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 41
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 41
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 41
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 41
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its valuable and attractive appearance. At the time of his death he owned two hundred and forty-eight acres of highly-cultivated land.
The subject of this sketch is the youngest in the family of six children- four sons and two daughters-the others being as follows: Laura A. is now the wife of Alonzo Ewers; John C. died in Washington township, in 1872, at which time he was serving as county surveyor of Defiance county ; George W. is now a farmer of Montcalm county, Michigan; Elbridge G. died in Washington township, in 1881, at the age of thirty-two years; James M. served as superintendent of the County Infirmary of Defiance county for eight years, and is now a resident of Williams county, Ohio; and Ida is the wife of David Rasor.
On the farm, where he now lives, Charles W. Phillips was born July 19, 1860, and was there reared, obtaining his education in the common schools of the neighborhood. With the exception of one year he remained at home with his parents until his marriage. On February 2, 1882, in Defiance, Ohio, he wedded Miss Jennie Koch, who was born in Noble township, Defiance county, September 11, 1857, a daughter of Tilman and Margaret Koch. Her mother died in that township, but her father is still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Phillips has been born a son, John L.
At the time of his marriage our subject was assisting his brother at the Infirmary, and his wife served as matron of that institution for over three years. During the following six years he engaged in farming in Tiffin town- ship, and then, being appointed superintendent of the Defiance County Infirm- ary, he assumed the duties of that responsible position, which he most effi- ciently and satisfactorily discharged until the spring of 1897, serving in all six years. He then returned to the old homestead in Tiffin township, which he is now successfully operating. As a Democrat he takes quite an active in- terest in all local matters of a political nature; socially he affiliates with the Masonic fraternity.
JOHN C. KUNKLE.
Mr. Kunkle, who is a farmer of Madison township, Williams county, was born on his father's farm in that township, October 8, 1860, and is a worthy representative of one of the honored and distinguished pioneer fami- lies of the county.
The first of the family to come to the New World were Jacob Kunkle (the great-grandfather of our subject ) and his two brothers, David and John, who were natives of Hesse, Germany, and were sold in that country to Eng-
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land. being brought to America to aid the English troops during the Revolu- tionary war. Soon after their arrival it became known that they were to fight against many of their own countrymen, and as soon as an opportunity offered they deserted and joined the American forces, valiantly fighting until inde- pendence was achieved. At the close of the war they first located in Berks county, Pennsylvania, later removed to Mercer county, same State, and be- came prominently identified with the development of their adopted country.
The paternal grandparents of our subject were Henry and Mary (Stone) Kunkle, in whose family were seven children, namely: Jacob, John, Mary A., William, Henry H. (our subject's father), George and Jeremiah. By a second marriage the grandfather had four children: Benjamin, Adam, David and Eliza J. The three sons of this marriage were all soldiers in the Union army during the Civil war, and Benjamin was killed in the service. In 1853 the grandfather came to Williams county, Ohio, where he spent his declining years, dying in 1871. In religious belief he was a Lutheran.
Henry S. Kunkle (father of our subject) was born December 23, 1823, in Perry county, Pennsylvania, and as his mother died when he was only five years old, and he was then bound out, his education was sorely neglected. In 1843, on foot and alone, he started for Ohio, but his money was exhausted ere he reached his destination, and he was forced to sell his overcoat to pay for a night's lodging. Fortunately the next day he arrived at the place where his brother was then located, near West Unity, Williams county, and after a short visit he found employment at chopping wood and clearing land, at which he worked by the month for some time. Saving his wages, he was at length able to buy one hundred and sixty acres of heavily-timbered land, and of this tract he slashed and deadened forty acres of timber. In 1850 he made an overland trip to California, being six months en route, and after clerking in a store in that State for three months, he secured a mining claim, which he at once began to operate. During the two years and a half he remained on the Pacific slope he was fairly successful, and at the end of that time returned by water to the East. For four months he engaged in chopping the timber and working upon his land, but in 1853 returned to California by way of the Isthmus, and, securing another claim, he engaged in mining for seventeen months, with excellent success. Selling out at an advantage, he re- turned by way of the Nicaragua route, landed at Norfolk, Virginia, visited for a time at his old home in Pennsylvania, and then returned to his farm in Williams county, Ohio, upon which he then made many substantial improve- ments, including the erection of a house.
Having secured a home, Henry S. Kunkle returned to Pennsylvania to
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claim his old sweetheart, and there in February, 1856, he married Miss Matilda J. Baltosser, who was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, February 4, 1834, a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Long) Baltosser, both of Pennsyl- vania-German descent, and the latter a farmer by occupation. In 1867 her parents came to Williams county, Ohio, where her mother died August 28, 1890, aged eighty-one years, her father passing away November 28, 1890, aged eighty-seven. In their family were six children: George (deceased) ; John H., a farmer of Williams county ; Matilda, mother of our subject; Mar- garet, a resident of Pennsylvania ; Samuel (deceased) ; and William, a farmer of Williams county. To Henry S. Kunkle and wife were born four children, namely : Mary A., at home; Martha J., who married Peter Stiving, a prom- inent farmer of Williams county, but died two years after her marriage; John C., the subject of this sketch; and Ira H., who died leaving one son, Orie, now five years old.
Henry S. Kunkle brought his bride to his humble home in Williams county, and together they began the struggle of life. She has proved to him a most faithful helpmeet ; in the early days, firing log heaps, picking brush, cradling wheat around stumps, gathering sheaves and making garden; in fact, helping her husband in every possible way. Success crowned their efforts, and as their financial resources increased they added to their landed possessions from time to time. In connection with farming, Mr. Kunkle has also engaged quite extensively in stock dealing, and in 1866 embarked in merchandising at what was then known as Barrett's Corners, carrying on a store at that place for eight years. A post office had been established by Mr. Barrett, but after Mr. Kunkle purchased the land adjoining and platted a town, which took the name of Kunkle, the post office was also named in his honor. The place is now a prosperous little village of five hun- dred inhabitants, and when the Wabash railroad was built through it, in 1881, Mr. Kunkle gave four acres for the depot and also five hundred dol- lars in money. He is certainly one of the most enterprising and progres- sive citizens of the county, and as he is a straightforward, honorable busi- ness man, he has the confidence and respect of all who know him.
Politically he is a stanch Republican, and he has been called upon to fill a number of local offices, including that of township trustee. Both himself and wife are leading members of the Presbyterian Church, to which they con- tribute liberally, and take an active part in its work. At their pleasant home adjoining the village of Kunkle they are now living retired, enjoying the fruits of former toil, and in their declining days are surrounded by a large circle of friends and acquaintances who fully appreciate their sterling worth.
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John C. Kunkle, the subject of this sketch, was reared upon the home farm in Madison township, and still resides upon his father's first purchase. Early in life he began assisting his father, and now manages and controls the estate, which is quite large, including three hundred and ninety acres of valuable and highly-cultivated land. He has always been interested in farm- ing, and with his father and brother bought and shipped stock for some time. He is a wide-awake, energetic business man of known reliability, and a thor- ough and skillful farmer and stock raiser. He takes a deep interest in polit- ical affairs, is prominently identified with the Republican party in Williams county, attends many of its conventions, and is at present acceptably serving his second term as township trustee.
In 1882 John C. Kunkle married Miss Civilla L. Stiving, who was born in Williams county, July 29, 1863, a daughter of Philip and Leah (Dohm) Stiving, members of the Lutheran Church, in whose family are eight children: Kate, Jacob, Mary, George W., Sadie, Peter O., Emma and Civilla L. Mr. and Mrs. Kunkle are the parents of four children : Henry P., Lauren S., John S. and Lefa G. The parents are members of the Presbyterian Church. Our subject is the owner of eighty acres in Section 10, Madison township.
ALFRED RIDENOUR.
One of the most beautiful homes to be found in this section is that of Mr. and Mrs. Ridenour, of Farmer township, Defiance county, a fine artistic taste having combined with a generous expenditure to produce a pleasing result, within and without. The estate, which comprises about a thousand acres of choice land, is one of the finest in the county, and it is operated in a thoroughly scientific manner.
The Ridenour family is well known in that locality, the late John Ride- nour, our subject's father, having settled there in September, 1845. This worthy pioneer was born in 1807 in Jefferson county, Ohio, and was married in that county to Miss Susanna Hilbert, a native of Maryland, born in 1811. About a year after their marriage they removed to Wayne county, Ohio, where they remained until their final settlement in Section 18, Farmer township, De- fiance county. The father died there in 1860; the mother died March 3, 1898. Of their nine children two died in infancy, and the following survive: Alfred, our subject ; Augustus L., a resident of Farmer township; Rebecca, wife of Jacob Lane, of Williams Center, Ohio; Martha, wife of A. A. Sellers, of Farmer township; Loman, of Farmer township; David, of Milford township; and Daniel, of Farmer township.
Emily Mr. Bidenour
Alfred Ridenour
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Mr. Ridenour was born January 29, 1840, in Jefferson county, but his life has been mainly spent in Defiance county. From boyhood he has been familiar with the details of agricultural work, and, finding it congenial, he has always pursued that occupation. His present homestead is located in Section 31, Farmer township, near Farmer Center. He is actively interested in all progressive movements in his locality, and as a citizen is held in high esteem. On February 17. 1866, he was married in Hicksville to Miss Emily M. Arrowsmith, by whom he has had one daughter, Miss Minnie A. Ridenour. The family is prominent socially, and Mr. Ridenour and his wife and daugh- ter are leading members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, to the work of which they contribute generously both of time and means. Minnie A. Ridenour is a graduate of the Hicksville Public School, class of '90, after- ward attending college at Adrian, Michigan, one year, and the Indiana State University two years. She also studied music, in which art she became quite proficient.
MRS. RIDENOUR is a native of Farmer township, born January 31, 1840. Her father, the late Miller Arrowsmith, was one of the earliest settlers of Defiance county, having removed from Champaign county, Ohio, to that locality in 1833, making his home in Farmer township, where his death occurred August 2, 1893. He was an influential citizen, holding various offices of trust and responsibility, and was one of the first auditors of Defiance county. His wife, Calinda Caraway, died in Defiance, Ohio, August 10, 1849. To this worthy couple were born four children: John C., Caroline and Warren (deceased), and Emily M. (Mrs. Ridenour).
JOHN DREXLER, JR.
This well-known and energetic farmer of Richland township, Defiance county, has spent almost his entire life here.
His father, John Drexler, Sr., who was born December 24, 1823, in Naetlentan, Germany, when a young man emigrated to the United States, and in Niagara county, New York, March 13, 1861, was married to Barbara Hochperger, also a native of Germany, born October 27, 1825. In April, 1864, they came to Defiance county, Ohio, and have since made their home in Richland township, being numbered among its honored and highly respected citizens. Their family consists of three children, namely: John, Mary B. and George.
In New York, John Drexler, Jr., was born December 27, 1861, and was, therefore, quite young when brought by his parents to Defiance county. He was reared in Richland township, where he still continues to make his
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home, while his education was obtained in its public schools and his business training upon the home farm. In that township he was married May 2, 1889, to Miss Katie Thieroff, a native of Henry county, Ohio, who died December 22, 1889, leaving one child, Florence C. Mr. Drexler was again married in Richland township, November 23, 1893, his second union being with Miss Anna Thieroff, who was born in that township, February 16, 1865. Two children bless this union : Augusta M. and Elise A.
Since attaining his majority Mr. Drexler has been a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, and for two terms he has held the office of assessor of Richland township. In religious faith he is identified with the German Luth- eran Church, and at the present time he is holding the office of trustee.
JAMES CASEBEER.
Mr. Casebeer, who is one of the prosperous agriculturists of Hicksville, Defiance county, and a gentleman of prominence in the banking interests of the place, is a native of this State, born in Franklin township, Tuscarawas county, June 4, 1818.
The Casebeer family were originally from Germany. Their earliest home in this country was near Little York, Pennsylvania, where they settled in Colonial days, some time prior to the Revolutionary war, and there James Casebeer's grandfather, John Casebeer, was born. He resided at Washing- ton, in that State, during his married life, and there reared a family, of whom a son named John was the father of James.
In 1811, John Casebeer, Jr., then well advanced in manhood, removed from Washington county, Pennsylvania, to Franklin, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and there engaged in agricultural pursuits, clearing up a farm, also giving at- tention to the work of his trade, that of a blacksmith, which he conducted up to the time of his death. He was twice married. His first wife was Miss Nancy Bess, who became the mother of eleven children, and after her death, which occurred after their removal to Ohio, he for his second bride, wedded Miss Sarah Smiley, and to this marriage there were three children-James (of whom a sketch follows), Sarah and Lovina.
Mrs. Sarah Smiley's mother, named Boyd, was captured by the Indians in childhood, in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, during the Revolutionary war, and held captive by them for seven years. After the close of the war she was turned over to her friends, a treaty having been effected that necessitated the return of all captives, and she, with others was brought into old Fort Du- quesne, where Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, now stands. At the time she was captured, seven others of the same family were taken, consisting of the child's
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mother, and grandmother, and four other children. Her mother and grand- mother were ruthlessly murdered by the Indians at the time they were captured, but all the children, except one, passed seven years in captivity. One of the children, a boy, and the youngest, became accustomed to his red captors and their ways, and refused to return to his white friends and relatives. The eldest son was kept a prisoner three years, when he was released and assisted back to his friends by his Indian captors. About twenty-five women and children were at this time congregated at the Boyd house when these people were captured, and the old and infirm and the infants were murdered, the rest taken into captivity. They were not captured until after a hard resistance was made, and then only after the cabin was burned.
The death of John Casebeer and that of his second wife occurred in August, 1823, within one week, both deaths resulting from the same cause- chills and fever. Mr. Casebeer was a man of strong character, very positive in his views and firm in everything. He was a very devout member of the Methodist Church, in which at the time of his death, as for a number of years previous, he was class leader, and, being a man of unswerving devotion to the support of his theories, ruled his conduct carefully and strictly in accordance with his standard of the higher life. He lived in the enjoyment of the uni- versal trust and respect of the community. He was the first pioneer justice of the peace in his township, in Ohio, and served in that office continuously from his first election to it, soon after his removal there, to the time of his death. The sad bereavement of the family in the loss of both parents necessitated the breaking up of the home and the separation of the remaining members of the family circle.
James Casebeer, son of the second marriage of John Casebeer, was thrown upon the world-as it were-when a lad of but five years, by the death of his parents, though his home until he was eight years of age was still at the home- stead with an older brother and sister. At that tender age he was called to face the stern realities of life, thenceforth working and earning his own way. When a youth of fourteen years he went to Ashland county, Ohio, to learn the blacksmith trade with a brother, with whom he remained three years. He then followed his trade for several years in different places; first taking up work at Sugar Creek, his native country, then at New Philadelphia, later at Dover, where he assisted in the iron work for bridges, also on a mill and warehouse in the town of Zoar. A stay at Bolivar until 1838 followed, where he was em- ployed to take charge of a shop, and while fulfilling his business engagement at that place he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Lower, this event occurring in Dover township, July 13, 1837.
The following year marked his establishment in a business of his own in a
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shop at Shanesville, Ohio, and in 1840 he removed to Dover township and purchased a small farm-the original purchase being forty-seven acres, to which he afterward added twenty acres, and there combined farm work with blacksmithing until 1850, when he became the owner of a farm of one hun- dred and forty acres of improved land near Shanesville, in the eastern part of Holmes county, this State, on which he located and there pursued agriculture until 1861. He then moved to Defiance county, and bought a farm of one hundred and ninety acres, on which he made his home for two years, when he sold his land there and invested in his present farm of two hundred and forty acres in this place, purchasing this extensive tract of well-improved land for seven thousand dollars. He has conducted general farming here with success, and during the years that have passed since he received his sole inheritance- the sum of sixty dollars from his father's estate-by untiring energy, ardu- ous toil and business sagacity, he has added to his earnings and gains until he has accumulated a fortune. At one time he owned four hundred acres of land, but a part of it he gave to his sons. He was one of the organizers of the Merchants and Farmers Bank of Hicksville (the first in the place), organized in 1884, and the first president of the institution, which office he held for four or five years ; and he has been on the board of directors from its organization, retaining this position ever since it was merged into the First National Bank in 1893. He has also served as vice-president at different times, and has been a director continuously during its existence as a National Bank.
Mr. Casebeer was the principal organizer of the Hicksville Detective As- sociation, organized in 1863 for the suppression of horse stealing. The Asso- ciation was composed of the best farmers and business men of the section-men of vigor and energy, in the prime of life. Mr. Casebeer was the president, J. M. Ainsworth the secretary, and Dr. Kinmont the treasurer. Eighty-seven horses had been stolen in the section about Hicksville-in Defiance, Paulding and Williams counties, every horse belonging to one farmer had been taken. The excitement caused by these depredations had become so intense that stern and strenuous measures were determined upon by the outraged farmers, and they were constantly on the lookout for suspicious characters or strangers, compelling them to give an account of themselves if seen at unreasonable hours. One Sunday evening Mr. Casebeer heard two horses pass at great speed, and his son, George T., returning between II and 12 o'clock, his father asked him if he had seen them. The son replied that he had seen two men sitting on a fence, two horses being tied and feeding in the corn near by. This was sus- picious, and Mr. Casebeer started out immediately. Soon the men with the horses returned, going towards Hicksville. Mr. Casebeer followed them, and seeing that they turned in the direction of Antwerp, on reaching the forks
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of the road, hastened across the field, and coming out in advance of them stopped them and demanded an explanation. His efforts were successful to the extent of preventing their escape to the great Paulding woods as they then turned toward the village. He boldly moved on to the village, also, keeping abreast of them, notwithstanding their threats to shoot him, and rousing Mr. Ainsworth and other members of the Association, was joined by them in pur- suit of the thieves, who went a mile or so in a northerly direction, and there concealed themselves in an extensive tract of woods.
The next morning members of the Society found the two horses tied in these woods, which the citizens surrounded, searched and guarded for two days. The thieves being then about starved out, the citizens succeeded in cap- turing them, one near Six Corners, and the other near Lost Creek. When brought together they claimed not to know each other, but two boys that were fishing having seen them identified them, as did Mr. Casebeer, also. One of them was confined in the office of the A. P. Edgerton, and the other in an upper room of Mr. Ainsworth's store, for examination. While Mr. Casebeer was on the street attending to matters, and looking up, he saw the prisoner hanging out of the store window with a rope attached to his neck, and immediately caused him to be let loose. The sheriff being powerless to rescue the prisoner from the enraged crowd, many of them having lost horses, they hung the other criminal to an apple-tree and left him there until he was nearly dead. He was, however, at last released and resuscitated. These proceedings occurred late in the afternoon. Mr. Casebeer was not present at the time of this violent act; he wholly disapproved of such disregard of lawful authority. So great was the excitement that another society at Lost Creek had determined to lynch the men ; but the sheriff finally succeeded in getting them to the Bryan jail. It proved that the horses were stolen in Marshall county, Indiana, thus necessitating the trial of the criminals in that county; and Messrs. Casebeer, Miller, Arrowsmith, George Bacaw, and John Hartle went to the county seat, a distance of two hundred miles, at their own expense, as witnesses to the trial, in order to convict them. The expense thus incurred, amounting to about seventy-five dollars, was, however, afterward refunded by the county authori- ties. The criminals attempted to prove an alibi, having witnesses from Chi- cago, who among other statements testified they were in that city the night of the theft in Indiana; but acquaintances of Mr. Casebeer's that he had met while staying over Sunday at Bourbon, Indiana, had seen both of the pris- oners at that place at the time of the theft, and appeared against them, identi- fying them, which testimony resulted in their conviction, and other arrests made in nearly the same locality put a complete end to horse stealing in that section of the country.
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