Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 19

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 19
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 19

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Mr. Hartshorn knew his life work was well done, his loved ones abundantly provided for, and he often expressed a de- sire to be released from the life which was now a burden, to enter into rest-to go to his Father's house, and there in the beautiful mansion prepared for him, abide the coming of his beloved whom he was to leave for a short time. He knew his time was very brief at most-a mere frag- ment, as he indicated by measurement upon his wasted finger-when they might join him there. As these thoughts were presented, the light in his dimming eyes grew brighter and an expression of satis- faction and trust came to his countenance. By faith in the precious promises vouch-

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safed him, he had gained a victory over death. The tardy messenger came on Sunday morning, December 22, 1889. The church bells were tolling the hour of six as the released spirit took its flight, leaving in our presence the "temple " un- tenanted; the seeming requiem of the bells unbroken. The wife and only living child, though bowed with sorrow inexpressible, could not ask that he might longer remain this side of the "portal." For weary years they had witnessed the ravages of relentless disease ; with tender sympathy felt his affliction-had been "sad in his sadness," and now they were " glad in his gladness " and they saw him

Sustained and soothed

By an unfaltering trust, approach the grave. Like one who wraps the drapery of the couch About him and lies down to peaceful dreams.

The obsequies, conducted by Rev. George Peeke, pastor of the Congrega- tional Church, were observed at the fam- ily residence on East Washington street, Sandusky, Ohio, Tuesday, December 24, at two o'clock in the afternoon. Mrs. Mary Robinson assisted by Messrs. Mc- Fall and Talcott of the Aeolian Quartette, rendered with much feeling the beautiful hymn, " Weary of Earth and Laden With my Sin." Rev. Peeke selected for the subject of his sermon the following appro- priate text, taken from St. Paul's Second Epistle to Timothy, second chapter and twelfth verse: "If we suffer, we shall reign with Him." After an eloquent and pa- thetic address on the sufferings of man- kind and the reward thereof, he referred to the departed in the following touching manner:

" The scope of these remarks applies to our departed friend, Fletcher Harts- horn. God called him toward suffering in order to prepare him for divine no- bility. During seventeen years he has been a sufferer, and during the past nine years a sufferer confined to his home, shut in from the busy activities he so much loved. The keenness of his suffering can

be somewhat estimated by considering the exceptional vital force with which he was endowed. He was a man with im- mense vital powers, which, had he care- fully considered, might have given him an active life until four-score years, but his ambition to achieve business success, coupled with a desire to see all his affairs progress rapidly and hormoniously, made him unsparing in his application to every detail of business. Early in his business life he paid the price of his devotion by a paralytic shock. The last nine years were years of patient waiting and uncom- plaining suffering. It was a signal and unusual providence that called so strong a man to so many years of trial apart from that business life with which his sympa- thies were entwined. None but the un- seen witnesses of God's moral kingdom can know what a soul so placed could suf- fer. A disciplining providence placed him in the hottest fires, but it melted his dross and refined his gold. The result of this trial was an unwavering faith, a beautiful confidence in God. His frequent express- ion was 'It is all right, all right.' Dur- ing all his years of trial this was his un- swerving attitude. To sit nine years wasting away and waiting for the end and to feel 'It is all right' is the very sub- limity of confidence and trust. His kind- ness was as marked as his confidence. The tendency of suffering is to make one sensitive, acerb and impatient. None of these in our friend. His soul was serene and sweet. Conspicuous above all shone his remarkable patience. He suf- fered and was resigned. His royalty was apparent day by day. His patience was truely sublime. No saint ever suffered martyrdom with more appar- ent submission and fortitude than he. During my six years acquaintance with him, he has been to me a constant wonder. To the end he resigned in true nobility. All that suffering can do for a soul seemed to have been produced in Fletcher Hartshorn, and we devoutly

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recognize the fact that he won the crown of spiritual martyrdom. Such suffering as his could only lead to humble trust in Christ. His confessions of confidence and hope were clear and explicit. Pa- tiently he waited for the hour of deliver- ance, and after the fierce conflict of years he rests;

Asleep in Jesus, blessed sleep, From which none ever wake to weep."

The services were concluded with the singing of that beautiful hymn "Lead kindly light amid th' encircling gloom." The burial was in Oakland Cemetery. The spires of the "Silent City " were casting lengthening shadows across our pathway when we left him to his long coveted rest .- [The foregoing is from the pens of his loving and devoted wife and her mother, Mrs. H. H. Elwell.]

In connection with the above sketch so ably written, there is little to add, though it might truthfully be said of the deceased that he was a man of fine edu- cation, broad and general reading, and of a genial, sunny temperament, and every citizen in Ottawa county was his warm friend. In his domestic life he was a devoted husband and father, attentive to his home duties through all his under- takings; economical, yet given to acts of kindness and deeds of charity where de- served. Always busy himself, he had no sympathy for the shiftless and idle; but to the unfortunate he was a kind and help- ful friend, whose sympathy was shown in acts rather than words, and in all plans for the advancement of his community, his active co-operation could be relied up- on.

No biography of Mr. Hartshorn would be complete which failed to make men- tion of his most estimable wife and widow. Side by side for twenty years they jour- neyed along life's pathway together, mu- tually encouraging and helping-he a kind husband and indulgent father-she a faithful wife and loving mother. During

his long and tedious illness, she was not only his constant attendant and faithful nurse, but also looked after his business matters, in connection with his quarry in- terests, and in these matters not only proved her love and devotion, but also her excellent executive ability as a thorough business woman.

E DWIN C. TINNEY, one of the pioneers of Scott township, is a son of Stephen Tinney, and was born in Niagara Co., New York State, June 6, 1828. When five years old he moved with his parents to Lena- wee county, Mich., where he lived six years; thence came to Scott township, Sandusky county, where he has since lived. After the death of his father there was quite an indebtedness on the farm, but the boys remained at home and paid up the debt, during which time they added one hundred acres to the original pur- chase. When all was paid the four chil- dren-three boys and one girl-divided the property among them, our subject taking the eighty acres where he now lives at Tinney. On his farm is a very productive gas well, which supplies the home with fuel and light.

On November 25, 1858, Mr. Tinney was married to Miss Catherine Wiggins, of Tinney, and to them were born two children: Ida May, born March 2, 1860; and Charlie, born September 21, 1862, at Tinney. Ida was educated in the district school, and the Normal at Fostoria and Fremont High School. She made a specialty of music under Prof. Menkhous, of Fremont, and for fourteen years has been a teacher of instrumental music, she finding this preferable to public-school teaching, in which she was engaged for a time. The son Charlie was educated in the Mansfield Normal and in the district schools. He was one of Sandusky coun- ty's most promising teachers, and had also acquired an enviable reputation as an

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editor, his first work in that line being on the Daily Herald of Fremont; during the last years of his life he was local and managing editor of the Fremont Messen- ger. He died in the prime of life Janu- ary 31, 1885. Mrs. Tinney, wife of our subject, was born January 22, 1837, in Scott township, Sandusky county, daugh- ter of John and Jane (Kelly) Wiggins. She was educated in the country schools, and was for a time a teacher in Sandusky county. When she was a child her mother died, leaving her with Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Swickard, by whom she was brought up and with whom she lived un- til she was sixteen years of age, after which she made her home with D. S. Tinney until her marriage. Her father, John Wiggins, was one of Sandusky coun- ty's early settlers, coming hither when the country was new, and began the clearing of the forest and making a home for himself and family. He died in 1841, at an early age, his wife dying in 1844. Mrs. Tinney's parents are thought to have been born about the year 1808.

E LI REEVES. A man can not hold public office without either gain- ing the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens, or incurring their distrust and animosity. That he can retain the same office or be elected to others equally responsible, for long terms of years is, therefore, proof that he has performed his duties in an acceptable man- ner, and is popular in both public and private life. The record of the subject of this sketch, who since boyhood has been a resident of Gibsonburg, Sandusky coun- ty, illustrates this argument. For twenty terms he filled the important position of township assessor; he was a notary public for eighteen years; justice of the peace from 1854 to 1860, and township clerk for six years. In all these capacities he carned the commendation of the com- munity by his integrity of character and

upright dealings, while his genial disposi- tion has gained him many warm personal friends.

Mr. Reeves was born February 7, 1819, in Burlington county, N. J., son of David and Grace (Rineer) Reeves, the former born in 1778, in Burlington county, N. J. David Reeves was married in 1807, and with his family came to Ohio in July, 1821, settling in Salem, Colum- biana county. Here he worked at his trade of a carpenter until 1832, when he removed to Cleveland, Ohio, remaining one year. He then located in Madison township, Sandusky county, and was elected county survevor, which office he filled eleven years. At the expiration of that time he removed to Fremont, and again worked at his trade for several years, when he returned to Madison town- ship and there died in 1849; his wife sur- vived him until 1871, dying at the ad- vanced age of ninety years. They had a large family, thirteen children in all, of whom four are living.

Eli Reeves was married September 26, 1844, to Miss Elizabeth Taylor, who was born December 2, 1824, in Belmont county, Ohio, daughter of Caleb and Sarah (Yost) Taylor, the former born Oc- tober 22, 1800, in the State of Maryland, the latter on October 21, 1802, in Bel- mont county, Ohio. The father came to Ohio, in 1810, living in Belmont county, where, on arriving at manhood, he rented some land which he farmed until 1822. In that year he was married, and then re- moved to Richland county, where he lived nine years, at the end of which time he took up his residence in Madison town- ship where he spent the rest of his days, dying in 1873. The mother is still living at the venerable age of ninety-three years, and makes her home with our subject and his wife. She was the mother of eleven children, six of whom are living. At the time of his death Mr. Taylor owned a farm of 120 acres, eighty of which he cleared.

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To our subject and his wife have been born ten children, two of whom died in infancy; the others in order of birth are as follows: Lucinda, born April 28, 1845; Melissa, November 1, 1847; Miriam, Sep- tember 18, 1849; R. D., October 13, 1851; John C., April 21, 1854; Sarah A., September 17, 1860; Candis E., October 6, 1864, and Grace S., December 27, 1866. Mr. Reeves began to learn the carpenter's trade when eleven years old. In later life he bought twenty acres of land, and afterward purchased eighty acres more. He retired from active work in 1889. In politics, he is a Democrat. Popular with all classes, and interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community, he enjoys the respect and esteem of all.

C ONRAD OBERST. Prominent among the surviving pioneers of Madison township, Sandusky county, stands this well-known agriculturist, who is a native of Germany, born near the city of Louden, Baden, near the River Rhine, September 10, 1827.

John Oberst, the father of our subject, was a native of Wurtemburg, Germany, and followed the trade of a wagon inaker in his native country until 1832, when he crossed the Atlantic to America, the voyage occupying ninety days. He was married in Germany to Barbara Ault, and they became parents of eight children: Daniel, a farmer, who died in Indiana; John, who also followed farming, and died in that State; Conrad; George, who died and was buried in Nebraska; Maria, widow of Peter Bowman, a farmer of Jackson township, Sandusky county; Elizabeth, wife of Martin Smith, a farmer of Nebraska; Catherine, wife of Solomon Hineline, who also follows agricultural pursuits in Nebraska; and Christopher, a farmer of Indiana, who served in the Civil war, and still carries a bullet by which he

was wounded at Lookout Mountain. On coming to this country, John Oberst lo- cated in Bay township, then a part of Sandusky county, but now in Ottawa county, Ohio, where he farmed 140 acres of land. He was one of the signers of the petition to separate Ottawa county. Subsequently he purchased a tract of land in Sandusky county, which he owned and operated up to the time of his death, and he also followed his trade in this country. His wife died in Ottawa county. They experienced all the hardships and incon- veniences of life in such an unsettled re- gion, and they were often obliged to go as far as Fremont to mill. Their stock of provisions, at the time of their com- mencing life in Ohio, consisted of one bushel of cornmeal, one-half bushel of green coffee, forty pounds of maple sugar and fourteen bushels of potatoes, but no meat whatever, and they ate many a meal from the old chest in which their wearing apparel was kept.

Conrad Oberst attended the schools of Bay township, and at the tender age of twelve years began to earn his living by working on his father's farm, also cutting and hewing timber for building purposes to be used for dwelling houses, barns, bridges, etc. He continued to make his home under the paternal roof until twenty- two years of age, when he went to Erie county, and worked for one year as a farm laborer, being employed by the month. Later he came to Sandusky coun- ty, and worked by the year for his brother on the latter's farm in Madison township. After two years had passed he was mar- ried, and then operated, on shares, 160 acres of land owned by his brother, being thus engaged for several years, during which time, through industry and econo- my, he saved enough capital with which to purchase forty acres of wooded land in Madison township, Sandusky county. This he cleared, but not liking the loca- tion he sold out, with the intention of going to Michigan; this plan he abandon-

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ed, however, and purchasing another farm in Sandusky county, set about its further improvement and development. He has erected a substantial residence, good barns and other outbuildings, planted an orchard and made all the improvements that are found upon a model farm, and is also the owner of three oil wells, which are now operated by a Toledo oil firm.

On September 16, 1853, in Madison township, Sandusky county, Mr. Oberst married Betsy Florence, who was born April 21, 1832, and is one of the twelve children of John and Lydia (Roberts) Florence. Her father, a prominent farmer of Madison township, died in 1860; her mother passed away in 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Oberst became the parents of eight children, the eldest of whom was Jennie; Robert is engaged in farming and bee culture in Jackson township, Sandusky county (he married Hattie, daughter of Peter Bauman, a farmer of Jackson town- ship, Sandusky county); Ellen is the wife of Augustus Bowman; Frank is a con- tractor and builder; Lucy is engaged in school teaching; Harry is a farmer and oil pumper (he married Minnie, daughter of John Peoples, an agriculturist of Madi- son township, Sandusky county); Tillie is the wife of William Peters, an oil operator of Woodville township, Sandusky county; John M., who is a farmer and oil operator, married Minnie, daughter of Casper Dau- sey, an oil speculator of Rollersville, Ohio.

Mr. Oberst was for many years elected trustee of Madison township, of which he was treasurer some eight years, and dur- ing the Civil war he had at one time over $2,000 in his log cabin belonging to the township. He was also elected constable, filling that position for a long period, in- cluding the trying times between 1861 and 1865. He also did police duty, and his service often equaled in danger and hardships that of the "boys in blue " at the front. He would have gone to the war had it been possible, but there would have been no one left to care for his wife

and children; so he discharged his duties to his family by remaining at home, and to his country by helping to send substi- tutes for those drafted, until he paid $175. He has held the office of school director, was clerk of school District No. 9 for a number of years, is still serving as director and is one of the most earnest and effi- cient advocates of the cause of education in this locality, doing all in his power to ad- vance the standard of the schools and secure capable teachers. While serving as trustee he did much for the improve- ment of the township in the way of mak- ing roads. His duties of citizenship have ever been faithfully performed, and his irreproachable service in office won him the confidence and respect of all. For some years he has been a member of the band of Rollersville, playing the tuba. His success in life has been secured through his own enterprising and well- directed efforts, and industry and energy are numbered among his chiel character- istics. In politics he is a Democrat, and he and his family attend the Disciple Church. He and his estimable wife are now enjoying the fruits of their former toil, and the high regard of many warm friends who respect them for their genu- ine worth.

M D. WELLER, attorney at law, Fremont, Sandusky coun- ty. It is generally admitted that rural pursuits and rural scenes are most conducive to health, happiness and contentment, which city life and the mere accumulation of wealth can never impart. As a professional gentleman who enjoyed these favorable environments in his younger days, and who appreciates their salutary influence on him in later life, we present the sub- ject of this sketch.

Mr. Weller was born in Thompson township, Seneca county, Ohio, May 9,

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1860, a son of John and Christena (Orner) Weller. The father of our sub- ject was born in Freeburg, Snyder Co., Penn., March 18, 1821, a son Isaac and Elizabeth Weller, well-to-do farmers of that county, and who died there. John Weller came from Pennsylvania to Ohio when a young man, and worked as a farm hand about a year at Osceola, Crawford Co., Ohio; then four years on the model farm of George Close, north of Bellevue, Ohio; then six years for Daniel Close, one of the substantial farmers of Seneca county; then one year for his next neighbor, Edward Kern, taking good care of his earnings and investing them in real estate. He first bought and moved upon a farm of eighty acres, which in the pioneer days constituted a part of what was known as the Henry Miller farm, on the Kilburn road, northwest of West Lodi. This he sold a few years later, and then bought the John Payne farm, in Adams township, which he likewise sold. He afterward bought and sold other landed property, until he now owns about 500 acres, some of which is valued at $125 per acre. Mr. Weller was self-reliant, never had a dollar given him, but accumu- lated all his property by hard work, econ- omy and prudent investments. In all his deals he never gave a mortgage in his life. His school education was limited to three months, in Pennsylvania, but he snatched many spare moments from his daily toil for self-instruction in the common branches of an English education. In 1851, he married Miss Christena Orner, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Keller) Orner, of Adams township, Seneca Co., Ohio, and their children were: Henry J., attor- ney at law, in the firm of McCauley & Weller, Tiffin, Ohio; Amanda, wife of John Dornbach, a farmer of Adams township, Seneca county ; M. D., our subject; Laura, wife of Louis Breyman, a railroad man, of Republic, Ohio; Dexter B., a farmer, living with his parents; Andrew J., a farmer, living on one of the old home-

steads; Emma C., at home; one that died in infancy; B. Jay, also at home.

Our subject grew up on his father's farm where he learned valuable lessons in practical agriculture, and from which he attended a country school near by. He made such rapid progress in his studies that at the age of seventeen he was able to teach a country school with good suc- cess. After spending one whole year in attendance at the Bellevue Union schools, he resumed teaching winter schools and working on a farm during the summer seasons; by the age of twenty-two he had taught seven terms of school in the vicin- ity of his home, his last term being at Flat Rock, Ohio. Mr. Weller began the study of law in April, 1883, with Smith & Kin- ney, Fremont, Ohio, was admitted to the bar December 1, 1885, and has been in the legal practice at Fremont and vicinity ever since. From August, 1887, to Au- gust, 1891, he was in the firm of Weller & Butman, in fire and life insurance. In 1884 he was chosen secretary of the San- dusky County Agricultural Society, and held that office four years with credit to himself and profit to the society. He is at present a member of Croghan Lodge No. 77, I. O. O. F., and of Brainard Lodge, and Fremont Chapter, F. & A. M., also of the Knights of Pythias, Clyde, Ohio, and last, but not least, of the Fre- mont German Aid Society.

Mr. Weller was married January 30, 1889, to Miss Carrie Smith, daughter of S. H. Smith, grain and lumber merchant, of Green Spring, Ohio. Her mother's name was Van Sickle. Both of her par- ents came from New Jersey. She was reared at Green Spring, attended the Union schools of that village and then the academy, from which she was the first graduate, and had the honor of receiving her diploma from the hands of ex-Presi- dent R. B. Hayes, chairman of the board of trustees of that institution. She after- wards taught school in Seneca county, and later took a course in painting in an

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art school at Cleveland, Ohio. In addi- tion to his law practice, Mr. Weller is at present engaged in a general loan and real- estate business. He is the owner of landed property in the oil and gas region, Wood county, where he has several oil wells in operation. In politics he is a Democrat; his wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

C HRISTOPHER STREETER is one of the best known old pioneers of Green Creek township, San- dusky county. He was born in Heath, Franklin Co., Mass., April 9, 1815, son of David and Sylva (Roach) Streeter, the former of whom was a native of the same county, and a farmer by occupation. He was a lifelong resi- dent of Massachusetts, where he died at the age of seventy years; the mother died when about sixty years of age. The family is one of old New England stock.

Our subject broke away from the an- cestral ties in his young manhood at the age of twenty-two years, and sought a home in the then distant West. In 1837 he disposed of his interest in the home- stead, and in the fall of the same year came to Ohio by means that now seem insufferably tedious and slow. He settled on a farm in York township, Sandusky county, which he opened up, erecting a small dwelling. On December 3, 1835, he had married Miss Louisa Kennedy, and to them were born four children: Edward, born in Heath, Mass., June 25, 1837; Albert, born September 29, 1839; and Alonzo and Lorenzo, born June 25, 1842, the latter of whom died September 30, 1851; the mother passed from earth De- cember 26, 1851. Thus within the space of three short months Mr. Streeter lost a dear child, and the partner of his youth, who died with the confident hope of Heaven and a bright place on the Resur- rection inorn. Edward, the eldest son, is married, and had five children-Lydia,

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Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 19

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