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 73
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Mr. Leininger is an independent democrat in politics, and he has followed local affairs quite closely. He was township trustee in Henry county for more than seven years, until he resigned the office and for eight years he has held like capacity in German Town- ship in Fulton county. Religiously he is a Lutheran, member of the local German Lutheran Church and a good supporter thereof.
In 1883 William A. Leininger married Katherine Broadbeck, daughter of John and Barbry Broadbeck, who owned a farm ad- joining that of his father in German Township. They have had six children, all of whom they have reared to manhood and womanhood. Five of their children are sons, the six children in order of birth being: Emile J. F., who is now thirty-four years old; Edward A., now thirty-two years old; Joseph G., thirty years of age; Gustave Franklin, twenty-two years of age, who is now a veteran of the World war, having remained in active service for eight months. He was not destined to sec service overseas, but rendered loyal service under the less attractive home conditions. From Wauseon he was sent to Camp Sherman, where for eight months he remained as a member of the Thirtieth Company, Eighth Training Battalion, One Hundred and Fifty-eighth Depot Brigade, subsequently being trans- ferred, in the grade of corporal, to the Motor Transport Corps, which branch of the service was kept constantly at work after the de- mobilization of the greater part of the troops in home camps. How- ever, on May 5, 1919, Corp. Gustave Franklin Leininger received honorable discharge from service. William A., Jr., is the youngest son of Mr. Leininger. The daughter, Clara, twenty, married Clar- ence Rice, of Ridgeville Township, Henry county, Ohio.
JACOB C. LEU. Although now living retired at Elmira, Jacob C. Leu has been very prominently identified with agricultural activities in Fulton county, and still retains valuable farm lands in this re- gion. He was born on a farm three miles east of Elmira on April 29, 1867, a son of Bernhardt and Anna (Wanner) Leu.
While still a young man Bernhardt Leu left Switzerland, where he was born and reared, and came to the United States, arriving here in 1854 and locating in German Township, Fulton county, Ohio, found employment working at his trade of a carpenter. Marrying in 1865, he decided to found a permanent home and bought eighty acres of land in German Township, on which he spent
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the remainder of his life, which was terminated by death in 1900. He returned to Switzerland twice for the purpose of visiting his par- ents, but both times came back to his American interests. His widow survived him until 1910, when she too passed away. They had two children, namely: Jacob C. and George A., the latter of whom lives at Archbold, Ohio.
Until he was sixteen years old Jacob C. Leu attended King School, District No. 1, although only a few months each year dur- ing the winter season, for le liad to work on the farm the rest of the time. Farming was different in those days from what it is now, when machinery does so much of the work that then had to be carried on by hand, and the farmer boys could not be spared during the months when the crops had to be planted, cultivated and har- vested, and so the majority of them received but scant educational training, but they made the most of their opportunities.
Mr. Leu was united in marriage with Katy Baumgardner, a daughter of Samuel and Barbara Baumgardner, and she died in 1898, leaving two daughters and one son. After her death in 1900, Mr. Leu was married to Rebecca Leininger, a daughter of John J. and Katie (Krauss) Leininger, of Archbold, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Leu have three children, namely: Ruth Leuetta and Lillian Irene, who are living, and Cora Edith, who died in May, 1905, when twenty months old.
After his first marriage Mr. Leu conducted the home farm for two years, and then spent five years on the Baumgardner farm. In 1898 Mr. Leu returned to his family homestead and farmed it for two years, when he went back to the Baumgardner farm and con- ducted it for eleven years. He then retired from farm life, but still owns 125 acres of valuable land. Moving to Elniira, he conducted a grocery in that village for a year, when he decided to give up all business interests and enjoy the fruits of his labors. His handsome residence at Elmira is owned by him and is one of the best in the place.
Strong in his support of the democratic party, he was elected on its ticket a trustee of German Township and was re-elected twice, serving in all for nine years. He was also on the School Board of that same township for four years, and for the same length of time was chairman of the Farmers' Institute of German Township. Dur- ing the late war he was a member of the War Chest Committee of German Township; of the Fourth and Victory Loan Committecs and also the War Savings Committee, and rendered his government valuable service through his patriotic endeavors. Mr. Leu, in addi- tion to his farm, owns stock in the Mutual Telephone Company, and has served on some of its committees. A man of unusual ability, he has directed his efforts toward securing for his community the benefits of new ideas in civic reform and government, and is proud of the progress already made, and hopeful of still further advance- ment.
JAMES O'NEAL. While James O'Neal, of Metamora, seems to be one generation ahead of William O'Neal. whose early family story dates back to the same beginning, the William O'Neal story happened to be copied first, and thus it is a "Twice Told Tale" in the end. The name O'Neal at once suggests Ireland, and while James O'Neal was born in Toledo in 1856, he is a son of Thomas and Mary (Brady) O'Neal, while the story is also told by William O'Neal, who is their grandson.
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In the way of resume, Thomas O'Neal, the immigrant, was mar- ried in Buffalo to a young woman from the Emerald Isle, the same as himself, and in 1851 he came as a laborer to Delta. Fulton county was organized in 1850, and thus the O'Neals were pioneers in the community. This young settler helped to build the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroads, finally investing in a farm in Amboy. Here they ended their days. Thomas O'Neal, who re- lates the story, was their oldest son. His brothers are: John, de- ceased; Michael and William of Amboy; and Martin, of Royalton.
It was on St. Valentine's Day, 1882, that Lucy M. Houghton be- . came the bride of James O'Neal. She was born in Amboy, a daugh- ter of Daniel and Minerva (Gale) Houghton. The parents were from New York State. Mr. O'Neal began farm activities on a quar- ter section of land in Amboy. It was all in timber and he eleared and improved it. He erected a modern brick farm house with other buildings in keeping with it. He added to the farm from time to time until he had 240 acres under cultivation. Later he sold an eighty from it.
Mr. O'Neal continued in active farm management until 1917, when his mantle descended to the shoulders of a son, and he now lives in retirement in Metamora. After leaving common school as a young man Mr. O'Neal attended Wauseon High School one year, and he has given two terms to the service of Amboy Township as a school trustee. Since 1899 he has filled the office of justice of the peace, elected by the democratic party.
Mr. O'Neal was a teacher in public school from the time he was twenty until he was forty-twenty years of continuous service, "Teaching the young idea how to shoot." The children born to Mr. and Mrs. O'Neal are: Minerva, wife of Eugene Miller, Jasper, Michigan; William, who operates the farm; and Nina Belle, wife of Samuel Ottgen. The family belongs to the Catholic Church in Carrigan, Ohio.
His comfortable surroundings at Metamora today are an appro- priate environment for a man whose life has been one of so much activity as Mr. O'Neal. Clearing up the timber, cultivating the fields, extending his possessions and his work as a farmer, and in the intervals of this busy employment teaching school, Mr. O'Neal has indeed discharged well his debt to the world and has earned the honors that accompany him into old age.
CLAYTON HENRY HUFFMAN, a saddler by trade, and possessing a good business in harness in the City of Wauseon, Ohio, is also con- ducting an up-to-date and profitable business in auto supplies, ac- cessories and tires, having acquired the business formerly conducted at the J. R. Blizzard Harness Shop, 224 South Fulton Street, Wauseon.
Clayton H. Huffman was born in Evansport, Defiance county, Ohio, February 15, 1882, the son of Henry E. and Mary E. (Gro- miller) Huffman. The family is of German origin, but has been resident in America for three generations. Henry Huffman, grand- father of Clayton H., was born in Germany, and came to America, and to Seneca county, Ohio, in early manhood. He was one of the pioneers of the section, and passed his life in agricultural pursuits, married, and became the father of nine children, seven sons and two daughters. He moved eventually to Williams county, Ohio, having purchased in that county a farm of 260 acres, upon which he lived for the remainder of his life, which was a long one, he
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being ninety-seven years old in the year of his death. His son Henry E., father of Clayton H., was the fifth born of his eight ehil- dren, and although he farmed in his early years, he was for many years a hardware merehant, in business at Sherwood, Ohio. He died in 1902, aged fifty-four years. To Henry E. and Mary E. (Gro- miller) Huffman were born five ehildren, of whom Clayton Henry was fourth. He was given a high school education, attending the Stryker, Ohio, sehool, and also that of Sherwood, Ohio. When seven- teen years old he went to Albion, Michigan, to learn the trade of har- nessmaking. Next he lived in Hudson, Michigan, for two years, working there at his trade. Then for a short time he was in South . Bend as a journeyman. In following his trade for the next few years he traveled extensively. For a year he was in Stryker, Ohio, then followed eight months at Davenport, Iowa, then a short time at Texarkana, Texas, thence to St. Louis, Missouri, then to Orville, Ohio, then to Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, where he remained for three years, then to Bath, New York, then to Watertown of the same state, from there to Scranton, Pennsylvania, baek again to New York State, to Bath, then to Bryan, Ohio, after two years at which plaee he eame to Wauseon. That was in 1906, when he entered the em- ploy of C. F. Stotzer, for whom he worked for three years, follow- ing which he returned to Bryan, Ohio, for eighteen months, after which he again eame to Wauseon, and spent another two years with Mr. Stotzer, after which he entered independently into business, hav- ing acquired the harness and saddlery business of J. R. Blizzard at 224 South Fulton street. As before stated, the seope of the business done by Mr. Huffman is extensive and is bringing him good return. His wife is of a Wauseon family, he has a comfortable home and a good business, so that there is every reason to suppose that al- though in the past his business has drawn him to many widely separated parts of the United States, he will probably spend many years in Wauseon, probably the remainder of his business life. He has many friends in Wauseon, is well-regarded generally, and has manifested sound, responsible citizenship and an interest in the community.
Politieally Mr. Huffman is a republican. He is a Congrega- tionalist by religious eonvietion, being a member of the loeal Con- gregational Chureh, and a generous supporter thereof, and he is iden- tified with local lodges of the Masonie order, holding membership in the Wauseon Blue Lodge.
In 1911 he married Belle, daughter of Willard and Margaret (Powell) Pugh, of Wauseon. They have three children: Willard Henry, who was born in 1913; Riehard Earl, born 1916; and George William, who was born in 1917.
HERBERT FERDINAND DIMKE, one of the substantial business men of Wauseon, sole owner of "The Fair," which is one of the leading dry goods and general merchandise houses of the eity, and which has an extensive trade throughout the county, is a man whose record in business and public life is a commendable one. He has been actively and successfully in independent business in Wauseon for twenty years, and has been a member of the City Council for two terms.
He was born in Arehbold, Ohio, in 1875, the son of John F. and Mary (Probeek) Dimke. The Dimke family is of German origin, but for three generations has been resident in the United States. Karl Dimke, grandfather of Herbert F., lived in his early manhood
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in Obernick, near Posen, and at one time was the burgomaster of that place. He was a man of the people, a farmer and smith by trade, and as he was in public life and eventually came to America, it is more than possible that it was political exigency that influenced him in immigrating. Karl Dimke landed in Point Levis, having crossed the ocean in a sailing vessel. He had a large family, eight boys and two girls, and although at the outset he settled in Toledo, he eventually removed to Archbold, where he set up a smithy and lived for the remainder of his life. He died in 1891. John F. Dimke, the eighth child born to Karl Dimke, was also born in Ger- many but has lived practically his whole life in America, he being quite young when his parents came to America. He married in Toledo, and is still living in Wauseon. To John F. and Mary (Probeck) Dimke were born five children, of whom three still live.
Herbert F. is their eldest living child, having been born in Arch- bold in 1875. He was educated at the public schools of Archbold and Wauseon, later taking the business course at Ada University. Prior to taking the business course at the University, however, he had worked for six years. He graduated with the class of 1897, and for two years thereafter was in the eniploy of Eager Green and Com- pany at Wauseon. In 1900 he ventured into independent business. He had been of thrifty habits, showed commendable steadiness and much aptitude for commercial affairs. It was therefore not altogether a venture when he embarked in business for himself. He opened the notion store called "The Fair," on the corner of Fulton and Elm streets, Wauseon, and at the outset had one room only. Steadily he expanded his business, and always solidly, until it grew to its present dimensions, requiring three spacious sales rooms, one block deep, with a stock room 68 by 120 feet above. He has of late years found constant employment for ten people, and enjoys an extensive trade, having a large country as well as city trade.
Mr. Dimke has also other business interests, and has proved him- self to be a man of good moral as well as business integrity. That he has a good reputation, generally, in Wauseon is evident by his elec- tion and re-election to the Wauseon City Council. He has also been prominently identified with the functioning of the local branch of the Knights of Pythias order, of which he holds the grade of past chancellor. He has often represented the local body at the meet- ings of the Grand Lodge of the order. Religiously he is a member of the Congregational Church, showing a commendable interest in the maintenance of the church. Politically he is a republican.
Mr. Herbert F. Dimke, in 1900, married Ophelia Lucille, daugh- ter of Dr. F. L. S. and Minnie (Waid) Derby, of Wauseon, Ohio. They have three children : Florence Margaret, who is now a junior in the high school; Frank Herbert, who was born in 1907; and Charles Robert, who was born in 1916. The family home is a bright one, and they have many friends, Mr. and Mrs. Dimke taking good part in community affairs.
NELLE BIDDLE PETTEYS. While her married life has been largely spent in Florida, Nelle Biddle Petteys represents several. families widely known in Fulton county, and both she and her husband are deeply interested in Fulton county people and also have property interests here.
Nelle M. Biddle was born March 15, 1876, at Delta, being a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Watkins) Biddle, and granddaughter of George and Nancy (Lawrence) Biddle and John and Margaret
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(Southi) Watkins. The Biddle and Watkins families came out of Wayne county, Ohio, and were pioneers of Fulton county. Jacob Biddle, who for many years owned a farm in Swan Creek Town- ship and took high rank among thie successful farmers of Fulton county, died at Delta February 7, 1885. The old homestead is still in the possession of the family. Mr. Biddle was also for several years in the hardware business at Delta. He was survived nearly thirty years by his good wife, who passed away May 22, 1914, at the family home on Providence street in Delta. She was well known socially and for her interested part in the many community affairs of town and county.
A graduate of the Delta High School Nelle M. Biddle also con- tinued her education at Oberlin College. She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and still retains her mem- bership in the Criterion Club of Delta. All the family were Metho- dists.
After her mother's death she went to Florida and on February 9, 1915, became the wife of Daniel H. Petteys of McIntosh, Florida. However, Mr. Pettevs was born at Tontogany, Ohio, May 28, 1873, son of John and Emma (Kuder) Petteys and grandson of Daniel H. Petteys, one of the early settlers at Delta. John Petteys for many years was in the milling business. Going to Florida in 1883, he continued in the same line as a manufacturer of orange shipping boxes. He lived in Florida until his death in 1905, and his widow is still a resident of McIntosh. Daniel H. Petteys was reared and educated in Florida and assisted his father in the orange box busi- ness. The "freeze of 1895" practically ruined the orange business for a number of years and incidentally the orange box industry. From a manufacturer he became an employe of the Southern Ex- press Company, and after the death of his father returned to Mc- Intosh and became manager of the McIntosh Telephone Company. Since 1910 he has been postmaster of McIntosh. Mr. and Mrs. Pet- teys have two daughters, Mrs. May Petteys Waters and Cora E. Petteys.
Every summer Mrs. Nelle Pettevs returns north to Delta, where she gives her personal attention to family property interests, and her return to the social life of the community is also welcomed.
JOHN T. WILLIAMS, who for almost twenty years has been one of the responsible residents of Delta, Fulton county, Ohio, having since 1901 lived in comfortable circumstances in the town, is char- acteristically a man of abundant energy, and during his long period of agricultural labors has lived in many states. Although now near- ing octogenarian age, and independently placed financially he still is comparatively active, day by day, to which commendable trait he may probably attribute his continuance in good health.
He was born in December, 1843, in Rushville, Indiana, the son of George and Rebecca Williams. The Williams family is originally Welsh, in which principality its family record goes back clearly to the time of the Roman occupation of Britain. The branch to which John T. Williams of Delta, Ohio, belongs appears to have been well established in Virginia in colonial times, and in that state George Williams, father of John T. was born. George Williams and his wife were, however, early settlers in Indiana, where he followed the occupation of most pioneers. In 1857 the family moved to Edgar county, Illinois, and there George Williams died. Their son John T., who was thirteen years old when they removed from Indiana,
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had grown to manhood before the time of his father's death, soon after which sad bereavement the family moved to Otoe county, Ne- braska, where John T. homesteaded cighty acres of prairie land, which during the succeeding years he appreciably improved. His mother died in Lincoln, Nebraska, but he continued to live on his homestead. In 1875 he went to Washington territory, where for about a year he lived a hardy life, herding sheep. He was a man of self-reliant, independent spirit, inured to hardships, and, withal, a good farmer. In 1876 he went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the centennial celebrations, after viewing which he returned to Ne- braska and took over the management of 380 acres of land near Lincoln of that state. Three years later he went into Kansas, where he herded sheep near Lacon, and for one year worked as a section hand on the railroad. Next he spent two years farming near Marys- ville, Kansas, after which he came into Ohio. That was in 1881, since which time he has lived in the state, and for the greater part of the time has followed agricultural pursuits. For many years he had the management of a good farming property situated at Na- polcon, Henry county, and belonging to Dexter Woods of that place, and after the death of the latter he readily found employ- ment on the John Lutton farm south of Delta. He lived a steady life, was provident, and during the many years of steady work ac- cumulated a competence, so that in 1901, when he came to live in Delta and purchased a fine residence situated in a plot of three acres, he to all intents and purposes retired from strenuous labors, al- though as a matter of fact he has since that time found himself undertaking even arduous tasks upon his property and in helping neighbors. Having always lived an active life, he found retirement irksome, and as the years have passed he has generally been able to find a way of keeping himself sufficiently employed, and generally those tasks have been useful and practical.
Politically Mr. Williams is a democrat, although he has not in- tercsted himself actively in political movements. He has taken a closer interest in local affairs than in national, but has never been much drawn by politics. In voting for local offices he has generally considered the individual more than he has the party. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias order, and religiously he is a Methodist, member of the local Methodist Episcopal Church.
In 1894 he married Rachel Quick, who was born near Wooster, Ohio. They have one child, a daughter, Cora, who married Archie Miller, but latterly has lived with her parents.
JOHN H. LIPPY. While now retired and enjoying the comforts of a fine modern home in Fayette, John H. Lippy spent many active and strenuous years cutting timber and brush, clearing up and sub- duing some tracts and parcels of land he owned partly in Williams and partly in Fulton county, and it was only a year or so ago that he gave up the personal supervision of his farming interests and satisfied himself with the comforts of his town home.
Mr. Lippy was born in Mill Creek Township of Williams county June 14, 1858, a son of Jacob and Lydia Ann (Lyon) Lippy. His parents were Pennsylvanians and were married after they came to Williams county, Ohio, where they spent the rest of their days. His father died in 1909, at the age of eighty-four, and his mother in 1903, aged seventy.
When John H. Lippy was a boy he attended the common schools,
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and from early manhood it was his ambition to make a home and express his service to the world as a farmer. He has always borne the reputation of being hard working and industrious, and a man who has attended strictly to his own affairs, though keenly alive to community interests. While in the country he served as school di- rector and as road supervisor.
On January 8, 1881, he married Mary Gamber, a native of Wil- .liams county and daughter of George W. and Mary Ann (Miller) Gamber. Her father was a native of Erie, Pennsylvania, and her mother of New York State. Mr. Lippy after his marriage moved to forty acres he owned in Mill Creek Township of Williams county. He farmed that place thoroughly, and from time to time bought other land until he had 120 acres, with forty acres in Gorliam Town- ship of Fulton county. For over thirty-five years the farm was the scene of his enterprise, and during that time lie cleared muchi of the land, put up modern buildings, and became known as an extensive cattle feeder and breeder of draft horses. In the spring of 1918 Mr. Lippy sold the eighty acres he owned in Williams county and still retains his forty acres in Fulton county. Mr. Libby is a demo- crat in politics. He and his family attend the Methodist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Lippy have one daughter, Grace, now Mrs. Dorson Ford, living at Fayette.
DAVID MORNINGSTAR, owner of the Ford Sales Company, of Wauseon, Olio, dealers in and agents for the Ford cars, authorized sales agents, and having a good business in repairs, accessories, tires, etc., has been coming to the fore in the city during the last few years. He is a man of confident bearing and of good understand- ing of the world, having traveled widely during liis years of busi- ness activity, and has proved himself to be a good business man.
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