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 23

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 23


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MICHAEL R. HILL, who for many years has had business connection with Wauseon people as a plumbing and heating contractor, has had an interesting career. He is a veteran of the Civil war, was wounded, and fell into the hands of the Con-


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federate forces, remaining a prisoner until March, 1865. He was a brick and tile maker for about twenty years, was a well drilling contractor for some time, was in the Government civil service for about six years, and latterly has been in the plumbing and steamfitting business in Wauseon, for a while in association with his son, Earl H. Hill. Throughout his life he has been a respon- sible citizen, and one who gave his best efforts to his country in the years of national stress.


He was born at the family homestead in Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1847, the son of Henry and Margaret B. (Fansler) Hill. He is of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and his father was one of the early farmers in that section of Ohio. His father died when his son was only six years old, and the family was in straightened circumstances. Evenl as a boy he was compelled to rely upon his own efforts, mainly, for his sustenance. It was his custom to take employment of farming character during the summer months and attend school during the winter terms. In that way he managed to keep himself from over- burdening his mother, and at the same time secure an elementary school course. He attended country schools in Wyandotte and Craw- ford counties, and was still scarcely in his teens when the Civil war began. When he was sixteen years old he enlisted in the Union forces, becoming, in February, 1864, a member of the Fifteenth Ohio Infantry, joining that unit at Mansfield, Ohio. As part of the Western Army, under General George H. Thomas, the regiment participated in the Atlantic campaign of 1864, young Hill being wounded and captured during the fighting in Georgia. He was taken prisoner at Dallas, Georgia, and incarcerated in Andersonville Prison. where he remained until December, 1864, when he was sent with other prisoners to Milan Prison at Atlanta, Georgia, later being transferred to the Florence, South Carolina, Prison, where he re- mained a prisoner until March 1, 1865, when order came for his release. He was turned over to the United States Government forces at Wilmington, North Carolina. After a thirty-day furlough Mr. Hill was sent to Texas to serve with the Fourth Army Corps, then doing patrol duty on the Mexican border. There he remained until December, 1865, when he was mustered out at San Antonio, Texas. Returning home. to Shelby, Ohio, he took up farming operations again, and steadily followed such work until he was twenty-eight years old, when he engaged in brick and tile making at Wauseon. For twenty years he followed that occupation in Wauseon, Toledo and other places. In 1895 he was in business for himself in Fulton county, Ohio, as a well-drilling contractor. Later he secured ap- pointment as mail carrier. under the administration of Postmaster Harrison. He was in the Federal service in that capacity for more than six years, poor health then compelling him to cease such work. He then became associated in business with his son, Earl H., who was at that time in good business in Wauseon as a plumbing and heating contractor. The father acted as manager, and when the son gave up the active part in the business in order that he might take the appointment offered him, that of superintendent of the Wauseon plant of the Van Camp Packing Company, which responsibility Earl H. Hill still has, the father took over the whole control of the plumbing and heating business, and has since conducted it, much to his advantage, having a good city and country trade. This brings Mr. Hill's life story up to the present and records a worth-while life, one of steady industry and of courageous national service. He has many life-long friends in the Grand Army of the Republic circles,


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being an honored member of Lozier Post. In politics he has been staunchly a republican since his early voting years. He married Mary A., daughter of Christian Barth, and they had four children, only one of whom is still living, their son Earl H., who has been previously mentioned herein.


JACOB FRANK HAAS. There is no nobler occupation than that connected with the development of a farm and production of food- stuffs. Hitherto the farmers have not been fully appreciated, but now, with the world depending upon them for existence, they are accorded the credit that has always been theirs and the respect and consideration to which they are certainly entitled. One of these farmers of the younger generation, who has been wise enough to remain on the farm and enjoy its independent life, is Jacob Frank Haas, of Clinton township, operator of his father's farm of eighty acres of valuable land.


Jacob Frank Haas was born in German township, Fulton coun- ty, in 1894, a son of Conrad and Katherine (Steinbrecher) Haas. When he was twenty-four years old Conrad Haas came to the United States from Russia and located in German township, Fulton county, but he is now retired. He and his wife have five children, of whom Jacob Frank Haas is the second in order of birth.


The boyhood of Jacob F. Haas was spent, as is the custom among the youths of Fulton county, in the rural districts, in attending the country schools in the winters and in working on the farm in the summers. After reaching his majority he began working his fath- er's farm, but his operations were interrupted by his period of serv- ice in the United States army during the late war. He was called into the service under the Selective Draft on July 23, 1918, and was sent to Camp Jackson, South Carolina, until on August 16, 1918, when he was transferred to Camp Stewart, Newport News, Virginia, and became a member of the Fifteenth Replacement Troops. On August 21st of that same year he was sent overseas to France, ar- riving at Brest, France, on September 3, 1918, and from there was taken to a rest camp. On September 10th he was taken to Camp Hunt, near Bordeaux, and then on October 9th, was assigned to Company L, Three Hundred and Thirteenth Infantry, Seventy- ninth Division. This company went into action at Verdun. As a part of this command Mr. Haas was in the offensive of the Argonne Forest and the succeeding campaigns of his regiment until the sign- ing of the Armistice put an end to these hostilities. During the campaign of the Argonne Forest Mr. Haas was one of those holding the front line in reserve, and in spite of his exposed location was not injured. He left Saint Nazaire, France, for the United States on May 18, 1919, and landed in Newport News, Virginia, on May 29th, whence he was sent to Camp Stewart, where he was kept until June 2d. On that date he was sent to Camp Hill, Virginia, and kept until June 8th. He was honorably discharged from Camp Sher- man, Ohio, on June 12, 1919, and returned to the farm.


Mr. Haas was married to Ola May Hicks, a daughter of Harry and Fannie (Porter) Hicks, of Dover township, the ceremony taking place on January 3, 1918. Mr. Haas is a republican. The Luth- eran Church holds his membership. Although yet a very young man, Mr. Haas has had experiences of life which make him appre- ciate the good government, fine living conditions and freedom of the people of his own land, especially in the rural districts, and having seen other lands and their people, he is very well content to be an American and proud of his country and his calling.


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EARL H. HILL. Possessing to a marked degree industry, finan- cial sense and business capacity, a group of able men have developed so important and necessary an industry that the whole nation has beeome interested, and the genius of these men is still exerted in securing the services of first-class men to hold their various positions. Possibly no canning industry in the world is better known than that operated under the name of Van Camp's, and the manager of the Wauseon branch of this great concern, and superintendent of the ma- chinery of its six plants, is Earl H. Hill, of this city.


Earl II. Hill was born at Napoleon, Ohio, on August 26, 1877, a son of Michael R. and Mary (Barth) Hill. He comes of Scotch- Irish stock, but the family on both sides of the house has been loeated in America for many years.


The boyhood of Earl H. Hill was spent in his native place, and he attended its seliools, completing the high school course. Enter- ing upon his business career, Mr. Hill engaged with Thomas Ceeil to learn the plumbing and steam fitting trades, and remained with him for five years, and then left Wauseon for Coldwater, Michigan, and spent a year there. Returning to Wauseon, he opened a shop of his own and conducted it until February, 1919, gaining a reputation for efficiency that was not confined to local territory, and which brought him to the attention of the Van Camp people, and he is now inanager of the Wauseon plant with ninety persons under his super- vision, and has charge of the valuable machinery in the plants at two points in Wisconsin, two in Ohio, one in Michigan and one in Illinois, and few men connected with this great enterprise are held in higher regard for their abilities than he.


Mr. Hill was married in 1902 to Grace Isabel Cooper, a daughter of Henry and Jane (Shufelt) Cooper, of Waterville, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have no children. While he votes the straight republican ticket, Mr. Hill has not had the time to go into politics very thor- oughly and so has never eome before the public for consideration as a candidate for office, but judging by his personal following if he cared to do so he would poll a good vote. Aside from belonging to the Knights of Pythias, Mr. Hill has not formed fraternal affilia- tions, his spare time being spent in his home. The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Wauseon holds his membership, and he and Mrs. Hill take an active part in its good work. Enterprising and capable, Mr. Hill has gone right ahead doing what he felt was his duty, shirking no added responsibility, and his present success has been honorably gained and is most certainly deserved. It would be difficult to find a man more highly esteemed by his fellow townsmen than he, and he is deeply interested in the progress of Wauseon, where practically all of his business life has been spent, and where his present congenial occupation keeps him in close touch with in- dustrial affairs.


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GEORGE E. GORSUCH, clerk of the courts at Wauseon, is one of the very representative men of Fulton county, and a man known over this section of the state as one in whom the people place the most implieit confidence. Although in the very prime of young manhood, he has already attained to considerable sueeess, and, judg- ing his future by his past, will doubtless go far before his race is run.


George E. Gorsuch was born at Waverly, Kansas, on September 8, 1882, a son of Thomas E. and Mary C. (Kahoe) Gorsuch, of Penn- sylvania Dutch and Trish stoek. and inheriting the solid traits of the


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one people and the brilliancy of the other, a combination which has worked out for good results in the case of Mr. Gorsuch.


When he was five years old his parents eame to Wauseon from Kansas, and he was reared in Fulton county, acquiring a public school education here, which ineluded the high school course, from which he was graduated in 1902. Mr. Gorsuch then entered the employ of Nicholas Freppel, a baker, and remained with him for three years, learning the trade, but, not earing to pursue it, he began writing fire insurance, representing fourteen reliable companies handling city and farm risks for five years, with his office at Wau- seon, and being so successful that he was able at the expiration of that period to establish himself in a bakery of his own, and conducted it for seven years.


Always a staunch republican, he was the successful nominee of his party for the office of Clinton Township clerk on several occasions, and held it from 1906 to 1912, inclusively. His record in this office was of such a nature as to redound to his credit, and he was the logical eandidate of his party for the office of elerk of the courts in November, 1918, and was elected by a gratifying majority. Having disposed of his bakery at a good price, he now gives all of his atten- tion to the duties of his office ..


In 1906 Mr. Garsueh was united in marriage with Nellie Ben- nett, a daughter of Abraham S. and Abigail (Hebble) Bennett, of Pettisville. Mr. and Mrs. Gorsuch adopted a ehild, Berdello M., who was born in 1898, and died in 1918. They also became the parents of two children: Arthur Bennett, who was born in 1907, and How- ard E., who died in 1909, aged six months. Mr. Gorsuch is a Mason, belonging to Wauseon Lodge No. 349, Free and Aeeepted Masons, and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. For some years he has been a consistent member of the Christian Church, to which he is a generous contributor. Public-spirited to a marked degree, Mr. Gorsuch is accounted one of the men of dependability in the eity and county, and his popularity with all classes is unquestioned.


THADDEUS O. LINDLEY. In such men as Thaddeus O. Lindley, a successful farmer of Clinton Township, Fulton county, there is peculiar satisfaction in offering their life histories-justifieation for the compilation of works of this eharacter-not that their lives have been such as to gain them particularly wide notoriety or the admir- ing plaudits of men, but that they have been true to every obligation and have shown such attributes of character as entitle them to the regard of all who know them.


Thaddeus O. Lindley, whose splendid farm of 120 acres lies in Clinton Township, was born near Ridgeville, in the neighboring County of Henry, in 1866, and is the son of Josiah B. and Nancy (Durkee) Lindley. Through both lines of progenitors the subject inherits good old Scotch blood, his great-grandfather Durkee and two brothers having immigrated from Scotland to this country, set- tling in Vermont, where they became successful farmers. Thad- deus O. Lindley received his education in the common schools of Freedom Township, Henry county, which he attended until sixteen years of age. He was reared to the life of a farmer and remained with his father until twenty years of age, when, in 1886, at the time of his marriage, he bought land and went to farming on his own account. Sinee that time Mr. Lindley has owned and lived on many farms, his practiee having been to buy a farm, improve it and then sell it. In this plan of operations he has been uniformly suc- eessful and has thus handled a good many aeres of Fulton county


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farm land. At the present time he is the owner of 120 acres of land in Clinton township, comprising one of the best farms in that sec- tion of the county. He has exercised sound judgment in his work and has maintained his land in good condition, the general appear- ance of the place being attractive to the passer-by.


In 1886 Mr. Lindley was married to Cora J. Robinson, the daughter of Lorenzo and Cordelia (Bates) Robinson, and to their union have been born six children, three sons and three daughters, of which number one son died at the age of eight years.


Politically Mr. Lindley is an earnest supporter of the republican party, though he does not take an active part in public affairs. How- ever, he is intelligently interested in the welfare of the community in which he lives and consistently supports every worthy movement for the material, civic or moral advancement of the locality. Be- cause of his earnest qualities of character and his business success, he is numbered among the representative citizens of his community and enjoys the esteem of all who know him.


ALBERT ZIMMERMAN. If it were not for the capability and energy of the agricultural class the whole world would go hungry, especially now when foreign countries are clamoring for American foodstuffs. It is the farmers who are feeding the world, and all honor should be given the men who are willing to work as they have to in order to get even a fair profit upon their investment of money and time. One of the men who is conducting his fertile eighty-acre farm in Clinton township both profitably and according to modern methods is Albert Zimmerman.


Albert Zimmerman was born in German township, Fulton county, in 1865, a son of Jacob and Anna (Miller) Zimmerman, farming people. Until he attained his majority Albert Zimmerman alternated attendance at the country schools during the winter with working on his father's farm in the summer, and in this way acquired a practical knowledge of what was to be his life work while he was gaining an educational training.


In 1889 Mr. Zimmerman was united in marriage with Anna S. Leu, a daughter of George and Salome (Wanner) Leu of Franklin township, Fulton county. Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman have two chil- dren, namely : Minnie, who is now Mrs. E. W. Sturdevant, of Toledo, Ohio and George A., who is also a resident of Toledo, Ohio.


Following his marriage Mr. Zimmerman rented eighty acres of land and conducted it until 1913, working very hard to accumulate a sufficient amount of money to buy a farm of his own, which he did in that year. it being his present one. Since moving on it he has been engaged in doing general farming and making improve- ments, and now has a comfortable home. His neat buildings, well- kept fences, sleek stock and modern machinery proclaim his pros- perity and skill louder than any words. This has not been brought about without a great deal of hard labor and many sacrifices, but he feels that the results are worth the exertion.


Being a very intelligent man, Mr. Zimmerman has always felt that he ought to choose his own candidates and not be hidebound with reference to their party affiliations. The man, in his opinion, is the essential qualification, not his party, and he votes accordingly. Having worked hard for his money, and thriftily saved it, Mr. Zim- merman is not in favor of a lavish and extravagant expenditure of public funds, although he does believe in proper development and improvement brought about without undue strain. Sound, con-


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servative and reliable, Mr. Zimmerman stands as one of the best types of the successful agriculturists of Fulton county, and his community is proud of him.


HEIRO ALAKAI FAUVER. A man who boldly faces the responsi- bilities of life and by determined and untiring energy carves out for himself an honorable success exerts a strong influence upon the lives of those who come into contact with him. Such men form the founda- tion of our republican institutions and are the pride of our civiliza- tion. To them life is so real that they find no time for either vice or idleness. Their lives are bound up in their duties and they feel the weight of their citizenship. Such has been the career of the gentleman whose name forms the caption to this paragraph, one of the best known men in local agricultural circles and, owing to his genial disposition and openheartedness, one of the most popular.


Heiro A. Fauver, who owns and operates a fine farm of eighty-one acres in Clinton Township, was born in Lorain county, Ohio, in 1845, and is the son of Walter and Alzina (Cornell) Fauver through whom he inherited sterling old German and French blood. The parents were farming folk in Lorain county, in connection with which they also raised stock, and they were numbered among the successful and respected residents of that county. The subject was reared under the parental roof and secured his educational training in the common schools of Lorain county, then entering Berea Academy at the age of fifteen years and remaining there 11/2 years. At the age of eighteen years he began his independent career, gaining employment as a farm hand in the neighborhood of his home. He was so employed for about a year and a half, when he moved to Henry county, where he remained for three years, at the end of that time returning home and working for his father for a time. He then went to Defiance county, Ohio, where he engaged in farming on a tract of about two thousand acres, which engaged his attention for about 21/2 years. His next move was to Ridgeville, Henry county, Ohio, where he bought a small farm of forty acres, to the operation of which he devoted his attention until 1904, when he removed to his present fine farm of eighty-one acres in Clinton Township. Here he carries on general farming, raising all the crops common to this section of the country, and has so ordered his affairs that he has been splendidly successful in his operations. The place is well improved with substantial and attractive buildings, the general appearance of the farm indicating the owner to be a man of excellent judgment and sound discrimina- tion.


Mr. Fauver has been married twice, first to Mary Dowd, of Henry county, Ohio, in 1865. She died on April 5, 1868, without issue, and in 1872 he was married to Jennie Beckham, the daughter of William and Hannah Beckham, also of Henry county. To this union have been born four children, three of whom are living.


Politically Mr. Fauver gives his support to the republican party, and has given intelligent attention to local public affairs. He has been honored by his fellow citizens by election to several of the town- ship offices and discharged his official duties to the entire satisfaction of the community. He has been specially interested in educational affairs and has consistently given his support to every movement looking to the material, educational and moral advancement of the community in which he lives. His religious affiliation is with the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he gives liberal support. He has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and by close application


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he has established those habits of industry and frugality which have insured his success in later years. Because of his success and his fine personal qualities he enjoys to a marked degree the confidence and esteem of all who know him.


DANIEL CLINGAMAN. That the plentitude of satiety is seldom attained in the affairs of life is to be considered a most beneficial deprivation, for where ambition is satisfied and every ultimate end realized, apathy must follow, effort would eease and creative talent waste its energies in inactivity. The men who have pushed forward the wheels of progress have been those to whom satisfaction lies ever in the future, who have labored continuously, always finding in each transition stage an incentive for further effort. Daniel Clingaman, who earrics on general farming operations in Clinton township, Ful- ton county, is one whose well direeted efforts have gained for him a position of desired prominence in the community, and his energy and enterprise have been erowned with sueeess. Thus, having ever had the interests of his eounty at heart and seeking to promote them in every way possible, he has well earned a place along with his enterprising fellow eitizens in the permanent history of his county.


Daniel Clingaman is a native son of the old Buckeye State. having been born in Seneca county, Ohio, in 1846, and is the son of William and Rebecea (Kleckner) Clingaman, who were of sterling old Ger- man stoek, though the families had been represented in America for many generations and had been conspicuous for their industry, integrity and loyalty. They had mostly followed the vocations of farming and mechanics. Daniel Clingaman accompanied his parents on their removal to Fulton county when he was about six years of age, and in the country schools of this county he received his eduea- tional training, attending the winter terms of schools until his seven- teenth year. In March, 1865, when his country was bending its final effort to crush the great southern rebellion, he enlisted as a private in Company D, One Hundred and Ninety-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he took part in the final cam- paigns in Virginia, seeing some very active and strenuous serviee. He was honorably discharged on December 18, 1865, and, returning home, was employed at farm work on the farms of the neighborhood of his home, being so employed for about three years in Clinton Town- ship. He then located in Tedrow and engaged in the blacksmith business, in which he was successful and which engaged his attention for about seventeen years. At the end of that time he sold his shop and bought 120 aeres of land in Clinton Township, comprising his present location, though he has since sold forty acres of his original holdings and then bought fifteen acres, his present farm comprising ninety-five aeres of as fine land as can be found in the locality. Here he conducts general farming and. through the exercise of sound common sense and excellent discrimination, he has been successful to a gratifying degree, being now numbered among the prosperous and enterprising agriculturists of Clinton Township.




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