Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 37

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 37
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 37

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).

G EORGE HIETT, a well-to-do farmer and manufacturer of Jack- son township, Sandusky county, was born March 7, 1834, in Seneca county, Ohio, and has resided in Sandusky county from the age of ten years.

Our subject is a son of George Hiett, Sr., who was born October 12, 1792, in Jefferson county, Va., and moving thence to Seneca county, Ohio, lived there twen- ty years. Pleasant township, Seneca county, was named by him. Returning to Virginia, he remained three years, and then came to Ballville township, San- dusky county, where he bought 300 acres of land on the west bend of the Sandusky river, at $25 per acre. George Hiett, Sr., was in religious connection a mem- ber of the M. E. Church, in politics a Republican, and held the office of justice of the peace one term in Seneca county. He died March 1, 1875, in his eighty- third year. He wedded Miss Lydia Mul- nix, who was born October 19, 1798, and died in February, 1891, and their chil- dren were Mary, born April 3, 1819, who was married to Thomas Johnson in San- dusky county, where they resided some time, moving thence to Kansas, where he died in 1884, leaving two children --- George and Lydia J .; William, born December 28, 1820, who married Celia Chineoweth, by whom he had ten chil- dren; Elizabeth, born December 22, 1822, who married Martin Edwards, a farmer, and had three children-William, John and Mary; John W., born Novem- ber 11, 1824, who married Mary Beecham, by whom he had four children-Irving, Ella, Oliver and Russell (John W. Hiett was a graduate of Oberlin College, and was a teacher and superintendent in the Fremont schools in 1853-54-55, and in the Maumee schools in 1859-60-61-62; during recent years he lived in Toledo, Ohio, where he dealt in real estate. He was among the organizers of the Anti- slavery Society in Virginia. He was a zealous member of the M. E. Church. He died August 16, 1894); Catharine, born March 4, 1827, married to Henry Kenyon, and had four children-Edward, Lillie, Emma and John; Henry, born August 13, 1829, married Jane Hall, and moved to Riverside, Cal., where they have

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a large fruit farm (their children are- Robert, Phœbe and Mary); Rebecca, born October 24, 1831; James, born March 7, 1834. a farmer, who married Martha Louisa Bowlus, and has three children --- Edward, Effie and Martha; George, twin brother of James; Jacob, born in 1836; and Asa S., born in 1839.

At the age of ten years our subject, George Hiett, came with his father to Ballville township, Sandusky Co., Ohio, and assisted in farming on the banks of Sandusky river. At the age of twenty- one he left his father's home, and com- mencing life for himself followed farming for some time. Being a natural me- chanic he erected a sawmill on the farm where he now lives, at Bruner Station, five miles southwest of Fremont, on the line of the L. E. & W. railroad, where he and his sons, under the firm name of George Hiett & Sons, manufacture lumber, sorghum, ground feed, and a combination fence. The mill is valued at $3,000. Mr. Hiett is also a patentee of a cane stripper and binder, which is a great labor-saver, and has a capacity of sixty bundles per hour; the patent is estimated to be worth $70,000. Mr. Hiett's farm is in the oil district, and is very valuable property.

On December 21, 1856, George Hiett married Miss Elizabeth Mosier, who was born March 6, 1834, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Mosier, na- tives of Pennsylvania, who had a family of ten children. To this union were born children as follows: Emma Alice, born September 27, 1857, married December 25, 1888, to Lewis C. Smith, a fariner, and has one child-Ralph, born Septem- ber 4, 1891 ; Lydia Jeannette, born March 15, 1859, married October 19, 1892, to George Barnt, a farmer and carpenter; Charles Elliott, born March 22, 1861, who, in May, 1888, married Hattie Bink- ley, and has four children-Hazel (born February 17, 1889), Howard (who died in childhood), Eva E. (born June 17, 1890, died June 20, 1890), and Paul

C. (born July 31, 1893); George A., born July 24, 1863, who married Nettie Beck, October 25, 1893; Orven L., born De- cember 19, 1865, a farmer; King Henry, born January 15, 1867, a farmer, who was married March 14, 1894, to Minnie Baumgardner, of Ballville township; Lil- lie Vilota, born May 6, 1870, married February 20, 1894, to Albert C. Ward, a prosperous business man of Toledo, Ohio; Dora Elizabeth, was born February 3, 1873, married December 25, 1894, to Charles L. Flora, a natural mechanic and the patentee of several new and useful inventions.

H ENRY BRINKMAN. Among the worthy citizens of German birth who have found homes in San- dusky county, and rank among her leading agriculturists, is the gentle- man whose name opens this sketch. He was born in Germany October 6, 1820, and is the eldest son of John Henry and Mary (Ornick) Brinkman, both of whom were also natives of Germany. They were farming people, and resided in that country throughout their lives.

Our subject was reared and educated in the land of his birth, and in 1858 sailed for America, for he hoped to better his financial condition in this country, of whose privileges and advantages he had heard much. He landed at Castle Gar- den, New York, without money, but with a plentiful supply of energy and resolu- tion. He came at once to Sandusky county, Ohio, and, in order to earn a liv- ing, began work as a day laborer, being thus employed for three years. He worked early and late, and lived frugally, and at the expiration of that period had saved enough money with which to pur- chase forty acres of timber land. With characteristic energy he began to improve it, and acre by acre was cleared and placed under the plow, until to-day he

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has a well-developed tract and a pleasant home, all the result of his own labor.

Mr. Brinkman was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Alt, a daughter of John Alt, of Germany, where their wedding was celebrated in 1845. They became the parents of three children, all sons, to wit: Henry, now deceased; Frank, a far- mer residing in Washington township, who married Allie Lenz, and has one child; and JOHN, who was born November 14, 1866, in Sandusky county. His edu- cational privileges were very meager, but he has made the most of his opportuni- ties, and in the school of experience has gained a good, practical business knowl- edge. He is now at home with his father, and carries on the farm. He is a pro- gressive, enterprising young agriculturist, and in the management of the home place displays good business ability. The father and son are both supporters of the De- mocracy, and members of the Lutheran Church, and in the community where they reside are highly respected people.

J OHN FANGBONER, auditor of San- dusky county, Ohio, was born in Union county, Penn., June 3, 1845, son of James and Catharine (Ilick) Fangboner.

James Fangboner was born in 1812 in New Jersey, from which State he re- moved, when a young man, to Union county, Penn., where he married, and followed the trade of wagon-maker, in connection with farming. His death oc- curred in 1892. Mrs. Fangboner was born in Easton, Penn., in 1811, and is now residing at Lewisburg, that State. They were the parents of six children, who became heads of families. John Fangboner was reared in Union county, Penn., and at the age of sixteen enlisted in the Union army, but was rejected on account of his youth. He afterward en- listed, February 24, 1864, in Company

K, Fifty-first P. V. I., was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and saw active service, participating in several important battles, and being wounded in the second battle of the Wilderness. He was honor- ably discharged at Trenton, N. J., July 25, 1865. After the war he located at Lewisburg, Penn., and within a short time came to Lindsey, Sandusky Co., Ohio, where he engaged in the business of buying, preparing for market, and shipping live-stock. In 1887 he removed to Fremont in order to prosecute his busi- ness on a larger scale, and recently he has devoted most of his time to the buying, feeding and shipping of sheep, in which he excels, both in the magnitude and management of his undertakings. His sheep barns are models of convenience and comfort for the handling of sheep. One of thetn is 120x 68 in dimensions, two are 20x 100 feet; there is another 100 x 28 feet, and one shed 100 x 36 feet. He has granaries and sheds in close prox- imity to each other, and he fed more than 6,000 sheep within the year 1894. He makes his purchases in Chicago and else- where. Mr. Fangboner also does an ex- tensive business in the buying, packing and shipping of hay and straw, having a num- ber of presses of his own in almost con- stant operation. He ships annually not less than 800 car-loads of farm products, for which he pays the farmers many hun- dreds of thousands of dollars. Mr. Fang- boner is a Republican in politics, and takes a laudable interest in public affairs. He has held many offices of honor and trust, having served on the school board at Lindsey for six years, and was a mem- ber of the village council two years. On his removal to Fremont he was elected a member of the city council. In Novem- ber, 1893, he was elected auditor of San- dusky county, on the Republican ticket, and is the present incumbent, assisted by his son, Irvin T., as deputy. He is well and favorably known in society circles. Socially, he is a member of the K. of H.,

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the Royal Arcanum and the National Union.

In 1871 John Fangboner married Miss Hensel, daughter of Adam and Mary (Benner) Hensel. She died at Lindsey, Ohio, in 1874, the mother of two chil- dren, Irvin T. and Myrtella. Mr. Fang- boner married, for his second wife, Miss Emma, daughter of Jacob Faller, of Fremont, Ohio, and they have one child, Raymond. Irvin T. Fangboner, the well-known, competent, and highly es- teemed deputy auditor of Sandusky county, was for five years assistant teller in the First National Bank of Fremont, Ohio. He is a member of several social clubs and societies in the city, belongs to the B. P. O. Elks, the Masonic Frater- nity, the National Union and the Sons of Veterans. In religions connection he is a member of the Reformed Church of Fre- mont, in which he has served in various official positions.

G EORGE RICHARDS. This well- known citizens of Gibsonburg, Sandusky county, is a veterinary surgeon, and has been practicing his profession since early in life. He was born in the County of Kent, England, February 15, 1819.

The parents of our subject were Thomas and Mary (Court) Richards, the former of whom died in the county of Kent, England, when seventy-eight years old. He was a farmer by occupation, and was a strong, rugged man. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The mother was also born in the County of Kent, England, and lived to be one hundred and one years old. She was never sick until the time of her death. Her father was Clement Court, a farmer by occupation, and her mother, who was born in Worcester, England, was the daughter of a veterinary surgeon.

George Richards gained a fair educa- tion in the schools of East Kent, and

assisted his father upon the farm until fourteen years of age, when he was ap- prenticed to his uncle until he was twenty- one, learning the profession of a veterin- ary surgeon. He then went to London and studied at Greenwich Hospital for a year, when he took his diploma and began practice with his uncle in Kent. There he remained two years, and was then ap- pointed as veterinary and bailiff under Lord Sands. This position he filled for over five years, and then took the man- agement of a tavern in West Kent called the " Bull Inn," which he conducted for two and a half years, when he sold out and became the proprietor of the " Drum Inn," East Kent, remaining there some three years. This property he disposed of in 1859, and then emigrated to America.

Mr. Richards at first located in Rich- field, Ohio, and engaged in the butcher- ing business until 1861, when, the Civil war breaking ont, he enlisted in the Second Battalion, Ohio Cavalry, serving two and a half years. He was sent from Camp Dennison to St. Louis and Kansas City, Mo., and was in the expedition in search of Quantrell's band of bush- whackers. They had an exciting chase, in which they captured six of Quantrell's men. About this time Mr. Richards' wife was taken sick, and died, so he returned home. He then located in Lorain coun- ty, Ohio, on Butternut Ridge, where he lived until 1864, in which year he went to Wood county and bought land. This he traded for land beyond Summit. He made a business of buying and selling land, in the meantime practicing his pro- fession as a veterinary surgeon, having as much as he could do in that line. He is now the owner of a good property, and although he has practically retired from business, he still does some work in his profession. Mr. Richards was married in 1850, in England, to Mary Bramble, who died during the Civil war, in 1863, in Lake township, Wood Co., Ohio. Of this union there were born the following chil-

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dren: Margery; George, who married Clara Hedricks, and has three children- Esther, Harry and Daisy; Mary, the wife of David Ively, has four children-Harry, Charley, George and Fred; Margaret died when twenty-three years old; Sarah mar- ried W. Fought, and has one child- Arthur; Margaret died when one year old. For his second wife Mr. Richards mar- ried Miss Sarah Weaver, who was born in Franklin, Penn., in 1849. The chil- dren of this marriage are: Lottie, the wife of John Mull (they have three children- Melvin, Ira and Ethel); Fred, married to Miss Mame Foster; Clara, deceased; William, Effie, Emma, Henry, Jemima, Eddie and Bessie.

Mr. Richards is a Republican in poli- tics. In religion he is a member of the United Brethren Church, and has been very active in all good works, helping to build three or four churches. He is a man of intelligence and a good conversa- tionalist.

H ENRY A. WINTER. This gen- tleman, who is one of the most prominent farmers and stock rais- ers of Townsend township, San- dusky county, has, by his sterling integ- rity, honest and straightforward dealing, earned for himself an enviable reputation and a good name. He is a son of Daniel and Mary (Dale) Winter, and was born January 8, 1838, upon the homestead farm, on which he still resides.

Daniel Winter, who was of German ancestry, was born in Hagerstown, Md., March 30, 1797, and was a son of Chris- tian and Palmer Winter, who removed to Canada about 1800, locating near Fort Erie, where they resided until 1812. On the breaking out of the war of 1812 Christian Winter entered the ranks of the American army; but, as he had pre- viously taken the oath of allegiance to the British Crown, the Canadian author- ities endeavored to enroll him into their

army, and during the war he had many narrow escapes from capture by the Brit- ish. After the close of the struggle he settled in Erie county, Ohio, where he resided until his death. He was an up- right, honored citizen, and his memory will long be cherished. Daniel Winter was three years old when he was taken by his parents to Canada, and he was there reared to manhood. He also was drafted into the British army, but escaped and settled in Erie county, Ohio, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1821, when he removed to what was then called the Prairies (now Townsend township), where he spent the remainder of his days. In Erie county, Ohio, April 6, 1831, he was united in marriage with Mary Dale, a lady of German ancestry, born in Dan- ville, Penn., February 11, 1800, and they had four children, as follows: J. Nelson, born April 26, 1834, and residing in Clyde, Sandusky county; Henry A., the subject of this sketch; Ralph J., born November 20, 1842, died April 18, 1885; and Mary E., born September 11, 1845, died at Madi- son, Ga., March 27, 1889. On June 24, 1869, Daniel Winter was called from earth, beloved of all who knew him.

Henry A. Winter has passed his whole life in Townsend township, was educated in the district school, and since early youth has been engaged in farming and stock raising. In Erie county, Ohio, May 28, 1874, Mr. Winter was united in mar- riage with Bella Neill, who was born in Delaware, Delaware Co., Ohio, April 17, 1857, and they have had children, their names and dates of birth being as follows: Ralph, February 27, 1875; Allan, July 4, 1876; Louis, February 18, 1878; Daniel, July 7, 1879; Charles, June 21, 1880; Edith, August 4, 1882; and Neil, Feb- ruary 27, 1884. The parents of Mrs. Winter, Louis and Jeannette S. (Gaw) Neill, were both born in Sandusky City, Erie county, and both are still living. Mr. Winter is a Republican in politics, and the family attend the United Brethren

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Church. Mrs. Winter is a school director for Sandusky county, being the first lady director ever elected in the county.

N B. ERVIN, M. D., one of the most successful medical practi- tioners of Sandusky county, as well as one of the most enterpris- ing and deserving business men, is a resi- dent of Gibsonburg. He was born near Mansfield, Ohio, January 15, 1853, son of Ezekiel and Sarah (Kerr) Ervin.

Ezekial Ervin was born in October, 1799, in Westmoreland county, Penn., and about 1830 migrated to Richland county, Ohio, where, with his brother-in- law, Jesse Swann, he opened up a wilder- ness farm. The rails of this pioneer farm were made from walnut lumber, which in after years became almost priceless in value. Sarah (Kerr), the mother of our subject, was also a native of Westmore- land county. They remained lifelong citizens of Richland county, the mother dying in 1865, the father surviving till 1880. He had only one brother-who remained in Pennsylvania and left two sons-but several sisters, one of whom had married Jesse Swann. The children of Ezekiel and Sarah Ervin, were as fol- lows: James, a soldier of the Civil war, who, in the spring of 1865, when on his way home on parole from a Rebel prison, was killed in the steamer "Sultana" horror near Vicksburg; William, who died in childhood; John M., a harness-maker of Mansfield; Mary, who died in child- hood; Dr. N. B., subject of this sketch; Ruth, wife of James McCulley, of Toledo; Ira, who died at Clyde, aged twenty-six years; and Sadie, deceased wife of Howard Rummel.

Our subject grew up on his father's farm, and in addition to his common- school education, took an academic course at Perrysville, Ohio. He then attended medical lectures at the Cleveland Medical School, the Medical Department of

Wooster University, graduating with the class of 1881. The young physician at once opened an office at Gibsonburg, and he has remained here ever since. He quickly won the confidence of the com- munity by his professional skill, and has from the first enjoyed a large practice. In 1893 Dr. Ervin opened a drug store, which he still owns; but he devotes his time chiefly to his practice. He is also interested in various enterprises which are materially helping the village and county: He is a charter member, a stock- holder and a director of the Gibsonburg Banking Company; he was president of the first gas company ever organized at Gibsonburg, the Gibsonburg National Gas and Oil Company, and now has interests in that and in the Ervin Oil Company, who control considerable land and own about thirty wells, being largely engaged in the oil industry. He is also financially interested with Williams Bros. in the oil fields, and is a member of the Buckeye Torpedo Co., who are engaged in the manufacture of nitro-glycerine for shoot- ing oil wells. In politics the Doctor is a Republican. Socially, he is a prominent member of the I.O.O.F., the K. of P., the Knights of the Maccabees, and the Masonic Fraternity. Professionally he is a member of the State Medical Society, and also of the Sandusky County Medical Society. The town of Gibsonburg is in- debted for its prosperity to men of the courage and conviction of Dr. Ervin. He is a leader in financial operations, and has displayed a rare good judgment in the undertakings with which he has been as- sociated.

On September 9, 1880, Dr. Ervin was married, near Mansfield, to Miss Josephine Smith, a native of Wayne county, and they have a family of four children: Mabel, born January 2, 1882; James Sidney, born January 20, 1886; Norman, born September 9, 1889; and Dale, born November 12, 1893. 3 Mrs. Ervin was born July 23, 1859, daughter

N. B. Ervin M.M.

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of John and Rebecca (Gillam) Smith, and received her education in Richland and Wayne counties, Ohio. Her father was born July 24, 1820, her mother June 3, 1821, and they were the parents of seven children, of whom four are now living, as follows: Josephine (Mrs. Ervin); Mrs. Mary Robinson, of Lucas, Ohio; Mrs. Ellen Irvin, of Mansfield, Ohio; and Mrs. Lizzie Wallace, of Lucas, Ohio. Mr. Smith came to his death, May 25, 1890, by the explosion of a quantity of dyna- mite; his wife survived him until 1893. Mrs. Ervin's paternal grandfather, Daniel Smith, was born about 1798, and mar- ried Anna Hartford, who died at an early age, leaving a family of five children. Her maternal grandfather, William Gil- lam, wedded Mary Kennedy, who was born about 1800, and died in 1874; to this union were born seven children, of whom one is living.

L OUIS LINKE, one of the substan- tial farmers of northern Ohio, was born May 12, 1837, in Hanover, Germany, and is a son of Herman H. and Anna (Thorman) Linke, who were born in Hanover, Germany, in Novem- ber, 1795, and in September, 1798, re- spectively.

Herman H. Linke and his wife Anna were the parents of four children, name- ly: Anna M., born in 1820, who married Clarence Ulgerslinger, a tailor, and they live in Germany; Annie Mary, born in 1825, married Christopher Rolfus, a maker of wooden shoes, and they live in Germany; Aberhart, born in 1825, now a farmer in Woodville township, Sandusky county, married to Sophia Hilker, and they have six children-Annie, Sophia, Herman, and three who died young; and Ludwig Henry, or Louis, the subject of this sketch.

Louis Linke came to America with his parents in the fall of 1852. In eighteen weeks from the time they left the Father-

land they located in Ohio, visiting first at his uncle's, in Troy township, Wood coun- ty. He then went to his brother, who owned a farm, and stayed there for a time, working out at different places un- til his marriage. On March 7, 1860, Louis Linke married Maria Hurdelbrink, who was born October 8, 1839, in Han- over, Germany, and nine children have been born to them, as follows: Herman Henry, March 18, 1861, now a farmer in Woodville township, Sandusky Co., Ohio, married to Ganna Sandwisch, and has two children-Ida and Lizzie; Elizabeth, born April 6, 1862, died young; Eberhart Henry, born August 28, 1863, now a farmer in Clay township, Ottawa county, who married Louisa Obermeyer, and they have had two children, Minnie and Ed; Annie Louisa, born August 11, 1866, mar- ried to Herman Sander, a farmer of Ot- tawa county, and they have three chil- dren-Louis, Carrie and Dora; Eberhard Henry, born June 24, 1868, died August 22, 1869, aged one year and twenty-eight days, and was buried at Woodville; Sophia Eliza, born May 11, 1871, married Fred Shulte, a farmer of Sandusky county, and has one child-Louis; Anna Maria Car- rie, born August 26, 1874, unmarried and living at home; John Ludwig, born March 30, 1879, living at home; and Maria Eliza, born December 18, 1883, deceased when young.

Mrs. Louis Linke's parents came to America in 1837, and only remained in the East a short time. They were very poor, and her father worked by the day among the farmers. Coming to Ohio, they lived for a short time with a friend named Hartman. Her father worked out, and saved his money, bought forty acres of land, put up a log cabin, and began clearing. This land he kept for several years, and then sold it. Later he bought eighty acres, all but two of which were in timber, and cleared about half of this. Before he died this farm was divided among the children. He was born in

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1803, and died in 1877; his wife was born in 1800, and died in 1867. Mrs. Linke's brothers and sisters were as follows: Henry, born in 1834, married Angeline Starke, by whom he has had eight chil- dren (he has a farm of eighty acres in Woodville township which he rents, and lives retired with his children in Toledo, Ohio); William, a farmer of Woodville township, married Louisa Coleman, and they have seven children; and Eliza and Angeline, who died young.

In 1861 Mr. Linke bought 126 acres of timberland, all in the woods, put up a log cabin, and began clearing. In 1864 he sold twenty-five acres to his brother, since when he has owned, in all, 238 acres. He now has 149 acres, and car- ries on general farming. He is one of the oldest members of the Lutheran Church in Troy township, Wood Co., Ohio. In politics a Democrat, he was trustee for eleven years, and supervisor several years. He is an upright, honest man, does not show the marks of his years of hard work, and has not yet a gray hair in his head.

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Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 37

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