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 47
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WAYNE COUNTY.
pewa Township, Wayne County; Martin and Elvina, deceased. John Forrer mar- ried Mrs. Sarah Camp, of Wayne County, Ohio, and has three daughters: Elizabeth, wife of George McConnell, of East Union Township, Wayne County; Ehnyra, wife of Samnel Plumer, of Orrville, Ohio, and Sarah Jane, wife of David Forrer, of East Union Township. Mr. Forrer owns a fine farm of 180 acres in East Union Township, and is one of the representa- tive men. He has always been a sup- porter of the Democratic party.
D R. NORMAN B. DAWSON is a son of Eugene B. and Sarah L. (Moses) Dawson. Thomas Daw- son, the grandfather of our subject, who was a native of West Virginia, of Irish parentage, came to Wayne County, Ohio, in 1809, and entered a tract of land in Greene Township, where he lived until 1816, when he entered a traet of land in Milton Township, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was the third settler in Milton Township, and was a prominent man in many ways. His wife was Jemina Burras, of Virginia, and they reared twelve children, as follows: John, Bridget, Mary, Archibald, George, Jere- miah and Emily, all deceased; Thomas, living in Defiance, Ohio; Castilla, wife of
Robert Orr, of Canaan Township, Wayne County; Sarah, wife of Newton Brosius, of Tiffin, Ohio; Engene B., in Kansas; Hiram B., in Seville, Medina County, Ohio.
Engene B. Dawson, the father of Dr. Norman B., -was born in Milton Town- ship, Wayne Co., Ohio, December 16, 1832. He received his education at the district schools and Canaan Academy, and has always followed farming. In 1854 he moved into Hancock County, Ohio, where he remained ten years; then returned to Milton Township, where he resided until 1878, in which year he moved to Garnett, Anderson Co., Kas., where he now lives. He took an active part in Republican pol- ities in Wayne County, and was a member of the Westfield Universalist Church. He was married, in 1853, to Sarah L. Moses, and by her has six children yet living: Norman B., our subject; George P., in Kansas, employed in the State Lunatic Asylum; Lydia E., also employed in the Kansas State Lunatic Asylum; Wallace W., Watt W. and Mina, all at home.
The subject proper of this biographical memoir was born in Hancock County, Ohio, January 2, 1856, and his education was received at the district schools and Baldwin University, at Berea. He read medicine with Dr. J. H. Wallace, of Smith- ville, Ohio, graduating from the medical department of the Cincinnati College of
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WAYNE COUNTY.
Medicine and Surgery. February 28, 1878, and has since been practicing his profes- sion at Sterling, Ohio. He is a member of the Northeast Ohio State Medical Asso- ciation, and also of the State Medical Association. He is a member of Seville Lodge, No. 74, F. & A. M., Sterling Lodge, No. 173, K. P., and Sterling Council, No. 818, R. A., for which he is medical examiner. In 1882 the Doctor married Miss Adeline, daughter of Jolm and Margaret Pettitt, natives of France, and settlers in Milton Township, Wayne County. By this union there is one child, Sarah Emily. Politically Dr. Daw- son is a Republican.
I ONATHAN S. YODER, farmer and dealer in fine horses, lives on Sec- tion 30, in Greene Township, Wayne Co., Ohio. He is a grandson of Jacob Yoder, a former resident of Mifflin County, Pen., who removed to Wayne County in 1818, being one of its earliest settlers. When he came here this was a wilderness, and on the site of the present city of Wooster, were but two log cabins. He and his family endured the hardships and severe labors incidental to a pioneer's life, but by steady industry and thrifty habits overcame its difficulties, and made a comfortable home for himself and his
descendants. The farm he bought was in Wayne Township, and there the hon- ored pioneer lived until his death. It comprised 160 acres, and before his death he had it well cleared and fenced and under cultivation. In this labor he was assisted by his sons, and the family were then and are still counted among the best of the pioneer settlers. Illustrative of the obstacles against which the early set- tlers had to contend, it is recorded that the wheat raised on the farm had to be hauled to Cleveland. a trip of four or five days, and was there sold for forty cents per bushel. Even that market was not opened for some time after Mr. Yoder came to Ohio. At first their wheat had to be bartered for other produce, for goods, or for labor. Jacob Yoder was married in Pennsylvania to Barbara Hooley, and had a family of six sons and four dangh- ters, all of whom are now deceased. Their names were Jacob, Michael, Peter, John, David, Samuel, Mattie, Rachel, Lydia and Maria.
The youngest son, Samuel, was father of the subject of this sketch. He was born in Mifflin County, Penn .. in 1808, and died on the farm where J. S. now lives, on March 31, 1878, aged seventy years. He was ten years old when his father immigrated to Wayne County, and witnessed its development from a wilder- ness to one of the best counties in the
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WAYNE COUNTY.
State. His father bought a quarter see- tion of land for each of his children, and that given to Samuel was uncleared ex- cept ten acres from which the brush had been removed and the large trees dead- ened. On this tract Samuel labored as long as he was able to work, and it is now thoroughly cleared and all under a fine state of cultivation. S Some of the land was sold and the farm now comprises 140 acres, through which the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Railway now runs, its depot being on the road bounding it. Samuel Yoder was an upright man, and a consistent member of the Amish Mennon- ite Church. He had the respect of his fellowmen, and left to his children the priceless heritage of a good name. He was married to Catherine Naftziger, who was born in Germany, April 8, 1817. Her parents came to America when she was seven years old, settling in Canaan Township, Wayne County, where the fa- ther died. A few years before her death the mother removed to Greeno Township, where she died. Mrs. Catherine Yoder is now living with our subject. She and her husband were the parents of eleven chil- dren. Jacobina is the wife of Samuel Plank; Jonathan comes next; Barbara is the wife of Rev. David Hostetler; and Jacob, a farmer, all living in Greene Town- ship; Levi is farming in Johnson County, Mo .; Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of
A. K. Kurtz; and Martha is the wife of Amos Smoker, all of Greene Township; Johnis a resident of Johnson County, Mo. ; Menno P. lives in Wayne Township, this county ; Samuel died at the age of twenty- one, and David V. when one year old.
J. S. Yoder, subject of this sketch, was born in a log cabin on the farm where he now lives, on January 3, 1840. He lived with his parents until his marriage, which took place in Lancaster County, Penn., where he lived the succeeding eight years, then returning to the place of his birth, which he has since made his home. He was married March 10, 1864, to Leah Stoltzfus, born in Lancaster County, Penn., February 28, 1841, her ancestors being old residents of that county. She died September 13, 1881, leaving seven children: Catherine Ellen, Sylvanus S., Sarah Melinda, Rachel Lucinda, Ephraim S., Leah and Jonathan Stoltzfus, the two latter being twins. Mrs. Yoder was a faithful and devoted wife and mother, a woman of deep religions feeling, and an active member of the Amish Mennonite Church. In October, 1883, Mr. Yoder was again married, Miss Mary L. Zook becoming his wife. She was born in Mifflin County, Penn., in November, IS40, of parents who were old residents of that county. Mr. and Mrs. Yoder are both members of the Oak Grove Amish Men- honite Church, und both ure teachers in
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WAYNE COUNTY.
its Sunday School. Mr. Yoder bears the reputation of a thoroughly honest and trustworthy man, and as such is justly held in esteem by all who know him.
A LBERT C. WILES is a son of David and Sevilla (Heckert) Wiles, natives of Preston County, West Virginia. They came to Wayne County November 4, 1828, and entered the west half of Section 20, in Canaan Township, making the last entry of Government land in the township. They started in life poor, and by hard work, perseverance and industry accu- inulated a large property, which they divided among their children. Mr. Da- vid Wiles will be remembered as a be- nevolent, enterprising man, who always took an active part in public affairs. His wife. died November 15, 1882, and he on March 24, 1886, both being mem- bers of the Canaan Methodist Episcopal Church. Their children who are living are Rebecca, wife of Abraham Deahuff, of Akron, Ind. ; Daniel, in Canaan Town- ship, Wayne County; Salinda, wife of John Fike, in Canaan Township, Wayne County; Eliza Ann, wife of Abraham Musselmon, of Alma, Neb .; David, in Yorktown, Iowa; Jennie, wife of H. W. Taylor, in Canaan Township, Wayne
County; Caroline, wife of Gideon John- son, in San Francisco, Cal .; Joseph M., in Canaan Township, and Albert C.
The subject of this memoir was born December 10, 1847; was educated at the Township schools and Canaan Academy, and for five years taught the township schools; also taught music for seven years. Since then Mr. Wiles has followed farming, inoving onto his present farm in Canaan Township in 1880. In 1881 he married Miss Kate, daughter of Allen Scott, of Hamilton, Ohio, and they have two chil- dren: Lutie Glysem and Gail Scott. Mr. Wiles, politically, is a Republican, and has acted as township clerk for ten years. He is secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Canaan Methodist Episcopal Church, and holds the office of lecturer in Canaan Grange, No. 1280, Patrons of Husbandry.
W S. ENFIELD, store-keeper and gauger. This enterprising young man was born in Somerset Coun- ty, Penn., in December, 1861, a son of Emanuel Enfield, now a prominent farmer in Wooster, who is also a native of Somer- set County, Penn .. Mr. Enfield followed farming up to his appointment to his present position, which occurred May 1, 1887. Politically he is a Democrat.
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WAYNE COUNTY.
UCIEN GRABER is a son of Peter Graber, a native of Switzerland, born October 11, 1822. The par -; ents of Peter Graber were Samuel and Magdalene (Steiner ) Graber, and with them he immigrated to America in 1827, and to Ohio. They first settled in Sugar Creek Township; thence moved to Paint Township, where the parents died. In 1847 he married Annie Kuoble, a native of France, and a resident of Paint Town- ship. Eight children were born to this union, one of whom died in infancy. Those living are Lucien, our subject; Amanda, wife of David Buler, of Allen County, Ohio; Julia, wife of Ross Koontz, of Mount Eaton, Ohio; Peter, in Sugar Creek Township, Wayne County; Alfred, in Virginia;
Helen, wife of Jacob Tschontz, of Paint Township, Wayne County; Louisa, wife of Arthur Fisher, of Wooster, Ohio. Mr. Graber is a mem- ber of the Democratic party, and a deacon in the German Reformed Church.
Lucien Graber, the subject of these lines, was born February 5, 1848, and was edu- cated at the schools of the township. At an early age he learned the stone mason's trade, but has been principally engaged in farming in Paint Township, Wayne County. In 1879 he married Miss Eliza- beth, daughter of Peter Saurer, of Sugar Creek Township, Wayne County, and by this union there are four children: Irvin
H., Winter C., Aldine and Myrtle Edith. Mr. Graber has always been identified with the Democratic party, and has served as justice of the peace two terms. In 1886 he was elected county commissioner, which office he is still filling. He is a member of Mount Eaton Lodge, No. 274, Royal Arcanum, and of Wooster Lodge, No. 41, K. of P. He and his family are members of St. Panl's German Reformed Church.
H E. HILEMAN, farmer, Chester Township, is of German descent, his ancestors being among the early settlers of this country. His father, Isaac Hileman, was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., January 25, 1797, and married Margaret Anderson, who was born in 1799, and was a daughter of James Anderson, of Somerset County, Penn. They had a family of ten children, viz .: John, born in 1819; James D., in 1821; J. I., in 1828; Margaret, in 1826; William, in 1829; Hiram, in 1831; An- drew, in 1831; Nancy, in 1837; Harvey, in 1840, and Annis, in 1843. But three of this family are now living. Isaac Hileman was left fatherless when nine years of age, and he was early thrown on his own resources. When fourteen years of age he began to learn the trade of a
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WAYNE COUNTY.
shoemaker, at which he worked for a number of years. He moved to Wayne County, Ohio, when a young man, his first purchase of land being in Sugar Creek Township. Ho there bought eighty acres, which he cleared, and at the same time worked at his trade. He lived there three years and then bought 170 acres in Chester Township, the greater part of which was heavily timbered. Hero he built a log cabin for the temporary use of his family. He then went to work at clearing his land, hewed the timber, and subsequently built a comfortable frame house. His farm, which he brought from a tract of timber to one of the best farms in the county, is the reward of years of hard toil and unremitting energy, and is still in the possession of his family. Mr. Hileman died in 1875, his wife surviving him until 1879.
party. Mr. Hileman was married in 1867 to Miss Minerva Mowery, daughter of Jolin C. Mowery. They have two chil- dren, Wallace and Jennie.
G APTAIN DAVID MITCHELL, son of James and Elizabeth ( Korr) Mitchell, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, March 22, 1829. His fa- ther, who was a native of Pennsylvania, and a soldier in the War of 1812, came to Ohio, and located near what was afterward known as Mitchell's Salt-works, in Jef- ferson County, where he reared a family of ten children, and died in October, 1865. The mother of our subject was a native of Ohio, and a daughter of James Kerr, an early pioneer of Jefferson County, Ohio; she died in 1844. Capt. Mitchell was married in Jefferson County. Ohio, Oc- tober 3, 1854, to Miss May Saltsman, who I bore six children, three of whom are now living.
H. E. Hileman, our subject, is one of the native sons of Wayne County, and one of its most enterprising citizens. He received a common-school education, and from his youth has devoted his attention Captain Mitchell, in May, 1861, raised a company (composing 107 men ) of Home Guards, in Ross Township, Jefferson Co., Ohio, which, in the following June, was nistered into the militia reserve. In Sep- 1 tember, 1861, the Captain applied for and obtained an order from the governor of Ohio to raise a volunteer company for the to agriculture. He now owns the home- stead of his father and has erected a fine residence and other farm buildings, which make it one of the most desirable homes in the county. He has been prominent in political circles and has held the offices of township treasurer and trustec. He casts his suffrage with the Republican | the three years' service, and in a few days
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after receiving the order he had a com- pany raised of hardy and determined vol- unteers. This company was mustered iu at Camp King, near Covington, Ky., Oc- tober 3, 1861, and transferred to the Sec- ond Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Col. L. A. Harris, which was assigned to the First Brigade, First Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland. Col. Harris and his regiment participated in all the important battles in which that corps was engaged, some of the most notable being Perryville, battle of Stone River, Chickamauga, with Hooker at Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, and numerous other minor en- gagements. On the 14th of May, 1864, while attemping to storm the breastworks at Resaca, Capt. Mitchell, while lead- ing on his men, was struck in the leg by a minie ball. He managed to crawl off the field, and was later carried to the field hospital, where he remained only a short time, having a thirty days' furlough. Al- though badly wounded, and having the privilege of retiring, the Captain, at the expiration of his furlough, nobly returned to the front. After three years' service, Capt. Mitchell and the shattered rem- nant of his company were mustered out, receiving an honorable discharge at Co- Iumbus, Ohio, October 10, 1861.
the war ended, he returned to his old home in Jefferson County, Ohio, and to the present time he has since alnost un- interruptedly been engaged in merchan- dising. From Jefferson County he came to West Salem, Wayne County, June 7, 1867, and has here since resided. Genial and pleasant, now at the age of sixty years, he is enjoying comparative repose, though never idle, and exhibits as much determination to fight ont the battle of life as he did when leading on his brave volunteers to crush ont the Rebellion.
M ICHAEL FERTIG, a well known farmer of Wayne Township, was born in Lancaster County, Penn., in 1815, the youngest of three chil- dren of Michael and Barbara ( Oberlin) Fertig, also natives of Lancaster County. His father was a farmer and a day laborer, and about 1835 came to Wayne County, Ohio, with his wife and daughter, and made this his home until his death which occurred in Angust, 1838, when he was aged fifty years.
Michael Fertig, Jr., came to Wayne County when about twenty-five years of age. He first found employment on a farm, working by the day until 1856, when he purchased the farm where he now lives.
Our subject was engaged in mercantile pursuits prior to his enlistment, and when | This farm contains thirty acres of good
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land, well improved and under good cul- tivation. No man in the county has worked harder and more faithfully through life than Michael Fertig, and none are more deserving of success. He was married in 1878 to Sarah Hoffman, daughter of Henry Hoffman. They have no children. Mr. Fertig is a member of the Initheran and his wife of the Re- formed Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Democrat.
R OBERT E. MCAFFEE is one of the most intelligent and progressive farmers of Chester Township. His father, Sammel MeAffee, is a highly respected citizen of the same township. Samuel McAffee was born on the sea coast in County Antrim, Treland, December 25, 1804, the eldest of eight children. six sons and two daughters, of William and Margaret ( Taggert) MeAffee. He re- mained in his native country until twenty- one years of age, when he set sail for America. Landing in Philadelphia, he remained in Pennsylvania for three years, when he returned to his native country, where he remained ten years. In 1838 he married Grace Stinson, daughter of Rev. David Stinson. In the same year, with his wife and his parents, and their fam- ily, he again came to America, and they at
once made their home in Wayne County, Ohio, where the father bought a quarter section of land in Sugar Creek Township, where he made his home until his death, at the age of seventy-six years. Samuel MeAtfee, from the date of his coming to Wayne County, devoted his attention to farming, In 1850 he bought the home where he now lives, which contains 166 acres of land, well improved. It was orig- inally the property of Jacob Kreamer. To Mr. MeAffee and his wife, nee Grace Stin- son, were born six children, viz .: John, Martha, Joseph, Sarah, Mary and Samuel. The mother died and Mr. MeAffee after- ward married Susan Girl, daughter of William Girl. Six children have been born to them: Robert E .. Susan, Matthew (deceased), Kate, Grace and David.
Robert E. MeAffee was born in 1846, and has all his life been identified with the interests of Chester Township. Hle How superintends the work of the home farm, thus relieving his father of care and responsibility. He has always taken an active interest in the welfare and govern- ment of his township, and has served sey- eral years as township trustee and school director. In polities he is a Republican. He was married in 1869 to Mary, daugh- ter of Joseph MeHelinery, of Wayne County. They have a family of nine children, viz. : Leopold, Thomas L., Mar- ietta, Annie, Edward, Frederick, Bertha,
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Jennie and Kate. Mr. and Mr. McAffee are members of the United Presbyterian Church.
N ATHANIEL MOWERY is a native of Chester Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, born in 1836, the third sou of John Mowery, a pioneer of this county. In recording the history of the lives of the citizens of the county we find that none have been more successful than Nathaniel Mowery. He now owns a fine farm of 600 aeres, on which are excellent building improvements. Although Mr. Mowery has accomplished so much in a personal way he has still found time to de- vote some attention to the affairs of his township, having always been among the foremost to advance the material, social and educational interests. As an evidence of the esteem in which he is held by his fel- low-citizens we note that for fifteen years he has been a school director. Mr. Mow- ery was married in 1858 to Miss Elmira S. Hartman, daughter of Samuel and Eva E. ( Wonsetter) Hartman, of Chester Town- ship. To them have been born nine chil- dren, seven of whom are living: Eliza- beth, now Mrs. Hill; Sarah E., at home; Martha, now Mrs. Ecker; Emma, Viola, John and Oren. Mr. and Mrs. Mowery are members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Mr. Mowery casts his suffrage with the Prohibition party.
C
APTAIN BENJAMIN F. MILLER, son of Benjamin and Martha (Hemphill) Miller, natives of Penn- sylvania, was born October 2, 1832, at Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co., Pen. John Miller, the grandfather of Benjamin F., came to Wayne County, Ohio, about 1825, and located in Wayne Township, where he was engaged in farming. He died there in 1846. Benjamin Miller, father of Benjamin F., and the eldest of John's family, was born in Juniata County, Penn., in 1799. He remained with his parents until eighteen years of age, when he went to Westmoreland County, Pon., and here he met the lady whom he mar- ried. After this event they first located at Stewart's Station in the same county. In 1846 they came to Wayne County, and took up their residence in Wayne Township for about one year, when they purchased a farm in Chester Township, same county. In 1863 they retired from the farm, and moved into Wooster, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. Miller was an active member of the Whig, and afterward of the Republican, party, and filled several township offices in Chestor Township. They died in 1550
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and 1879, respectively, prominent mem- bers of the Associate Reformed Church. They reared a family of nine children, all of whom are living except Margaret, who married John Cherry, and died in Iowa. Those living aro Elizabeth, wife of David B. Funk, of Wooster, Ohio; Nancy, wife of Jolm Long, also of Wooster; John, in Chester Township; Sarah An, wife of Thomas Van Sweergin, of Congress Town- ship, Wayne County; Mary, a maiden lady, also in Wooster; Benjamin F., our subject; Derinda, a maiden lady, in Wooster, and Lucinda, wife of Alex Postleweight, in Orrville.
The subject of this sketch came to Wayne County with his parents in 1846, and was reared on the farm, receiving his oduea- tion at the township schools. In 1848 he proceeded overland to the Rocky Mount- ains and California, spending four years in that section. In August, 1862, he en- listed in Company D, One Hundred and Twentieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was promoted to fifth sergeant, then to first lieutenant, and finally to captain of his company. He was captured at Snaggy Point, La., on the Red River steamer " Belle," and confined at Camp Ford, near Tyler, in Northeast Texas, for thirteen months. He and some fellow prisoners escaped in December, and reached the northern lines in March, having traveled between 600 and 700 miles. He then
served his country until his honorable discharge at Columbus, Ohio, June 30, 1865. After the close of the war Capt. Miller returned to farming and lumbering, and in 1874 he purchased his present farm. September 28, 1865, he married Miss Julia A. Baumgardner, daughter of Peter Baumgardner, of Wayne Township, and they have one child, Ora Eveline, living at home. Capt. Miller votes the Republican ticket, and although living in a Democratie township has held various offices, having served as school director for twelve years. He is a member of Givens Post, No. 133, G. A. R., of Wooster, and is a prominent member of the Wooster Presbyterian Church, having served as one of its trustees for six years.
IACOB NAFTZGER (deceased) was born in Harrison County, Ohio, in 1812, the second of seven children of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Miller) Naftzger. Ilis father was a native of Pennsylvania, but came to Ohio in a very early day. Jacob Naftzger, Jr., began life a poor boy, but by industry and good management became a wealthy man, owning at his death over 1,000 acres of land in Harrison and Wayne Counties. In 1841 he mar- ried Miss Susan Gotshall, daughter of Daniel and Mary ( Harpelhorn) Gotshall,
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