USA > Ohio > Fulton County > A standard history of Fulton County, Ohio, an authentic narrative of the past, with an extended survey of modern developments in the progress of town and county, Vol. II > Part 15
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CHARLES A. HUMPHREYS, who for fifty years has lived in Fulton county, Ohio, and since early manhood has been connected, and for the greater part of the time responsibly connected with milling enterprises in Wauseon and Archbold. has since 1906 been one of the two partners of the Archbold Milling and Elevator Company, which firm does a substantial business in flour, grain, feed and coal. ITe also has other business interests, being president and a stockholder in the E. F. Hansen Company, millers of Wauseon, Ohio, and director of the Winner Glove Manufacturing Company of the same city. As a business man of enterprise and honorable ehar- acteristics he is esteemed in Archbold and Wauseon, and has very many friends throughout Fulton eonnty.
ITe is of British birth. born in the aneient city of Bath, Somer- setshire, England, March 14, 1869. the son of Charles A. and Marion (Wheeler) Humphreys. The family had for many previous gener- ations lived in the vicinity of that city, and had generally followed the milling industry. Charles A. Humphreys was a miller in Eng- land, and when he came to the United States he followed that occu- pation in this country. Soon after emigration he settled in Wauseon, Fulton County, Ohio, and throughout his American residence of forty-two years was connected with the milling business of Lyon, Clement & Greenleaf, of Wauseon. Charles A. Humphreys was
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a man of estimable characteristics, loyal and reliable. That trait was well demonstrated by his long association with the Wauseon Milling Company. He was a man of good education, was always a respon- sible resident from his first coming to Wauseon, and during his life he took an intelligent and interested part in public movements. He died in 1912, in Wauseon, his wife living for a further six years, her death not coming until 1918. She also was interred in Wauseon Cemetery.
Charles A., son of Charles A. and Marion ( Wheeler) Humphreys, was only eighteen months old when his parents came to the United States and settled in Wauseon, Fulton county, Ohio. In that city he spent most of his life, attending local schools in his boyhood, and eventually entering the Wauseon High School. He was seventeen years old when he began his business career, taking employment under his father in the mill of Lyon, Clement & Greenleaf, of Wau- seon. He passed through a thorough milling apprenticeship, and in course of time became head miller of the Wauseon plant. In 1906 he and a fellow-worker, John Munroe, joined resources in business partnership, and together purchased the business and plant of the Archbold Milling Company of Archbold. They have since that time. been the principal and joint owners of that business, which they have considerably developed during the years from 1906 to the present. Today the trading of the company in flour, grain, feed and coal is extensive and has brought appreciable substance to the partners, both of whom have taken leading parts in the general activities of Archbold. The firm is widely known for its special brands of flour, the Golden Eagle and Imperial, both partners being expert millers and able to carefully select their grain. And in feed and coal, the partners have an extensive town and country business. Both partners are closely identified with the management of another Ful- ton county milling firm, the E. F. Hansen Company, of Wauseon, of which company Mr. Humphreys is president. He is also director of the Winner Glove Manufacturing Company of Wauseon.
Politically Mr. Humphreys is a republican. His business inter- ests, however, have been such as to demand most of his time during recent years, and he has been unable to devote to community affairs as much time as he would have liked. He has, however, been a willing supporter of worthy local instittuions, and is placed among the leading men of affairs in that section of Fulton county. During the recent war Mr. Humphreys upon more than one occasion mani- fested a whole-hearted patriotism, taking good part in the local activities relating to the various drives for funds with which the national government might properly pursue the national purpose. Generally Mr. Humphreys has a worthy place in the county, being known widely as a man of undoubted moral and material integrity.
In 1891, at Wauseon, Ohio, he married Verna C., daughter of G. W. and Rebecca (Neikirk) Hulls, of Wauseon. They have two children, Gail and Margery.
HORACE R. GRIFFIN, an enterprising and steady young business man of Archbold, Fulton county, Ohio, partner in the firm of Wyse and Griffin, grocers and butchers of Archbold, is a veteran of the World war, and one with a good overseas record. And since he has returned to civilian occupations he has manifested an initiative and enterprise such as indicate a good future for him.
He is a native of Fulton county, Ohio, born in the village of Fayette, February 14, 1898, the son of Otis and Edith May (West-
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fall) Griffin. The Griffin family came originally from England, but Otis U. Griffin, father of Horace R., was for a while a farmer in Fulton county. Horace was born on the parental farm at Fayette, but when he was three years old the family moved into the eity of Wauseon, Fulton county, and there he passed his boyhood. He at- tended the Wauscon public sehools, graduating from the elementary to the high school, and graduating creditably from the latter with the class of 1917, at the age of nineteen years, the year of the eom- mencement of the great war, or rather of America's participation in it. Young Griffin enlisted in the first month of the war, before ever there was thought of the seleetive draft. Soon after President Wilson had declared the nation to be in a state of war with Germany, Griffin went to Toledo and enlisted in the First Ohio Ambulance Corps. He was sent to Camp Sheridan, where for nine months he remained, pursuing the requisite course of training, but inwardly chafing, for he had hoped to have been early sent to Franee. Eventually he became a private, first-class, and was sent to the port of embarkation, New York, from which port he sailed on June 28, 1918, on the trans- port "Plassy," which after an exeiting voyage eventually arrived at Glasgow, Scotland. Then followed a railway journey to Winchester, in the south of England. The time, however, was a momentous one and movements of troops had to be accelerated. After three days at Winchester, undergoing necessary organization, his unit was dis- patched to Southampton, England, and sailed without delay, erossing the channel to Cherbourg, France, on the 10th of July. Ten days later he was at the front, only four days after the beginning of the most terrific fighting of the war, the allied offensive which was destined to throw the Teutonie forces into eonfusion, and eventually drive them from Franee in utter defeat. During the next four months Griffin saw much service; his unit had been reelassified, and in France was known as the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Ambu- lance Company, of the One Hundred and Twelfth Sanitary Train, Thirty-Seventh Division, which division was in the major battles of the Vosges, St. Mihiel, and the Argonne. And he was also in the Lys sector of Belgium, where the resistance was very stubborn. Grif- fin passed through that exeiting period without hurt, save for a slight gasing, and eventually, on March 24, 1919, sailed for the United States on the United States transport "Montana." He was mustered out with a certificate of honorable discharge at Camp Sherman on April 12, 1919. Soon afterward he returned to Wauseon, and in a short while settled down to civil life with commendable resolution and initiative. He formed a business partnership with Mr. R. P. Wyse, the two opening business as groeers and butehers at Archbold in that year. The partners are both young and energetic, and al- though the business is of such reeent establishment, there are indi- cations that the partners are developing a substantial measure of trading. They have a good town and country trade, have shown alertness in their operations, and an assuring reliability in their trading.
Horace R. Griffin is unmarried. Politically he is a republiean ; religiously he is a Methodist, and fraternally is identified with the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen orders, holding mem- bership in Wauseon lodges.
ROMEO P. WYSE, a native of Archbold, and now, notwithstanding his youth, a merehant with a promising future in his native place, is entering carly and encouragingly into the full responsibilities of
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independent business. He and another young Fulton county man are developing a substantial grocery and meat business in Arch- bold, and although the firm of Wyse and Griffin has not been estab- lished for a year, the aggressive methods and optimistic alertness these young men are exhibiting augur well for the future stability of the firm.
Romeo P. Wyse was born in Archbold, Fulton county, Ohio, in 1897, the son of D. F. and Caroline (Mockler) Wyse, who had long been a resident in Archbold. The Wyse family is of French-Ger- man origin, having originally come from Alsace, France. The grandparents were the first to immigrate and take up residence in Fulton county, Ohio, the paternal grandfather of Romeo P. Wyse doing much pioneering work in the county, and for the greater part of his life following agriculture. D. F. Wyse, father of Romeo P., was for the years of his early manhood a farmer, assisting his father in the operation of the home farm. Eventually, however, he became a jeweler in Archbold. He is still in business and widely known throughout that section of the county.
Romeo P., son of D. F. and Caroline (Mockler) Wyse, received his education in the public schools of Waterville and Wauseon, Ohio. He attended the Wauseon High School for three years. His years of schooling, especially the period of high schooling, reveal note- worthy traits in the boy. From the age of eleven years until he was sixteen years old he managed to earn much toward his maintenance by enterprising work before and after school and during vacations. At one time he sold newspapers on the streets of Wauseon, and for three years he found partial employment in the grocery department of Brigham & Guilford, department store owners of Wauseon. After leaving high school young Wyse went to Detroit and for a while was employed at the Hup Motor Club, of the Hup Motor Company, as second cook. So employed he passed two years in De- troit, then returning to Wauseon and entering into independent grocery business, for eighteen months trading as the Wabash grocery. Then he disposed of the business so that he might be free to take national service, the World war having begun. He enlisted in the United States Army at Wauseon as a chauffeur, but for some reason was not called into service. Eventually he was drafted by his local board, but the influenza epidemic of that time, the autumn of 1918, and the subsequent armistice on November 11, 1918, were factors which held young Wyse from actually entering upon military duties. While waiting, he for a short time worked in the local plant of the Van Camp Company, and he continued in such employment, in the capacity of weighmaster, for the seven months from the Armistice to the establishment of the firm of Wyse & Griffin, in July, 1919. The business is proceeding satisfactorily, both partners being apt, alert young men, eager to give good service and quite capable of it.
Mr. Wyse has not entered much into politics, and his nature would lead one to suppose that in local affairs, if not in national, he would be more disposed to weigh the qualities and qualifications of the candidate for his vote than to place 'reliance upon the general platform of the party with which the candidate might be affiliated. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Wauseon lodge, and his church is the Congregational. He is unmarried.
GLENN JACOB VERNIER. The firm of Vernier, MeLaughlin-Pro- beck Company at Archbold is one of the best known business firms in Fulton county, and for many years has stood for progress and
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fair dealing. Among the active members of this firm is its secretary and treasurer, Glenn J. Vernier, to whom a large part of the pros- perity of the firm is due and who has, because of his splendid busi- ness qualities and excellent personal traits, won the esteem of the entire community.
Glenn J. Vernier has been a life-long resident of Archbold, his birth having occurred here in 1889, and he is the son of A. J. and Hattie (Downer) Vernier. He is descended from sterling French ancestry on the paternal side, his great-grandfather Vernier having come from France to the United States, settling in the vicinity of Archbold. The subject of this sketch was reared here and received his elementary education in the public schools, graduating from the high school in 1906. Ile then took a commercial course in the Quincy Business College at Quincy, Illinois, where he was graduated in 1908. Immediately thereafter he went to work in his father's store. with which he has been identified ever since, 'and is now a member of the firm of Vernier, MeLaughlin-Probeck Company, of which he is secretary and treasurer. The company has a capital stock of $50,000 and they carry one of the largest and most com- plete stocks of hardware of every description, implements, building material, etc., to be found in Fulton county, commanding a trade covering a wide radius of surrounding country.
In 1909 Mr. Vernier was married to Eva Fagley, the daughter of Conrad and Anna Fagley, of Archbold, and they have become the parents of two children, Pauline Catherine and Jacob Robert.
Mr. Vernier has been an earnest supporter of the republican party, and in 1915 was elected to the office of city clerk, in which po- sition he served four years. In 1917 he was elected to the City Council and is still a member of that body. Fraternally he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, and is also a member of Zenobia Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Toledo, Ohio. He possesses to a marked degree those sterling traits which ever command uniform confidence and regard, and he is numbered today among the enterprising business men of his community.
GEORGE H. PROBECK, who for twenty-six years has been respon- sibly connected with the Vernier, Mclaughlin-Probeck Company, of Archbold, hardware and lumber merchants, and since the incor- poration has been vice president of that firm, is a business man of proved ability and reliability of estimable private life, and of helpful public spirit.
He was born in Toledo, Ohio, August 15, 1875, the son of Henry and Margaret (Schweiger) Probeck. He received his elementary education in the public schools of Toledo, and from the high school went to the Davis Business College, where he took the courses in com- merce and stenography. Entering upon his business career, he for a while was employed in a Toledo grocery as a clerk, but was early in Wauseon, where for three years he was a salesman in the store of Eager, Green & Company, becoming generally conversant with the dry goods business during that period. In 1894 he came to Arch- bold and entered the employ of Vernier & Mclaughlin. He passed eleven years as an emplove of that firm, having charge of the book- keeping of the establishment. and the eleven years were usefully spent, for at the end of that time he was in a position to acquire an interest in the company. He was admitted as a junior partner in
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1905, and when the business had expanded to such extent that with a view to further development the partners felt that their trading could be more effectually administered under corporate powers, he became vice president of the company then incorporated. He is still vice president of the Vernicr, MeLaughlin-Probeck Company, and is still actively engaged in its management, and it would hardly be incorrect to state that much of the prosperity that has come to the company during the last generation has been due to the careful work and business acumen of Mr. Probeck, to whom the success of the firm has been one of his main purposes during the last twenty years or so.
Mr. Probeck is a republican in politcal allegiance, but has not been able to devote much of his time to national political move- ments. During the recent war he was of course intensely interested in national affairs, and in that trying time demonstrated a whole- hearted loyalty and helpful patriotism in his generous co-operation with ths efforts of leaders in the county to insure the proper sub- scription in the district toward the various bond issues and other funds needed for the proper prosecution of the war. In local poli- tics, however, he has always taken a close interest, although he has never sought public office. His co-operation in public work has been of the unselfish constructive kind, without thought of personal gain; and he has always been ready to support worthy projects that prom- ised some useful good to the community. As a churchman he has been consistent. He is a member of the local Lutheran Church, and at all times has seen it to be his duty to share in its responsi- bilities.
In 1902, at Archbold, he married Blanche, daughter of John F. and Ellen (Kope) Yeager, of a well-known pioneer family of Ful- ton county. They have two children: Margaret Ella, who was born in 1905; and Helen Blanche, born in 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Probeck have many sincere friends of long standing in Archbold, and are generally well-regarded in the community.
DAVID J. MOCKLER, who is now senior partner of a consequential manufacturing concern, the Peerless Glove Manufacturing Com- pany of Archbold, and who for many years has been one of the responsible, enterprising business men of that place, has had a wide and varied business experience. He has for long been known as a man of marked energy and sound business acumen, and his years of energetic application to business have yielded him good return, so that today he is classed among the substantial business leaders of Fulton county. The factory with which he is identified finds con- stant employment for twenty-four people, and its product is shipped to all parts of the United States, and is therefore an industry of some importance to Archbold.
David J. Mockler was born in Napoleon, Henry county, Ohio, November 27, 1869, the son of J. George and Wilhelmina (Grucn- inger) Mockler. Originally the family came from Germany, but some generations have now been resident in the United States, and the family is entirely American in spirit. David lived for the greater part of his boyhood in Burlington, Fulton county, Ohio, attending the public schools at that place until he had reached the age of fourteen years, when he began to work. For the next nine years he followed agricultural occupations industriously, but not as an independent farmer. He was twenty-three years old when he married, and that responsibility brought a change in his occupa-
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tion. Soon after he had married he entered the employ of the Arch-' bold Creamery Company, remaining connected with that creamery for three years as a butter-maker, then followed an equal period, in like capacity, at the Jewel . Elgin Creamery, Jewel, Ohio, and a similar connection in the creamery of Trubey Brothers, Sherwood, Defiance county, Ohio, where he remained for two years, these periods of steady, responsible and well-paid employment adding appreciably to his material means. After two years as an employe at Sherwood David J. Mockler returned to Archbold, and in part- nership with John Waldvogel, of that place, ventured into inde- pendent business, the two then establishing the Archbold Creamery. which they conducted for five years, the partnership then being dissolved by mutual consent. For the succeeding fifteen years Mr. Mockler traveled extensively, representing oil refiners for the greater part of the time, and must have been a good salesman, otherwise he would not have held to such occupations for so long. After fifteen years of constant travel, however, Mr. Mockler sought .other business interests which would enable him to be oftener at home. An opportunity presented itself, and in partnership with Joel and Emanuel Rupp he acquired an interest in the business of the Peerless Glove Manufacturing Company. Mr. Mockler has a one-third interest in the business, and is foreman at the factory ; and since he has been connected with it he has had the satisfaction of seeing its volume of business expand very considerably, until in recent years its product has found a good market throughout the United States. The factory at present finds employment for twenty- four people, and its business is continually expanding. Mr. Mockler has always been a hard worker, and he still holds steadily to busi- ness. He is a republican of independent affiliation, but has not very actively followed political matters. He has shown a close interest in the affairs of Archbold, and in more than one way has been aiding in its development, but he has not concerned himself very keenly in national politics. He is a citizen of good public spirit. but has never been disposed to accept public office. Like so many other energetic men of business, he has held closely to his business affairs, and has held himself in good personal responsi- bility and useful citizenship in that way.
Mr. Mockler has been twice married. His first wife, whom he married in 1892, was Caroline, daughter of Jacob and Barbara (Spiess) Mandlev, of Henry county, Ohio. She died in 1910, on June 18, and in the following year Mr. Mockler married again, his second wife being Emaline Nyc, daughter of William Nye, of Liberty Centre. Henry county, Ohio. Mr. Mockler is the father of five children, four of whom were born to the first marriage, and one to his second wife. Mr. and Mrs. Mockler are members of the Missionary Church.
AUGUST FRAAS. The name of August Fraas, of Archbold, Ful- ton county. does not need to be introduced to the readers of this chronicle, for it has been intertwined with the history of this locality for nearly half a century. The splendid success which has come to him is directly traceable to the salient points in his character, his energy, discrimination and perseverance placing him among the substantial citizens of this section of the county.
August Fraas, senior member of the firm of August Fraas & Son, sheet metal workers and plumbers at Archbold, was born in the town of Weisdrorf, Bavaria, on March 25, 1851. He is the son of
.
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Lawrence and Kunigunda (Horn) Fraas, being the youngest of their children. He remained at home until sixteen years of age, when he came to the United States alone, being thirty-seven days on board a sailing vessel, which landed him in New York harbor. He immediately went to Chicago, Illinois, where he had a lialf- sister living, and there he learned the trade of a tinner. At the end of a year he went to Defiance, Ohio, where he was employed at his trade for about a year, going then to Napoleon, Ohio, where he was similarly employed for three years. In 1871 he came to Archbold and entered the employ of Jacob Vanier, with whom he remained as an employe for sixteen years. In 1886 he purchased of his employer the sheet metal department and has successfully conducted it ever since. His son, Henry Lawrence Fraas, is also now interested with him in the business, which has steadily grown until it is now one of the leading establishments in its. line in this part of the county.
In 1870 Mr. Fraas was married to Sophie Schorner, the daughter of Lawrence and Katherine Schorner, and to them have been born the following children: John W., of Napoleon; August C .; Henry Lawrence, who is referred to above as his father's business associate, is married and the father of two children; Lawrence William, of Archbold; Clara is the wife of B. Baker, of Archbold, and they have five children; Sophie, the wife of Clarence Bucher; Elizabeth is the wife of Henry Mahler, of Archbold.
Mr. Fraas is an independent democrat in his political attitude and served as a member of the city council for nine years, and his son Henry L. is now a member of that body. His religious affiliation is with the Lutheran Church. He has for years taken an active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the com- munity. He was one of the organizers of the Archbold fire depart- ment and has been a volunteer member of it for thirty-eight years. He has acted well his part in life, and because of his success in business, his public spirit and his fine personal character he is deservedly popular throughout the community.
ALBERT EMANUEL THEOBALD. In compiling this volume of representative citizens of Fulton county occasion has been afforded to give the records of men in many walks of life; here will be found appropriate mention of worthy citizens in all vocations, and at this juncture we are permitted to offer a resume of the career of one of the enterprising merchants of Archbold, Albert E. Theobald, where he has attained a high degree of success and is now numbered among the leaders in mercantile circles of his community.
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