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 16
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Albert E. Theobald was born in Archbold, Fulton county, Ohio, on December 26, 1872, and is the first in order of birth of the six children born to John, Sr., and Christina (Gype) Theobald. The family is originally of German stock, the subject's grandfather, Michael Theobald, having immigrated from the Fatherland to the United States in an early day with his wife and three children. He settled on a tract of wooded land in Seneca county, Ohio, of which locality he was a pioneer, and there he cleared the land, established a home and developed a good farm. Subsequently he came to Fulton county and settled in German township, where he spent the remainder of his years on his farm of eighty acres. His son, the subject's father, continued to live on this homestead until he came to Archbold and engaged in the hardware business, with which he still continues, though eighty-two years old at this time.
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Albert E. Theobald attended the public schools until fifteen years of age, when he was employed by an unele as a farm hand at the wage of five dollars a month. He was employed at farm work for twelve years, at the end of which time he returned to Archbold and went to work for the Archibold Milling Company as a flour packer, being so employed for three years. Then for two years he was employed as a shipping elerk in a wholesale grocery house in San Francisco, California. In 1912 he returned to Arch- bold and entered into a partnership with his brother, J. B. Theobald, and opened a dry goods store on Main street, under the firm name of Theobald Brothers. In 1915 J. B. retired from the firm and the subject has since continued the business alone, under the name of the Star Dry Goods Store. He carries a large and complete stock of dry goods, trimmings, accessories, etc., and enjoys one of the largest trades of any store of the kind in this part of the country.
In 1899 Mr. Theobald was married to Sadie May Feather, the daughter of Francis and Leah (Barley) Feather, of Archbold. Politi- cally a republican, Mr. Theobald has always taken a commendable interest in public affairs, especially as relating to the. community in which he lives. He served two terms as city treasurer and two terms as a member of the city council, being at the present time a member of the latter body. He is a member of the German Lutheran Church and consistently gives his support to every worthy object. Because of his success and his genial disposition, he has won and retains the good will and respect of all who know him.
PETER EICHER, an enterprising and energetic business man of Archbold, owner of a substantial produce business, and also a coal merchant, is well-known throughout Fulton county, and has of late years been shipping produce in carload lots to widely separated parts of the country.
He is a native of Fulton county, Ohio, the son of Christian and Catherine (Schad) Eieher. The Eicher family is of French origin, but has been resident in America for some generations. Christian Eicher, father of Peter, was a farmer and early resident in Fulton county, and Peter was reared in the environment of country life. He attended the country school during boyhood, and as he grew took increasing part in the work of the home farm. His summer vacations were generally spent happily but usefully in industrious work connected with the hay and general harvests. He attended school until he was sixteen years old. From that time until he was twenty-two years old he remained with his parents, taking good part in farm work. Then he married, which circumstances influenced him in setting up a separate establishment and farming independ- ently. He rented a property of eighty acres near Burlington, Ohio, and there for seven years he and his wife lived. He was more than moderately successful in his farming, and during the period had been able to accumulate some capital. With it he returned to Ful- ton county and established himself in business in Archbold as a grocer. His store was on Main street, but after conducting it for two years. he decided that there were greater possibilities of success in developing a business in produce. So thinking, he sold his gro- cery business and energetically applied himself to the new enter- prise. He has not regretted the change, for during the time from that year to the present he has done considerable business each vear in produce, and during the busy season has been accustomed to
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ship in carload lots to markets in various parts of the United States. He has also developed a consequential and lucrative business- in the retailing of coal. And he also handles feed so that altogether he has prospered well by his enterprise and well-directed aggressive- ness. As a produce dealer his business establishment was at first situated on Depot street, but after about twelve months in that loca- tion he moved his headquarters to Strycher street, where he remained for about a year, eventually taking up the quarters where he has since done business, near the New York Central tracks. The extent of his railroad shipments compelled him to locate near the rail- road, which gave him ready access to the middlewest and the eastern states. He has reached a satisfactory state of material possessions, but lic nevertheless continues actively to pursue commercial affairs. He also owns a farming property of seventy-three acres, and is well- known to most of the farmers in that section of the county. In Archbold he is generally well-regarded, and has proved himself to be a helpful, responsible resident, generous in his support of church and community work. Politically he is a republican of independent inclination.
In 1892 he married Emma Nofsinger, daughter of Jacob J. and Barbara (Wyse) Nofsinger. They are the parents of five children, as follows: Arthur C., twenty-two years old; Wilmer J., twenty years old; Viola G., age seventeen ; Chester E., age twelve; Lucile E., age four years. The family are members of the Amish Mennonite Church, and have many friends of long standing in Archbold.
JOHN MUNROE, one of the leading citizens of Archbold, Fulton county, Ohio, is partner in the firm of Humphreys and Munroe, the Archbold Milling and Elevator Company, and has been one of the enterprising public workers and business leaders in Arch- bold for many years. He is connected with the management of many financial and industrial corporations of Fulton county, including the Peoples State Bank of Archbold, of which he is a director, the E. F. Hansen (Elevator) Company, of Wauseon, and the Winner Glove Company of same city, of both of which he is a large stockholder and director. And his general standing in his own community may be gauged by his public service. He has been a school director for many years, has served several terms as councilman and for four years, 1914-18, he was mayor of Archbold, offices in the execution of the duties of which he manifested not only a loyal recognition that he was a guardian of the people's interest, but a marked ability as administrator and organizer.
He was born near Woodstock, Canada, the son of Hugh and Susan (Sisson) Munroe. His parents were of Scottish ancestry, his father having been born in Inverness, Scotland. The latter, Hugh Munroe, was twenty-two years old when he left his native land and crossed the sea to Canada. He settled near Woodstock, Canada, and there applied himself steadily to farming occupations. At the outset he worked for wages, which were not of high rate. Still, he was able to save some money, sufficient to enable him to acquire a farm holding of his own eventually. His farm was of 100 acres, and situated near Woodstock, and the property is still in the possession of a member of the next generation of the Munroe family. Hugh Munroe lived on that property for the remainder of his life, which ended in 1893. He was a man of strong personality and good life, and was esteemed by his neighbors. Susan Sisson, who became his wife and the mother of John Munroe of Archbold, was born in
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Woodstock, Canada, there married, and there raised their five chil- dren, of whom John was the third born.
John remained at home until he was twenty-one years old. He attended the country schools of his native place, and when about fifteen years old left school altogether. The next six years were spent in energetic work on the home farm, and by the time he had reached manhood he was of good physique and knew most of the general operations of agricultural life. He left home soon after having attained majority, and came into the United States, in the same year coming to Fulton county, Ohio, and finding employment in the flour mill of Lyon, Clement and Greenleaf at Archbold. He was a steady workman, reliable and energetic, and in course of time became foreman of the plant and as such was in receipt of good salary. For fifteen years he was a salaried employe of that company, and at the end of that time was so circumstanced financially that he could take the opportunity that then arose, to purchase, with another, the plant and business of the Archbold Milling Company of Arch- bold. IIe and his partner, Mr. C. A. Humphreys, a well-known and substantial Archbold business man, have since that time, 1906, suc- cessfully conducted the business, trading under the original name. The trading of the company has expanded appreciably since he and his partner came into possession of it, and the conduct of its affairs takes most of Mr. Munroe's time. He has, nevertheless, several other business connections, being a director of the E. F. Hansen Company and the Winner Glove Manufacturing Company, both of Wauseon. He is also a stockholder and director of the Peoples State Bank of Archbold.
Mr. Munroe is a man of commendable public spirit, and a very effective public worker. He has given much time to educational affairs in Archbold as a member of the Archbold School Board. And has also taken consequential part in the civic administration of the place. For several years he was councilman, and has held the highest executive office, that of mayor, the community's appre- ciation of his administration being evidenced by his re-election to the mayor's office. He was the chief magistrate of Archbold for four years, and his record is a notable one.
Politically he is a republican, and for many years has taken an active and effective interest in national politics. In his home dis- trict he has been a factor of influence, and his broad and sensible views upon much debated subjects have enhanced his reputation as a man of sound logical opinions. Fraternally Mr. Munroe is a Mason and an Elk. He is a member of the Wauseon, Ohio, Blue Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and the Napoleon Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
In 1890 he married at Woodstock. Canada, Marie, daughter of Charles and Eliza (Day) Hallock, of that placc. To Mr. and Mrs. Munroe have been born three children: Violet Estella, who mar- ried C. F. Grime, of Bryan, Ohio, and is the mother of one child, a son, John Russell, now three years old; Gladys Fern, who married Rav V. Chase, of Archbold; Harold John, who was born in 1901, received his elementary education in the public schools of Archbold, Ohio, and for four years was at the St. John's Military Academy, of Delafield, Wisconsin. He graduated from that school, and had the distinction of being a lieutenant of the school cadet corps, being a boy of alert responsible characteristics. He is now associated with his father in business.
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CLARENCE L. WYSE, a native of Fulton county, and latterly a responsible business man' of Archbold of that county of Ohio, is partner in a promising enterprise in that town, the Archbold Ladder Company, which company does a considerable business in ladders and silos, its product being shipped into many states, including Illinois and Pennsylvania.
Clarence L. Wyse is the son of M. and Mary (Baer) Wyse, and was born on the parental farm near Archbold. The Wyse family is among those early resident in the county, and had some part in the pioneer work of the section. Whether they bought undeveloped land direct from the government or acquired partly-cleared land from the original settler does not appear in the data presently avail- able, but the name is encountered in the early records of the county. Clarence L. was reared in the wholesome environment of the home farm near Archbold, and, like other farmers' sons, attended the country school during the winter, and gave most of his time to the execution of farming tasks upon the family homestead during the long summer vacations. He attended school until he was sixteen years old, and for another year stayed with his parents, giving good assistance to his father in the operation of the farm. Then a double misfortune, in the death of both of his parents, caused him to leave home and for two years thereafter he worked for neighboring farmers. At the end of that time, however, he decided to learn car- pentry. For two years he followed that trade, and then for three years was associated with his brother in the operation of the home farm. The brothers had moderate success in their joint farming, and the two in 1915 put their resources together and purchased the business and plant of the Gegax Ladder Works of Archbold, which has since been known as the Archbold Ladder Company. The brothers have developed the business appreciably since it passed into their possession, and today they have trading connections through many states. They ship their ladders in appreciable and growing quantities to Pennsylvania and Illinois, and have done a lucrative business in silo construction. Altogether their endeavors have been marked by commendable enterprise and aggressive, well-directed industriousness.
Both brothers are well-regarded in Archbold. Clarence has not shown much inclination toward political activities, and in his voting has been more concerned in the merit of the candidate than in the platform of the party. He has attended almost strictly to business, but Archbold might almost be considered his native place and he has been always interested in its affairs, and has been ready to help in any way possible in measures that were intended to bring benefit to the community. Generally he is a man with a proper recogni- tion of the responsibilities of citizenship, and during the recent war proved himself to be whole-heartedly loyal.
In 1916 he married Ella, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Meri- latt) Roth, of near Wauseon. They have one child, Blanche Marie, who was born in 1917. The family is well-regarded in Archbold.
CLAIR D. MILEY, who is among the representative residents of Clinton township, and is a successful farmer of that neighborhood, is proving himself to be a young man of much steadiness and good enterprise. He has been independently established and farming a good acreage since 1915.
He was born in Clinton township in 1891, the son of John C. and Eva (Quackenbush) Miley, well-known for the greater part of
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their lives in Clinton township, and grandson of Thomas Miley. The Miley family was early in Fulton county, Ohio, although in origin the family is German. How many generations back it is to that of the first scion of the family to have had residence does not appear in data now available, but the family did much pioneer work in Fulton county in the early days.
Clair D. Miley has spent his whole life in the county. In his boyhood he attended the Centre District School, Clinton township, attending school until he was seventeen years old. From that time until the present he has spent the years steadily farming, working for his father until 1914, when he married, following which for about twelve months he found occupation in the City of Wauseon, Fulton county, in 1915, however, returning to the Miley homestead in Clinton township, his father having retired a year earlier, and assuming full direction of that farm. There he has lived to the present, and has had good success. He is an enterprising, energetic farmer, and has been apt in adopting many of the modern develop- inents of farming. The farm is of seventy acres, well improved, with many modern residential comforts and adequate outbuildings. Mr. Miley is still in the early years of his business endeavor, but his steadiness and energetic, intelligent enterprise promise him a satisfactory place among the prosperous agriculturists of the county. Politically he is a republican. By religious conviction he is affiliated with the Christian Church, and is a good supporter of and an active worker for the local church of that denomination. He is a man of good patriotism, and although his marital responsibilities forbade him taking personal part in military capacity in the World war of 1917-18, he applied himself during that period to the uttermost to matters of production upon his farm; and the part taken by the patriotic American farmer in the world struggle was by no means unimportant or without appreciable effect upon the continuance of the allies in vigorous prosecution of the war until victory finally came.
In 1914 Clair D. Miley married Lula Belle Hay, daughter of Edward and Lillie (Shambarger) Hay, of Clinton township. They have two children : Phoebe Elaine, who was born in 1916; and Donald Curtis, born in 1918.
GEORGE K. RUSSELL. Fully impressed with the importance of his calling of a farmer, George K. Russell, owner of a fine farm of 158 acres in Franklin township, is contentedly operating it and giving to the affairs of his community an intelligent interest as a good citizen should. He was born in Cumberland county, Penn- sylvania, in 1861, a son of William J. and Harriet (Anderson) Russell, who came to Fulton county, Ohio, when George K. Russell was four years of age, and bought a farm in Franklin township.
Growing up on the parental farm, George K. Russell attended the country schools and the Normal School of Fayette until he was twenty-one years old, although during a number of these years he assisted his father during the summer seasons, and remained on the farm until 1881. Mr. Russell then moved to the William Dune- burger's farm and then to his present farm, where he is carrying on general agriculture. His farm is one of the highly cultivated ones of the township. and he has made many substantial improve- ments upon it. taking a pride in his premises and doing all he can to keep everything up-to-date in every particular.
In 1882, when he was twenty-one years old, Mr. Russell was
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united in marriage with Angeline Duneburger, a daughter of William Duneburger, and they became the parents of three children, namely: Hattie May, who is now Mrs. Charles Shipman, lives in Gorman township; William Grover, who is thirty-four years old; and Mahlon John, who is thirty-two years old. Mr. Russell is a democrat and was elected constable of Franklin township for one term, township trustee for three years and was appointed township assessor for two years by Governor Cox, and is now township clerk. He is a stockholder of the Northwestern Mutual Telephone Com- pany, of which he is now secretary, and he has held all of the offices in it except that of treasurer, is a director of the Farmers State Bank of Fayette, and of the Farmers Elevator Company of Fayette, and is president of the Franklin Cemetery Association, which office he has held for ten years. His fraternal affiliations are with the Maccabees of Fayette. A man of more than ordinary ability, he has been able to give expression to his ideas in several lines, and has made good in everything he has undertaken, for he is a man who, once he starts in to accomplish anything, does not stop until he has completed it, and in a manner satisfactory to him.
G. SCOTT Roos. The founder of the American branch of the House of Roos of which G. Scott Roos of Wauseon is a representa- tive was Dr. John Philip Burchard Roos, and his entry into colonial affairs was the year of the Declaration of American Independence. The annals of the family show that he was born November 28, 1754, in Palatine, Germany. He was one of the Hessian soldiers transported to the New World by the British government to assist in suppressing the colonists engaged in the popular uprising-the American Revolution.
It is understood that Dr. John Philip Burchard Roos, who had qualified himself for professional life, came as a steerage passenger, and slept in the straw that is the reputed agency that introduced the Hessian fly in the American colonies. In the course of time this educated young Hessian was taken prisoner by the Continental army, and he soon transferred his allegiance to the country strug- gling to rid itself from the bondage of England. It is related in history that the Hessian army came the year the colonists declared their independence from the voke of England, and this young sol- dier at once gave six years and seven months of his life to the cause of freedom in America-certainly it Americanized him. This young Hessian soldier wiped out the record of the past, and thus the Roos family history begins with the birth of the republic, the British sub- ject having become an American citizen.
Soon after the end of the struggle this Americanized citizen, Dr. John Philip Burchard Roos, married Catharine Becker. Their children were: Anna, Margaret, Gertrude, Elizabeth, Jenny, Char- lotte and John Burchard, and through the birth of this son the name Roos is perpetuated in the United States. It is understood that Dr. John Philip Burchard Roos engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery, and that he died in Red Hook, New York, January 22, 1814, and through his direct lineage members of the Roos family have already established their membership in the Ameri- can Revolutionary patriotic societies.
It was August 4, 1791, that the seventh child and only son of this revolutionary soldier. John Burchard Roos, was born in Red Hook. New York. and there he married Elizabeth Benner, and thus the name Roos was perpetuated through the children born to
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them. John Burchard Roos was a blacksmith while living at Red Hook, and in 1836 he removed from New York to Ohio, locating in Lucas county, the territory later organized as Fulton county, and here follows the direct history of G. Scott Roos, born October 18, 1875, in Chesterfield. His residence in Wauseon is a recent thing, and the family history all reverts at once to Chesterfield.
An uncle of G. Scott Roos, William Scott, had bought a farm one forenoon in York State, and in the afternoon he sold it at an advance of $1,000, and this profit was invested in Ohio land-four eiglities, and Mr. Roos now owns one of them. It is included in the family homestead in Chesterfield. In the second generation of Roos there were again seven children, this time six sons and one daughter, They were: John Philip, Richard, Ann Eliza, James William, Richard ( the first Richard having died at the age of one month), George Washington and Edward Robert. G. Scott Roos, who chronicles the above family data, is a son of George Washing- ton Roos, born July 4, 1831, at Red Hook, and he was five years old when the family removed to Ohio.
George W. Roos was twice married, the first wife being Catharine Bennett. There were three daughters: Cora, Mina and Edith. His second marriage was with Elizabeth Tunison, August 19, 1868, and there is one son, G. Scott Roos. Mrs. Roos, who lives in the home of her son, is the youngest in a family of six: John, Peter, Abram, Philip, Lydia and Elizabeth, born to James and Eliza (Miller) Tunison. As a young woman Mrs. Roos came from her home in western New York to visit friends in Ohio, and she beeame a per- manent resident of Fulton county.
On December 19. 1894, G. Scott Roos married Ora Belle Stutes- man, an only daughter born to Charles and Anna E. (Roberts) Stutesman. The Stutesman family homestead is in Chesterfield, and the daughter went to the home of her husband and they lived in Chesterfield until the spring of 1915, when they removed to Wauseon. Charles Stutesman was born in Chesterfield September 19, 1849, and he is still a resident of the community. He is a son of Samuel and Mary (Waite) Stutesman, the father having come from Mary- land and the mother from England. The Stutesman family history began in the Chesterfield community in 1832, when Samuel Stutes- man seeured eighty acres of land in the dense forest there. Since 1835 the name Stutesman has always been heard there.
Anna E. (Roberts) Stutesman was a daughter of John and Chloe (Clevenger) Roberts, the father a Welshman while the mother was born near Lima, and relatives still live in Allen county. She was born December 20, 1855, and died May 30, 1889, survived by one daughter, Mrs. Ora B. Roos. While the Stutesman-Roberts families are large, there is not much record extant-the generations of the past not having discharged their whole duty to posterity.
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