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 48
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76
Harry Brooks Mack now owns Fairmont Farm, the old Mack homestead of pioneer days in Fulton county. He is a grandson of the woman who immigrated from Ireland and bears her name as well as the Mack family name. On March 23, 1904, he married Florence LaVerne Haley. She is a daughter of John Rutter and Elizabeth (Roos) Haley. She was born in Chesterfield. The Ha- ley grandparents were John and Sarah (Rutter) Haley. He was from Holmes county, Ohio, and John R. Haley, father of Mrs. Mack, was born there. The grandmother was born in Pennsyl- vania, but the mother was born in Chesterfield. The maternal grandfather, John Philip Roos, was born at Red Hook, New York, and he is descended from Dr. John Philip Burchard Roos, who joined Washington's army in the Revolutionary war. They are of Hessian descent. The grandmother, Emily (Noblis) Roos, was born at Warsaw, New York, but her parents came early to Chester- field.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Mack are: Agnes Elizabeth, May 5, 1906; Harry Haley, March 3, 1909; and Nor- man Brooks, July 26, 1915. The family are members of the Chris- tian Church. Fairmont Farm is one of the oldest family home- steads in Fulton county.
The farm comprises eighty-three acres, is practically all under cultivation, and its improvements easily identify it among the bet- ter country homes of the county. To a large degree the success of this modern farm has been due to the intelligent efforts put forth by Harry B. Mack, who in his own character worthily upholds the record of this honored pioneer name in Fulton county.
FRANCIS JEROME HOYT. Having spent his life in Swan Creek Township, Francis Jerome Hoyt, one of the progressive farmers of Fulton county, naturally is much interested in this region and an active factor in promoting its welfare. He was born in Swan Creek Township on January 18, 1856, a son of Charles and Amelia (Mc- Cullough) Hoyt, he born near Batavia, New York, and she in Sandusky county, Ohio. In 1844 Charles Hoyt came to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, with his parents, but later left them and settled on the Maumee River in Lucas county. Following his marriage he spent a few years in Henry county, and then bought eighty acres of wild timber land in Swan Creek Township, Fulton county, which he cleared off, improved and resided upon until his death, which occurred on March 16, 1889. His wife passed away in 1875, hav- ing borne him the following children: Marietta, who is Mrs. John Alonza King of Weston, Ohio; Ruth Alice, who is Mrs. Eugene Kane, of Toledo, Ohio; and Francis Jerome, who is the youngest. Charles Hoyt had a daughter by a previous marriage, who is Jane, Mrs. Robert Wood, of Wood county, Ohio.
Francis J. Hoyt was married to Isabella Hulet, a daughter of Edward and Rachel (Lindley) Hulet, born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio. Mr. Hulet was born at Brunswick, Medina county, Ohio. In
345
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY
1860 the Hulet family moved to Swan Creek Township, Fulton county, and Mr. Hulet bought ninety acres of land in section 9. This land was covered with timber, and Mr. Hulet worked hard to clear it off until his death, which occurred on February 14, 1873. His widow survived him until February 4, 1912. Mrs. Hoyt is the only child of her parents.
Following his marriage Mr. Hoyt moved on the old homestead of his father-in-law, and after the latter's death cared for Mrs. Hulet as long as she lived. Mr. Hoyt now owns 150 acres of land in his home place and two other tracts, one of twenty acres and the other of forty acres. He has 110 acres under cultivation, the rest being in woodland and pasture. Mr. Hoyt has always been a general farmer and stockraiser, and is recognized as one of the enterprising men in his line.
Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt became the parents of the following chil- dren: Charles Edward, who lives at Toledo, Ohio; Francis Leon, who is also at Toledo; Beulah Isabella, who is at home; and Ray- mond Harold, who died in infancy. While Mr. Hoyt's educational advantages were confined to those offered by the district schools of his neighborhood, Mrs. Hoyt attended Delta High School and the normal school at Medina, Ohio. In the faith of the United Breth- ren Mr. Hoyt finds expression for his religious views. He is a strong republican and has been elected on his party ticket to the offices of township trustee and school director, and held the former one for three years. In addition to making a success of his farming, Mr. Hoyt has also gained the respect and confidence of his neigh- borhood, and is recognized as an excellent type of the Ohio farmer and citizen in good standing. The name of the Hoyt farm home is Seven Oaks.
DANIEL LILLEY. Agriculture today continues as essential to peace as it was to war, and consequently now more than ever must the farmer receive due credit for what he has accomplished. Ful- ton county is producing some of the best agriculturists now, just as it has done in the past, and these men are making magnificent records for their section. One of these progressive citizens is Daniel Lilley, who is engaged in farming in York Township. He was born in Ontario, Canada, on March 24, 1871, a son of Hugh and Jane (Montgomery) Lilley, natives of Ireland and Ontario, Canada, re- spectively. The paternal grandfather, Hugh Lilley, died in Ireland, and the maternal grandparents, Frank and Jane Montgomery, were natives of the Emerald Isle.
When he was seventeen years old Hugh Lilley, the younger, came across the ocean to Canada and learned the trade of a mason, but later became a farmer. In 1874 he came to the United States, and located in York Township, Fulton county, Ohio, buying eighty acres of land that was very heavily covered with timber. He cleared off his land and placed it under cultivation, and there he died in 1911, his widow surviving him until 1916. Their children were as follows: Mary, who is Mrs. F. J. Shannon, of Michigan; Sarah, who was Mrs. Datin Roach, is deceased; Matilda, who is deceased; Rachel, who is Mrs. Fisk Brainard, of Alabama; Frank, who died at the age of three years; Anna, who is Mrs. Vernon Kesler, of Fulton county, Ohio; Daniel, whose name heads this review ; Jennie, who is the widow of David Mack, lives at Delta, Ohio; Hugh, who 's a resident of York Township; John, who is a resident of Toledo,
-
346
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY
Ohio; Bertha, who is Mrs. Frank Mack, of Pike Township; and Verna, who is Mrs. Burr Kesler, of York Township.
Danicl Lilley attended the district schools and remained at home until his marriage, which occurred on August 9, 1896 when he was united with Orpha Aummend, born in York Township, May 1, 1874, a daughter of Samuel G. and Martha (Misson) Aummend. For the year following his marriage Mr. Lilley lived on rented land in York Township, and then moved on the eighty-acre farm he owned in section 35 in the same township. This he improved and lived upon from 1898 until 1913, when he sold it and moved to Delta and spent a year. In the meanwhile he had bought the old homestead of his father, and in 1914 moved on it and it has since been his home. Here he is carrying on general farming and dairy- ing, keeping from six to twelve cows of the registered Holstein strain. Since coming here he has either rebuilt or replaced all the buildings and has everything in fine condition. Seventy acres of his land is under cultivation, the remainder being in pasture, and his farm is one of the best improved in the township.
Mr. and Mrs. Lilley became the parents of the following chil- dren : Howard, one of the veterans of the great war, was discharged from the navy during 1919, after a service of about cight months; and Marion, who is at home. Mrs. Lilley was given the advantage of attendance at the Wauseon Normal School and for eight terms taught in the district schools of Mahoning county prior to her mar- riage. She is one of the following family: Mrs. Oliver George, who lives in York Township; Flora, who was Mrs. George Bowers, is now deceased; Clark, who lives in Pike Township; Alpha, who is Mrs. Daniel Ringel of Huron county, Ohio; Thomas, who lives in York Township; Minnie, who died at the age of fifteen years; Mannie G., who lives in York Township; Dora, who is Mrs. Waldo Smith of Aurora, Illinois; Mrs. Lilley; Mabel, who is Mrs. Terry Tremain of York Township; and Harry, who died at the age of four years. Mr. Aummend, father of the above mentioned family, died in 1900, but his widow survives him and makes her home with her daughter Mrs. Oliver George.
Mr. Lilley is a democrat, but has no official record, his tastes leading him to keep out of politics. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias No. 199 of Delta, Ohio, and he has held the office of doorkeeper in that lodge. A hard worker, he has striven to do whatever he undertook well and to render an efficient service, and as a result he has acquired a fair competency and good stand- ing in his neighborhood.
DR. JAMES ALEXANDER CRAIG. While he now lives on a Fulton Township farm and devotes himself to pursuits agricultural, Dr. James Alexander Craig supplemented his common and high school education in Christian county, Illinois, with a medical edu- cation in Washington College of St. Louis. For a number of years he practiced medicine in Illinois.
Doctor Craig was born June 26, 1875, in Christian county, Illi- nois, and is a son of James and Narcissa (Rape) Craig. The father came from Glasgow, Scotland. The mother was a native of Sanga- mon county, Illinois. When James Craig was fourteen years old he came with a younger brother to Canada, but he soon crossed the boundary into the United States. He worked on farms in New York until he was twenty-one years old, when he went to Spring-
347
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY
field, Illinois, where he again worked on farms in Sangamon county. After the Civil war he removed to Christian county. He bought land there in 1867. He died there in 1918, his wife hav- ing died ten years before that time.
Their children were: William, of Christian county; Elizabeth Jane, widow of Robert Armitage, of Taylorsville, Illinois; Minnie Alice, wife of F. W. Kepper, of Jasper, Missouri; Ada and Ida, twins, deceased; Jacob, of Christian county ; and Dr. J. A. Craig, the youngest of the family. In August, 1897, he married Edith M. Aymer, of Christian county, a daughter of Thomas and Mary Ann (Beckingham) Aymer. They were from England.
Doctor Craig practiced medicine at Farmersville, Illinois, for five years, when he removed to Pawnee, Christian county. In 1916 he purchased a farm of 295 acres in Fulton Township and removed to Fulton county, Ohio. The Doctor laid aside his profession for the oldest occupation known to the sons of men-agriculture. Be- side general farming and livestock industry he gives special atten- tion to a fine Holstein dairy.
The children of Dr. and Mrs. Craig are: Jessie M., wife of George E. Kessler of Fulton, Arthur F., James A., Bonnie Marie, Robert E., Alice E., Aymer D., Bessie, Bernidie and Dorothy. The family are members of the Methodist Church. The Doctor votes the democratic ticket and while living in Illinois he served as a member of the Board of Education. His Masonic Lodge member- ship is in Pawnee, Illinois, Gerard Chapter.
While one of the newcomers in Fulton county, the community has welcomed a man of such progressive type as Doctor Craig ex- emplifies. He is a man of scholarship and education, well qualified for leadership in agriculture, and his opinion is naturally respected on many subjects affecting the interests of the community.
FRED LEWIS RICHARDS. The Richards family is one of the old- established ones of Ohio and Fulton county, and its representatives have long been associated with those industries which are connected with agricultural activities. One of the members of this family who has attained to a well-merited prosperity is Fred Lewis Rich- ards of Swan Creek Township. He was born in York Township this county on March 12, 1876, a son of Leander E. and Ida (Hol- born) Richards, natives of Indiana and Fulton county, Ohio, re- spectively. A sketch of Leander E. Richards and his wife appears elsewhere in this work.
Fred Lewis Richards attended the public schools in the several localities in which his parents' interests caused them to reside, and when he was seventeen years old he began working as a farm hand by the month, and was so engaged for a period of five years. On September 4, 1898, he was married to Ella Detwiler, born in Swan Creek Township, a daughter of Oliver and Mary (Teft) Detwiler, and they have three children, namely: Ophal May, Floy Oliver and Bertha, all of whom are at home.
Following his marriage Fred Lewis Richards bought thirty-two acres of land in section 30, which was all cleared, and he has been a farmer of Swan Creek Township ever since. He subsequently added twenty-five acres to his farm, which is also improved, and now has a very valuable property. The present buildings have all been erected by him and he has made other improvements to bring his farm up to modern standards. Here he is carrying on general
348
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY
farming and dairying, his herd numbering eight cows of the Hol- stein strain. Having spent all of his life in farming, Mr. Richards is thoroughly experienced and is not afraid to try new methods, for he recognizes the fact that something is constantly being brought to light. When he finds one which suits him and his work he adopts it. In this way he has brought his operations up to the highest degree of efficiency, and his land produces banner crops.
Owing to the fact that he has been so occupied with his farm- ing Mr. Richards has not carcd to enter public life, but, like his good father, he always votes the republican ticket and upholds the principles of his party. While not a member of any religious or- ganization, he attends the services of the Raker Universalist Church, and contributes toward its support. Having spent practically all of his life in Fulton county, he is naturally interested in its growth and development, and can be depended upon to back any movement which in his opinion will bring about these results.
ALFRED DE LA MARE has developed a valuable farm in Swan Creek Township, and is recognized as one of the representatives of the agricultural class in Fulton county. He was born on the Island of Guernsey in August, 1848, a son of John and Sophia (DeGaris) de La Mare, also natives of the Island of Guernsey, who came to the United States in 1861. After a short period spent in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, they came to Swan Creek Township, buying eighty acres of partly cleared and improved land, of which they later sold their son Alfred half, residing on the other half for some years. They then sold it and bought another forty-acre tract a half mile south of their original farm, and there Mrs. de La Mare died, follow- ing which Mr. de La Mare went to live with his son Alfred, and remained with him as long as he survived. His children were as follows: Sophia, who was Mrs. Manuel Cole, is deceased; Alfred; Louisa, who died in infancy ; and John, who died at the age of five years.
When he was twenty-one years of age Alfred de La Mare went to Cleveland, Ohio, and worked at gardening for one season and then drove a milk wagon for three years. He then returned to Swan Creek Township, to the forty acres of land he had bought from his father. This property was partly improved, but it had no build- ings and he had to erect all of them. He has kept four acres of the original timber land, but has the remainder under cultivation, and has added to his farm until he now has sixty acres on the west side of the road and thirty acres on the east, and his wife owned ten acres one mile north of their farm. This had an old mill dam on it for furnishing the water power to run the Raker mill. This small tract is also operated by Mr. de La Mare. He carries on general farming and keeps a good-sized dairy and breeds cattle, hogs, horses and sheep.
On November 25, 1875, Mr. de La Mare was united in marriage with Sarah Engleman, a daughter of John and Catherine (Smith) Engleman, born in Ohio. Mrs. de La Mare died on October 2, 1897, having borne her husband the following children: Sophia, who is Mrs. Royal Reighard, of Swan Creek Township; an unnamed son who died in infancy; and Ethel, who married Carl Watkins, now operating the home farm, while Mrs. Watkins keeps house for her father. Mr. de La Mare is a member of the Raker Union Church. He is a strong prohibitionist and rejoices in the passage and ratifica-
349
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY
tion of the Eighteenth Amendment. When he and his associates in this movement began their fight the general public had but little sympathy with them, never for a moment thinking that it would ultimately be successful. These early workers endured much in their efforts to educate the people with reference to the evils of the liquor traffic, and to them is due the credit for the great reform wave which has swept not only over this country, but is reaching out to include others, so that it is only a matter of time until the entire world will be "dry."
THOMAS JEFFERSON WAGGONER. The honored name he bears would suggest that Thomas Jefferson Waggoner of Swan Creek Township is affiliated with the democratic party. Mr. Waggoner was born in Washington Township, Henry county, February 2, 1858, and he is a son of John B. and Catharine (Kessler) Wag- goner. In early life he attended the district school, but hard work has always been part of his life history.
On November 3, 1879, Mr. Waggoner married Mary Alice Null, who is a daughter of George and Christina (Arnold) Null. For two years after his marriage he resided with his parents, then he bought forty acres of land, with fifteen acres partly cleared, and he at once cleared all of it but five acres retained for pasture. The rest of the land is under cultivation. All necessary farm buildings have been added, and later his father gave him another tract of forty acres. Later he bought thirty-nine acres only a short distance from it, and withal he has one of the good farms in Swan Creek Town- ship. On each tract there is a small amount of timber, and timber always adds to the value of farm land when the beauty is taken into consideration.
The children in the Waggoner family are: Nettie, the wife of Louis Hoffman, of Swan Creek; Myrtle Belle, wife of John Sweeny; James, who farms the home place; Alice, wife of Allen Worden, of Toledo; George, of Henry county; Jesse, of Minneapolis; Ethel, wife of Charles Detwiler, of Toledo; Pearl, wife of Floyd Baker, of Swan Creek; Harry, of Toledo; and Le Roy, of Toledo, who served in the Light Artillery in France in the World war.
It will be noted that Mr. Waggoner had a son in the World war. That is an additional service to one of the most patriotic families found in Fulton county. Mr. Waggoner's own father was a Civil war soldier, and his first American ancestor bore arms for the inde- pendence of this country in the War of the Revolution. While the family has done its part in the various wars of the nation, their sus- tained service has been equally notable in making homes and clear- ing lands in the middle west, and the farm and home of Mr. Wag- goner in Swan Creek Township is an impressive evidence of the sub- stantial character and industry of its owner.
ROY O. MERRILL, of Ai in Fulton county is yet a young man, having been born April 18, 1891, in Fulton Township, Fulton county. His father, Frank C. Merrill, was born near Ottokee, while the mother , Etta (Nobbs) Merrill, was born at Ai. They still reside in Fulton Township, Fulton county.
On March 7, 1914, Roy O. Merrill married Ruby Stillwell, of Adrian, Michigan. She is a daughter of Amos P. and Eva (Blair) Stillwell. After his marriage he resided on his father's farm two years, then bought sixty-five acres, and he has improved it with
350
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY
necessary buildings and fences. He has tiled a great deal and with a dairy in operation is increasing the soil fertility. He has twelve head of Holstein dairy cows.
Mr. Merrill has two sons, Marion Homer, who was born Feb- ruary 19, 1916, and Deane Louis, born January 18, 1920. Run- ning back the Merrill family tree, Frank C. Merrill is a son of Ozias and Jane (Vaughn) Merrill, the father having been born August 2, 1827, in Maine. The mother was born May 5, 1829, in Holmes county, Ohio. The next generation of Merrills was Levi and Lucy (Staple) Merrill.
It was in 1838 that the original Merrill family came by the Erie Canal to Buffalo and by a lake vessel to Toledo, and they soon settled where they have always lived in Fulton county. It was a wild part of the country when the Merrills came into it. They have witnessed the transformation.
It is known that Alexander and Rebecca (Jones) Vaughn, of the family ancestry, were natives of Holmes county, and that in 1834 they came into the limits of what is now Fulton county. Their son James Vaughn was the first white child born in Fulton Town- ship. They lived at Ai. Ozias Merrill conducted a general store in war times-Civil war. He served as auditor of Fulton county in its early history. He was engaged extensively in the real estate business for several years. His death occurred in 1903, while Mrs. Merrill had died seven years earlier. Their children were: Frank C .; Horace A., deceased; Eugene, of Wauseon; and Minnie, wife of William Biddle, of York Township.
Frank C. Merrill married Etta E. Nobbs March 22, 1882, and they located on a farm in Fulton Township. Her parents, James H. and Ann (Fetterman) Nobbs, had come from Pennsylvania. With the land they purchased and the land given them by Mr. and Mrs. Nobbs, the Merrills had 129 acres all under cultivation but twelve acres in timber and pasturc. Since 1917 Mr. Merrill has rented the land to his son. The children of the Merrills are : Herma, wife of William Walters, of Fulton Township; Clayton, of Fulton; Florence, wife of Dwight Hand, of Ypsilanti, Mchigan; Roy O. of this sketch; Lucy, wife of Clark Drennan, of Lucas county ; Koyrl, of Ypsilanti; and Mildred and Raymond. The members of the family have had common school educations, and the vote is with the republican party. Mr. Merrill has served as trustee of Fulton. He is a Mason in Swanton, and different members of the family be- long to the Grange.
WILLIAM H. WALTERS, of Fulton, was born August 9, 1880, in Dover. He is a son of O. O. and Ellen (Hoffmeyer) Walters, the parents both natives of York. For twelve years after his marriage O. O. Walters lived in Dover, but in 1882 he bought a farm in Ful- ton. There are 106 acres of the land and he cleared and improved it. He died there March 16, 1918. The wife still lives there. Their children were: Lulu, wife of Albert Greisinger, of Fulton; William H., who heads this review, and Etta, wife of Edson Harger, of Fulton.
On November 10, 1904, Mr. Walters married Herma Merrill, of Fulton, a daughter of Frank C. and Etta (Nobbs) Merrill. He had already rented a farm, but after marriage he removed to another at Ai, and for seven years he was a tenant, but in the spring of 1912 he bought forty acres where he lived five years, then rented it
351
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY
and returned to the farm owned by his mother. He is engaged in general farming and stockraising, with attention given to the dairy.
There is one daughter, Elnetta, born July 1, 1906. The family attend Union Church and Sunday School and Berry Grange, and they are members of the Ancient Order of Gleaners of Ai. Mr. Wal- ters is a republican, and since 1917 he has served as a member of the Fulton County Central Committee.
QUIMBY BATDORFF. While he is a native of York, Quimby Batdorff, of Fulton, is in the third generation from German an- cestry. He was born December 2, 1848, and is a son of Jonah and Elizabeth (Biddle) Batdorff. The mother was born in Holmes county. It was the grandparents, John and Betsey Batdorff, who came from Germany. The grandparents on the other side, Samuel and Elizabeth (Knight) Biddle, were from Pennsylvania.
Both families of the grandparents of Quimby Batdorff were early residents of Fulton county. For a few years Jonah and Eliza- beth Batdorff lived in York, where their oldest son was born, and then they lived in Clinton. Later she died in Michigan, and after some years he died in Fulton county. Their children were: Quimby, who enrolls the family; William, of Presque Isle county, Michigan ; Mary Ellen, wife of Marion Fashbaugh, of Clinton; Samantha, wife of Samuel Blair, of Ogemaw county, Michigan; and Hiram L., of Wauseon.
On Christmas Day, 1870, Quimby Batdorff married Maggie Mack, of Swan Creek. Her parents, William and Eliza (Brooks) Mack, were from Donegal, Ireland. For a time they lived on the Batdorff farm, then rented another in Fulton, where they lived eight years. When he bought an eighty acre farm Mr. Batdorff im- mediately put out an orchard, built fences and remodeled farm buildings. In 1868 he learned house painting, and for half a cen- tury that has been his principal business while a son looks after the farm requirements.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.