Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 29

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 29
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 29

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M J. REINBOLT, a farmer and stockman of Jackson township, Sandusky county, was born Oc- tober 15, 1828, in Seneca coun- ty, Ohio. His father, Michael Reinbolt, was born in Germany, whence he emi- grated to America, where he married Miss Louisa Kechner, whom he first met on the steamer which brought them to the New World.

He worked about two years as a com- mon day laborer, then five years for an Indian chief near Tiffin, Ohio, by the name of Spicer. During these years he saved enough to buy forty acres of gov- ernment land at $1.25 per acre, in Seneca county, Ohio. One year later he bought eighty acres more at the same rate. After a life of toil and self denial, he and his wife passed away, among the early pio- neers, and are buried in the cemetery at Tiffin, Ohio. Their children were: Joseph. born 1838, died June 4, 1862; George, who married Amelia Haldrom, and had a family of seven children; Catharine, who died at the age of thirty years; Charles, who married and has eight children, and lives on the old homestead; Daniel, who married Catharine Kiser, and has seven children; and Mary, wife of Nicholas Workman (both are deceased and are buried at Tiffin, Ohio).

On leaving home our subject worked about four years among farmers as a day laborer, then rented a farm and remained on it twenty-three years. He then bought tracts at different times, amounting in all to 336 acres, valued at $100 per acre. He is a model farmer, and keeps pure Jersey cattle and fine-bred horses. Mr. Rein-

bolt is a Republican, and he has held vari- ous offices of trust in his township. He is a consistent member of the Roman Catholic Church. On October 16, 1862, he married Miss Annie Fanning, born in New York City, and they have three chil- dren: James F., born July 30, 1864, and married to Libbie Charlot, their children being: Michael J., Julia, and Irene; James A., who married Rosine Bower, and their children are: Carl M., Annie and Pauline; and Mary E., born September 11, 1872, was the wife of Peter Nape.

OHN GABEL, a successful farmer and substantial citizen of Rice town- ship, Sandusky county, was born May 28, 1853, and is a son of John M. and Mary (Wyce) Gabel, who were born in Germany in 1812 and in 1822, respectively.

John M. Gabel, father of the subject of this sketch, before his marriage worked for his father, Jacob Gabel, on the farm in Germany, and at the age of eighteen came with him to this country, settling in Buffalo, N. Y. He lived there about four years, then moved to Jackson township, Sandusky Co., Ohio, where he bought forty acres of land; later purchased 190 acres more, and there lived until about 1873. He then moved to Fremont, San- dusky county, and resided there with his daughter until his death. He worked hard for all his money. When he first came to this country he was a good Dem- ocrat and a Catholic. John M. Gabel died in 1874, his wife preceding him to the grave in 1870. They were the par- ents of seven children, six of whom were as follows: (1) Jacob died at the age of six; (2) Katie at the age of five, and (3) Laney at the age of one year; (4) Magda- lena married Henry Hodes, who died in 1887 (they lived in Fremont, and had three children-Celia, Henry and Joseph); (5) John M. married Mary Richards, who

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died in 1880, after which he married Anna Miller, and they live in Fremont; (6) Elizabeth married Mr. Dolnick, by whom she had ten children-Michael, born April 28, 1870; Mary, born in 1871; Rosie; Elizabeth, who died at the age of three years; Allie, Celia, Edith, Urbin, Clara and Teresa; (7) John Gabel was united in marriage on June 29, 1873, in Jackson township, Sandusky county, with Celia Dorr (who was born January 6, 1855), and lived there until 1880, when he sold out and moved to Rice township, in the same county, and bought fifty- three acres, paying one hundred dollars an acre for it. Their children were as follows: Edward, born August 10, 1876, and died January 9, 1879; Ida M. was born November 13, 1877; Allie C., March 4, 1879; Sylvester P., June 5, 1880; Horbert M., June 19. 1881; Charles D., October 9, 1883; Julie L., May 20, 1884; Urbin, March 31, 1887; Corneila C., born June 22, 1890, and died September 28, 1893; and Corlette G., born Novem- ber 6, 1894. In 1874. when John Ga- bel's father died, he left him eighty acres of land in Jackson township, Sandusky county. Mr. Gabel is engaged in general farming. He is much respected, is well and favorably known in the community in which he lives, has been constable of Rice township for five years, school di- rector four years and supervisor seven years.

J ACOB G. METZGER, one of the intelligent, liberal-minded farmers of Green Creek township, Sandusky county, enjoys the possession of a competency, and he believes the state- ment made by Gen. Washington, that agriculture is the noblest vocation cf man. He lives in ease and comfort upon his well-tilled and well-cared-for farm of 127 acres, made profitable by his good busi- ness ability and his inherited aptitude for a farming life.

Mr. Metzger was born in Adams town- ship, Seneca county, November 2, 1842, son of Samuel and Rebecca (Heltzel) Metzger. The great-great-grandfather of Mr. Metzger, who was a Revolutionary soldier under Gen. Washington, was the son of Archibald Metzger, twin brother of Gen. Theodore Metzger, an able of- ficer in the German army. The Rev- olutionary soldier was lost in the woods of Pennsylvania and probably starved to death. His remains were afterward found and identified by means of gun and cloth- ing. He had emigrated from Germany to America in Colonial times, and his son, the great-grandfather of Jacob, was the only child aboard the ship that escaped the fatal ravages of smallpox. The son of this fortunate child, Jacob Metzger by name, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Pennsylvania and ac- quired the trade of a shoemaker. He was a member of the United Brethren Church, and in the autumn of 1813 migrated with his family from Union county, Penn., to Pickaway county, Ohio, settling on a farm near Circleville.

Samuel Metzger, his son, was born in Union county, Penn., in April, 1813, and was but six months old when he came to Pickaway county, Ohio. He grew up on the farm, and before he was of age he came to Adams township, Seneca county, where he entered a farm in the wilder- ness. Returning to Pickaway county, he married, in April, 1834, on his twenty-first birthday, Rebecca Heltzel, who was born in Shenandoah county, Va., in 1812, the daughter of Henry Heltzel, an old-time schoolteacher, of German ancestry, and an early pioneer of Pickaway county, Ohio, who afterward removed to Noble county, Ind., where he was elected county recorder and served as such for many years. After marriage Samuel and Re- becca Metzger moved to the new pioneer home in Adams township, Seneca county, where he proved in subsequent years to be one of its best farmers, and where he

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lived until 1881. He then moved to Green Creek township, Sandusky county, and lived near his son Jacob, until his wife's death, in 1890. He died April 11, 1893, at the home of his son. Samuel Metzger at the time of his death owned 205 acres of choice land, and owed not a dollar. He was careful in his business transactions and scrupulously honest. In politics he was a Democrat, and in religious faith a prominent member of the United Breth- ren Church. He was an ordained ex- horter in the Church, possessed a remark- able memory, and had almost the whole Bible at his tongue's end. He was de- votedly attached to the work of his Church, and was perhaps its chief sup- porter in Adams township.

Five children were born to Samuel and Rebecca Metzger, as follows: (1) H. H., born in 1836, a farmer of Adams township, Seneca county, who married Rebecca Drinkwater and had five chil- dren-Alton (who died aged two and a half years); Ida J. ; James; Hulda F., and Olive. (2) John C., of Adams township, Seneca county, who first married Sarah A. Miller, by whom he had three children, now living-Alwilda E., Gertrude and Samuel H .; after his first wife's death he wedded Mrs. L. Berry, by whom he has one child-Julia C. (3) Sarah A., mar- ried to C. W. King, of Noble county, Ind., and died leaving two children- Maud M. and Mildred G., who now make their home with Jacob Metzger, our sub- ject. (4) Jacob is the subject of this sketch. (5) Lavina married Alfred Frontz, and has three children-Rebecca, Roy and Dora P .; she lives on the old home farm in Adams township, Seneca county.

Jacob Metzger grew to manhood on his father's farm in Seneca county, and in 1864, as a member of Company B, he served in the Washington campaign of the One Hundred and Sixty-fourth O. V. I. When mustered out in the fall of 1864 he joined a construction corps, which oper- ated through Kentucky, Tennessee, Ala-

bama, Georgia and West Virginia. Six months later he returned home and was married, April 27, 1865, to Sarah Jane Shellhammer, who was born in Adams township, Seneca county, January 30, 1845. Mr. and Mrs. Metzger have one child, Alva E., a well-educated and suc- cessful veterinary surgeon at Clyde. In politics Jacob Metzger is a Democrat. In manners he is genial and affable. He is remarkably well versed in public matters, and, while engaged in general farming, he takes a deep interest in all the affairs and conditions of mankind. No man stands higher in the esteem of his fellow men.

W ILLIAM WOODFORD, a suc- cessful farmer, and one of the prominent citizens of Riley township, Sandusky county, was born May 28, 1831. He is a son of Syl- vester and Sarah (Lowrie) Woodford, both born in America, the former on Jan- uary 1, 1786, the latter on January 17, 1788.

They had a family of nine children, as follows: Zerah, born April 6, 1812, mar- ried Sarah Karshner; they were engaged in farming in Riley township, and had a family of five children; Zerah died June 27, 1872; Aurilla, born December 28, 1814, married Elijah Higbee, a farmer in Riley township, and they had one child; the wife and mother died January 30, 1886; Lois, born April 24, 1817, became the wife of William Laird, and they had three children; the wife and mother died Jan- uary 30, 1846; Sylvester, born June 16, 1819, died October 28, 1836, at Shippens- burg, Penn .; Martin, born August 24, 1821, married Mary Homer, who lives in Kansas, and he died February 5, 1884; Lorinda, born September 23, 1823, died in 1839; Luther, born December 27, 1825, lives in Kansas; William is the sub- ject of this sketch, and Sidney, born July 20, 1833, died January 21, 1839. Syl- vester Woodford (Sr.) came to Ohio,

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settled in Trumbull county, and bought eighty acres of land, on which he lived until 1834, when he moved to Riley town- ship and here bought 160 acres of land, upon which he lived until his death, which occurred September 2, 1834, about three months after they had settled at their new home, and his wife, Sarah, passed away four days before him, viz .: August 29, 1834. He voted the Old-time Whig ticket, and was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

After the death of his parents, William Woodford, being only a little more than three years old, was taken to Vienna township, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and was placed in the family of a relative, where he was reared and educated, working a part of each year on a farm to the age of eighteen, when he commenced teaching school. He followed this vocation one year in Ohio, taught one year more in Mercer county, Penn., then went to Ken- tucky, where he continued teaching school for eleven years. He is now engaged in general farming. In 1861 he came to Riley township, where he married Rachel Gibbs, who was born October 15, 1832, and they have a family of five children, namely: William C., born April 28, 1862, and died August 27, 1862; Clara J., born September 13, 1863; Alva, born Septem- ber 9, 1866; Ada, born May 16, 1869; and Louis, born March 8, 1854, and mar- ried to Dora Lindsay, who died February 12, 1888.

Isaac Woodford, grandfather of Will- iam Woodford, married Sarah Fuller, of Burlington, and they had ten children --- seven sons and three daughters, namely: Isaac, married Statira Cowles, by whom he had twelve children, ten of whom- four sons and six daughters-lived to marry, and two died in childhood; Darius married Bethiah Bass, and they had six children; Asaph married Alma Potter, and they had fourteen children; Sylvester, father of our subject, comes next; Romanty married Betsy Hart, and they

had twelve children; Sidney . married Betsy Wheeler (no children); Zerah mar- ried Minerva Potter, and they had six children; Huldah married Nathaniel Clarke, and they had eight children; Cyn- thia married Theodore Humphreys, and was left a widow with five or six children (she afterward married Ely Alderman); Sarah married Chauncey Wheeler, and they had six children-two sons and four daughters. Of this large family of chil- dren, all, save one, were professing Chris- tians.

Our subject votes the Democrat ticket, and has been honored with public office, having been justice of the peace for twelve years, township clerk for six years, and school director and supervisor.

R ICHARD E. BETTS, a substantial farmer of Green Creek township, Sandusky county, is more than a tiller of the soil or the owner of a productive and finely located farm; he is a student of the world's history, and by means of the leading newspapers from va- rious cities he is thoroughly informed upon the varying phases of current national af- fairs. He is distinctively a man of ideas. He wants first the facts of history. His clear and well-trained intellect can then make proper deduction from these facts, and the opinions thus formed are modern, considerably in advance of those held by the average citizen. His deep convic- tions are inherited, and have received an additional impetus from associations. His ancestors, of Quaker faith, came from England in Cromwell's time. His father- in-law, "Uncle " George Donaldson, was one of the most noted Abolitionists in northwestern Ohio, at a time when Abo- lition sentiment was a reproach and stigma, often a menace to personal safety.

Mr. Betts was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., December 30, 1829, son of Zach- ariah and Mariah (Mitchell) Betts. Zach-

Richard E. Bells

Lavinia Y Betts

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ariah Betts was born in Bucks county, Penn., December 24, 1793. In Crom- well's time three brothers named Betts came to America, settling near Philadel- phia. The eldest, who had an entailed inheritance in England, at one time placed in jeopardy, returned to that country when political turmoil subsided. The younger two remained in America and founded a numerous family of their name, Zachariah being one of the descendants. His wife, Mariah Mitchell, was born March 4, 1798. After marriage Zachariah Betts moved to Aurora, Cayuga Co., N. Y., where he farmed for many years, and in 1834 he moved to Honey Creek, Seneca Co., Ohio, where he purchased a large farm. Many years later he removed to La Grange county, Ind., where he died February 3, 1868, his wife surviving until July 23, 1874. In politics he was a Whig. In early life he held allegiance to the Quaker faith, but later became a member of the Protestant Methodist Church. In physique he was a man of powerful frame. The nine children of Zachariah and Mariah Betts were as follows: Edward L., born December 18, 1821, served in an Indiana regiment in the army of the Potomac dur- ing the Civil war, and died in La Grange county, Ind., March 2, 1894; Howard M., born August 25, 1823, for thirty years a druggist at La Grange, Ind .; Louis C., born October 1, 1825, moved to Iowa in 1856, and died at Mt. Pleasant, that State, November 19, 1867; Albert F., born August 27, 1827, a tanner and cur- rier at Republic; Richard E., subject of this sketch; Elizabeth A., wife of Van Norris Taylor, of Wolcottville, Ind .; Thomas C., born August 20, 1833, an ex-soldier of the Civil war, ex-sheriff of La Grange county, Ind., now living at La Grange; Martha M., born April 30, 1836, lives, unmarried, at La Grange, Ind. ; Emiline, born January 14, 1838, wife of Nelson Selby, of La Grange, Indiana.

Richard E. Betts was five years old when he migrated with his parents from

New York to Seneca county, Ohio. He was reared on his father's farm, and Oc- tober 28, 1852, he married Miss Lavinia Donaldson, who was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1825, daughter of "Uncle" George and Ann (Patterson) Donaldson, the former of whom was born in Center county, Penn., July 7, 1793, the latter on January 15, 1796. He learned the black- smith's trade, and lived for a time in Lycoming county, Penn .; then migrated with his family in a one-horse wagon to Pickaway county, Ohio, arriving with a capital of five dollars. Seven years later he moved to Tiffin, and in 1833 to Green Creek township, Sandusky county, where he followed his trade and farmed. Him- self and wife were Methodists, and in political convictions he was a radical Abo- litionist. He was connected with the "underground railroad," and once sent his team with five runaway negroes, concealed beneath straw and carpets, to Sandusky City, whence they escaped to

Canada. " Uncle " George Donaldson was the most noted character of his time in this part of the country. On account of his Abolitionism an attempt was made to expel him from the M. E. Church. He gave James G. Birney, Abolition candi- date for President in 1840, the only vote cast for him in Green Creek township, and for its numerical insignificance the judges, who were in sentiment strong anti- Abolitionists, refused to count it. Mr. Donaldson died September 14, 1873, his wife November 30, 1863. Their nine chil- dren were as follows: James, born Febru- ary 13, 1820, died November 15, 1843; William, born February 25, 1821, died April 21, 1846; Robert, born November 21, 1822, died December 30, 1846; La- vinia, wife of Mr. Betts; Susannah, born Angust 11, 1827, wife of W. Dixon, of Rome City, Ind .; Saul, born December 20, 1829, residing in La Grange county, Ind .; David, born April 10, 1831, died December 13, 1881; Elizabeth, born Au- gust 14, 1834, died October 11, 1858;

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Nancy Ann, born June 29, 1839, died January 7, 1850.

After his marriage Mr. Betts lived for several years in Seneca county. He then came to Sandusky county, bought a farm, and for two years lived with his father-in- law. In 1856 he purchased his present farm, and has occupied it ever since. He owns 114 well-cultivated acres, and en- gages in general farming. Mr. Betts cast his first Presidential vote for J. P. Hale, anti-slavery candidate for 1852, and in 1876 voted for Peter Cooper on the Green- back ticket. He has been a prominent member of Monticello Lodge No. 244, F. & A. M., for many years. He is a firm believer in Spiritualism, as was also his wife, who passed from earth in February, 1895. She was a lady of high mental and moral attainments. In political affairs Mr. Betts thinks the election of million- aires to Congress and the various State Legislatures is highly detrimental to the best interests of the people.

Mr. Betts has a number of relatives on his mother's side residing near Rochester, N. Y., among them an aunt, Sarah Cox (sister to his mother), who is now at the advanced age of ninety years, with her faculties unimpaired. Mr. Betts' weight at the present time is 260 pounds.

G EORGE A. BURMAN, of Wood- ville, Sandusky county, was born January 17, 1844, son of Ernest H. and Elizabeth (Maenert) Bur- man, the former of whom was born De- cember 4, 1811, in the Kingdom of Han- over, Germany.

Ernest H. Burman was married in his native country, came to America in 1843, settling in Woodville township, Sandusky Co., Ohio, where he bought eighty acres of land on which he made improvements. He died September 9, 1891, a member of the Lutheran Church. Our subject's mo- ther was born in 1815, and died in 1875. Their children were Carrie, who died in

Germany; Carrie, who married G. Otten; George A .; Henry, who died when seven years old; Louis, a blacksmith, now living in Toledo; Harman, who works in the car shops at Toledo; Fred, who died in infancy; and Elizabeth, who married K. Kuhlman, of Ottawa county, Ohio.

Mrs. George A. Burman is a daughter of H. H. and Clara (Fochthous) Kuhlman, the former of whom was born in Hanover, in 1812, and died September 4, 1887; the mother was born in 1817, and is still living. They had six children: Henry Kuhlman, living at Woodville; Carrie, who married Fred Taulker; Eliza, who died when three years old; one that died in infancy; Will- iam, who is living on the old homestead; and the wife of our subject. George A. Burman and his wife were both born in the same house in Woodville township, she on July 21, 1851. Her parents came to America the year before his, and when his parents came they moved into the same house, and our subject was born while they were living there. They were both reared in Woodville township, and attended the primitive district schools. They were married November 16, 1871, and the children born to them were Car- rie, born March 10, 1873, who died when one year old; George, born May 27, 1875, who is now a grocer of Tiffin, Ohio; Henry, born September 4, 1878, now studying for the ministry of the Lutheran Church, in Capitol University, Columbus, Ohio: Clara, born July 1, 1880, died Au- gust 19, 1882; and August, born October 18, 1883.

Our subject as he grew to manhood found himself possessed of strong mechan- ical powers and of natural skill as a work- man, and so without serving an appren- ticeship he became a good carpenter and an all-around wood workman; he also became an engineer, and ran a stationary engine in the mills at Woodville for seventeen years, and he has worked in the Lake Shore yard in Toledo. He has never de- voted his time to farming, but some years

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since purchased the old homestead in Woodville township, which he now owns, and which contains eight good oil wells at present. Mr. Burman was one of the first men in this section to invest in the developing oil business here, and as the result of his investment he recently sold out his interest in his lease wells for $15,- 000. As a result of his ample means from this source he is now in good finan- cial circumstances, but he still does some work himself to pass the time away. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and in politics is a Democrat.

S AMUEL YETTER, junior member of the livery firm of Harvey & Yetter, and one of the popular and reliable business men of Clyde, was born in Townsend town- ship, Sandusky county, February 6, 1866, a son of Charles and Mary (Speaker) Yet- ter, both of German descent. .

His father was born near Harrisburg, Penn., in 1840, and at the age of fifteen years came with his parents to Ohio, first locating at Chicago Junction, Huron county. Later he came to Sandusky county where he engaged in farming in Townsend township, and there the mother of our subject died at the age of thirty- two years. They were married near Cas- talia, Ohio, and by their union five chil- dren were born: (1) George, drowned in Lake Erie, off Kelly's Island, at the age of twenty-one years. He was cap- tain of a fishing smack, could swim well, but was struck with a boom while turn- ing the boat. (2) Henry is a farmer of Riley township, Sandusky county. (3) Samuel J. is next in order of birth. (4) Ella is the wife of G. W. Reddock, of Riley township. (5) Nettie is the wife of Ward Strohl, a hay dealer and presser, of Clyde. After the death of his first wife Mr. Yetter wedded Miss Lois Baker, and they have three children-Bert, John-

nie and Mabel. In political sentiment the father is a Republican.

In the schools of Townsend township, Sandusky county, the early education of Samuel J. Yetter was received, after which he entered the public schools of Clyde, and for one term was a student at the Normal in Ada, Ohio. On the com- pletion of his education he taught for one term, but at the end of that time re- turned home, where for a year he worked on the farm. He then entered a grocery store in Clyde, where he clerked some three years, and for the same length of time resided in Michigan. He then re- turned to Clyde, where for one year he served as hotel clerk, and in 1892 be- came interested in his present business, which he has since conducted with ex- cellent success. The firm have the only first-class livery in the city, and they re- ceive a liberal patronage.

Though young in years Mr. Yetter is one of the most energetic and enterprising business men of Clyde, and is highly es- teemed and respected by all who know him. He has a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, among whom he is famil- iarly known by the name of "Sammie." Socially, he is identified with the Royal Arcanum, while his political affiliations are with the Republican party.

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Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 29

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