Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 113

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 113
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 113

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H ENRY BOWLUS. The great an- cestor from whom are descended the Bowlus families of Sandusky county, Ohio, was a native of Germany, who came to America in the Colonial period, about 1735. and settled in the Middletown valley, Frederick county, Md. He had four sons -- Jacob, George, Valentine and Nicholas-the youngest being then but five years of age. Nicholas Bowlus was reared on a farm in Frederick county, Md., where he be-

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came the head of a family of eight chil- dren-Jacob, John, Henry, Nicholas, Jr., Mrs. Beckabach, Mrs. Floyd, Mrs. Haller and Mrs. Christ. Of these, Jacob, a distinguished pioneer minister of the United Brethren Church, and Henry, a farmer, came to Ohio, about the year 1828, and settled in Sandusky township, Sandusky Co., Ohio. The children of Rev. Jacob Bowlus were: Jacob, David, Mary, Elizabeth, Margaret and Susannah, all of whom became heads of families in Sandusky county. Henry Bowlus located on a farm of 320 acres, which was then an unbroken forest, and helped clear up the far-famed "Black Swamp." He had a family of six children, namely: (1) Magdalene, wife of Daniel Young, who lived and died in Maryland. (2) Adam, who married Elizabeth Krohn, and re- mained in Maryland. (3) Sophia, wife of Jacob Thomas; she died in 1895, at the age of eighty-eight years. They had nine children-John H., Richard, Joseph, Liz- zie, Maggie, Amanda, Charles, Alice, Anna; of these, the eldest, John H. Thomas, a millionaire, was the competi- tor of Calvin S. Brice, for U. S. Senator, in 1893. (4) Henry Bowlus, our subject, comes next. (5) Nicholas, who married Margaret Donnell, and lived in Madison township, where he died in 1893. (6) Mahala, wife of Jesse Dorcas, living at Lisbon, Iowa.

Henry Bowlus, our subject, one of the early pioneers of Sandusky county, was born in Maryland, September 27, 1810. On November 20, 1833, he married Miss Catharine Keller, of Lancaster, Ohio, who was born February 14, 1811, and died October 20, 1848; their children were-Hanson R., Mahala, Martha, Cath- arine, Elizabeth, and Caroline. These all became heads of families in Sandusky county. On September 27, 1849, our subject married Mrs. Rebecca C. Bow- lus (née Williamson), of Maryland, born July 4, 1824, and died January 28, 1891; their children were -- Warren, Anna, Henry

F., and Robert, all of whom became heads of families and live in their native county.

Henry Bowlus, our subject, has lived to see a mighty change in the valley of the Sandusky. When he first came here there were more Indians than white peo- ple. The Wyandots and Tawas lived here, and used to assemble in great numbers every year when they went to Malden to draw their annuity from the United States government. There was no end of squirrels and other wild game. Mr. Bowlus fol- lowed farming and stock raising. He still owns 160 acres of land on Muskallonge creek, two and a half miles west of Fre- mont. About the year 1868, in company with his son, Hanson R., he operated a sawmill, furniture shop and planing-mill, about sixteen years at Fremont. In poli- tics he was first a Whig, then an Aboli- tionist, and later a Republican. Before the Civil war he kept a station of the . "Under-ground railroad," and assisted runaway slaves from the Southern States to escape to Canada. He has for many years been a member of the M. P. Church, at Fremont. Though now (1896) past eighty-five years of age, he enjoys life among his children and grandchildren, with a mind still active and a memory un- dimmed.

A MBROSE MEYER, one of the steady-going, industrious, and sub- stantial citizens of Riley township, Sandusky county, is a native of the same, born December 16, 1859, and is a son of Jacob and Jane (Ziegler) Meyer, who were born in Alsace, Germany.

Jacob Meyer came with his wife to America in 1838, and located in Seneca county, Ohio. In 1849 with money he had saved during a period of ten years in this country he bought a farm of eighty acres in Riley township. In 1889 they removed to Fremont, Sandusky county, and are now living there retired after a life of dil-

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igent and self denying industry, both at the age of seventy-five years. They had a family of five children, as follows: Louise married Andrew Remelspacher, a farmer in Ballville township, Sandusky county, and they have had twelve children; Jane married Sebastian Wallby, and they live in Millersville, Ohio (they have a family of thirteen children); Joseph is a farmer in Riley township; Mary lives in Fremont, Sandusky county, Ohio; and Ambrose is the subject of this sketch.

Ambrose Meyer had only a common- school education, but was reared to hab- its of diligence and economy. On Janu- ary 23, 1888, he was united in marriage with Anna Koch, and three children have been born to them, namely: Laurence, January 6, 1889; Josephine, June 20, 1892; and Walter, August 28, 1893. Mrs. Meyer's parents, Valentine and Barbara (Riffer) Koch, had a family of eight chil- dren, namely: Mary, Lorenz, Jane, An- drew, Tracy, Louise, George and Anna (Mrs. Meyer). Mr. Meyer now works and practically owns the farin where his parents reside. In politics he is a Demo- crat, and in religious affiliation he is a Catholic.

J OSEPH HENRY is numbered among the native sons of Sandusky county, his birth having occurred on the old Henry homestead in Rice township, near the village of Kingsway, March 16, 1851. He is a worthy represent- ative of an honored pioneer family. His father, Christian Henry, was for forty-eight years a well-known and respected resident of Rice township, and at the age of fifty- six years departed this life, his remains being interred in the cemetery at Lind- sey. His wife bore the maiden name of Maggie Strawker, and by their marriage they became the parents of ten children: Maggie, born in 1842; Fred, born in 1844; Joseph, subject of this sketch; Al- bert, who is living in Nebraska; Chris-

tian; Nelson; Mary, wife of John Fokom; Sarah, wife of John Overmyer; Emma, wife of Dr. Keller; and Ettie, who is liv- ing in Lindsey, Ohio.

No event of special importance occur- red during the boyhood and youth of our subject, who was reared upon the old home farm. In his earlier years he at- tended the district schools of the neigh- borhood through the winter seasons, and worked upon the farm during the suin- mers. On arriving at years of maturity he was married July 6, 1872, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary Artz, who was born June 9, 1852, in Rice town- ship, and has passed her entire life in Sandusky county. Mr. and Mrs. Henry now have a family of six children-five sons and one daughter-in the order of their birth born as follows: Mary A., July 6, 1874; John, November 15, 1876; Joseph F., March 1, 1881; Simon H., January 22, 1885; and Albert, July 18, 1893.

Upon the death of his father, Joseph Henry purchased the old home farm of the other heirs, and is now the owner of 140 acres of rich and arable land, which he has placed under a high state of culti- vation. He has there a model farm, upon which in 1888 he erected a new barn. He makes a specialty of the rais- ing of fine horses and cattle, and has some fine stock upon the place. He possesses good business ability, and his well-directed efforts merit the success which has come to him. His political support is given to the Democracy, and he attends the Catholic Church.

H IRAM RANSOM, a retired stock breeder and agriculturist, and one of the most popular representative men of Erie township, Ottawa county, was born in Riley township, San- dusky Co., Ohio, October 31, 1827, and is a son of Hiram and Sarah (Stull) Ran-

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som, who were born in Sandusky, Erie county, and in Pennsylvania, respectively.

The grandparents and parents of the subject of this sketch were pioneer set- tlers of Riley township, Sandusky county, his grandfather Stull being the first set- tler in the east half of Riley township. The parents had two children, of whom one died in infancy, and Hiram, of whom we now write, is the only surviving mem- ber of the family. His mother died when he was only two years old. In 1844 his father was married again, this time to Emeline Lindsley, but there were no children by that union. He passed away in Riley township May 11, 1856, after a useful and well-spent life. He had re- sided in that township for over forty years, and was identified with its early days, with trials and hardships, as well as all movements tending to its advance- ment and welfare.

Hiram Ransom, whose name intro- duces this sketch, was reared a farmer's boy, and received such limited educational advantages as the old log schoolhouses of his boyhood days afforded. He has been engaged in agricultural pursuits all his life, and was a resident of Sandusky coun- ty until 1861. On January 1, 1852, in Riley township, he married Nancy Jane Parks, who was born in Mifflinburg, Penn., August 18, 1830, daughter of James and Mary (Boyer) Parks, the former of whom was at one time sheriff of Sandusky county, and also a representative of the county in the Legislature. Mr. and Mrs. Ransom had three children, as follows: Burton, born September 17, 1854, is a marine engineer, and now resides in To- ledo; he was united in marriage, Septem- ber 17, 1877, with Grace D. Poole, of Fulton county, Ohio, and they have had two children- Parks, who died in infancy, and Maude, living. Clara, born Decem- ber 6, 1857, was married, on January 6, 1880, to William 1). Van Rensselaer, son of Peter S. and Mary J. (Depew) Van- Rensselaer, of Erie township, and they

have had two children-Hiram Saunders and Hazel Pearl, both of whom are living with their parents in Fulton county. Mary, born August 11, 1862, was married October 1, 1884, to J. R. McRitchie, son of David R. and Lucy (Lattimore) Mc- Ritchie, of Bay township, Ottawa county, and they have had five children, namely: Ada, Burton, Harry, Earl and Lucy Jane. On August 13, 1895, the mother of this family died, at their home in Lacarne, Ottawa county, after a prolonged illness. She was buried in Lacarp cemetery, Erie township.

In 1861 Mr. Ransom removed to Ful- ton county, Ohio, where he remained for ten years, and in 1871, settled in Erie township, Ottawa county, where he has since resided. He has taken an active part in matters connected with the growth and welfare of the township and county; for six years he served faithfully as county commissioner, has been a justice of the peace for nine years, and has efficiently filled various township offices. Mr. Ran- som and his family attend the United Brethren Church. In politics he is a stanch Democrat. His kindness of heart and unselfish generosity are proverbial wherever he is known, none appeal to him in vain for aid in a worthy cause, and, by his courtesy, ability, unquestioned integrity and high character, he has gained the confidence of the citizens of his town- ship and county, who hold him and his family in high esteem.

OSHUA E. CURTICE, agricultur- ist and lumber manufacturer, who is widely known, not only in the neighborhood of Allen township, Ot- tawa county, but throughout this section of the State, has played a prominent part in building up great industries and promoting the advancement of the coun- try. A short sketch of his busy and use- ful life will prove interesting to the readers of this volume,

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Mr. Curtice was born in Cayuga coun- ty, N. Y., in 1832, son of Joel and Annie (Freeman) Curtice, who were also born in the above-named county and State, of English descent, the father being the son of Hosea Curtice, of New York. In May, 1833, when our subject was quite young, his parents removed to Ohio and settled in Lagrange township, Lorain county, where they remained five years. There he obtained a fair education in the public schools, and on arriving at man- hood found employment as construction boss on what is now known as the " Big Four " railroad. He spent several years in the employ of this company, and then worked as section boss for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway Company for about fifteen years. At the end of this time he was employed by the Atlantic & Great Western Railway Com- pany on construction work, remaining with them for upward of two years at Springfield, Ohio. During these years, by industry and frugality, Mr. Curtice had managed to save enough money to buy a farm, and coming to Allen (then Clay) township, Ottawa county, he purchased 160 acres of timber land, very soon after setting to work to clear it. He employed eighty men to cut the timber, which was then made into railroad ties and fuel, built a saw and planing mill, in which he made boards, etc., and besides using the timber off his own land he purchased large quantities on surrounding tracts and carried on an extensive business there in lumber for eighteen years. He then re- moved his mill five miles farther north, and bought 500 acres of land, from the timber on which he made staves, lath, etc. Here he established the prosperous and growing town of Curtice, in which a number of factories are now in operation, and also built a sawmill in Lucas county. After remaining in Curtice for a year or two, our subject removed to Martin, also in Ottawa county, where he built a saw- mill and a stave factory, and also en-

gaged in general merchandising, at the same time cultivating his large tract of land. In 1892 he removed to Coleman township, Midland Co., Mich., and there erected saw and planing mills, and a stave and barrel-heading factory. With all these enterprises on hand he also carries on general merchandising, and gives em- ployment to a large number of men. A few miles from Coleman Mr. Curtice built other mills and founded another town, named after himself, which is equally prosperous with its sister town, in this State, and he has done much to aid its progress. He was the means of hav- ing a schoolhouse built, in which religious services are held every Sabbath, and a post office, also called Curtice, established and carries on a large general merchan- dise store, in which his son is a partner. Mr. Curtice makes his residence chiefly in Midland county, Mich., in order to look after his extensive business enterprises there, while his wife remains in Allen township, Ottawa county, in this State, in charge of their interests in that com- munity.

Our subject was married May 28, 1851, to Mary E., daughter of James K. and Sarah E. (Loomis) Pelton, and to them have come two children: Alice M., born at Painesville, Ohio, May 6, 1852, died September 8, of the same year. James E. Curtice, the only living child of our subject, was born September 18, 1854, and after attending the public schools of Allen township, and high school at Genoa for two years, went to school at Tiffin, Ohio, for six months; he then entered a college in the State of New York, pursuing his studies there for a year and a half, and graduating with honor in 1877. Not having any desire to follow a profession he took an interest in his father's numerous enterprises, and to- day is managing partner of the branch of the business at Coleman, Mich. He was clerk of the schoolboard in Allen town- ship for a number of years prior to his

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removal to Michigan, and is a member of Genoa Lodge, F. & A. M. James E. Curtice was married January 14, 1878, to Lizzie, daughter of George D. Littlejohn, of Baltimore, Ohio, and two children came to them: Eugene, born March 11, 1879, died December 22, 1881; Ethel, born September 13, 1885, is residing at present with her grandmother, Mrs. Curtice, in Allen township, and is attend- ing school at Toledo. The mother of these children died October 20, 1887, and Mr. Curtice was married the second time, in 1892, at Toledo, to Miss Bella Green; one child has blessed this marriage, Lu- cile, born August 22, 1894.

Dr. James K. Pelton, father of the wife of our subject, was born in Water- town, N. Y., in ISIO, son of James Pel- ton, of Watertown. He attended the common school and also took a college course. After farming for a while he went to New York and studied medicine, and he practiced that profession for more than a quarter of a century in Lagrange, for ten years at Toledo, and for five years at Columbus Grove, Putnam Co., this State. He was married, March 11, 1834, to Sarah, daughter of Russell Loomis, by whom he had six children, viz. : Mary E., born May 11, 1835, wife of our subject; James, born in 1838, at Lagrange, who was a manufacturer there, and died Oc- tober 22, 1893 (he married and became the father of six children); Lucy, born August 31, 1841, married John Ryan, of New York, who died in 1877, and she married for her second husband Mr. W. N. Albertson, of Toledo; David C., born in Lagrange March 11, 1844, married Maggie Sadler (he is proprietor of a hotel at Trombley, Wood Co., this State); Richard F., born September 6, 1846, is a manufacturer at McComb, this State (he is married and the father of three children); Erastus L., born April 9, 1849, is farming at Fruitport, Mich. (he is mar- ried and has two children). Dr. Pelton, the father of this family, died at La-

grange, February 9. 1886, his wife de- parting this life four years previousiy.

Joshua E. Curtice, the subject of this sketch, was a trustee of Clay township for a number of years. Socially he is a member of the Good Templars Lodge and of Genoa Lodge, F. & A. M. In his political views he is a Republican; his wife is a member of the Evangelical Church. They are highly esteemed, and are popular with all classes in the community.

H. ELLSWORTH. This gentleman has for some years been prominently identified with educational interests in this section of Ohio, and he is also known, in Benton township and vieinity, as an energetic business man, one who, though yet young, is making an enviable record for himself and winning his way to a place among the best men of Ottawa county.

He is a son of Elijah D. and Nancy J. (Overmyer) Ellsworth, the former of whom was born in Sandusky City Febru- ary 24, 1836, and when seven years old came with his parents to Sandusky county, where they settled and cleared up a fine farm. At that time-1843-the county was a forest-covered wilderness, and the Ellsworths were among the early pioneers. Grandfather Ellsworth was born in New York about 1787, and served in the war of 1812, during which he was held pris- oner on Lake Erie. He died in 1861. Elijah D. Ellsworth first wedded Miss La- Roe, of Sandusky county, who died in 1862, only a year after her marriage. Shortly after this Mr. Ellsworth inherited a large landed property from his father's estate, near Clyde. In 1864 he was again married, and his children by this union were Eugene E., born February 5, 1865; Irving H., born February 25, 1866; and Ettie A., born February 20, 1872, all living in Ohio. In 1893 Elijah D. Ellsworth went to California, where he now owns 160 acres of land. Our subject's maternal

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grandfather, Jacob Overmyer, was born in Pennsylvania in 1806, and came to Ohio in 1854, settling in Sandusky county, where he cleared up a farm from the for- est; his wife was a Miss Hammel, of Uniontown, Penn., born about 1805. The great-grandfather, Jacob Overmyer, Sr., was born in 1756 in Philadelphia.

I. H. Ellsworth was born February 25, 1866, near Tontogany, Wood Co., Ohio, where he spent his boyhood days. His early education was obtained in the country schools and at Tontogany, the schools of which place he attended for a time. Some years afterward he took a normal course in Toledo, which he com- pleted in 1893. In 1885, at the age of nineteen, he began his career as a school teacher in the public schools of Wood county, where he taught for four years. Unlike many young men engaged in teach- ing he did not waste his summer vaca- tions, but employed himself during the time in selling carriages and harness, de- riving from that business a snug income. In the spring of 1889 his health failed, and he accepted a position as traveling salesman for a wholesale saddlery hard- ware company of Cleveland, traveling more or less until September, 1894, when he was sufficiently improved in health to again return to his chosen profession. Meanwhile, in 1890, he came to Ottawa county, and settling in Rocky Ridge en- gaged in the carriage and harness busi- ness, in which he continued four years. During two years of this time he engaged as teacher in the public schools of Rocky Ridge, the second year as principal of the high school. In 1894 he took charge of the public school at Limestone, where he still lives. About three years ago Mr. Ellsworth and a Mr. Olsen formed the Ells- worth & Olsen Co., of Oak Harbor, Otta- wa Co., Ohio, for the handling of harness and carriages, and the business having proved a very successful one Mr. Ellsworth contemplates giving his entire time to it and retiring from his profession. During the

summer of 1894 he handled different makes of bicycles for the Columbia Carriage & Bicycle Co., of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

On September 25, 1889, Mr. Ells- worth was married to Miss Anna J. Mawer, of Tontogany, Ohio, and this union has been blessed with one child, Irvin C., born December 25, 1890. Mrs. Ellsworth was born October 27, 1868, on a farm near Tontogany, Wood Co., Ohio. Her early education was received in the district schools near her home, and she then attended the public schools of Waterville for a time. On completing her studies at Waterville she returned home, where she remained until her mar- riage. Her father is a native of Canada, born in Quebec in 1833; her mother was born in 1843 in New York State. Im- mediately after their marriage they moved onto a tract of new land in Ottawa coun- ty, Ohio, then a forest, where they clear- ed up a fine home of 140 acres-one of the fine farm homes of Ottawa county- on which they now live. They became the parents of four children, as follows: Vinton J., born May 24, 1867; Anna J., born October 27, 1868; George Clifford, born October 18, 1871, and Elbert C., born December 8, 1879. In 1861 Mrs. Ells- worth's father entered the army, becoming first lieutenant, and was promoted to the rank of captain, serving as such until the war closed, mainly in Kentucky. At the battle of Guntown he was taken prisoner, and was held for fifteen months. Mrs. Ellsworth's maternal grandparents were born in 1817 in New York State, and the grandfather died in 1890, the grandmother in 1891. In their family were four chil- dren, two of whom are living, Mrs. Ells- worth's mother and William Bott.

OHN WILLIAM HURDELBRINK was born in Woodville township, Sandusky county, in 1841, son o Armon Henry and Elizabeth (Wil- ner) Hurdelbrink, both of whom were

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born in Hanover, Germany, in 1811. the former in November of that year.

The parents of our subject had three children, as follows: Henry, who lives in Toledo, Ohio, married Angelina Stieger, by whom he had eight children; she died April 2, 1887. Mary married Louis Linke, a farmer of Woodville township, and they had eight children. John W. is the subject of this sketch. In 1840 Mr. and Mrs. Hurdelbrink came to America, land- ing in New York, where they remained but a short time. They then moved to Wood county, Ohio, and after about two months bought twenty-five acres of land, the greater part of which they cleared, and put up a log cabin and other buildings. After living there over nine years they sold this place, and moved to what is now the old family homestead, where Mr. Hurdelbrink passed the remainder of his days. At the time of his death he had 160 acres of valuable land, of which he had cleared about eighty acres himself.

On November 1, 1867, John W. Hur- delbrink was united in marriage with Louisa Coleman, who was born March 19, 1850, in Hanover, Germany, and seven children were born to them, namely: Minnie, born July 25, 1868, married John Stine, a farmer of Woodville township, by whom she had three children-Ella, Lizzie and Etta; H., born July 17, 1870, was married to L. Cole, and they had one child (they live in Gibsonburg, San- dusky Co., Ohio); August, born Decem- ber 25, 187-, is single and lives at home; Louis, born February 17, 1875; Charles, born March 2, 1880; George, born March 18, 1884; and Augusta, born September 25, 1885. Mrs. J. W. Hurdelbrink's brother William and sister Lizzie live in Ottawa county, Ohio. Their father died September 12, 1868.

John W. Hurdelbrink always remained at home, and on the death of his father the estate was divided. In 1885 he bought eighty acres of land, partly cleared, which cost him $3, 200, and here he car-

ries on general farming. He is a Demo- crat in politics, and in religious connec- tion is an active member of the Lutheran Church in Woodville, Sandusky county.

A ARON BECKER was born in Germany, June 5, 1834, son of Christopher and Maria (Bushman) Becker, who were also natives of Germany, and came to America in 1841, settling in Washington township, San- dusky Co., Ohio. Here the father rented a farm of forty acres, on which he lived for one year, then removing to Madison township, same county, where he pur- chased eighty-six acres of rough timber land. He at once began clearing up the place, and acre by acre it was put under the plow until the once wild land was transformed into rich and fertile fields. Good buildings were erected, and the home of Christopher Becker became one of the finest farms of the neighborhood. His life was well spent, and his death, which occurred in 1886, was mourned by many friends. His wife passed away in 1884, and they were laid to rest in the cemetery in Madison township. In their family were seven children, as follows: Florence, Mary, Casper, Aaron, Fred, Martin and Henry. While in his native land Mr. Becker had served for three years in the German army.

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Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 113

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