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 34
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had in this county, as well as in their old home, acquired the confidence and re- spect of the people among whom their lot was cast. The father had been, in his younger days, married previous to the union with the mother of our subject, and
right lives, they were highly respected, and will be long remembered. Philip Morr, grandfather of Mrs. Snyder, was a Revolutionary sollier. Lewis Snyder and his young wife began their married life on a farm which he had purchased by that marriage had become the parent ! in Franklin Township, and there they of two children. Of his later union there were twelve children, eight of whom -four sons and four daughters-grew to maturity. Jacob Snyder was, in his ear- lier years, an active member of the Whig party, and voted and worked for ' the grandfather of onr present President, Gen. William H. Harrison.
remained for twenty-six years, working assiduonsly to clear up and thoroughly develop their land, in which object they succeeded, and thus laid ap a competence for their old age. This was not accom- plished withont much hard work, sup- -
plemented by frugal habits, but in their declining years they can now take a rest from their toil, and look back with sat- istaction upon a life well spent. In 1876 they retired from active labor and re- moved to the city of Wooster, where they have since resided, in their pleasant home on Vine Street, surrounded by every material comfort. Four children
Lewis Snyder, subject of this bio- graphical sketch, was twelve years old when his parents came to Wayne County, and has ever since been a resident here. He stayed on the home farm, assisting his father in the toil of developing it from the wilderness, until he was twen- ty-five years of age, at which time he i came to bless their home, three of whom took the first step toward making a home are yet living. comfortably settled in homes of their own. The eldest. Ann Maria, is the wife of Andrew C. Miller, of Franklin Township: Sylvester G. mar- ried Miss Jane Reed, of Franklin Town- ship, and also lives in that township, on his father's farm, and Lavinia Elizabeth, with her husband, William Levers, resides in Wooster. The one that died was an unnamed infant. for himself by becoming united in mar- riage with Miss Sarah Morr, a native of Ohio, and a danghter of Philip and Sarah Morr, pioneers of Wayne County. Her father died when she was a little girl, but her mother survived many years, dying on their farm in Franklin Town- ship, at the age of seventy-six years. As pioneers, and as good and useful citizens, who had led honorable and up- Our subject takes much interest in pub-
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lic affairs, in which he keeps well posted, but always avoided holding office. He has, since its formation, been a supporter of the Republican party. He and his wife are consistent members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church of Wooster, which counts them among its active workers. Mr. Snyder is a self-made man, as he had no assistance in making his start in life. The financial success he has achieved is due to the inherent qualities of the man, aided by his faithful wife, who has for forty years been n wise counselor and a capable helpmate. In addition to other property they still own 160 acres in Franklin Township, where they lived so long and where they laid the foundation of their prosperity. They will long be remembered as among the best class of Wayne County's honored pioneers.
W ILLIAM BLACKWOOD, retired farmer and stock-dealer, Orrville, Ohio, is a native of Perry County, Penn., and is a son of Joseph and Hester Blackwood, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Lancaster County, Penn. They were married in Perry County, Penn., and lived there until 1817, when they immigrated to the then western State of Ohio, loeating first in Miami County, but a few years after buying a farm in
Shelby County, where they spent the re- mainder of their lives. Joseph Black- wood was an industrious man, was well- educated for those times, and for many years was an elder in the Presbyterian Church, of which all the family were members. He was born March 17, 1779. and died December 23, 1551, aged seven- ty-two years and nine months. His wife was born in February, 1784, and died September 22, 1865, aged eighty-one years and nine months. They were mar- ried Jane 25, 1805, and were the parents of eight children, of whom William is the eldest; next came Polly Ann, born Octo- ber 18, 1808, who died in Pennsylvania; John, born May 25, 1810, immigrated to Iowa, and died there; Mary, born October 25, 1813, is the wife of David Dey, and lives in Iowa; Margaret, born February 11, 1816, is the wife of Thomas Skillen, and lives in Shelby County, Ohio; Robert, born May 26, 1819, was killed October 31, 1874, by a runaway team ; Eliza An, born April 2, 1822, is the wife of Henry Young, and lives in Quiney, Mich. ; Sarah Jane, born December 3, 1826. became the wife of John Lawrence, and died in Shelby County, Ohio, September 20, 1854.
William Black wood was born near Land- isburgh, Penn., April 29, 1506, and was eleven years old when his parents came to Ohio. He worked at home until he was twenty-two years old, when he went back
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to Pennsylvania, stopping in Cumberland County the first year, and then going to work on the canal, subsequently teaming between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and again on the canal, and at various kinds of work. In the fall of 1831 he returned to Ohio, visiting a few weeks with his fu- ture wife's people, who had a short time before emigrated from Cumberland Coun- ty, Penn. On February 16, 1832, he was married at Wooster, Wayne Co., Ohio, to Miss Hannah, daughter of David and Elizabeth Gardner. She was born in Cumberland County, Penn., June 5, 1812. and died in Orrville, September 23, 1882. They were the parents of seven children, viz .: Elizabeth, born February 3, 1833, wife of Samuel Taggart, Joseph, born August 28, 1835, Mary, born October 8, 1837, all living in Orrville; Sarah, born December 13, 1839, is the wife of James Brown, of Akron, Ohio; John. of whom further mention is made below; William, born October 21, 1844, lives on his father's farm in East Union Township. Wayne County: and David G .. born October 30. 1850, is a resident of Orrville. After his marriage Mr. Blackwood worked around for three years, when he leased a farmi near the site of the village of Orrville, on which he lived for five years, then going to Sugar Creek Township for two years; thence to Stark County, Ohio, for three years, and then to the farm of 226 acres
which he yet owns in East Union Town- ship. There he lived until 1872, when he removed to his present home in Orr- ville, which he built. For twelve years while on the farm he followed threshing, also dealing in stock, continuing the lat- ter business several years after his remov- al to Orrville. He was of too active a temperament to be contented on the farm, and traveled extensively in pursuit of his business, visiting many parts of the coun- try and the principal cities. He is a self-made man, active and industrious, well thought of by his neighbors, and well known among the older residents of the county. He is a member of the Pres- byterian Church, and in polities is a stal- wart Democrat, as are all of his sons.
John Blackwood, the second son of William, was born in Stark County June 5. 1812. He was brought up on the farm in this county, living there until his mar- riage, which took place May 25, 1865. His wife's maiden name was Eliza Kling, a daughter of David and Matilda Kling, residents of Greene Township, where her father died January 21, 1876, aged sixty- five years and twelve days. Her mother is still living in that township, within a mile of where she was born and reared, and is now ( 1858) in her seventy-fifth year. Her parents were among the carli- ost pioneers of that part of the State, as were also the Klings. Mrs. Blackwood
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was born April 6, 1844. John Black- wood continued on his father's farm until two years after his marriage, when he re- moved to Orrville, and carried on the Mansion House Hotel for two years, then engaged in the livery business, which he carried on until 1881, when he sold busi- ness, building and stock, and has since been dealing in horses. Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood have two sons, named Guy D. (born January 6, 1867) and Eugene Les- lie (born June 2, 1870). The former is express messenger on the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad, and the latter is a pupil in the high-school at Orrville. While a strong Democrat in political opinion, Mr. Blackwood has never sought political office. He is an active, stirring man, and stands well in the community.
JEREMIAH R. NAFTZGER is one of Wayne County's best known cit- izons, and is proprietor of the Em- pire Flour and Feed Mill, at Wooster, the first mill ever built in Wayne County, having now been in existence for more than sixty years, and being widely known all over that section of the country. lle was born in Congress Township, Wayne County, April S, 1826, a son of John and Elizabeth ( Rider) Nattzger, the for-
mer a native of Lebanon County and the latter of Fayette County, Penn. The father was a miller and also a Farmer, and in 1816 he and his wife migrated to Wayne County, where he resumed those occupations. When he first came to Ohio John Naftager first stopped in Conotton, where he built a mill. le afterward built two mills on Killbuck Creek. which be- came noted in the early history of the county, and supplied the material for the "staff of life" to thousands of the early pioneers. About the year 1829 the mother of our subject passed away, and the father later was married to Catherine Haag, a native of Germany, who a few years afterward joined the majority, and he chose a third partner, who still survives. His first wife became the mother of eight children, and the second of two. Of his third marriage there was no issue; of the first wife's children two are now living. Jeremiah R. and a daughter, Mrs. Eliza Hower, of Chantauqua, N. Y. : her husband was at one time a merchant of Cleveland, Ohio. The two children of the second wife are also living, one in Dakota and one in Indiana. In August, 1866, the sturdy old pioneer was called home, at the ripe age of eighty-eight years. His life had been one of struggle and hardship, but his steadfast perseverance in the course he had marked out for himself enabled him to overcome all obstacles, and make .
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his life a success in the broadest sense of the word. He bequeathed to his children not only a good estate, but also the price- less heritage of a good name. He was in his younger days a Whig, but on the for- mation of the Republican party he joined its ranks and thereafter fought under its banner. He was one of the original founders of the United Brethren Church in Wayne County, and was for years its principal sustainer and supporter. His mill served as a place of worship for the protracted meetings, and his house was a harbor of refuge for the ministers who visited this then new region. As indi- cated by the name, the Naftzger family is of German descent, but their ancestors settled in America at an early day, and one of their descendants was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
Jeremiah R. Naftzger, the subject proper of this sketch, followed in the foot- steps of his father, and also became a miller and Farmer, working for his Father until he had attained his majority. In 1×17 he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Henney, a native of Wayne County, and a danghter of Peter Henney, one of Wayne County's pioneers. Her parents were among the first settlers on Muddy Fork, then a part of Wayne County, but afterward transferred to Ashland. When her father had been but a short time in Wayne County, he was out one day look-
ing for his cows, and while unarmed came upon a huge bear, but by vigorous shouting frightened him off, and it has always been an open question which of the two was the more frightened-bruin or the man. To Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah R. Naftzger came eight children, of whom Mary E., Newell R. and Cyrus L. are de- ceased; Albert W. is a resident of Woos- ter, and a miller by trade: Emma is the wife of John Blandford, of Wooster; Frank A., Adella and Alice are still under the parental roof. In 1866 Mr. Nafizger made his home in the city of Wooster, where he has since continuously resided. He bought his mill in Wooster from Mr. Miller, paying him therefor the sum of $16,000. He had bought from his father sixteen years before that time, in 1850, what was known as the Armstrong Mill. on the Killbuek, and in 1864 he bought the Canaan Mill, and removed it to the site of the Armstrong Mill, which his Father had built. In 1867 he built the pleasant residence on Pittsburgh Avenue which he now occupies. It is on a hill- side, overlooking his mill and fish-ponds, of which he has two. the work of his own hands. One of these ponds is stocked with earp and the other with black bass. Ilis mill now grinds about 30,000 bushels of wheat annually, and is fully supplied with all the modern inventions in milling. using the roller process. Its produet
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finds a ready sale, and the business is con- stantly increasing.
Mr. Naftzger was formerly a Whig in polities, and like his father joined the Re- publican party on its formation, having ever since remained a member of that party. The family are all respected mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which the father joined nearly twenty years ago. He takes a deep interest in religious matters, and is always foremost in all its good works. He is a member of the orders of the Iron Hall and of the Royal Arcanum. He is widely known and greatly respected, and is classed among the most enterprising public citizens of | later life. He now owns a fine farm of both town and county, always lending a helping hand to any enterprise for their advancement. In addition to his milling he is also interested in the business of ; iee-cutting, which gives employment to large numbers of meu in winter, when other labor is scarce.
Christy was a farmer by occupation, and was one of the most successful men of the township. He began life a poor boy, but by industry, perseverance and upright- ness became one of the well-to-do citi- zens of Chester Township. owning at the time of his death 300 acres of valuable land. He died October 21. 1886.
S. W. Christy was born in Chester Township in 1541, and received his educa- tion in the public schools of his native township. In his boyhood he began to assist his father in the duties of the farm, and of him learned the practical lessons that have been of benefit to him in his 200 acres, all of which was formerly owned by his father. Mr. Christy en- I.listed in the defense of his country in 1862, and was assigned to Company D, One Hundred and Twentieth Ohio In- fantry. He served nine months, when, on account of sickness, he was obliged to leave the field of battle, and returned home, where he again took up the more peaceful pursuit of agriculture. Mr. Christy was married in 1869 to Elizabeth J. Wills, daughter of James Wills, of Wayne County, and they have had a fam- ily of five children: Herman (deceased), Homer (deceased). Myrtle, Mary and Laura. In politics Mr. Christy is a Republican. He and his family are
S W. CHRISTY, farmer, Chester Township, is the eldest of the six children of Peter and Margaret (Hardy ) Christy, the others being named as follows: Lydia J., Sarah A., David O., Lyman R. and AAlexander H. Sarah A. 1 and Alexander II. are deceased. Peter : members of the Presbyterian Church.
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OHN C. WELKER. Of the repre- sentative farmers of Chippewa Township, Wayne County, none stand higher in the respect and confidence of the public than this gentleman. His industry has won him a competency, and his integrity the respect of all with whom he has come in contact. He was born in Birkenfeld, Oldenburg, Germany, De- cember 25, 1823, and is a son of Jacob and Louisa (Ault) Welker. He was reared and educated in his native country, and served six years and five months in the German army under the Grand Duko of Oldenburg. He learned the black- smith's trade under his father and brother, and came to America in 1851, stopping eight months in Philadelphia, and in Feb- ruary, 1852, he located in Litehfiekl, Medina Co., Ohio, where he worked as a journeyman five years.
isa, John C., Jr., Franklin A., Julia A., Henry M., Rebecca J. (Mrs. H C. Gross), Albert F. and Marian C. Mr. Welker is a member of the German Reformed Church : he is a Democrat.
R OSANNA WARNER, widow of Joshua Warner, Sr., was born in Chester Township, Wayne County, November 21, 1818. Her father, Nathaniel Edmunds, was a farmer by oc- empation, and was born in Tusearawas
County, Ohio. Mr. Echmunds married Mary Smith, a native of Ohio, and twelve children were born of this union. The fanrily came to Wayne County about 1512, and settled upon a wild piece of land, having to clear away the brush and build a log house for shelter, and in this house Mrs. Warner was born. Mrs. Edmunds died in 1886, aged upward of forty years, and Mr. Edmunds died in 1834, at the age of sixty.
In 1557 he settled in Milton Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, and embarked in business for himself as a blacksmith and wagon-maker, and here he was success- fully engaged for twenty years. In 1877 Rosanna Edmunds was married, April 12, 1842, to Joshua Warner, Sr., son of Nathan Warner, who emigrated from Pennsylvania to Tusearawas County, and theneo to Wayne County in 1511. Nathan Warner was married, in New York State. he located on the farm he now ocenpies in Chippewa Township, Wayne County, and has since followed agricultural pur- suits. In January, 1856, he married Re- becca, daughter of Christopher and Sally ( Hollowville) Lance, of Chatham, Ohio, I to Ann Adelia Davis, who became the and by her has had nine children, as fol- | mother of eleven children. He died in lows: Sally ( Mrs. William Miller), Lon- | 1814, at the age of eighty years, and in 1850
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his widow followed him to the grave, at the age of eighty-eight. They were much troubled by Indians. There were only three houses in Wooster City, and the nearest grist-mill was seventy-five miles away. In 1812 the settlers built a block- house to protect themselves from the depredations of the Indians, and in this the scattered inhabitants at times took shelter. This building is still standing, and forms a part of the residence of the Warner family. Joshua Warner and his wife, after their marriage, came to the farm where Mrs. Warner now resides.
Joshua Warner was born in Northamp- ton County, Penn., July 29, 1798. When but two years of age he removed with his father to Insearawas, and thence to Wayne County in 1811. He remained with his father on the farm until his death. His father and boys ent out the State road the length of their land, the Kill- buek bottom being almost impossible to cross, they fording the stream slightly north of the bridge, at Joseph Eichar's. Bears, panthers, wolves, deer and ratthe- snakes were in abundance. A portion of Beall's troops encamped at the spring on the old homestead. Captain Blackburn, who was a splendid man, stayed with his men on the premises for two weeks. An- other portion of the soldiers encamped about a mile west of this. The Methodists 1 organized a society at his father's house
as early as 1812, and it was the first Moth- odist organization in Wayne Comty. Quarterly meetings were also held there by distinguished divines like Adam Poe, Bigelow, Christie, Finley and others. And here Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Warner reared a family of nine children, who are all members of the Methodist Church; and here, also, Mr. Warner died, Decem- ber 18, 1877, in his eightieth year. The life of Joshua Warner was a sermon of itself, uttered in simplicity and truth. In early life he became a Christian, and fast- ening onto the truths and promises of the Scriptures, was carried on to final tri- umph. He lived in an atmosphere of prayer-" the soul's sincere desire." The nine children are as follows: Mary D., now Mrs. Rev. Isaac Beebe, residing near Warsaw, Ind .; John B., a graduate of Fort Wayne College, also resides near Warsaw, Ind .; Phebe is at home, taking care of the mother: Wesley, one of the substantial farmers of Wayne County, residing in Plain Township, was born in this county March 18, 1550 (on the 2d of October, 1573, he was married to Miss Anna E. Yost, daughter of Christian Yost, and a native of Wayne County. Their union has been blessed with five children, namely: Harry S., Glenn Yost, Wesley Clyde, Paul J. and an infant, not named. Mr. Warner is an earnest Pro- hibitionist, and he, his wife and two chil-
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dren are members of the Oak Chapel of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Warner is widely known, and is highly esteemed and respected by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance. His home is on a part of the old family home- stead, in the edge of Plain Township. The comfortable and substantial improve- ments on the farm are the result of his own industry and thrift) ; Eunice is now residing with Lizzie, now Mrs. William J. Woodward, near Warsaw, Ind .; Emma L., who has taught a number of terms of school in this and adjoining counties, with great success, and is now mistress of the Canaan school; Francis A. was born on the old homestead, April 2, 1860, and has farmed the place principally since his father's death (has made great improve- ment, which shows his good taste and skillful management, and is highly re- spected by many friends and all who know him. Was married December 25, 1888, to Miss Mary Bahl, daughter of Solomon Bahl, and a native of Wayne County. Mr. Warner has made several prospecting trips to Western Kansas with great sne- cess and honor. He donated the pulpit furniture and parsonage lot to the first church built in Rush County, Kas. Now owns and resides on the oldl homestead) ; Edgar H., the youngest of the Warner family, was married February 23. ISSS, to Miss Joanna France, daughter of John
France, of Wooster, Ohio, and now re- sides at Rush Center, Kas.
The Warner family is one of the best known and respectable in Wayne County, having by long residence, industry and high character done very much for the advancement of the community. The Warner family has resided in America since 1690. The maternal great-grand- father of the Warner children was a sol- dier in the War of the Revolution. During the war, on the approach of the British troops, they were in the habit of flying from their homes and hiding until the danger was past. On the 2d of Sep- tember, 1558, the first family reunion was held at the old homestead, at which forty representatives were present.
A NDREW OBERLIN was born in Lancaster County, Penn., August 28, 1814, and is a son of Abram and Mary (Stewart) Oberlin. His paternal grandfather was Andrew Oberlin, a native of Lancaster County, Penn .. who settled in Summit County, Ohio, in 1536, and died there. The maternal grand- father of our subject was Richard Stewart a native of Ireland, and a resident of Lancaster County, Ponn., for many years, Abram and Mary ( Stewart ) Oberlin, par- ents of Andrew, whose name heads this
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memoir, settled in Franklin Township, Summit Co., Ohio, in 1848, where they resided until their deaths.
Their son Andrew was reared and edu- cated in Summit County, Ohio, and has always been a teacher and farmer. He has been a resident of Doylestown, Wayne County, since 1574. In 1867 he married Amanda E., daughter of Jacob and Su- sannah (Marsh ) Kepler, of Coventry Township, Summit Co., Ohio, and by her he has three children, viz. : Lindley B., Aria J. and Mary E. Mr. and Mrs. Oberlin are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is one of the prominent and enterprising citizens of Doylestown; has served two terms as as- sessor of Chippewa Township, and was elected by his party to the office of county commissioner in 1888. Politically he is a stanch Democrat.
EVT THOMAS, a well-known citi- zen of Wooster Township, Wayne County, was born in Washington County, Md., September 21, 1824. His father, Lewis Thomas, was also a native of Maryland, and a farmer. He was mar- ried to Sophia Silvers, who was born in Virginia, and whose father was a native of Germany. Lewis Thomas removed to Wayne County at an early day, and set-
tled on the farm now owned by his sons. When he first settled upon the place it was an unbroken wilderness, and he was compelled to go through the usual trials incident to the life of a pioncer. Here the family remained until death claimed the father and mother, the mother dying first, at the age of sixty, and the father at the age of eighty. Mrs. Thomas was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their home was blessed with the birth of ten children-five sons and five daughters-six of whom are now liv- ing in Wayne County, two of the brothers, Jacob and Levi, on the old homestead, remaining there with their parents until the deaths of the latter.
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