Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 102

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 102
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 102

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partnership with Daniel Shank in the milling business, under the firm name of Shank & Co. In 1878 Mr. Barnes dis- posed of his interest in this mill, and re- moved to Paulding, Ohio, operating a mill at that place until his removal to Oak Harbor, where he purchased the mill which he still continues to run, having fitted it up with the most modern ma- chinery. Mr. Barnes, possessing a thor- ongh knowledge of his business, and by a life of energy and perseverance, has suc- ceeded in building up a large and rapidly increasing trade, ranking to-day among the most prominent and influential busi- ness men of Oak Harbor.

Our subject has been twice married, first time to Miss Mary Calvert, of Penn- sylvania, to which union were born five children, one of whom, Harlan, still sur- vives. On March 3, 1888, Mr. Barnes was again united in marriage, this time with Miss Maria Welden, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Stewart) Welden. There are no children by the second mar- riage. Politically, our subject has always been a Republican. The family are members of the Methodist Church, and socially they enjoy the respect of a wide circle of friends.

E DWARD WEDEKIND is one of the wide-awake, " up-to-date " pushing young business men of Port Clinton, Ottawa county,

He is a native of Ohio, born October 12, 1863, in Danbury township, Ottawa county, son of Edward and Sophia (Schrœ- der) Wedekind, well-to-do farming peo- ple of Danbury township, where the father died in 1863, leaving one son, Edward. His widow afterward married Henry Bredbeck, farmer and fruit grower of Danbury township, and they became the parents of seven children, four of whom are yet living, viz .: Herbert, born June 10, 1871; Minnie, December 19, 1875;

Frederick, February 26, 1877; and Estella, March 20, 1879.

Edward Wedekind, our subject, grew to manhood on a farm, and attended country schools until he was about eight- een years of age; also Port Clinton Normal School. In 1884 he attended the Spen- cerian Business College, Cleveland, Ohio, one term, and in 1885 entered into part- nership with H. J. Rohrs, in the hardware business, at Port Clinton. In July, 1887, he bought out his partner.

On December 26, 1888, he was united in marriage with Mary J. Richardson, of Port Clinton, Ohio, daughter of David and Pauline (Adelman) Richardson, and their children are: Jessie Rhea and Ralph, born in 1889 and 1891 respectively. Socially, our subject is a member of the I. O. O. F., K. of P. (in which he has passed all the Chairs) and National Union. Politically he is a Democrat.

D AVID B. LOVE, member of the firm of Buckland & Love, Attor- neys at Law, Fremont, Sandusky county, is a native of Ohio, and was born January 15, 1859, in Harrison county.

George Love, his father, was a native of Belmont county, Ohio, born in 1827, and while a mere boy removed with his mother to Harrison county, where, after receiving all the educational advantages of the common schools, he followed farm- ing, and in 1856 was married to Barbara Barclay, daughter of David and Elizabeth Barclay, who were among the early pio- neers of Harrison county. Both are members of the United Presbyterian Church, and still reside on the old home- stead in Harrison county, where the father has held and filled various offices of pub- lic trust. His father, Capt. George Love, served with distinction in the war of 1812 under General Harrison.

David B. Love, the subject of our

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sketch, was reared amid all the experi- ences of farm life, which, from the rolling surface and varied and fertile soils of his native county, afforded ample opportuni- ties for acquiring not only a general knowledge of this, but also of all kindred industries. He received his elementary education at the common schools of the neighborhood of his boyhood home, and the village schools of Moorefield, Ohio, working on the farm during the spring, summer and fall seasons, and attending school in the winter until he was nineteen years of age. He then attended Franklin College, at New Athens, Ohio, for two years, teaching school between terms in his home district, in order to pay for his col- lege instruction. For the purpose of specially fitting himself for the profes- sion of teaching, he later entered the Ohio Normal University at Ada, where he spent four years, completed the Univer- sity course, and graduated with honor, with the class of '85, receiving the degree of M. A. Before completing his course of studies, however, he decided to take up the study of law immediately after graduation; but upon the unsolicited recommendation of the President of the University, he was elected to the superintendency of the pub- lic schools of Oak Harbor, Ohio, which position he accepted and filled for two years, during which time he reorganized and graded the schools, outlined and se- cured the adoption, by the Board of Edu- cation, of an advanced course of study, and graduated the first class therefrom in 1887. To the credit of Mr. Love it can be said that the educational interests of Oak Harbor received an impetus in the right direction. Having decided to make the legal profession his future life work, he then removed to Fremont and renewed lus legal studies, to which he had given considerable attention while teaching, in the office of Finefrock & Dudrow. In December, 1890, he was admitted to the bar, and at once opened an office for the practice of law, in which he continued

alone until October, 1892, when he be- came associated with Horace S. Buckland, under the firm name of Buckland & Love. This firm will be dissolved in May, 1896, by reason of the election of Mr. Buck- land to the office of Common Pleas Judge.

Mr. Love in his political preferences is a Republican, but does not court politi- cal distinction; he has been for two years Chairman of the county Republican Exec- utive Committee. In 1894 he was elected a member of the city Board of Educa- tion for one year, and in 1895 was re- elected for two years. He still retains his interest in educational matters, and this, coupled with his former experience as a teacher and superintendent of schools, has rendered his counsel valuable in the re- cent educational reforms instituted by the Board of Education.

In 1888, at Mt. Gilead, Ohio, Mr. Love was married to Miss Josephine S. Wood, daughter of Asa M. and Eliza J. Wood. Four children have been born to them: D. Ewing, Esther Josephine, Anna Maree and C. Wendell. Mrs. Love graduated from the Mt. Gilead public schools, and afterward attended the Ohio Normal University, and graduated in the classical course in 1883. Possessed of superior scholarship and ability, she was employed there as a teacher of Latin and mathematics until her marriage, when she resigned. During her career as a teacher at the University she acquired the reputa- tion of being most thorough and success- ful, and received the degree of A. M. in 1886.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Love are members of the Presbyterian Church, of the Sun- day-school of which he was Superintend- ent for four years. In his profession Mr. Love's course is marked by caution, always advising settlements rather than suits, and at all times making his client's interests his own; and blessed with a genial disposition, a high sense of honor and correct habits, we predict for him a successful professional career.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

H ERMAN BUNTE. Among the enterprising and prosperous citi- zens of Allen township, Ottawa county, is found the gentleman whose name here appears, and who, be- sides carrying on farming, is engaged in the manufacture of tiles and also coopers' material.

Mr. Bunte is a native of the " Fatherland," having been born in Han- over, Germany, October 18, 1849, a son of William and Mary (Hebbeler) Bunte, both also natives of Hanover, who had a family of nine children, six of whom are living, as follows: Mary, wife of Henry Gerkensmyer, residing in Clay township; Henry, who lives in Woodville, Sandusky county; Herman, our subject; William, who lives at Curtis, in Allen township; Annie, wife of Herman Strautman, re- siding in Clay township; and Louis, who lives in Allen township. The father is still living, near Williston, Allen town- ship, but the mother passed away July 26, 1891. Our subject received his edu- cation in the district schools of his native county, and spent his boyhood upon his father's farm. In 1866 he accompanied the family to America, where they settled in Woodville township, Sandusky Co., this State. Here he was engaged in farming for thirteen years, and in 1879 removed to the section of Clay township which is now Allen township, where he has since carried on agricultural pur- suits. Not content to confine his en- ergies to one branch of business, Mr. Bunte entered upon the manufacture of tiles, in which he has been so successful as to place him among the leading manu- facturers of this part of the county. Later he still further extended his opera- tions by going into the lumber business in Centre township, Wood county, where he owns and operates a mill for furnishing boards and other material for the use of coopers. In this as well as in other ven- tures he has been remarkably successful, a result due to his industry, progressive

ideas and excellent judgment. Mr. Bunte was married in Covington, Ky., Decem- ber 18, 1884, to Sarah Philena, daughter of William and Mary (Roberts) King. No children have been born of this mar- riage.

Mr. Bunte is a stanch Democrat, and is interested in all that pertains to the growth and upbuilding of the community in which he resides. He and his wife are worthy members of the Lutheran Church, and command the respect and esteem of their neighbors.

C YRUS ELLITHORPE, a fruit grower of Catawba Island town- ship, Ottawa county, was the first white child born on Kelley's Is- land, the date of his birth being October 15, 1832.

When about three years old, he re- moved with his parents, Henry and Eliza- beth (Neal) Ellithorpe, to Danbury town- ship, Ottawa county (then a part of Huron county, however, ), and four years later came to what is now Catawba Island township. Here he received such a limited education as was obtainable in those days in the old log schoolhouse with its slab seats, and like the majority of boys of that date was early inured to the ardu- ous duties of farm life. He has always devoted a portion of his time to agricultu- ral pursuits, and during the spring and fall for fourteen years was also engaged in fishing on Lake Erie, but of late years his chief occupation has been fruit culture.

On September 10, 1867, Mr. Ellithorpe was married on Catawba Island to Miss Emma Reynolds, born August 23, 1850, a daughter of Andrew S. and Adeline (Stevens) Reynolds, who located on Ca- tawba Island in 1855, where the mother still resides; the father passed away June 20, 1892. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ellithorpe have come ten children, namely: Cora I., born July 7, 1868, now the wife of Thurman Leslie, of Toledo, Ohio; Orrin

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A., born April 11, 1870, was married Oc- tober 25, 1894, to May Tompson, of Port Clinton, Ohio, and they reside on Cataw- ba Island; Marion R., born February 5, 1872, now the wife of Herman Mierke, of Fremont, Ohio; Myra E., born April 10, 1875, wife of William Hyde, residing near Lacarne, Erie township, Ottawa county; William P., born June 16, 1877, still un- der the parental roof; Asa A., born Janu- ary 10, 1881; Charles R., born February 23, 1883; Pearl B., born March 4, 1885; Lloyd R., born April 22, 1889, died Jan- uary 31, 1892; and Mildred A., born May 28, 1892.

In May, 1864, Mr. Ellithorpe enlisted in the service of his country as a one- hundred-day man and was attached to Company K, One Hundred and Thirty- nitnh O. V. I. He did guard duty at Point Lookout, Md., and on the expira- tion of his term of service received an honorable discharge; he now holds men- bership with George H. McRitchie Post, No. 524, G. A. R. Politically he is an ardent Republican. Mr. Ellithorpe can well be classed among the most prosper- ous and successful fruit growers of the Island, his orchards being among the best cultivated and most productive in his section of the country. He is a man of unassuming manner, and he and his fam- ily are held in high esteem as neighbors and friends.

P ETER BETTS devotes his time and energies to fruit growing on Put in Bay Island, where he is a highly-esteemed citizen. His name is almost a household word, so widely is he known and so highly is he re- spected. He was born in Lycoming county, Penn., April 20, 1832, and is a son of the late Peter and Mary (Stinger) Betts, who were also natives of the Key- stone State. There they spent their en- tire lives and passed peacefully away at the old homestead in Lycoming county.

Their union was blessed with a family of eleven children, four of whom are still living: Sarah, widow of Joseph Mackey, a resident of Missouri; Charles, who is residing on the old home farm in Pennsyl- vania; Peter, subject of this sketch, and Ellis, a resident of Kansas.

In the usual manner of farmer lads our subject spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and the duties of the farm left him little spare time in which to pro- cure even a limited education, but in the school of experience he has learned many valuable lessons, and reading, observa- tion and contact with the world have made him a well-informed man, and given him the important position in the com- munity which he now fills. In 1855 he bade adieu to his old home and mi- grated to Iowa, locating in Chickasaw county, where he was manager of a saw- mill for more than four years. In 1859 he left the Hawkeye State, and took up his residence in Huron county, Ohio, where for three years he was engaged in agricultural pursuits. In the fall of 1862 Mr. Betts removed to Put in Bay Island, and for thirty-three years has been a con- stant resident of that place, extensively engaged in the cultivation of fruit. He raises fine varieties, and the care and labor which he bestows upon his orchard command for its fine products a good price on the market.

Mr. Betts has been twice married, first time to Mary Jane Mackey, the mar- riage being celebrated in Lycoming coun- ty, Penn., December 1, 1854. Of the four children born of this union, two died in infancy; Sarah Catherine is now the wife of J. V. Hitchcock, a resident of Cleveland, Ohio, and Oscar resides on Put in Bay Island. Mrs. Betts died Au- gust 20, 1862, in Huron county, Ohio, and Mr. Betts, for his second wife, mar- ried, on Put in Bay Island, March 17, 1864, Miss Saphroni Hughes, who was born in Lexington, Mich., a daughter of Capt. James and Helen (Ellsworth).

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Hughes. When Mrs. Saphroni Betts was about seven years old her father re- moved with his family from Lexington, Mich., to Manitowoc, Wis., to make their home there, and Mrs. Betts resided there until 1863, when she came to Put in Bay. Capt. James Hughes, father of Mrs. Betts, sailed on the lakes for about twenty-five years, and most of the time sailed the Transit, one of the Goodrich steamers His residence was at Mani- towoc, Wisconsin.

Mr. Betts is a progressive citizen, manifesting a commendable interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community and its upbuilding. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and for eleven years has efficiently served his township in office. He and his wife are members of the Reformed Episcopal Church, and have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances who hold them in high regard.

D AVID LONG. None but the old pioneers and their families know of the toil and the hardships un- dergone by the early settlers of the country, and none have experienced more of these than the subject of this sketch, who is the oldest settler in Clay township, Ottawa county.

Mr. Long was born in Medina county, April 24, 1830, whence he moved with his parents, in 1836, to Hardin county, where he attended school for a few winter terms in the log schoolhouse of that day, with its puncheon floor, slab seats, and greased paper for windows. The schools were few and far between, and the advantages for learning very limited. In the summer seasons he assisted his father upon the farm. When he was fourteen years old, his father purchased a farm in Clay town- ship, all of which was covered with tim- ber. Here the young lad worked with his brother and father, until attaining his majority, when he started out for himself,

buying eighty acres of timber land. He at once set to work clearing off the trees, planting corn and sowing wheat as fast as the soil was prepared. For many years he had to carry his grain a long distance by ox-team to be ground. After several years of hard struggle and toil, Mr. Long managed to bring his land up to its pres- ent high state of cultivation, and is now reaping the benefits of his early labors. On February 20, 1865, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Eighty- ninth Ohio Infantry, under the command of Col. H. D. Kingsbury and Capt. Lake- man, and was at Nashville, Tenn., when he was made cook for his company. He received his discharge September 13, 1865, and returned home, resuming work upon his farm and building a fine resi- dence, barns, and making other needed improvements. On March 13, 1853, Mr. Long was married, at Genoa, this State, to Miss Abbie, a daughter of Andrew and Margaret Snider, of Clay township, and of their union seven children have been born, of whom the following record has been given: (1) David S. was born August II, 1855, in Clay township, where he re- ceived his education; he was married to Miss May Sheets, August 11, 1893, and resides at Coleman, Mich., where he is engaged in the manufacture of potash; they have one child. (2) Sarah A., born January 31, 1858, was educated in Genoa; in 1875 was married to A. Shantan, and they had one daughter, Priscilla Shantan; after three years' married life Mr. and Mrs. Shantan separated, and September 4, 1895, she married Charles Reef, who is doing business in Toledo. (3) Harriet A., born November 28, 1862, was married April 24, 1882, to John Englehart, a manu- facturer of potash at Woodville, Sandusky county; they are the parents of six chil- dren-Lizzie, Laura, Frederick, Charles, Clarence and John. (4) Mary S., born February 5, 1866, was educated in the public schools of Clay township, and was married December 23, 1886, to Edward

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Schneider, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, March 7, 1864; he is a son of Frederick Schneider, a cooper, and after attending school there for some years, learned the coopering business, afterward taking up that of stave cutting; he is now working his father-in-law's farm; three children have been born of this union- Frederick D., born May 6, 1888; Abbie C., born December 8, 1889; and Earl C., born January 21, 1894. (5) Charles A. Long was born August 8, 1870, in Clay township, where he attended school; he was married, March 12, 1895, to Miss Rosie Sheffield, at Coleman, Mich., where he resides, being employed as engineer in a factory. (6) William Edward was born September 22, 1865, and died in January, 1867; one child died in infancy.

Louis Long, father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania in 1803, came to Hardin, Ohio, and located in Medina county, where he was married to Julia De- long, who was also a native of Pennsylva- nia. Twelve children were born to them, as follows : David, Jacob, Powell, Cath- erine, Lewis, May, Joseph, Andrew, Julia, and three who died in infancy. Mr. Long removed to Hardin county, and afterward to Ottawa county, in March, 1846, settling in Clay township, where he carried on farming until his death, in 1874. His wife died four years previous. They were beloved and respected by all who knew them.

Andrew Snider, father of Mrs. David Long, was born in Pennsylvania, where he carried on farming and also weaving. He married Margaret Laudenstine, and to them eight children were born-five sons and three daughters, viz .: Eliza, Sophia, Daniel, Andrew (a sketch of whom is given elsewhere). Henry, Ed- ward, Hannah and Abigail, the latter becoming the wife of our subject. Mr. Snider farmed for several years in Medina county, this State, afterward coming to Clay township, where he died in 1876, his wife passing away in 1882.

Francis S. Lutman, nephew of our subject, and who is at present residing with his uncle, was born in Mulberry, Wood Co., Ohio, September 23, 1862, and is the son of the late George L. Lut- man, a merchant at Mulberry. Francis studied for the ministry under the tutor- ship of the Rev. D. Calkins, of Mul- berry, but on account of ill health has had to give it up for a time. He hopes soon to be able to resume his studies, and in the meantime has a license to perform ministerial duties.

The subject of this sketch held the office of school director for thirty years, and was one of the few who helped to establish his neighborhood. He helped to form the church at East Toledo, and worked for several years in Toledo when it had but a few houses. The family be- long to the Lutheran Church, and in pol- itics Mr. Long is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Long are both enjoying a hale and hearty old age, surrounded by their chil- dren, able to look after their own affairs, and proud of the development of Clay township in which they have borne an important part.

C HARLES F. HOLDER, land- owner and agriculturist of Allen township, Ottawa county, was born in Wittenberg, Germany, December 31, 1847. He was a son of Christian and Annie (Miller) Holder, both natives of that country, and who with their family emigrated to America when Charles was ten years old, locating on a farm at Fremont, Sandusky county, Ohio.

Here the boy assisted his father in farm work, during the summer, and in winter attended the district school, carry- ing on the studies begun in the public schools of his native land, until he was thirteen years old. Then, becoming tired of the monotonous life of a farmer's boy, he determined to see something more of the great world, and shipped as a cabin

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boy on one of the lake vessels. For eight- een years he followed the life of a sea- man during the summer season, spending the winter months in cutting railroad ties, staves, spokes, etc., during which years he worked his way up from a cabin boy to captain. During the last three years of his sea-faring career, he commanded the schooners "Heatherbell" and " Bessie," sailing on Lakes Erie, Michigan and Hu- ron. By industry and frugality, Mr. Hol- der acquired enough money to purchase, in 1881, a tract of forty acres of land in Salem township, Ottawa Co., this State, part of which was cleared. This he fin- ished clearing, but the attraction of the water was still too strong for him and he sold the place and again became a sailor, going out as commander of the " Bessie," and taking his wife and three children with him. He remained on this vessel one year, when he came to Allen (then Clay) township, and purchased eighty acres of land, the larger part of which was in a wild state. A small log cabin was on the place, and into this Mr. Holder moved with his family. With the help of his brave wife he went to work with a will to clear off the timber and bring the land under cultivation, succeeding, after years of hard toil, in redeeming it from the wilderness and making of it a valua- ble property. He planted orchards and vines as well as fields of grain, and built a dwelling house, barns and outhouses, all of which stand as monuments to the enterprising and progressive ideas of the man, and to-day he is enjoying the fruits of his labor. He afterward bought thirty- five acres of land, almost cleared, near his first location, for which he paid up- ward of $1,500, besides spending hun- dreds of dollars in clearing and improv- ing it.

Mr. Holder was married June 18, 1873, to Lousia, daughter of Casper and Christiana (Plumkhorne) Whittaker, the former a native of Switzerland, the latter of Germany. To Mr. and Mrs. Holder

have been born five children, all of whom are living; Charles C. F., born August 31, 1874; William J., November 4, 1875; Frank J., January 31, 1879; Ida M., October 18, 1881; and Ella C., June 25, 1885. All the children have been edu- cated in the public schools of Allen town- ship, and the boys assist their father on the farm.

Christian Holder, the father of our subject, was born in Wittenberg, Ger- many, in September, 1804. He married and became the father of five children, four of whom with his wife died of con- sumption. He again married. Annie Miller becoming his wife, and to them five children were born. John, the eldest of this union born in Germany, August 15, 1846, was married in Fremont, this State, to Miss Fannie Phiper, and died in April, 1891; he became the father of three children: Albert, Clara R. L., and Lizzie G.

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Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 102

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