USA > Ohio > Wayne County > Commemorative biographical record of Wayne County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families > Part 17
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
1 1
196
WAYNE COUNTY.
months and partially regaining his health he was licensed to preach by the Presby- tery of Beaver, at the church of Westfield, Peun., June 24, 1840. In compliance with the advice of some of the older members of the same presbytery, he was on the 5th of October, 1841, ordained as an evangelist, expecting to go to Illinois, then a new State, as a home missionary. Circumstances, however, beyond his con- trol prevented the carrying out of this plan, and in the spring of 1842 he was called to the united congregations of Mount Eaton, Wayne County, and Berlin, Holmes County, Ohio, preaching his first sermon at Monat Eaton the first Sabbath in June. He labored in this field pleasantly and successfully for sixteen years, both churches being much increased during his pastorate. In the fall of 1858 he received an urgent call to the church at Dalton, Wayne County, and, in view of the existing division in the church, felt it his anty to accept the call, and in so doing unite the two factions. Both congrega- tions he was serving sent a unanimous solution of the pastoral relation, but the ' presbytery accorded with his views, and on the first Sunday in October, 1858, he commenced his labors in Dalton, and was installed the following month. After sery- ing the church in this place nine years, his health became completely broken down,
so that by the advice of distinguished physicians he gave up preaching, and during the summer spent the time in traveling in Missouri and Kansas. His health not improving, and concluding that he would be unable to resume pas- toral work, he tendered his resignation, but his congregation, being unwilling to accept it, granted him a year's leave of absence, kindly continning his salary. At the end of the year, his health still being infirm, he again tendered his resignation, which was reluctantly accepted.
In November, 1870, he removed to the city of Wooster, influenced mainly by the desire to educate his son and daughter at the university, and here he has since lived. For four years he was engaged in collect- ing the endowment fund of the university, which had been subscribed some years before. Although Mr. Semple has for many years been unable to have the care of a church, he still preaches occasionally. When he began studying for the ministry he was obliged to rely on his own exer- tions to secure his education, and was protest to the presbytery against the dis- carried through by his strong determina- tion to sneeded. He has ever taken a warm interest in public affairs, and can always be found on the side of justice and right. For years before the abolishment of slavery he was a strong AAbolitionist. and on the formation of the Republican party he joined its ranks to fight the bat-
197
WAYNE COUNTY.
tle of freedom for all, and now is equally determined in his opposition to the gigan- tie evil of drinking intoxicating liquors, and is an ardent advocate of the cause of prohibition.
July 29, 1846, Mr. Semple was married to Miss Sarah Jane Davis, a native of Shippensburgh, Penn., daughter of Robert Davis, Esq., who at the time of her mar- riage was a resident of Stark County, , Ohio. . Her parents died in Bucyrus, Ohio, the mother aged seventy-four years and the father ninety-five years. Mr. who died in 1570, aged seventy -seven and Mrs. Semple have reared two chil- years. Five of their eight children are dren to years of maturity. Their son, . living: Margaret ( Mrs. Hartz). Susan (Mrs. Brown), Mary ( Mrs. Thman), Adam and Catherine ( Mrs. Hartzell ).
Eugene Payson, graduated from Wooster University in 1878, and has been for several years professor of English in Bid- dle University, at Charlotte, N. C. Their daughter, Laura Annie, graduated from Wooster University in 1875, and is now the wife of Rev. W. M. Pocock, a Pres- byterian minister at Waverly, Kas. 1 zealous pastor, consistent Christian, and a faithful counselor ait friend, Mr. Semple is held in esteem by all who know him.
name of Brenner immigrated to the Unit- ed States from Germany. John Adam Brenner, who was born in Lancaster County, Penn., was a descendant of one of these brothers. He was a farmer in his native county, and was twice married. John being the name of the eldest child born to the first marriage. John Bren- ner was born in 1799, and in 1849. with his wife and eight children. he moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and settled on a small farm. He married Susan Redfind.
Adam Brenner was the youngest son and next to the youngest child of the funily. He was born in Lancaster Coun- ty, Penn., in 1830, and was nearly twen- ty years old when he accompanied his parents to Wayne County. The first win- ter he worked in Wooster, and then fol- lowed his trade of shoemaking in Smith- ville for three years, and after that en- gaged in farming. Since 1955 Mr. Bren- ner has lived on his present farm, which was formerly owned by his father-in-law; Peter Eberly. He is now well-to-do in a financial sense, and has an enviable reputation for honesty and integrity in
A DAM BRENNER. The Brenner family is one of the most numerous in Wayne Township, Wayne Coun- ty. At a very early day in the his- the community where he lives. Mr. Bren- tory of America three brothers by the ner was married in ISol to Miss Cath-
198
WAYNE COUNTY.
erine Eberly, who, as already stated, is a daughter of Peter Eberly, of Wayne Township. They have had three children: John E., born May 28, 1852; Sarah E., January 13, 1856, and Alvin, March 5, 1859. Mr. Brenner is a Republican.
W ILLIAM CARMAN DAGUE was born in Wadsworth Township, Medina Co., Ohio, February 21, 1850, and is a son of Michael D. and Elizabeth ( MeEllenie) Dague. His pa- ternal grandfather was Gabriel Dague, son of Michael Dague, a native of Ger- many, and a pioneer of Washington County, Penn. Gabriel Dague, who was a native of Washington County, Penn., in early life taught school, and settled in Milton Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, in 1820. Here he cleared and improved a farm, on which he resided until 18-13, when he moved to" Chippewa Township, Wayne County, and in 1849 located in Wadsworth, where he died. He had two brothers, also pioneers of Milton Town- ship, viz .: Frederick, who settled there in 1819, and Michael, who settled a few years later. The last named in his day held the office of justice of the peace the longest term of anyone in the State. The children of Gabriel Dague were nine
in number, as follows: Archibald, Mi- chael, Joseph, Elizabeth (Mrs. Joseph Starn), Gabriel, Andrew Hiram, Ephraim, Samuel and Cyrus. The latter died in the service of the United States, at Vieks- burg, Miss., during the War of the Re- bellion. The maternal grandfather of William Carman Pagne was Thomas J. MeElhonig, a pioneer of Chippewa Town- ship, Wayne Conuty.
Michael D. Dague, father of William C., was reared in Wayne County, Ohio. and in early life was a farmer in Wayne, Summit and Medina Counties, all in Ohio, and for fifteen years was proprietor of a general store at Western Star. Medina County. He removed to Doylestown, Chippewa Township, Wayne Co., iu IS7>. and has here since resided. Ho reared a Family of six children, viz .: Gabriel, a merchant in Western Star, Medina County; Thomas J., a Presbyterian eler- gyman in Caldwell, Ohio; Rebecca J. (Mrs. Theo. Eberhardt), in Western Star; William C., James W. and Joseph M., in Doylestown, Wayne County.
The subject of this biographical memoir received an academic education at West- ern Star, and in 1873 embarked in mer- cantile trade in that place. In 18744 he located in Doylestown, where the firm of Dague Bros. & Co. was established, the largest house dealing in general merchan- dise in Wayne County, William C. Dague
WAYNE COUNTY. 199
being the senior member. Mr. Dague his native county. On coming to this married, March 30, ISTI, Melissa, dangh- comdy he opened a store in Doylestown, but later was engaged in wholesale busi- ness in the city of New York. In 1848, soon after his marriage, he was elected to the State Legislature by the Democrats, and re-elected, serving two terms with credit to himself and the satisfaction of his constituents. ter of Samuel and Martha ( Hoover) Du- 1 ley, of Western Star, Ohio, and to this union have been born four children, viz. : Harry, Metta, Nellie and Bessie. Mr. Dague is one of Doylestown's most promi- neut citizens and merchants, and is enter- prising and public-spirited. He is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church, of the Odd Fellows order and Royal Arcanum. In polities he is a Democrat. He served for nine years as a member of the Board of Education of Doylestown, and is at present serving his second term as town- ship treasurer.
On leaving the Legislature Mr. Abram Franks established himself for ten years ou a farm which he had bought. In 1861 he removed to the village of Doylestown, and was there engaged in mercantile busi- ness for some sixteen or seventeen years, at the end of which time he retired from active business life. December 3, 1577, Mrs. Franks was called to her rest. at the age of fifty-eight years. Two children were the result of her union with Mr. Franks: Jennie, wife of Rev. J. W. Low,
K. FRANKS, deputy county treas- urer of Wayne County, is a native ' of Richland County, Ohio, and L. K. The of the county, born in Chippewa ' older Franks is one of the early settlers
Township, November 29, 1854. His in Wayne County, and aside from his leg- islative honors has been one of the prout- inent citizens of the county, and was for many years justice of the peace here. He was an able and intelligent man, and wrote much for the papers, but his lack of power to express his ideas orally has been somewhat of a bar to his public advance- ment. Now, at the advanced uge of eighty- two years, he retains his mental vigor un- father, Abram Franks, was a native of Fayette County, Penn, where he grew to manhood, and at the age of twenty-eight he migrated to Wayne County, where in ISIS he was married to Amanda Franks, daugh- ter of Abram Franks, Sr., a second cousin. His education had been that of the common schools, and for a time he ocenpied hinit- self in teaching, and then engaged in mercantile business at Now Geneva, in nbated, although his physical powers ure
1
200
WAYNE COUNTY.
waning. His home is now with his son. As an old settler, and a man who has done his full share in advancing the prosperity of the county, he is much respected by his fellow-citizens.
L. K. Franks, the subject of this sketch, obtained most of his education in the public schools of the village of Doyles- town. He was early indueted in mercan- tile business, and for three years was junior partner in the firm of Charles McCormick & Co., in Doylestown. August 1, 1883, he was united in marriage with Miss Linda V. Wharton, daughter of James and Nancy ( Williams ) Wharton. Politically Mr. Franks has always affili- ated with the Democratic party, and has been prominent in public affairs. He has been township clerk, and also township treasurer, resigning the latter office to accept his present position. He and his wife are both members of the Presbyte- rian Church at Doylestown, and he is a member of the Odd Feflows order and of the Knights of Pythias. He has the con- fidence and esteem of all who know him, as an upright man and faithful official.
The Franks family are of mixed Ger- man and French blood, and their ancestors came to this country long prior to the War of the Revolution. Michael Franks, the grandfather of L. K .. died in Pennsyl- vania, and was the father of sixteen chil- dren. His maternal grandfather, Henry
Franks, took part in the War of 1812. and was captured by the Indians at Sandusky. Ohio, and compelled to run the gauntlet, but fortunately escaped.
G YEORGE D. HATFIELD is a son of one of the original pioneers of Wayne County, and is also one of its oldest born native citizens, having first seen the light of day in Salt Creek Township, May 22, 1817. His parents, Robert and Nancy ( Richey ) Hatfield, were natives of Pennsylvania, and were married in Beaver County, that State. In 1815 they migrated to Wayne County, locating in Edinburgh, in East Union Township, but the following year pur- chased the farm in Salt Creek Township on which the subject of this sketch was born. Here they spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying in June, Ist1. aged fifty-four years. His widow sur- vived him many years, dying October 19. Ists, in her eightieth year. They were the parents of eight children who grew to maturity (of them four still survive ). The eldest, Margaret, is wife of Thomas Dunham, of Salt Creek Township; Will- iam died in this, in his sixty-third year: Adam died in the fifty-fourth year of his age: Catherine is now Mrs. W. Cunning-
201
WAYNE COUNTY.
ham, of Wooster, Ohio; George D .; Mary, who was the wife of Mr. Johnson, of Salt Creek Township, and is now deceased; Sarah, who is Mrs. James Trnesdell, of Nevada, Mo., and Cyrus, who died in Salt Creek at the age of twenty-six. Both the parents were members of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Hatfield was one of the first elders of the church in Salt Creek Township. This worthy couple were real pioneers of Wayne County, which at the time of their coming to it was covered with a dense growth of timber. In the woods they made their first humble home, cheerfully enduring the hardships of a pioneer life, and were rewarded by seeing their home gradually growing in beauty and value, and a sturdy family springing up around them. Mr. Hatfield was an active and industrious man, in his polit- ical sentiments was a Whig, and took an active part in public affairs. He was well known and much respected by the old residents of the county.
George D). Hatfield received his ed- ucation in the typied log school-house of the period, with its puncheon floor, slab seats, and greased paper windows. At the age of twenty-three he was united in mar- riage with Miss Matilda R. Patterson, a daughterof William and Rebecca ( Findley ) Patterson, natives, respectively, of Pay- ette and Westmoreland Counties, Penn., and who were among the early pioneers of the Republican party he joined its
of Wayne County, having settled in Frank- lin Township in 1816. In 1852 her father passed from earth; her mother survived him many years, dying in ISss, in her ninety-third year. Mrs. Hatfield had two sisters and one brother: Margaret is the widow of Jacob Reaser, of Wooster; Re- becca (Mrs. Willetts), of Fredericktown, Knox Co., Ohio, and James P. Patter- son, of Apple Creek. To our subject and his estimable wife have been born seven children, of whom we record the follow- ing: Margaret is deceased; St. Clair J. is an attorney in Sidney, Shelby Co., Ohio; James is deceased; Robert is a farmer in Wayne Township, this county; William is a resident of Chicago; Rebecca 1. and Sarah Adelaide are living at home. In 1575 Mrs. Hatfield died, at the age of fifty-nine years. She was a woman of most estimable character, and a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church of Apple Creek.
In the fall of 1870 Mr. Hatfield re- moved from his farm to the city of Woos- ter to give his children the opportunity of better educational advantages, but his life. once settling there, has been a busy one. For a number of years he was engaged in collecting money for the University of Wooster. In his early life he was a Whig, and cast his first presidental vote for Cien. William H. Harrison. On the formation
202
JELLYNE COUNTY. .
ranks, and has ever since acted with it, Faithfully doing his duty as a citizen at the polls, having voted at every election since reaching his majority, and he takes an active interest in all public matters. He contributed his share to the cause of the nation during the Rebellion, and was a member of the Union League. When a boy he became a member of the Presby- torian Church, and has always remained an active member of that denomination. He is now connected with the First Pres- byterian Church of Wooster.
Mr. Hatfield is wonderfully well pro- served for a man of his age, and he at- tributes his good health to his uniform : habits of temperance, he never having used tobacco or intoxicating liquor, al- though in his youth the use of spirits was ahnost universal. He is spoken of in terms of respect by all who know him, and will long be remembered as one of Wayne County's most worthy pioneers.
| grated from Beaver. County, Penn., in 1822, and settled in Wayne County, where, September 1, 1825, she was united in marriage with Elijah Pocock. Eli's earlier years were spent in the vicinity of Shreve, where he received an academic education. At his country's call, dur- ing the great war for the Union. he re- sponded, and spent the last years of the same in its service. He onlisted in June. 1862, at the age of seventeen years, in the Eighty-sixth Ohio Volunteer In- Fantry, and served his full time, after which his name appears for two years on the rolls of the One Hundred and Sixty- sixth and One Hundred and Eighty- sisth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Since the war he has been identified with the movements of the Grand Army of the Republic, and in the same has ever been an ardent and zealous worker, while his force of character has made him a leader among his comrades.
In 1866 he began the study of medi- eine, and graduated from Bellevue Hos- pital Medical College, New York, in Feb- ruary, 1870. He began the practice of his profession the same year, in the city of Mansfield, and in 1873 removed to Shreve, where ever since he has main- tained a successful and lucrative practice. In recognition of his ability he maintains
E HI DUDLEY POCOCK, M. D., was born near Shreve, Wayne Co., Ohio, June 13. 1515. He is a son of Elijah Pocock, who migrated from Harford County, Md., in 1920, and set- tled in Wayne County, Ohio. His mother's the highest respect of his competitors and maiden name was Grace Smith; she emi- of the medical fraternity at large. Soon
203
WAYNE COUNTY.
after his majority he became an honored member of the Masonie fraternity, and has advanced to and received the Templar orders. He is ever considered a zealous and well-qualified worker, and in recogni- tion thereof has filled many important positions in the different branches of the order through which he has passed. Zeal in this, his chosen fraternity, has made him one of its brightest lights, and ho takes his place among its leaders.
On October 18, 1870, the antnmn after his graduation in medicine, he was mar- ried to Miss Loell B. Foltz, daughter of David Foltz by a marriage with Miss Susan Kimmerer, who had migrated, re- spectively, from Pennsylvania and Vir- ginia in 1813 and in 1516 to Wayne Coun- ty. Ohio, and settled in Clinton Township. Both were of German descent. The fruit of this marriage is one son, Elijah Foltz Pocock, born September 7, 1878.
D ANIEL FUNCK. " Man is peren- nially interesting to man." Emi- : through nature to eternity, stricken down
nently a man of affairs, his life has been engaged in pursuits wheroin success depends upon the matured judgment and perience, observation, reading and reflec- tion. Upon these pursuits he entered,
not with the impulsive or capricious flight of genius, but under the firm and steady propulsions of sound, practical common sense. ITe is a native of Wayne County, one of her healthiest products, and a type of her most vigorons creations. His father, Jolm Funck, was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., January 30, 1788, and was of German extraction, as
was his wife, Maria, daughter of Christian Fox, with whom he was joined in marriage Jannary 3, 1811. She, also, was a native of the Keystone State, and was born November 13, 1757. The re- sult of this union was thirteen children, all, save two, of whom are living. The register of births is here introduced: David. born November S, 1811: Annie, January 2, 1813; Catherine, October 26, 1814; Maria, December 21, 1816; Henry, January 10, 1815: Samuel, June 19, 1819: Martin, November 13, 1820; Bar- bara, October 16. 1823; John, December 22, 1825; Magdalena, January 17. 1528; Daniel, July 27, 1829; Jacob, November 23, 1831; Elizabeth, August 29, 1834. In 1853 Annie and Magdalena passed by the " Reaper whose name is Death."
In 1521 Mr. John Funck removed with his family, then consisting of his wife od right children. to Wayhe Comity. and what, at that time, was familiarty known as the Far West, purchasing a farm
204
WAYNE COUNTY.
in Chester Township, where he resided His wife survived him nearly a score of years, dying February 22, 1879, in her ninety-second year, at the home of her son, Daniel, with whom she had lived from the death of her husband, and who surrounded her with every comfort and bestowed upon her the tender care of a thoughtful and dutiful son. l'or a quarter of a century, and where five more children were added to the issue of his marriage. A farmer by occupa- tion, as was his father in Pennsylvania, he entered upon agriculture as a pleasant and profitable vocation. But being a man of warm, religious feeling, and pos- sessed of a highly spiritual nature, and, Daniel Funck first opened his eyes upon the lights and shadows of this world July 27, 1529, in a primitive log cabin on his father's farm, in Chester Township. Here his earlier years were spent. and until he attained the age of twenty. in felling timber, hewing and chopping. grabbing and splitting rails, plowing and sowing, flailing buckwheat and husking corn, attending apple euttings and rush- ing the rustic belles, and was happy as a bee upon the clover blossoms. The op- portunities for education at the rustic schools of that period were not so attract- ive and valuable then as now, but, such as they were, il was the privilege of Mr. Ennek to avail himself of their advan- tages. He attended the old log school- house of primordial construction. with puncheon floor, greased paper windows, withal, equipped with the requisite edu- cation, he became a teacher and minister in the Mennonite Church, and in con- junction with his labors on the farm he proclaimed from the pulpit the plain and practical piety of its illustrious founder. This was in his earlier years, as subso- quently he identified himself in active membership with the Church of God, and for fifty years consecrated himself to its ministry. As was characteristic of all of the early settlers, Mr. Funck and his family encountered many hardships, made sacrifices and endured embarrass- ing privations. In process of time, how- ever, these obstacles were subdued, and a better and more prosperous condition of society appeared, accelerated, in a large measure, by their own active, patient and persevering efforts. In 1849 Mr. Funek, , sitting on a rude bench with a slab pinned then having attained three seore years, , or spiked to the wall for a writing desk, abandoned the farm and removed to and imbibed the waters of knowledge Wooster, where he remained, with the from the " master," who was frequently a exception of about one year, until his death, which occurred April 2, 1862.
"down east Yankee." and who could not only quote but set to music the multipli-
WAYNE COUNTY. 205
cation table. His educational advantages were necessarily limited, and facilities for any achievements in the higher branches of study were extremely meager and few. He, however, received a fair common- 1
school education, much of it having been acquired by the light of the candle or hearth, after the day's labor had been completed. No college opportunities were opened to him, nor a chance to study the langnages or the higher branches of En- glish education. His energy, close ap- plication, force of character and per- sistent industry have assisted largely in neutralizing these disadvantages. At the age of twenty he determined to step out and meet the current of the world for himself and shape the venture to his' purpose and ambition. He concluded to learn a trade, which, to a young man, is supposed to be the equivalent of a cash capital of $1,000. In 1849 he went to Ashland, Ohio, as an apprentice in a car- riage manufactory, where he remained until 1851. He then traveled as a journey- man carriage maker in the Eastern States, returning home again in 1853, when he was seized with a quenchless thirst for California gold. The wand of the yellow enchanter was upon him, and the spell could not be broken. A steamer soon landed him on the Pacitie slope, where he remained for live years. He located at
his trade as manufacturer, and engaging in mining enterprises. Here he had to confront the catastrophe of fire, as his entire investments in stock and property were consumed by conflagration. But he was not of the metal to be daunted by the fire-fiend, or crushed by the devastations of calamity. He at once addressed himself to the work of rebuilding, and this ac- complished, he sold out and went to San Francisco, where for a year he was en- gaged in various projects, chiefly of a mining character. In 1859 he returned to Wayne County and " the scenes of his childhood," and for a period was employed in book-keeping, meantime completing a course of training at a commercial col- lege. He soon thereafter purchased a carriage manufactory in Wooster, and for a series of years conducted that business. but in 1866 the demon of fire, which in its ernet jaws had ernshed his substance in the Golden State, revisited him and swept away his investments. Twice did ill fortune lay her apparently revengeful finger upon him, and twice did he sound his bugle in renewal of the conflict, for he knew the race was not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, and he again fought for success over the numae- adamized thoroughfare of perseverance and industry. And he has achieved it.
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.