Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 10

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1040

USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 10
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 10

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Lanesborough, Mass., he had for a pupil Anna Lyon, whom he soon after inarried. She was born at Lanesborough, May 13, 1778, daughter of Thomas and Thankful Lyon, both natives of Massachusetts. After marriage Aaron and Anna Levisee lived in Massachusetts, in Greenfield, Sara- toga Co., N. Y., in Lima, Livingston Co., N. Y., and in Allen, Allegany Co., N. Y. Here Aaron Levisee died June 18, 1828. Four years later the widow migrated with her children to Townsend township, San- dusky Co., Ohio. In 1844 she moved to the home of her daughter, Mrs. Thank- ful Botsford, near Ann Arbor, Mich., and died there July 3, 1845. The nine chil- dren of Aaron and Anna Levisee were Almedia, born August 1, 1799, married Ezra Lyons, and died in Townsend town- ship, Sandusky Co., Ohio, June 28, 1853; Eveline, born June 21, 1801, married Hubbard Jones, and died in Townsend township June 13, 1873; Thankful, born July 15, 1804, married David Botsford, and died in Washtenaw county, Mich .; Eliza Ann, born May 6, 1806, first mar- ried to Jonathan Wisner, afterward to Joseph Cummings (she died in Townsend township November 6, 1838); John L. and Sarah L. (twins), born July 4, 1809, the former a prominent citizen of Town- send township, died at the age of eighty- six, the latter dying at the age of four years in 1813; Sarah Sophia, born February 14, 1815, married Charles Gillett, and died in Steuben county, Ind., March 16, 1847; Emma M., born March 24, 1818; and Aaron Burton, born March 18, 1821, a prominent lawyer of Fargo, North Dakota.

After his marriage to Emma M. Levi- see, William Fuller continued farming in Townsend township. His industry and patience were rewarded in time. He ac- quired much land, and each of his five sons who grew to maturity were helped to a farm by their father. William Fuller was a Democrat until 1856; but from that time to his death, which occurred Janu-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ary 7, 1884, he was a Republican. In re- ligious faith he was a Universalist. Two children by his first wife, David and John, grew to maturity. David was born July S, 1821, married, for his first wife, Mary Z. Higley, and, for his second, Eliza J. Plumb, He died May 18, 1879. John, born April 7, 1823, married Eliza Mallory, and removed to Branch county, Mich. By his second wife William Fuller had two chil- dren: William T., who was born April 10, IS32, married Mary J. Van Buskirk, and resides at Townsend; and Cynthia M., born November 2, 1833, and died Decem- ber 22, 1853. One child was born to his third wife, Jason E., who died in infancy. Three children were born to William and Emma M. (Levisee) Fuller, as follows: Taylor, James and Albert. James was born October 13, 1844, married Betsey Richards, and lives in Townsend town- ship; Albert, born June 22, 1846, died September 26, 1849.

Taylor Fuller, the eldest of these three children, grew up on the farm in Town- send township, and attended the district schools. He enlisted in August, 1862, in Company K, One Hundred O. V. I., which was organized at Toledo. The regiment was sent to Kentucky, and oper- ated against the forces of Gen. Kirby Smith. During the winter of 1862-63 it remained in the vicinity of Lexington, and in the fall of 1863 crossed the moun- tains to Knoxville, Tenn. A detachment of 240 men, sent up to the Virginia State line to guard the railroad, was captured by the Rebels. The regiment was en- gaged in nearly every battle of the Atlanta campaign, then returned to Tennessee, and met Hood at Columbia, Franklin and at Nashville. After Hood's defeat at Nashville, Mr. Fuller, then a sergeant, went with the command to North Caro- lina. It was actively engaged at Wil- mington and assisted in the capture of that city, then moved to Goldsboro and met Sherman's army. The regiment was mustered out at Greensboro, N. C.,

June 20, 1865, and discharged at Cleve- land, July I, following. Sergt. Fuller was a faithful soldier, and was with the regi- ment during the whole of its active and eventful service. Returning to his home, he again took up the vocations of peace.

On December 3, 1867, he was mar- ried to Miss Lina E. Stone, who was born in Seneca county, Ohio, April 15, 1843. Their only child, Dermont E., was born November 6, 1868, and was educated in the schools of Clyde and at the Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware; he is now assistant cashier of the Peoples Bank at Clyde. Taylor Fuller began house- keeping on a farm in Townsend township which he had previously purchased, but later settled on his present farm in York township. Besides looking after his farm- ing interests he has been one of the lead- ing stock farmers at Clyde for ten years or more, and for a number of years he has been a prominent wool dealer also. He was one of the founders of the Peo- ples Bank, which was organized in 1883 with a capital stock of $50,000, and which is one of the leading and prosperous finan- cial institutions of the county. He served as vice-president continuously until elected to his present responsible position of presi- dent of the bank. In politics Mr. Fuller is a pronounced Republican. He is a member of the G. A. R., and of the U. V. U. No man in the township ranks higher as a public-spirited citizen, and as a capable business man.

S AXTON SQUIRE RATHBUN (deceased). For over seventy years this venerable and hearty pioneer was a resident of Green Creek township, Sandusky county, and at the time of his death he was one of the oldest settlers of the county. When his people came to the wilderness there was not a residence of any kind between Green Creek township and Sandusky Bay, and Indians inhabited the woods on every

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

side. It was in 1820 that Jonathan Rath- bun, grandfather of Saxton S., migrated from Genesee county, N. Y., to Ohio, settling first in Lorain county, and four years later coming to the farm in Green Creek township lately occupied by S. S. Rathbun, where he permanently located. Jonathan Rathbun was one of three brothers who emigrated from England to America and the fourth in a family of ten, children. He settled in Tyringham, Mass., and later migrated with his family to Genesee county, N. Y. He had four sons-Clark, Chaplin, Lucius and Mar- tin- and four daughters-Sally, Marvel, Eliza and Laura-all of whom moved with him to the Western home.

Chaplin Rathbun, father of Saxton S., was born in Tyringham, Mass., July 3, I793. He was married in New York State to Lucinda Sutliff, who was born on the Genesee river, New York State, in 1792, and whose grandfather, Gad Sut- liff, a ship carpenter by vocation, emi- grated from England, and died in New York State, at the age of ninety-three years. Many of his descendants now

live in Lorain county, Ohio, among them being William H. H. Sutliff, of Wellington. The children of Chap- lin and Lucinda Rathbun were as follows: Saxton S., born in Genesee county, N. Y., June 3, 1813; Jeannette, who married James Cleveland, and died in Green Creek township; Jonathan, who died aged seven years; Catherine, who married Christian Huss, and died in 1894; Lucinda, married to Morris Lemmon, and died in Steuben county, Ind. ; Sarah, who married H Foster, and died recently in La Grange county, Ind .; Bliss, who died in Green Creek township, aged twenty- five years; Eliza, wife of John Hunter, of La Grange county, Ind. Chaplin Rath- bun died January 1, 1865. He was a man of large size, hardy constitution and mus- cular frame. In politics he was a Whig and Republican successively.

Saxton S. Rathbun was a lad of

eleven years when his parents entered the dense wilderness which covered the now fertile farms of Green Creek township. The educational possibilities of the back- woods were not great, but he took ad- vantage of such opportunities as the fron- tier then afforded. He attended a school in a log cabin wherein, as a substitute for a window, a hole was cut in a log and paper pasted over the opening. On April 9, 1835, he was married to Bar- bara E. Huss, born in Lancaster county, Penn., December 27, 1816, and their children were as follows: (1) Edwin, born March 10, 1837, who, while a river man, unmarried, died of yellow fever at St. Louis, Mo., in 1880. (2) Norton G., born September 19, 1839, now of Green Creek township, an ex-county commis- sioner, married, and is the father of three children-Edwin, Arthur and Herman. (3) Burton, married, and is the father of one child-Leonard. (4) Thaddeus, who died aged eight years. (5) James, who yielded up his life for his country on the battlefield of Stone River, December 30, 1862, after a service of nearly two years; he was a member of the 12Ist Illinois Regiment, in the division of Gen. Rose- crans; was six feet one inch tall in his stockings; always ready for duty, and the best man in his regiment; the bereaved father went to Tennessee and brought home the remains. (6) Norman died of typhoid fever, aged twenty-two years. (7) Chaplin L. married, and is the father of eight children-Harry, Edith, Fannie, James, Nina, Lucy, Ollie and Mabel. (8) Lucinda is the wife of Charles Storer and the mother of five children-Alice, Bes- sie, Mary, James and Carrie. (9) Brace, of Eaton Rapids, Mich., is the father of three children, one of whom died at the age of four years, those living being Ban- nie and Bertha. (10) Orvilla, wife of H. Sackrider, of Fremont, is the mother of five children, two of whom died in in- fancy, the living being Lynn, Blanche and Grace. (II) Jacob died in infancy.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

(12) John E., connected with the Oak- wood Cemetery Association, of Fremont, for the past fifteen years, has one child- Ferra Fern.

After his marriage Mr. Rathbun pur- chased eighty acres of land in Green Creek township. The original deed for the land bears the signature .of Andrew Jackson, President, under date of 1832, and Mr. Rathbun paid for the land by working for $10 per month. Nobly aided by his wife, he essayed the task of clear- ing the land, and gradually increased the acreage until it developed into the pres- ent excellent farm of 200 acres, all of which was acquired and improved by its worthy owner and his faithful helpmeet and co-worker, whose loss by death, oc- curring March 13, 1894, he deeply mourned. The rearing and educating of their large family consumed much of her time, but she proved equal to the stern responsibilities, and to her Mr. Rathbun ascribed due meed for the efficient man- ner in which she contributed to the accu- mulation of the estate. In politics Mr. Rathbun was a Democrat until the open- ing of the Civil war, after which time he was a Republican. He was trustee of the township fourteen years. In the es- teem of his fellow citizens no man ranked higher than this brave and earnest pio- neer. His life work was well done, and its remembrance will linger long in the memories of men. He passed from earth February 3, 1895.

W B. HEIM. Among the enter- prising and successful young business men of Fremont, San- dusky county, may be justly mentioned William B. Heim, of the well known dry-goods firm of Heim & Barnum, corner of Front and State streets. Al- though of German parentage, Mr. Heim is a native of the " Buckeye State," hav- ing been born in Fremont, Ohio, June 6,

1857, a son of Albert and Margaret (Mal- kamus) Heim.

William B. Heim entered business life as a clerk in the dry-goods store of J. Ryan, in 1875, and remained in that ca- pacity until 1882. Having mastered the problems involved in mercantile transac- tions thoroughly, and econoinized his time and means, he found himself ready to embark in an enterprise for himself, and in 1885 became a member of the firm of Heim & Richards, successors to J. Ryan. This firm was afterward changed to Heim & Barnum, our subject remain- ing connected with the firm. There are few men in any community who can boast of having gained the confidence of the public more thoroughly than he; and this has been done by fair dealing and genuine courtesy. The store of Heim & Barnum, No. 116 N. Front street, is 86 by 23 feet, and they occupy part of the second story of of the building; eight clerks are employed.

Mr. Heim was married in 1887 to Miss Clara A. Dorr, of Fremont, and they have one child, Bogniard. Mr. and Mrs. Heim are both possessed of good educa- tional ideas, and their aim is to give their son the advantage of modern methods of culture. Mr. Heim is a Democrat, a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and of the National Union.

H ON. JOHN KELLY (deceased), who, for the long period of over half a century, was a resident of what is known as the Peninsula, Ottawa county, was born in the city of Troy, N. Y., December 14, 1809. In the fall of 1818 he came to Ohio with his father, the fam- ily settling at Sandusky, at that time a wilderness inhabited by Indians and wild animals. In 1832 our subject moved to the Peninsula, and on July 23, 1835, was married to Elizabeth Pettibone, soon after which event he purchased the farm whereon he passed the rest of his days.

Mr. Kelly enjoyed about the usual

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

school advantages of pioneer days, and, such as they were, they ended with his fourteenth year; but his extreme fondness for reading in a measure supplied the deficiencies of his early training. The Bible, the Iliad, Shakespeare, Goldsmith, Scott, Burns and Byron were among his favorite books and authors. He was a man of strong, resolute, independent character, possessed of deep convictions which were not shaken in the least, even if all the world disagreed with him. He would allow himself to be under no obli- gations to any one, and would not suffer anybody to have any power or control over him. He would deny himself a ne- cessity before he would contract a debt that might embarass him in the future. He was very exact in the performance of all his engagements; a debt with him must always be paid on the day it fell due. Though not pretending to a knowledge of the details of the law, he was well-versed in legal maxims, and had such rare judg- ment in their application that he was often called upon by his neighbors for legal advice, and in this way ofttimes rendered them material aid. He had a retentive memory, and could repeat en- tire many of the longer poems of his favorite poet, Burns. He never held a public position that was not given with- out asking. He served his township as justice of the peace for twelve consecu- tive years, and held various other minor public positions. In 1862 he was elected, on the Republican ticket, to represent the Thirtieth Senatorial District in the Fifty- fifth General Assembly of Ohio, wherein he served a term of two years-1862-63.

Mr. Kelly firmly believed in an over- ruling Providence, in retribution for evil doing, and in good works as an infallible index of good character; further than which it is doubtful whether he had any formu- lated belief. Upon this, as, indeed, upon every subject, he did his own thinking; he accepted nothing upon authority, scout- ing the idea that a man must believe any-

thing. He felt that the average Church creed was too detailed and definite to be wholly true, or even reverent.

He passed from earth April 18, 1883, at the age of seventy-three years, after but two days' illness, although he had been in feeble health for many years, the immediate cause of his demise being con- gestion of the lungs. His death-bed was surrounded by his wife and every one of his living children, who mourned the de- parture from their midst of a kind, affec- tionate husband and loving, indulgent father.

H ON. WILLIAM KELLY, one of Ottawa county's prosperous farm- ers and stock dealers, is a native of the county, having been born March 17, 1838, in Danbury township, and is the son of the Hon. John Kelly. a sketch of whom precedes this.

The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, during this time receiving a common-school education, which was afterward supplemented by a two-years' course at Oberlin College. About this time he made his choice of a companion who was to share with him the joys and sorrows that might await him, an1 on March 27, 1859, he wedded Mi. , Laura Lockwood, also a native of the county, born May 20, 1840, and a daugh- ter of Edward J. and Lydia (Ramsdell) Lockwood, a sketch of whoni follows. The young couple started out on life's journey full of hope and with bright pros- pects of success, which time has shown to have been fully realized. To this union have come four children-one son and three daughters-to wit: (1) Arthur A., born February 23, 1860, married to Jen- nie Latimore, and they are now the par- ents of two children-Edward L., born February 8, 1888, and Mary Gertrude, born January 25, 1895. (2) Mary E., born August 6, 1862, and married to Dr. Carl Esch, of Cleveland, Ohio. (3)

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Josephine, born March 17, 1864, mar- ried to Dr. R. L. Waters, of Elmore, Ohio. (4) Lydia, born October 17, 1875, still living with her parents.

Mr. Kelly has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits, including dealing in live stock, and besides general farming he has engaged extensively in the culture of fruit, an industry for which the Penin- sula, on which his farm is located, has become noted. He is energetic and pub- lic-spirited, and has held many positions of local trust. Always identified with educational interests of Port Clinton, he served as a member of the Board of Edu- cation for over seventeen years, and for ten years was its president. He was like- wise several times elected a member of the council, which incumbency he filled with ability. In 1890 he held the posi- tion of receiver for the Lakeside & Mar- blehead railroad, having been appointed by the court pending the adjustment of difficulties among its stockholders. In this position he managed the affairs of the company with such prudence and faith- fulness that the court allowed him a lib- eral compensation, and-what was more gratifying to him-commended him highly for his ability.

In 1891 Mr. Kelly was elected a mem- ber of the Seventieth General Assembly of Ohio, on the Republican ticket in a county largely Democratic, and in 1893 he was again honored by a re-election. While in the Seventieth Mr. Kelly served on several important committees, promi- nent among which was the " Committee on Fish Culture and Game." In this ca- pacity he secured the passage of an act reimbursing fishermen for large losses sustained by them in consequence of the destruction of their nets by the Fish War- den under an act afterward declared un- constitutional. £ During the same session he was instrumental in securing the pass- age of a joint ditch law. In speaking of Mr. Kelly's efforts in this instance, we can do no better than to quote the To- 5

ledo Bec of April 19, 1892, a Democratic paper, reading as follows: “ Representa- tive Kelly, of Ottawa, last evening se- cured the passage of his bill amending the existing statutes, so that, in the con- struction of a joint ditch, reviewers shall assess the damages to be paid by the up- per county. This is a fight between Ot- tawa and Wood counties. Representa- tive James fought the bill at every stage of the proceedings, but the quiet, unas- suming ways of Kelly, of Ottawa, cap- tured the House, as he made one of the ablest business-like arguments that has been delivered on the floor of the House this winter. His influence over fellow members of the House consisted largely in the fact that he was never known to introduce, favor or support any measure savoring of schemes; but was ever on the alert, watching closely every measure un- der consideration, and always taking sides, favoring or approving every measure pending before the House, as the interest of his constituents and the welfare of the State might dictate."

In the Seventy-first General Assem- bly, he was again placed on several im- portant committees, one of these being appointed by the Speaker under a resolu- tion passed by the House. Mr. Kelly was made chairman of this committee, whose duty was to prepare plans for re- modeling the State House with a view to making room for the Supreme Court of the State to hold its sessions, this body having been increased by a former Legis- lature to six meinbers in order to facili- tate the work of the court and to get im- portant cases disposed of, by making two divisions of the court, making more room necessary. The work was acceptably done, but never executed for want of a fund from which to make an appropria- tion for carrying on the same. Mr. Kelly likewise was instrumental in securing the passage of a law allowing courts, whose term expired by limitation, to reconvene at once when in the midst of a lengthy

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

case, to complete it, saving much time and needless expense.

Mr. Kelly has always been a promi- nent and influential leader in public af- fairs, possessing almost unrivaled gifts of persuasive eloquence and convincing logic. He is courteous in debate, fer- tile in resource, and a powerful sup- porter of any cause to which he may give his sanction. These characteristics, in connection with his able work in the Legislature, brought him into prominence, and made him the recipient of many complimentary notices from the Press of the Ninth Congressional District. At the Republican convention held in Toledo, June 19, 1894, Chairman of the Conven- tion complimented the convention on hav- ing so many candidates, any one of whom would make admirable representatives, mentioning Mr. Kelly's name among the number. When the time came for nom- inations, the Hon. William Miller, of Ot- tawa, and Presidential elector who cast the vote of his Congressional District for Mr. Harrison the second time, announced the name of William Kelly, "the only man who had twice carried that Bourbon stronghold." The Toledo Blade of that date, in speaking of the different candidates before the convention, says: " Mr. Kelly re- ceived a continuous ovation all last evening from his many friends, not only from To- ledo, but also from the other delegations."

With this brief account of his life and work, we leave the subject of this sketch in the enjoyment of good health at his pleasant home in Port Clinton, surround- ed with the comforts of life, and the well-earned confidence and esteem of his many friends, the ripened fruit of a dili- gent and honorable life.

EDWARD J. LOCKWOOD, who for over seventy years has been a continuous resi- dent of Ottawa county, and to-day is one of the few surviving pioneers who have been spared to see flourishing towns and productive farms and orchards supplant the primeval forests, was born in the city

of Albany, N. Y., August 17, 1813, and is a son of Col. Samuel M. and Mary (Doughty) Lockwood, the former a na- tive of Stamford, Conn., the latter of New York City.

The parents and five members of their family came to Ottawa county a short time prior to the arrival of the subject of this sketch, when it was a part of Huron county, a wild and uncultivated tract of land, and they participated in all the trials and hardships that fall to the lot of early settlers. On November 9, 1817, Mrs. Col. Lockwood died in Danbury, Ottawa county, Ohio, and on November 30, 1818, Col. Lockwood was again united in marriage, this time to Gertrude Doughty (a sister of his former wife), who survived him many years, dying June 6, 1875, at Plasterbed, Ottawa Co., Ohio. The children by the latter union are John Wickliffe Lockwood, Horace A. Lock- wood, A. Platt Lockwood, Hon. James K. Lockwood, Lane Lockwood, Laura Lockwood, Emeline Lockwood and Imo- gene Lockwood. Col. Lockwood was one of the energetic pioneers of this country. He made quite a history, a part of which was his service for four terms in the Leg- islature of Ohio, serving two terms in the House of Representatives, and two terms in the Senate. He was president of the first railroad built in Ohio.

Our subject, who is the only surviving member of Col. Lockwood's family by his first wife, was reared as a farmer boy, re- ceiving a limited education in the old log schoolhouse near his home. After com- ing to Ottawa county he worked in the quarries at Plasterbed, where for some years he operated a stationary engine, afterward receiving a position as engineer on a steamboat; but the greater part of his life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, and his industry and close atten- tion to business have made his farm one of the finest in Ottawa county. He set the first vineyard and the first peach and quince orchard that was set on the Pen-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

insula, a locality that has since become so famous as a fruit-growing section.

Edward J. Lockwood has been twice married; first time to Lydia Ramsdell, a daughter of Jacob and Experience Rams- dell, who where among the honored pion- eers of Ottawa county. By this union there were born four daughters: Laura, now the wife of Hon. Kelly, of Port Clinton; Ellen, wife of William Sloan, who is living in Portage township, Ottawa coun- ty; Experience; and Elizabeth, wife of George R. Marshall, of Mansfield, Rich- land Co., Ohio. The mother of this family died March 24, 1890, and Mr. Lockwood subsequently married Mrs. Julia (Streeter) Wonnell, widow of James Won- nell, Esq., of Portage township, and a daughter of Solomon and Sarah (Arnold) Streeter, of New Hampshire.

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Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 10

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1040

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago, J.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1040