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 36
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 36
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 36
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 36
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Walter S. Tomlinson, whose name introduces this sketch, was born June 16, 1843, in Bryan, Williams county, Ohio, and was reared to farm work at the old home in Williams county, where he remained until his en- listment in August, 1861, in Company A, Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. He continued with this regiment throughout the war, taking part in numerous engagements, including the battles of Stone River, Chicka- mauga, Jonesboro, and the Atlanta campaign, and was with Sherman in the march to the sea. When there was no longer any fighting to be done he returned to Williams county and engaged in farming and teaching, later purchasing his present farm in Sections I and 2, Farmer township, Defi- ance county. He is a man of intelligence and public spirit, and has always taken an active part in local affairs, being one of the most prominent work- ers in the Republican organization in his county. For several years he has held the office of justice of the peace, and since 1895 he has been a notary public. In 1892 he received the nomination of his party as county com- missioner, and was defeated by only ninety votes by the Democratic nomi- nee, F. J. Clemmen, although the county gives the Democrats 1,350 ma- jority. Two years later he was a candidate for the Legislature, and although defeated by Hon. J. W. Winn, of Defiance, his popularity was shown in the
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contest. He is a member and present commander of Lew Bowker Post, No. 725, G. A. R., of Farmer township, and is also active in religious work, he and his wife being leading members of the Christian Church at Farmer Center.
On January 3, 1867, Mr. Tomlinson was married in Farmer town- ship, Defiance county, to Miss Emily Lane, by whom he has had two child- ren, Orlo L., who resides in Farmer township; and Eva T., wife of Prof. W. H. Bender, of the Iowa State Normal School (they have two children- Walter D. and Miriam E.). Mrs. Tomlinson was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, April 16, 1848, a daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Alla- baugh) Lane. Her father was a native of Fayette, Pennsylvania, born March 2, 1822, and her mother was born July 11, 1828, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, where her ancestors were early settlers. This worthy couple were married in Tuscarawas county in 1847, and two years later removed to Milford township, Defiance county, where they spent one year. For the next thirteen years they resided in Williams county, but they afterward made their home in Section 10, Farmer township, Defiance county, where their last days were passed, Mr. Lane dying January 23, 1881, and Mrs. Lane on July 31, 1892. They had six children, viz .: Emily (Mrs. Tom- linson) ; William H., an agriculturist residing in Farmer township; Jennie (deceased) ; Ellen E., wife of M. V. Garner, of Bryan, Ohio; Laura M., wife of R. W. Scott, of Farmer township; and Rhoda E., wife of E. T. Binns, of Bryan, Ohio.
Mr. Tomlinson, our subject, had three great-grandfathers in the Revo- lutionary war, one being a captain, while the other two were ensigns.
PETER HUFFMAN.
One of the successful and representative farmers of Milford township, Defiance county, is the subject of this sketch, who is residing in Section 31. He was born February 25, 1843, in Preble county, Ohio, but when quite young was brought to Defiance county by his parents, Michael and Cath- erine Huffman, who located in Hicksville, where they spent their remain- ing years. Our subject is fourth in the order of birth in their family of eight children, and was reared on the home farm in Hicksville township, where he remained until his marriage.
In October, 1865, Mr. Huffman wedded Miss Caroline Trocht, who was born in Crawford county, Ohio, August 4, 1843, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Trocht. They began their domestic life upon the farm of
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eighty acres in Section 31, Milford township, which still continues to be their home. It is a fine farm, supplied with all modern conveniences, and the buildings are in harmony with the neat and thrifty appearance of the place. Two children came to bless the home, namely: Lodema B., now the wife of Quedo Morgan; and Bina May. They lost one child, Benjamin, who died in infancy.
JACOB SHINABERGER.
This well-known and progressive agriculturist of York township, Ful- ton county, is a native of Ohio, born September 19, 1844, in Huron county, a son of James S., a pioneer of Richmond township, Huron county, Ohio.
Nicholas Shinaberger, grandfather of our subject, was born in Ger- many, whence at the age of seventeen he came to America, locating first in Pennsylvania, thence moving to Carroll county, Ohio. Here he followed farming, also conducting a distillery, and passed the rest of his days there, dying in August, 1850. His wife was born about the, time of the Revolu- tionary war, and her mother concealed her and a little brother in the bushes out of sight of the Indians, who burned the home of the family to the ground. To this worthy couple were born thirteen children, James, our sub- ject's father, being next to the youngest.
James Shinaberger was born in 1813 in Carroll county, Ohio, and when a young man moved to Huron county, where he took up farming. He was twice married, and by his first wife had one daughter, Sarah, now living in Michi- gan. In Huron county, for his second wife, he wedded Miss Margaret Holtz, by whom he had six children: Matilda (deceased) ; one that died in infancy; Lovina (Mrs. Leonard Alleman) ; Jacob (our subject) ; John, in Michigan; and Sarah (Mrs. George Frederick, of York township, Ful- ton county). The father of these died in 1882, in York township, Fulton county, the mother in 1884.
Jacob Holtz, our subject's maternal grandfather, was a native of Penn- sylvania, whence he moved to Richland county, Ohio. He was married in Pennsylvania, and to him and his wife were born twelve children: Jacob, George, Frederick, David, Michael (deceased), Simon, Margaret, Nancy, William A., Sarah (deceased), Mary, and Hannah.
Jacob Shinaberger, whose name introduces these lines, attended the com- mon schools of Huron county, in an old log house with slab seats and other primitive furnishings, the same building that his father had at one time rented to live in while he built a home. On August 4, 1861, prompted by
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the spirit of patriotism, Jacob enlisted in Company C, Sixty-fifth Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, for three years or during the war, but was discharged July 30, 1862, on account of disability. On March 28, 1864. he re-enlisted in the same regiment and company, serving till the close of the war, being hon- orably discharged November 30, 1865. He was in the army of the Cum- berland, and participated in all the battles of the Atlanta campaign, also those at Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville. Thence in July, 1865, his regiment proceeded to Texas, where it remained till December, 1865. He was neither wounded nor taken prisoner, and when discharged from the service he returned to the quiet pursuits of farm life.
In 1868 Mr. Shinaberger married Miss Hannah E. Kirkwood, who was born September 8, 1847. To them were born three children: J. L., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere; Elmer, who died in infancy; and Cora Anna, now the wife of Henry Deckerson, a farmer of York township, Ful- ton county (they have two children-Louis and Fern). The mother of these died in 1878, and in April, 1880, our subject wedded Adelia A. An- drews, a native of Fulton county, born February 24, 1849, a daughter of Leonard Andrews (now deceased). By this union there are no children.
In politics our subject is a stanch Republican, his first Presidential vote being cast for Abraham Lincoln, and he has cast his ballot for every Re- publican candidate since. For three years he served as township trustee in York township, and was also supervisor thereof. Socially he is affili- ated with the G. A. R. Losure Post, No. 35, of Wauseon, Ohio, and in re- ligious faith both he and his wife are members of the Church of God at Liberty Center.
JOHN H. HORNUNG.
This well-known general merchant of New Bavaria, Henry county, is a man whose sound common sense and vigorous, able management of his affairs have been important factors in his success, and with his undoubted integrity of character have given him an honorable position among his fellow- men.
A native of Henry county, Mr. Hornung was born in Pleasant town- ship, January 28, 1853, and is the fourth in order of birth in a family of eleven children, whose father, the late Charles Hornung, died June 6, 1894. Upon the home farm our subject spent the days of his boyhood and youth. attending the district schools and assisting in the labors of the fields. Desir- ing a better education than the common schools afforded, he at the age of twenty entered Heidelberg College (now Heidelberg University), where
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he graduated with the class of '76. After leaving college he was employed as a civil engineer until 1888, and also successfully engaged in the manu- facture of hoops, staves and lumber, disposing of that business in 1896. On May I, 1894, he became interested in mercantile pursuits, and has since successfully conducted a general store in New Bavaria, carrying a large and well-selected stock, and receiving from the public a liberal patronage.
In Jonesville, Michigan, Mr. Hornung was united in marriage with Miss Cora M. Pratt, who died in a hospital in Toledo, Ohio, January 18, 1894, leaving two children: Robert P. and Grace A. Mr. Hornung was married in Toledo, February 13, 1896, to Miss Laura Whitney, and they have a daughter, Imogene, born December 17, 1897.
Socially, Mr. Hornung is an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the Benevolent and Patriotic Order of Elks, while politically he is a prominent representative of the Republican party, always taking an active and leading part in local political affairs. For nine years he was one of the county teachers' examiners, and has always been identified with those enter- prises calculated to promote the moral, educational or material welfare of his community.
Mrs. Hornung was born December 9, 1864, in Toledo, Ohio, a daughter of James and Imogene I. (Nicholas) Whitney. She is a graduate of the Toledo High School, class of '85, and for some time was a successful teacher in that city. She also graduated in January, 1891, from the Flower Mission Training School for Nurses, at Indianapolis, Indiana. She comes from a family of teachers, her mother and grandmother having both followed that profession. Her father, who for many years was a prominent lawyer in Toledo, died in 1871, her mother in 1889, and Mrs. Hornung is their only daughter.
FREDERICK A. DENSON.
This prosperous and progressive agriculturist, stock dealer and lum- berman of Chesterfield township, Fulton county, deserves more than a pass- ing notice in the pages of this volume, as there is no citizen more truly rep- resentative, or more widely and actively awake to the interests of the com- munity at large.
Born in Steuben county, New York, July 31, 1844, he is a son of Wes- ley and Mary (Carl) Denson, and a grandson of Thomas Denson, a New Englander by birth, whose father came from Old England accompanied by two brothers. Grandfather Thomas Denson, a shoemaker by trade, was born in 1775, and when his son was a child moved from New Jersey to
22
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New York State, where he died at the age of eighty-seven years, The names of his children are as follows: Sons-John, Joseph, William, Theodore, Sylvester and Wesley; daughters-Sarah, Jane and Ann; of whom, Joseph. Sylvester, Jane and Ann are yet living.
Wesley Denson, father of our subject, was born in New Jersey, in 1821, and for several years followed the shoemaking trade in New York State, in 1855 moving to Michigan, and locating in Lenawee county, from there coming in 1862 to Chesterfield township, Fulton county, Ohio. Here he bought forty acres of land, which, however, he sold, then purchasing eighty acres, the farm he owned and was living on at the time of his death in 1897. He and his wife, whom he married in 1842 in New York State, were the parents of four children-three sons and one daughter-our subject being the eldest ; the others are: Alfred F., who married Libbie Sheffield, and has five children-Carrie, Myrtie, Ernest, Olivia, and Ada J .; Beriah, married to Burta Von Liew, by whom he has three children; Mary L., wife of David Agnew, by whom she has two children-Floyd and Mary.
Frederick A. Denson, the subject proper of this review, received his education in New York State and Michigan, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. On January 4, 1864, prompted by a spirit of patriotism, he en- listed in the Sixth Michigan Cavalry, Company G, served some two and one- half years, and was discharged March 25, 1866, at Ft. Bridges, Utah Ter- ritory. He participated in the battles of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Tre- villian Station, Hawe's Shop, Winchester, Cedar Creek, and Five Forks ; was taken prisoner at Sailor's Creek, three days before Lee's surrender, and was with the Confederate army, still a prisoner, when that general surren- dered to Grant. After an honorable discharge, our subject returned to Ful- ton county, and for about eighteen months worked by the month or day, after his marriage settling in Section II, Chesterfield township, where he had purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. This he improved, and from time to time added to until he and his children have among them five hundred and twenty-eight acres, of as fine land as can be found in the county. He is also interested in the live-stock and lumber industries, buying and selling both stock and lumber; he is also extensively engaged in raising hogs.
In December, 1869, Frederick A. Denson was united in marriage with Adeline Lee, who was born in 1842, in Fulton county, a daughter of David and Huldah Lee, the former of whom died when Mrs. Denson was eight years old. Mrs. Denson passed from earth April 30, 1896, leaving two child- ren : Velina, wife of Oliver Onweller, of Fulton county; and Elmina, wife of Louis Ham, by whom she has one child, Ivah, born June 19, 1898.
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In his political predilections Mr. Denson is a stanch Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for U. S. Grant, in 1868. Socially he is affil- iated with Col. Myron Baker Post No. 33, G. A. R., of Morenci, Michigan, and of Chesterfield Grange No. 367. He enjoys the respect and esteem of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
JOSEPH GREEK.
Among the well-to-do and successful agriculturists of Williams county, who have accumulated a competency through their own exertions and econ- omy, is the subject of this biographical notice, whose fine farm of eighty acres is conveniently located in Mill Creek township, one mile and a half east of the village of Kunkle. On locating there, it was all wild land, cov- ered with a heavy growth of timber, and his first home was a log cabin, which has long since given place to a comfortable frame residence, sur- rounded by good barns and outbuildings, while the land is now under a high state of cultivation.
In Richland county, Ohio, Mr. Greek was born January 12, 1844, a son of Frederick and Margaret (Brubaker) Greek, who were born, reared and married in Pennsylvania, where the paternal grandfather located on coming from Germany-his native land. During his youth Frederick Greek learned the carpenter's trade, at which he continued to work after his re- moval to Ohio in 1840, for two years in Richland county and eight years in Hancock county. On coming to Williams county in 1850, however, he purchased land in Madison township and turned his attention to its improve- ment and cultivation. During his more active business life he bought and sold several other tracts of land, but always lived on his first purchase, where he died in 1895, at the age of eighty-four. His wife passed away in 1882, in the faith of the Dunkard Church, to which both belonged.
In the family of this worthy couple were fourteen children, forty-five grandchildren and seventy great-grandchildren. Of the fourteen children, two died in infancy, and the others are as follows: John, who was a Union soldier in the Civil war; Mrs. Elizabeth Conley; Mrs. Fanny Hendrix, who died leaving seven children; Mrs. Nancy Burkholder; Joseph (our subject) ; George, who was a Union soldier, and is now a resident of Nebraska; Wes- ley B., a teacher living in Alabama ; Elias, a farmer of Williams county ; Mrs. Martha Gill; Mrs. Jane Throne; William F., who was formerly in the ele- vator and gristmill business, and is now a farmer; and Mrs. Margaret Oxinger.
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At the age of ten years Joseph Greek accompanied his parents on their removal to their new home in Williams county, where he grew to man- hood, assisting his father on the farm and at the carpenter's bench. In 1862, at the age of eighteen, he enlisted in Company F, Thirty-eighth Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, which was assigned to the army of the Tennessee. He saw much hard service, participating in nineteen skirmishes, and on the expira- tion of his term of enlistment he was honorably discharged and returned home. In 1863, however, he re-enlisted, this time becoming a member of Company H, Sixty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which also belonged to the army of the Tennessee, and with his command took part in many important engagements, was with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea, and was stationed at Raleigh, North Carolina, at the time of Lee's sur- render. During his service he often suffered from lack of food, but for- tunately was never wounded nor taken prisoner. After participating in the grand review, at Washington, D. C., the command was sent to Louisville, Kentucky, where Mr. Greek was finally discharged. Returning home with an honorable war record, he resumed carpenter work, and by contracting and building he secured a start in life. Since his marriage, in 1867, he has principally engaged in farming with the exception of the years 1887 and 1888, when he traveled for Daso Brothers in the elevator business, his territory taking in all of the large cities of the United States.
On October 15, 1867, Mr. Greek married Miss Malissa M. West, a native of Stark county, Ohio, whose parents removed to Williams county about 1863. Here her father followed farming until his death. Her mother died October 20, 1867; she was a consistent member of the Church of God. They had eight children: Eliza, Susan, Mary, Malissa M., Addie, Sarah, Amanda and Fremont. To Mr. and Mrs. Greek were born five children, namely : Mrs. Ada M. Wolcot; Mrs. Amanda J. Weidner; Emerson C. and Arthur J. (both at home) ; and Carrie L., who died at the age of two years. The mother of these children was a true Christian woman, a mem- ber of the Evangelical Church, and died in that faith January 19, 1886.
Mr. Greek was again married in September, 1888, his second union being with Miss Sarah J. Drum, who was born in 1858 in Pennsylvania, whence when two years old she was brought by her parents to Williams county, Ohio. Her father purchased a partially improved farm in Brady township, and to its further development and cultivation he has since de- voted his energies. He is a radical Republican, has served as township trustee and in other local offices, and is a member of the German Methodist Church, to which his wife also belongs. Their children are Jacob; Mrs.
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Rosa Bruns; Sarah J .; Mrs. Elizabeth Money; Mrs. Cassie Shillings; Ed- ward, a merchant of Stryker, Williams county ; Mrs. Anna Wolverton; Mrs. Elva Geesy ; and Mrs. Edith Stype. The family is of German descent. By his second marriage Mr. Greek has two children: Carl E., born February 3, 1890; and Glen D., born September 23, 1894.
For two years Mr. Greek engaged to some extent in bridge building, but in 1880 retired altogether from carpenter work, and is now successfully engaged in farming. All that he has achieved in life has been due to his own unaided efforts, and for his success he deserves great credit. The Re- publican party finds in him a stanch supporter, and although he has never as- pired to office, he was elected county commissioner in 1882, and for three years served with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He is an active and prominent member of the Evangelical Church, to which his wife also belongs, and has served as trustee, class leader and treasurer in the same. As a public-spirited, enterprising citizen, he has done mnuch to promote the public welfare, and has made for himself a place among the honored and valued residents of Mill Creek township.
HENRY MARK.
Among the well-to-do citizens of Williams county, who have been promi- hently identified with its agricultural interests from an early day, is the gentleman whose name begins this sketch. Upon his farm in Florence town- ship he has made his home since 1871, having at that time forty acres of timber land improved with a log house and barn. As he has extended the boundaries of his farm, it now comprises one hundred and fifty acres under excellent cultivation, and he also owns sixty acres elsewhere in the same township. His home is a comfortable two-story frame residence with an "L," and upon the place there are also two good barns, outbuildings, a windpump and, in fact, all the conveniences and accessories found upon a model farm of the nineteenth century. For four years he was engaged in the pump business in Edon, Williams county, but with that exception he has followed general farming and stock raising throughout his business career.
In Columbiana county, Ohio, Mr. Mark was born March 26, 1845, a son of Christian and Catherine (Hess) Mark, natives of Germany, who in 1834 crossed the Atlantic on the same vessel, landing in New York after a voyage of forty days. The mother was born in Rottenburg, Germany, Oc- tober II, 1818, and the year of her arrival in the New World gave her hand
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in marriage to Christian Mark. For seven years they remained in New York City, where he worked at the tailor's trade, and then migrated to Co- lumbiana county, Ohio, where he was similarly employed until 1849. He traded his property in that county for land in Williams county which he had never seen, and in that year came to his new home. He paid for hav- ing his cabin erected and his land cleared by work at his trade, but afterward engaged in agricultural pursuits, and with the assistance of his sons placed the land under a high state of cultivation. On locating there a road had to be cut to the place, and much of the land seemed a useless swamp; but all has since been changed, the farm being to-day one of the most desirable places in the locality. Although eighty-five years of age, the father is still quite active, superintends the management of his farm and attends to his other business interests. Religiously he is a member of the German Bap- tist Church, and politically was identified with the Republican party. His loving wife, who was a true Christian woman, was called to her final rest in September, 1890, at the age of seventy-one years. She had eleven child- ren, fifty-three grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren. Her own children were: William, George and Jacob (all three deceased) ; Mrs. Eliza Huntington; John; Henry; Mrs. Hannah Rockey; Mrs. Rachel Ertrich; Mrs. Mary Gearhart; Mrs. Lovenia Goshorn; and Mrs. Harriet Kane.
Henry Mark was five years old when brought by his parents to Williams county, where his boyhood and youth were spent in assisting in the work of the home farm and in attending the district schools of the neighborhood. After his marriage he located on his present farm in Florence township, and in its operation he has met with a well-deserved success. He is one of the most prominent and influential citizens of his township, is an uncompromis- ing Democrat in politics, and takes an active interest in all public affairs. His fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, have elected him to several local offices; he is now serving his second term as township trustee, and has been a delegate to many of the conventions of his party.
In 1871 Mr. Mark married Miss Achsah A. Martin, of Williams county, a daughter of Harrison A. and Elizabeth (Dolvin) Martin, the former a native of Carroll county, and the latter of Tuscarawas county, Ohio. Her father was one of four brothers, the others being Israel, Wesley and Albert, who were of German descent. In 1847 Harrison A. Martin came to Will- iams county, where he purchased land from the government, and improved a farm, making it his home until called to the world beyond in 1885 at the age of sixty-five years. For forty years he was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which his wife also belonged. Her death
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