Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 42

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 42
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 42

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).

Charles Livingstine worked for his father until his twenty-fourth year, and then, on April 1, 1852, married Mary Shoch, settling in Riley township, where he bought 280 acres of land, which cost him $10,600. They have had twelve children, viz. : Alvina, born in 1853, and Jacob, born in 1855, deceased when young;

Charles H., born November 9, 1857, who in 1878 married Miss Jennettie Halbeisen, and they had one child, the mother dying in 1887, after which, in 1891, he married Mary Ulch, and they live in Sandusky township; Edward, born in 1858, de- ceased in 1866; Mary C., born in 1860, who married William Vogt, and lives in Riley township; Lydia, born in 1862, de- ceased when young; Harriet, born in 1864, inarried to David Russell, and they have had five children; William L., born in 1866, deceased when young; John, born in 1870, and now a farmer in Sandusky township, married Carrie Johnson in 1892, and they have one child; Frank, born in April, 1866, and Levi, born in 1872, both deceased when young, and Robert, born in 1873.

Mr. Livingstine cleared the greater part of the farm on which he lives, and carries on general farming. He is much esteemed in the community, and has been repeatedly honored with election to public office, having been justice of the peace thirteen years, trustee nineteen years, school director six years, township treas- urer nineteen years and infirmary director seven years, of the county. He votes the Democratic ticket, and attends the Lutheran Church, of which he has been an elder for ten years, and is trustee at the present time.

J OHN BARTSON, farmer, Ballville township, Sandusky county, a na- tive of Luxemburg, Germany, was born January 1, 1834, a son of John Bartson, Sr., who was born in 1779 at Frankfort-on-the-Maine, served as a sol- dier under the First Napoleon in the twenty-five-years' war, and came to America in 1842. After landing in New York he proceeded to Stark county, Ohio, where he remained a year; then, with a yoke of cattle, a horse and a cow, and a large covered wagon, he moved through the forests to Ballville township, Sandusky

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county, where he settled upon forty acres of partly-improved land, for which he paid $18o. He built a log cabin, and cleared up land for farming purposes; but after four years of hard work he succumbed to a severe attack of bilious fever, the early scourge of the Black Swamp, died in 1847 at the age of sixty-eight, and was buried at Tiffin, Ohio. The children of John Bartson, Sr., were: John, Jr .; Catharine, born March 4, 1836, married to Anthony Fullmer, their children being: John, Cath- arine, George, Mary, and four that died in childhood. After the death of John Bartson, Sr., his widow married John May, a farmer of Ballville township.

Our subject, John Bartson, remained at home two years with his widowed mother, and after her marriage to Mr. May he lived with them three years, and then went to work on the U. S. mail steamer "Lady Pike," plying between Louisville and Cincinnati; he stayed there one season, came home, and the follow- ing season worked on the " War Eagle" up and down the Mississippi. Returning, he chopped in the woods during the win- ter, the next summer was on a farm in Il- linois, and the following winter assisted in chopping and logging at Chippewa Falls, Wis. He made several trips on rafts down the Mississippi to New Orleans, and was on the steamer "City Belle" one season; later, he returned to Wisconsin, where, at Chippewa Falls, he was sick with bilious fever six months. After his recovery he returned to Ohio, married, rented eighty acres of. land of Thomas Easterwood for two years, then bought eighty acres of timber land in Ballville township for $800, gave forty acres of it to his father-in-law, built a cabin, and sold the balance at an advance. He then bought forty acres in Sandusky township for $1,400, and lived there until 1864, when he was drafted into the army. He served in Company A, Sixty-fourth Regi- ment, O. V. I., Third Brigade, Second Division, Fourth Army Corps, and en-

dured all the trials and privations incident to his regiment in active service. He started at Johnson's Island, Ohio, was re- examined at Columbus, and mustered in with about 4,000 others, taken success- ively to Indianapolis, Louisville, Nash- ville, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Alpine, Pu- laski, Columbus and Spring Hill. At the last place he stood on picket all night during a battle, being in the rear guard while forces went to Franklin. When they marched in front of Franklin he was in the skirmish line in front of Hood's army, where, after holding the Rebels at bay for a time, he retreated behind the second line of works; held that place till 12 o'clock at night, and then went along to Nashville and helped fortify the town. Many other instances of doing duty in times of danger might be mentioned. Our subject fought under Gen. Thomas, at Nashville, for forty-eight hours, when the regiment had about 400 men, and Com- pany A only 25 men left out of 100 which were fit for duty. They marched back to Franklin, Spring Hill, Cumberland, Pu- laski, Huntsville, Decatur, Athens, Silver Creek, fixed up a block-house, and fought Forrest's and Rowdey's cavalry for three weeks, until they were relieved by a Wis- consin regiment. They returned to Hunts- ville, and by train to Chattanooga, Selma, Knoxville, Strawberry Plains, Blue Spring, and Bull's Gap, when they heard that Gen. Robert E. Lee had surrendered. Then marched back to Knoxville, thence to Nashville, where, in Camp Harker, they were mustered out. Mr. Bartson was wounded at Nashville, and otherwise dis- abled. He returned to Fremont, Ohio, and resumed farming.

On April 13, 1857, John Bartson was married to Miss Mary Romer, born April 12, 1839, a daughter of Ignatius and Eleanora (Kries) Romer, natives of Baden, Germany, who came to America in 1854, and settled in Ballville township, San- dusky Co., Ohio. The mother died in 1870, the father in 1877, both at an advanced

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age. Their children were: Mary, wife of our subject; Olive, wife of John Ginder; Agnes, deceased in childhood; Johanna, wife of Mr. Baumgardner, proprietor of a hotel in Fulton county, a Democrat, whose children are, Eddie and Nora; Paul, who died in childhood; Agnes, wife of James Hoyes, of Seneca county, Ohio, whose children are, Nora, Matthew, Kate, Maggie, Emma, Agnes, Anna, Irving, Joseph, Nellie and Bernard; Anna, wife of Fred Steiber, a moulder by trade, whose first child was George. The children of John and Mary Bartson are: (1) Ignatius, born March 10, 1858, who married Cath- arine Hughes, whose children are, Mary and Johanna; (2) Mary O., born Decem- ber 8, 1860, wife of Charles Fish, of Chi- cago, Ill. (she died in Michigan); (3) Bernard, a farmer and contractor, born February 19, 1862, and now lives in Ball- ville township; (4) Julia M., born January 31, 1864, wife of Sidney Champion, a painter, of Toledo, whose children are, Estelle, George, Hermon and Mary; (5) Elizabeth, born June 9, 1866, wife of Her- mon Hesshel, whose child, Lizzie, died Sep- tember 19, 1888; (6) Johanna, born Sep- tember 1, 1868, wife of George Heffner, street-car conductor, Chicago, Ill., whose children are, Thomas, Alonzo and Louis; (7) Nora, born May 5, 1870, wife of James Castello, a merchant of Chicago; (8) John C., born March 17, 1872, contractor, Ballville township, who married M. House; (9) Ida, born April 8, 1874, wife of Louis Mierkie, a barber, of Fremont, Ohio; (10) Clara H., born March 18, 1876, unmar- ried; (11) Rosa, born September 10, 1878; (12) Mary F., born March 10, 1880; and (13) Joseph, born May 11, 1882.

H ENRY KILGUS is one of the most prominent and progressive farmers of Washington township, Sandusky county, a true Western man, possessed of the enterprising spirit which has resulted in placing this West-

ern region on a par with the older States of the East.

Mr. Kilgus was born in the Empire State, July 16, 1854, and is a son of Fred and Magdalena (Kesler) Kilgus. The father was born in Wittenberg, Ger- many, and emigrated to the United States in 1843, taking up his residence in Seneca county, Ohio. He worked as a farm hand, until by industry and frugality he had saved a sum sufficient to purchase a farm. He then became owner of forty acres of choice land near Hessville, in Washington township, Sandusky county, and subsequently he purchased fifty acres, paying $50 per acre for same. That farm was subsequently sold, and purchase made of another tract of 120 acres in Washing- ton township, on which he resided until his death. He passed away on October 22, 1890, leaving a family of ten children, namely: Lewis, Albert, Frank, Charles, Noah, Mary, Minnie, Henry and two whose names are not given.

Our subject lived at home until he was twenty-seven years of age, and then began to earn his livelihood by working out by the day, in which way he got a start. He was industrious and energetic, desirous of pleasing his employers, and as a consequence it was not difficult for him to secure a situation. He continued his service as a farm hand until he had man- aged to save from his earnings enough to purchase a farm of sixty acres. This he still owns, but his lands have been doubled in extent, and to-day within the bounda- ries of his farm are comprised 120 acres of valuable land which yield to the owner a golden tribute. Upon the place he has several fine oil wells, and derives from that source a good income. His land is now valued at $100 per acre, and it is one of the best improved places in the county. His residence and barns are the finest in this section of Washington township, and every corner of the place is neat and thrifty in appearance, indicating the care- ful supervision of a painstaking owner.

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On September 22, 1882, Mr. Kilgus married Miss Sophia Driftmeyer, who was born December 30, 1857. In politics he is a Democrat, and has been honored with several local offices, the duties of which he has ever discharged with promptness and fidelity. He is a member of the Lutheran Church. A self-made man in the truest sense of that term, he has worked his way upward from a humble position to one of affluence, achieving prosperity through perseverance, indus- try, good management and well-directed efforts. His example is one well-worthy of emulation, and he is deserving of hon- ored mention in the history of his adopted country.

J OHN C. FISHER, son of George W. and Clarissa (Black) Fisher, was born May 1, 1848, in Scott town- ship, Sandusky Co., Ohio, of which locality he is now a prominent resident. When he was a mere child his parents moved to Washington township, in the same county, whence after a residence of two years they went to South Bend, Ind., living there one year. On their return to Ohio they lived in Washington township eight months, then came again to Scott township, residing there two years, and subsequently went to Jackson township, where they lived about eight years.

During this time our subject was at- tending school in different townships, and while the family were in Jackson town- ship he went to college at Oberlin, Ohio, for one term. In 1869 Mr. Fisher went to Ballville and commenced business for himself, being engaged in teaming and farming. He continued in this work about four years, and then went to Newaygo county, Mich., there working in a feed store, where he remained until the latter part of June, 1873, at which time he went to Ft. Scott, Kans. Here, July 3, 1873, he was married to Miss Celia Moore, and they returned east, coming to Ballville.

For six months Mr. Fisher was engaged in a gristmill, after which he resumed his old occupation of teaming and farming, working his father-in-law's place near Ballville.

In 1877 Mr. Fisher purchased a farm of 130 acres of land in Ballville township; but as there were no buildings on this tract, he sold thirty acres, and purchased forty acres containing buildings. Here he lived one year, when he sold out and came to Scott township. In 1881 he purchased 160 acres in Section 8, and in 1890 eighty acres in Section 17, making in all a farm of 240 acres, nearly all of which is under cultivation. Since 1890 Mr. Fisher has been engaged in raising stock, including horses, cattle, sheep and hogs, and he has ready for market yearly about five horses, eighty hogs and from 300 to 500 sheep, which he ships directly to Buffalo and New York. In 1880 Mr. Fisher leased 160 acres to the Sun Oil Company, re- ceiving $1, 121 bonus, and one-seventh of the production of oil from the wells; he also leased eighty acres to the Ohio Oil Co., receiving from them $1,600 bonus, and one-eighth of the oil. This lease was cancelled, but he held the bonus, and in 1895 the whole farm was re-leased, Mr. Fisher receiving one-sixth of the oil. There are eight wells on the farm, each averaging eight barrels per day, which gives him an income of about $6.00 per day.

Mrs. Celia (Moore) Fisher was born November 7, 1848, near Ballville, San- dusky Co., Ohio, and here received her early education, later in life attending the high school at Fremont, Ohio, and com- pleting her literary education at Delaware, Ohio. She remained at home with her parents until her marriage to Mr. Fisher, July 3, 1873. They settled near Ballville, remaining in the township until 1880, in which year they sold out and came to Scott township, where they now have one of the most delightful homes in Sandusky county. To their union have come chil-

, Co. Fisher

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dren, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Claud, April 11, 1874; Guy, October 12, 1875; Webb, July 27, 1877; Jim, February 1, 1879; Maud, December 23, 1881; Blanch, December 3, 1883; Clara, August 20, 1884; Bruce and Brice, November 22, 1886; Lester, February 5, 1888; and George, February 9. 1890, who died March 10, 1890. The rest of the children are at home with their parents, and have attended the home school.

Mrs. Fisher's father, James Moore, was born about 1805, and died December 5, 1873, being buried in Oakwood Ceme- tery, Sandusky county; his occupation was milling and farming. Her mother, Harriet (Patterson) was born May 17, 1810. This worthy couple reared a fam- ily of children, as follows: Orven, Juli- ette, Celliette, LeRoy, Manville, Charles, Celia and Oriette. Of these four are liv- ing: Juliette, now Mrs. William Rice, of Sandusky county; Charles, living in San- dusky county; Celia, now Mrs. Fisher; and Oriette, Mrs. John Speller, of San- dusky county. Mr. Fisher was a cousin of the wife of Wid Inman, son of James Inman. He was an adherent of the Re- publican party, and served as treasurer of Scott township.

F REDERICK G. BASKEY, a pros- perous farmer of Green Creek township, Sandusky county, was born in Prussia, Germany, May 30, 1833, a son of Charles Baskey, by his first wife, whose children were: John, Charles, Jr., and August, all three dying in Germany; Frederick G., our subject; Augustina; and Minnie. For his second wife Charles Baskey married Miss Louisa Linstead, and their children were: Amelia, Caroline, Emma, and Robert. The pa- ternal grandfather of our subject was a blacksmith by trade.

Our subject worked at blacksmithing in Germany nine years, and at the age of twenty-four came to America, landing at

New York City, whence he came to San- dusky City, Ohio, near which place he found work on a farm, and there remained three years. He married Miss Henrietta Marzke, who was born March 17, 1836, daughter of Charles and Christena (Mugahn) Marzke, farmers, the former of whom died in Germany at the age of six- ty-four, the latter passing away in San- dusky, Ohio, at the same age. They had six children: Charles; Henry, who died; Hannah; Henrietta, Mrs. Baskey; Chris- tena, who lives in Sandusky township; and Theodore, in Riley township. Our subject's wife was nineteen years of age when she came to America. Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Baskey have had children, as follows: William H., born February 14, 1863, married to Emma Louesa Zeigler, and is a farmer in Green Creek township; Albert F., born April 17, 1865, now at home, operating a threshing machine; Rosa, born September 30, 1868, died April 8, 1878; Bertha E., born Septem- ber 15, 1870, died August 25, 1887; Charles F., born January 7, 1873, now at home, working on the farm; and Theresa M., born October 1, 1875, living at home.

Our subject and his wife first settled in Erie county, near Castalia, where they farmed one year, then came to Sandusky county, and here rented a farm four years. They then bought twenty acres of land, and lived on the same three years, when they sold it, and bought forty acres where they now reside, to which more was add- ed, making 130 acres. They carry on mixed farming, and they have made val- uable improvements on their property, having built a substantial brick house and a good-sized barn. They have given land to their sons. Mr. Baskey is a Democrat in politics, and in religious connection he attends the Lutheran Church at Fremont. He came to this country with nothing in the way of earthly possessions, but has secured a fair competence, by hard work and close economy. His wife formerly

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

worked in families, doing housework, at $I per week, in Sandusky City, and lie worked on farms at the rate of $10 per month.

W ILLIAM BUMGARDNER, a prosperous agriculturist of Ball- ville township, Sandusky coun- ty, a native of Baden, Ger- many, was born August 5, 1845, a son of John and Rosa (Harter) Bumgardner, both of whom died in the Fatherland. Their children were as follows: (1) Mary, wife of Jacob Naus, a farmer of Sandusky county, whose children are William, who married a Miss Bowlus, and lives in Edwards county, Kans., and George, who married Miss Sarah Iams, and lives in Washington township, San- dusky Co., Ohio. (2) Louisa, wife of Jacob Frentzel, whose children are Will- iam, Fred, Louisa, Minnie, Hattie; Mr. Frentzel died in 1892, and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery; and (3) William, our subject. John Bumgardner set out for America with his family in 1847, and after a voyage of forty days landed in New York, whence, after a brief sojourn, he came to Sandusky City, Ohio, where he visited friends. He then located at Fremont, where he worked at his trade of shoemaking about two years, and then moved to Washington township, where he bought a piece of land on which he re- mained a year, after which he went farther west.

Our subject, William Bumgardner, at the age of thirteen went out to work among farmers, and after working thirteen years he married, September 22, 1882, Miss Anna Ott, who was born September 29, 1850. He then rented a piece of ground from Emanuel Wingert, which he worked on shares some fifteen years. He next bought eighty acres of land from Hiram Pool, for $6,000, where he has since resided. His mother lived with his family some years previous to her death,

which occurred February 3, 1883, when she was aged eighty years. Mr. Bum- gardner's wife's brothers and sisters were: (1) William Ott, who was a soldier and was killed in the civil war; (2) Sarah, born August 22, 1844, wife of Elias Babione, a farmer; Charles Ott, born April 26, 1847, married to Sarah Jackman, and their children are-Clara, Frank, Eva and Virgie. The children of William and Ann Bumgardner are: Minnie, born September 12, 1872, married March 14, 1894. to King Hiett; Rosa, born April . 26, 1874; William, born December 18, 1878; Wesley, born August 8, 1883, and Mabel, born November 16, 1888.

J OHN W. MELLISH, a well-known resident of Fremont, Sandusky coun- ty, was born in Port ' Clinton, Otta- wa Co., Ohio, October 8, 1861, a son of John and Martha (Granger) Mellish.

Our subject's father was born in To- ronto, Canada, January 7, 1825, and came with his parents, in 1833, to Ottawa county, where they located on a farm in Bay town- ship on which he spent the rest of his life. He was for many years a Republican, and a member of the M. E. Church. Our subject's paternal grandfather, a native of Lancashire, England, emigrated to Cana- da, and thence moved to Ohio. Our sub- ject's mother was born in Columbiana county, Penn., September 1, 1833. After the death of her parents she came with friends to Ottawa county, where she was married February 10, 1853; her death oc- curred April 22, 1881 ; she was a member of the M. E. Church. The children of John and Martha Mellish were: James, born September 5, 1854, died December 3, 1857; Harriet, born September 22, 1857, died March 12, 1859; William A., born June 1, 1859, now a grocer at Port Clinton, Ohio; John W., our subject; Clare J., born January 26, 1864, wife of Peter Bradshaw, of Chicago, Ill .; Martha E., born August 11, 1871, died May 6,

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1872; and Newton A., born February 4, 1874, now clerk in a store at Fremont, Ohio.

J. W. Mellish grew up in Port Clin- ton, Ohio, where he graduated from the high school. He then left home to be- come a sailor before the mast for about two years on the lakes, after which he went to railroading as brakeman on the L. S. & M. S. railroad for one year. He next worked as butcher at Port Clinton for some time, and then kept a restau- rant. Having sold out his stand, he went to learn the molder's trade, and worked in the Wm. M. Whitley shops, Spring- field, Ohio, one year. In 1889 he came to Fremont, and opened up a saloon and restaurant on Front street, which he still keeps, with a liberal patronage. He is an excellent specimen of physical man- hood, being over six feet tall, and weigh- ing 225 pounds. He inherits the true doggedness of character and stubborn persistence of the old Anglo-Saxon people.

In 1885, Mr. Mellish married Miss Lydia Hodge, who was born in Kenton, Hardin Co., Ohio, in 1865, a daughter of George and Rachel (Skelenger) Hodge. She died April 12, 1894, at Fremont, Ohio. Her father, who was a farmer, was born in Columbiana county, and her mother in Hardin county, Ohio, where she died at the age of forty-one years. They had a family of nine children, five of whom are now living.

G EORGE O. HARLAN, veterin- ary surgeon, Fremont, Sandusky county, is a native of Cumber- land county, Penn., born Novem- ber II, 1836. His paternal ancestors came from England to North America in Colonial days. In 1687 two brothers, George and Michael Harlan, located in what is now Chester county, Penn. In later years that branch of the family to which our subject belongs removed to Baltimore, Md., where his grandfather,

Samuel Harlan, was born, and whose children were: Hannah, born February 27, 1794; Samuel, born December 7, 1795; Sallie, born October 3, 1797; Elizabeth, born August 1, 1800; George, born Decem- ber 8, 1802; Mary, born December 22, 1804; and John, (subject's father), born July 14, 1808-all born in Baltimore, Maryland.

John Harlan early earned the trade of hatter, and going to Adams county, Penn., engaged in business as a commission mer- chant. He subsequently located in Cum- berland county, Penn., and followed the commission business there for many years. This was in the early days when large merchants owned their own cars, and the railroad companies furnished engines to haul the cars. In later years he was not fortunate in business, and finally re- tired from it altogether. During the past nine years he has had his home with his son, George O., at Fremont, Ohio. Our subject's mother was a Miss Jane McEl- wee, born in Cumberland county, Penn., June 16, 1847, and died in 1876. Before her marriage to John Harlan she had been married to a Mr. Marshall, by whom she had two children: Francis, who lives in Chambersburg, Penn .; and James A., of Philadelphia. By her marriage to John Harlan, subject's father, there were three children: George O .; Henry Addi- son, born January 10, 1841, a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war; and Emma, born June 10, 1845, died June 23, 1884.

Dr. George O. Harlan grew to man- hood in Cumberland county, Penn., where he learned the trade of copper- smith. Later on he took up the study of veterinary surgery, under a preceptor, at- tended a veterinary college at Philadel- phia, Penn., graduating from same in 1860. He soon after took a trip west- ward and the breaking out of the Civil war found him at Rochester, Ind. In 1862 he joined the Fourth Cavalry, Sev- enty-seventh Regiment of Indiana Volun-

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teers, and at Perryville, Ky., he was in- jured by the falling of his horse. As soon as he was again fit for service he was ap- pointed veterinary surgeon by the United States Government, and served in the horse hospitals in Pennsylvania. At the close of the war he was appointed to as- sist in selling the useless supplies which the government had accumulated, con- sisting of horses, saddles, blankets, etc. One of his shipments brought him to Ohio. He remained in Toledo a short period, then came to Fremont, where he opened work in his profession, and decided to make his home. After locating at Fre- mont, Dr. Harlan traveled during the most part of the succeeding ten years and delivered lectures on the Comparative Anatomy of the Horse. He doubled In- diana and Michigan a couple of times, making nearly every town in each State, and also nearly all the towns and cities in Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky and the State of New York. Early in his work he wrote and published a book, entitled "Harlan's Illustrated Horseman's Guide," which was afterward re-written, and en- larged to a book of more than 200 pages. More than 50,000 of these books have been sold, and they are still in great de- mand, being considered among the best works on the horse ever published. Many years ago he opened a horse hospital in Fremont, and his efforts to build up an interest in horses have been quite success- ful: He has of late years been called re- peatedly to nearly every great horse cen- ter in the country, on special missions, being a specialist in horse surgery.

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Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 42

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