USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 121
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 121
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ruary 4. 1876) and Kate (born June 5, 1878) are at home, attending to the house- work, while he manages the work on the farm.
The entire family are musicians, and are well known and in demand through- out the vicinity on all social occasions. Conrad Almroth is assistant leader of the Elliston Cornet Band, in which he plays the B-flat cornet. He has a tenor voice, his brother Henry sings second tenor, John first bass and George second bass. The sisters are also musicians, and there is a fine quartet in the family, with Mary for soprano, Kate alto, Conrad tenor and John bass. They are all born musicians, and none of them have neglected their talents in this direction.
D R. L. B. MYERS, retired drug- gist, Fremont, Sandusky county, was born in Lancaster county, Penn., July 4, 1825, a son of David and Mary N. (Shively) Myers, who were natives of Lancaster county. His mother's father came from Switzerland about the time of the Reformation, and his paternal grandfather was born in Lan- caster county, of German descent. Da- vid Myers, father of our subject, was a dealer in general merchandise, in Lancas- ter, for a number of years, after which he sold out and moved upon a farm near Lewisburg, in Buffalo Valley, Union Co., Penn. Here he followed farming until 1828, when he was injured by the kicking of a vicious horse. He was born January 16, 1788, and died January 30, 1833. He married Mary Ann Shively, who was born March 17. 1799, and died Novem- ber 17, 1869. Their children were: Na- than, born November 29, 1816, died in 1892; Alpheus, born April 23, 1818, died in 1887; Matilda (Fredericks), born Sep- tember 18, 1819; Elizabeth, born May 26, 1821, died May 13, 1845; Abraham, born September 27, 1822, died March 7, 1848; Susannah (Brown), born February
26, 1824, died February II, 1846; Lewis B., born July 4, 1825; Ann S. (Spotts), born February 17, 1827, died April 9, 1862; David, Jr., boin March 20, 1830; Sarah J. (Dursham, and later McSwartz), born September 17, 1831, died 1886; Henry A., born January 28, 1833, died 1886. Of the six sons, four were physi- cians and two were merchants. One son- in-law was a physician. All grew to ma- turity, and nearly all became heads of families. Only two are now living: Da- vid, at Lewisburg, Penn .; and Lewis B., at Fremont, Ohio.
Dr. L. B. Myers, our subject, spent his childhood in Union county, Penn., and his mother died when he was three years old. He attended school a few years in Lewisburg, Penn., and at the age of fifteen went to Fairfield county, Ohio, where from the home of his uncle, Adam Sheafer, he attended the Williams Academy. Returning to Pennsylvania, he remained there to teach school until he was eighteen when he returned to Ohio. In course of time he began the study medicine at Logansport, Ind., in company with his brother, Abraham, in the office of his brother Dr. Alpheus Myers, where he studied about two years. On the re- moval of Alpheus to Clarion, Penn., his two medical students followed him to continue their studies. Abraham soon after died, and our subject narrowly escaped death from typhoid fever. Having finished his medical reading, and taught school a few terms among the Mennon- ites where he acquired a practical knowl- edge of the German language, he went to Union county, and thence to Cincinnati, where after two years of hard study he graduated from the Eclectic Medical Col- lege. Here he attended lectures on Homeo- pathy, and later read extensively standard works on the Old-school practice. Return- ing to Union county Penn., he engaged in the practice of medicine, and the preva- lence at that time of a fatal epidemic, dys- entery, which baffled the skill of the home
52
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physicians gave him an opportunity to prove his superior skill in the treatment of that foe of childood. He had such re- markably good success that his reputa- tion was firmly established in a few short months. Two years later he was induced by his brother Alpheus to settle in Lo- gansport. Ind., where he practiced two years with good success. Intending to remove to Pennsylvania, he got as far as Massillon, Ohio, where he stopped to visit, and remained to practice about five years with the best success of his life. In 1860 he removed to Elmore, Ohio, where he engaged in the drug business. During the Civil war he practiced medicine in the country around Elmore. About the year 1871 he removed to Fremont, Ohio, where he engaged first in the grocery and later in the drug business. He bought out the drug store of C. F. Reiff, now owned by his son. He took in his son, Kelly, first as assistant, then as partner, and later sold out entirely to him, and his son has continued the business ever since. After leaving the drug business Dr. Myers gave more attention to the manufacture of rubber goods, by the Myers Manufacturing Co., which he had previously established, and of which he was chief proprietor and patentee. In 1889 Dr. Myers suffered from a stroke of paralysis which rendered him, physically, unable to attend to business. His son Costa R. then took charge of the busi- ness, and has conducted it ever since with good success, and has now a half interest in the concern. Dr. Myers and wife are members of the Christian, or Disciple. Church at Elmore, Ohio. He has been a Democrat and a Republican in politics, and, socially, he is a member of the I. O. O. F.
The children of Dr. and Mrs. L. B. Myers were: Kelly N., born October 2, 1855, who married Lillie B. Ferguson February 17, 1881; David Hammond, born March 23, 1857, deceased in in- fancy; Laura Ellen, born October 20,
1859; Lewis Oscar, born December 30, 1861; Mary Ann, born February 22, 1865; and Costa Rica, born June 27, 1869, a sketch of whom follows.
C R. MYERS, one of the proprie- tors of the Myers Manufacturing Co., Fremont, Sandusky county, was born at Elmore, Ottawa Co., Ohio, June 27, 1869, a son of Dr. L. B. and Catharine (Kelly) Myers.
Dr. L. B. Myers was born in Lancas- ter county, Penn., and was reared at Lewisburg, Penn., where he received a literary education and became a student of medicine, graduating from a medical college at Philadelphia (Penn.) and Cin- cinnati (Ohio). After practicing at Mas- sillon (Ohio), Logansport (Ind.), and Lewisburg (Penn.), he located, about the year 1860, at Elmore, Ohio. He was an eminent practitioner in his time, but, hav- ing an especially strong inventive mind, he turned his attention to the patenting of articles of various kinds. About the year 1871 he located in Fremont, where he engaged in the grocery and later in the drug business, after having bought out the firm of Gurst & Thayer. His son, Kelly N. Myers, was associated with him, first as assistant, and then, in 1882, as part- ner, and together they built up a success- ful trade. In the spring of 1887 the Doc- tor sold out entirely to his son Kelly, who has conducted the drug store during the past eight years.
After retiring from the drug store, Dr. Myers founded and established the Myers Manufacturing Co., at Fremont, Ohio. He was the first man to get out a patent rubber tip on lead pencils, the right of which he sold for a handsome sum, and he also invented and manufactured a pat- ent automatic pencil, a patent sling-shot, and other articles which have been sold all over the country. He has received patents on sixteen different articles, and
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his mind is still active in the line of in- vention.
In 1889 Dr. Myers suffered a stroke of paralysis, which rendered him physi- cally unable to attend to business. From that time his son, Costa R., was manager, and his son, L. O., traveling salesman, until January 12, 1895, when they be- came sole proprietors of the Myers Manu- facturing Co., C. R. Myers being president and treasurer, and L. O. Myers secretary and managing salesman. The Doctor and his venerable wife are members of the Disciple Church, at Elmore, Ohio. In politics he has been both a Democrat and a Republican. Socially he is a member of the I. O. O. F. His ancestry was Pennsylvania-Dutch, those of his wife being Irish and German. Their children were: Kelly N., born October 2, 1855; Dnvid H., born March 23, 1857, deceased in in- fancy; Laura E., born October 20, 1859; Lewis Oscar, born December 30. 1861; Mary Ann, born February 22, 1865; and Costa R., our subject, born June 27, 1869.
C. R. Myers received his education in the Fremont public schools, and in the Eastern States. At an early age he learned the details of novelty manufactur- ing, and when his father retired, in 1889, he succeeded him as manager, and in 1895 as proprietor. The concern has been established for more than fifteen years, and is widely known for its production of im- proved rubber goods and novelty sundries. These goods are handled by the chief wholesale and retail houses of the United States, and are sold in all parts of the world. Three men are kept on the road constantly; the business amounted to $75,000 last year, and will perhaps run up to $200,000 during the current fiscal year. Our subject is an unassuming man, one who attends strictly to business, thoroughly understanding what he is about, and he is recognized as one of the pre-eminently successful business men of Fremont. He is non-partisan in politics, but of Democratic proclivities.
Mr. Myers was married to Miss Mary Kennedy, of Sandusky City, Ohio, and they are now occupying their lovely resi- dence at the corner of Washington street and McPherson avenue. The house, which is a noticeable improvement in that part of the town, is a handsome residence, one of the finest in the city, constructed with all modern conveniences, and the interior finishings and furnishings are exquisite in design and appointment.
S TEPHEN J. RYAN, a prosperous and popular merchant tailor, of Fremont, Sandusky county, was born December 25, 1857, in Cleveland, Ohio, a son of Patrick H. and Julia (Peters) Ryan.
Patrick H. Ryan was born in Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1811, came to America in 1836, and located in New York City, where he followed the trade of merchant tailor, to which he had served an apprenticeship of seven years in Dublin, Ireland. He worked first as a journey- man in this country, later going into busi- ness for his own account. In 1854 he came to Cleveland, and located there permanently, dying in 1887. He was a Roman Catholic in religion, and a Demo- crat in politics. His wife, Julia, was born in the same part of Ireland, in 1831, and is still living in Cleveland. Her father, Stephen Peters, a tailor by trade, married Miss Johanna McGuire, in Thurles, Ire- land, where each had been born and reared. Stephen Peters was an only son, and it is not known whether he had any sisters. Johanna McGuire was an only daughter, and had seven brothers. The mother of our subject was one of three sons and four daughters: John, Stephen, Patrick, Bridget, Julia, Ellen and Johanna, Johanna and Bridget being now deceased. Our subject's mother came to New York City in 1848, and was married in 1850, in St. Vincent De Paul's Church, Canal
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street. Her sister Ellen was married in St. James' Church, New York City, to John Walker. Our subject is one of five children: William, who died in 1872; Mary Ann, deceased in childhood; John F., a merchant tailor in San Diego, Cal., whither he had gone in 1880; Stephen J. ; and Anna, wife of Patrick McGrath, of Cleveland, Ohio.
Our subject grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where he attended St. John's Cathe- dral school, and received a good English education. In the fall of 1869 he left school, and served at the trade of mer- chant tailor with his father until 1877, when he commenced work on the bench. Proceeding to New York, he there took a course in the art of cutting, remaining there two and a half years; then returned to Cleveland, from which city he went to California in 1884. He worked on the bench in San Francisco until November 2, same year, when he returned to Ohio, and located in Fremont city, as a cutter for Dryfoos, Bach & Co., with them con- tinuing until the spring of 1892, at which time he opened his present business. His excellent work and honesty in dealing with the public have secured for him a large and growing trade. As a cutter and fitter he has but few equals, certainly no superiors, and in all that pertains to style in clothing he is always up with the times.
S. J. Ryan was married November 27, 1879, to Miss Catherine Mayes, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in September, 1861, and their children were William H., born August 28, 1884, died Novem- ber 21, 1886; Vincent Earl, born in 1886; and Marguerite, born August 17, 1889- a bright and intelligent family. Mr. Ryan is now a leading Knight of the B. P. O. E., No. 169, Fremont, Ohio, has passed all the chairs, and is a charter member of the Lodge, which was instituted in 1890. He is a member of the National Union, and has passed all the chairs in that order; is a member of the Christian Mutual Benefit Association, and of the
Emerald Beneficial Association, and is also identified with the Fremont Cycling and Athletic Club. He is a Roman Cath- olic in religion, a member of St. Ann's Church, and a highly respected citizen.
G EORGE PICKARD, who for many years was one of the most promi- nent and progressive agricultu- rists of Carroll township, Ottawa county, was born in the town of Sterling, Cayuga Co., N. Y., September 12, 1826. He was a son of Frederick and Mary (McGregor) Pickard, the former of whom was a native of Yorkshire, England, and the latter of Ireland. In 1835 they came to Ohio, locating in Maumee, whence af- ter a residence of three years they removed to what is now Carroll township, Ottawa county, here purchasing the land on which our subject now resides, and which at that time was covered with a dense forest. There the father carried on farming until his death, in June, 1861, and the mother, who survived him for several years, passed away December 16, 1878. They were the parents of eleven children, five of whom are still living-Susan, wife of William Sherbrook, of Bay township, Ottawa county; Sarah, wife of Augustus Titus, of Carroll township; Mary, wife of Austin Ellsworth, of Henry county, Ohio; Martha, wife of Orson Barrs, of Bureau county, Ill .; and Jane, wife of Gideon Baker, of Michigan.
George Pickard attended the old time log schoolhouse of the district in Carroll township, having gone there with his par- ents when only twelve years of age, and has engaged in agricultural pursuits since his early youth. As the country was new and undeveloped at that time, it was no easy matter to place his land un- der the high state of cultivation we now find it. On February 16, 1849, in Port- age township, Ottawa county, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Pickard and Miss Abi Moore, a daughter of Nathaniel
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B. and Fidelia (Dwellie) Moore, who were natives of New York and Massachusetts, respectively, and became early pioneers of Ottawa county. To this union came eight children, namely: Sarah Fidelia, born August 13, 1850, wife of Theodore Snyder, of Erie township, Ottawa coun- ty; Olive Angeline, who died November 12, 1884; Nathaniel, deceased; Orrison; Jeanette, who resides in Ohio; William, who lives in Lorain county, Ohio; Mary, wife of Samuel Bigelow, of Oak Harbor, Ottawa county; and Gertrude, who died in infancy. The mother of this family was called to her final rest in May, 1868. On December 24, 1870, Mr. Pickard was again married, this time to Melinda War- ner, and to this union came one daughter -Maggie Glen, born February 6, 1872, who is now the wife of William Beier, whom she wedded on January 9, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Beier have four sons-El- mer, born October 22, 1888; Oscar, born October 9, 1889; Hughie A., born May 15, 1892; and George Clifford, born July 26, 1894.
Mr. Pickard ever took an active in- terest in political affairs; he used his right of franchise in support of the Democratic party, and held several township offices, for three years serving as infirmary di- rector. On May 22, 1895, he passed from earth, deeply mourned by all who knew him. The family attend the Bap- tist Church.
J AMES S. DUNCAN, proprietor of a flourishing general store at Lime- stone, and also extensively engaged in the lime business, is a native of Ohio, born July 9. 1858, in Jackson, Jackson county.
His parents, James and Amy (Verner) Duncan, were both born in Armstrong county, Penn., the father in 1827, the mother in 1835. They were married in 1851, and are now living at Powellsville, Scioto Co., Ohio, where the father is a
contractor and builder. To them were born eight children, five of whom are now living, three sons and two daughters; the sons are all married, but the daughters are still with their parents.
James S. Duncan spent his boyhood days at Powellsville, Scioto Co., Ohio, there attending the public schools, from which he graduated in 1877. At the age of nineteen, immediately after graduating, he and his brother formed a supply com- pany for forwarding lime to Means, Kyle & Co., in which business they continued for about five years, when it was suddenly brought to a close by the death of his brother, he being accidentally killed while handling limestone. Mr. Duncan then went to Marion, Ohio, as superintendent of the lime works for John D. Owens & Son, with whom he remained four years, thence coming to Limestone, Benton township, Ottawa county, where for two years he had the superintendency of a similar business for Swayne & Lawrence. He then entered upon a contract to fur- nish lime to the Genoa and Rocky Ridge Lime Co., of Toledo, Ohio, being thus engaged for four years.
In the meantime, in 1889, Mr. Dun- can opened a general store at Limestone, of which branch of his business his wife had charge for a time, but finally it was put into the hands of a clerk, Mr. Dun- can of course having the general man- agement and oversight of the business. The Limestone post office is located in the store, and for several years he has held the position of postmaster. In 1892 Mr. Duncan went into partnership with L. W. Buzzard, erecting a large lime plant which they operated together until 1894, at which time they erected a plant at Williston, Ottawa county, for manufac- turing lime, crushing stone and furnishing building stone. These two plants they now keep in constant operation, his part- ner having the oversight of the new one, while Mr. Duncan himself looks after the business at Limestone. The partners are
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both members of the Ohio Lime Co., of Toledo, Ohio. Mr. Duncan is a de- servedly successful man, and has reached his present position by his own energy and untiring activity.
On June 15, 1881, Mr. Duncan was married to Miss Alice M. Worthington, of Ironton, Ohio, and three children have blessed their union, all of whom are liv- ing: Royer E., born June 15, 1882; Cleveland, born December 13, 1886, and Clara E., born December 14, 1888. Mrs. Duncan was born in Kentucky Septem- ber 5, 1856, and when a small girl re- moved with her father's people to Powells- ville, Ohio, where she attended school, graduating in 1864. She has also given some attention to music, and has given all her children instructions in the prin- ciples of that art, especially instrumental music. Her father, Findley Worthing- ton, was killed in the war of the Rebel- lion, and her mother died some seventeen years ago.
OUIS SCHIELE, proprietor of free museum, and hotel-keeper, is a prominent and successful busi- ness man of Put in Bay, Ottawa county. He was born in Toledo, Ohio, July 2, 1856, and when ten years old came with his parents to Put in Bay Island, of which he has been a continu- ous resident for nearly thirty years. He has been closely identified with the growth and prosperity of the village, and, by his genial manner and good business qualifi- cations, has won the esteem of all who know him.
Mr. Schiele received his education in the public schools of the Island. In early life he engaged in the butchering business, and followed this occupation for about six years. He then entered the grape-grow- ing industry, in which he continued a few years, and in 1881 commenced in his present business. In 1886 Mr. Schiele purchased the Odd Fellows Block, the
finest business block on Put in Bay Island. On June 15, 1880, on the Island, Louis Schiele was united in marriage with Anna Vandorm, and four children have been born to them, as follows: Andrew M., July 2, 1881; Otto, August 10, 1883; Roland, September 7, 1887; and Ada M., November 14, 1891. Mrs. Schiele is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Vandorm. Our subject has efficiently served as a councillor and constable of the village, and in his political views is Democratic. Socially he is a member of Commodore Perry Lodge No. 730, I. O. O. F., of Western Reserve Lodge No. 128, K. of P., and of Garfield Division No. 273, U. R. K. P.
W. MUGGY is a representative citi- zen of Catawba Island, Ottawa county, and like many who reside in this region devotes his time and energies to fruit growing, in which enter- prise he has been very successful. He manages his affairs in a systematic, meth- odical manner, is straightforward and honorable in all dealings, and his labors have brought him a comfortable compe- tence.
Mr. Muggy is one of the sons of the Empire State. He was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., June 10, 1852, and is of German and Irish lineage, his parents being John C. and Ellen (McMahan) Muggy, the for- mer of whom was born July 20, 1817, in Hamburg, Germany, and the latter in Dublin, Ireland. In 1837 John C. Muggy crossed the Atlantic to the New World, locating in Brooklyn, N. Y., where for fifteen years he engaged in the grocery business. In 1852 he brought his family to the Buckeye State, and became a resi- dent of Danbury township, Ottawa county, where he turned his attention to agricul- tural pursuits, living on what is known as the Harrison Wolcote farm. In 1858 he removed to Catawba Island, where he engaged in farming for some years, and
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then began fruit growing. He was mar- ried, in Brooklyn, to Miss Ellen, daugh- ter of Daniel McMahan, and they became the parents of nine children, five of whom are still living, namely: Christopher, a successful fruit grower of Catawba Island; Daniel, who carries on the same business; Margaret Ann, wife of Calvin Brown; J. W., whose name opens this sketch; and Jane, wife of Louis Demay, of Sandusky City, Ohio. Those who have departed this life are Henry, Martin, John and George Henry.
During his infancy our subject was brought by his parents to the West. He was reared to manhood under the par- ental roof, becoming familiar with all the duties that fall to the agriculturist. His educational privileges were those afforded by the common schools. He was united in marriage with Miss Matilda Rebecca Miller, a daughter of Claus and Katherine (Buck) Miller, at whose home in Dan- bury township, Ottawa county, the wed- ding was celebrated. Their union has been blessed with one child-Florence Estella, born September 20, 1889. Mr. Muggy is a member of Port Clinton Lodge No. 341, F. & A. M. He is a social, genial gentleman, and has many friends throughout the community. He is de- voted to the best interests of the county, and belongs to that class of honorable men who do their duty to themselves, their neighbors and their country.
F J. WEIS is a native of Germany, born July 5, 1846, and his par- ents, Fred and Barbara (Millen- dor) Weis, were also born in that country, the father in 1818, and the mother in 1815.
In 1851, the family came to America, landing in New York, where they spent a few days ere continuing their journey across the country. Their destination was the city of Sandusky, Ohio, and when they had arrived there the father purchased
a house and lot, continuing to make his residence in that town until 1854, when he sold and removed to Wood county, Ohio. Purchasing a twenty-acre tract of timber land, he began to clear and improve it, and when the work was accomplished, after a space of about three years, he again sold, removing to Washington town- ship, Sandusky county. His next pur- chase made him the possessor of a forty- acre tract, which became the nucleus of his present excellent farm, to which he has since added 138 acres, and placed nearly the entire amount under a high state of cultivation. Both he and his wife are still living, but only two of their six children survive. Eliza, born in 1842, became the wife of J. Garver, and died in 1892, leaving a family of four children. Andrew, born in 1844, married Katie Schultz, by whom he had nine children; is a farmer of Ottawa county, Ohio. Fred is the next in order of birth. The other three died in infancy-Rosy, born in 1848, Christina, born in 1852, and Rudolph, born in 1855.
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