Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 110

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 110
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 110

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).

where he married Miss Williams, and where he still resides. Daniel, born Au- gust 6, 1820, is a tailor by trade, and lives in Wales. Benjamin was the father of our subject. John was born October 29, 1815, and when a young man left home and never returned, no direct news from him ever reaching his family, and his fate is uncertain.

Benjamin Jones settled in Morrow county, Ohio, where he lived for six or seven years, and then removed to Dela- ware county, whence, after a residence of four years, he came to Sandusky coun- ty and took up land where the famous "gusher," the Kirkbride oil well, is located. About nine years ago he returned to Mor- row county, where he now resides. The mother of our subject was born in Mor- row county October 7, 1815, and died October 13, 1882. Their family com- prised six children, of whom the follow- ing record is given: Morris D. died June 22, 1874, at the age of thirty years and twenty-six days; J. M. is our subject; Sarah A., born February 27, 1848, is the wife of A. B. McCreery, and lives in Wood county, this State; Eliza A., born May 12, 1850, married James Smith and, died July 18, 1878; Joseph Fuller, born May 18, 1853, died March 5, 1862; Margaret, born September 14, 1855, is the wife of Charles Chambers, and lives in Genoa, this State.

Our subject grew to manhood on his father's farm in Sandusky county, and varied his work in the fields with at- tendance at the district schools. During the Civil war he enlisted with the one- hundred-days' men, in Company H, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Regiment, Ohio State Militia, and was sent to Maryland and Virginia to guard the Capitol at Wash- ington. When his time expired he re- turned home and took up the trade of carpenter, at which he worked for a num- ber of years. He then engaged in farm- ing in Scott (now Madison) township, leaving this to take charge of a hotel at

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Bradner. Subsequently returning to the farm he remained there until four years ago, when he came to Gibsonburg. and since that time he has been engaged in buying and selling stock, building houses and in the insurance business. In ad- dition to these occupations he is carrying on a grocery.

Mr. Jones was married, September 25, 1870, to Miss Mary A. Price, who is a native of Merthyr-Tydvil, Wales, born March 2, 1850. Her parents were Thomas and Ann (Evans) Price, the for- mer of whom was born September 20, 1823, in Gwinther, Breconshire, South Wales, his death taking place in Wood county, Ohio, September 18, 1886, the latter was born August 29, 1827, and is still living at her home in Wood county. They came to America at an early day and set- tled in Morrow county. Mrs. Jones was their only child. Her paternal grand- father, Thomas Price, Sr., was born in Wales, Angust 29, 1797, and died April 14, 1881, in Wood county, Ohio.

To our subject and his wife have come two children: Eliza M., born April 27, 1871, and Price, born August 8, 1888. Both Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been for- tunate in coming into possession of some of the finest oil-producing property in the State, from which they derive hand - some incomes, the Kirkbride well being one of the most wonderful in the coun- try. Mr. Jones is a man of excellent judgment and business ability, as is evinced by the numerous enterprises which he is carrying on with uniform success. Politically he is in sympathy with the Republican party, and socially he belongs to the I. O. O. F., G. A. R., and P. O. S. of A.

A G. RUNNER, a wide-awake and enterprising fruit agriculturist of Carroll township, Ottawa county, has by his natural good judginent and indomitable energy arisen to a promi-

nent position in the community, where he and his family are held in the highest esteem. He is a native of the Buckeye State, born June 9, 1843, in Margaretta township, Erie county. His parents, Michael and Elizabeth Runner, were both natives of Maryland, and located in Erie county among the pioneers of 1830, where they were honored and revered residents for many years, the father dy- ing in 1846, and the mother in 1867. By their union eleven children were born, five of whom still survive, as follows: Caroline, widow of Paul Leidorf, of Venice, Erie Co., Ohio; Isaac, residing on the homestead farm; John, who also makes his home in Erie county; Rebecca, wife of Richard Axton, of Venice; and A. G., the subject of this biographical sketch.

The educational privileges of A. G. Runner were such as the district schools afforded, and at a very early date in his life's history he was instructed in the duties pertaining to a farmer's life. He has followed that occupation from his early boyhood days, and for some few years was also engaged in fishing on the lakes. In 1861 his patriotism prompted him to enlist in Company H, Fifty-fifth O. V. I., in which regiment he served one year, being taken prisoner at the bat- tle of Franklin on April 5, 1862, and de- tained as a prisoner of war by the Con- federates until July 3 of the same year. Upon being paroled Mr. Runner again enlisted, becoming a member of Company M, First Chio Heavy Artillery, and re- inained with that branch of the service until the close of the war, being mustered out and honorably discharged at Camp Dennison, Ohio, August 25, 1865, after four years of faithful and valiant service in behalf of his country. On his return to Margaretta township, Erie county, he resumed farming in that section, continu- ing there until 1882, when he removed to Carroll township, Ottawa county, and has since been ranked among its most

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prominent citizens and leading agricultur- ists.

At Port Clinton, Ottawa county, on April 12, 1870, Mr. Runner was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Elizabeth Sonocrant, who was born in Presque Isle, Lucas Co., Ohio, August 26, 1847, and is a daughter of John and Matilda (Mom- meney) Sonocrant. Four children have come to bless this union: George A., born November 16, 1871, and Raymond G., born November 1, 1874 (graduate of Oak Harbor High School), are engaged in teaching school in Carroll township; Matilda E., born May 14, 1877, is a graduate of the Oak Harbor High School and is now a teacher; and Karl M., born January 13, 1883, died August 9, 1885. In his political views Mr. Runner is a stanch Republican, and, although not a politician in the sense of office seeking, he has been honored with many positions of trust by his fellow townsmen, all of which he has efficiently and satisfactorily filled. His genuine social and moral worth gives him a high place in the regard of all with whom he comes in contact.

J ACOB H. TRUAX. The story of this man, one of the oldest pioneers and a well-known farmer of Clay township, Ottawa county, is full of interest, as showing the grit and endur- ance of one who, without early advan- tages, fought his way through toil and hardship to a successful and honorable station in life.

The subject of this sketch was born in Bedford county, Penn., April 1, 1823. His parents, Stilwell and Sarah (Hart) Truax, both of whom were natives of the Keystone State, came to Ohio when Jacob was a lad of ten years, and settled in Wood county, where they bought eighty acres of land, which was covered with a dense forest. Here the father built a log cabin, and with the help of Jacob and

another son commenced to clear away the timber, till the fields, planted an orchard of various kinds of fruit, four acres in ex- tent, and, as his means increased, erected a commodious dwelling house, with all necessary barns and other buildings. To him and his wife came seven children, namely: Abner, born and educated in Bedford county, Penn., was a hotel clerk in Sandusky county, this State, where he died. Jacob H. is the subject of this sketch. John was born in Pennsylvania, and became a farmer, following that oc- cupation seven years, and then going into the manufacture of hoops, in which he is at present engaged, at Genoa; he married and had two children, one of whom is deceased. Mary, Mrs. John Sivalls, is a resident of Woodville. Louis, born in Pennsylvania, is farming in Ne- braska. Stilwell, born in Wood county, this State, is also farming in Nebraska; he is married and has two children. One child died in infancy. The mother of this family died in Wood county in 1835. The father married again, his second wife being Rachel, widow of Eben Baldwin, but no children were born of this mar- riage. The father died at the old home- stead in Wood county in 1867, his second wife surviving him for thirteen years, and passing away in 1880. He was an honest, hard-working man, and toiled late and early to provide a home for his family. He was well and favorably known throughout the county, and commanded the respect and esteem of all who had dealings with him.

Jacob H. Truax, our subject, was de- prived of all educational advantages in his youth, schools in those days being few and far between, and none being ac- cessible in the new country where he spent his boyhood days. Early in life he contracted a most painful disease, known as "white swelling," from the effects of exposure in the water, and for many years his sufferings from it were extreme, the bones of the leg coming away through

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the flesh. In spite of all this torture, he worked side by side with his father in the timber and in the fields, and for eight years endured the terrible pain and hard labor together. His health then began gradually toimprove, and on reaching his majority he was able to leave the old homestead and start in life for himself, taking contracts for cutting logs and clearing off timber for other parties. He continued at this work until twenty-five years of age, during which time he en- deavored to make up his deficiencies in book knowledge by diligently employing the winter months and every available moment in attending school and studying at home.

After giving up his work at log cut- ting, our subject was on the canal for three years as steersman, and then went to Sandusky county, where he purchased ninety acres of timber land. On this he built a log cabin and began industriously to turn the wilderness into fertile fields. As fast as the timber was cleared away he planted corn, wheat and potatoes, by which he supported his family. In the course of time the log cabin gave way to a well-built dwelling, and orchards of fine fruit took the place of the forest trees. Mr. Truax remained on this farm for twenty years, when he sold out, in 1873. and came to Clay township. Here he bought 100 acres of improved land, where he has since made his home. He has made many improvements, replanting the orchard, and making of it a valuable pro- perty. In his comfortable and conveni- ent home he is resting from the toils of his early life-the days when deer, wolves and Indians were his nearest neighbors, and when the hunter could find plenty of sport close at hand.

Mr. Truax was married in Wood conn- ty to Catherine Truax, daughter of Na- thaniel Truax (no relative), who was a farmer, and afterward a hotelkeeper in Wood county. To our subject and his wife came nine children, as follows: John,

born August 26, 1851, in Sandusky coun- ty, married Elizabeth Wagner and resides at Gibsonburg, that county, where he follows the occupation of drayman. Will- iam, born in Sandusky county in 1853, married Mary Lafarerr, and they have one child; he is a cooper, residing at Genoa. Emeline S., born in Sandusky county in 1855, married Charles Prey, an engineer at Genoa; they have one child. Lewis, born in Sandusky county, June 17, 1857, was married February 14, 1878, to Miss Billings, daughter of George Billings, a farmer, and three children have been born to them-Amy, in 1879, in Clay township, Ottawa county, who is living at home; Elida, born July 15, 1882; and Roy, born June 9, 1892; Lewis Truax has been elected supervisor of Clay town- ship, and is farming on the homestead with his father. Sarah O., born in San- dusky county, in 1859, married Adolph Trimer; both are deceased. Mary E., born in Sandusky, in 1862, is the wife of William Snider, a professor of music, and they live at Fort Wayne, Ind. ; they have two children. Deo, born in Sandusky county in 1866, died when seven years old. Milo, born in Sandusky county in 1868, is a farmer in that county; he is un- married. Another child died in infancy, unnamed.

The wife of our subject died in San- dusky county, Jannary 9, 1875, of dropsy. She was a loving and faithful wife and mother, and is still deeply mourned by her husband and family. Mr. Truax held the office of school director for nine terms in Sandusky county, and has served in that position one term in Clay town- ship. Socially he is a member of Clay Lodge No. 584, I. O. O. F., at Genoa; he and his sons belong to the Democratic party. The family attend the Church of the Disciples at Genoa. Mr. Truax is now seventy-three years old, but is hale and hearty, and seemingly as active as ever, going about his farm as readily as he did twenty years ago.

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H ENRY WITTY, one of the enter- prising young farmers of Ottawa county and one of her native sons, was born in Clay township, on the farm which he now owns, November 2, 1858.

His father, John Witty, was born in Germany in 1830, and during his boyhood came to America, locating in Ottawa county, Ohio, on the farm now owned by our subject. It was then in its primitive condition, but he cleared and improved it, converting it into one of the fine homes in this section of the State. He married Elizabeth Hammond, who was born in Marion county, Ohio, in 1826, and they became the parents of six children, as fol- lows: Catherine, Angeline, Ella, Jennie, Henry and Michael. Catherine and An- geline are now deceased; Ella is the wife of Anthony Shantan, of Rocky Ridge, Ohio. The paternal grandfather, Henry Witty, was born about 1797, was a farmer by occupation, and was one of the honored pioneers of Ottawa county. His wife, Elizabeth, was born about 1804, and died July 14, 1893. They had three children- John, Margaret and Martin. The father of our subject died in November, 1890.

Henry Witty acquired his education in the public schools. On December 17, 1886, he was united in marriage with Miss Della Rhodes, of Elmore, and they began their domestic life upon the old home place, which comprises 170 acres of highly cultivated land. Thirty acres are planted annually in wheat, fifteen. to hay, thirty- five to corn and twenty to oats. The soil is highly productive, and the abundant harvests garnered indicate the careful la- bor and supervision of the owner, who is justly numbered among the practical and progressive farmers of the community. Mrs. Witty has been a faithful companion and helpmeet to her husband. She was born in Richland county, Ohio, May 15, 1866, and is a daughter of Jerry Rhodes, who was born in England, in 1822, and served throughout the Civil war. He

married Susan Ealand, who was born in the same country in 1831, and they crossed the Atlantic on the same vessel, first meeting in mid-ocean. The acquaint- ance thus formed terminated in their mar- riage soon after their arrival in this coun- try, and they became the parents of six children, of whom Emma, Louis, Clara, Irene and Della are all living; the eldest child, Libby, is deceased.

When only four years of age, Mrs. Witty was brought by her parents to El- more, where she obtained her literary education. Like her husband, she is a be- liever in modern progression and modern methods, and their friends throughout the community are many. They have one child, Bessie May, who was born March 6, 1887, and to whom they intend to give every educational advantage. Mr. and Mrs. Witty hold membership with the United Brethren Church of Elmore. In politics Mr. Witty is a Republican, and earnestly advocating the principles of that party, he is one of its able and stanch supporters. He is a worthy representa- tive of the agricultural interests of Ottawa county.

M ATHIAS ESKER is one of the worthy German citizens of San- dusky county, Ohio. He was born in the Fatherland Febru- ary 24, 1824, son of Fred and Mary (Bruch) Esker, farming people, who spent their entire lives in Germany. Their family numbered seven children, namely: Joe, deceased; Fred, Jane, Jacob, George, and Franciscus, who are living in Germany; and Mathias.

Our subject was reared and educated in his native land, and was a young man of twenty-three years when he bade adieu to home and friends and crossed the Atlantic to America. The voyage was made in a sailing vessel and the trip consumed sixty-five days; but at length anchor was dropped in the harbor of New

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York, and Mr. Esker landed on American soil. He first made his way to the city of Sandusky, Ohio, where he remained for about five years working by the day. He then removed to Norwalk, Ohio, and secured a position in a planing mill, where he continued for fourteen years, a trusted and faithful employe. At the end of that time he became a resident of Washington township, Sandusky county, and here he invested his hard-earned sav- ings in sixty acres of land, his present farm.

Mr. Esker was united in marriage with Mary Scen, daughter of Khune Scen, and they have had seven children: Fred, born February 22, 1852, married Rose Paul, by whom he has seven children (he resides in Norwalk); Carrie was born May 24, 1853; Frances, born December 16, 1855, is the wife of George Gaver, a res- ident of Ohio; Mary E., born May 7, 1858, is the deceased wife of John Mink; Cornelius, born February 20, 1860, wedded Mary Bach; Mary, born June 1 3, 1 862, died at the age of seventeen years; and William O., born December 2, 1865, married Ella Kosch. The mother of this family was called to her final rest October 8, 1893.

Mr. Esker is a member of the Ger- man Catholic Church. Politically he is a Democrat, and has served as school di- rector and road supervisor, but the greater part of his time and attention is given to his business interests. The work of clearing his farm was all done by him- self, and the buildings upon it stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise. The well-tilled fields and neat appear- ance of the place indicate his careful su- pervision, and he may well be numbered among the substantial farmers and self- made men of Sandusky county.

J OHN P. WHITMORE is a success- ful and prosperous farmer, and a well-known resident of Townsend township, Sandusky county, in which township he was born December 25, 1860.

He is a son of William and Ann J. (Whit- more) Rulof, and was adopted in his early youth by his mother's father, John Whit- more, who was a prominent citizen of Townsend township, and he has since borne his grandfather's name, Whitmore. Mr. Rulof died, and his widow, Ann J., mother of the subject of this sketch, mar- ried Mr. Derlin.

John P. Whitmore lived with his grandfather Whitmore from the time of his adoption until he was married. On January 1, 1879, Mr. Whitmore was united in marriage with Isabel Dunham, who was born in Townsend township, Decem- ber 2, 1860, and there have been born to them five children, as follows: Ira D., November 26, 1881; John D., June 12, 1883; Walter D., September 21, 1885; Franklin E., born August 5, 1887, and died July 24, 1894; and Annabel, born February 22, 1894. Mrs. Whitmore is a daughter of Ira and Rebecca (Golden) Dunham. Ira Dunham, who was a prom- inent farmer, died on September 6, 1863. at the age of forty-one; and his estimable wife, who survived him little more than two years, passed away September 12, 1865. The Goldens came from Pennsyl- vania many years since, and there are now many of the family in Townsend.

Mr. Whitmore takes no very special interest in politics further than to cast his ballot, which is usually Democratic. He is engaged in farming his one hundred and thirty acres of fruitful land.

1 SAAC STROHL, farmer, Ballville township. Sandusky county, was born in Perry county, Ohio, November 18, 1825, a son of Peter and Sarah (Over- myer) Strohl, who were natives of Penn- sylvania. They were farmers by oc- cupation, and members of the Lutheran Church. Peter Strohl was born June 22, 1798, and died in Fremont after his re- tirement from the farm. His wife was born in Northampton county, Penn., in

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1804, a daughter of Jacob Overmyer, whose children were: Barbara, Margaret, Catharine, Mary, Maria, Sarah, Peter, Jacob and George.

The children of Peter and Sarah Strohl were: Elizabeth, born in 1822, died in childhood; Isaac, our subject; Margaret, born in 1828, who in 1847 married Enos Osborn, a farmer of Ball- ville township (now deceased), who had six children, one of whom, James M., was for a number of years editor and proprietor of the Democratic Messenger, at Fremont, Ohio, and is at present editor of the Daytona Messenger, at Daytona, Fla .; Maria, born in 1831, who died at the age of eighteen, in Ballville township; Catherine, born May 5, 1834, who was married December 6, 1860, to Dr. W. V. B. Ames, of Fremont, sketch of whom appears elsewhere.

Isaac Strohl lived with parents on their farm in Ballville township until his thirty-fifth year. In the winter of 1848 he enlisted as a soldier in the Mexican war, and was at the City of Mexico when it was taken by the U. S. troops. In 1849 he went to New Orleans and engaged as a foreman on a steamer plying between that city and St. Louis, in which capacity he served about one year, after which he returned home. He succeeded his father on the home farm. He is a life-long Democrat, and has held various offices of honor and trust. He is a member of the M. E. Church, and is a Knight Templar. On January 12, 1860, he married Miss Elida Grover, who is one of seven chil- dren-Elida, Maria, George, William B., Philip, Sylvester and Mary.

E DGAR KARSHNER one of the popular and well-to-do citizens of Riley township, Sandusky county, was born August 4, 1864, and is a son of Daniel and Lydia Karshner, and a grandson of John Karshner.

John Karshner was born in Pennsyl-

vania, and married Christine Drum. They had three children namely: Magda- lena, married to George Broomley, who lives in Indiana, and died in 1890; Sarah, married to Z. Woodford, who is a farmer in northern Ohio, and they have had eight children; and Daniel, the father of Edgar Karshner, the subject of this sketch. John Karshner and his wife lived in Penn- sylvania for several years after their mar- riage, then moved to Tarlton, Pickaway Co., Ohio, and from there to Riley town- ship, Sandusky county, where he settled and bought 480 acres of land. Indians were numerous at that time, and the country was new. He worked hard, cleared the land, and wrought out a home from the wilderness. He was a Whig in politics, and a member of the Lutheran Church.

Daniel Karshner was born September 9, 1822, in Tarlton, Pickaway county. He was reared at home, had a common school education, and worked for his fa- ther on the old homestead until he was married. He was united in marriage with Lydia Robinson, who was born January 1, 1830, and they had a family of nine children, as follows: John F. born June 2, 1848; Charles D., November 22, 1851; Albert L., August 27, 1853; Clara A., November 26, 1856; Ellen A., February 4, 1858; Sarah L., August 15, 1860; An- nie E., July 16, 1863; Edgar W., the sub- ject of this sketch; and Willis C., born March 27, 1868. Daniel Karshner has held various offices, such as school direc- tor and supervisor. He is a Republican in politics, and is a member of the Lu- theran Church.

Edgar Karshner received a common- school education, and worked on the farm for his father until his twenty-first year. On December 16, 1888, he was united in marriage with Mary Bartis, and three children have been born to them, namely: Mabel E. (born September 20, 1889), Clara E., and Charles. Mr. Karshner in- herited 113 acres of valuable land three

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miles east of Fremont, Sandusky county, and in 1890 he built a handsome residence which cost him $1, 250.00. He carries on general farming, and gives special atten- tion to fruit and to fine horses and cattle. He is a stanch Republican, and is a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church.

J ACOB SAMPSEL, an honored citi- zen of Madison township, Sandusky county, was born in Beaver county, Penn., in 1836, son of Joseph and Mary M. (Beckley) Sampsel, who came from Pennsylvania to Ohio when he was a mere boy.

Joseph Sampsel was a hatter, and fol- lowed this occupation up to the time of his removal to the "Buckeye State." When he arrived here he rented a forty- acre tract of land in the vicinity of New Lisbon, Columbiana county, and in prox- imity to the farm occupied by his father, who had located there a few years before. After retaining this land for a short time, he sold it, and bought a piece of five acres, on which he lived a few years. Selling this he came to Sandusky county, where he passed the remainder of his days, his wife surviving him only a few years.

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Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 110

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