USA > Ohio > Williams County > Commemorative biographical record of northwestern Ohio : including the counties of Defiance, Henry, Williams and Fulton, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families > Part 23
USA > Ohio > Fulton County > Commemorative biographical record of northwestern Ohio : including the counties of Defiance, Henry, Williams and Fulton, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families > Part 23
USA > Ohio > Henry County > Commemorative biographical record of northwestern Ohio : including the counties of Defiance, Henry, Williams and Fulton, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families > Part 23
USA > Ohio > Defiance County > Commemorative biographical record of northwestern Ohio : including the counties of Defiance, Henry, Williams and Fulton, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families > Part 23
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Gamo H Miller
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Politically Mr. Miller affiliates with the Democratic party, and he takes considerable interest in local politics. He was the first mayor of Sherwood, has held the offices of township clerk and treasurer for Delaware township for several years each, being re-elected to the last-named in the spring of 1897; has also served as school director, always taking an active interest in educational affairs. Socially he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Good Templars, and the Patriotic Sons of America. He is liberal, contributing to the support of Churches and all objects for the good of his fellow men. His life has been manly, his actions sincere, his manner unaffected, and his example is well worthy of emulation.
REV. GEORGE W. SELLERS.
Residing in Section 36, Center township, Williams county, is Rev. G. W. Sellers. He is not only engaged in farming, but also devotes much of his time to the work of the ministry, being an ordained preacher of the Dunkard Church. He was born near Tiffin, Seneca county, Ohio, De- cember 3, 1853, a son of Frederick and Hannah (Shidler) Sellers. The pa- ternal grandfather, Frederick Sellers, Sr., a native of Germany, brought his family to America in 1820, and took up his residence in Seneca county.
Frederick Sellers, Jr., was born in Germany, in 1817, and was there- fore but three years old when he emigrated with his parents to the New World. In Seneca county he grew to manhood, and throughout his active business career engaged in agricultural pursuits there, making his home in that county until called to his final rest. He died, however, in Wood county, Ohio, October 7, 1892, at the age of seventy-four years, while vis- iting one of his children. His wife survived him only about fourteen months, dying at the same age. In their family were seven sons and two daughters, namely: Jacob (who died while serving in the Union army at the age of nineteen years), David (who also served in the Union army as a private soldier), Elizabeth, Frederick, Reuben, George W., Jesse, Anna, and Andrew.
Upon his father's farm in Seneca county, George W. Sellers passed the days of his boyhood and youth, becoming thoroughly familiar with agri- cultural pursuits and acquiring a good practical education in the common schools of the neighborhood. After his marriage he remained upon the old home farm, operating it for four years, and in February, 1881, came to Williams county. In Section 36, Center township, he purchased his present farm of eighty acres, upon which he has made many good improve-
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ments, and the well-tilled fields and neat and thrifty appearance of the place testify to his skill and ability in his chosen calling.
On December 20, 1876, in Williams county, Mr. Sellers was united in marriage to Miss Isabella Brown, who was born in that county, August 29, 1855, a daughter of Jacob and Catherine Brown. Mr. and Mrs. Sel- lers have four children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: O. V., February 27, 1883; Lowell, May 30, 1885; Arthur L., February 24, 1887; and Edith, March 25, 1890.
Mr. Sellers takes a deep interest in educational affairs and has most efficiently served as school director and school clerk. On October 25, 1885, he was elected to the ministry of the Dunkard Church, and was forwarded to the second degree October 2, 1887. He is a man of thoughtful, earnest purpose, of broad charity and kindly nature, and by all who know him is held in the highest regard.
JOSIAH CULLER.
One of the most prosperous and reliable citizens of Hicksville town- ship, Defiance county, is the gentleman whose name here appears. He owns and operates an excellent farm of two hundred and forty acres, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation. His home, with its surround- ings, denotes the supervision of an intelligent farmer and capable business man, who at the same time has proved a useful member of society, and one deserving the esteem and confidence which is so freely accorded him by the entire community.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Culler was born in Stark county, July 10, 1821, a son of Joseph Culler, a farmer by occupation, who died when our sub- ject was quite young. In the county of his nativity he was reared and continued to make his home until the spring of 1849, when he came to De- fiance county, locating on the farm in Section 5, Hicksville township, where he still resides. He has erected good and substantial buildings upon the place, and made many other useful improvements which add to its value and attractive appearance.
In Stark county, Mr. Culler was united in marriage with Miss Eliza J. Ritter, by whom he had three children: Malinda A., deceased; Barbara A., widow of Henry Thornburg; and William A. The wife and mother departed this life in Hicksville township, August 26, 1876, and in that township Mr. Culler was again married, his second union being December 13, 1879, with Mrs. Mary A. Bailey, widow of Robert Bailey, by whom she
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had two children: Mary E. and Dora. Mrs. Culler was born in Wayne county, Ohio, January 29, 1829, and is a daughter of John Bungard.
Mr. Culler has capably served his fellow citizens as township trustee, and was assessor of Hicksville township for five years. He has taken a good degree of interest in all local affairs, is a man of recognized ability, and with his amiable wife stands high in the community where they have so long made their home. In the United Brethren Church they hold member- ship. Politically Mr. Culler is a Republican.
MYRON J. SCHELL.
Mr. Schell, who is one of the proprietors of the "Hicksville Weekly News," is displaying marked ability as a journalist, and his work as editor has brought added popularity to that excellent paper. It is an eight-page, six-column quarto, established in 1873, and was leased on April 1, 1895, by Mr. Schell in partnership with B. B. Dowell, the latter withdrawing two years later, leaving Mr. Schell sole manager and publisher. The paper takes independent ground upon political issues, and its able and fearless cham- pionship of progress in all lines makes it popular among the best classes of the community.
On the paternal side Mr. Schell is of Holland-Dutch descent, but his ancestors came to America at a very early period, locating in New York dur- ing the administration of Governor Peter Stuyvesant. They established their home at Albany (then called Fort Orange) and various members of the family intermarried with the Van Valkenburgs, wealthy patroons of that locality. Both families owned extensive tracts of land, and were also con- nected with large brewing interests. Philip J. Schell, the grandfather of our subject, was born and reared in Albany, and in 1838 came west with his wife and family, settling in Scipio township, Allen county, Indiana, three miles from Hicksville, purchasing a section and a quarter of land. Doctor Frank VanValkenburg Schell, our subject's father, was only five years old at the time of the removal to Indiana, and as the schools of that locality were then inferior, he returned to the East a few years later, and was edu- cated at Albany, graduating from a medical college. At present he re- sides at Camden, Michigan, where he is engaged in handling proprietary medicines. His wife, whose maiden name was Jennie Reed, is a native of Salem, New York, and a descendant of an old Scotch family, her ances- tors having settled in New York State previous to the Revolutionary war, in which some members of the family took an active part.
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Mr. Schell was born in 1862 at the old homestead in Allen county, In- diana, and received his education in the public schools of Monroeville and Fort Wayne. At the age of seventeen he became interested in the mill- ing trade, but after working about four years at that occupation he gave it up to take a more congenial position with a mercantile firm in Fort Wayne. For six years he was connected with a large grocery in that city, in the capacity of foreman. Later he spent a year and a half as exchange clerk in the "Old" National Bank at Fort Wayne, and on leaving that position he became a "drummer" for a wholesale paper and stationery establishment, with which he was connected about two years. He then formed the part- nership with Mr. Dowell, leasing the plant of "The News," and he has since devoted his attention to that publication. Politically Mr. Schell is a Demo- crat, but his paper takes independent ground upon all the issues of the day.
In September, 1883, Mr. Schell was married to Miss Claretta E. Dow- ell, and they have had four children, viz .: Hattie, born July 15, 1886; Arthur, January 9, 1890; Marguerite, November 21, 1893, and Fleda, Aug- ust 7, 1895. The family is prominent socially, and is identified with the Christian Church at Hicksville, of which Mr. Schell is a leading member, and he is also connected with the National Union, a mutual benefit associa- tion organized on social lines.
DAVID T. BURR.
The county commissioner of Henry county, David T. Burr, is one of the leading and influential citizens of Monroe township, and has taken an active part in promoting its substantial improvement and material development. An adopted son of America, his loyalty is above question, and his labors in the interests of the county have been most effective and beneficial.
Mr. Burr was born March 18, 1835, in Alsace, Germany (then a part of France), where his parents spent their entire lives, dying in that country. Our subject was reared and educated in his native land, but in 1852, at the age of seventeen years, he bade adieu to his old home and friends, and sailed for the New World. On reaching the shores of the United States he proceeded to Seneca county, Ohio, where he worked by the year at farm labor until February 22, 1862, when, with his wife and three children, he removed to Henry county. After four years spent in Harrison township, he came to Monroe township. where he has since made his home with the exception of fourteen years, two of which were spent in the lumber business in Huron county and twelve in the same business in Union county, Ohio. In 1882 he erected a sawmill at
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Malinta, Henry county, which he successfully operated until 1892, but since that time he has devoted his energies principally to the cultivation of his home farm, comprising one hundred and thirteen and one-half acres of valuable and well-improved land. His elegant residence is surrounded by good barns and outbuildings, and the whole place indicates the thrift and progressive spirit of the owner.
In Tiffin, Ohio, December 10, 1857, Mr. Burr was united in marriage with Miss Betsy A. Switzer, a native of Pennsylvania, by whom he has nine children living and three now deceased.
Mr. Burr is a member of the General Synod of the Lutheran Church, and is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity. Since attaining his majority he has adhered to the Democratic party, and is to-day one of its most promi- nent representatives living in Henry county. For two years he served as town- ship trustee in Monroe township, for the same length of time held that office in Union county, and has been school director fifteen years-nine in Union county and six in Henry county. In 1892 he was first elected county com- missioner in the latter county, and has since served in that responsible position, being chairman of the board for three years. He is one of the most valued citizens that Germany has furnished to the New World, is a man of sterling worth in all the relations of life, and his name is honorably and inseparably connected with the history of Henry county.
DAVID C. MEEK.
This worthy representative of the agricultural interests of Hicksville township, Defiance county, owns a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Section 12, which has been transformed by him into a highly-cultivated tract. He is one of Ohio's native sons, having been born in Columbiana county, January I, 1824. His parents were James and Ann (Cooper) Meek, the former probably a native of Ohio, born in 1801, the latter of Pennsylvania, born in 1798. Both died in Columbiana county, this State, the father in 1845, the mother in 1873 or 1874.
David C. Meek and his twin brother, Samuel Meek, of Hicksville town- ship, were the eldest in a family of fourteen children, and were three years of age when the family removed from Columbiana county to Beaver county, Pennsylvania. After seven years spent in that State, however, they returned to Columbiana county, where our subject grew to manhood, remaining upon the home farm until he had attained his twenty-second year. Two years later he went to California, where he successfully engaged in mining for four years,
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and soon after his return to Ohio he purchased his present farm in Section 12, Hicksville township, Defiance county. He did not remain long in the East, however, returning to California at the end of a year. This time he spent twelve years on the Pacific slope, and met with fair success in his mining opera- tions. Since then he has made his home uninterruptedly upon his present farm, and to its development and improvement he has devoted his energies, erecting thereon good and substantial buildings.
In Hicksville township, on June 22, 1871, Mr. Meek was married to Miss Nancy Jane Beltz, who was born in Crawford county, Ohio, December 15, 1852, and is the second in order of birth in a family of five children. Her parents, William W. and Mary A. (Good) Beltz, were natives of Pennsyl- vania, whence in the early "sixties" they came to Defiance county, Ohio, lo- cating in Hicksville township, where they both died, the father in 1874 at the age of forty-seven years, the mother in 1894, when sixty-five years old. To Mr. and Mrs. Meek have been born three children: Eva A., who died at the age of six months; Clement O., born July 23, 1873; and David C., born De- cember 22, 1884. Of these Clement was married August 31, 1897, to Lillie Barrows, and they have one child, Laura Beatrice Meek, born June 8, 1898. Clement and his father are both Republicans in politics.
Samuel Meek, the great-grandfather of our subject, was of Irish descent ; his wife reached the patriarchal age of ninety-nine years. Samuel Meek, son of the above, and grandfather of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania in 1765, and married Elizabeth Nichols. Mrs. Meek's grandfather, Christopher Beltz, and his wife, Catherine (Beck), were both born in Pennsylvania; he died in about 1860, but she survived him several years.
WILLIAM ZACHRICH.
This gentleman, who as a skillful farmer and carpenter, and contractor, has been actively identified with the business interests of Highland town- ship, Defiance county, for some years, is a native of Medina county, Ohio, born February 6, 1850, whence when only two years old he was taken to Henry county, this State, by his parents, Henry and Mary Zachrich. There the father died in April, 1895: the mother is still living. They reared a family of seven children, of whom our subject is second in the order of birth.
On the home farm in Pleasant township, Henry county, William Zach- rich grew to manhood, acquiring his education in the local schools. On leaving home at the age of eighteen he began learning the carpenter's
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trade in Defiance, Ohio, and to that occupation he devoted his attention exclusively until 1887, since which time he has also engaged in farming. He was married in Highland township, Defiance county, April 6, 1874, to Miss Catherine Bouer, who was born in that township, November 3, 1856. Nine children bless this union, whose names and clates of birth are as fol- lows: Henry, February II, 1875; Louise, March 17, 1877; Flora, Aug- ust 27, 1879; John, December 22, 1881; Kate, August 20, 1884; George, May 13, 1887; William, April 30, 1891 ; Martin, June 29, 1894; and Emma, January 3, 1897.
For three years after his marriage Mr. Zachrich continued to reside in Defiance, and then located on his present farm of one hundred acres in Highland township. He is a progressive, energetic business man, and a public-spirited citizen. In politics he is a Democrat, and for several years has most capably served as township trustee, being re-elected in the spring of 1895. In the Lutheran Church he holds membership, and has been offi- cially connected with that organization, serving as trustee and director.
DAVID WISSLER.
This progressive and prosperous agriculturist, residing in Tiffin township, Defiance county, is proud to claim Ohio as his native State, his birth having occurred in Pickaway county, August 27, 1827. His parents, John and Cathe- rine (Welty) Wissler, were both natives of Pennsylvania, whence they re- moved to Pickaway county, Ohio, later coming to Defiance county, where their last years were spent, their home being in Tiffin township.
In the family of this worthy couple were nine children, our subject being fifth in the order of birth. He was about six years old when the family removed to Tiffin township, Defiance county, where he grew to manhood and has since continued to live. After his marriage he began housekeeping upon his present farm, comprising one hundred and sixty-five acres, which have been transformed by him into highly cultivated fields. He has a good residence, flanked by a substantial barn, and the various other outbuildings required by the progressive farmer. As a tiller of the soil he is thorough and skillful, and has been uniformly fortunate in his investments. At one time he owned two hundred and forty acres, but has since disposed of a portion thereof.
In Bryan, Williams county, Ohio, Mr. Wissler was united in marriage with Miss Martha E. Carr, who was born in Montgomery county, this State, September 1, 1833, a daughter of Robert and Hannah (Creely) Carr, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Vincennes, Indiana, where they
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were married. Subsequently they removed to Montgomery county, Ohio, and in 1835 located on a farm in Williams county, where the father died. The mother. who was of French-Huguenot descent, passed away at the home of her son in Knox county, Illinois. Mrs. Wissler is the seventh child in their family of eight children, six of whom reached years of maturity. She is a highly intelligent and cultured lady, and prior to her marriage was a suc- cessful teacher. Ten children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wissler, four of whom died in infancy. Those living are: John F., Florence M. (now the wife of John Herriman, of Bryan, Ohio), Willis W., Edward G., Nora, and Freeman W. In religious faith the parents are both earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; politically, Mr. Wissler is a Populist.
CHARLES F. GOLLER, ESQ.
This leading citizen of Washington township, Defiance county, is promi- nently identified with political affairs as well as with the agricultural interests of that locality. For many years he has been an active member of the local Democratic organization, being frequently chosen as a delegate to conven- tions of the party. He enjoys the distinction of being the oldest office holder in his county, as he has been continuously "in harness" since 1865, and at present he is serving his third term as justice of the peace.
Like many of our most thrifty and enterprising citizens, Mr. Goller is of German blood, his parents, Michael and Eva B. (Hitchelberger) Goller, having been born near Wurtemberg, Germany, the former on September 17, 1795, and the latter on February 25, 1799. This worthy couple were mar- ried in Wurtemberg, and resided there for about ten years, during which time our subject's father, who was an expert carpenter, was in the employ of the king all those ten years. In 1831 he came to America with his family, arriving at Cleveland, Ohio, on August 15th of that year, and soon after- ward he settled in Medina county upon a tract of twenty-seven acres of wood- land, which he cleared and cultivated while following his trade. About 1855 he spent ten months in Defiance county, and in 1856 he returned there to make his home with his son Jacob, in Washington township, where he died July 3, 1870. His wife breathed her last April 22, 1865, at the old home in Medina county. They had eight children: Mary (deceased), George, Jacob (born in Germany), John (deceased), Louisa, Catherine, Charles F., and Gottlob.
Mr. Goller was born January 28, 1840, in Liverpool township, Medina county, and remained at home until he reached the age of sixteen years. He
Charles F. boller Charles
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then went to Lorain county, Ohio, to learn the wagon maker's trade, and for some time after completing his term of apprenticeship he worked as a jour- neyman there and in Medina and Wayne counties. In the spring of 1859 he settled in Defiance county and on November 25, 1860, he was married in the town of Defiance to Miss Mary E. Keller, a daughter of George Keller, one of the earliest residents of Washington township. The young couple established their home at the present farm in Section 18, Washington town- ship, where Mr. Goller has made many improvements from time to time, erecting substantial buildings, and bringing the one hundred and fifty-eight acres under a high state of cultivation. Socially he is connected with the I. O. O. F., and he is also prominent in religious work as a member of the Lutheran Church.
Mr. Goller's political activity has already been mentioned, and in addi- tion to the various public offices to which he has been elected in this connec- tion since 1865, he has served for three years as a trustee of the Orphans' Home in Defiance county; has been school director for thirty consecutive years, and re-elected for three years more; has served as one of three officers in the Farmers Butter and Cheese Company ; has served as a director in the Farmers Mutual Fire Association for eight years, and seventeen years as agent in this same company; was elected township district supervisor, and served as supervisor in his district four years; has been guardian of two families for sixteen years, and at different times administrator of estates. He is now serving his tenth year as trustee of trust of several thousand dollars.
The family is prominent socially, and Mrs. Goller, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, August 24, 1844, was reared in Washington township, Defiance county, her parents having removed there in 1847. Ten children have brightened our subject's home : George M., Charles H., Laura E. (Mrs. E. H. Doud), Robert K., W. G., Kinnie E. (Mrs. Peter Donzy), Edward D., John W., Samuel P., and Eugenia. .
GEORGE ROCK, M. D.
This well-known physician of Sherwood, Defiance county, is a son of William Rock, who was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, and Sarah (Grei- ner) Rock, a native of New York. The home of the parents was in Crawford county for a number of years prior to 1860, when they moved to Delaware township, Defiance county, and here the remainder of their lives was passed.
George Rock was born in Crawford county, January II, 1854. Accom- panying his parents to Delaware township when a lad of six years, he re-
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ceived his elementary education at that place, and afterward attended the high school at Defiance. His early manhood was passed in mercantile life in Sherwood, and in the insurance business; but having resolved to pre- pare for the practice of medicine, he abandoned these pursuits and entered Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, in 1887, where he prosecuted his stu- dies that year and the following one. After continuing them for two terms at Rush Medical College, Chicago, he was matriculated at Toledo Medi- cal College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1891. Immedi- ately thereafter he located in Sherwood, where he has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession.
His first wife, whom he married in Sherwood, in 1875, and whose maiden name was Amanda Taylor, died soon after marriage. Two years later he married Margaret Sausamon, also of Sherwood, and a native of Defiance county. They have one daughter, Emma.
The Doctor is an enterprising and influential citizen, and his fellow townsmen have manifested their esteem for him by honoring him with various offices of trust.
JONATHAN MARKEL.
More than half a century has passed since this gentleman arrived in Wil- liams county, and he is justly numbered among her honored pioneers and leading citizens. During this time he has been actively identified with her agricultural interests, and is now residing in Section 4, Pulaski township. His valuable farm of one hundred and fifty-two acres was a wild wooded tract when he purchased it in 1848, paying for the same about five hundred dollars, but his arduous labors have been well rewarded, and it is now one of the best and most attractive farms in the community.
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