Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 16

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 16
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 16

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).

Enoch Taylor, a son of Caleb Taylor, always lived at home, excepting the time he was in Steuben county, Ind., where he bought forty acres of land on which he lived two years. On December 1, 1864, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Rheinhart, who was born June 4, 1844, and they have had five children, namely: Martha A., who died young; L. C., a school teacher in Gibsonburg, Madison township, who received most of his school- ing at the district school, attended school one term at Angola, Ind., and one at Fostoria, Ohio (he married Eliza Schnei- der); George W., born January 29, 1875, who works at home; Mary E., born March 31, 1877; and Orphia, born March 28, 1883. Mrs. Taylor's parents, Christian and Barbara (Raymer) Rheinhart, were natives of Pennsylvania.

In 1863 Enoch Taylor took his father to a railroad station, and on their return home the team became frightened and ran away, throwing him out and fracturing his right shoulder, which injury has caused him a great deal of inconvenience in later years. In 1876, by a kick from a horse in the forehead, his skull was fractured,

and he was picked up for dead, but after two months he was able to get around again. Since then his eyesight has been impaired. He has always worked hard from his youth, and since the death of his father has had charge of the old homestead.

D AVID GARN, JR. The entrance of the Garn families into Wash- ington township, Sandusky coun- ty, dates back as early as 1834. They have been widely and favorably known as enterprising farmers and busi- ness men, and the parents of our subject were among the early pioneers of the Black Swamp.

David Garn, Jr., the subject of this sketch was born June 3, 1846, in Wash- ington township, Sandusky Co., Ohio, a son of David Garn and Margaret (Ickes) Garn, the former of whom died in Feb- ruary, 1848. David Garn's earlier edu- cational advantages were limited, but he afterward attended the high school at Fremont two terms; Normal school at Milan, Ohio, two terms; and business college at Oberlin, Ohio, one term. He was a Union soldier in the war of the Rebellion, having enlisted at Fremont, Ohio, May 2, 1864, in Company G, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Regiment, O. V. I., and served four months at Fort Ethan Allen, Virginia, where he suffered from sunstroke and camp-fever. On Septem- ber 4, 1864, he was honorably discharged at Cleveland, Ohio. He was a member of Eugene Rawson Post, No. 32, G. A. R., at Fremont, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. David Garn, Sr., were born children as follows: Sarah, wife of Daniel Swickard; Daniel, who was a member of Company K, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth O. V. I. (he married Miss Hattie King, and their children are-Ella, Mary, William, Albert, Edward, Samuel); Mary, wife of Michael Weible, farmer of Sandusky township (they had one child, who with parents are

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all deceased); Isaac, a commission mer- chant, of Vinton, lowa, born February 9. 1841, married to T. C. Mitchell, daugh- ter of Jacob Mitchell (Isaac was a mem- ber of Company G, One Hundred and Eleventh O. V. I); Alexander, born July 10, 1843, was a soldier in the Civil war, in Company I, Seventy-second Regiment O. V. I., and died near Memphis, Tenn. ; David, Jr., is the subject of our sketch.

David Garn, Jr., was married in San- dusky county, January 20, 1884, to Miss Anna Hoffman, who was born August 10, 1864, at Hagerstown, Md., a daughter of Jacob and Johanna (Lesher) Hoffman. Their children are: Firm, born December 10, 1884; Ray, born January 3, 1886; David, born June 10, 1887; Leo, born February 6, 1895. Mr. Garn is a mer- chant at Helena, Ohio, and has held the office of notary public and of postmaster since 1885. He previously held the offices of precinct assessor, school direc- tor and clerk of the board of public schools for eleven years.

W ILSON DWIGHT (deceased) was a son of Josiah and Abigail (Fish) Dwight, and was born June 1, 1819, upon a farm near Cincinnatus, New York.

When seventeen years of age he came to Huron county, Ohio, where he rented land and engaged, in his own behalf, in agricultural pursuits. One year later his father's family also came to Huron coun- ty, purchased a farm, and Wilson made his home with them until he had passed his twenty-seventh birthday anniversary, when he wedded Electa Osterhout. To this union came four children, viz. : Charles G., who died when eight years of age; Jennie M., deceased wife of James Swisher; Emma L., wife of William Lov- ering, a contractor, of Findlay, Ohio; and Flora Bell, wife of Lester Wilson, an at- torney at law of Fremont, Ohio.

Shortly after his marriage, Mr. Dwight

moved to La Grange county, Ind., and purchased a farm upon which he resided for three years, when he sold out and re- turned to Ohio, buying a farm in Groton township, Erie county. Here he made his home until 1873 when he removed to Clyde, Ohio, and purchased a splendid home where his widow now resides. During the twenty-two years of his resi- dence in Clyde, although he lived a quiet life and gave little attention to business other than a general supervision of his farm, he came to be universally known as a man of kind and accommodating dis- position, and the personification of honesty and integrity. He passed away June 6, 1895, and was laid to rest in the beauti- ful McPherson cemetery, adjoining the village.

D AVID R. RUSSELL, who in his lifetime was an honored citizen of Riley township, Sandusky county, was born November 23, 1855, in Castalia, Erie Co., Ohio, and is a son of Alonzo and Sarah (Baker) Russell, both also natives of Ohio, the father born in Erie county, April 8, 1823, the mother in Castalia, Erie Co., Ohio, March 28, 1829. They were married August 28, 1848, and were the parents of eight chil- dren as follows: Sophronia, born in 1849, and now living in Erie county, Ohio, was married to James Lemon, who died in 1881; Lafayette born in 1851, married Nettie Lemon, and they have two children (they live in Erie county); Mary, born in 1853, married George Rig- gel, and they have had four children (they live in Huron county, Ohio); David R., is the subject of this sketch; Emma, born in 1857, married Eugene Zabst, and they have one child (they live in Bay City, Mich.); Frank, born in 1859, died at the age of eighteen years; George, born in 1861, married Maud Upton, by whom he has four children (they live in Mis- souri); and Sarah, born in 1863, married

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Hiram Harris, and has two children (they live in Michigan).

Alonzo Russell when a young man was employed by the day. After his marriage he moved to Michigan, bought a farm there, lived on it for two years, and then selling it removed to Erie county, Ohio, where he worked four years for a man by the name of David Richmond. He saved his money and bought fifty acres of land, later purchasing sixty-five more. He died February 7, 1874, since when his widow has managed two farms.

David R. Russell, the subject proper of these lines, was raised by his parents, received a common-school education, and worked at home until his marriage. On May 2, 1882, he was wedded to Miss Harriet Livingstine, who was born April 8, 1863, in Sandusky county, and five children have blessed their union, as fol- lows: Sadie May, born March 7, 1883; Charles David, born February 9, 1885; Rosa Harriet Gertrude, born February 2, 1887; Clara Catherine, born November 12, 1888; and John Robert, born Sep- tember 5, 1891. Of these children, Sadie May died January 17, 1895, aged eleven years, ten months and ten days. The father, David R. Russell, departed this life September 26, 1895, at the age of thirty-nine years, ten months and three days. He died, of enlargement of the spleen, at the home of his sister in West Bay City, Mich., whither he had gone for the benefit of his health, and his remains were brought back to his home by his fath- er-in-law, Charles Livingstine, and were laid to rest in the Scotch cemetery in Riley Riley township, Sandusky county. The services at the funerals of both father and daughter were conducted by Rev. E. Peiffer, in Grace Lutheran Church, at Fremont.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. David R. Russell settled in Riley town- ship, Sandusky county, her father having given her thirty-three acres of land there. In 1884 Mr. Russell bought thirty-five acres adjoining, paying for it at the rate

of seventy-five dollars per acre. As did his father before him in political matters, he voted the Republican ticket, and he donoted liberally toward the support of the Lutheran Church.

G EORGE REYNOLDS, a retired farmer of Sandusky county, living in Ballville village, near Fremont, was born March 9, 1817, in Essex county, N. Y., near Elizabethtown, son of Daniel and Betsey (Adams) Reynolds.

Daniel Reynolds was born near Sara- toga Springs, N. Y. In 1834 he migrated to Ohio with his son, George Reynolds, and settled in Lorain county, near Elyria, where he remained for some years. In the latter part of his life he removed to Ballville township, Sandusky county, on land now occupied by his son George, where he died at the age of sixty-six, the mother also passing away at the same age. Mr. Reynolds was a Whig in poli- tics, a descendant of an old Yankee family. There were eleven children born to him and his wife-Lyllis, George, Harry, Melissa, Ransom, Daniel, Rosetta, Phile- mon, Lucinda, Edgar and Rousseau-six of whom are still living.

George Reynolds spent his youth and attended school in the State of New York. After coming to Ohio, he resided about five years in Elyria, and afterward re- moved to Fremont, settling in Ballville township, where he has resided on the same farm for fifty years. He has a tract of 145 acres of land under a high state of cultivation, lying on the east bank of the Sandusky river. Here, on February 6, 1844, he married Miss Maria Prior, who was born, November 1, 1823, in Sandusky county, on their present farm. A brief record of their children is as follows: (1) Chauncey, born October 17, 1844, mar- ried Miss Effie Bender, and they have two children-George and Bessie. (2) Cyn- thia, born June 6, 1850, married T. L. Parker, and now resides with her parents

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(they have one child, Effie, who married James Hill, and has a daughter-Della Irene). (3) Orrin, born May 23, 1855, was an attorney at law, and died at Fre- mont. Ohio, in 1879. (4) Della, mar- ried R. W. Mitchener, and they have two children-Kent and Robert Don- nell. (5) Ransom, born May 15, 1859, is unmarried, and is living with his parents. All the married children were inarried on the home farm. Our subject is a Repub- lican in politics, and for about eight years has been a member of the M. E. Church, with which his wife has been united from childhood, she being the oldest living member of that organization in Fremont. Mrs. Reynolds is one of the old pioneers of Sandusky county, and can relate many incidents of early pioneer life.

H ON. SOLOMON W. REED .- Among the men of mark of Ottawa county, and representative citizens of this section of Ohio, stands the gentleman whose name is here recorded.

A native of Sandusky township, San- dusky Co., Ohio, born February 9, 1840, he was there educated at the public schools, and also learned the trade of carpenter with his father, who was born about the year 1810, in Pennsylvania, and died in 1869. The mother of our subject passed away on November 4, 1895, at the age of seventy-seven years. This honored couple were the parents of fourteen children-seven sons and seven daughters. At the age of twenty-three years our subject moved to Elmore, Ot- tawa county, where he has ever since, now a period of thirty-two years, been a highly-esteemed citizen. For one year he was engaged at his trade, and then embarked in lumbering and farming, bus- inesses he still carries on, in connection with which he is also interested in the inannfacture of staves and headings. In 1870 Mr. Reed appraised the real estate of Harris township to the unqualified sat-

isfaction of all concerned, thus establish- ing a recognition of his adaptability for positions to which good judgment is an importance essential. In 1892 the "oil boom " reached Elmore, and our subject at once embarked in that speculation, and he has since put down fifteen wells, most of which are producing. In 1893 he purchased of Caleb Klink the Elmore Wagon and Carriage Factory, in which he placed the machinery for the manu- facture of heading, staves and lumber, and in his various businesses he now em- ploys an average of some seventy-five hands. In the year just mentioned he was appointed assignee for the Ottawa County Bank, located at Elmore.

Mr. Reed, in his political proclivities, is an ardent supporter of Democratic principles, and in 1895, justly appreciat- ing his merits and abilities, that party placed him in nomination as representa- tive of Ottawa county for the Ohio State Legislature. Onthe 5thof November, same year, he was elected by a majority of 374 over his opponent, Emery Thierwechter, of Oak Harbor, which in itself is substan- tial enough evidence of his popularity.

In 1860 Hon. S. W. Reed was united in marriage with Miss Emma Hetrick, daughter of George and Catherine Het- rick, and to this union have been born eight children, to wit: Saloma (Mrs. John Reber, of Elmore), William Lester (de- ceased, who for several years prior to his death was engaged with his father in business), Embro T. (a farmer at Elmore), Franklin M. (in a lumber and stave busi- ness), Ella, Edwin E., Eva and Warrie W. The entire family enjoy the high- est esteem and regard of the community in which they live.

E MBRA T. REED. Among the younger representatives of the ag- ricultural interests of Ottawa coun- ty is this gentleman, who was born on March 10, 1865, in Washington

S.H. Rud

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township, Sandusky Co., Ohio, a son of Solomon Wilson and Emeline (Hetrick) Reed. The former was born in Wash- ington township about 1840, and his first business venture was the purchase and sale of horses which he secured for the Union army during the war of the Re- bellion. In 1860 he married Miss Het- rick, who was born in the same locality in 1838, and they became the parents of eight children-five sons and three daughters- seven of whom are now living; William Lester died in 1890 from an injury re- ceived several years before.

The boyhood days of our subject were spent under the parental roof at Elmore, Ohio, and he there obtained his educa- tion. In 1884, at the age of nineteen, he started on a trip through the South and West, first going to Texas, thence to Cali- fornia, where he remained a year, and then on to Montana, returning to his Ohio home by the way of North Dakota. He continued with his father through the winter, and in the succeeding spring went to New Mexico and to Colorado, where for two years he was engaged in silver mining. On the expiration of that period he made his way to Oregon and Washing- ton, remaining in that section of the country for nine months when he again came to Ohio.

On October 11, 1888, Mr. Reed was joined in wedlock with Miss Julia James, of Elmore, who was born in Harris town- ship, Ottawa county, January 21, 1867. She was educated in the district schools, and until her marriage remained at home with her parents. Her father, Orin James, was born in Sandusky county, Ohio, February 7, 1832, and came to Ottawa county during his boyhood. He married Miss Melvina Richards, who was born in Ottawa county in 1830, and died in 1873. Three children grace the union of our subject and his wife: Le Roy Trask, born July 28, 1889; Carl De Witt, born De- cember 28, 1892; and Arzella, born Sep- tember 23, 1894. For a year after his

marriage Mr. Reed lived in Findlay, Ohio, engaged in the cooperage business. He then came to Harris township, Ottawa county, and took charge of one of his father's farms which he is still operating. He is also engaged in raising stock for the local trade, and is doing a good busi- ness. In his political views he is a Repub- lican. He and his wife hold membership with the Disciple Church of Elmore, and are highly-esteemed residents of his lo- cality, having many friends. He has the culture which travel brings, and many in- teresting incidents which he can relate of his journey make him an entertaining com- panion.

C S. KEATING. Although he has long since passed his allotted three score years and ten, and has now entered his eightieth year, this well-beloved old gentleman of Clyde, Sandusky county, is at this writ- ing as erect in figure, as quick in action, as a man of half his years. His eye- sight is keen, and he is yet an active fol- lower of Nimrod and of Walton. Each summer he visits the haunts of noble game, and the favorite nooks of the trout and the muskallonge, while his pleasant home is adorned with numerous and valuable trophies of the chase. In this respect it resembles rather some old ba- ronial hall than a modern dwelling house, and for each trophy Mr. Keating has an interesting story.

He was born in Main April 8, 1816, son of John and Elizabeth (Mathews) Keating, both also natives of the "Pine Tree State." John Keating was a man of earnest convictions. About 1819 he with his wife and family made the long and tiresome journey by wagon from Maine to Ohio, settling near Zanesville, where he farmed and followed the trade of millwright. In 1825 he moved to a farm in Clinton township, Seneca county. There was then but one frame house in

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Tiffin. He cut a wagon road from Tif- fin to his little log cabin in the woods two and a half miles away, and soon after found employment as a ship carpen- ter at Sandusky, Huron and Fremont, following that trade for ten years or longer. He was also a Baptist minister, and preached the Gospel at frequent in- tervals from a sense of right, and not for emoluments, and each Sunday he made long trips on horseback through the mud and woods to fill these clerical appoint- ments. He had nine children as follows: John M., who died at the old homestead after marriage; Joseph, a boss ship- builder, who married and lived at Toledo, where he was accidentally killed at the age of fifty-six years; Edward and Ed- win, who both died young; Capt. A. C. Keating, of Clyde; C. S., subject of this sketch; Henry A., who lives on the pike below Clyde; George L., residing on the old homestead near Tiffin; Louisa, who married Elias Jackson, and is now a widow, living in Indiana (Mr. Jackson died several years ago); Elizabeth, mar- ried to Charles Sloat, now living in Cali- fornia; and one child who died in infancy.

C. S. Keating grew to manhood on the pioneer farm in Seneca county, re- ceiving a scant education in the log school houses of that age. He paid for one term of instruction by chopping trees, and remembers that one tree which he tackled was too large for him, and he was obliged to call his father's assistance in felling it. He remained on the home farm till twenty-two years of age, then en- tered the shipyard at Marblehead as car- penter; he followed this trade at Lorain, on the Black river, at Vermilion, Huron and Fremont, for about two years. On December 1, 1839, he was married to Miss Olive E. Butler, born near Rock- land, Maine, August 29, 1822, a distant relative of Ben. Butler. She is the daugh- ter of Brackett and Nancy (Mathews) Butler, the former of whom was of En- glish ancestry, and by his wife Nancy had

five children, as follows: Myra, wife of Samuel Russ, of Boston, Mass .; Lucy, who died at Clyde, the wife of Gilbert Perry; Olive; Marie, wife of Charles Brad- bury; Amanda, now Mrs. Boston, of Bos- ton, Mass. Mrs. Butler died in 1827, and Mr. Butler married again, by his sec- ond marriage rearing a family; he died in Indiana. Olive met her future husband while visiting in Ohio. Mr. Keating be- gan housekeeping at Hedges Springs, Seneca county. He lived there six years, and followed his trade of ship carpenter at Fremont as well. He also cleared up some land in Adams township, Seneca county, and farmed there for several years; then bought timber land on the pike below Clyde, paying $14 per acre, and selling it for $80 per acre during the Civil war. At the close of the war he bought another farm. He lived on the place about six years, then moved to Clyde, where he now resides. To Mr. and Mrs. Keating were born four children, a brief record of whom is as follows: (1) Joseph B., born July 8, 1841, was edu- cated in the Clyde schools and in a Com- mercial College at Cleveland, followed railroading and, subsequently, the jewelry business; he died at Huntington, Ind., February 25, 1889, leaving two children -Laura and Truman. (2) Alice K., the widow of William Weaver, is an in- structor in the public schools at Hunting- ton, Ind. (3) Russ, born October 29, 1853, is a traveling salesman at Fond du Lac, Wis , for the Diebold Safe & Lock Co .; he is married and has one child- Charles. (4) Walter L., born January 17, 1859, engaged in the safe business at La Crosse, Wis., is married and has one child -- Florence. Mr. and Mrs. Keating celebrated their golden wedding in 1889. Mrs. Keating is an active member of the Methodist Church, and an earnest worker in the temperance cause. Her father was a Baptist from boyhood, and was a leader in the Church choir, having a cultured voice.

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Mr. Keating has not yet lost his keen zest for the gun and fishing rod. He at- tributes his well-preserved eyesight and his unimpaired vitality, not so much to his hardy physique as to the excellent care he has taken of himself. The tro- phies of his skill which adorn his home recall the lines of Walter Scott, in "The Lady of the Lake:"

. Here grins the wolf as when he died, There hangs the wild cat's brindled hide, And all around, the walls to grace, Hang trophies of the fight and chase.

In the year 1852 Mr. Keating became a Free Mason at Clyde, Ohio, joining Monticello Lodge No. 244. In politics he is non-partisan, with a predilection toward the Republican party. Convic- tion and principle dominate his ballot as well as his religion, and his relations to his fellow men. He is a genuine-hearted man, held in highest esteem by all who know him.

J OHN L. LEVISEE is one of the comparatively few men born so far back as 1809. He is the oldest man in and one of the earliest pioneers of Townsend township, Sandusky county, having located there on October 29, 1831. His parents were Aaron and Anna (Lyon) Levisee.

James Levisee, his paternal grand- father, was born in Connecticut, and went from there to New Jersey. He had two sons: Aaron Levisee, born in New Jersey, July 9, 1774, and John. During their younger days these brothers followed the sea. While their vessel was lying off the coast of South America, a number of the crew were stricken with yellow fever, in- cluding the brothers, Aaron and John. When they reached New York, John died in the hospital there, but Aaron survived, although all his hair fell out, leaving him entirely bald. In 1798 Aaron Levisee was united in marriage with Anna Lyon, who was born in Massachusetts, and their

children were: Almeda, born August 1, 1799; Avelina, June 21, 1801; Thankful, July 15, 1803; Eliza Ann, May 6, 1806; John L. and Sarah L., July 4, 1809; two who died in infancy; Sophia, born Feb- ruary 14, 1815; Emma, born March 24, 1818; and Aaron Burton, born March 18, 1821. Of these, the survivors are: John L., the subject of this sketch; Emma, widow of William Fuller, of Townsend township, Sandusky township; and A. B. Levisee, of Clyde, Green Creek town- ship, Sandusky county. Aaron Levisee, Sr., died June 18, 1828, in Allen, Alle- gany county, N. Y .; his widow died in 1845. Mrs. Levisee was a daughter of Thomas and Thankful Lyon.

John L. Levisee was born in Charles- ton, Ontario Co. (since Lima, Livingston Co.), N. Y., on the east bank of the Gen- esee river, and went with his parents to Allegany county in 1822. At the age of twenty-two he left his native State to make him a home in the unbroken wil-

derness of northern Ohio. His mother and the other members of the family came in the following year. Of these sturdy pio- neers, it could well be said: "There were giants in those days"-giants in en- durance, strength and courage. Here Mr. Levisee worked for five years, clear- ing and preparing a tract of land. At the end of that time he was united in mar- riage with Diana Stanley, who was born in Jefferson county, N. Y., October 25, 1810. They have the following named children: Sarah, born May 5, 1838; Anna, July 28, 1840; Elizabeth, October 27, 1842; Eliza, August 18, 1844; Mary Jane, October 23, 1846; Civilia, January 30, 1849; David, November 21, 1850; and Chauncey, May 23, 1855. Mrs. Levisee was a daughter of Asa and Anna Stanley, of York township, Sandusky county, and was a member of the Methodist Church; her death occurred July 4, 1855.

On November 15, 1866, Mr. Levisee again married, taking for his second wife Mrs. Statira E. (Cable) Reynolds, who

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Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 16

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