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 64
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
FRED A. BARBER. Fulton county has known and esteemed Fred A. Barber in many satisfactory relations for thirty years or more. In early life he emulated the success of his father as a teacher. For three terms he adjusted many difficult cases in the Probate Court, has been a prominent leader in the democratic party, and at present is enjoying an extensive practice as a lawyer.
Judge Barber was born near Baldwinsville, Onondaga county, New York, February 11, 1865, a son of Corydon Tappan and Louisa (Dye) Barber. His ancestry is notable since in the paternal line he is a descendent of Benjamin Franklin, while on the mater- nal side there was no less notable a figure than Elihu Yale, founder of Yale University.
Corydon Tappan Barber was long and favorably known in Ful- ton county. Born near Baldwinsville, New York, December 4, 1827, he took his family to Morenei, Michigan, in 1867. A man of real learning, he gave the greater part of his years to school work, teach- ing in Morenei until 1870, when he brought his family to Fulton county and settled near Fayette. For a number of years he was a teacher in the Fayette High School, but finally returned to Morenci, where he died. His record as a teacher comprised more than sixty terms, and prior to coming to Fulton county he was a sehool ex- aminer in Michigan. A strong democrat, he had much ability as a public speaker and was in demand for the public work of his party. He volunteered to serve the nation in the time of the Civil war, but was rejected.
He was twice married. September 25, 1847, at Plainville, New York, Mary Ann Everts became his bride. She was the mother of two children, Francis dying in infancy, while the surviving son, William, who died in 1890 at the age of forty-two, was during his last years prosecuting attorney of Gladwin county, Michigan, and achieved a notable position as a lawyer. Mrs. Mary Ann Barber died in 1851. February 10, 1853, Corydon T. Barber married Louisa Dye. To this union were born six children: Albert L .; Miles, deceased, who was the father of the present judge of Probate Court of Fulton county, A. M. Barber; Matilda, who married Delos Whaley, of Gorham Township; Corydon, who died in infancy; Fred A .; and Homer, of Phoenix, Arizona. The mother of these children died at the home of her son Homer in Seneca Township of Lenawee county, Michigan, July 14, 1905, at the age of seventy- seven, and was laid to rest in Oak Grove Cemetery at Morenci.
465
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY
Fred A. Barber was an infant when the family moved to Michi- gan and was five years of age when their home was established near Fayette. He attended the district schools to the age of twelve, and then for four years was a student in the Morenci High School. From there he entered the Fayette Normal University, taking three courses, teachers', scientific and business. At the age of twenty he took an additional year in the teachers' course at Adrian, Michigan. Judge Barber was a successful teacher for six years. Turning then to business pursuits, he became a hardware merchant at Fayette and Delta, and was prospered in this line of business for twelve years.
An official publication of the democratic party of Ohio in 1913 said: "Ever since he became of age Judge Barber has taken an active interest in promoting the success of the democratic party and Ful- ton county, but he is not partisan and his fair-mindedness on all public subjects adds strength and attracts support to his party. He has served on both the central and executive branches of the County Committee." That appreciation was well justified by his able or- ganization work and his service as a delegate to many states, con- gressional and judicial conventions. For years continuously he was a delegate to the senatorial conventions. His public record began with the office of clerk of Gorham Township, in which he served three terms, beginning in 1897. In 1905 he was elected judge of the Probate Court of Fulton county, and held that office for three terms. He was elected by increased majorities each time, and his third election was the more notable because the county was, at that time strongly republican.
While probate judge he took up the study of law and concen- trated his energies upon the subject after leaving office. In 1919 he attended a course of law lectures conducted by Judge Gusweiler at Cincinnati, and was successful in passing the Ohio bar examina- tions at Columbus the following December. His certificate of prac- tice is dated December 15, 1919. Since then he has been busied with a rapidly accumulating general practice, and opened his office in Wauseon.
Judge Barber is chief deputy of the County Board of Elections. During the World war his time and abilities were at the service of the various organizations supporting national and patriotic inter- ests, and he was actively identified with the Red Cross, Young Men's Christian Associatoin, War Chest, Liberty Loan committees and was a member of the Soldiers Legal Advisory Board. Judge Barber is a Mason, Odd Fellow and Knight of Pythias and a member of the Wauseon Methodist Church.
July 2, 1890, he married Carrie E. Cottrell, whose father, Gor- ham Cottrell, was one of the first settlers in Gorham Township. Judge and Mrs. Barber are deservedly proud of their two children. The son Harold G., who was educated in the Ohio State University and the University of Michigan, served in the World war and was one of General Pershing's guards at the army headquarters at Chau- mont, France. After returning to America he resumed his connec- tion with the Chevrolet Motor Company at Toledo. The daughter, Gertrude L., is a graduate of the Wauseon High School and is now taking musical instruction with Professor J. Charles Kunz of Toledo.
WILLIAM HENRY SEGRIST, a respected and successful farmer of York Township, Fulton county, Ohio, comes of a family which
466
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY
for almost seventy years has had connection with that township. William Henry Segrist was born there, has spent the whole of his life in the township, and during that period of sixty-four years has upon many occasions shown that he has been ready to assume his full share in the administrative responsibilities of the district. He has lived an upright, industrious, useful life, and his record in public office includes fifteen years as trustee, twelve years as school director and a period as supervisor of roads.
He was born in a log cabin in section 36 of York Township, Fulton county, Ohio, on January 10, 1856, the son of John Barn- hart and Christina (Lautenscheger) Segrist, of that township. The Segrist family is of German origin, but William Henry is in the third generation of the family to have had residence in America. His father, John B., was only eight years old when his grandfather brought the family from Germany to the United States, settling in Pennsylvania, where Christina Lautenscheger, mother of William Henry, also was born. John Barnhart Segrist was born on August 30, 1823, and died July 28, 1918, in his ninety-fifth year, for eighty-two of which he had residence in Ohio. John B. Segrist was quite young when his father died in Pennsylvania, and until he was eighteen years old he lived with his uncle in Philadelphia. He learned the butchering trade in that city, but when eighteen years old, in 1841, came into Ohio, locating at Mansfield, where for three years he worked at his trade. For about five years there- after he worked at his trade in the City of Toledo, Ohio, but in 1852, having prospered as an employe, he decided to take to farm- ing. With that object he came to York Township, Fulton county, in that year and purchased a tract of eighty acres, only five of which, however, had been cleared. In fact, John Barnhart Segrist may be placed among the pioneers of that section, for it was almost all virgin forest land when he came, whereas before his active life was over he owned over two hundred acres of good cleared land in the township. JIe took his original eighty-acre tract in almost its primitive state. On the five acres that had been cleared was a log cabin, in which four years later his son William Henry was born, but his property at that time included no other buildings. Grad- ually he cleared the land, adding the necessary buildings, and even- tually becoming possessed of a commodious, substantial residence. After putting the first eighty acres into good cultivation he pur- chased an adjoining tract of same acreage, and subsequently an- other adjacent tract of eighty acres. He was a man of strong per- sonality and much energy, and was well regarded in the township in which he lived for sixty-six years. His wife, Christina (Lauten- scheger), who was born in Pennsylvania, died in York Township, Fulton county, Ohio, in about 1867. They were the parents of six children, who, in order of birth, were: Amanda, who married George Yaney, and is now deceased; Mary Ann, who married Jonas Seymour. and now lives in California: William Henry, regarding whose life more will be written later herein; George, who died at the age of forty years; John E., also a resident in York Township; and Agnes, who married Samuel Ruppert, of Wauseon, Ohio, and died in about 1907.
William Henry Segrist. third child of John Barnhart and Chris- tina (Lautenscheger) Segrist, was educated in the public schools of York Township, and after leaving school assisted his father in the
467
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY
operation of the home farm until he was twenty-one years old, when he married. His wife, Mary Snyder, whom he married in Septem- ber, 1877. was the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Carrick) Snyder. She was born in Seneca county, Ohio. After marriage William Henry Segrist moved to an eighty-acre farm in section 34 of York Township. It was not in an advanced state of cultivation; in fact only twenty acres had been cleared, and upon it stood only an old house built by the original settler. Still William Henry Segrist had many of the commendable traits of his father, and he applied himself resolutely to the work of clearing the farm. For the first eleven years of his occupancy of the property he worked the land on shares, but at the end of that time he was able to buy the farm and make the necessary improvements. Practically all of the substantial buildings now standing on the property were built by him, including the homestead, a substantial frame structure con- taining ten spacious rooms, and the barns and granary. He has also acquired a further forty acres in section 3, south of York Township, and his farming has been generally successful. He has shown much enterprise, and has had good success in the raising of cattle, Hamp- shire hogs and draft horses. He maintains a small herd of Holstein milch cows, and grows most of his feed.
In public movements affecting the township Mr. Segrist has always been interested. Politically he is a democrat, although he has never sought national political office. In local affairs he has been ready to give time and assistance, and has always generously supported worthy local projects of educational, social or church bearing. He is a member of the Taylor Methodist Episcopal Church, and has held many offices. For fifteen years he was a trustee; he served as supervisor of roads for some time; and has been a member of the School Board of Directors for twelve years. His life has therefore been one of useful responsible industry and helpful public spirit.
William Henry and Mary (Snyder) Segrist are the parents of three children: Olive B., who married Clarence Sturdevant, of York Township, and has five children: Iva, now Mrs. Blain Gam- bel, Eva who married Richard Harding, Ethel, Emmet and Robert Wayne; Charles E., of York Township, married Bertha Bayes, and they have two children, Clifford and Alta; Howard, also of York Township, married Elitha Leist, and they have two children, Treva and Cora Belle. The family is generally well-liked in York Town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Segrist being hospitably inclined and they now live in Wauseon.
MCCLELLAN PONTIOUS. No person who has not passed through the experience of developing a farm has any conception of the amount of work entailed, nor of the discouragements which must be met and overcome. Once a farm is put in good order, however, especially when it is one in Fulton county, Ohio, the profits from operating it are of sufficient moment to make all the efforts worth while. One of the men who has the satisfaction of having made practically all of his improvements is McClellan Pontius of Pike Township. He was born in York Township, this county, on March 22, 1881, a son of William and Patience Pontius, natives of York Township, Fulton county, Ohio, and Holmes county, Ohio, respec- tively. Both survive and are living in York Township.
468
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY
Growing up in his native township Mcclellan Pontious not only acquired an educational training, but a practical one as well, and while he was assisting his father in conducting the farm, he was learning a business which was to be the one in which his efforts are directed. In September, 1902, Mr. Pontious was united in marriage with Clara Ledyard, born in Clinton Township, a daughter of Frank- lin and Ellen (Kimmer) Ledyard. After his marriage Mr. Pontious lived with his parents for six months, and then rented a York Town- ship farm for six months. He then bought eighty acres on sec- tion 6, Pike Township, which was only partly cultivated. This property had for its sole improvements the uprights standing for the house. With an energy which is characteristic of him, Mr. Pon- tious set right to work to get things in a proper shape. He erected a comfortable residence, big barn and other outbuildings, put up fences and placed tiling, and did everything to make his farm a paying investnient. Here he is carrying on a first-class general farm- ing and stockraising business, and his returns amply justify his wis- dom in making the outlay he has.
Mr. and Mrs. Pontious have the following children: Hazel Ber- nice, Hallie Geneva, Audry Ellen, Doris Isabel, Eugene Clifford and Clair Clayton. In politics Mr. Pontious is a republican, but aside from exercising his right of suffrage he has not taken mueh part in politics, the work of developing that farm of his taking just about all of his time and attention. He has found time, however, to join and participate in the work of the Gleaners of Dover Township, and is heartily in accord with the principles and policies of that organ- ization. Both he and Mrs. Pontious stand very high in the neigh- borhood and are recognized as young people of exceptional character, industrious and thrifty, excellent managers and fine citizens.
LEWIS CLIFFORD HALSEY. Some years ago the tendeney of the farm-bred boy was to leave the healthful influence of the rural dis- tricts and seek other opportunities in one or other of the large cities of the country. As a result some of the best men were lost to the farming industries and many who might have achieved notable success in the line of work for which they were fitted through in- heritance and training lost out in their life struggle. Fortunately there has been a reaction, and the majority of the young men are remaining on the farms, being convinced that from them they can not only earn a good living but also a competency that is liable to run into wealth, and at the same time they can maintain their own independence of thought and action. Such a representative of the younger generation of agriculturists is Lewis Clifford Halsey, of Swan Creek Township. He was born in Amboy Township, Fulton county, on December 29, 1890, a son of T. Jefferson and Ellen (Carter) Halsey, who are now residents of Delta, Ohio, and very estimable people.
In 1908 Lewis C. Halsey was united in marriage with Blanche Meyers, born at Colton, Ohio, a daughter of Henry and Theodosia (Soles) Meyers. Following his marriage Mr. Halsey resided on his father's homestead in Swan Creek Township where he had been reared for a period of two years, and then rented land for a year. He then located at Delta and worked at carpentering for a year. Mr. Halsey then went to Toledo, Ohio, and until November 7, 1918, was employed in carpenter work by the Overland Auto Company. In that year he returned to the farm of ninety acres owned by his
469
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY
father, and has since conducted it with remarkable success proving that in farming he has found his proper vocation. He keeps eight cows of the Holstein strain, and raises hogs and other livestock, and carries on general farming and dairying. Mr. and Mrs. Halsey have three children, namely: Florence, Vern and Meryl. While Mr. Halsey's educational training was limited to that afforded by the district schools, his wife went to the public schools of Colton, Ohio. They are consistent members of the Shiloh Union Church of their neighborhood. In politics Mr. Halsey is a republican, and he supports the candidate of his party at each election. His fra- ternal connections are with the Modern Woodmen of America, which he joined at Toledo, Ohio, and the Knights of the Maccabees of Colton, Ohio. Both, he and Mrs. Halsey are held in the highest respect in their township, and are the center of a pleasant circle of young married people.
LEANDER E. RICHARDS, one of the prosperous farmers of Swan Creek Township, is deserving of special mention in a work of this high class character because of his efforts directed toward the ad- vancement of the agricultural interests of Fulton county. He was born at Nankin, Ashland county, Ohio, on April 27, 1851, son of James Lewis and Margaret (Oberholtzer) Richards, natives of West Virginia and Germany, respectively. They were married in Ohio and moved to DeKalb county, Indiana, where they spent three years, and then went to Steuben county of that same state. They were residents of that county when the war between the states was de- clared, and he enlisted in the Union Army as a member of Com- pany A, One Hundred and Forty-second Indiana Volunteer In- fantry, and served during the last year of the war, receiving his honorable discharge at the close of the conflict. Returning to his farm, he resumed his peaceful occupations. A few years later he went to Fillmore county, Nebraska, took up a soldier's claim of 160 acres, and on it lived until his death, which occurred on February 9, 1892. His widow, who was born on October 15, 1827, survived him until March 15, 1907, when she, too, passed away. Their children were as follows: Milton and Caroline who are deceased ; Leander E., whose name heads this review; Ira Alton, who lives at Lorain, Ohio; and Artimitia, Byron, Angeline and Alma, all of whom are de- ceased; Josetta, who is Mrs. Davis, of Saint Joseph, Missouri; and Lewis, Margaret and Katie, who are all deceased.
When he was eighteen years old Leander E. Richards, at the time of his parents departure for Nebraska, began working for farmers, and was so engaged when he was married on January 13, 1875, to Ida Holborn, born in Henry county, Ohio, a daughter of Stephen and Martha (Chamberlin) Holborn, he was born in Wyandot county, Ohio, on January 1, 1827, and she at Seneca, Ohio, on July 20, 1832. He died on October 12, 1912, and she on December 3, 1865.
After his marriage Leander Richards rented land in Fulton county for four years, and then went to Nebraska, where he joined his father, but after three years in that state decided that he pre- ferred Ohio to the west, and returned to Fulton county, renting land in York Township for several years. He then bought eighty acres of woodland in Swan Creek Township, which he cleared and improved, and made it his home until 1915. In that year he bought thirty acres of land in Swan Creek Township, on which he is now living, renting his larger farm. Since coming to this farm he has
.
470
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY
erected the buildings now standing, and his place is in first class condition in every respect.
Mr. and Mrs. Richards became the parents of the following chil- dren: Fred Lewis, who is a fariner of Swan Creek Township, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mary, who is Mrs. John Murray, of Hot Springs, Arkansas; Archie Claude, who was born on November 3, 1880, died on September 20, 1910; Essie Pearl, who died in infancy; Virginia L., who lives at Unity, Ohio; and Martha Bell, who is Mrs. Clark Wagner, of Toledo, Ohio.
Mr. Richards has always been a friend to the public schools, as he obtained his own educational training in them, although when he attended them conditions were very different from what they are today. He is a very strong republican, but aside from exercising his right of suffrage he does not participate in politics. The Chris- tian Union Church holds his membership and benefits from his con- tributions. In every respect Mr. Richards measures up to the best standards of American manhood, and no man stands any higher in his home neighborhood than he.
REV. HENRY P. WAECHTER. The zealous and energetic pastor of the Church of St. Mary's Assumption at Caraghar, Ohio, is the son of Frank and Mary Waechter (nee Hydinger).
His grandparents were George and Mary Waechter, and were natives of Alsace-Lorraine, that famous strip of country that has been the scene of so many wars, and figured so prominently in many peace treaties of Europe.
They came to America as early as 1828 and settled at Rochester, New York. In 1852 they moved to New Washington, Crawford county, Ohio, where the family has resided ever since. They were among the early settlers in this country, and put up with all the hardships of pioneer days.
The Rev. Henry Waechter is the youngest of a family of seven children, and was born September 2, 1880, at New Washington, Ohio. He attended St. Bernard's parochial school there, and in September, 1897, he entered St. Joseph's College, Rensselaer, In- diana. The following year he entered Holy Ghost College, Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, where he remained two years. In 1900 he entered St. Francis Preparatory Seminary at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. where he also completed his classical education. In September of 1902 he entered St. Mary's Seminary at Cleveland, Ohio, where he studied philosophy and theology for six years. Having successfully completed his course of studies, he was ordained for the diocese of Cleveland June 13, 1908, by Bishop Koudelka in St. John's Cathe- dral, Cleveland, Ohio.
His first appointment was assistant at St. Joseph's Church, Fre- mont, Ohio, when the parish was busily engaged in building the large and monumental parochial school there.
On February 10, 1909, he was appointed pastor of St. Mary's parish at Van Wert, with Spencerville and Convoy as missions. He was the only Catholic priest in the whole county, while Spencerville was twenty-three miles away on another railroad. The number of Catholics at all three places was very small, so Father Waechter en- countered many incidences that are peculiar to pioneer days.
When the diocese of Toledo was created out of the northwestern part of Ohio in 1910 Father Waechter automatically became a member of the new diocese.
471
HISTORY OF FULTON COUNTY
After a successful pastorate lasting nearly four years at Van Wert and missions, he was appointed the first resident pastor of St. Joseph's Church, Blakeslee, Ohio. He entered upon his new field of labor October 15, 1912, with great zeal and energy. He built there a splendid and commodious parochial residence that ranks with the best of any parish of similar size and circumstances. While fulfilling his charge at Blakeslee he also organized Sacred Heart parish at Montpelier, Ohio, and in 1913 he built the first Catholic Church there, which place he attended ever afterwards as a mission. When the large and prosperous parish of St. Mary's Assumption at Caraghar, became vacant on August 1, 1917, Father Waechter was chosen by Bishop Schrembs to fill the vacancy there. The parish had just finished building a large parochial school, so Father Waechter found his new parish indebted to the extent of $15,000. He at once set about to pay off the indebtedness of the parish. So successful was he in this matter that in two years time the whole debt was paid, much to the joy and surprise of the whole parish.
Father Waechter is possessed of great tact and prudence, which is greatly the cause of the splendid success that he has everywhere met. He is a pleasing speaker, and conscientious in fulfilling the duties of his office. His kind and sympathetic nature, his easy and approachable manner, his unassuming ways have always and every- where won for him the love and esteem of his people.
JACOB F. PERKINS. The Perkins family of which Jacob F. Per- kins of Swan Creek is a representative is English, the parents and four children coming to the United States in 1853 and locating in Wayne county, Ohio. In February, 1870, J. E. Perkins was born in Wayne county. He is a son of Williamn and Elizabeth (Burr) Perkins.
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.