Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 40

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 40
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 40

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).

Mr. Hoover has a small fruit and gar- den truck farm of thirteen and one-third acres; but a man's income is not always to be estimated by the number of acres he possesses. In casting his ballot he usually favors the candidates of the party that was instrumental in preserving the Union.

J OSEPH WHITEHEAD, a substan- tial farmer of Townsend township, Sandusky county, is a son of Joseph and Matilda (Albon) Whitehead, and was born in Huntingdonshire, England, January 24, 1836.

Joseph Whitehead, Sr., was born in 1810, at Great Gransden, Huntingdon- shire, England. In 1833 he was united in marriage with Matilda Albon, who was born in 1814, a daughter of John Albon, who came to the United States in 1833, the year of his daughter's marriage, and located in Erie county, Ohio. Mr. Whitehead, his son-in-law, received such glowing accounts of the natural wealth and resources of this great land, that he decided to leave his bake-shop and Britannia's shores, and make a home on this side of the bil-

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lowy Atlantic. So he set out with his family in 1851, landed at Quebec, and came on from there to Sandusky City, Erie Co., Ohio, part of the way by boat, from Niagara to Chippewa on horse-cars, reaching Sandusky City June 15, 1851. The same year Mr. Whitehead bought 120 acres of land in Sandusky county, on which his son Thomas C. now resides. Mrs. Whitehead departed this life in the fall of 1864, and Mr. Whitehead on Feb- ruary 10, 1891.

Joseph Whitehead (Jr.), the subject of this sketch, received only a limited ed- ucation in his native land, and it was not augmented by schooling after reaching the United States. At the age of fifteen he accompanied his parents to America. He served as a "hundred-day-man" in the war from May 2, 1864, until Septem- ber 5, when he was discharged. On June 12, 1865, Mr. Whitehead married Laura A. George, who was born August 5, 1843, and they have had four children, as fol- lows: William H., born August 29, 1868, married Mary Howe, of Riley township, Sandusky county, November 26, 1891 (they had a daughter, Estella May, born December 27, 1894); John T., born Jan- uary 11, 1871; Bessie R., born in 1875, married Oscar Longanbach on February 22, 1894 (they had a daughter, Cora Ella, born July 28, 1895); and Ross D., born September 28, 1878. The father of Mrs. Whitehead, Joseph George, formerly re- sided in Townsend township, but removed to Clyde, Green Creek township, San- dusky county, where both he and his wife were laid to rest. They had a family of fourteen children, and Mr. George en- dured a great number of hardships through life. He was an old pioneer, and served in the war 1812, receiving a discharge.

After his marriage our subject, Joseph Whitehead, resided in Riley township, Sandusky county, about twenty years, since when he has lived in Townsend township. Ile has a farm of three hun- dren and sixty acres, all under cultivation,

and makes a specialty of grain and stock. In the spring of 1893 he was thrown from a horse, and sustained injuries internally, which he is likely to feel the rest of his life. Politically, Mr. Whitehead's sympa- thies are with the Republican party.

Z ACHARIAS HOUTZ. Among the enterprising agriculturists of San- dusky county who are rapidly push- ing their way to the front, to a place among the substantial and leading citizens, is this gentleman.

He was born March 14, 1850, in Ma- honing county, Ohio, where his father was a pioneer, and when a mere lad came with his parents to Scott township, San- dusky county. His father, John Houtz, who was born in Pennsylvania September 13, 1801, and located in this locality when it was an unbroken wilderness. He pur- chased the east half of Section 4, Scott township, a Mr. Roller purchasing the west half about the same time. He also bought one hundred acres on the Greens- burg pike, which he afterward sold, be- coming the owner of a like amount near Helena, a portion of which has been di- vided into village lots and sold. He con- tinued to conduct his business affairs with marked ability, and at his death was in very comfortable circumstances, owning much valuable real estate, and a large amount of money in notes. Before his demise he divided the property among his heirs. He passed away January 20, 1881, and the community mourned the death of one of its respected and valued citizens. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Eliza- beth Boyer, was born May 9, 1819, and died July 27, 1871. They were the par- ents of six children-Mary, Cornelius, Zacharias, Elizabeth, John and Sarah.

Aiding in the work of the farm, Zach- arias Houtz developed a strong and vig- orous constitution. His mental training was meager, as the schools of the neigh- borhood were poor; but through business

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experience and observation he has be- come a well-informed man, and has pro- vided his children with good educational advantages. With his axe upon his shoulder he would start out early in the morning with his father to assist in the work of clearing the farm, seventy-three acres of which he received of the home- stead, which was almost unbroken for- est. As the years passed, the forest was replaced by waving fields of grain and grassy meadows, and in 1874 Mr. Houtz erected his first frame house of the family, and in 1892 he built a substantial frame residence, which stands as a monument to his thrift and enterprise. He now gives his entire attention to farming, and to the oil business, in which he is exten- sively engaged. On September 1, 1882, Mr. Houtz purchased thirty acres. In 1 889 he leased the 103-acre farm on which he resides for a consideration of one dol- lar per acre and one-eighth of the oil pro- duced. He has since purchased eighty acres, which he has leased for one-sixth of the oil. The royalty from his wells con- stitutes a handsome income, and would enable him to retire at once from business were he so disposed; but indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature, and he continues his work, increasing the value of his property by keeping his farm in good condition.

On October 22, 1874, Mr. Houtz wed- ded Mary Jane Plantz, who was born Oc- tober 26, 1858, and is a daughter of an honored pioneer of Scott township, San- dusky county, Benjamin Plantz, who was born in Lancaster county, Penn., March 18, 1810. His wife, Amelia (Romler), was born February 6, 1818, in Colum- biana county, Ohio, and died June 16, 1892. His death occurred in January, 1895, and of their thirteen children seven are now living. Grandfather Jacob Plantz was born in 1790, his wife in 1792, and they passed away in 1876 and 1880 re- spectively. They had eight children, six of whom are living. The maternal grand-

father, Mr. Romler, died about 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Houtz are the parents of seven children: Mary Lodema, born June 7, 1875, was married March 3, 1895, to Burt Whiteman, who is engaged with the Manhattan Oil Company, in Scott town- ship, Sandusky county; Verna Ellen, born September 16, 1877; John William, born October 16, 1879; Belvin C., born September 4, 1882; Edward Floyd, born June 3, 1885; Charles E., born May 18, 1887; and Minnie May, born May I, 1892. The family circle yet remains un- broken, and the friends of parents and children are many.

Mr. Houtz is a supporter of the Peo- ples party, but has never sought or de- sired political preferment, giving his time and energies to his business interests, in which he has met with a high degree of prosperity, thanks to his capable manage- ment, his enterprise and honorable dealing.

D AVID B. JONES. Among those who successfully follow agricul- tural pursuits in Madison town- ship, Sandusky county, is num- bered this gentleman-one of the worthy citizens that the land of the Cymri has furnished to this locality.

He was born in Montgomeryshire, Wales, July 25, 1841, and is a son of Jolin and Mary (Jones) Jones, who were also natives of the same county. The father was a farm laborer, and worked at any oc- cupation that would yield him an honest living. In the family were eight children, six of whom are living and are married, namely: Sinah, widow of Thomas Jones, a farmer of Wales; John, a farmer of Madison township, Sandusky county; Thomas, an agriculturist of Iowa; David B., subject of this sketch; Mary, wife of Edward Griffis, who follows agricultural pursuits in Wales; and Humphrey, a farmer of Iowa; Ellis is deceased, and one other died in infancy. The parents spent their entire lives in their native land, where the

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father died in 1858, while the mother's death occurred in 1885.

Our subject spent the first twenty- three years of his life in his native land, during which time he received no educa- tional privileges, for the schools were not free institutions, and the parents were too poor to afford to pay for what they con- sidered was not within their means, for education in those days was not looked upon as an absolute necessity. He learned to read in the Welsh language while at- tending Sunday-school. At the tender age of eleven years he began to work as a farm laborer, receiving the meagre com- pensation of two pounds per year and his board, his mother having to do his wash- ing for him. He worked in this way for a period of twelve years, his wages in- creasing as the years passed by, and he was able to do more work. In this way he managed to contribute to the support of his widowed mother, who was left in very limited circumstances. In 1865, having determined to try his fortune in the New World, he sailed from the shore of his native land to seek broader fields and bet- ter opportunities in America. On landing here he came direct to Ohio, and found employment as a farm hand in Morrow county, where he was given $14 per month and his board. This seemed good wages to one who was accustomed to the meagre equivalents sometimes paid in Europe. He continued in the employ of one man for six years, and during the last year re- ceived $20 per month. While working in this way he spent two months of three winter seasons in school, and thereby gained enough knowledge to continue his education alone, which he has done, be- coming a well-informed man through read- ing, study. experience and observation. Habits of industry, sobriety and economy enabled him to accumulate some money, and he then left Ohio for the territory beyond the Mississippi, purchasing eighty aeres of land in lowa. A year later he returned to the Buckeye State, and again

worked in Morrow county as a farm laborer, and was employed at the poor- house of the State for a year.

Mr. Jones then returned to Wales to visit his mother, and for twelve months remained in the land of his birth, when he again came to the United States. Taking up his residence in Madison town- ship, Sandusky county, he purchased an interest in a shingle-mill, which he con- ducted in connection with a partner for nine months, when he sold and purchased eighty acres of land in the same township. He then returned to Morrow county, where he operated a farm, on shares, for Mrs. Jones, a widow lady, continuing that employment some four years, when he resumed work as a farm hand. In 1880 he made his second trip across the Atlantic, this time in quest of a wife, and again spent a year in the midst of the scenes of his childhood. In 1881 he sailed with his bride for America, landing at Boston on the 6th of October, whence he came direct to his farm in Sandusky county. In six weeks he had erected a frame dwelling, in which he and his wife were soon established, beginning life in earnest in their new home. He had pre- viously purchased an additional ten acres, and now had ninety acres of wooded land to clear and make productive; but indus- try is one of his chief characteristics, and in course of time the forest was replaced by rich and fertile fields, where wheat and corn and other grains gave evidence of good harvests, while well-kept fences, good barns and other outbuildings indi- cated his enterprise and told of a busy life. He also added to and improved his dwelling, and his home and its surround- ings bespeak the industry and enterpris- ing spirit of the owner. He has availed himself of every opportunity offered in or- der to achieve success, and there has been little leisure in his life, for he is always at work improving his place in one way or another. Through thrift and economy he managed to save enough to purchase the

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farm on which he worked during the first six years of his residence in this country -- a tract of 200 acres, costing $7,400. It is situated in Morrow county, and, being rented, yields to him a good income.

The wife of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Ellen Jones, was born in Montgomeryshire, Wales, February 13, 1848, one of the eight children of Ellis Jones, a farmer of Wales, who died Oc- tober 7, 1894, at the age of eighty-one years; his wife passed away in 1890. David Jones and his wife have two chil- dren-Mary E., born July 26, 1882; and Ellis, born January 31, 1888. Mr. Jones has been school director for one term, also clerk of the board, and was elected supervisor for one year. He votes with the Republican party, but prefers business to politics. His success he owes to no man, earnest and honest toil bringing him what he possesses to-day. Industry and close application to business have been the rounds of the ladder on which he has mounted to prosperity, and are traits of character worthy of emulation.

L E ROY NICHOLS BROWN, one of the intelligent and progressive citizens of Clyde, Sandusky coun- ty, was born in Huron county, Ohio, November 22, 1850, and is a son of Franklin and Rispah A. (Nichols) Brown.

The father was born near Plymouth, Richland Co., Ohio, in 1825, and was a son of Peter Brown, who engaged in ho- tel-keeping in that locality until his son was about six years of age, when he re- moved to a tract of timber land in the western part of Norwich township, Huron county, where he built a gristmill, which was operated by horse power. This was the only mill in the locality, and people came for fifty miles around to get their grists. The father of our subject, during his boyhood, used to turn the bolt by hand, until the grandfather constructed a machine to do the work. For twenty-

five years the latter carried on the mill- ing business, and then retired into private life, making his home with his son in Peru township, Huron county, where he died at the advanced age of eighty. one years. In his political views he was a Whig. His wife afterward removed to Clyde, where her death occurred when she had attained the ripe old age of ninety-three. The mar- riage of this worthy couple was celebrated in Norwich, Ohio; the husband was born in Norwich, Vt., the wife in Norwich. Connecticut.

Dr. Franklin Brown was one of a fam- ily of eleven children. During his youth he learned the blacksmith's trade, and fol- lowed that business in connection with farm work for some time. After his mar- riage, in 1847, he carried on blacksmith- ing exclusively for fifteen years, doing a good business. When he sold out he re- moved to Peru township, in 1860, and en- gaged in farming, keeping a smithy only for the purpose of doing his own work. In 1869 he disposed of his property in that place, and taking up his residence in Clyde established a meat market. Not long after his arrival he was elected mar- shal of Clyde; and it was then that "Brown's Hotel " became known. In his composition was a vein of humor which made itself manifest in having a sign painted " Brown's Hotel," and nailed up over the door of the jail. The name was at once adopted, and the old sign hung in its place until very recently when the city replaced it by a new one, and this house of correction still goes by the name of "Brown's Hotel." For about six years he acceptably filled the office of marshal, and was always recognized as a leading and influential citizen. He held mem- bership with the Universalist Church. His death occurred May 27, 1886, and he was buried on Decoration day. His wife, who was born in Weathersfield, Vt., April 3, 1827, is still living. In the fam- ily there were two children. Valeda, the eldest, born March 10, 1849, was on No-

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vember 12, 1873, married to H. B. Whit- aker. They had three children-Leona N., Yule C. and Frank E .- and resided in Crawford county, Kans. ; Mrs. Whitaker died November 11, 1893, and was buried at Girard, Kansas.

Mr. Brown, whose name introduces this sketch, has lived in Clyde since his early boyhood, and was educated in its public schools. In 1869 he became in- terested in the dry-goods business here, and for thirteen years was associated with that line of trade, when he embarked in gardening and fruit growing, raising peaches, pears, celery, tomatoes and cab- bage. On December 7, 1872, he was united in marriage with Miss Clara M. Letson, daughter of Abram and Analiza Letson, natives, the father of New Jersey, the mother of Jefferson county, Ohio. Migrating westward, Abram Let- son located on a farm in Hardin county, Ohio, and was married December 11, 1851. In Hardin county Mr. Letson re- mained until the spring of 1866, when he removed to Clyde with his family, where he still resides. To Mr. and Mrs. L. N. Brown have been born five children: Carroll C., Eugene E., Laverne L., Mil- dred M. and Ima I.

Mr. Brown is a member of the Order of United American Mechanics. He is now serving his third term of three years each as a member of the school board of Clyde; has for seven years been clerk of the board, and has taken an active part in educational matters, doing all in his power to secure good schools, and to raise their standard of excellence, for he be- lieves that education is one of the im- portant factors in producing good citi- zens.

J OSIAH ZIMMERMAN was born in Knox county, Ohio, October 5, 1842, and is a son of Adamı and Maria (Mathias) Zimmerman. The family is of German origin. The grandparents,

David and Catharine (Shultz) Zimmer- man, were natives of the Fatherland, the former born in 1776, the latter in 1778. His death occurred in 1862, and his wife passed away in 1864. This worthy couple were the parents of twelve children-John, Rosa, Jacob, George, Peter, Adam, Cath- erine, Susan, Margaret, Mary, and two daughters who died in infancy. The ma- ternal grandparents of our subject were Abram and Mary (Shafer) Mathias, the former of whom was born near Pittsburg, Penn., in 1787, made farming his life work, and passed away in 1863 ; his wife, who was born in 1790, survived until 1874. Their eight children were: Elizabeth, Susan, Lydia, Nancy, Catherine, Maria, Philip and Daniel.

When our subject was a child of six years his parents came to Ohio, locating in Jackson township, Seneca county. His father was a farmer by occupation and was born in Stark county, this State, May 19, 1819. In 1841 he wedded Maria Mathias, and they became the parents of eleven children, of whom our subject is the eldest. The others are: Philip, who was in the one-hundred-day service during the Civil war; Lydia A .; Nancy Jane; Sarah; Eli A .; John Wesley; Abram A .; Simon A .; Nathaniel, and Mary. The father carried on agricultural pursuits. throughout the greater part of his life, and died August 18, 1885.

Josiah Zimmerman was reared in Seneca county, acquired his education in its public schools, and there made his. home until after the South had taken up- arms against the Union, when, in August, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Forty- ninth O. V. I., serving for four and a half years. At the battle of Shiloh he received a scalp wound, and at the battle of Chickamauga was wounded in the left hip, and had a ring shot from the little finger of his left hand. At the battle of Dallas, Ga., May 22, 1864, he received a wound which nearly caused his death, and forced him to remain in the hospital

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for six months. An ounce ball struck him just in front of the left ear, passing di- rectly through the head and coming out about an inch below the right ear. This was his last battle, for when he had re- covered the war was over, and, receiving an honorable discharge, he returned to his home.

Mr. Zimmerman then removed to Scott township, Sandusky county, and on March 6, 1866, was united in marriage with Miss Elsie A. Brion, who was born May 26, 1850, in Scott township, where her father was a farmer. She was the daughter of John and Lucinda (Gerold) Brion, the former of whom, born October 8, 1813, died July 2, 1895, the latter passing away May 16, 1887. Of their six children all are yet living, namely: Norman, who served for three years in the Seventy-second O. V. I. during the Civil war; Mary Jane, wife of Samuel Martin, of Michigan; Ann, wife of Charles Woodruff; Elsie A., wife of our subject; Charles, and Theodore. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Zimmerman, Thomas Brion, also made farming his life occupa- tion. He was born in Ohio in 1789, and married Betsy Walkup, who was a few years his junior, and who passed from earth a few years before him. Their four children were Betsy, John, Joseph, and one who died in infancy. The ma- ternal grandparents of Mrs. Zimmerman, Theodore and Elsie (Decker) Gerold, were natives of New York, born in 1770 and 1774 respectively. Their seven chil- dren-James, Lucinda, John, Thomas, George, Jackson, and Isaac-are all de- ceased. The first named served in the Mexican war, and John, Thomas and Jackson were soldiers of the Civil war.

For two years Mr. and Mrs. Zimmer- man resided in Scott township, Sandusky county; but on account of his health Mr. Zimmerman was obliged to abandon farm- ing, and for two years carried on a grocery. The succeeding three years he spent in a sawmill as head sawyer, after

which he purchased the mill and has since continued its operation. In addition to his mill property he also owns eighty acres of land, well-fenced, and under a high state of cultivation, and he is now doing a successful business. He has ac- cumulated his property entirely through his own efforts. To Mr. and Mrs. Zim- merman have come four children-Charles F., born February 1I, 1869, who was married December 3, 1891, to Rachel Shupe, and their children are Melvin and Cloal (he is connected with his father in the mill); Hattie M., born June 18, 1871, and Ervin A., born March 12, 1878, are still with their parents; and Flavilia, born August 28, 1887, died September 27, of the same year.

H ENRY DORR, a prosperous farm- er and honored citizen of Riley township, Sandusky county, was born October II, 1850. His par- ents, John and Catherine (Yager) Dorr, were born in Germany, in 1816 and 1831, respectively.

After coming to the United States John Dorr settled in New York State, and there conducted a milk depot for several years. He then came to Ohio, settling in Riley township, Sandusky coun- ty, where he engaged in work by the day, saved his money, and bought forty acres of valuable land, which cost him $3, 200. Three children came to Mr. and Mrs. John Dorr, as follows: Mary, born in 1844, who married Jacob Hilt, and they have had two children-Edward and Laura; they live in Fremont, Sandusky county; Mr. Hilt is a Democrat in pol- itics, and a member of the Lutheran Church. Henry is the subject of these lines. John died young. Mr. Dorr is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Lutheran Church. His wife died June 13, 1892.

Henry Dorr was reared at home, was early taught valuable lessons of upright-

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ness, persevering industry and economy, and worked for his father until his twen- ty-fifth year. Then, on December 5. 1876, he was united in marriage with Catherine Martin, and their union has been blessed with six children, as follows: Ella B., born April 15, 1881; William E., born July 4, 1882; Albert L., born Au- gust 19, 1883; Hattie M., born Septem- ber 21, 1884: Anna C., born May 28, 1887; and Chester F., born May 26, 1890. Mr. Dorr bought land from his father, and now carries on general farming. He is a Democrat in political affiliation, and he attends the Grace Lutheran Church.

J ONATHAN SPOHN is a well-known farmer of Green Creek township, Sandusky county, where no citizen enjoys greater esteem among his fellow citizens. He is a native of Perry · county, Ohio, born January 10, 1822, son of Jacob and Barbara (Anspach) Spohn. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Spohn were born in Hagerstown, Md., and Lancaster county, Penn., respectively, and they were married in Reading township, Perry Co., Ohio, where their parents had lo- cated. There was a settlement of pioneer families from Pennsylvania at that place when Mrs. Spohn was about thirteen years old, and Jacob Spohn's people also settled there about that time, in the wil- derness among the Indians. The pater- nal grandfather, Philip Spohn, was an American soldier all through the Revolu- tionary war, and was pensioned by the U. S. Government; he served as one of Gen. Washington's bodyguard during the Jonathan Spohn grew to manhood in Perry county, and when twenty-one years old came to Sandusky county, Ohio, where he ranks among the old pioneers. He was a blacksmith by trade, and worked first in Ballville township two years, after which he put up a shop for himself on the line of the Western Reserve and Maumee war. In after years he often related how the English general, Lord Howe, had Washington's army surrounded in the bend of a river when night came on, and seemed sure of his capture the following morning, but that during the night Wash- ington marshaled his little army out from under the bank of the river, and before | Pike, east of Lower Sandusky, across the

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Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 40

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