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 96
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ninety-seven years of age when he died, and until within a few years before his death had been able to read without the aid of glasses. He was of a long lived generation. Ilis father before him was 108 years old when he died and the grandfather attained the remarkable age of 124. David Inill was through the War of 1812 as a soldier. John Wesley Ilill married Charlotte E. Swartwood, daughter of Eben- ezer Swartwood. She was born April 8, 1824. After their marriage John W. Hill and wife lived for a few years at Joppa, and then located on a part of the old Hill homestead, where ultimately they enjoyed the possession of nearly two hundred acres of fine land. They were very active people in their community, and stood for the best things in life. Both died in 1887, Mrs. Hill on April 10 and her husband on April 20. No one was more entitled to and enjoyed greater respect and esteem in the community than "Unele John Hill," as he was known. They were closely identified with the organization of the Joppa Methodist Church, and David Hill had also been one of its officers and most active supporters. John W. Hill was a republican, but took little part in politics.
Mr. and Mrs. Burrows are justly prond of their fine family of children. Mary E., the oldest, was born April 7, 1873, and is the wife of Joseph K. Riblet, and they live in Michigan, and have children named Lynn, Isabel, Josephine and Margaret. Lewis M. Burrows. who was born November 28, 1875, and is now foreman of the paint gang for the Nickel Plate Railway, living at Cleveland, first married Mabel Summers, and her only child, Lueile, now lives with Mr. and Mrs. Willard Burrows. For his second wife he married at Westville, New York, Elizabeth Edge, who was a very competent trained nurse, and the romance which ended in their marriage was the result of her saving his life during a very hard siege of sickness. Elmer D. Burrows is the active manager of his father's farm, and by his marriage to Lena Losey has one son, Charles W. John W., horn March 6, 1880, is a painter by trade, lives in Florence Township, and by his marriage to Winifred N. Summers has two children, Liste W. and Rhoda E. Myrtle M. is the wife of Dell Smith, and they live on a farm in Florence Township and have children named Dorothy C. and Bernice Grace. Mr. Burrows and sons are prohibitionists in politics. Mr. and Mrs. Burrows are among the leaders in the local congregation of the Ad- ventist Church.
GOTTLEIB II. KNOTT. Every family constitutes a unit in the social fabric of Erie County. Most of these units are self-sustaining. A very few are liabilities instead of assets of the community. Still others are not only able to look out for themselves but bear a substantial and in- fluential part in the advancement and progress of the community of which they are a part. In this latter class should be mentioned the Knott family, which for many years has been identified with Erie County, and a vigorous young representative of which is Gottleib Il. Knott, of Vermilion Township.
He was born on the farm now owned in Vermilion Township on November 2, 1879. He has spent all his brief career in this one locality. and received his education at Joppa Corners. For the past two years he has owned the old homestead of fifty-one acres. This comprises land highly improved and very valuable, adapted to the growing of all kinds of grain, potatoes and apples. Since Mr. Knott took posses- sion he has completed a fine new barn on a foundation 36 by 50 feet with 16-foot posts. The floor is all cement and the structure is well arranged and equipped having accommodations for twelve head of cattle and four head of horses and spaee for grain and hay. Mr. Knott and family reside in an attractive seven-room honse, two stories, nicely
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painted and comfortable both inside and out. Mr. Knott gets most of his revenues through his live stock, and he has been very successful in handling this branch of farm husbandry. He keeps good grades of horses, cattle and hogs.
He is a son of Gottleib and Anna (Koenig) Knott, both of whom were born in lesse, Germany, and of old German families. They were still single when they emigrated to the United States, and came over when most of the boats crossing the Atlantic were sailing vessels. They eame on west to Ohio and were married in Vermilion Township where they started out as farmers on the very land now owned by their son Gottleib. They were industrious and thrifty people, very honorable in all their relations, and were highly esteemed as long as they lived. The father died April 11, 1905, lacking only one day of being seventy- three years of age. His widow passed away at the same home on April 28, 1914, at the age of seventy-two. They were both active members of the German Reformed Church at Mittewanga on the lake shore and did much to keep up that organization and for many years the father was an official and held the post of trustee at the time of his death. In politics he was a demoerat from the time he east his first American vote.
Gottleib H. Knott is one of nine children, eight of whom are still living. Seven of these are married, and five have children. Gottleib II. Knott was married at Berlin Heights to Mrs. Bertha L. (Kelble) Baker. She was born in Norwalk, Huron County, Ohio, June 14, 1885. She was reared in Milan and in Berlin Heights and received most of her edueation in Erie County. Her parents were Joseph and Louise (Beek ) Kelble, both of German parentage. They were married in Huron County but spent most of their lives in Erie County. The father, who was a farmer and butcher, died in 1909 at the age of fifty-six, and her mother is still living in Berlin Township. Mrs. Knott by her first mar- riage to Bert Baker, now deceased, has two children, Louisa and Ruth. Mr. and Mrs. Knott are both church members, she of the Berlin Heights Methodist Episcopal Church and he of the German Reformed Church at Mittewanga, Vermilion Township. In polities he is a democrat and has been honored by several positions in the township government.
CHRISTIAN SCHATZ. One of the best kept farms in Vermilion Town- ship along the lake shore is owned by Christian Schatz. He is one of the German born inhabitants of Erie County who started life as a renter and by mueh thrifty economy and self-sacrifice has won a com- petenee. He is a man who has been sueeessful by keeping everlastingly at it. His farm is well improved, grows large erops, and he keeps some of the best of live stock.
Born in Prussia December 20, 1869, he is a son of Michael and Mary (Stigar) Schatz, who were also natives of Prussia and of old German ancestry. After their marriage they lived on a small farm in Germany, and while there two children were born to them, Christian and Catherine. In 1871 this little family together with the wife's parents set out for America. From New York City they came on west to Ohio, landed at Sandusky, and the following year lived on Kelly's Island. They next moved to Huron Township, where for some years they rented land, and then coming to Vermilion Township bought the Mittewanga farm. That was the home for many years, and the father by mueh industry provided for his household and accumulated some- thing against old age. Selling out the forty acres he owned there he next bought a fine place of eighty-six aeres, and he and his wife still live there, hale and hearty people, who apparently have much before them in the world, since the father is sixty-eight and the mother sixty-
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five. They are members of the Evangelical Church and in politics he is a democrat.
It was on the old home in Vermilion Township that Christian Schatz grew to manhood. His education came from the local schools, and on arriving at years of maturity he started ont for himself as a renter. This he kept up for some years, and finally was able to invest in a home of his own. In 1903 he bought a beautiful farm of eighty- five acres along the Lake Shore Railroad and the Barnes Highway in the same township. With the exception of twelve acres of timber all of this land is under cultivation. His home is a seven-room house painted white with green trimmings, and near by is a large barn on a foundation 30 by 60 feet, well adapted for stock and grain. Among other stock Mr. Schatz keeps for dairy cows. He was married in llenrietta Township of Lorain County to Elizabeth M. Pippert. She was born in North Amherst of Lorain County January 11, 1872, and grew up and received her education there. Her parents, Conrad and Barbara (Hildebrand) Pippert were natives of Kurhessen, Germany, grew up there, and when still young people came to the United States. The sailing vessel on which they crossed encountered rough seas and was twelve weeks on the voyage. When they landed in New York ('ity they were almost starved. From there they came to Amherst in Lorain County, married there, and then located on a small farm at North Amherst. Some years later they moved to Ilenrietta Township in the same county and bought the tract of land on which the parents lived out the rest of their honored and industrious lives. Her father died April 1, 1905, at the age of sixty-three, and her mother on Oc- tober 27, 1912, aged sixty-six. They were members of the Reformed Church and in politics he was a democrat.
Mr. and Mrs. Schatz have two children : Carl William, born January 30, 1902, and now in the sixth grade of the public schools; and Helen B., born July 2, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Schatz are members of the German Reformed Church, and politically he is identified with the republican party.
C'OMFORT H. RUGGLES. Among the families who are celebrating or have the privilege of celebrating the centennial anniversary of the arrival of their ancestors in this section of Northern Ohio is ineluded the Ruggles family, a name that was first planted in the wilds of Iluron County on the Connectieut Firelands very shortly after the close of the War of 1812. It was a deseendant of this old and prosperous and infin- ential family who for many years lived in the near vicinity of Milan Village, where his widow, Mrs. Ruggles, still resides.
The late Comfort II. Ruggles was born in Ridgefield Township of HIuron County, November 18, 1841, and died December 31, 1908, at his home on the crown of the Ruggles hill overlooking the Huron River and for many years known as "llill Top," where Mrs. Ruggles has spent most of her life since birth.
The grandparents of the late Mr. Ruggles were Eden and Artemeeia (Jackson) Ruggles. They were both born in Connecticut. The grand- father was born at Brookfield in Fairfield County, May 13. 1766, and his wife was born in the same locality March 12, 1771. Both were of Revolutionary stock, and there was a Capt. Joseph Ruggles who dis- tinguished himself as a soldier in the struggle for independence. Eden Rnggles and wife were married at Danbury, Connectient, May 20, 1790, and afterward they removed to Pennsylvania. Most of their ehil- dren, eight sons and three daughters, were born in Connectient. Tt was during the years 1816-17 that the varions members of this family, either singly or in small parties, found their way out from Pennsylvania to the firelands in Huron County, Ohio. They were a people well fitted
Comfort A Raggles
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for pioneers, had the New England conscience, the rugged virtues which have always distinguished the people from that section, and were there- fore naturally influential in the formative period of a new settlement, and did their part well in the material development. Eden Ruggles and wife both followed their sons into Iluron County, and he died there January 19, 1855, and his widow on January 29, 1864. They were both people of Christian ideals and virtues, and among other accomplish- ments they were fine singers, and had sung in the church choirs at Danbury, Connecticut, and in churches in Pennsylvania and Ohio. It. is due these people that some brief record should be made of their children, most of whom were subsequently identified with Northern Ohio. Aurelia, born in 1791 and died in 1880, left a family of eleven children. Joseph, born October 4, 1792, afterwards moved West, and died there. Sarah, born October 18, 1794, married a Mr. Drake of Huron County, and both lived as farmers in that section the rest of their lives, being represented by descendants. Daniel, born December 23, 1796, spent all his life as a farmer in Huron County, and also had a family. Polly, born February 14, 1799, married Benjamin Jackson, and she died while accompanying her husband and others in a wagon train to California in 1864, her death occurring at Carson Valley near C'ali- fornia, and her husband later died in the same state, while some of their sons are still living there and well to do and prosperous. Peter, born November 10, 1801, spent his life in Ohio, married there, and died October 25, 1855. Martin Luther, the next in the family, is mentioned in the following paragraph. Salmon, born January 27, 1806, and died February 7, 1866, left children by his marriage to Rebecca Nieman, and these children are all now living in the West. Orrin, born Septem- ber 2, 1808, and died at Milan December 29. 1898, married Sarah Nie- man, who at her death left several children. William A., born Novem- ber 17. 18II, moved to Chicago, lost his property there in the great fire of 1871. afterwards went out to California and died in that state August 1. 1889. Eli H., born January 22, 1814, was three times married, but had no surviving children at the time of his death in December, 1877.
Martin Luther Ruggles, who was born in Brookfield Township, Fair- field County, Connecticut, November 13, 1803, was still a boy when the family came to Huron County. Like some of his brothers, he learned the trade of ship carpenter in and around the Milan shipyards, and followed that as a regular vocation for many years. He also seeured a fine tract of land in Ridgefield Township of Huron County, and that was the scene of the family activities for many years. He died in that township December 1, 1850, when still in the prime of life. His children were still young, but he left them the heritage of a good name as well as some possessions which would keep them in material comfort. Martin L. Ruggles married Fidelia Webb. She was born in Pompey, New York, September 25, 1808, and died January 9, 1894, at the home of her daughter in Clyde, Ohio. She was still a young woman when she came to Ohio, and during nearly all her life had been a zealous member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Ruggles was first a whig and later a repub- lican. In their family were eight children, six sons and two daugh- ters, and the late Comfort Ruggles was the sixth in order of birth. Of these children Carlton is a retired business man and contractor living now in California, and has children by his two marriages. Emily T., another of the children, is the widow of Edwin L. Perry, has a large family of sons and daughters, and lives in North Fairfield, Ohio. Belle is the wife of Arthur L. Clark, who is now business representative at Clyde, Ohio, of a nursery establishment.
The late Comfort H. Ruggles was well reared and educated and every feature of his career was such as to redound to his credit. IIe attended the Milan High School and also the normal school, and for
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a number of years combined work at a mechanical trade with the capable direction of his farm interests. For many years he held the office of justice of the peace and also filled other local positions. During Presi- clent Harrison's administration he was postmaster at Milan. He was quite a factor in local republican politics, and in Masonry was probably one of the best posted men and active workers in this section of the state. Ile filled the highest offices in the Masonic Lodge, Royal Arch Chapter and Couneil at Norwalk.
On November 28, Thanksgiving Day, 1867, at the home of the bride. now known as Hill Top, near Milan, Comfort HI. Ruggles and Miss Charlotte II. Merry were united in bonds that remained unbroken for more than forty years. Mrs. Ruggles was born April 1, 1844, on the very place where she now has her home. She grew up and received her education, and the scenes which influenced her early childhood have been with her through the associations of old age. Her parents were Samuel and Cordelia (Baker) Merry. Iler father was born at Mentor, Ohio, June 27, 1811, and died December 14, 1883. Her mother was born at Vernon in Tolland County, Connecticut, October 13, 1816, and died March 21, 1875. A week after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Merry moved to the Ruggles Hill and occupied what is now Hill Top near Milan Vil- lage. Mrs. Ruggles' father was one of the managers of the old Ebenezer Merry Mills at Milan and one of the most active members of the firm during his father's life and assumed the greater part of the responsibility after his death. Other references to the Merry family and their activities will be found on other pages in the sketch of Charles O. Merry. After the mills were closed down Mr. Merry devoted his attention to the raising of fancy poultry on the Hill Top plaee, and that became noted throughout Erie County for its splendid produets. While still living there and engaged in those activities he passed away. Mr. Merry was a man of unusual business ability until continued ill health made it necessary for him to relinquish an active part in the management of his affairs. Mrs. Ruggles' father was of a very retiring nature, and some people consid- ered him austere in manner. He was positive in his belief and always lived true to his ideals. In polities he was a republican, and he and his wife were Presbyterians.
Mrs. Ruggles since the death of her husband has continued to occupy and look after the beautiful Hill Top place. She is a lovable woman and has exemplified the beautiful truths of the Christian religion in her home and in her associations with the community. She and her family are attendants of the Presbyterian Church, and the sons are republiean voters. A brief record of the five children will appro- priately close this article.
Bertha Evelyn was graduated from the Milan High School and Normal, taught school for several years, and is now the wife of Roy E. Webb. Mr. Webb was born, reared and edueated at North Fairfield in Iluron County, and completed his education under his father, Ezra Il. Webb, who served as superintendent of schools in many cities in Northern Ohio and is still prominent in educational affairs in the state. Mr. and Mrs. Webb now live at Toledo, where he is identified with the Wells Fargo & Company's Express in that eity. Their children are : Donald Ruggles, who was born March 17, 1903, and is now in the seventh grade of school; and Charlotte Lucy, born May 10. 1910.
Howard W., the second child, horn July 25, 1870, is now a printer living at Norwalk, Ohio. By his marriage to Laura Remington he has a daughter Eleanor Bertene, born September 1, 1903.
Archie Walter, born JJuly 24, 1872, lives at home with his mother and is a byer and silent partner in the firm of Lockwood, Smith & Co., general merchants at Milan. lle graduated from the Milan High School in 1894 and is still unmarried.
Geworden
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Everton George, born September 1, 1874, was graduated from the Milan High School in 1895, and is now cashier of the Farmers & Citizens Banking Company of Milan. IIe married Harriet Lewis of Cleveland.
Kent P., born June 26, 1880, was graduated from the Milan High School in 1898, and is now correspondent for the Goodrich Rubber Company of Akron. IIe married Bessie James, and they have a son Arthur James, born June 22, 1914. His home is at Cuyahoga Falls.
ROBERT W. WORDEN. Among the departments of service in the great railroad corporations one of more than ordinary importance is that which deals with the inspection of weights and freight. In this branch of service is maintained what is known as the Joint Rate Inspection Bureau, whose members must be men of intelligence and accuracy, energy and industry, preferably those who have had some years of railroad experi- ence back of them. The bureau's chief representative at Sandusky is Robert W. Worden, whose duties include the inspection of freight rates and weights. Since the beginning of his career Mr. Worden has been connected with railroad work of some character, and has risen steadily from a minor clerkship to his present important position through the display of energy, ability and fidelity to the company's interests.
Born at Fremont, Ohio, January 11, 1868, he is a son of Darwin L. G. Worden, who was a descendant of Peter Worden, the founder of the New England family of Wordens, whose will was probated in the Town of Plymouth, Massachusetts, ou February 9, 1639. Darwin L. G. Worden was a native of New York, coming from Herkimer County to Ohio in the early '40s and settling in Cleveland. After marrying Eliza. Reid in 1866 he moved to Sandusky County and took up his residence near the City of Fremont. While agriculture was his chief vocation during his earlier years, he also followed other callings, in all of which he proved himself capable, enterprising and faithful, winning and retaining the respeet and confidence of those with whom he came in con- tact. In 1872 he came to Erie County, and from that time resided in Sandusky, engaged in diversified occupation. He is still well remem- bered by a number of the older people of Sandusky and vicinity, among whom he mingled in a business way and upon whom he impressed his personality by reason of his many sterling qualities. He was for a period of more than a quarter of a century a devout member and gener- ous supporter of the Methodist Church.
Robert W. Worden was four years old when brought to Erie County, and here was reared, obtaining his education in the public schools of Sandusky. His schooling completed, he began life as a clerk in the offices of the I., B. & W. Railroad at Sandusky, remaining with that com- pany until it went into the hands of a receiver, at which time he joined the clerical force of the C., S. & C. Railroad, which was later absorbed by the C., C., C. & St. L. Railway. There he remained a short time, when he transferred his services to the C., S. & H. Railway and finally was appointed an employee in the Joint Rate Inspection Bureau. He is one of the most valued and trusted of the bureau's employees and has won this confidence by valued and faithful service. The large corpora- tions reward only real service, so that a position of preferment in itself is tangible evidence of the possession of more than average ability.
Aside from the duties of this position Mr. Worden finds an outlet for his energies in fraternal work, in which he is well and widely known. He is prominent in Masonry, being a member of Perseverance Lodge No. 329, F. & A. M., of which he has been secretary for twenty- four years; Sandusky City Chapter No. 72, R. A. M .; Sandusky City Couneil No. 26, R. & S. M., of which he has been thrice illustrious mas- ter; and Erie Commandery No. 23, K. T. He has been secretary of all
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the Masonic bodies of which he is a member for several years. He is also a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and belongs to the Masonic Temple Association of Sandusky, of which he is secretary. In his religious belief Mr. Worden is a Presbyterian, a faith to which he has adhered since boyhood. Ilis first vote was cast for a candidate of the republican party, and from that time to the present he has sup- ported the men and measure of that organization. While not an office seeker, he takes an interest in public affairs, particularly where the welfare of his city is concerned.
Mr. Worden was married May 24, 1898, at Mckeesport, Pennsylva- nia, to Miss Marian Woodall Holt of that city, a daughter of Enoch Holt and Sarah (Winders) Holt. To their marriage have been born two children : Miss Elsie B. H. is now a student in the Sandusky Iligh School. The second child, whose name was Robert Holt, died at the age of eighteen months.
GEORGE MEYER. It is one of the essential purposes of this publica- tion to give permanent record to the lives and useful activities of those families that have identified themselves most closely with the real life of Erie County. Of the basic industry upon which all else depends farming must be considered first among the pursuits which . make any country prosperous. It has been with the farm enterprise of Vermilion Township that the family of George Meyer has been most closely con- nected. His father was an honest, industrious and hard-working Ger- man-American citizen, who came here in young manhood, worked hard by day and month wages for a number of years, and finally effected the purchase of a tract of land which in time he converted into a well improved farm. George Meyer has followed in the footsteps of his father, and now owns one of the excellent fruit farms in the township, on rural route No. 1 out of the Vermilion postoffice.
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