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 27
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 27
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 27
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 27
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from home. So it will be seen that I did not idle away my boyhood days, and my life has been a busy one all along."
THOMAS B. EMERY.
This prominent merchant and postmaster of Grelton, Henry county, is entitled to distinction as one of the most progressive and enterprising men of the community. Upon the commercial activity of a community depends its prosperity, and the men who are now recognized as leading citizens are those who are at the head of important business interests. He is a man of broad capabilities, one who carries forward to successful completion what- ever he undertakes.
In Montville, Waldo county, Maine, Mr. Emery was born February 26, 1838, a son of Levi and Lois ( Keene) Emery, who were also natives of the Pine Tree State, and died in Montville, the former on August 21, 1873, the latter on June 13, 1866. Our subject is next to the youngest of their eleven children-seven sons and four daughters-and under the parental roof he remained until he attained his majority, going at that time to North Chelsea, Massachusetts, where he spent one summer. Returning to Maine, he worked on the home farm for a few months, and in February, 1860, he came to Henry county, Ohio, where for two years he was in the employ of his brother, Judson Emery, in Damascus township. The following eight years were passed with his father upon the old home farm in Montville, Maine, but in February, 1870, he returned to Henry county, with whose com- mercial and agricultural interests he has since been identified. For the first ten years he engaged in merchandising at Emery's Corners, and then re- moved his stock of goods to Grelton, where he has since successfully carried on operations as a general merchant. Besides his village property he now owns two hundred and forty-two acres in Monroe and Damascus town- ships, Henry county, and the success that he has achieved is due entirely to his own unaided efforts.
Near Bowling Green, Wood county, Ohio, Mr. Emery was married April 9, 1862, to Miss Cynthia Shively, a native of that county, and daugh- ter of Henry and Margaret Shively. They were natives of Columbia county, Pennsylvania, were pioneers of Akron, Ohio, and as early as 1833 became residents of Wood county. Both are now deceased, the mother having died May 5, 1879, the father on March 5, 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Emery have one daughter, Eva M.
Under President Arthur's administration, Mr. Emery was appointed
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postmaster of Grelton, which office he then held for almost five years, and . was re-appointed during President Cleveland's second administration, being the present incumbent. His public service is most exemplary, and his pri- vate life has been marked by the utmost fidelity to duty. He is a public- spirited, progressive citizen, who has given support to all measures for the public good, and over his life record there falls no shadow of wrong. So- cially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
CHRIST. DIEHL BREWING COMPANY.
The Christ. Diehl Brewing Company, of Defiance, Ohio, is one of the leading industries of that city. The enterprise was founded by Jacob Karst in 1867, and a little later he admitted Joseph Bauer as a partner. In the spring of 1871, Christ. Diehl, Sr., purchased the share of Jacob Karst, and the firm until 1873 was Bauer & Diehl. When Alvin Bauer was admitted to the firm the name was changed to Joseph Bauer & Co., but in 1878 Alvin sold out to the other partners, and the firm was again known as Bauer & Diehl, so continuing until 1885, when Christ. Diehl, Sr., purchased the interest of Joseph Bauer, the enterprise then becoming known as the Christ. Diehl Brewery, and the present large establishment was mainly erected by him. It thus continued until 1896, when Christ. Diehl, Sr., sold out to his sons, Christ. Diehl, Jr., John C. Diehl and Albert F. Diehl, and the business is now carried on un- der the name of the Christ. Diehl Brewing Co., but the firm is not organ- ized as a stock company. Twenty-one men are employed at the brewery, which has an annual capacity of fifteen thousand barrels, while their annual output amounts to about twelve thousand. The brewery contains all the modern appliances, and the best product is placed upon the market. As the brothers were all reared to the business, it has been continued by them on the safe and judicious lines established by their father with the forceful energy of youth.
CHRIST. DIEHL, SR., was born in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, Aug- ust 21, 1842, a son of Paul Diehl, a native of the same place, who died when Christ. was but eight years of age. Christ. Diehl, Sr., was educated in the old country, and on coming to the New World in 1861 he engaged in the brewing business, which he has followed in his native land. In June, 1869, he married Mary Rantz, a native of Sandusky, Ohio, and a daughter of Casper Rantz, a carpenter by trade. To this union have been born six sons : Christ., Jr., John C., Albert F., Joseph A., August and Frank B. In 1863 Christ. Diehl, Sr., enlisted for the hundred-days' service, and then
Christ Diehl Ir
Chris Dieve In
albert E, Diehl.
John le Nicht
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re-enlisted in the cavalry under Captain Updegraff. He and his three eld- est sons (mentioned more fully below) have organized a. live-stock com- pany, and handle all kinds of live stock and poultry. In politics Mr. Diehl is a Democrat, and in religion is a Roman Catholic, as are also his three younger sons, while the mother and three elder sons adhere to the Luth- eran faith.
The Christ. Diehl Brewing Company is composed of Christ. Diehl, Jr., John C. Diehl, and Albert F. Diehl. They are systematic business men, and while young in years are experienced in every detail of the business in which they are engaged.
CHRIST. DIEHL, JR., the senior member of the firm, was born in Toledo, Ohio, March 1, 1870, and was educated in the schools of Defiance. From boyhood he evinced such a natural adaptability for business that at the age of thirteen he was placed in charge of the books of his father's business, and has ever since been actively connected with its management. He always finds time to aid in the advancement of municipal interest, politi- cally and socially. He casts his ballot with the Democratic party, is promi- nent in the municipal government, and has served his fellow townsmen as member of the city council for two terms. Socially he belongs to the B. P. O. E. and other organizations, and he is a leading member of the Luth- eran Church at Defiance. In 1893 he was married to Miss Louisa Speiser, and to this union have been born two sons: Arthur, on January 25, 1895, and Edwin, on August 14, 1897.
JOHN C. DIEHL, the next younger member of the firm, was born in Henry county, Ohio, March 27, 1872. He is a scientific brewer, and has full charge of that branch of the business. After pursuing his studies for some years in the schools of Defiance, he in 1891 entered the Ameri- can Brewing Academy at Chicago, Illinois, where he took a course in practical and scientific brewing. In 1894 he returned to the same insti- tution. and made a study of all the modern means and methods of the busi- ness. This school and academy training has well fitted Mr. Diehl for his department of the business, which he well and ably conducts. Socially, re- ligiously and politically he adheres to the same organizations as his brother Christ.
ALBERT F. DIEHL, the youngest member of the firm, who is also one of the youngest business men in northwestern Ohio (in fact the firm when organized in 1896, was managed by the youngest men of any firm in Defiance county), was born in Defiance, November 13, 1875, and in the public schools of that place he received a good literary training, later
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attending Defiance College to prepare for his business course, where both of his brothers. had preceded him. From this institution he was gradu- ated in 1892. He has charge of the books of the firm, and looks after all accounts pertaining to the business. Like his elder brothers he adheres to the Lutheran faith, is a Democrat politically, and socially is a member of the B. P. O. E.
It is interesting to visit their place of business, each member attends to his own department to which neither of the others gives any concern, and at the close of each day the work in each department is so complete, that a report can be given by any one of the firm of the exact condition of af- fairs in his line of work. While the members of the firm are thorough business men, they are very social, genial gentlemen, and in the city of De- fiance, where they were born, reared and educated, none are held in more universal respect than are the members of The Christ. Diehl Brewing Com- pany.
GEORGE W. EDWARDS.
As one of the representative business men of Holgate, Mr. Edwards, our subject, holds prominent position. For almost half a century he has resided in Henry county, and his name is inseparably connected with its agricul- tural and commercial interests. His thoroughly American spirit and great energy have enabled him to mount from a lowly position to one of afflu- ence. One of his leading characteristics in business affairs is his fine sense of order and complete system, and the habit of giving careful attention to details without which success in any undertaking is never an assured fact.
Mr. Edwards was born near Circleville, Pickaway county, Ohio, June 22, 1835, a son of Samuel and Mary (Aultman) Edwards. His father was the well-known author of "The Ohio Hunter," and "The Western Pioneer." In 1850 our subject accompanied his parents on their removal from Han- cock county to Henry county, locating in Monroe township near the present site of Malinta, and remaining with them for six years. In that township he was married May 4, 1855, to Miss Epsey Hill, who was born in Perry county, Ohio, in 1836, a daughter of Michael and Sarah (Bost) Hill, early settlers of Monroe township, Henry county, where their deaths occurred. Mr. Edwards' mother died in Hancock county, Ohio, aged thirty-six years, his father in Marion township, Henry county, in September, 1895, at the age of eighty-six years. Of their eight children our subject was the eldest.
George W. Edwards and his wife have four children living, namely :
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Mary F., now the wife of Doctor C. M. Overhula; Michael L. Edwards, who married Mertie Merchant, of Green Springs, Ohio (she is now deceased) ; Rosetta, wife of Joseph Keith; and U. F. Edwards, who married Clara Burr, of Malinta, Ohio. They have lost two: Sarah E., who died at the age of three and one-half years; and Lavina R., who married Herbert Hall, and died at the age of thirty-four.
For five years after his marriage, Mr. Edwards remained upon the old homestead in Monroe township, and then rented a farm on the Maumee river in Harrison township, which he operated for three years. At the end of that time he purchased a place in Marion township, Henry county, and to its cultivation and improvement devoted his time and attention some twelve years. In the meantime he laid out the village of Edwardsville, and engaged in merchandising in connection with farming until 1877, when he sold both his farm and business and removed to Holgate. Here he has since carried on operations as a dealer in lumber, hay and straw, in which undertaking he has also met with a well-deserved success. Since the organ- ization of the Republican party he has been one of its stanch supporters, and he always takes a deep and commendable interest in public affairs. Both he and his wife are prominent members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, and take an active part in its work. To-day he is not more honored on ac- count of the enviable position which he occupies in business circles than on account of the many kindly deeds of his life, which have ever been quietly and unostentatiously performed.
In earlier life Mr. Edwards was an expert marksman, and spent much enjoyable time in hunting bears and other wild game, then quite plentiful in that region, and he can tell, in his own graphic language, many a thrill- ing tale of the hunt, and of the trials and experiences of pioneer days. In 1844, then nine years old, he aided his father (who took his hounds along) in capturing a live coon in the woods, put him in a strong sack and carried him to Findlay, a distance of four miles, where they made his "coonship" climb the great liberty pole (raised in honor of Tyler) amid the shouts and cheers of the great crowd assembled. This was during the memorable cam- paign of Polk and Tyler, and the coon was known as the "Whig coon." In October, 1849, he and his father, accompanied by a couple of great hounds trained for coon hunting, set out on foot for the Maumee Valley (known at that time as the Black Swamp) on a prospecting tour. On the journey they caught a coon at night, and did but little hunting in daytime except se- curing deer and wild turkeys for their own and the dogs' maintenance. On the third day they arrived at the first dwelling they had seen since starting.
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a small cabin inhabited by an elderly couple and several children, one of whom was a girl of some fourteen summers-rather shy, not being accus- tomed to see strangers-who was grinding corn in a hand mill. That young girl in after days became Mr. Edwards' wife. In this tramp through the dense forest they continually, at night time, would hear the howlings of voracious wolves, and one morning the father shot and killed a great wild cat that had been perched up on a tree beneath which they had been rest- ing all night. It had been driven there by the hounds the evening before. Mr. Edwards also mentions a celebrated bear hunt, on which occasion he and other hunters had a six-days' chase after what they called the "residenter bear of four counties." Before they succeeded in finally capturing this noted bear the brute had killed or crippled fourteen of the hunters' dogs.
Mr. Edwards is a fine exemplification of the rugged pioneer woodsman. and is as hale and hearty a specimen of healthy manhood as can be found in1 the county. "I am now," says he, "in my sixty-fourth year, have never chewed tobacco, was never under the influence of drink, and can to-day do as much work as most any man, and enjoy a hunt frequently in the wilds of Michigan." These few words are sufficient in themselves to "Point a moral and adorn a tale."
JAMES V. TEN EYCK.
Prominent among the energetic, far-seeing and successful business men of Henry county is the subject of this sketch. His life history most happily illustrates what may be attained by faithful and continued effort in carry- ing out an honest purpose. Since 1886 he has been identified with the in- terests of Hamler, and has successfully engaged in the furniture and under- taking business there since 1893.
A native of New York, Mr. Ten Eyck was born in Dutchess county, March 3, 1838, and when four years old was taken by his parents, Cor- nelius and Hannah ( Mott) Ten Eyck, to Livingston county, in that State, where they lived upon a farm until he was thirteen years old. Emigrating westward in September, 1851, the family located near Morenci, in Lena- wee county, Michigan, and after residing there for two years they removed to Lucas county, Ohio, where the parents died. Abner Ten Eyck and Ab- ner Mott, the paternal and maternal grandfathers of our subject, were both of Holland descent; the former lived to the advanced age of one hundred and one years.
Going to Toledo, Ohio, in 1861, James V. Ten Eyck worked at the car-
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penter's trade for two years, and while there he in the spring of 1862 en- tered the State Militia. Feeling that his country needed his services at the front, he enlisted, in 1864, in Company A, One Hundred and Thirtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for one hundred days. After leaving the army he became connected with stave works in Toledo, where he was employed as foreman and superintendent until 1886, and then ac- cepted a similar position in Hamler, Henry county, where he has since made his home. On resigning his position in 1893, he embarked in his present business.
On November 28, 1861, in Lucas county, Ohio, Mr. Ten Eyck was united in marriage with Miss Julia A. Thatcher, a native of Ohio, by whom he had three children: William H .; Eugene Mott .; and Almeda Elmira, now the wife of Frank Kintner. The mother of these children died in Lu- cas county, February 5, 1879, and July 1, 1880, Mr. Ten Eyck was again married, his second union being with Miss Harriet McComber, who was born in New York State.
Politically, Mr. Ten Eyck is identified with the Republican party, of whose principles he is an earnest advocate and stanch support. Since com- ing to Hamler he has taken a leading part in public affairs of a political na- ture, has been a member of the Republican Central Committee for several years, and has held the office of mayor for one term. He and his wife are worthy members of the Presbyterian Church at Holgate, in which he is serving as elder, and they take an active and leading part in its work. As a business man and citizen he has gained the confidence and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact, and he is well deserving of honorable mention in a work of this character.
E. L. WALTZ.
Much has been said recently concerning the intelligence of the Ameri- can citizen, and the credit is given almost entirely to the public-school sys- tem. With all due honor of the school, it must be admitted that there yet remains an important factor in the general education of the masses, a fac- tor that goes far toward molding the minds of the people on issues of na- tional importance-the newspaper. This medium reaches those whose school days have been limited, as well as the man who may have had the advan- tages of the best college education, but its influence is felt and made appar- ent in cottage or in palace. On the editor rests a great responsibility. He is not only responsible for his own acts and beliefs, but is in a measure re-
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sponsible for the certain acts and beliefs of his readers. One editor, who feels and recognizes the duties of his place, and strives conscientiously to see the right and set it forth to the world, is E. L. Waltz, editor of "The Atlas," at Delta, Ohio.
Mr. Waltz was born at Tabor, near New Philadelphia, Ohio, May 21, 1838. His education was obtained in the rural schools of the vicinity, but school in those days hardly meant the comprehensive but practical mental training it does to-day. The branches taught were few indeed, the only class formed being in reading, the instruction crude, and the facilities were still more crude; slabs were used for seats, and blackboards were unknown. He remained on the home farm until he was twenty-one, and then began merchandising in Jelloway, Knox county, Ohio, which he continued for fif- teen years. The insurance business at Jelloway engaged his attention for the next six years. It was on February 22, 1876, that he began his work as an editor and publisher, taking control of "The Avalanche," at Delta, Ohio, and for four years he sent forth a paper that was the envy of editors of much more experience. However, he sold out, and returning to Jello- way resumed his work in the insurance business; but June 5, 1885, he again came to Delta, this time establishing "The Atlas," which on January 1, 1888, absorbed its rival, "The Avalanche." "The Atlas" makes its appearance on Friday of each week, and is politically independent. With the utmost impar- tiality every side of a question is given a chance to prove either its truth or its error. Mr. Waltz is a firm believer in the doctrines of the Republican party, and has voted for every President from Lincoln to McKinley, inclus- ive. On May 13, 1864, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the following September, partici- pating in the siege of Petersburg, Virginia.
On November 5, 1859, Mr. Waltz was married to Miss Lucinda F. Pinkly, of Jelloway, Ohio, where she was born March 14, 1843. Their union has been blessed with five children: (1) Alice M., the wife of J. M. Barron, of Bowling Green, Ohio, by whom she has one child-J. Ralph. (2) Ida B., wife of J. J. Oswalt, of North Liberty, Ohio, by whom she has two daughters-Opal Taft and Ethel Maude. (3) C. R. P., who mar- ried Mary Grace Richardson, by whom he has a daughter-Kathryn Flor- ence. He is business manager of the paper, and is now postmaster of Delta. (4) Rose M., wife of Doctor O. L. Norris, of Deshler, Ohio; have one son -Waltz W. (5) F. D. B., who is connected with the office of "The At- las." Mr. Waltz is a member of the Presbyterian Church; socially he affi- liates with the Masonic fraternity, the National Union, and the G. A. R.
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E. L. Waltz is a son of Jacob R. and Delilah ( Holmes) Waltz, both natives of Ohio, of Swiss ancestry. The father followed farming for a life work. In their family were twelve children, six of whom are yet liv- ing. The grandfather of our subject was Samuel Waltz, who resided in Maryland; he married Barbara Rinard, and they became the parents of eight children, of whom but one is now living-Mahala Rainsberg, over eighty years of age, making her home in West Cairo, Ohio.
MOSES M. HAVER.
Mr. Haver, the popular and genial proprietor of the "Haver House," In Sherwood, Defiance county, was born September 5, 1842, in Harrison county, Ohio, a son of Robert and Mary (Coree) Haver, both natives of Greene county, Pennsylvania. In 1845 they removed from Harrison county, Ohio, to Tuscarawas county, and in November, 1853, came to Defiance county, locating in Mark township, where they continued to make their home until their deaths. By occupation the father was a farmer.
The children born to this worthy couple are as follows: Thomas W., is a farmer of Mark township; Moses M., a hotel-keeper, is next in the order of birth; James is a resident of Sherwood; John, who laid down his life on the altar of his country during the Civil war, enlisting in Company E, Fourteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and dying at Ringgold, Georgia, after one month in the service; George died in infancy ; Isaac is a farmer of Mark township; Everett is a resident of Sherwood; Levi is a farmer of Van Wert county, Ohio; Alexander is an agriculturist of Hicksville township, Defiance county ; Elizabeth is the wife of Thomas Keesburg, of Mark township; and Matilda is the wife of William Simpson, of Paulding county, Ohio.
Coming with his parents to Defiance county, in November, 1853, Mr. Haver grew to manhood on the home farm in Delaware township, becoming thoroughly familiar with agricultural pursuits. He was engaged in farm- ing in Paulding county, Ohio, when the Civil war broke out, and hardly had the echoes of Fort Sumter's guns died away when he enlisted, April 26, 1861, in Company K, Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three months. On the expiration of his term he was mustered out, but soon af- terward re-enlisted, becoming a member of Company I, One Hundredth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until hostilities ceased. With liis command he participated in numerous battles and skirmishes, including the engagements at Franklin, Tennessee, and Etowah Creek, Georgia, and the siege of Knoxville. On his return from the war he worked by the month on a farm in Delaware township, Defiance county, for about a year.
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On the 6th of February, 1866, Mr. Haver was married in that town- ship to Miss Mary Platter, who was born in the southern part of Delaware township, April 21, 1840, a daughter of Lewis and Betsy (Gordon) Plat- ter, honored pioneers of that township, where their deaths occurred. Mr. and Mrs. Haver by this union had one daughter, Emma. Mrs. Haver died July 28, 1872, and Mr. Haver afterward married Mary Brown, by which union he has four children: Iona (now the wife of Alva Lavergne, of Wal- ler, Ohio), Albert, John and Curtis.
After his marriage Mr. Haver located in Delaware township, where he successfully engaged in farming until 1888, when he purchased the hotel property in Sherwood, which he still owns. In this new undertaking he has met with remarkable success, his house being a favorite resort with the traveling public. It is very conveniently arranged and well furnished, and in all its appointments, under its present excellent management, is a first- class hotel, and is well patronized. Politically Mr. Haver is an ardent Re- publican ; socially he is a leading member of Hancock Post, No. 579, G. A. R.
JAMES K. DENMAN, M. D.
The Denman family, of which this prosperous physician is an hon- ored representative, has resided in Ohio for a number of years, number- ing among its members men who have risen to positions of honor and re- sponsibility, and has been closely associated with the interests and welfare of the public.
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