Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 103

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 103
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 103

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).

Christian Holder emigrated with his family to this country in 1857 and settled in Sandusky county, where, after under- going many trials and hardships, he suc- ceeded, with the help of his sons, in bringing his swampy land under a high state of cultivation. Here he lived and worked for twenty-five years, gaining the esteem and respect of his neighbors. On October 10, 1882, while crossing the railroad track near his home, he was struck by an engine and instantly killed. His wife died some four years previous, in 1878.

Casper Whittaker, father of the wife of our subject, was born in Switzerland in 1817, and was a carriage builder by occupation. He came to this country when a young man, and settled in San- dusky county, where he followed his trade for some years, after which he farmed in Riley township, that county, until his death June 15, 1885. He was married to Christiana Plumkhorne, a native of Ger- many, and to them eleven children were born, of whom the following survive:

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John, born April 5, 1857, is a farmer at Fremont; Louisa, born July 24, 1858, is the wife of our subject; Albert, born June 25, 1861, is a farmer of Allen township; Rosa, born in July, 1868, married March 4, 1879, and lives in Wood county.

Mr. Holder is a man who has the wel- fare of the community at heart, and is deeply interested in the cause of educa- tion. He was one of the few who aided in the establishment of public schools in Allen township, and has held the office of a school director for the past twelve years. In his political views he is a Democrat, and, socially, belongs to Genoa Lodge, No. 584, I. O. O. F., and also to the Truants Lodge, a German organ- ization. The family attend the Lutheran Church, and stand high in the estimation of their fellow citizens.

A NDREW FEILBACH is a worthy representative of the business in- terests of Elmore, Ottawa coun- ty, and having a wide acquaint- ance in the community we feel assured that the record of his life will prove of interest to many of our readers.

He was born in Sandusky county De- cember 13, 1854, and comes of German origin. His father, Philip Feilbach, was born in Prussia, November 11, 1813, and while in that country engaged in the mill- ing and bakery business. The year 1852 witnessed his emigration to America. He located first in Sandusky City, Ohio, where he worked in a lumber yard for a time, and then removed to Sandusky county, where he purchased a farm, cleared and developed the land, and made a valuable farming property and fine home. For six years he was also exten- sively engaged in the stave business. He

passed away at his home in Sandusky county, March 30, 1893, and was buried in the Guss Cemetery at Elmore. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mar- garet Steinborn, was born in Prussia,

January 24, 1825; they were married in 1843, and reared a family of nine chil- dren, their names and dates of birth be- ing as follows: Caroline, January 15, 1845; Margaret, March 16, 1847; Chris- tian, March 31, 1850; Jacob H., Decem- ber 24, 1852; Andrew, December 13, 1854; Catherine, July 4, 1857; Emma May, October 23, 1859; Charles, August 23, 1862; and Philip, April 17, 1868. All but Margaret are still living. Andrew Steinborn, father of Mrs. Philip Feilbach, mother of Andrew Feilbach, was born in Brumberg, in 1795.

Our subject remained for thirty-four years in the county of his nativity. His educational advantages were limited to the privileges afforded by the district schools, but his training at farm labor was not meagre. At the age of twenty he rented his father's farm and began life for himself, operating that place some fourteen years. As a companion and helpmeet on life's journey he wedded Miss Bertha Beck, who was born in Ot- tawa county, the wedding being celebrated October 1, 1876. She was born at Port Clinton, September 14, 1857, and when a child her parents went to Sandusky county, where she lived until her marriage. Her father, Joseph Beck, was born in Switzerland, December 14, 1822, and in the city of Sandusky was married. His wife was born in the same country, April 13, 1827, and came to America in 1851. Their children, ten in number, were Emma, Hermina, Bertha, Frank, George, Julia, Edward, Fred, William and Charles. Of the family six are yet living. The parents of Mrs. Beck were both born in Switzerland on April 7, 1804, and were baptised at the same time. Her father was a carpenter by trade, and in 1852 crossed the Atlantic to America, locating in the city of Sandusky, Ohio, where they lived some six years, removing then to Washington township, Sandusky county. There the father died in 1884; the mother is still living on the old home farm. Her

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father, John Witmer, was born in May, 1804, in Switzerland, and was a farmer and carpenter; his wife was born in the same country in 1804; they became the parents of six children. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Beck, John Heinz- ger, was born in Switzerland, in 1769, and his wife in 1781. Frank Beck, the grandfather of Mrs. Feilbach, was born in the same country in 1790, and made farming his life work. He married Barbara Weber, whose birth occurred there in 1808, and in their family were ten children.

On March 4, 1889, our subject re- moved with his family to Elmore, where for a year he conducted a meat market. Selling out, he then joined his brother in the grocery and crockery business, which they still conduct, enjoying an extensive trade. He is an enterprising successful business man, and Elmore numbers him among its respected citizens. In politics, Mr. Feilbach is a Republican, and is now serving his second term as a member of the board of education, taking a deep and commendable interest in all that pertains to the public schools and to the welfare of the community. Our subject and his wife have three children: Clara, born De- cember 29, 1879; George, born March 25, 1882; and Mable, born September 14, 1888, died October 18, 1892, and laid to rest in the Guss Cemetery at Elmore.

D AVID AMES, a son of Lysander Leeds and Mary Ann (Barnhart) Ames, was born June 29, 1853, in Harris township, Ottawa coun- ty, where he lived until twenty-one years of age, receiving a literary education in the public school of the district.

At twelve o'clock (noon) of his twen- ty-first birthday David Ames started in life for himself, hiring out by the month that afternoon to a Mr. Chapman, for whom he worked two months. Mr. Ames was united in marriage April 18, 1875,

with Miss Adella Ingraham, of Sandusky county; then rented a farm in Woodville township, in that county, where they lived until 1879. They then went to Kansas and took 160 acres of land from the gov- ernment; sold it at the end of two years, and moved to Iowa, where they remained one year. Mr. Ames then returned with his family to his old home, and worked his father's farm two years. They then removed to Elmore, Harris township, Ot- tawa county, where he engaged in saw- mill work, in which occupation he con- tinued for some time. In 1881 he went to Graytown, Benton township, Ottawa Co., Ohio, and settled on the "Ames farm," owned by his brother, Lyman Ames, which he has worked for the past four years. Mr. and Mrs. David Ames have had seven children, as follows: Welby, born December 8, 1876; Milo, October 2, 1877; Edith, April 6, 1879; John, February 28, 1881 ; Clarence, Feb- ruary 9, 1883; Ada Belle, October 29, 1888; and Otto George, May 29, 1890. Of these Milo died September 29, 1878, aged eleven months and twenty-seven days; Ada Belle died June 15, 1891, aged two years, seven months and seventeen days; Otto George died July 7, 1891, aged one year, one month and nine days. The other children are at home, and at- tending the public schools of Graytown and Elliston, in Benton township, except- ing Welby, who has been at Elmore, Harris township, for one year fitting him- self for the profession of teacher. Mrs. Ames is daughter of Joseph C. and Har- riet E. (Morse) Ingraham, and was born September 16, 1858, in Woodville town- ship, Sandusky county, where she lived during her girlhood days, attending the public schools there. Her father was born in 1825; her mother on September 20, 1829, in Pennsylvania, and died Sep- tember 4, 1878. They had seven chil- dren, five of whom are still living.

The parents of David Ames, Lysander L. and Mary Ann Ames, celebrated their

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golden wedding March 14, 1889. Ly- sander L. Ames was born in New York State April 10, 1812; came to Seneca county, Ohio, when nineteen years of age, and three years later moved to Ottawa county, where he afterward lived. On March 14, 1839, he was united in marriage with Mary Ann Barnhart, who was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, February 12, 1820. In Ottawa county Lysander Ames cleared and made for himself and his esti- mable wife a fine home, at which place they both died. They purchased their home near Elmore, eighty acres of land, for one hundred dollars, and when they died it was worth five thousand dollars. The farm was deeded to Mr. Ames from the government, had never changed hands during his lifetime, and they had made one of the finest homes in Ottawa county.

This sketch would be unsatisfactory to Mr. David Ames and his children without some account of how he once made two dollars and a half. It was before the stone pike was built, and he had gone to Fremont with a wagon and two yoke of oxen to lay in a supply of necessaries for the household. The roads were very muddy, and just this side of Fremont he was overtaken by a man with a team of horses and a loaded wagon. They spoke, and inquired each other's destination, and the man with the horses expressed his re- gret that his fellow traveler had not horses instead of cattle to his wagon, so that they might bear each other company, but as he had not he must drive on. They bade each other good-bye, but Mr. Ames told the man that he (Mr. Ames) would be far behind by the time they reached Woodville, when he would leave that road for his home. All went well until, near- ing the Muskalonge creek, the oxen stuck fast in an enormous mud hole, and could not budge an inch. The man ahead with the horses went through all right, and offered to hitch on ahead of the oxen and help them out, which he did. Mr. Ames was about to thank the stranger for his

kindness when he asked for fifty cents to pay for assistance. This being paid, they had not gone far when the horse-team got stuck, and Mr. Ames helped them out, and got back his fifty cents. But before reaching Woodville he was obliged to assist the man with the horse-team five different times, thus receiving two dollars and a half for his labor!

AMES W. SADDORIS, a well- known, highly-respected and pro- gressive agriculturist of Carroll town- ship, Ottawa county, is a native of the same, having been born February 2, 1854.

Elias and Melissa E. (Root) Saddoris, parents of our subject, were the parents of five children, a brief record of whom is as follows : James W. is the eldest ; Albert W. was born January 6, 1856, and still lives in Carroll township ; Mary E., born September 6, 1859, is now the wife of James W. Floro, and living at Port Clinton, Ohio ; Theodore E., born No- vember 5, 1861, died March 21, 1863 ; and Eunice A., born February 13, 1864, died February 2, 1867. The father of this famlly died February 28, 1865, at Savannah, Ga., while in the service of the United States army. George Sad- doris, grandfather of our subject, was born in Germany January 22, 1778, and Sarah W., his wife, was born, October 6, 1786. While yet a boy he came to Ohio with his parents and died July 2, 1848, his wife, Sarah W., having preceded him to the grave February 27, 1840.

Our subject received his education in the district schools of the neighborhood of his home. His entire life has been spent in his native township, and since an early age he has been engaged in the honorable occupation of farming. When he was but thirteen years of age he be- came a farm hand in the employ of Dan and Ozila Davenport (first cousins to the Saddoris family), and remained with them

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about seven years, or until his marriage. He says they were very kind to him, as much as if they had been father and mother to him. Mr. Saddoris is now owner of the farm formerly owned by E. P. Ryan. He is a man of sterling integrity, and, though never aspiring to office, takes an active interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his township and county. In Carroll township, De- cember 28, 1873, he married Miss Mary Rudiforth, a daughter of Michael and Alice (Hornby) Rudiforth, the former of whom was born November 27, 1823, in Holme, Yorkshire, England, son of Rob- ert and Elizabeth (Smith) Rudiforth.

Michael Rudiforth was married July 5, 1850, at Skipsea, Yorkshire, to Miss Alice Hornby, who was born in Barmston, same county, in June, 1831. In 1858 Michael Rudiforth emigrated with his family to the United States and located at Avon, Lorain Co., Ohio. To him and his wife were born twelve children, as follows: Elizabeth, born October II, 1852, married to John Wilder, and now living in Clinton, Missouri; Robert, born September 9, 1854, his present place of residence not known; Mary (wife of our subject) and Ann Whipple (twins), born July 30, 1856, both residents of Ottawa Co., Ohio; Selena, born August 21, 1858, married to Charles Beinard, of Lodi, Ohio; Eliza, born September 4, 1860; Albert Victory and Alice Victoria (twins), born July 29, 1862, the latter being now the wife of Charles Eglier; Jessie, born October 28, 1864, married to Steven Brisbin; Frank, born October 8, 1869; Jennie Lind, born February 12, 1872, married John Nixon; and Herbert Lincoln, born December 10, 1874. On November 19, 1861, Michael Rudiforth enlisted in the U. S. army; was dis- charged from the service July 13, 1865, and on the 25th of the same month he settled in Ottawa county.

To James W. and Mary (Rudiforth) Saddoris were born seven children, their

names and dates of birth, etc., being as follows: Alice M., February 8, 1875, now the wife of Solomon King, of Allen township, Ottawa Co., Ohio; Ada M., born August 20, 1876; Eva L., August 20, 1878; Clarence E., February 26, 1882, died December 14, 1893; Robert W., November 19, 1888; Mary, March 18, 1892, died March 4, 1894; and Elias B., June 13, 1884, died November 13, 1893. Socially, Mr. Saddoris is a prom- inent member of the Knights of Honor, Knights of the Maccabees, and Sons of Veterans. Politically, he is a straight out-and-out Republican, always giving his support to that party, while in religious belief he and his family are identified with the United Brethren Church.

A UGUST BREDBECK, a wide- awake and enterprising fruit grow- er and stock-raiser of Danbury township, Ottawa county, was born July 17, 1853, on the farm where he still resides, and is a son of Gerd and Marguerite (Busch) Bredbeck, natives of Germany, the father born October 12, 1812, and the mother August 15, 1816.

The mother of our subject was a daugh- ter of Henry Busch, and both her parents died when she was a child. About 1830 she came to America, locating in New York City, where, in July, 1839, she was united in marriage with Mr. Bredbeck, and they became the parents of the fol- lowing children: Christina, born June 12, 1840, became the wife of F. L. Roth, and passed away January 14, 1888; Henry, born September 7, 1842, is a prominent resident of Danbury township; Anna Mar- guerite, born December 2, 1844, died August 25, 1847; Mary Ann, born August 6, 1847, is the widow of William Von Sack, and resides in Sandusky City, Ohio; George, born February 13, 1850, also lives in Sandusky City; Edward, born March 10, 1852, died on the 24th of the same month; August is next in order of

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birth; and Amelia J., born April 22, 1858, is the wife of Edward Tredor, of Cleve- land, Ohio.

Midst play and work the early days of August Bredbeck were passed in much the usual manner of most farmer lads, and his literary education was obtained in the district schools common at that date. Since early life he has devoted his time and energy to general farming and stock- raising, while of late years he has also been interested in fruit culture, and ranks among the most successful and promi- nent agriculturists of the township. In Danbury township, July 16, 1881, he mar- ried Miss Anna S. D. Winters, who was born July 1, 1860, in Danbury township, a daughter of Herman and Ann (Harms) Winters, both natives of the province of Hanover, Germany, the former born Oc- tober 8, 1830. About the year 1849 her father emigrated to America, and the same year he located in Danbury town- ship, where he has since followed farming. Here, in 1859, he married Miss Harns, who had come to the New World about the same time as her husband, and by their union ten children were born, all of whom are still living, as follows: Mina, wife of George Bredbeck, of Oak Harbor, Ottawa county; Anna S. D., the honored wife of our subject; Mary, wife of Thomas Lanum, of Oak Harbor; Christine, wife of James McCallum, of the State of Washington; Herman, of Toledo, Ohio; Henry, who resides in Danbury township; Emma, wife of William Collins, of Ben- ton township, Ottawa county; and John, Edward and Andrew, all living on the old homestead farm. The mother of this family departed this life in Danbury town- ship, February 9, 1881.

To Mr. and Mrs. Bredbeck were born four children as follows: Walter B., March 2, 1883; Agnes I., September 28, 1886; Ada M .. December 3, 1889; and Ralph A., December 10, 1891. In his political views, Mr. Bredbeck is a stal- wart Democrat, and he and his family at-

tend the Lutheran Church. He is a pub- lic-spirited and progressive citizen, readily endorsing any project culculated to stimu- late the development and prosperity of his township and county. He is gene- rous and affable, his sympathies express- ing themselves in kindness to friends and in charities where they are merited. It may truthfully be said of him, that in all the relations of life in which he is called upon to act, he is trustworthy and hon- est. His habits of industry and applica- tion to business show themselves in his neat surroundings and well-kept orchards, and he enjoys the esteem and confidence of all his friends and neighbors. On his farm near the shores of Sandusky Bay there are the remains of an old Indian for- tification, which he keeps unmolested from the ravages of the plow and harrow, and which is an object of considerable curiosity-one of the old landmarks of the days when the noble Red man held full possession of this section of the country.

T C. WHITEHEAD, one of the honored and respected citizens of Clyde, Sandusky county, was born November 23, 1850, in Gos- den, Cambridgeshire, England, and is a son of Joseph and Matilda (Albon) White- head, both natives of that locality.

When our subject was four months old he was brought to the United States, by his parents, who located on a farm in Townsend township, Sandusky county, where they purchased the farm later owned by the father of our subject, who there resided until his retirement from active life, when he came to Clyde. Here he died February 10, 1891, at the advanced age of eighty years. The mother's death occurred in Townsend township. Their union had been blessed with seven chil- dren: Sarah Ann, who married Herman Howe, and lived in Sandusky county un- til after the death of her husband; Joseph,

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a resident of Townsend township, San- dusky county; Samuel, who was a mem- ber of Company K, One Hundredth O. V. I., during the Civil war, was wounded at the battle of Franklin, Tenn., and died soon afterward; William, who was a soldier in the one-hundred-day service, and died below Washington, D. C .; George, who lives in Henry county, Ohio; Bessie, now the wife of James Fuller, of Townsend township, and our subject.

T. C. Whitehead was reared to man- hood in Townsend township, where he attended the common schools, later be- coming a student in the schools of Hills- dale, Mich., where he pursued his studies for a few terms. He then took charge of the old homestead. For many years he was engaged in dealing in horses, and besides those raised on his own farm he bought and sold others, shipping princi- pally to New York City, Jersey City, and Cleveland; he dealt both in carriage horses and roadsters. He has three stal- lions and some fine trotters; one trotter, four years old, made a record of 2:25 at Newburg, Ohio, last year, and was sold for $1,300. He also sold a three-year- old filly, "Josephine," for $825.00 at public sale in Cleveland; also one team of five-year-old colts for $700.00 to a party in New Jersey, and one pair of four-year- olds going to Baltimore, Md., besides several other horses at good prices. Mr. Whitehead now has a pacer, "Solarion," which he expects to rival any horse he has ever possessed, already having a mark of 154. He made his home upon the farm until 1891, when he erected his pres- ent fine residence in Clyde. He now gives special attention to trotting and pacing horses, and is considered one of the best judges of those animals in San- dusky county.

Mr. Whitehead has been twice mar- ried, first time to Miss Zina Gibbs, and after her death to Belle Powell, of Oneida, Knox Co., Ills. Two children blessed their union: Earl Monte, born July 3, 1887,

now eight years of age; and Cleopatra, born in 1892, now three years old. Mr. Whitehead has the reputation of being a strictly first-class business man, reliable and energetic, and is a citizen of whom Clyde may be justly proud. Politically, he gives his adherence to the Republican party; socially, he is a member of the Royal Arcanum.

N ICOLAI NISSEN. The success which almost invariably attends the young emigrant from Ger- many, who comes to our shores armed with good health and a knowledge of some trade, can not fail of remark, and is indicative of the steady habits, economy, thrift and industry of that people. It would be well, perhaps, if the youth of America were to profit by the example set them, and emulate their foreign brothers in some of these traits of character. The cry of "hard times" would surely be heard less frequently, and fewer business failures would occur.

In the gentleman whose name opens this sketch, and who is one of the lead- ing merchants of Port Clinton, Ottawa county, we see one of the men who from a small beginning built up an enviable trade, and who from their merits take a prom- inent place in the community. Mr. Nis- sen's father, whose name was Nis Thomas, was a farmer in Schleswig-Holstein, Ger- many, born in 1809, and died in 1876, at the age of sixty-seven years. His mother, born in 1806, died in 1853, at Stadum, Schleswig, Germany, at the age of forty- seven years. Her maiden name was Trinke Dorothea. The family of this worthy couple comprised five children: Matthias, Carsten, Marie, Catherina, and Nicolai.

Our subject attended school in his youthful days, as all children are required to doin Germany, and obtained a good com- mon-school education. He then learned the trade of a shoemaker, and when twen-

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ty-four years old emigrated to America, landing at New York, from there coming to Sandusky, and later to Port Clin- ton. Here he went to work at his trade, and after seven years was enabled to com- mence business for himself. He lived for one year (1866-67) in Michigan, then re- turned to Port Clinton. For a couple of years he had partners in his business, but since that time has carried on operations alone. He began in a small way where Payne's drug store now stands. He erected the brick block, that now occupies the place, which he afterward sold, pur- chasing the building in which his store is now located. Here he carries on an ex- tensive business, and is constantly increas- ing his facilities for trade. Mr. Nis- sen was married, October 18, 1870, to Miss Theresa Eybsen, who was born in New York City, April 2, 1853. Seven children were born to this union, four of whom are living-August, Frank, Charles and Rosa-and three are deceased-Will- iam (who died when two years old), Julia and Matilda. Of this interesting family, August, the eldest, born September 5, 1872, is now an United States army officer. He was a cadet at West Point, and after hard study succeeded in graduating on June 12, 1895, standing No. 20 out of a class of fifty-two. Immediately after grad- uating he received a furlough of three months, which he spent at his home in Port Clinton, and while there received his commission as an officer, and was as- signed to the Sixth U. S. Cavalry, at Fort Myer, Virginia, near Washington, D. C., where at the present time he is discharging his duties. Frank, the next son, who is at home, has assumed the management of his father's business, and in time will, proba- bly, become a partner, and then successor to the present firm. Although at present but twenty-one years of age, he has a thorough knowledge of the shoe business, and has that energy which tends to in- crease instead of decline. Charles and Rosa, the two younger children, are still

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Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 103

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