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 46
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 46
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 46
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 46
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HENRY BADEN.
This well-known grain buyer and manager of the elevator in Hamler, Henry county, is a native of Germany, born April 9, 1859, a son of Conrad and Mary (Mahnke) Baden. The mother died in that country, but the father is still living. The public schools of his native land afforded our subject his educational privileges, and in that country he continued to re- side until fifteen years of age. He then crossed the Atlantic with the hope of bettering his financial condition in the New World, where he believed better opportunities were afforded young men for advancement.
Since coming to America Mr. Baden has made his home in Henry county, for the first two years being employed on a farm in Freedom town- ship. During the following year he worked as a laborer on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, and then served as foreman on a section for about twelve years. On leaving the employ of the railroad in January, 1890, he located in Hamler, where he embarked in merchandising, and in connection with that business also had charge of the elevator. Since August, 1893, he has given his entire attention to the grain business, and in this undertaking is meeting with a well-deserved success financially.
In Holgate, Henry county, February 10, 1883, Mr. Baden was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Wildung, also a native of Germany, and to them have been born eight children, two of whom are now deceased, dying at the ages of two years, and eleven months, respectively. Those living are Mary, Henry, George, Amelia, Adolph and Hilda. The family have a pleas- ant home in Hamler, which was erected by Mr. Baden. He is a prominent member of the German Lutheran Church, and takes quite an active part in all Church work. Since casting his first vote he has supported the men and
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measures of the Democratic party, and has served his fellow citizens as a member of the village council with credit to himself and to their entire sat- isfaction.
JOHN H. SCHRIDER.
Thoughtful readers, in perusing the varied histories contained in this volume, will find the conviction borne in upon their minds that, underlying all differences of ability, training, or environment, there exists another fac- tor from which the career of each individual takes its bias. With an ideal, a steady purpose in view, life is simplified and all things tend to bring about, sooner or later, the object of one's ambition. Truly "where there's a will there's a way;" and fortunate is he who early in life directs his energies in such a manner as to realize the best results. The subject of this sketch, a leading attorney of Bryan, Williams county, has made his way to success in spite of many obstacles, and his history cannot fail to stimulate others to effort.
Mr. Schrider is of German descent, his ancestors on the paternal side having had their home in Baden Baden, where they were chiefly identified with agricultural pursuits. The first of the family to choose America for his home was our subject's grandfather Schrider, who crossed the ocean about 1842 with his family of children and settled near Medford, New Jer- sey. Philip Schrider, the father of our subject, was born in Germany in 1830, and was a mere child at the time of the removal to this country. At the age of fifteen he began to work in a glass factory at Medford, and for a number of years he was employed there and at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in that business. In 1874 he removed to a farm in Gorham township, Ful- ton county, Ohio, where he now resides. He has always been a temperate, industrious man, an excellent citizen, and he is a devout and consistent mem- ber of the Lutheran Church, in which he was reared. In politics he is a Republican, and while living in Pittsburg he was elected to a seat in the common council from his ward, but he declined to serve. His estimable wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor Schrider, to whom he was married in New Jersey, is of Irish descent, but her ancestors settled in America several gen- erations ago. They had five children: John H. (our subject), Dorothy A. (Mrs. Henry W. Koser), Thomas E. (a physician), Sarah E., and Charles T. (a farmer).
Our subject was born April 8, 1859, at Pittsburg, on the "south side," and his education was begun in the schools of that city. When he was about fifteen years old his parents removed to their present farm, and for
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a few years he attended the district schools of that locality during the win- ter seasons. As these opportunities did not satisfy him he taught for three winters in order to secure funds for a further course of study, and in 1880 he entered the normal school at Fayette, Ohio, where he completed the scien- tific and teachers courses, while still continuing his teaching during the win- ter. On graduating in 1884 he spent two years in teaching in the public schools at Lyons, Ohio, and at Fayette, giving considerable attention in the meantime to reading law. In the fall of 1888 he went to Toledo, Ohio, and passed one year as a student in the law office of Hamilton & Ford, well- known attorneys, and in 1889 he entered the law department of the Uni- versity of Michigan, where he received his degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1891. Locating at Bryan, he formed a partnership with Charles E. Scott, under the firm name of Scott & Schrider, and they are now known far and wide as being among the most successful general practitioners of Williams county.
Mr. Schrider is a stanch Republican, politically, and since coming to this section has taken an active and influential share in partisan work. For three years, from 1893 to 1895, he was chairman of the central and execu- tive committees of his county, the first year being that of Mckinley's cam- paign for governor, which occasioned an exciting but successful struggle for the Republicans of the district. In 1895 Mr. Schrider served as a dele- gate to the State convention held at Zanesville, and he has frequently been chosen as a member of Congressional and other conventions. Municipal af- fairs have also claimed much of his attention, and in 1884 he was elected mayor of the city. His interest in the cause of education has been shown by able service on the school board from 1892 to 1895.
Mr. Schrider has a pleasant home in North Main street, Bryan. He was married in 1886 at Royalton, Fulton county, Ohio, to Miss Helen R. Egnew, and the union has been blessed by two children: James P. and Esther E. He and his wife are prominent socially, and he is a leading member of the Christian Church at Bryan. For six years he belonged to the Chautauqua Society, and he is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the National Union.
JOSEPH THOME.
Mr. Thome, who is a man of marked ability and force of character, owns .and successfully operates a valuable farm of four hundred acres in Pleasant township, Henry county. The well-tilled fields and neat and thrifty appearance of the place testify to his skill and ability in the line of his chosen calling, and
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all the buildings upon the place are in perfect harmony with their surround- . ings. His residence is one of the finest in the township, is supplied with all modern conveniences and there hospitality reigns supreme.
Mr. Thome was born in Lorain county, Ohio, in 1850, a son of Barth- low and Catherine ( Hoffman) Thome, now deceased. In 1865 our subject came to Henry county, and with its agricultural interests he has since been identified. He has not, however, confined his attention alone to farming, but has also successfully engaged in the sawmill business. His business interests have been so managed as to win him the confidence of the public, also the pros- perity which should always attend honorable effort, and he is now numbered among the substantial and wealthy citizens of the township. Those who know him best are numbered among his warmest friends, and no citizen of the community is more honored or more highly esteemed.
On October 18, 1874, in Pleasant township, Henry county, Mr. Thome wedded Miss Mary Klear, who was born in that township, August 12, 1858, a daughter of Peter Klear. Mr. and Mrs. Thome are the parents of eight living children : Mary, Mathias, Peter, Lizzie, William, Albert, Cora and Leo; and two who died in infancy : Joseph and Josephine.
CHARLES A. FREELAND.
This leading representative of the business interests of Montpelier, is senior member of the firm of Freeland & Zimmerman, proprietors of the Montpelier City Mill. Of excellent business ability, he has attained a promi- nent place among the enterprising and substantial citizens of this part of Williams county, and is a recognized leader in public affairs. He has won success by his well-directed, energetic efforts, and the prosperity that has come to him is certainly well deserved.
Mr. Freeland was born March 7, 1861, in Jonesville, Hillsdale county, Michigan, where he continued to live until fifteen years of age, working in a woolen-mill at that place during the last two years. He then went to Hills- dale, Michigan, where, with the exception of two years, he made his home until 1890, and in that place, at the age of sixteen, began learning the mill- ing business, which he has made his life work. For two years he operated a gristmill at North Adrian, Michigan, and was in the employ of F. W. Stock, a miller of Hillsdale, for six years before coming to Montpelier, Ohio, in January, 1890. In company with J. R. Zimmerman he leased the City Mill until 1894, and in February of that year he and his partner purchased the plant, successfully carrying on a general custom and flouring business
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since taking possession. The product of their mill is of a superior grade, and from the public they receive a liberal patronage. The firm is also con- ducting the ice business of the city, having sole contract in that line.
In Hillsdale, Michigan, in 1884, Mr. Freeland wedded Miss Mary Blood, who died at that place in 1887, leaving two children, namely: Mabel and Cassius. Mr Freeland was again married in 1888, his second union be- ing with Miss Cornelia Blood (sister of his first wife), by whom he has three children : Charles A., Jr., Donald and Russell A.
Being a public-spirited, enterprising citizen, Mr. Freeland has ever taken quite an active and prominent part in public affairs, and is now serv- ing his third term as a member of the city council. He is deeply inter- ested in everything pertaining to the public welfare of the town, and with- holds his support from no enterprise calculated to prove of public benefit. Socially he affiliates with the Knights of Pythias.
HENRY LIPP, JR.
This substantial and progressive agriculturist of Delaware township, Defiance county, traces his ancestry to that distant land, the grand and awe- inspiring home of the brave and hardy Swiss.
Henry and Anna (Sutter) Lipp, parents of our subject, were natives of Switzerland, the father born December 21, 1815, the mother on September 4, 1822. They came to America in early life, and located in Putnam county, Ohio, several years prior to their removal, in the spring of 1861, to Delaware township, Defiance county, where they are still living, carrying on farming operations. They are the parents of nine children-four sons and five daugh- ters. Mrs. Henry Lipp's mother, Mrs. Barbara Schneider, died in Putnam county, Ohio.
Henry Lipp, Jr., was born in Putnam county, Ohio, March 29, 1851, and is the eldest in the family. In the county of his birth he remained until he was ten years old, and then accompanied his parents to Delaware township, Defiance county, where he continued to reside until he was twenty-six years of age. Returning then to Putnam county, he found employment on a farm, and there remained four years, at the end of which time he again removed to Delaware township, where he has since continuously resided.
On January 16, 1883, Mr. Lipp was married at Defiance to Miss Cathe- rine Gecowitz, who was born in Defiance township, Defiance county, Ohio, January 15, 1864, a daughter of Andrew (a farmer of Defiance county), and Christina (Bauer) Gecowitz, the former a native of Poland, born January
Henry Lipp je
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24, 1813, the latter born in Germany, May 13, 1829, and both of whom are yet living. After coming to this country, they first settled in Paulding county, Ohio, but removed to Defiance county, where they have since made their home with the exception of about a year, during which time they lived in Virginia. They have had six children-four sons and two daughters-Mrs. Lipp being the fifth child.
Immediately after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lipp settled on the farm in Delaware township, which is their present home. It is located in Section 14, and contains one hundred and eighty acres of land, on which Mr. Lipp has erected good buildings and made other improvements, thus enhancing both the appearance and value of his property. He is actively interested in bee culture, having at the present time some seventy swarms, from which he derives a considerable income. The pleasing home of Mr. and Mrs. Lipp is bright- ened by five children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Anna C., October 29, 1883; John H., July 11, 1885; Emma M., May 21, 1887; Clara C., March 23, 1890; and Laurina Estella, November 7, 1898. Politically Mr. Lipp acts with the Democratic party, and he formerly took an active part in all matters of local interest. He and his wife are members of the Reformed Church.
HENRY C. SASS.
The northern Sea Kings in their descent upon and occupation of Eng- land, and the Normans who subsequently invaded and conquered that coun- try, left no stronger impress upon succeeding generations in the "tight little isle" than has been given to the United States by that brave and hardy race who, as emigrants from Germany, have settled in large numbers in almost every portion of the country. Their strong individuality has stamped their characteristic traits upon our civilization, and in social and business life, in our churches and institutions of learning, in politics, finance, and all the varied activities of peace and war, the German element among our peo- ple has been an important factor in the progress of which every citizen is proud. The subject of this sketch, a prominent resident of Defiance, and a typical representative of this class, is himself a native of the Fatherland, although by education and training he belongs to the Buckeye State.
Mr. Sass was born May 6, 1862, at Pass, Mecklenburg, Germany, where his family had been domiciled for many generations. His grandfather, Henry M. Sass, was a prosperous business man in the cooperage line, and Henry Sass, our subject's father, was a merchant tailor there in his early manhood. In 1866 he and his wife, Fredericka (Sames), came to the
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United States with their seven children, and for five years resided at De- fiance, where Mr. Sass continued his former business. Later he removed to Toledo, engaging again in merchant tailoring until his retirement from ac- tive work in 1886. He is still a resident of Toledo, and is held in high esteem by all who know him. Of the seven children all are living except one: (I) Mary married Matthias Shuewack, a carpenter at Toledo. (2) William, a carpenter, resides in the same city. (3) Anna married Charles Tonesing, and died in Toledo at the age of twenty-eight, leaving one daugh- ter, Amelia. (4) Augusta married (first) John Garding, who died leav- ing one child, Ella. By a second marriage, with Edward Mueller, a car- penter of Toledo (now deceased), she had one son, Henry. She still re- sides in Toledo. (5) Lena married R. Hecht, a ranchman of Wyoming, and resides at Laramie City; they have four children. (6) Henry C., our subject, is mentioned more fully below. (7) Emma married Henry Trost, of Toledo, a carpenter and manufacturer of sashes and doors. They have two children : Ella and Carl.
Henry C. Sass was four years old when his parents came to this country, and nine when they moved to Toledo, his education being mainly acquired in the public schools of that city. On leaving the high school at the age of sixteen he learned the tinner's trade, which he followed in Toledo until 1884. He then went to Defiance, and securing employment at his trade there continued until 1889, when he took a position as clerk in the hard- ware store of C. Biede, of the same place. He was married in 1884 to Miss Nathalie May, daughter of George May, a well-known resident of Defiance, and speedily established himself as one of the substantial, progressive and reliable citizens of the place. By industry and thrift he accumulated suffi- cient capital to enable him to start in business on his own account. In 1893 he purchased his employer's entire business, and has since conducted it suc- cessfully. Under his able management it has expanded until he has now one of the most extensive hardware stores in that section with an annual business of twenty-five thousand dollars and upward. The store is ad- vantageously located on Clinton street, and occupies three floors of the building, the upper floor being used for a thoroughly equipped tin shop, and the others taken for the storage and display of goods. Mr. Sass keeps all kinds of heating and cooking stoves, ranges, furnaces and fittings, together with a complete stock of the shelf goods usually found in a first-class hardware store. His success may be attributed largely to his thorough knowledge of every detail of the business, learned in his years of service as an employe, as this experience, with his quick perceptions and excellent judgment as to
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ways and means, has given him command of every available source of ad- vancement. Prompt and decisive in his dealings he is at the same time most genial in manner, and his unfailing courtesy to all customers adds to his long list of friends while tending to the increase of his bank account. His history furnishes a bright example of the possibilities open to a boy who, though poor, determines to make his way to an honorable position in the business world.
Mr. Sass has a handsome residence, built by himself in 1891, at No. 324 Second street, East Defiance, containing all modern conveniences, in- cluding furnace heat, hot and cold water, and other features not often found outside of our larger cities. Four children-Linda, Eva, Arnold and Henry -brighten his home. Mr. Sass and his wife are identified with the Luth- eran Church, and have always shown a deep interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the community. Politically Mr. Sass affiliates with the Democratic party, and at times has been a candidate for local offices, his popularity with all classes doing much to strengthen the ticket. He is now a member of the school board of Defiance.
FRANK B. SITES.
Prominent among the business men of Defiance county, who by their genius and enterprise have risen to positions of usefulness and influence, was the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch, now deceased. The "Old Dominion" is his native State, he having been born in Edenburg, Shen- andoah county, March 14, 1851.
Henry Sites, his father, married Rebecca Kesinger, and they passed the first years of their married life in Edenburg, Virginia. In 1857 they left that place and took up their abode in Ohio, settling finally in Mifflin township, Richland county. Mr. Sites made farming his life business.
Frank B. Sites attended the schools of Richland county, applying him- self to study until eighteen years of age, from which time till the year 1881 he followed the life of a commercial traveler, still making his home with his father. A propensity for inventing led him to experiment continually. In 1881 he entered the employ of the Trumbull Wagon Company, Defiance, Ohio, and was with that firm one year, revising and improving machinery. One year with John Marshall in the same line of business followed, after which he was general superintendent of the works of the latter for one year. He then gave his attention to the manufacture of various articles in his own interest; but meeting with losses, he bought machinery for fence
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manufacturing, and engaged in that business on a small scale, while perfect- ing and patenting inventions that led to the establishment of the Defiance Box Works. This enterprise was inaugurated in a small way-a company of four, with Mr. Sites at the head, entering upon the project. For two years he conducted the small concern, when, demand for the goods having increased to such a large extent, he formed a stock company with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, and established a large plant, erecting four buildings -a main building forty by one hundred and twenty feet with an annex forty by eighty feet, a dry-kiln forty by twenty-four feet, and a warehouse thirty by sixty feet. Projector and original promoter of the extensive busi- ness, Mr. Sites is one of the stockholders also, and the inventor and pat- entee of its various products, which comprise poultry coops, pottery crates, and crate boxes of all kinds and sizes, the goods being sold in all sections of the United States. The machinery for the manufacture of the goods is also the invention of Mr. Sites, and his genius continued to be busied with the perfection of other inventions in the same line. The value of the annual product of the works is already forty thousand dollars, while with continually increasing facilities the business is constantly assuming greater proportions, and Mr. Sites enjoyed a royalty on all products. Thus in a few years the modest venture has passed to a permanent and lucrative busi- ness success.
Mr. Sites was married, in the fall of 1883, to Miss Kittie Wisler, of Defiance, and they have one son, John Albert, born in August, 1884. Mr. Sites passed away September 18, 1897, and was buried in the Defiance ceme- tery. He was affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, and in politics was a Prohibitionist. Three years prior to his death he was a member of the Methodist Church, to which Mrs. Sites also belongs, and he was a social, genial Christian gentleman, living in the enjoyment of the respect and con- fidence of a wide circle of acquaintances and friends.
ELMER E. FIRESTONE.
Mr. Firestone, who is editor of the "Stryker Advance," of Stryker. Williams county, was born in Waterford, Indiana, November 16, 1865, but was reared in Wakarusa, that State, until thirteen years of age, when he went to Syracuse, Indiana, to learn the printer's trade, remaining there but three months, however.
Going to South Bend, he completed his apprenticeship, and for six years worked on the "St. Joseph Register," which was established by the
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Hon. Schuyler Colfax. On leaving there he was employed in different places until 1888, at which time he was made foreman of the "Butler Rec- ord," of Butler, Indiana, holding that position for two years. Later he was similarly employed in the office of the "Bryan Press," at Bryan, Ohio, for three years, and from there went to Sherwood, Michigan, where he es- tablished the "Sherwood News," but after conducting it for six months sold out and removed to Wauseon, Ohio. There he served in the capacity of fore- man of the "Wauseon Republican" for over two years, or until coming to Stryker in November, 1896. Purchasing the "Stryker Advance" he has made the paper one of the best journals of Williams county, and it now has a circulation of over seven hundred. It is independent in politics, and is a bright, newsy sheet.
In 1889, at Hillsdale, Michigan, Mr. Firestone married Miss Helen M. Blaker, a native of Williams county, Ohio, daughter of John Blaker, of Butler, Indiana, who died in 1895. By this union there are four children : Lois M., Maym C., Charles V. and Helen R.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS.
Mr. Phillips is one of the leading and influential citizens of Defiance township, Defiance county, where he has successfully engaged in farming for forty years, and has also been prominently identified with the material development of the locality. He is a native of Ohio, born August 29, 1820, in Hamilton township, Warren county, and on the paternal side is of Welsh descent. His parents were Isaac and Ruanza (Kelly) Phillips, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Loudoun county, Virginia, and both died in Warren county, Ohio, in 1826 and 1884, respectively.
In their family were seven children-two sons and five daughters- our subject being third in the order of birth. He was six years old when his father died, and from that time until he attained his fifteenth year he made his home with his maternal grandfather, Peter Kelly. At the age of seventeen he commenced learning the tanner's and currier's trade, his term of apprenticeship not expiring until he reached his majority. Hav- ing mastered the business, he followed that occupation in his native county for fourteen years.
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