Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 119

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 119
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 119

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).

Mr. Epler came to Ohio in the early times, and bought eighty acres of timber land, in Madison township, Sandusky county, all but ten acres of which he has cleared. He has worked hard, early and late, and has to-day a beautiful home wherein to pass his later days. He is a strong Republican, and in religious con- nection is a charter member of the United Brethren Church at Helena.

OHN ANDREWS, farmer, was born in Ballville township, Sandusky Co., Ohio, March 12, 1839, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Indes) Andrews. Jacob Andrews was born in 1801, and his wife in 1807, in France; and she died May 15, 1892. They had five children: (1) Joseph Andrews, born in 1837, a farmer of Millersville, Ohio, who married Anna Young, and has a family of seven chil- dren; (2) John Andrews, our subject; (3) Mary Andrews, born in 1841, wife of Lewis Baumgardner, a farmer, of Michi- gan, whose children are Frank, John and Mary; (4) Jacob, born in 1845, married to Mary Rilley, whose children are Ula- liah, Georgiana, Claude and James; (5) David, born March 11, 1843, married in 1868 to Julia Scanlan, who was born March 7, 1850, and their children are-

Peter, born September 11, 1870; Julia, born June 7, 1874; Stella, born February 25, 1880; Mary, born January 23, 1882; John L., born May 2, 1884; and Loretta, born September 11, 1891.

Our subject remained at home with his parents until his twenty-fifth year. He then rented some land of his father and farmed on shares. Subsequently he bought ninety-two acres of his father, on which he now resides. He is no office seeker, but has held several offices in his township. He was a soldier in the Civil war, having enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment, O. V. I., at Toledo, Ohio, whence he proceeded to Louisville and Frankfort, Ky., and spent the winter at Bowling Green. In the spring of 1863 he marched through Ken- tucky, back and forth, was taken sick, and lay for a time at No. 7, Louisville Hospital. After convalescence he was transferred to the Seventeenth Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps, and helped guard Rebel prisoners at Indianapolis, Ind., until discharged. He was married August 20, 18 --- , to Miss Mary Scanlan, who was born December 25, 1837, and they had seven children: (1) Mary, born June 7, 1862; (2) David, born February 18, 1865, a mason by trade; (3) Elizabeth, born June 27, 1867, wife of Rufus Kelley, whose children are-Anna Marie, born Septem- ber 18, 1889, and John, born in 1891; (4) John, born September 12, 1869, a stone mason; (5) Frank, born June 12, 1872; (6) George E., born April 23, 1878; (7) Edward V., born March 16, 1880; the last four named are living with their parents.

A record of the family of children, of which Mrs. Mary Andrews is a member, is as follows: John married, and has a family of eight children; Thomas died in childhood; Mary is Mrs. Andrews; John was a soldier in the Civil war, member of Company A, One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment, O. V. I., and died in 1893; Jeremiah; Edward married Julia Leary,

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and has eight children (he served five years in the Civil war, and later was a merchant at Toledo, Ohio; he died Feb- ruary 18, 1886); Julia, born June 7, 1852, is the wife of David Andrews; Michael, born in 1854, married Mary Camele, whose children are-Nora, William, Mich- ael and Nellie; David, born May 9, 1857, is a police officer in Fremont, Ohio, mar- ried Margaret Donahue, and their chil- dren are-Edward, Mary, Johnand Frank.

M L. HUSS. To this enterpris- ing farmer of Green Creek town- ship, Sandusky county, is due largely the growth of the small- fruit industry in his locality. Mr. Huss lives on the ridge in the township, and was one of its first men to engage in grow- ing and shipping small fruits on a large scale. He has made fruit-growing his chief business for many years.

Mr. Huss was born in Green Creek township, March 31, 1848, son of Christian and Catherine (Rathbun) Huss. Christian Huss was born on Cat Island, on the Sus- quehanna river, Penn., February 21, 1815. In 1824 he came to Ohio with his parents, Noah and Mary (Burkholder) Huss, who settled on what is now known as the Kernahan farm, in Green Creek township, lived to an advanced age, and left a large family, consisting of John, Noah, Christian, Elijah, Jacob, Ellen (wife of David Hawk), Barbara E. (wife of S. S. Rathbun), Jane (who first mar- ried a Mr. Bernent, and afterward wedded Oliver McIntire; she lived on the old Huss farm), Ann (who married George Hutchins), and Martha (who married a Mr. Campbell, and moved to Iowa). Christian married Catherine Rathbun, who was born in Ontario county, N. Y., in 1818, and had twelve children, as follows: Chaplin, of Green Creek township; Eliza, wife of John Morrison, of Ballville town- ship; Shannon, who died young; Noah B .; Darius, who died at the age of four-

teen years; Burr, of Ballville township; Maurice L., of Green Creek township; Jane, who married a Mr. Gleeson, by whom she had two children, and after- ward married Dr. McMillen, of Steuben county, Ind .; Oliver P., of Steuben coun- ty, Ind .; Barbara, wife of Chauncey Young, of Steuben county, Ind .; Chris- tian E., on the old homestead in Green Creek township; and Saxton. Christian Huss, the father, died February 22, 1864, aged forty-nine years. His faithful and devoted wife survived until August, 1893.

Maurice L. Huss, subject of this sketch, attended the Dawley school, in Ballville township, a joint district, and on the old homestead he learned the practi- cal value and lesson of perseverance and industry. He was married, in 1871, at the age of twenty-three years, to Miss Henrietta Storer, born in Brooklyn vil- lage, October 21, 1851, daughter of Samuel Storer, a prominent farmer of Green Creek township. To Mr. and Mrs. Huss have been born two children-Ruth and Dwight. Mr. Huss is regarded gen- erally as one of the leading men of the township, and is essentially a progressive, active citizen. He has for twenty-two years been a prominent member of the 1. O. O. F., and is a charter member of Clyde Grand Encampment. He was elect- ed trustee of the township in 1893, and is now serving in that capacity.

S. McGORMLEY, contractor and builder, Fremont, Sandusky coun- ty, is a native of Ballville town- ship, Sandusky Co., Ohio, born May 4, 1850, son of George and Lucy J. (Hampsher) McGormley.

George McGormley was born in Perry county, Ohio, in 1826, came to Sandusky county, when he was three years old, and here remained the rest of his life, dying in 1886. He was a Democrat, and a member of the M. E. Church. His father, William McGormley, who was

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born in Perry county, Ohio, of Scotch ancestry, lived in Sandusky county from 1829 to 1872, when he moved to near Lansing, Mich., and there died at the age of eighty-five. Our subject's mother was born in Sparta, near Rochester, N. Y., November 3, 1828, and is still living in Ballville township. The children of George and Lucy McGormley were: Su- san, wife of George Cole, of Ballville township; Louis S., our subject; George F., a civil engineer, of Toledo, Ohio; Anna, wife of Andrew Miller, subject's partner in business; and Charles A., a farmer, on the old homestead.

Our subject grew to manhood in Ball- ville township, where he attended good country schools, and at the age of twenty began to learn the trade of carpenter with Matt Earney. In 1873 he married Miss Martha Harris, of Green Creek township, a member of the Lutheran Church, and located in Ballville, San- dusky county, where he worked at his trade. He was in the employ of A. Fos- ter, builder, about eight years. In 1882-83 Mr. McGormley became a contractor and builder on his own account, and has followed that vocation most of the time since; he built the residence of Dr. R. H. Rice, and several other fine structures. In April, 1893, he was elected a member of the city council on the Democratic ticket. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Subordinate Lodge and Encampment, and of the daughters of Rebekah; also of Canton, Uniformed Rank, K. of P. His children were: Chester, who died in 1893, aged twenty; Edith, a graduate of the high school, 1893; and Lucy Jane, at home.

W ILLIAM BLECKNER, a popu- lar, representative citizen, and postmaster at Oak Harbor, Ot- tawa county, was born Febru- ary 14,. 1853, at Fremont, Sandusky Co.,

Ohio, to Adam and Christina (Lenhardt) Bleckner.

His early education was received in the public schools of his native town, and when but twelve years of age he en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, which he continued to follow in Sandusky county for eight years. In 1873 he entered the employ, as clerk, of J. Aixter & Co., lead- ing druggists of that county, at the expir- ation of three years (in 1876) purchasing the business, and from that date until 1886-when he admitted his brother Charles as a partner-he conducted same on his own account; in 1885 he established a branch store at Rocky Ridge, Ohio, and four years later he established another branch store at Port Clinton. In 1891 Bleckner disposed of his interest in the business, his brother becoming sole pro- prietor, and during the years 1892-93 he was engaged in mercantile pursuits, hav- ing a large and extensive trade; but in the latter year he met with a serious loss, his large store and entire stock being totally destroyed by fire. He was then extensively engaged in the manufacture of bricks and tiles for three years. In 1893 our subject, having proved himself a man of high standing and of more than ordinary ability, received (in recognition of the valuable services rendered by him to the community in which he resides) the appointment of postmaster at Oak Harbor, which incumbency he continues to hold, in an efficient manner and to the satisfaction of all. Mr. Bleckner is a director of and one of the largest stockholders in the Oak Harbor Na- tural Gas Co., and also a stockholder in the Savings Bank at Lorain, Ohio; he is largely interested in timber lands in the State, and in real-estate in Lo- rain county, and the characteristic zeal with which he discharges the numer- ous arduous duties in connection with these, as well as other enterprises, de- notes him to be a man of consummate energy, and has won for him the re-

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spect and confidence of the entire com- munity.

In 1884 Mr. Bleckner was married to Miss Elva Gordon, who was born in Oak Harbor, January 31, 1865, a daughter of Washington and Maggie (Rymers) Gor- don, and this union has been blessed with three children, viz .: Donna, Lillian and Margaret C., all of whom survive. Mr. Bleckner in his social affiliations is a member of Oak Harbor Lodge No. 495. F. & A. M .; Fremont Chapter No. 64, R. A. M., and Toledo Commandery No. 27.

M ICHAEL BOWE is one of the enterprising and thorough busi- ness men of Scott township, Sandusky county, and he is a brother of Jacob, Henry, David and George Bowe.

Mr. Bowe was born January 28, 1845, in Scott township, Sandusky county, on his father's old farm on the "pike." On January 6, 1866, he was married, at Freeport, to Miss Rachel Bordner, daugh- ter of Michael and Leah (Buchtel) Bord- ner, and the young couple resided on the old home farm for one year, after which they lived two years in Wood county, and then, until 1876, made their home on Section 16, Scott township. In 1876 they moved to Section 30, there purchas- ing 160 acres of land which they have cleared and put under the finest cultiva- tion; they also have erected fine build- ings, and their residence would be an ornament to any city in the county. It is of modern architecture, with slate roof and finishings to correspond. A few years afterward Mr. Bowe added to this pur- chase another forty acres in Section 29, which he has also cleared and put in fine condition. Later he added another eighty acres, making an excellent farm of 280 acres. Mr. Bowe deals in all kind of stock, as a rule fattening and selling about 150 sheep and eighty hogs yearly, be-

sides buying and shipping stock in large quantities.

On January 28, 1891, Mr. Bowe launched his financial boat into the oil sea of Scott township, Sandusky county. At first he struck a "sand bar," or, as the oilers call it, a "dry hole." Not discouraged, however, he continued his work and went into Wood county, Ohio, where he leased forty acres of land, and finished his first well February 29, 1892. Formerly he had a partner, but he bought his interest, and now owns and operates the field himself. Mr. Bowe has, at this writing, eight wells in operation, which at first produced 100 barrels each per day, and now produce eight barrels each daily, or sixty-four barrels in all, worth eighty cents per barrel- making an income of over $50 per day. The expense of oper- ating is small, there being only one man in charge of all the wells. He also has a lease in Sandusky county of thirty-five acres, on which two wells have been made and two more are to be drilled. Mr. Bowe is a thorough business man, and like all his brothers is a highly esteemed citi- zen. Politically he is a Democrat.

George Bowe, Sr., the father of our subject, was born in 1802 in France, and came to America in 1832, settling in New York State, near Buffalo, where he re- mained three years; thence he came to Ohio, where, in Scott township, San- dusky county, he entered 210 acres of land, one-half for his sister and the bal- ance for himself. In the winter of 1834-35 he married Catherine Wegstein, who was born in Baden, Germany, daugh- ter of Michael Wegstein. To them were born ten children, three of whom died in infancy, and the others are George, Jacob, Frederick, Henry, Michael J., David and Mary C. Fred and Mary died some time ago; the others are yet living. Mr. Bowe was an old pioneer of Scott township. He at one time owned over 600 acres of land, which he divided among his children, thus giving 'each a

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start in life, from which they have stead- ily advanced, and become well-to-do men, highly respected by all who know them. He died June 3, 1872, and his wife, the mother of our subject, died July 9, 1891, and was buried in Bradner cemetery.

The maternal grandfather, Michael Wegstein, was born about 1779, in Baden, Germany, where he was married. In 1832 he started for America, and during the voyage his wife died and was buried in mid-ocean. In his family were six children, of whom only two are living, George and Mrs. Jacob Faler, of Fremont. One son, Capt. Michael Wegstein, of Company H, Seventy-second O. V. I., was killed in the battle of Shiloh. Sarah, Mrs. Dipman, died in Fremont about 1860. Mary A. Grund, of Fremont, died Octo- ber 3, 1892.

Mrs. Rachel Bowe, wife of Michael Bowe, is a sister of Mrs. George Bowe. She was born August 9, 1846, in Mont- gomery township, Wood county, remain- ing with her parents until her marriage, which has been blessed with eight chil- dren: Frank E., born March 10, 1867, who now resides in California; Alfred G., born January 9, 1869, who died April 23, 1880; Michael B., born June 14, 1871; Henry J., born December 16, 1873; Lewis D., born May 5, 1875; Lillie, born April 28, 1877; Jessie, born March 12, 1879, and Harry, born July 19, 1886.

As already stated, Mrs. Bowe is a daughter of Michael and Leah (Buchtel) Bordner, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania February 28, 1812, the latter born about 1815. They were mar- ried December 11, 1834. To their mar- riage came eight children: Henry, born September 9, 1836; Mary, born October II, 1838; Lucy, born January 25, 1841, died September 24, 1894; Calvin, born April 30, 1843, died July 28, 1862; Rachel, A., born August 9, 1846; Ellen, born, September 14, 1848; Alfred, born Jan- uary 28, 1851 ; Sarah, born November 24, 1855, five of whom are now living. Henry

and Calvin died in the army during the Civil war. The mother of these died in 1859 and was buried in Bradner cemetery. In 1862 Mr. Bordner married for his sec- ond wife Polly Yohe, of Indiana, who died in 1881. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Bowe was Peter Bordner, who was born in Pennsylvania about the year 1776; his wife, Catherine Cotherman, was born in 1770. They had nine children, Michael Bordner being.the only one now living. His father died in 1816 and his mother in 1866. Mrs. Bowe's maternal grandfather, Henry Buchtel, was born in 1790 and died in 1875; his wife, Elizabeth Ayers, was a year younger than her hus- band, and died in 1850. They had fifteen children, two sons and thirteen daughters.

F RANKLIN STOKES, one of the successful farmers of Riley town- ship, Sandusky county, was born June 4, 1864, and is a son of Jacob and Sarah (Steffir) Stokes, who were married in Riley township, and lived there for a short time. Soon after their marriage Jacob Stokes, with his wife, moved to Rice township, Sandusky coun- ty, and bought eighty acres of land. Later he moved back to Riley township, and in the year 1875 bought ninety-seven acres there. They had six children, as follows: John married Jennie Axton, and they have had six children (they live in Riley township); Samantha married James Gilbert, and they have had four children (they live in Clyde, Ohio); An- drew married Josephine Bonman, and they have had four children (they live in Riley township); Ella married D. Griggs, and they have had four children (they live near Clyde, Ohio); Franklin is the subject of this sketch; and Elmer married Hannah Huffley, and they have had two children (they live in Riley township).

Our subject was reared to habits of in- dustry and economy, and worked for his father until he was married. On Sep-

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tember 4. 1886, in Clyde, Sandusky Co., Ohio, he was united in marriage with Clara Smith, and they then settled in Riley township. They have one child, Crelo, who was born March 28, 1891. Mr. Stokes has thus made his beginning in life on the solid basis of general farming, not venturing his labor on one product alone, or in any one exclusive department of farming. So if one undertaking fails through adverse causes, if the market is overstocked with any one product or falls below a profit-giving figure, then some other way inay pay well and keep up the receipts to a living standard. Politically, Mr. Stokes is a Democrat.

J OHN A. KING, one of the prosper- ous farmers of Green Creek town- ship, Sandusky county, was born in Union county, Penn., July 3, 1837, the son of John and Margaret (Derman) King. His great-grandfather was an emi- grant from England, who settled in Juniata county, Penn., where his son James was born, married, and lived many years, afterward removing to Union county.

John King, his son, the father of John A., was born in Juniata county. H lived for a time in Snyder county, then inoved to Union county, where he mar- ried Mrs. Margaret Tibbins, ncc Derman, and where he worked in the mines and on the farm until his death. In religious faith he was a member of the M. E. Church, and in politics a Democrat. The five children of John and Margaret King were as follows: Joseph and An- drew (twins), the former a blacksmith at Bellevue, Ohio, the latter a resident of Center county, Penn. ; James, who served four years in a Pennsylvania regiment during the war, and was killed in a steam sawmill accident in Pennsylvania; John A., subject of this sketch; Hannah M., now Mrs, Aaron Waller, of Bellevue.

Her first husband, a Mr. Myers, was killed in the Civil war. Both the parents of these five children had been previously married. By his first marriage John King had two children: Amos, who served in the army during the Civil war and died about two years ago, and Emma, now Mrs. Stittler, of Clinton county, Penn. By her first husband Mrs. King had five children: Samuel, John, Levi, William and Eliza. Her father had been a soldier in the Revo- lutionary war.

The boyhood of John A. King was spent in Union county, Penn., where he attended the district schools. He learned the blacksmith trade, and in 1859 came to Ohio, settling in Bellevue, where for nearly twenty years he worked steadily at his trade. About 1879 Mr. King came to a farm in York township, San- dusky county. He engaged successfully in agricultural pursuits for five years, and during this time he also traveled. For several years he went on the road, in the southern part of the State, as a salesman of farming implements and washing ma- chines, for Mr. Ranford, of Norwalk, and Mr. Southland, of Clyde. He then commenced business for himself, selling brackets, stationery, etc., traveling through to Van Buren county, Mich. He was there for a part of two seasons, and was quite successful. Mr. King then moved from his farm of eighty acres, which he still owns, to a seven-acre tract at Clyde, where he now lives. He is a member of the A. P. A., and his party affiliations are not strong; in exercising the ballot he is quite independent, and at present rather favors a third party movement. Mr. King married Miss Mary Ann Diment, a native of England, and has three chil- dren: Louisa, wife of Allen G. Winnil; Hannah M., wife of James Vickery, of York township, and Minnie. Mr. King is a prosperous citizen of Sandusky, his success being due solely to his own en- ergy and business ability.

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OHN G. FISHER, a substantial farmer of Riley township, Sandusky county, was born in Austria Septem- ber 15, 1849, and is a son of Nick and Anna (Geiger) Fisher, who were both also born in Austria.

Nicholas Fisher was born September 28, 1816; was united in marriage with Anna Geiger in 1840; came to this coun- try in 1853, and settled in Washington township, Sandusky Co., Ohio, and bought a farm. They had nine children, namely: Rosie, Sophia, May, Catherine, Barbara, Anna, Hattie, Gebhardt and John G.

John G. Fisher had a common-school education, and for some time before his marriage was living in Fremont, San- dusky county, where he had a house and lot, and worked by the day. Selling the house and lot in Fremont, he was united in marriage, October 26, 1876, with Vic- toria Borer, who was born June 4, 1856. They had a family of seven children, their names and dates of birth being as follows: George F., December 30, 1877; Mary I., February 20, 1879, died March 23, 1888; Joseph, July 26, 1880; Elizabeth M., April 18, 1883; Frank D., August 2, 1885; Herman, October 3, 1888; and Albert, October 7, 1892. After his marriage Mr. Fisher moved to Green Creek township, Sandusky county, and bought fifty-four acres of land. Selling this, he moved to Riley township, and bought 104 acres, for which he paid $4,600.00, and in 1890 built a new house. He carries on general farming, and makes a specialty of raising fine horses. He is a Democrat in poli- tics, and has been honored with public office, having been school director for five years. In religious affiliation he is a Catholic.

M RS. MARY ARNOLD, a most estimable lady, now residing in Washington township, Sandus- ky county, was one of a family of eight children born to William and Marie

(Hoke) Hay. The parents were both born in Adams county, Penn., the father May 30, 1819, and the mother January 29, 1822. In the year 1863 they settled in Ohio, taking up their residence in Wayne county, where they spent their remaining days.

Mrs. Arnold was reared in her parents' home, becoming familiar with the duties of the household under the careful in- struction and guidance of her mother. Af- ter she had arrived at years of maturity she gave her hand in niarriage to Peter Ar- nold, son of Joseph and Susanna (Fleck- ner) Arnold, who were natives of the Key- stone State and came to Ohio in 1814, casting in their lot with the early settlers of Wayne county. Their family numbered eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, but only three of the number are living at the time of this writ- ing (1895).

Peter Arnold was reared upon his father's farm and started out in life for himself by working as a farm hand, being thus employed until his marriage. In 1863 he left his old home and removed to Sandusky county, locating in Washington township, where he purchased the forty acres of land upon which his widow now resides. With characteristic energy he began its development, and soon it was all placed under the plow, and made to yield to him a golden tribute in return for the care and cultivation he bestowed upon it. He made good improvements and all was neat and thrifty in appear- ance, and the owner was recognized as one of the leading agriculturists of the community.

In his political views Mr. Arnold was a Democrat, but had no time nor inclina- tion for public office. In religious belief he was a Methodist, and his life was in harmony with his professions. His death occurred June 30, 1889, and all who knew him mourned his departure, for he was a good citizen, a faithful friend and a devoted husband and father. Mrs. Ar-

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nold still resides upon the old home place, which was left her by her husband, and is a lady held in high regard by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. She has reared a large family of children, but only one, Viola, is now at home with her.

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Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 119

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