotland July 12, 1828, and died October 29, 1907. Both were reared and all their lives were faithful to the strict tenets of the Presbyterian Church. In their family of eleven children Peter was the fifth in order of birth. Most of them grew up, married and had families of their own. Only two of the children came to the United States, one of them being Peter Robertson, and the other his sister, Grace, the wife of John McQueen, and they live at Pittsburg, Kansas, and have quite a large family of children.
Peter Robertson grew up at Edinburgh, learned his trade as a quarryman there, was married in that country in 1878 to Miss Elizabeth Armstrong. She was born near Edinburgh, May 7, 1859, and attended the same school as her husband. Her parents were Thomas and Agnes (MeKenzie) Armstrong, both natives of Scotland. Her father died at the age of seventy-eight and her mother at fifty-five. They were also of the Presbyterian faith. Mrs. Robertson is the only one of their eight children who came to America.
Mr. and Mrs. Robertson had twelve children born into their home, and a brief record of them is as follows: Agnes, born June 23, 1879, is the wife of George Bruce, who occupies the Robertson farm on the east side of Vermilion River, and their children are named Peter, Rob- ert, Mary, Grace, Stanley, Glenn and Hugh James, five of whom are attending school. Peter, who was the third in as many successive gen- erations to bear that name, was born August 25, 1880, and died Novem- ber 5, 1880. Christie Grace, born November 19, 1881, married Charles Barton, an electrician living at Elyria, and they have a son, Lloyd, now in school. Thomas was born March 8, 1884, and died December 22, 1884. Jane, born June 26, 1886, died December 10, 1887. John Arm- strong, born November 9, 1888, lives at Oberlin, and by his marriage to Winifred Jenkins has a daughter, Vivian E. Elizabeth Margaret, born August 31, 1890, married Archie MeDowell, who is a farmer in Hen- rietta Township of Lorain County, and they have two children, Clifton and Clyde. James George, born November 1, 1892, is his father's active assistant in farming. Hugh Brown, born April 16, 1895, has learned the trade of carpenter and is still living at home. Duncan William, born February 25, 1898, is now a student in the high school at Birming- ham. Donald L., horn July 24, 1902, is now in the seventh grade of the public schools. Ronald A., a twin brother of Donald, died Decem- ber 28, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson and family are all working members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a democrat. Ile took his first three degrees in Masonry in Scotland, in Roslyn St. Clair Lodge No. 606, and later demitted to Stonington Lodge No. 503 at North Amherst, and is also affiliated with Wakeman Chapter No. 177. R. A. M. In 1890 he became a member of Phoenix Tent No. 42 of the Knights of the Maccabees, and is now a member of Wakeman Tent No. 93.
WERNER SCHAFER. A successful general farmer on the Butler Road in Florence Township, Mr. Schafer has spent the greater part of his life in Erie County, and during his active career has been instru- mental in improving a farm, has brought into his community the influence of good, rugged character and moral attributes, and is one of the highly esteemed men of this rural community.
The Schafer homestead of seventy-one aeres is located on the east branch of Vermilion River. Nearly all of its acres are thoroughly improved, and Mr. Schafer takes justifiable pride in the fine crops
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which grow up under his hands season after season, and also in the excellent stoek, horses, cattle, hogs and sheep, which feed on his pastures and are housed in his substantial barn. His home is a large nine-room house, with a barn nearly new and built on a foundation 34 by 60 feet. He also has an orchard of an acre planted quite recently. All these improvements are the result of Mr. Sehafer's thrift and industry and he has many reasons to furnish him satisfaction while looking back over his career.
Werner Schafer was born in Corhessen, Germany, October 28, 1852. His parents were Johannes and Margaret (Stripple) Sehafer, who were natives of the same provinee, the families having lived there as farmers for a number of generations. Both parents died when past seventy, and were lifelong members of the German Reformed Church.
Growing up and receiving his education in his native province, at the age of fourteen Werner Schafer started out to make a home in the New World. In 1867 in company with his uncle Werner Stripple, he set out from Bremen on a sailing vessel, the Emerald, and after twenty- one days landed in New York City. From there he went West to Buffalo, and lived with his uncle's family until his unele and aunt died. After three years there, he came to the home of another uncle, George Schafer, in Florence Township of Erie County. By these early experienees he gained a practical knowledge of farming, acquainted himself with American language and customs, and has always relied upon industry and merit to advance him in the world.
At Birmingham, Mr. Schafer married Miss Christina A. Heidrych. She was born in Henrietta Township of Lorain County June 14, 1860, and grew up and lived there until her marriage. Her parents were Henry and Christina (Dieck) IIeidrych, both natives of Corhessen, Germany, where they lived until after their marriage and eame with some five or six children from Bremen to New York City, the voyage requiring four weeks by sailing vessel, and established their first home in Lorain County. While living there a daughter was born, and they then moved to Henrietta Township in the same county, where Mr. Heidryeh bought forty acres, subsequently selling and purehasing seventy-one acres upon which he built a new home and otherwise improved the land and spent his career as a useful and prosperous citi- zen. He died July 12, 1901, at the age of eighty, while his wife passed away in 1895 aged seventy-nine. Both were members of the German Reformed Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Schafer have had four children. Henry C., born in 1881, was educated in the public schools, is now a farmer in Lorain County, and by his marriage to Edith Freeman has two children, Eleanor and Clifford. Mary A. is the wife of Jacob Swanger, a farmer in Florence Township, and they have a son named Werner. Syl- vester lives at home and assists his father in the farm work. One daughter. Adam, died at the age of one year. Mr. and Mrs. Schafer are members of the German Reformed Church, having been reared in that faith, and politically he is a democratic voter.
GEORGE A. PARKER. One of the surest means by which one can establish a reputation for integrity and good citizenship is to main- tain a long residenee in one community, where an individual becomes known to his neighbors under a great variety of circumstances and meets all the tests imposed upon reliability and efficiency. A citizen of Florence Township who has met these requisites during his career is George A. Parker. The Parker family is one of the oldest in Erie County, Mr. Parker's grandparents having located here more than a
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century ago. Through all the changing circumstances of pioneer times the name has been one of significance and honor.
The farm now owned and ocenpied by Mr. George A. Parker, on the Butler Road in Florence Township, was his birthplace on Novem- ber 8, 1863. It was also the farm on which his parents, George and Maria (Ilill) Parker began their simple housekeeping after their mar- riage. Both his parents were also natives of Florence Township and they spent their lives in peaceful and dignified circumstances, and his father died in 1900 at the age of seventy-five, and his mother passed away in 1913 when seventy-six years old. Both the Hill and Parker families were established in Northern Ohio about the time of the War of 1812. They came from Connecticut. Arriving in their wilderness honre, they had to clear spaces in the midst of the heavy forest before erecting their log cabin homes, and the long continued labors of Mr. Parker's grand- father in the course of time brought about the reclamation of many acres now included in the agricultural area of Erie County.
George A. Parker was one of a family of two sons and five daugh- ters. Others now living are Lester and Ida and Goldie. Ida is the wife of Pearl Fish, a farmer in Huron County, and they have a daugh- ter Fern, who is now married. Goldie married Adam Burk of Wake- man Township, and they have a family of three sons and two dangh- ters. Lester, the oldest son, married Edna Squires, and they live in Wakeman Township of Iluron County, their children being named Rita and Kilton.
In Florenee Township George A. Parker grew to manhood, gained such education as was supplied to the farmer boys of his time and generation, and early in his career adopted the vocation of agriculture. For about fourteen years he was a progressive farmer in Huron County, but then bought the old homestead comprising 118 acres. This is a splendid property, located in the fork of the east and west branches of the Vermilion River, and the fertility of the soil is almost unsurpassed by that of any farm in Erie County. The Parker family has introduced many improvements npon this land since it first eame under their own- ership, and Mr. Parker has done his part in keeping his farm abreast of the times and standards. Ile grows good stock, has an equipment of substantial barns, a comfortable home, and raises all the staple crops.
In Florence Township he married Miss Rosa Bradway. Mrs. Parker was born in this township forty-five years ago, grew up and received her education here, and is a daughter of Warren and Mary (Crawford) Bradway, both of whom are still living and reside in Florence Township at the age of about seventy. Mr. and Mrs. Parker have one living child, Clyde, who was born in 1904 and is now a promising schoolboy. Three other children born to them died in early childhood. In polities Mr. Parker is a democrat and has always been known as a man of progressive citizenship willing to lend his support to any movement for local benefit.
CAPTAIN DENNIS BLANCHARD. Erie County has an appreciable eon- tingent of retired lake captains and prominent among the number who have devoted many years to commanding vessels in connection with navigation activities on the great inland seas and who are now living in well earned retirement, is he whose name introduces this paragraph and who is one of the honored and popular citizens of the Village of Birmingham, in Florence Township.
Captain Blanchard was born in the immediate vicinity of New York City, on the 26th of February, 1831, and in the gracious twilight of a long and useful life he looks back with satisfaction to the conditions and influences that compassed him in his childhood and early youth
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