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 75

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 75


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FREDERICK FANKHAUSER. While he is now living practically retired at Archbold, Frederick Fankhauser owns a fine farm in German Township, and for over forty years has been actively iden- tified with the agricultural, business and civic interests of that sec- tion of Fulton county.


He was born August 14, 1854, on the homestead farm of his parents, John and Anna (Burkholder) Fankhauser. His parents were natives of Canton Berne, Switzerland, and were prominent among the early Swiss settlers of Fulton county. They came to this country accompanied by four daughters and one son, and located in German Township. They acquired 240 acres, part of which is still owned by Frederick Fankhauser. The family have been noted for their industry and thrift, and their labors brought into produc- tiveness some of the first class land of Fulton county.


On that old homestead Frederick Fankhauser lived for many years. To the age of seventeen he attended school, chiefly in the winter terms, and at other seasons of the year was busy in the fields. For a quarter of a century after his marriage he continued farm-


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ing, his place comprising 115 acres. In 1900 he retired from the farm, turning it over to his son J. F. Fankhauser, and his chief in- veloping and selling the materials from a gravel pit, used for building and road making purposes.


In 1876, at the age of twenty-two, Mr. Fankhauser married Adelle Leninger, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Kutzli) Leninger, of German Township. They have three children. John F., the oldest, is forty-two years of age, married in 1901 Margaret Rice, of German Township, and they have five living children. Emma is the wife of Emanuel Rupp, of Archbold, and has two children. Clarence B., aged thirty, lives at Archbold and is married and has one child.


Mr. Fankhauser has frequently been honored with places of trust in his community, and is thoroughly deserving of general es- teem. He served two terms as township trustee. He is a democratic voter and a member of the Lutheran Church.


SOLOMON C. NOFZINGER has spent practically his entire life within the borders of Fulton county, and his persistent and com- mendable efforts have benefited alike himself and the community, for he has always had deeply at heart the well-being and improve- ment of the county, using his influence whenever possible for the promotion of enterprises calculated to be of lasting benefit to the community, besides giving his support to all movements for the ad- vancement of the people along civic, intellectual and moral lines.


Solomon C. Nofzinger, who owns and operates the Nofzinger Auto Company at Archbold, was born on his father's farm near this place in 1871, and is the son of John J. and Annie (Richer) Nofzinger. The father was born in Germany, where he was reared until about fourteen years of age, when he accompanied his parents on their immigration to the United States. They immediately came to Ful- ton county, Ohio, and settled on a tract of land near Archbold, where they spent the rest of their days engaged in farming pursuits. There John J. was reared and secured his education in the schools of the neighborhood, and there he has continued to reside, being num- bered among the industrious, successful and highly respected citi- zens of that locality.


Solomon Nofzinger secured an elementary education in the com- mon schools of Henry county, Ohio, and then attended the Horo- logical and Optometrist School at LaPorte, Indiana, where he was graduated and received a diploma. He then returned to Archbold and during the following twenty-five years gave his attention to the jewelry and optical business, in both of which he was very suc- cessful and in the latter of which he is still interested, being a part- ner in the Nofzinger Jewelry Company at Swanton, Fulton county. In 1912, with shrewd foresight into the possibilities of the automo- bile business, Mr. Nofzinger erected a modern salesroom and garage, and under the name of the Nofzinger Auto Company he is han- dling Ford cars and Fordson tractors and accessories, besides doing a regular garage service. He has a splendid field and has been splendidly successful in this line, being accounted one of the most enterprising and progressive men in his line in this community. Mr. Nofzinger is also a stockholder and director in the Peoples State Bank of Archbold, and has extensive real estate interests.


In 1897 Mr. Nofzinger was married to Mary L. Lenow, the daughter of William Lenow, and they are the parents of three chil-


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dren namely: Irene, who is the wife of Otto Kleupfel, of Archbold, and the mother of one child, Jane; Ruth Anna, and Earl Edwin.


Mr. Nofzinger's chief characteristics seem to be keenness of per- ception, tireless energy, honesty of purpose and every-day common sense. Successful in business and popular in social life, he enjoys an enviable standing in the community with which his interests are identified.


ELMER MILTON BIERY, a native of York Township, Fulton county, Ohio, and for the greater part of his life an enterprising and successful farmer, owning an extensive estate in the township, has the distinction of belonging to a family which is placed among the pioneer residents of the township.


The Biery family is of Swiss origin and the American progenitor, Nicholas Biery, was the pioneer resident in York Township. He, Nicholas Biery, grandfather of Elmer M., was born in Switzerland, and immigrated when a young man. He settled in Pennsylvania, and there married Mary Hummel, who was born in Pennsylvania. Soon afterwards they came into Ohio, and to York Township, Fulton county at a time when the surrounding country was practically wil- derness. Nicholas Biery and his wife lived in York Township for the remainder of their lives, their farm which eventually was cleared being in section 4. There their son Christian, father of Elmer M., was born. As a boy Christian Biery attended the local school, and when he had grown to manhood married Lottie Schlegle, daughter of Gottlieb and Mary (Bailey) Schlegle, also pioneer residents of York Township. The former was born near Berlin, Germany, and his wife, Mary Bailey, in Pennsylvania. The maternal grandpar- ents of Elmer M. Biery were also buried in York Township. Chris- tian Biery soon after he had married Lottie Schlegle settled on a ten-acre tract in York Township, and there lived for two years, when he sold the place, and soon afterwards acquired the extensive Meirs farm, a partly improved property of 160 acres. There he lived for many years, and had much success by his farming. He consid- erably improved the property, and all the buildings now on the farm were built by him, with the exception of a straw barn, which is still standing and had been built by the original owner. He bought an- other eighty acres, which he tilled for a while, but eventually traded for forty acres on the border line of Fulton and Henry counties. On his properties he built, altogether four residences, and his energetic useful life ended on December 7, 1909, he being then in his sixty- fourth year. His widow still resides in the old homestead, and has many friends of long standing among the older residents of York Township. The children of Christian and Lottie (Schlegle) Biery were: Elmer Milton, of whom more is written hereinafter; Ella, who married William A. Biddle, of York Township; Sophrona May, who married Harley J. Miller of York Township.


Elmer Milton Biery, oldest child of Christian and Lottie (Schle- gle) Biery, was born in the family homestead, section 4 of York Township, Fulton county, on March 8, 1872. He attended the dis- trict schools, and eventually took to farming occupations on the home property. He married in 1893, but remained with his wife on the parental farm until March of the following year, when he moved to another house, still however helping his father in the man- agement of the latter's extensive acreage. Thus employed, another seven years passed, at the end of which time Elmer M. Biery pur-


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chased the farm he still owns in York Township, a property of 200 acres, 140 acres of which he has brought into cultivation, the re- maining sixty acres being pasture and timber land. He lived an energetic life, and showed much enterprise, gaining substantial suc- cess in the raising of Belgian horses, Holstein cattle and Jersey hogs. For many years he conducted a large dairy, but now being desirous of taking life less strenuously, and being possessed of more than sufficient material wealth for his personal needs, especially since the death of his wife, he will probably move from the farm into Delta. During his years of substantial production in York Town- ship, he found time to enter interestedly into local affairs, and showed a commendable spirit of helpfulness in public responsibili- ties, supporting local movements generously. He is a democrat in national politics, but he has not followed national politics with the interest he has evinced in local affairs; and he has never sought public office, although had he so wished he might have been elected to more than one of the offices in the local administration. He is a consistent Christian, by conviction a Lutheran, and has been a He stalwart supporter of the local church of that denomination. has entered personally into church work, and since 1913 has been treasurer of his church. He also is a member of the Ohio State order of Gleaners. On September 17, 1893, Elmer Milton Biery married Della May, daughter of John and Rachel (Powell) Lake. Mrs. Biery was born in Henry county, Ohio, and died in York Township, Fulton county, on August 30, 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Biery were the parents of seven children. In order of birth the children were: Fleda Ellen, who married Homer Sworden, and died in Feb- ruary, 1916; Gertrude Lavern ;. Fred Arthur; Ira Carlton; Jay Christian ; Wilma Irene; Gordon Roy, who, however, died in infancy.


CHARLES P. GRISIER. It seems a well established principle that any person can make a modest success who works faithfully and sticks at one business or trade or occupation long enough. It is a far different and complicated problem for a man to be successful in diverse and manifold affairs. Hardly any man in Fulton county has more really important interests under his immediate super- vision than Charles P. Grisier, banker, insurance man, dairy farmer, and all around good citizen of Wauseon.


He was born at Fayette in Fulton county in April, 1868, and is of French ancestry, a son of James and Catherine (Miller) Grisier. Frederick Grisier, came from France and settled at Archbold, Ohio, where he became a farmer. James Grisier grew up on a farm and still lives on a 120-acre place 1/2 mile south of Fayette.


Charles P. Grisier grew up on the farm, attended country schools and took a business course in the Fayette Normal College. For two years he clerked in a general store at Fayette and for one year bought produce, driving a wagon through the country, an experience that gave him much knowledge of men and was altogether valuable. Since 1890 he has been with his father in the fire insurance busi- ness. His father has conducted a fire insurance agency at Fayette for many years. The father and son are still associated, the former being now eighty-three years of age. In January, 1891, Charles Grisier opened the Wauseon office, handling both fire and life in- surance. His principal business is representative of the Ohio Farmere Insurance Company, and he has all of Fulton county as his terri- tory.


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He is a man of special achievement in the field of banking. In 1906 he organized the Farmers State Savings Bank at Delta, and is its president. This institution has a capital and surplus of $50,000 and resources of $500,000. In 1911 he duplicated his suc- cess with the Delta Bank in the organization of the Farmers State Bank of Fayette, of which he is also president. Its capital and sur- plus is $45,000 and it has resources aggregating $500,000. In 1917 Mr. Grisier organized the Farmers State Bank of McClure, of which T. U. McClure is president and Mr. Grisier, a director. He is also a director of the Peoples State Bank at Wauseon.


With all these interests Mr. Grisier finds time to give his per- sonal supervision to a fine dairy farm of 220 acres two miles east of Wauseon, handling a herd of pure blooded Holsteins.


In 1893 he married Alice Charpiot, daughter of Peter and Louise Catherine Charpiot of Stryker, Ohio. They have five children : Donald Kenneth, born in 1902; Charles Leon, born in 1904 and died at the age of six months; Louise Catherine, Catherine Louise and Alice Leah, being the three younger children. Mr. Grisier is a republican in politics.


CHARLES HENRY NICHOLAS HEFFRON, M. D. Through a quarter of a century Doctor Heffron was busy with his engagements and re- sponsibilities as a physician and surgeon at Metamora, and when he removed from that locality to Adrian, Michigan, he left his practice in the capable hands of his son so that Fulton county still has Heffron as one of its most honored names in the medical profession.


Doctor Heffron was born in Royalton Township of Fulton county in 1871. His father Henry Heffron was born in County Carlow, Ireland, and was brought by his parents to the United States at the age of seven. The mother of Doctor Heffron was Mary Rynd, also a native of Ireland, and came to the United States with her parents at the age of fifteen. They were married in Lenawee county, Michi- gan, in 1868, and were the parents of four children: Jessie May, Anna, Minnie and Charles Henry Nicholas.


Charles Henry Nicholas Heffron grew up on a farm in Royal- ton township, attended country schools there, took his high school work at Adrian, Michigan, and was graduated in medicine in the medical department of Wooster University at Cleveland in 1893. Since then he has taken post graduate work at the University of Michigan and the New York Post Graduate School, and in 1894 began his career as a practicing physician at Metamora. He remained there meeting all the demands of a heavy town and country practice until 1919, when he turned his work over to his son Dr. Harold Heffron and is now well established in practice at Adrian, Michigan. During the World War he served as a member of the Fulton County Draft Board. Doctor Heffron has always voted as a republican and fraternally is affiliated with Royalton Union Lodge Free and Accepted Masons at Lyons, Lyons Chapter No. 175 Royal Arch Masons, Wauseon Council No. 68 Royal and Selected Masters, and Adrian Commandry No. 4 Knights Templar, and also Independent Order of Odd Fellows No. 875, Metamora, Ohio.


Doctor Heffron married Gertrude Cagwin, daughter of Hamden and Delight Cagwin of Rome, New York. They are the parents of two sons, Harold and Howard Heffron, both of whom have chosen their father's vocation. As already noted Harold is now practicing at Metamora, while Howard is a medical student in the University of Michigan.


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R. A. DEVENPORT. This representative and honored citizen of Archbold, Fulton county, has been distinctly the architect of his own fortunes, has been true and loyal in all the relations of life and stands as a type of that sterling manhood which ever commands re- spect and honor. He is a man who would have won his way in any locality where fate might have placed him, for he has sound judg- ment, coupled with great energy and business tact, together with upright principles, all of which invariably make for success, and because of which he has won and retained a host of friends.


R. A. Devenport, proprietor of the Archbold Salesroom and Garage, at Archbold, Fulton county, was born in Franklin county, Ohio, on January 9, 1866, and is the son of Ezra and Sarah A. (Giles) Devenport. Through his progenitors he inherits English and Irish blood, though the family has lived in America through several generations. The subject received his educational training in the schools of Putnam county, Ohio, but at the age of fourteen years he went to work, receiving for a man's work only four dollars a month. He made splendid progress in his studies and had success- fully passed an examination for teacher, but was not permitted to teach on account of his youth. He was employed at farm labor on two different farms until he attained his majority, at which time he was married. He then engaged in farming a forty-acre tract, remaining there for twelve years, at the end of which time he engaged in the manufacture of tile at Townwood. Twelve years later he sold the tile factory and bought forty acres of land near Town- wood, where he resided for two years. Selling out, he then went to Michigan, locating in Calhoun county, where for a year he was engaged in the cultivation of 160 acres of rented land. He then bought 120 acres of land in Hillsdale county, Michigan, which he successfully operated for five years, and in connection with which he also kept a store until 1915, when he moved onto 160 acres of land which he had bought near Seward, Ohio. At the end of a year he sold that tract and for about three years he lived at Metamora, Ohio.


On April 15, 1919, Mr. Devenport came to Archbold, Ohio, and engaged in his present business, under the name of the Archbold Salesroom and Garage, having obtained the Fulton county agency for the Scripps-Booth cars. He also handles a full line of automobile accessories and oils, and enjoys a large and increasing patronage. He has made many changes in location and business since attaining manhood, but has been successful and has exercised good judgment in all his ventures. In addition to his automobile business, he owns some real estate, including the 120-acre farm in Michigan.


In 1887 Mr. Devenport was married to Lois L. Lope, the daughter of William and Mary E. (Lymangrover) Lope, of Shawton, Ohio, and to them have been born three children, namely: William A., of Archbold, who is married and has one child, Richard; Delmar, and Flossie A., who is principal of the Metamora high school.


Mr. Devenport has given his lifelong support to the democratic party and has at various times taken an active part in local and public affairs. While living in Putnam county, Ohio, he served as trustee of Van Buren Township for seven years, or until he moved from that locality, and he served as postmaster of Shawton, Ohio, under the administration of President Cleveland, a period of four years. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The qualities of persevering industry, keen dis- crimination, and sound judgment have entered very largely into his


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makeup and have been contributing elements to the material success which has come to him. Because of his sueeess and his sterling qualities of character he is deservedly popular throughout this community.


CHARLES M. DALRYMPLE, director department manager, and one of the principal stockholders of the well-known Wauseon firm of Brig- ham, Guilford and Company, department store owners, has had a worth-while career in eommereial life, and has been actively in busi- ness in Wauseon sinee 1906. He is a man of pleasing personality, gentlemanly and courteous, and has made many good friends sinee he has lived in Wauseon. He has shown an increasing interest in the advancement of the eity, and has been ready to further any worthy publie project that had bearing upon the community.


He is the son of Charles W. and Anna (George) Dalrymple and was born in Maysville, Missouri, September 20, 1870. In 1890 his parents removed to Greenville, Darke county, Ohio. The Dalrymple family is one of the oldest of the titled Scottish houses and appears notably in Seottish history, and the Ohio family evidently is of the Scottish house, for the progenitor of the American braneh to which Charles M. Dalrymple, of Wauseon, belongs, eame from Seotland and settled in Knox county, Ohio, there taking land and pursuing agriculture. Charles M. received the whole of his education in Green- ville, Darke county, attending the public schools of that place until he was sixteen years old. Then he entered the employ of A. A. Bunger, a groeer of that place, and for him he worked for eight years, for two of which he was delivery man, and finally salesman. He must have been a man of good business ability, for he was offered, and aeeepted, the management of the Mozart Department Store, at Greenville. He remained in that store, as manager, for twelve years, during which the volume of business transaeted was such as to need the services of thirty sales people; and the trading covered the full range of groceries, hardware and house furnishings. It will therefore be recognized that when Mr. Dalrymple eame to Wauseon in 1906 to take up a similar business connection in that place he came with good credentials as to the business experience. He became the manager of the grocery department of the Wauseon department store owned by W. L. Milner and conducted under the trading name of C. E. Rossman and Company and was thus brought into association with Mr. Frank Guilford, who was account- ant for the company. In 1909, both left the employ of Mr. Milner so that they might organize a company and enter independently into a department store business in Wauseon. Mr. Dalrymple in associa- tion with Messrs. Guilford, Scott and Brigham, all of Wauseon incor- porated the Brigham, Guilford and Company firm, the capital of which was $60,000, and they took over the Rossman Company establishment. Of the company Mr. Dalrymple beeame vice presi- dent and eventually secretary, which executive offiee he now holds, as well as the responsibility of manager of the grocery and house furnishings departments. The business has been very well con- dueted and the partners have had notable sueeess.


In many ways Mr. Dalrymple has shown himself to be an efficient man of affairs, and of unselfish publie spirit. He is one of the aggressive business men of the place, and is doing his best to aid in the progress and prosperity of the city. Politieally he is a republiean, and although he has taken elose interest in politieal movements, he has not evinced a desire for political offiee. He is


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first and foremost a business man, a man of material and moral integrity, in whom people have confidence. Religiously he is a Baptist, a member of the local church, and a liberal supporter of church work.


He married, in 1905, Myrtle G., daughter of Calvin and Lottie (Warvel) Garver, of Greenville, Ohio. They have one child, Charlene.


DORR SANTEE KNIGHT, one of the advisory editors of the History of Fulton County, whose services are at this point specially acknowl- edged, has spent all his life in the county, is well known as a former eounty treasurer, and also as a business man and banker.


Mr. Knight, whose home is at Wauseon, was born in Royalton township February 1, 1874. His father, George Tyler Knight, was born in Vermont, January 22, 1833, and for many years was an active farmer of Fulton county. He was a republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The mother, Almira Matilda Santee, was born September 22, 1840.


Dorr Santee Knight grew up on a farm, attended the district sehools and also the normal schools of Fayette and Wauseon. In early youth he took up the vocation of a tiller of the soil, and followed that occupation on the old homestead in Royalton township to the age of thirty-seven. In the meantime he became well known over the county, and entered politics as a candidate for the office of eounty treasurer, was elected, and discharged the duties of office until September, 1915, in the meantime removing to Wauseon.


In the spring of 1915 Mr. Knight formed a partnership with C. J. Ives and purchased the furniture store of E. L. Burgoon. Later he sold his interest, for about two years was engaged in the eoal business, and during the period of the World War was cashier of the Lyons Commercial Bank. Since leaving this bank he has resumed his residence in Wauseon. Mr. Knight has always been an active supporter and a leader in the republican party in Fulton county, is affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church, and is a thirty-second degree Seottish Rite Mason and member of the Eastern Star.


June 18, 1895, in Richfield Township, Lucas county, he married Miss Etta Sanderson, a daughter of M. P. and Sarah Sanderson. She was educated in the public schools of Lucas county and in the Wauseon Normal. After the death of his first wife Mr. Knight married Florence Mary Meeker at Lyons on October 18, 1899. She is the daughter of Walter S. and Rebecca L. Mceker. Mr. Knight has two children, Alice, born May 23, 1896, in Royalton Township; and George Myron, born September 16, 1897. The son is now a student in the Ohio State University at Columbus. The daughter, Alice, is a graduate of the Wauseon High School, spent three years in Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, and is now the wife of Ralph A. Howard, a Pike Township farmer.




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