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 50
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Maud and Flora. Mrs. Curry is a mem- ber of the Woman's Relief Corps of Wooster. Mr. Curry is a F. & A. M., a member of the Chapter and the Blue Lodge; a member of the K. of H., the K. O. T. M. and the Iron Hall. Politically he is a Republican, and was elected a member of the city council from the Sec- ond Ward in April, 1888.
OHN FRAZIER, one of the promi- nent farmers of Wayne Township, is the fifth of nine children of John and Elizabeth (Forkney) Frazier, who came to Wayne County from York County, Penn., and settled near Clear Creek, where they spent the last years of life. He was reared and educated in Wayne County. He bought his present homestead of 130 acres in 1860, and has improved it, erect- ing good buildings, and now has one of the pleasantest homes in the township. He takes an active interest in all public affairs, and by his integrity and straight- forward dealings has made many friends. Hle was married in 1844 to Maria J. Reed, daughter of Andrew and Sarah (Stewart) Reed, early settlers of Wayne County. They are members of the Presbyterian Church. In polities Mr. Frazier is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party, but is in no sense a
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politician. Mrs. Frazier's father, Andrew Reed, was born in County Down, near Belfast, Ireland, and was there married to Sarah Stewart. They had a family of twelve children, all born in America ex- cepting one, their names being: Hugh, John, Martha, David, Andrew, William, Joseph, Sarah, Isabella, Nancy and Ellen (twins) and Maria Jane. They came to America about 1800, first settling in Beaver County, Penn., and a few years later moved to Wayne County, Ohio, where he entered 160 acres of land, which he cleared and improved, making it his home until his death, which occurred in 1842 when he aged seventy-three years. His wife died in 1831, aged fifty years.
A LFRED C. GLESSNER, son of Philip and Margaret ( Roughcorn) Glessner, natives of Westmoreland County, Penn., was born September 24, 1886, in Astiland County, Ohio. His parents came in an early day to Wayne County, Ohio, and located on a farm in Greene Township, afterward moving to Ashland County, Ohio. Alfred C. was reared on a farm and obtained a limited education at the schools of the period. In 1876 he moved into Wayne County, and here carried on farming iu Miltou Township. In 1888 he established his
present business, that of livery stable, at Sterling, Wayne County, and has already succeeded in commanding a lucrative trade.
In 1857 Alfred C. Glessner married Miss Sarah Jane, a daughter of Thomas Baker, of Iowa, and to this union have been born eight children: Carrie A., wife of William W. Welday, of Canaan Town- ship, Wayne County; William, telegraph operator on the Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling Railroad; Ennna Jeanette, wife of Milford Lance, of Sterling, Ohio, and Hattie I., George A., Everett Thorn- ton, Clement D. and Edith, all at home. Mr. Glessner has always voted the Dem- ocratie ticket, but is not at all demonstra- tive in politics. He is a member of Sterling Lodge, No. 178, K. of P. Our subject was elected supervisor of Milton Township, but refused to serve.
W H. HARRY, photographer, Woos- ter, ranks among the best artists in his line in the State of Ohio. "He received his instructions from J. W. Baltzly, with whom he worked several years. In the fall of 1873 he located in Wooster, and opened a studio on the Square, and is now located opposite the Archer House. Here may be found sam- ples of his work, which includes copying
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and enlarging portraits in oil, India ink and water-colors. He is thoroughly con- versant with all styles of portrait work, his productions comparing favorably with those of the best-known artists of New York and Philadelphia. His skill is rec- oguized by the prominent citizens of Wooster, and in the preparation of the portraits for this volume he has been called upon to produce many of the photo- graphs for the use of the engravers and other artists.
D R. WILLIAM F. DERR, the oldest and best-known veterinary surgeon in Wayne County, was born in Springtown, Bucks Co., Penn., June 3, 1843. His father, Henry Derr, was also a native of Pennsylvania, and of German extraction, the ancestry coming to Amer- ica from Alsace some time in the "for- ties." Henry Derr was a merchant tailor, a trade he followed in Reading, Penn. He married Maria Fisher, of Bneks County, Penn., who bore him eight chil- dren. In 1861 Henry Derr passed from earth, and since then his widow has made her home in Reading, Penn.
William F. Derr, the subject of these lines, was but ten years of age when ro- quired to rely entirely upon his own un- aided efforts for support. His first work
was on a farm, at $6 per month, and at these wages he worked an entire year,' often being compelled to rise at an early hour and work till late at night, in load- ing and drawing lime many miles, where- with to fertilize the fields. He thus drew during the winter some 2,400 bushels. During this time, being almost constantly among horses and stock, the young farm- er found himself much interested in and in sympathy with the ailments of animals, and delighted in endeavoring to mitigate their sufferings. Thus was laid the foun- dation of his subsequent life's work. He formed the opinion that by study man might become as efficient in prescribing to the infirmities of the brute creation as to his own species, either in medicine or surgery. He thereto turned his attention in 1874. In 1878 he graduated at the Ontario Veterinary College, Toronto, and then came to East Union Township. Wayne Co., Ohio, where he commenced practice, and remained until 1879, in which year he moved to Wooster.
In 1884 fire destroyed his large barn and out-buildings, where he was living on Beall Avenue, and he then rebuilt at his present beautiful home on Nold Avenue. where he owns some three and a half acres of land. The improvements are entirely the Doctor's own handiwork, and they have been so numerous and so marked in the arrangement and decorating of house
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and lawn, that his home is indisputably one of the most pleasant in the city.
On August 16, 1866, Dr. Derr was mar- ried to Miss Martha, daughter of Isaac and Eleanor Daniels, of Wayne County, and four children have blessed them, viz. : Sadie (deceased), Emma L., William and Earl, at home.
In his practice Dr. Derr is known far and wide, and he leads such a busy life that short, indeed, is the time he is per- mitted to spend in the bosom of his fam- ily. Not infrequently is he called to Philadelphia, Cleveland, Fort Wayne and other cities, to render professional sery- ices, and in numerous cases, where it has been impossible for him to go in person, sick horses have been sent long distances to him for treatment, sometimes as far as from Kentucky. His success has been remarkable and is probably owing to the fact that the Doctor has a natural liking for his chosen work, and because he is an untiring reader, keeping well up with the times, possessing and nstng the latest and best, both of instruments and books relat- ing to his profession; he has already an exceptionally fine veterinary library and case of surgical implements. He is one of the first veterinary graduates in Ohio, nund to-day has one of the largest practices of any country practitioner in the State. Not only is Dr. Derr acquainted pro- fessionally, but he has won a large circle 31
of friends, to whom he is well known as a genial companion, a pleasant and hospitable gentleman. In 1864 the Doctor enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Sixty- Ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served his country six months, being stationed at Fort Ethan Allen, near Washington. In 1865 he received an honorable discharge and returned to Ohio, where his home and success has since been made. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, I. O. O. F. and G. A. R., and is a Knight Templar; politically he is a Democrat.
LAMES RAMSEY was born June 14, 1833, a son of Alexander and Cath- erine (Swenger) Ramsey. Michael Ramsey, the grandfather of James, was a native of Ireland and settled about 1818 on the farm now owned by the latter. His father was born in Ireland in 1807, came to Wayne County with his parents, and entered nn adjoining tract of land in the center of East Union Township, where he lived mutil his death in 1872. He exper- ienced the hardships of the early pioneer, and by his labor and industry acentu- lated a large amount of property. He was an ardent Democrat, and served as county commissioner for three years; also held various township offices. Ho was elected justice of the peace but did
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not serve. His wife, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1804, survives him and resides with her son, James. Four chil- dren were born to them, two of whom died in infancy; the others are John, residing in Orrville, and James.
Our subject attended the schools of the period, and has always followed farming; at the present time he owns 540 acres of ยท land, and is engaged in agriculture and sheep-breeding. November 2, 1862, he married Miss Sarah Jane, danghter of Sam- nel K. Landes, of East Union Township, Wayne County, and by her has one child, Joseph W., who was born January 24, 1861, and lives at home. Mr. Ramsey votes the Democratic ticket, and has held the offices of trustee and treasurer of his township. He was elected township clerk, but his business prevented him from serving.
E MANUEL C. SHISLER, farmer, was born in Lancaster County, Penn., in 152S, a son of Benjamin and Catherine (Shirk ) Shisler. His father was a native of Lancaster County, Penn., where he lived until 1836, when he re- moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and sot- tled on land owned by his father-in-law, John Shirk, a well-to-do farmer, of Dan- phin County, Pen. He made this coun- ty his home until his death, and became
one of its prominent citizens. His family consisted of two sons, Emanuel C. and Ben- jamin.
E. C. Shisler from the age of nearly nine years has lived in Wayne County. He learned the carpenter's trade in his youth, at which he worked twenty-two years. Since then he has devoted his attention to farming, and now owns eighty acres of good land, all of which was formerly the property of his mother. He was married in 1850 to Catherine Hanley, daughter of Samuel Hanley. To them have been born nine children, but six of whom are living: Mary Elizabeth, Samnel HI., John Wesley, Eliza Jane, Clara Ellen and Ida M. Sarah, William and an infant are deceased. His wife died and Mr. Shisler afterward married Mary Gartner, daughter of Val- entine. Gartner, of Wayne County. Mr. Shisler is a stanch supporter of the prin- ciples of the Democratic party, but has no aspirations for official preferment.
S AMUEL C. CRAVEN, Among the very old settlers of Chester Town- ship was Samuel Craven. He was a native of Washington County, Pen., born November 8, 1800, of Scotch-Irish descont. His father, James Craven, was twieo married; first in 1700 to Hannah Leonard, and after her death to Elizabeth
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Moody. To his second marriage were born twelve children, Samuel being the oldest son. In 1822 Samuel Craven left his native State and settled in Wayne County, Ohio, locating on a quarter sec- tion of land entered from the Goverment by his father, with only $1 in his pocket. At that time it was entirely covered with timber, but he cleared and improved it, making it his home until his death, which occurred February 8, 1588. He was at the time of his death one of the oldest residents of the county, and was universally loved and esteemed, especially by the old settlers. He was always a hard-working man, and his industry was rewarded by the accumulation of a good property. He was married in early life to Margaret Bohor, of Washington Coun- ty, Penn., who died in 1829, aged twenty- eight years, leaving three children: James, Hiram and Lambert. He was again mar- ried, his second wife being Sarah Metcalf, and ten children were born to them: Vachel, Stewart, Susan Jane, Mary, John, Sarah Ann, William, George, Lucinda and Samuel C. Of these William and George served during the War of the Rebellion. Six of this family are living, Samuel C. being the only one now a resident of Wayne County. The mother died in 1881, aged seventy-five years.
Samuel C. Craven was born in Chester Township, in 1851. His early education
was obtained in the common schools of his township, and later heattended Smithville Academy three terms. He is one of the enterprising men of the township, a prac- tical farmer and a good business man. His farm of 165 acres was his father's homestead, and under his management ' has become one of the best farms in the neighborhood. He was married February 12, 1878, to Emna A., daughter of Jacob and Barbara ( Allamon) Winkler, of Ches- ter Township, and they have three chil- dren: Charles W., Ida M. and John Clyde. Mr. Craven is a Democrat.
S AMUEL ZIMMERMAN ( deceased) was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1798, a son of Michael Zimmer-
man. Samnel was left an orphan at the uge of twelve years, when he went with a sister to the State of New York, where he lived until manhood. In 1524 he came to Ohio, and located in Wayne County, entering a tract of heavily timbered land in Wayne Township. He built a log cabin, in which he lived for a time and began the clearing of his land. He was energetic and ambitious, and continued to make improvements on his lund until it was one of the best farms in the county. ITere he made his home until his denth, which occurred March 24, 1558, when he
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was aged ninety years. The last years of his life were spent in comfort, in the en- joyment of that rest so well merited by the pioneers who labored to transform a wil- derness into a country of thriving villages and productive farms. In early life Mr. Zimmerman learned the tailor's trade, but devoted his attention to farming after coming to Ohio. His widow still lives on the homestead, and is a lady of bright in- telleet, in the eighty-second year of her age.
Mr. Zimmerman was married in 1826, to Sarah Lehman, daughter of Henry Lehman. Of the eleven children born to them, but five are living: Fannie, Sarah, Mary M., David and Jacob. Mrs. Zim- merman has long been identified with the Lutheran Church, as was also her hus- band. In politics he was a Democrat.
E D. HARTMAN is a representative of one of the early families of Chester Township. In 1830 Sam- uel Hartman and his wife left Washing- ton County. Pen., and came to Wayne Connty, Ohio, first locating near the pres- ent town of West Salem, Congress Town- ship. Here Mr. Hartman bought a quarter section of land, all of which was covered by a dense growth of timber. This he began at onee to clear away. and made it
his home for nineteen years, making of it one of the best farms in the county. He subsequently moved to Canaan Township. locating one-half mile south of the village of Burbank, where he bought another quarter section, on which he lived until 1853, when he moved to Chester Town- ship, buying what was known as the Sherwick property, which also contained 160 acres. He made this place his home until his death, which occurred in 1862, when he was aged fifty-five years. He was a successful farmer, and left a landed es- tate of 500 acres, which is still in the possession of his children.
E. D. Hartman was born in Congress Township, October 7, 1839, being one of the oldest of the family of ten children. He was given good educational advan- tages, being for some time a student at Mt. Union and Hayesville Academies. He has devoted a part of his time to teaching school, and also gave his atten- tion to the cultivation of his farm: has been successful in his pursuits, and is now one of the prosperous farmers in his township. He is a member of the United Brethren Church; in polities, casts his suffrage with the Prohibition party. He was married in 1865 to Margaret A. Me- Donald, daughter of Newton MeDonald, and they have a family of six children: William W., Charles N., Mary V., Harry O., Minnie Mand and Roy MeDonald.
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1 SAIAH BYALL. This gentleman is a native of Wayne County, having been born in Sngur Creek Township, December 9, 1830. His father, James Byall, was born in Baltimore County, Md. The ancestors of this family came to America at an early day, the great-grand- father of our subject being of French ex- traction, and the great-grandmother of English. Some of the family took part in the struggle for independence, and some died in English prisons of starva- tion. Our subject's grandparents re- moved to Stark County, Ohio, where the grandmother died, and the grandfather, who was a shoemaker by trade, removed to Findlay, Ohio, and settled upon a tract of wild land, where now the public square of that flourishing city stands. There he died, and there many of his descendants yet make their homes.
James Byall began work for himself when yet a boy, and on the breaking out of the War of 1812, offered his services and was accepted. He fought against both the English and the Indians, and ut. the time of Hull's surrender was with the army under Gen. Cass, near Sandusky. He served throughout the war, after which he returned to Stark County. He received from the Government, iu acknowledgment of his services, a warrant of 160 acres of land. Soon after this Mr. Byall came to Wayne County and entered land near
where Dalton now stands, at a place sub- sequently called Jericho. It was but a wild tract of land, but he ereeted upon it a log cabin, and as he was then an un- married man he lived for some time with no companions but his dogs and guns. He endured this life but a year, when he be- came united in marriage with Miss Mary Pruner, daughter of Daniel und Lovicy Pruner, and a native of Washington Coun- ty, Penn., where her father died. When about fifteen years of age she came to Wayne County with her sister and mother, and here in the woods she and her future partner met, wooed and wed. Together this worthy couple endured the trials and hardships of a pioneer life. Children soon came to gladden the cabin, and they had a family of eleven, of whom eight are yet living, our subject and a sister, Mrs. Margaret Hackett, of East Union Township, being the only ones in Wayne County. July 3, 1855, death called at the home of the pioneer, and he passed away at the age of sixty-seven, having been born September 1, 17SS. Ho had always been an extraordinarily industrious man, and the hard labor he performed in making his home in the wilderness nn- doubtedly shortened his days. Mr. Byall was a great friend of Poe, the renowned Indian fighter, and once, when the latter was sick with fever, carried him across the stream on his back. He was a mon
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well liked and respected, and at one time held the office of township trustee. For fifteen years after her husband's decease Mrs. Byall remained on the old home- stead, and then removed to the home of our subject, where she died January 4, 1887, aged eighty-seven years and sixteen days.
Isaiah Byall, the subject proper of this sketch, attended the old log school house of the day where he acquired an educa- tion sufficient to be able to teach school, which he engaged in for several years during the winter, but his father being an invalid for ten years before his death, the care of the farm devolved upon him, and at the age of eighteen he took full charge of it. On his father's death he was made administrator of his estate. After this he removed to Fort Wayne, Ind., where he purchased and improved a place. The year following he returned to Wayne County, and was united in marriage with Miss Minerva J. Boydston, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Steel) Boydston, pioneers of East Union Township, where Mrs. Byall was born. Her father was a Virginian, and made the journey to Wayne County on foot, carrying on his arm, all the way, an old tea-kettle. He built a cabin, and, like James Byall, for a time lived alone, being subsequently mar- ried to Elizabeth Steel, who was his third wife. They lived the usual life of a
pioneer, and cleared and improved the farm by assiduous labor. The father died in Orrville, aged seventy-seven years, and the mother still lives there, aged sev- enty-nine. Five of their children are now living, all in Wayne County.
After his marriage onr subject and his wife returned to his farm in Indiana, where they stayed for two and a half years. He exchanged this farm for one in Wayne County, to which he removed in 1861. There he farmed until 18SS, when he re- tired and moved to his pleasant home on Beall Avenue, in Wooster, where he now lives. Six children graced the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Byall, named Elizabeth Belle, Vernon B., Solou A., Charles D. and Martin Welker and Henry Wallace, twins. Our subject is in polities a Demo- erat, and during the Civil War was known as a Douglas man. He was strongly in favor of Union, and contributed liberally for the prosecution of the war. For two terms he was justice of the peace in East Union Township, and served two terms as connty commissioner. In the fall of 1887 he was elected secretary of the Wayne County Pioneer Association, in which he takes much interest. He started poor in life, but by striet attention to his business, and the exercise of good judgment he has achieved success. He is a man of whom all speak well, and he has contrib- uted much toward the upbuilding of the
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county, whose welfare has always been dear to his heart. In early life he became a member of the Masonie fraternity. His estimable wife is a member of the English Lutheran Church.
HOMAS C. POLLOCK, a well- known merchant of Wooster, Wayne Co., Ohio, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 2, 1850. His father, Robert H. Pollock, was a native of West- moreland County, Penn., and his grand- father, John Pollock, was also a native- born American, of Scotch-Irish extraction, and was by occupation a farmer.
Robert H. Pollock received a good edu- cation at Athens, Ohio, and afterward at- tended the Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio, where he was prepared for the ministry and was ordained in what is now known as the United Presbyterian Church. He married Miss Jane H. Seroggs, a native of Pennsylvania, whose ancestors came from the north of Scotland. From Pennsylvania the Pollock family removed to Indiana, and later to Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1864 Rev. R. H. Pollock and family came to Wooster, where for eleven years he filled the pulpit of the United Presby- terian Church, which, when he took charge of it had a membership of but 120 souls. During his pastorate his zealous
labors increased the membership to 275, and a new church edifice was erected. In the early spring of 1877 Mr. Pollock went to Mount Vernon, Ohio, to take charge of a struggling mission station, to aid in building it up, but the devoted pastor did not live to complete his self-assumed task, being called, in the following July, at the age of fifty-eight years, to the reward which awaits the faithful worker in his - Master's vineyard. He was a devoted pastor whose whole time and strength was given to the cause of Christ, and le ac- complished much good during his years of labor, and died regretted by a large circle of friends, who loved and revered him as an upright man and exemplary Christian. His widow is now living with her son in Wooster, the latter being, with one sister, Mary H., also of Wooster, the only survivor of their twelve children.
Thomas C. Pollock received his early education in the common schools of Woos- ter, and later attended its university. When eighteen years of age, on his father's removal to Mount Vernon he be- gan clerking in a shoe store at that place, and with other firms. For a year he was unable to do any work, but on recovering his health came back to Wooster, where he clerked for MeCleman & Casler, and following that was for two years employed in Coon's grocery. In 1882 he formed a partnership with Jacob Selonnek in the
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grocery trade, the latter withdrawing in the spring of 1885, and our subject formed a connection with John Deer, which con- tinned until December, 1886, when the latter sold to Mr. Pollock, since which time he has continued alone, doing a fine business, and prospering, as he is known as an upright and enterprising merchant, who can always be depended upon. Our subject joined the United Presbyterian Church when a boy of fifteen, and has ever since remained an active and valued member of that body. For two years he filled the position of treasurer of the church in Wooster, and in the spring of 1887 was elected an elder. His success in life is due entirely to his own efforts and business ability, as he started in life with a capital principally of a well-de- served reputation for probity and trust- worthiness, with but little money. He has by his upright and manly life made gratifying progress, and is to-day recog- nized as one of Wooster's most reliable and rising young business men.
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