USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 23
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 23
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E MANUEL WENGERD is a well- known farmer and minister resid- ing in Washington township, San- dusky county, and has the respect of all who know him. Having a wide acquaintance in this locality, we feel as- sured that the record of his life will prove of interest to many of our readers, and gladly give it a place in this volume.
Mr. Wengerd is numbered among the native sons of Ohio, his birth having oc- curred on the old family homestead in this State February 1, 1849. He is a son of Joseph W. and Marden Julie (Walter) Wengerd, who at an early day migrated westward from Pennsylvania and
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took up their residence upon the farm which was the birthplace of their son Emanuel. The father was at that time about thirty years of age, and there re- mained until he passed from earth, at the age of seventy-two. His wife passed away when seventy-six years old. Mr. Wengerd was one of nature's noblemen, his life filled with good deeds and kind actions. He was generous and benevo- lent, a good supporter of the Church and of all interests that were calculated to benefit humanity. When he was taken away the community lost one of its best citizens, but he left to his family the price- less heritage of a good name.
The gentleman whose name begins this record profited by the good teachings and example of his parents, and the lessons which he learned in his youth have borne splendid fruit. He was trained not only to habits of industry, but also learned and developed those traits which in any place command the respect of all. He now devotes his time and energies to farming and to work for his fellow men, and has a good property in Washington township, Sandusky county, its neat and thrifty ap- pearance well indicating his careful super- vision.
On December 31, 1869, Mr. Wengerd was united in marriage with Miss Mar- garet Nichols, daughter of Peter Nichols, a well-known resident of Sandusky coun- ty. Two children-George F. and Ar- thur W .- came to bless and gladden their home, which was a bright and happy spot until the hand of death was laid upon the wife and mother. Mr. Wengerd re- mained single for a year, and then was united in marriage with Miss Catherina A. Snyder, whose parents, William and Sarah (Heller) Snyder, are residents of Seneca county, Ohio; Mr. Snyder is a miller by occupation. This marriage was blessed with three children: John M., Charles S. and Howard E., of whom Charles S. is the only one now living; John M. died at the age of eight years,
and Howard E. in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Wengerd have many warm friends in this community, and their own home is noted for its hospitality.
A BRAHAM BLANK, one of the most popular and highly-esteemed citizens of Sandusky county, car- ries on agricultural pursuits in Woodville township, and is also engaged in speculating in oil. Although an East- ern man by birth, he possesses the typ- ical Western spirit of progress and enter- prise. A native of Columbia county, Penn, ;he was born September 9, 1827, son of William Blank, and a brother of Amos Blank, the latter a well-known resident of Sandusky county.
In 1836, when a child of nine sum- mers, our subject accompanied his parents and the other members of the family to Ohio, locating in Madison township, San- dusky county, where he worked on his father's farm. They were the earliest settlers of that portion of the county, and went through all the experiences and hardships of pioneer life. Abraham re- ceived but limited educational privileges, for schools were few and far between, and the advantages afforded therein were not always of a superior quality. In the practical school of experience, however, he has learned many valuable lessons, and through reading, experience and ob- servation has become a well-informed man. He continued working on the farm of his father from early boyhood until 1873, when he started out in life for him- self, purchasing 120 acres of land, all of which was covered with timber. With characteristic energy he began to clear the place; the trees fell one by one before his sturdy strokes, and acre after acre was placed under the plow and made to yield a golden tribute in return for the care and cultivation he bestowed upon it. He erected a dwelling house; also built barns and outbuildings, put up fences which di-
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vided the place into fields of convenient size, planted an orchard and made other general improvements which add to the value and attractive appearance of the place. He also engaged in the oil busi- ness, and in two years made in speculation upward of $31,000.
Mr. Blank has traveled extensively through both the Southern and Western States, going on business trips to Ken- tucky, Indiana, Chicago, Michigan and Wisconsin, where he owns large tracts of land. He is a man of broad and liberal views, and is well liked and very popular with all classes of people, being highly respected throughout the county in which he makes his home, where his acquaint- ance is a wide one. For several years he has held the office of trustee of Woodville township, and during his administration a number of roads and bridges were con- structed, as well as ditches and other im- provements. He is a stanch Democrat, warmly advocating the principles of the party. An entertaining conversationalist, he can relate many interesting instances of pioneer life in this locality. He is still engaged in the oil business in connec- tion with his nephew, and has practically retired from farming, having acquired a handsome competence which supplies him with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
W ILLIAM W. POORMAN is num- bered among the leading agri- culturists of Sandusky county, having for many years been iden- tified with its growth and upbuilding. He was born in Townsend township, San- dusky county, January 15, 1828, a son of John and Phæbe (Wetsel) Poorman, the former of whom was born in 1773; the latter was born about 1793, and died in Detroit, Mich., at the advanced age of eighty-three. Their family numbered four children. The Poormans are of German descent.
At an early age our subject accompa- nied his parents to Sandusky City, Ohio, where his father was engaged in the gro- cery business until his death, which oc- curred at the age of sixty years. When William was a youth of fifteen, he accom- panied his mother and the other members of the family to Fremont, where he worked in an ashery for two years, at the end of which time his mother removed to Ballville township, Sandusky county, pur- chasing forty acres of wild land. This our subject and his brother cleared, mak- ing there a comfortable home. The wild land was transformed into rich and fertile fields, and a good farm resulted from their earnest and persistent labors. While re- siding on that farm Mr. Poorman was married, January 6, 1850, to Miss Je- mima Ann Hutson, of Ballville township, a native of Franklin county, Ohio, born December 4, 1829. Her father, James Hutson, was born February 13, 1807, and died June 18, 1893; her mother, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Stultz, was born August 28, 1828; they were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Poorman, John, Peter, Vincent, William M., Nathaniel W. and James S. The mother of this family passed away August 4, 1877. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Poorman was John Hutson, who married a Miss Needles. The former was born in Maryland about 1784, and served in the war of 1812; the latter was born about 1787, and lived to be 104 years of age. The maternal grandparents were Peter and Elizabeth (Cliner) Stultz, the former born in 1776, the latter in 1780. Mr. and Mrs. Poorman have one child, Emma A., born October 2, 1850, and ed- ucated in Fremont. On November 1, 1867, she became the wife of Robert A. Forgrave, of Scott township, Sandusky county, and to them have been born four children, one of whom, a son, is now living.
For a year after his marriage, Mr. Poorman lived on the farm which his
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mother had purchased, and then removed to the village of Ballville, where he resided some six years. Purchasing 107 acres of land in Section 15, Scott town- ship, Sandusky county, that farm has since been his home. The greater part of this farm was in its primitive condition; but by patient toil he has made it one of the best places in the neighborhood, the forest trees giving way to fields of golden grain, and the log cabin to the spacious frame dwelling. There are also good outbuildings, and all modern improve- ments. In 1890 he leased the entire farm to the Sun Oil Company for an annual rental of $1, 100 and one-eighth of the oil produced on the farm. Four wells are now in operation, yielding about fifty barrels per day, and Mr. Poorman there- fore secures a good income. He has served as township treasurer, and for sev- eral terms has been township trustee, discharging his duties in a most creditable and acceptable manner. His political support is given to the Democracy, and he is a progressive and public-spirited citizen, giving his aid to and co-operation with everything pertaining to the welfare of the community.
ROBERT A. FORGRAVE was born November 27, 1842, in Perry county, Ohio, and is one of the five children born to Robert W. and Mary (Kuhn) Forgrave. The father was born in Philadelphia in 1807, and was a pioneer of Perry county; the mother was born in 1818; her father, Adam Kuhn, was also a native of the Keystone State, and lived to the advanced age of ninety-two years. Mr. Forgrave was educated in the common and select schools of the neighborhood, and for some years engaged in teaching in Sandusky county, at one time being principal of the high school at Oak Harbor, while his wife was teacher of the primary department. In 1861 he joined the Union army, and for four years aided in the defense of the old flag and the cause it represented, par- ticipating in some of the most hotly con-
tested engagements of the war, including the battles of Cold Harbor, Petersburg and Spottsylvania, and was at Appomat- tox when Lee surrendered to Grant. At the close of the war he returned to Scott township, and for some years successfully carried on agricultural pursuits. He then leased his land to the oil company, and as the flow of oil is a good one he derives an excellent income therefrom. He is a man of good business ability, and his man- agement of his business affairs has made him a substantial citizen.
A B. KEMMERLING. The hardy pioneers of the Northwest, who developed the land out of which some of the proudest States of our Union were constructed, were men not only of muscle but of brains; men who combined great endurance and in- dustry with intelligence and religious prin- ciple, and with their wives, as brave and courageous as themselves, reared up their children in such habits of thrift and mor- ality that the country has reason to be proud of them.
Of such worthy parentage was born the subject of our sketch, a well-known and prosperous dry-goods merchant of Gibsonburg, Sandusky county, who is among the youngest of the men in that place to carry on an independent busi- ness, and who may be styled a self-made man. He was born in Madison township, Sandusky county, October 12, 1863. A brief sketch of his parents, Peter and Catherine (Unger) Kemmerling, will be read with interest by their friends: His father was born in Union (now Snyder) county, Penn., near Louistown, Septem- ber 27, 1813. Here he spent his boy- hood days, and in 1835, when twenty-two years of age, came to Ohio, locating in Wooster, where he lived two years, re- moving in 1837 to Madison township. In that early day this part of Ohio was a wil- derness, just as it left the hand of nature,
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and dense forests covered the face of the country, in which wild animals abounded. Deer were plentiful, and wolves made night hideous with their howls. Settlers were few and far between, but their hos- pitality was freely given, and they greatly enjoyed visiting each other. Mr. Kem- merling on coming here entered govern- ment land, which he cleared, and began farming. This occupation he followed until 1873, when, yielding to the infirini- ties of old age, he retired from active work and took up his residence in Gibson- burg. Early in life he became identified with the Evangelical Church, and for many years was a local preacher, at the same time working on his farm. He traveled all over that section of the coun- try on horseback, as was the custom in those days, holding meetings at different points, sometimes being for weeks on the road. The life was one of hardship, but no one can tell the amount of good ac- complished by these pioneer preachers, the advance guard of the great army of Christian people who now fill the churches of our land. Mr. Kemmerling was faith- ful in his self-imposed task until he grew old and his voice gave out, and he was obliged to cease preaching. He died Oc- tober 11, 1893, regretted by all who knew him. He was an old-time Whig, and la- ter, when the Republican party was formed, joined its ranks.
The mother of our subject, who was the second wife of Mr. Kemmerling, was born March 23, 1835, daughter of Abra- ham and Elizabeth (Snyder) Unger, and is still living. She became the mother of five children, as follows: Salome, who married Charles Fairbanks, and lives in Madison township; Samantha, wife of Alpheus Fraunfelter, living in Gibson- burg; A. B., our subject; Franklin, living in Cleveland, Ohio; and Lillie, wife of James Bowerson, who lives in Cleveland. By his first marriage our subject's father had thirteen children, five of whom are The parents of our subject removed to deceased; the others are: Catherine, | Ohio during its pioneer days, and settled
wife of David Garn, living in Indiana; James, John and Edward, all of whom live in Michigan, and who were all sol- diers in the Union army during the Civil war; Mary, married to Mr. Mowry, and living in Illinois; Maggie, married to H. Overmyer, and living in Indiana; Julia, wife of James Garn, of Indiana, and El- len, who married H. C. Brost, and re- sides in Michigan.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in Madison township, attending the schools at Gibsonburg and gaining a common-school education. At twenty- two years of age he began taking contracts for timber from a railroad company, which business he carried on until nearly two years ago, in the meantime clerking at times. On November 16, 1893, he bought out the dry-goods firm of J. W. Miller, of which he is the sole proprietor. He is doing a flourishing business, and ranks among the best and most progres- sive citizens of Gibsonburg. Mr. Kem- merling was married February 26, 1891, to Mrs. Emma Downing, who was born in Cornwall, England, in 1859, and they have one child, Bliss. Socially Mr. Kem- merling is affiliated with the I. O. O. F., K. of P., K. O. T. M., P. O. S. of A. and F. & A. M .; in politics he is a Repub- lican.
D ANIEL KERNS is one of the most widely-known and highly-respect- ed citizens of Sandusky county- a man whose well-spent life has gained for him the esteem of all with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact. He was born June 23, 1817, in Columbiana (now Ma- honing) county, Ohio, son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Misheye) Kerns, who were natives of Pennsylvania, where the pater- nal grandfather, George Kerns, was also born.
Daniel Kerns Age 78 Past
July Onn Kens ge 70 Past
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upon an 800-acre tract of land that form- ed a part of Washington township, San- dusky county. The place being then heavily covered with timber, Mr. Kerns at once began to clear and improve it, and at the time of his death all but a few acres had been placed under the plow. He was an industrious and energetic man, and those traits of industry and economy which had so much to do with his success were early instilled into the minds of his children. The family was a large one, numbering eleven children, namely: Mary, who was killed by accident during her early girlhood; John, of Wayne county, Ohio; Anna, who became the wife of Michael Powell, and died leaving four children-Albert, Richard, Susan and Lydia; Sarah, who became the wife of Samuel Powell, and died when well ad- vanced in years, leaving a large family; Jacob, a retired farmer of Alliance, Ohio; Daniel, subject of this sketch; Solomon; Lydia; Lavina; Josiah, an M. E. minister of Kansas; and Isaiah, of Newton, Iowa, land agent, notary public and abstracter of titles.
Thus amid the wild scenes of the fron- tier Daniel Kerns was reared, and with the family shared in the usual experiences of pioneer life. He remained at home with his father until his twenty-first birth- day, attending the district school in the winter, and aiding in the labors of the farm through the summer months. On attaining his majority he began studying for the ministry, and after a thorough course returned to his home and became a circuit preacher, traveling through Washington township. After remaining here for a year, he went to Illinois, being the first minister to establish an Evan- gelical society in the city of Chicago, where he spent one year, and then again returning to Sandusky county was placed on the Marion circuit. The succeeding seven years of his life were devoted to ministerial work, and then, on account of ill health, he was compelled to retire.
During this time he had saved what little he earned, and he now invested his capital in eighty acres of farm land, which owing to his care and cultivation has become valuable property. In the years that fol- lowed he devoted his energies to agricul- tural pursuits until 1886, when he retired from active business life and took up his residence in Lindsey. He still retains possession of his farm, which comprises 285 acres and yields him a good income.
On March 30, 1843, Daniel Kerns was united in marriage with Miss Julia, daughter of Rev. Michael and Polly (Wolt) Walter, whose family numbered four chil- dren-John, Julia, Susan and Katie. The marriage of our subject and his wife has been blessed with thirteen children: Caro- line Mary, born March 5, 1845, and be- came the wife of William Collar; Almira, born October 28, 1846, died at the age of four weeks; Rebecca P., born Novem- ber 5, 1847, became the wife of W. W. Smith, a farmer of Sandusky county, and they have two children; Lidda Anna, born January 17, 1850, is the wife of Theodore Kerns, a coal dealer of Cleve- land, Ohio, by whom she had one child, now deceased; Isaiah M., born August 9, 1851, died at the age of nine years; Ben- jamin F., born September 22, 1853, is deceased; Josiah, born January 19, 1856, and John C., born April 22, 1857, are both deceased; Obadiah, born July 3, 1859, is a farmer; Emma, born August 21, 1861, is the wife of John Slates, a miller by trade, residing near Fremont, and they have two children; Allen, born November 5. 1863, is a farmer; Ida, born May 9, 1866, died at the age of eighteen years; Dora V., born October 9, 1868, is the wife of Charles Schaebner, a razor grinder, and they have one child.
Mr. Kerns was formerly a member of the Grangers. He votes with the Prohi- bition party, and is a warm advocate of the cause of temperance, giving his sup- port to all reforms and measures calcu- lated to uplift humanity in general. His
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noble Christian life is one well worthy of emulation, and all who know Daniel Kerns have for him the highest regard.
J OHN MALCOLM, one of the sub- stantial and influential citizens of Clyde, exemplified in his younger days the nobility of labor in a man- ner so thorough as few of his compeers have done. He is a native of Scotland, and brought with him to Ohio a rugged constitution, an invincible spirit, a latent gift of energy which was expended upon the primeval forests of Ashland county with telling effect. It has been said that the Malcolm family cleared up more land than any other in Ashland county. In one year it cleared off forty-two acres, fenced it, and put the virgin soil in wheat. In that elder day the recital of this feat meant more than it does now, for the present generation can not so well grasp the tremendous amount of labor involved in the primitive clearing of land as could their forefathers who did the work. Labor was then the cardinal virtue, the chief avenue to success.
Mr. Malcolm was born at Aberdeen, Scotland, October 15, 1821, son of Alex- ander and Barbara (Richie) Malcolm. Alexander Malcolm was a gardener, and his father, William Malcolm, was a milk- man, among whose customers was the Aberdeen Lunatic Asylum. Two sons of William Malcolm, Arthur and James, par- ticipated in the battle of Waterloo, one of the most fateful in the world's history. They were stationed in the famous wheat field, where the regiment, or rather the re- mains of it, had " formed square, " and for some time were confronted on three sides by Napoleon's heavy cavalry, who charg- ed them again and again without breaking the square. Both were wounded, and both drew subsequent pensions for their injuries. A son of Arthur Malcolm, Ar- thur by name, and also a daughter, now reside at Akron, Ohio. Alexander Mal-
colm in 1835 emigrated with his large family to America. Landing at New York he came directly to Ohio. and after spend- ing several months in Westfield township, Medina county, and Savannah, Ashland county, he purchased one hundred acres of forest land in Ruggles township, in the latter county. There were then no roads, game abounded, and bands of wandering Indians still strolled through the premises. Here Alexander fashioned for himself his permanent home, clearing the land and farming industriously until his death, which occurred when he was aged sixty- seven years. His faithful wife, ten years his senior, preceded him to the grave by about eighteen months. He was a Presby- terian in religious faith, and an unwaver- ing Whig and Republican in politics. His family of ten children was as follows: Alexander, who died in mature life; Archi- bald, a resident of Northwest township, Williams county; William, who reared a family, and passed away many years ago (his eldest son David died in the Civil war); John, subject of this sketch; Jane, wife of Conrad Brandeberry, of Mont- pelier, Williams county; James (retired), of New London; Charles, who died un- married; Thomas, who reared a family in Williams county, and died there; Robert, who reared a family in Ruggles township, and is now deceased; David, who died at the age of two years.
John Malcolm was in his fifteenth year when he came with his father's fam- ily to Ohio. He assisted his father on the farm, but after the latter's start there was an abundance of labor in the family, and John became a clerk for King & Gunn, of Medina, afterward King & King. After a clerkship of several years he returned to the farm, where he re- mained until his marriage, in 1844, to Miss Harriet S. Munger, who was born in Livingston county, N. Y., April 5, 1826, and the daughter of Jehiel and Be- linda (Janes) Munger, both natives of New York. In 1831 they migrated to
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Ohio and settled in Townsend township, Sandusky county, where the father died in 1845, and the mother some years later. Here, too, died the father of Jehiel, also named Jehiel Munger, an Englishman by birth. The children born to Jehiel and Belinda Munger were as follows: Chapin Richard, who reared a family and died in Oregon; Clarissa, who died in childhood; William R., who died, unmarried, in Townsend; Hiram A., of Clyde; Harriet S., wife of John Malcolm; Daniel N., who died in California, unmarried; Tem- pie Jane, deceased in childhood; Tyler E., also deceased in childhood; Axie I., who married Edward Wheeler, and died in Rochester township, Lorain Co., Ohio; Jehiel, a bachelor, residing in California; Theresa M., whose child by her first mar- riage, Rufey Jordan, was the first woman admitted to the bar in the United States (she practiced at Seattle, Wash., and died at Chicago during the World's Columbian Exposition. Theresa M. married, for her second husband, Simeon Ketchel, of Cold- water, Mich.).
After marriage John and Harriet Malcolm began housekeeping on a farm in Ruggles township, Ashland county. He helped to clear up the old farm, then bought 136 acres and helped clear it also. Since marriage he, with his own hands, cleared 100 acres or more, and he still owns 106 acres of fine land in Ruggles township. He was engaged in grain and stock-farming until 1866, when he re- moved with his family to Clyde, and he has since been a resident of that city. Mr. Malcolm has two children, Barbara B. and Marvin J., the former of whom is the wife of B. F. Rogers, and lives on Piety Hill, at Clyde; her children are Malcolm, Lillie and Archie. Marvin J. is married to Adelaide Rober, and lives at Clyde. Mr. Malcolm has been marshal of Clyde for nearly five years. He has served as cemetery trustee three years, and for twenty-seven years has been a prominent inember of the I. O. O. F. In
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