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 18

Author: Reighard, Frank H., 1867-
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 628


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 18


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G. W. Griffin is a son of James L. and Eliza Ann (Acker) Griffin. The father was born in Catskill county and the mother near Fayette, New York. His grandparents were William and Sarah (Sloat) Griffin. and George and Lydia (Holbon) Acker. The Ackers came from Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, to Ohio, locating in Gor-


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ham township. When the father of James L. Griffin and his family arrived here they turned over the wagon box to shelter the family at night, and after their arrival in Gorham township they converted the virgin timber country into a homestead.


The Griffins left the farm in 1895, taking up their residence in Fayette. While James Griffin is deceased, Mrs. Griffin, at the advanced age of eighty-five years, is still a resident of the community. Their oldest is George W. Griffin of Fayette; William, Whit- field and May died in early life; Orvidus A., deceased, was one of the leading opticians of the United States; Walter lives in Fayette.


When George W. Griffin was twenty-one years old he attended the Wauscon Normal School, and for a few years he taught in the public schools of Fulton county. While engaged in the teaching pro- fession Mr. Griffin went to Toledo and taught for a while in the House of Correction there. In 1878 he returned to Fayette and bought an interest in the Fayette Record. Until 1896 the newspaper was pub- lished under the firm name of Lewis and Griffin, when Mr. Griffin disposed of his newspaper stock and devoted his entire time to life and fire insurance. He now represents twelve different insurance companies-fire, life and accident, and he also does automobile insurance.


Mr. Griffin represents the Travelers Life and Accident Insurance Company of Hartford, Connecticut, and he is also engaged in local real estate transactions. He is a director of the Fayette Savings Bank, and secretary of the Fayette Canning Company. Mr. Griffin's children are as follows: Grace May, wife of Frederick H. Lee of Seattle, Washington; and Gertrude L., wife of Roscoe Roth of Toledo.


Mr. Griffin has had much to do with the material development of the community. He has built and rebuilt thirty-two different buildings in and about Fayette. In politics he is a republican. Mr. Griffin has filled two vacancies as justice of the peace, and he has been a member of the council and Fayette corporation clerk. Beside his own business interests, he has been guardian and looked after the financial interests of others in seventeen estates.


Mr. Griffin is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows No. 431 of Fayette, of the Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 689 of Fayette, and he is on the official board of the Fayette Methodist Episcopal Church.


EDWARD D. SCHAD, owner of a good coal and fertilizer business in the City of Wauseon, Ohio, and a native of Fulton county, had shown much ability and versatility in his manhood occupations. Reared on a farm, and restricted to an elementary education such as was only possible in the facilities of a country school, and able only to attend school for about three months each year, he nevertheless proved himself as the years passed to be a man of convincing power as a speaker, and of deep understanding of the Scriptures. Although his occupation until he was twenty-nine years old was farming, he then became a successful evangelist, and for five years thereafter followed that calling. preaching over a wide circuit in Ohio and Michigan. Then followed years during which his main occupation was farming, but in 1917 he came to Wauseon, so that his children might take the higher educational facilities of the city, and he entered commercial business as a coal merchant, his success showing that he is a man of good business ability.


He was born in Franklin township, Fulton county, Ohio, on


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August 6, 1872, the son of Christian and Catherine (Swartzendru- ber) Schad. The family is originally of Teutonic ancestry, but has the distinction of being among the old colonial families of Pennsyl- vania. It has been stated that the American progenitor of the branch of the Schad family to which the Fulton county, Ohio, family belongs settled in Pennsylvania in the seventeenth century, so that he may have been of the Dutch holders of the territory, before the coming of William Penn. In the pioneer days, Christian Swartzen- druber, grandfather of Edward D. Schad, drove his team from Penn- sylvania into the wild land of Fulton county, and settled at Frank- lin township, where he farmed until his death, leaving a cleared and improved property to his sons. Christian Schad, father of Edward D., was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was brought from there by his father in the late '40s to Fulton county. He farmed the Schad home property until his death, at which time Edward D. was only eighteen months old, so that the young days of the latter were passed under somewhat rigorous conditions. As a boy he worked for about nine months of each year on the home farm, going to school during the winter months, although even then he probably did much of the necessary work of the farm before and after school hours. Event- ually, however, he grew to manhood and assumed full control of the farm. He married when twenty-seven years old, and two years later his strong religious impulses, together with his natural power of speech, drew him into evangelical work, and for the next five years he occupied the pulpit almost continuously. He was a convincing preacher, and had much success in his circuit. He then was called to the Methodist pastorate in Tedrow, Fulton county, which he filled satisfactorily. From there he took the Morenci, Michigan, pastorate of his own denomination. During most of this time he managed his farm of 100 acres which he had bought, and there lived, success- fully farming it for seventeen years. After giving up the pastorate of Morenci, he again took up evangelical work during the winter months. When it became necessary to move into the city, so that his children might be properly educated, he rented his farm, and since the fall of 1917 has been in business in Wauseon as a coal merchant and dealer in fertilizers. His coal yard was on the D. T. and I. Railroad until he moved to his present location on North Ful- ton street. It has been stated that his coal business is one of the largest in the city, and that it also embraces a good country trade. Certain it is that Mr. Schad has shown much energy and good busi- ness capability since he ventured into business in Wauseon.


As will be assumed by the reading of the foregoing, Mr. Schad is a man of strong religious principles and fervor. He is a mem- ber of the United Bretheren denomination, and of late years has been much interested in Sunday school work, and to some ertent he has entered into public affairs, having for six years, while on the farm, been trustee of Dover township, Fulton county. In national politics he gives allegiance to the republican party.


In 1898 he married Emma, daughter of John and Ursula (Seiler) Winzeler, of Franklin township, and to them have been born three children: Inez, born in 1899, and now attending Huntington Col- lege, Huntington, Indiana; Elmer, who was born in 1901, gradu- ated in 1920 from the Wauseon High School: and Laura, born in 1903, is now in her junior year in high school.


JOHN B. MEISTER, senior partner of the firm of J. B. Meister and Sons of Pettisville, Fulton county, Ohio, is one of the leading busi-


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ness and public men of that section of the county. He has lived a commendable life, has been in substantial merchandising business for forty years, and has taken good and able part in publie life. He was one of the founders of the Pettisville Savings Bank, was probably the one most influential and active in its organization, and has been its president since its establishment. He has been a justice of the peace for twenty-five years, and has interested himself actively witlı educational matters as a member of the local board of education.


John B. Meister was born in German township, Fulton county, Ohio, in 1858, and comes of one of the pioneer families of that dis- triet. The family is of Swiss origin, George Meister, grandfather of John B., having been born in that country. He came from the canton of Schaffhausen, Switzerland, to America in 1830, and his was one of the first nine families to settle in German township, Ful- ton county where they located in 1833. The nine families came together with ox teams through the wilderness from Wayne the part of the trip after crossing the river at Napoleon taking nine days, and George Meister settled with his family at the ridge now known as Lauber Hill. At that time Benedict, father of John B., was only three years old. As he grew older he, with the others of the family, aided his father in clearing what proved to be a valuable property at Lauber Hill. He spent his whole life there.


John B. was born in the Meister homestead, the son of Benedict and Anna (Allion) Meister, and in that township was reared, as was his father. He attended the district school during the winter terms, but during the long summer months there was no school, and he followed the custom of other sons of farmers, and labored in the fields for his father until the harvest was practically over and the winter school term began. So passed his boyhood. After leav- ing school he gave all his time to affairs of the home farm of eighty aeres until he was twenty-one years old. Then he decided to enter commercial life, for which he felt himself to be better fitted than for farming. He secured employment as elerk in the general store of J. E. Hall at Waterville, holding that connection for about twelve months. He mastered the business during that period, and returned on January 23, 1884, to Pettisville, to acquire with his brother the general store business of S. C. Brainard of that place. The brothers traded as Meister Brothers, but at the outset John B. condueted the business alone, his brother coming into active participation in its operation after the business had become well organized and estab- lished. For twenty-four years the partnership continued, the brothers prospering and giving good service to local people, and expanding the radius of outside business. John B. then purchased his brother's interest in the business, and having built a new store, soon after- ward moved into it. And there the business has since been con- ducted, in the earlier years by himself alone, and latterly with the aid of his sons. Ralph W. and George E., who were admitted into partnership when old enough, and after they had demonstrated their capability. Since the entry of the sons into the business the firm- name has been J. B. Meister and Sons. and the trading has been of comprehensive scope, embracing a full line of reliable dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, and hardware.


To some extent, by reason of his ancestry, but mainly because of his own sterling character. John B. Meister reached a high place in the regard of the people of Pettisville and of that vieinity. He has always given good service, has always been ready to take a good share in the responsibilities of the community, and has been liberal


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in his support of local undertakings, in church and civic affairs. During the last decade he has taken prominent part among the bankers of Fulton county, being the president of the Pettisville Sav- ings Bank, of which he was one of the founders in 1909. He has been elected term after term as justice of the peace, until his record in that office embraces a period of twenty-five years. He must there- fore be a man of fair mind and impartial judgment. He has also served for many years on the Pettisville board of education. Politi- cally he is a republican, although he has never followed national politics with a view to political office; in fact he has never sought office, being quite sufficiently occupied by local affairs, and by the multitudinous affairs of his private business. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias Order, a member of the Wau- seon Lodge.


Thirty-five years ago, in 1885, he married Martha, the daughter of William and Nancy (Kritzer) Fraker, of Clinton township, Ful- ton county. To them have been born three children. Ralph W., who is now thirty-two years old, is a business partner with his father. George E., now twenty-nine years old, and also a partner on the firm of J. B. Meister and Sons, although in 1917-1919 he had no part in the affairs of the company, for he was during that period in national service. In fact he is now a veteran of the World war, and one with a creditable record of service. He was one of the early volunteers for military service, and sought the branch upon which the brunt of the fighting fell. He was a member of the Eighteenth Company, Fifth Regiment of Marines, Second Division, and was wounded at St. Mihiel. Later, he was with the Army of Occupation in German territory. The third child in the family is John B., Jr., who was born in 1900, and is attending Defiance College, Defiance, Ohio.


OTTO A. WALDVOGEL, a native of Archbold, Fulton county, Ohio, has had a successful business career, notwithstanding that he is yet scarcely into his thirties. He was for five years cashier of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Archbold, and later manager of the Auburndale branch of the Continental Trust and Savings Bank, and latterly has been president of the Acme Level and Manufacturing Company, a growing Archbold corporation he himself organized and is bringing into satisfactory and substantial establishment. He has shown much ability in responsible affairs, and is actuated by a commendable strength of character and logical optimism.


He was born in Archbold, Fulton county, Ohio, July 18, 1890, the son of John and Elizabeth (Mandley) Waldvogel. His educa- tion was obtained in the public schools of the borough, and after graduating from the Archbold High School he applied himself energetically to what seemed to him to be lucrative work. For about twelve months he was in independent business as a trucking con- tractor, but he was characteristically fitted for the higher spheres of executive business. After about one year at trucking he secured appointment as cashier of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Archbold, and for the next five years continued with that bank in that capacity. Then came a promotion as a banking official, he being placed in charge of the Auburndale branch of the Continental Trust and Savings Bank. About twelve months later he took up another interest, and after about another year he interested himself in the organization of the company with which he has since been identified. The Acme Level and Manufacturing Company, of which


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he lias been president since its inception, was organized with a capi- tal of $25,000 to manufacture chiefly spirit levels, although since its establishment its scope of trading has appreciably widened, and includes now a compreliensive line of hardware and many hardware specialties. The business is being ably managed, and is of good standing in the district. The men identified with it are of the type of Mr. Waldvogel, and there is every probability that its business will continue to expand, and that it will become one of the im- portant manufacturing concerns of the town of Archbold.


Otto A. Waldvogel is a republican in political affiliation, although he has not yet evinced an active interest in such movements, and certainly has shown no desire for public office. He is, nevertheless, a man of good public spirit, and has been a useful contributor to many local projects of public character. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge and Chapter. Religiously he is a Baptist, and sincere in church work, being a member of the Arch- bold church of that denomination.


In 1910 Mr. Waldvogel married Florence, daughter of John and Aurilla (Murphy) Reith, of Pettisville, Fulton county, Ohio. They have two children: Lowell H., who was born in 1911, and Lorene Elizabeth, born in 1917.


ERVIN FRANKLIN HEIST, of the enterprising firm of Heist and Hill of Wauseon, has been coming to the fore during recent years of good business in Wauseon and Fulton county. He and his part- ner have the agency for the Chevrolet car, and are developing a sub- stantial business in tires and auto accessories and supplies generally, and also have done an appreciable business in agricultural imple- inents.


Ervin F. Heist is the son of Franklin and Amanda (Fluck) Heist, and was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, in 1878. In 1880 the family moved to Henry county, Ohio. At the age of nine- teen years he left school, and from that time until he had reached his majority he worked on the home farm. Then he went to Fayette, Ohio, and entered commercial life, for almost four years working in a grocery at that place. For two years thereafter he was a clerk in a dry goods store at West Unity, after which for eight- een months he was connected with a clothing store at Montpelier. From there he went to Bryan, Ohio, where for more than four years he clerked in a local clothing store. In that eapacity he eventually found employment in Wauseon, soon afterward taking over the man- agement of the clothing department of the Wauseon store of C. E. Roseman and Company, with which company he remained con- nected for about a year. Then followed three years of independent business, in partnership with George J. Oakley, although in an entirely different business, the firm of Oakley and Heist handling agricultural implements. The partnership was successful, and at the end of three years Mr. Heist saw business advantage in accept- ing his partner's offer to purchase his interest. Soon after the dis- solution of partnership Mr. Heist joined with Mr. Hill in establish- ing the firm of Heist and Hill, with the object of entering into the automobile business. The partners built an adequate plant at 222 West Depot street, Wauseon, and having secured the Chevrolet car agency for Wauseon and Fulton county, and made provisions for a wide scope of service in automobile accessories and repairs, the partners entered energetically into the business. They are both live, active men, and soon brought good returns to the partnership.


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A substantial business has been developed in auto requirements, and they have satisfactorily handled a general agricultural implement business, and the future prospects are good for them.


Mr. Heist is a staunch democrat in national politics, and frater- nally is identified with the local branch of the Knights of Pythias Order. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have many friends in Wauseon. Mr. Heist was mar- ried in 1906 to Elsie, daughter of Albert Thomas. . One child, a son, has been born to them, Everett Duane, who was born in 1907, and now attends local school.


B. M. BORTON. Among the enterprising and successful business people of the City of Wauseon should be placed Mr. B. M. Borton, owner of the Wauseon Auto Garage formerly conducted by David Morningstar. Mr. Borton has a substantial business, being agent in Wauseon for the Dodge and Oldsmobile cars and the Republic truck, and also doing a satisfactorily business in general auto sup- plies, handling the Dodge commercial line.


He was born at the family homestead in Franklin township, Ful- ton county, Ohio, in 1881, the son of Samuel and Sarah (Riddle) Borton. He attended county schools until he was about seventeen years old, after which he assisted his father in the operation of the home farm for five years. Then for a while he farmed independently, having a property 100 acres in extent near Wauseon. He was, how- ever, a man of aggressive characteristics, and more suited to execu- tive or commercial occupations than for the more manual require- ments of farming. Eventually he decided to give up his farm. For a year thereafter he was in Adrian, Michigan, in clerical capacity in the offices of the Wabash Railway Company. Next he was in Spokane, State of Washington, and there for a year he found employ- ment as a salesman for a well-known seed house. He might have remained on the Pacific Coast had it not been for the illness of his father, which called him back to his native place. Thercafter he remained in his home state. He purchased a general store at Elmira, Fulton county, in 1908, operating it successfully for ten years. In 1918 he sold the store, in order that he might acquire the Wauseon Garage, owned by David Morningstar. Since that time he has lived in Wauseon, and has become well-known in the city among auto owners. His auto repairs and accessories trading is of wide scope. He handles the U. S., the U. S. Federal, Goodrich and Miller tires, and has an up-to-date tire repair department. With the Dodge agency for the city and three townships, and the agency for the Republic trucks and the Oldsmobile for Fulton county, Mr. Borton has control of a good business, and with his ability as a salesman he will probably know how to use it to good advantage.


He has made many friends since he has lived in Wauseon, and has shown an interest in the affairs of the city. He is a republican in politics, but in his busy life has not had the time to take active part in political matters. He belongs to the Church of Christ, and is generous in support of many activities of the community.


In Spokane, Washington, in 1907, he married Katherine E., daughter of George Becker, of Manchester, Michigan, Mr. Borton having met her when he was at Adrian, in the employ of the Wabash Railway Company. They have three children : Samuel B., who was born in 1908, Bernice Otillo and Marie Dorothy.


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HARLEY S. HILL, partner in the Wauseon firm of Heist and Hill, the business of which covers a wide scope in agricultural imple- ments, embraces auto sales and has a good place among the ener- getic business men of Wauscon. He is a man of good business abil- ity, for many years was in the federal civil service, and since he has been in Wauseon has had good business success.


He was born on a farm in Madison county, New York, in 1879, the son of M. M. and Clarinda (Hyatt) Hill. His genealogy con- nects with good English and Dutch houses, and he received his ele- mentary education in the district school nearest to his father's farm in New York state. Later he took the course at the well-known old Methodist Seminary, Cazenovia, in New York state. Still later, hav- ing decided to enter commercial life, Harley Hill took a business course at the Bryant and Stratton Business College, Buffalo, New York. Entering upon a business career, he for about six months worked in the Buffalo railroad office of the Pere Marquette, after which he was for a short time a clerk in the Cincinnati, Hamilton, and Dayton Railway Company's freight office at Toledo, Ohio. He left the employ of the railway company to enter the Federal civil service. He secured appointment by competitive examination in the civilian personnel of the War Department at Washington, District of Columbia, taking clerical capacity in the office of the quartermaster general. He remained attached to the War Department for about eighteen months, then being transferred to the Postoffice Department and assigned as clerk at Detroit, in which city he remained as a civil servant for three years. In 1912 he came to Wauseon and formed business association with Ervin Heist, the two, as partners, entering into business in the city and district as agricultural implement dealers, under the trading name of Heist and Hill, which name has since become so widely known throughout Fulton county. They established their business in the Old Armory Building at Wauseon, and that has ever since been their business address. Their business embraces the Fulton county agencies for the International Har- vester line of implements and farm requisites, for the specialties of the John Deere Plow Company, and the New Idea Spreader Com- pany. and they have the agencies for two good makes of automobiles, the Chevrolet and the Grant. The sales rooms of the partners cover the space of a new building. 50 by 150 feet, and there is every evi- dence that a good volume of business is done. The partners stand in enviable repute locally, and Mr. Hill has shown a generous inter- est in projects of consequence to the city, or to some phase of its activities. Politically he is a republican, attends the Baptist Church, and is a consistent supporter of the local church. Generally he has shown himself to be among the representative, responsible citizens of Wauseon, ready to take his share of the responsibilities of com- munal life.


In 1909 he married Nellie B., daughter of H. L. and Adelaide (Beech) Moseley, of Wauseon. They have one child, a son, Mau- rice M .. who was born in 1914.




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