Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 46

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 46
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 46

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Almon Dunham grew to manhood under the pioneer influences of the sur- rounding country. He distinctly recalls many incidents of the early days that are now gone for ever, but he does not regret the changes that have been wrought. He has kept up with the progress of the times, and has contributed in no small degree thereto in his vicinity. He settled on his present farm.after marriage, and has since continued to live there, carrying on gen- eral farming. He has been an active, public-spirited citizen, and served his township twenty-one consecutive years as justice of the peace and about fourteen years as township clerk. In 1877 he was made the regular nominee of the Demo- cratic party for the State Legislature, and was elected, taking his seat in January, 1878. He was re-elected in 1879, and served two more terms. The Democrats were in power during the first term, the Republicans during the second, and he served on the Committee on Claims both terms, also introducing several local bills, all of which became laws.

In personal appearance Mr. Dunham is a thin, spare man, six feet and one inch in height, and, although seventy years old, stands straight as an arrow, and walks lighter on his feet than most men of forty-five. His father was six feet three inches in height, and a giant in frame and strength. He was noted for these quali- ties all over the neighborhood, and in the early days, when men were scarce, he would often be called upon to go from one end of a log to the other, in putting up

log houses. Our subject is a member of the M. E. Church, and in political affilia- tion he has been a life-long Democrat. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Dunham wedded Miss Mary E. Miller, a native of Sandusky county, who still sur- vives.

J OHN F. HILLE, of Woodville town- ship, Sandusky county, was born in that township December 17, 1856, and is a son of H. H. and Catherine (Wickham) Hille. The grandparents of John F. Hille came to America when he was a boy, and bought land in Woodville township, Sandusky Co., Ohio, where they made their home.

H. H. Hille, who was one of four children, was born near Hanover, Ger- many, in 1821. In 1855, in Woodville township, he was united in marriage with Catharine Wickham, who was born in Germany, in 1832, and came to America in 1850. To them were born seven chil- dren, as follows: John F., the subject of this sketch; Eliza, who married Fred Hudlebrink, a farmer of Wood county, and has had one child; Julia, deceased at the age of twenty-one years; William, a farmer of Wood county, married Anna Ofterstrauss; John, deceased when young; Henry, a farmer in Wood county, married Carrie Swan, and they have one child; and Frank, married to Clara Nickels, to which union one child has been born. The father always worked hard, and at his death, which occurred in 1873, he left 169 acres of valuable land in Sandusky and Wood counties. His widow died in 1882.

John F. Hille received a common- school education, and always lived at home. On November 9, 1882, he was united in marriage with Mathilda Leisher, who was born in Germany January 1, 1858, and they have had four children, namely: Wilhelmina Elise, born August 14, 1883; Johann Fred, born July 27,

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1887: Eddie, who died in 1892; and Frank H., born October 26, 1893. In 1892 Mr. Hille's Iand was leased to an oil firm, and nine wells have been put down, seven of which are still in good flow. Mr. Hille is a strong Republican, and has held several township offices. He attends the German Lutheran Church.

A E. METZGER, M. D. C., of Clyde, Sandusky county, is a na- tive of that county, born Sep- tember 7, 1867. He is a son of Jacob and Sarah J. (Shellhammer) Metz- ger, both of whom were born in Seneca county, Ohio, the former in 1842, and the latter in 1845. They now reside in Sandusky county, only one and a half miles south of Clyde.

In the common schools A. E. Metz- ger received his primary education, and subsequently spent one term in the high schools of Clyde. He began the study of veterinary medicine about 1890, and the following year entered the Chicago Veteri- nary College, being a diligent student; he graduated among the first of the honor class of 1893. He then located in Clyde, where he entered upon the duties of his profession, and has since had a lucrative practice. He treats general diseases com- mon to domestic animals, and has re- ceived the degree of Doctor of Compara- tive Medicine. All his life he has been familiar with horses, and as he has given his profession thorough study, he is hav- ing excellent success in its practice. That he is skillful is demonstrated in the va- rious operations he has performed, and he thoroughly understands all that is to be known in the veterinary line, standing high in his profession, and receiving the patronage of the leading farmers and stock owners in his vicinity.

On March 2, 1890, Mr. Metzger was united in marriage with Miss Anna L. Welch, who was born in Sandusky coun-

ty, March 2, 1867. They are highly re- spected people of the community, where they have many warm friends.

T HEOPHILUS FITTERER, of York township, Sandusky county, was born in Palmyra, Lebanon Co., Penn., December 9, 1852, the third of the four sons of Simon and Mary (Swanger) Fitterer, who are at present living in Palmyra, Pennsylvania. Simon Fitterer, who is a shoemaker by trade, was born in 1816. His father served in the war of 1812. Simon Fit- terer was united in marriage with Mary Swanger, and they have had four chil- dren, all sons, namely: Josiah, a tinsmith of Palmyra, Lebanon Co., Penn .; Rev. J. S., of Bucyrus, Crawford Co., Ohio, a son of whom is attending Heidelberg Uni- versity, at Tiffin, Ohio; Theophilus, the subject of this sketch; and Amos, who died in Palmyra, Penn., in the spring of 1894. The eleven-year-old son of Amos, William Simon, was taken to be raised by his uncle Theophilus, and is attending school.

Our subject learned the trade of cabi- net-maker in Pennsylvania, but, coming to York township, Sandusky county, Ohio, in March, 1873, he began farming, and has since followed that vocation. On October 18, 1874, he was united in mar- riage with Sarah M. Mook, daughter of the Rev. Conrad and Anna M. (Vogt) Mook. Mr. Mook was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, in 1807. He studied med- icine somewhat, but never "hung out a sign." He came to Ohio in 1836, and on March 27, following year, was united in marriage with Miss Vogt, who was born in Philadelphia July 15, 1816, and a few years later migrated with her parents to Wyandot (then Crawford) county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Vogt came to York town- ship in 1836, the same year in which Rev. Mr. Mook came to the State. Of their eight children six grew to maturity,

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namely: John H., now living at Mt. Car- mel, York township; Rosina E., wife of the Rev. J. S. Fitterer, of Bucyrus; Mary L., widow of the late J. K. Landis, of York township; Anna M., wife of Samuel Royer, of York township; Sarah M., wife of Theophilus Fitterer, of York township; and Katie S., wife of William Jones, of York township.

The Rev. Mr. Mook died September 10, 1883, and his widow is living with her daughter and son-in-law upon the same farm on which she has lived for fifty-seven years. Mr. Mook was a well-educated man, and had a library of over seven hun- dred books, among them a Bible printed in Germany in 1768, of large proportions and weighing over twenty-five pounds; also a copy of the Koran, which is of great value, as it is one of a very rare edition. This library was given to the children, and it was expressly stated in the will that no books were to be sold. In polit- ical preferences Mr. Fitterer is a Repub- lican. The family are members of the Evangelical Church.

H ENRY F. NAYLOR, a prominent and enterprising agriculturist of Madison township, Sandusky county, was born in Medina county, Ohio, July 9, 1842, a son of Sam- uel and Elizabeth (Uhler) Naylor.

Our subject attended the schools of the district where he was born, his edu- cation being necessarily limited, as he had to commence work early in life. Up to his twenty-second year he was employed as a farm laborer, with the exception of some twelve months he was engaged on a railroad, and he then, in May, 1864, en- listed in Company F, One Hundred and Sixty-sixth O. V. 1., Col. James G. Blake, of Medina county, commanding. His company was stationed at Fort Richard- son, and was engaged in the construction of several forts, including Fort Allen, but was never called into active service, and

September 15, 1864, it returned to Cleve- land, where Mr. Naylor received his dis- charge. Returning to Medina county, he remained there but a short time, and then came to Madison township, Sandusky county, settling on forty acres of wild, timber-covered land. Here he at once built himself a log cabin, in which his faithful, self-sacrificing wife was content to share with him all the cares and vicis- situdes incident to a wild pioneer life, far away from friends and family. Mr. Nay- lor, with an earnest desire to accomplish the task which he had before him, set to work with a will to clear the forest, and hew out a space for cultivation, so that ere long he succeeded in transforming the wilderness into waving fields of grain and billowy clover meadows. By and by he added to this purchase another forty acres of timber land, which he also cleared, the old log cabin gave place to a substantial and ornamental dwelling, surrounded with barns, outhouses, orchard, etc., every- thing bearing the evidence of thrift and prosperity, neatness and good taste.

On March 24, 1867, in Scott town- ship, Sandusky county, Henry F. Naylor and Miss Hattie Miller were united in marriage. She was born in Scott town- ship April 30, 1846, daughter of Simon Miller, a shoemaker by trade, who came from the East to that township, where he worked at his trade in connection with farming. He married Miss Elizabeth Hutchinson, by whom he had eight chil- dren, as follows: William, a shoemaker, who died in Kansas; George, a farmer, who is married and resides in Michigan; Mary, wife of Henry Van Horn; Jacob F., who died in Wood county; John, a farmer of Sandusky county; Louisa, widow of John Barr; Hattie, wife of Mr. Naylor; and Sarah, wife of John Teeters, of Nebraska. The father of these died October 22, 1854, the mother on April 6, 1861. To Mr. and Mrs. Naylor were born eleven children, their names and dates of birth being as follows: Clara, January

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19, 1868 (deceased September 23, 1875); Flora M., November 22, 1870; Frank N., August 19, 1872 (deceased September 3, 1876, of diphtheria); Fleetie E., July 28, 1875; Ernest L., June 29, 1877; Reason E., January 11, 1879; May L., January 27, 1882; Ludie M., November 21, 1880; Irvin D., March 14, 1885; Jay F., No- vember 27, 1886; and Roudie E., May 29, 1889.

Mrs. Naylor is a member of the Daughters of Rebekah, Lodge No. 295, Gibsonburg, president of the Aid Society of the Disciple Church, which, under her guidance became a pronounced success, within a short period of time accumulat- ing the sum of $336 in collections and sales of fancy work made by her and other members of the society. In his political views Mr. Naylor is a stanch Republican, but has never been an office seeker, his business demanding and receiving all his time and attention. He has served as school director, always entertaining a deep interest for educational affairs, as well as for whatever else tends to the benefit of his fellow men. Socially, he is a mem- · ber of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 687, and of the K. of P. Lodge, No. 435, both or Gibsonburg. He and his wife are highly respected throughout their part of the county as honorable, loyal and God- fearing people, whose success in life has been attained by industry, assiduous toil and judicious economy.

W ARREN A. BOWLUS, a lead- ing agriculturist, was born on his present farm in Sandusky township, Sandusky county, August 25, 1850, a son of Henry and Re- becca (Williamson) Bowlus.

Henry Bowlus, father of Warren A., was a native of Maryland, born in 1810, in Frederick county, of Pennsylvania Dutch stock. When a boy he came to Ohio with his father, Henry Bowlus, who took up land from the general govern-

ment. When advanced in life he was killed by a horse. Our subject's father was twice married, first time to Miss Catharine Keller, by whom he had six children, as follows: (1) Hanson lives in Fremont, Ohio; (2) Mahala married Sol- oman Wolf, and lives at Tiffin, Ohio; (3), Martha, wife of Edward Deemer, resides in Sandusky township; (4) Orie died young; (5) Caroline died when three years old; (6) Catharine married Mat. Hobert, and lives in Pemberville, Wood Co., Ohio. For his second wife Mr. Bowlus married Rebecca Catharine Will- iamson, and children as follows were born to them: (1) Warren A., subject of sketch; (2) Anna, who married Cyrus Smith, and is now living at Gibsonburg, Ohio; (3) Henry, in Pemberville; and (4) Robert, a farmer, at Helena, Ohio. The mother, of these, who was born in Frederick county, Md., died at the age of sixty-six.

Warren A. Bolus attended the district schools, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. At the age of twenty-four, in 1874, he was married to Miss Carrie En- gelman, daughter of Samuel Engelman, and they have seven children, named re- spectively: Clarence L., Richard, Lloyd, Earl, Ross, Edna and Rebecca. After marriage our subject settled on the old homestead, and is now the owner of 160 acres of land. His occupation is that of general farming and stock raising, in which he has been successful. In politics he is a Republican, and in religious faith a member of the M. P. Church.

G EORGE JACKSON, a successful farmer of York township, San- dusky county, was born in Lin- colnshire, England, November 1, 1848, and is a son of Robert E. and Mary (Cragg) Jackson.

Robert E. Jackson was born Septem- ber 9, 1812, and is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Elmer) Jackson. In Lincoln- shire, on August 27, 1839, he was united

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in marriage with Mary Cragg, who was born June 3, 1815, daughter of John and Mary Cragg, and they became the parents of six children, namely: William, Frances Ann (Mrs. John Rife), George (the sub- ject of this sketch), Rhoda (Mrs. William Johnson), Clarisee (deceased), and Her- mon. Robert E. came to this country in 1851, landing at Portland, Maine, whence he proceeded to Orleans county, N. Y. After sojourning there one year, he con- tinued westward to Ohio, arriving in York township, Sandusky county, in 1852. Here he bought a farm of ninety-eight acres, on which he still resides. In poli- tics he was formerly a Democrat, but now votes with the Populists.

George Jackson was brought to America at the age of three years, and received a common-school education in Townsend and York townships, Sandusky Co., Ohio. On March 18, 1874, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Catherine Gust, of York township, Sandusky county, who was born in Erie county, Ohio, September 27, 1854. They have had one child, Frank, born December 1, 1874. Peter and Elizabeth (Hoffman) Gust, the parents of Mrs. George Jackson, were born in Mark- able, Germany, near the river Rhine. They were married in 1848, and came to this country in 1852, landing in New York, whence they journeyed to Ohio, set- tling in Sandusky county, where they re- sided till 1874. They then purchased a farın in Michigan, and moved there, which is now their home. In November, 1861, Mr. Gust enlisted in the Seventy-second O. V. I., in which he served till June, 1864, when he was taken prisoner, and held eleven months, till the close of the war. He and his wife had four children, namely: Catherine, Mrs. Jackson; Mag- gie, wife of Jerome Hall, of Erie county; Will and Henry. Mr. Jackson has been interested in agricultural pursuits from his youth, and now has a productive farm of eighty acres, which he conducts with the assistance of his son Frank. They

do general farming. Until within a few years Mr. Jackson affiliated with the Democratic party, but he now casts his vote for the most worthy candidate, irre- spective of party.

J OHN G. BRUGGER, a successful farmer of York township, Sandusky county, is descended from the sturdy stock of the Teutonic race, and ex- emplifies their characteristic traits. He was born in Northumberland county, Penn., October 30, 1831, a son of John G. Brugger, Sr., who was born in 1804.

Rudolph and Catherine Brugger, pa- ternal grandparents of the subject of this sketch, owned a small farm in Germany, where their son, John G. Brugger, Sr., was born. In 1816 the farm was sold, the family came to America settling in Pennsylvania, and Mr. Brugger once more turned his attention to tilling the soil. John G. Brugger remained at home help- ing his father until 1827. In that year he was united in marriage with Miss Cath- erine Arnold, who was born in Pennsyl- vania, and they had twelve children. Of these (1) Sallie, is at present living with her brother, John G. Brugger; she was married in 1847 to Nathan Forrey, a farm- er of Snyder county, Penn., and they had four children-Caroline, Thomas Jef- ferson, George Washington and Benja- min Franklin; the father of these died in 1860, and in 1874 Mrs. Forrey was mar- ried to David Goy, also a farmer of Sny- der county, Penn. ; he died in 1878, after which Mrs. Goy came to Ohio, where she now lives. (2) Rudolph, who resides in Riley township, Sandusky county, where he has a large farm, married Sophia Moy- er, and their children are: William, an insurance agent at Clyde, Green Creek township, Sandusky county; John and Robert, farmers of Riley township, in the same county; George, of Clyde; and Har- dy, who teaches school. (3) Samuel, the third child, is a civil engineer in Penn-

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sylvania. (4) John G. is the subject of

this sketch. (5) Benjamin is a farmer in Tennessee. (6) Mary was the wife of Mr. Vogt, the blacksmith at Wales Corners. (7) George died several years ago in Penn- sylvania. (8) Jonathan is a carpenter in that State. (9) William died in Pennsyl- vania. (10) Lizzie is the wife of Silas Melick, a Nebraska farmer. John G. Brugger, Sr., died in 1856, and his widow in 1870.

John G. Brugger, whose name intro- duces this sketch, has but little "book learning," as his early years were spent in overcoming the obstacles which so thickly beset the path of the early settler in his struggle for daily bread. His fa- ther permitted him to leave the farm, and learn the trade of blacksmith when he was twenty years old. For a few years he followed the trade in Pennsylvania, and then, in 1854, came to Ohio, first locating at Flat Rock, Seneca county, where he remained one year, then coming to York township, Sandusky county, where he started a shop and worked at his trade until 1872, when he bought 160 acres of land, constituting the farm which he now owns and tills. In February, 1864, Mr. Brugger enlisted in the Signal Corps, U. S. A., and served under Sher- man and McPherson. In the Atlanta campaign, and on the "march to the sea" the Signal Corps did good and vali- ant service; Mr. Brugger was with Sherman as he came up through South and North Carolina, and was discharged at Louis- ville, Ky., in August, 1865. He is soci- able and public-spirited, and his life af- fords an excellent example to the younger generation. In politics he is an active Republican.

C ARL WEICKERT, a successful farmer and stock-raiser of Kings- way, Rice township, Sandusky county, was born in Germany, May 4, 1859, and is a son of Philip and

Catherine (Biebesheimer) Weickert, who were born in Hessen, Germany, on De- cember 25, 1821, and May 9, 1829, re- spectively.

Philip Weickert came to this country with his wife and six children in 1862, and settled in Rice township, Sandusky county, Ohio, where he bought thirty- eight acres of land, paying fourteen hun- dred dollars for same. They have had eight children, as follows: (1) Maggie, who was born in Hessen, Germany, May 24, 1848, and married John Loesch; they live in Wood county, Ohio, and are the parents of two bright children-Frank and Lewis. (2) John, born in Hessen, Germany, February 10, 1850, married Bertha Kyle; they live in Kansas, and have three children-Louise, George and Laura, all now living at home. (3)

Philip, born in Hessen, Germany, No- vember 19, 1853, died and was buried in Rice township, Sandusky county, Ohio, in 1872. (4) Catherine, born in Hessen, Germany, October 1, 1856, married Charles Gray, by whom she had two children-Willie and Katie; she died in Rice township, December 16, 1885, and was buried there. (5) Carl is the subject of this sketch. (6) Willie was born in Hessen, Germany, September 7, 1861, is single, and lives in Kansas. (7) Lewis, also single, was born in Rice township, San- dusky county, August 23, 1863, and still lives in his native township. (8) Minnie, born in Rice township, Sandusky county, September 12, 1868, married Charles Berner, and they have had one child, Frank, born in Reno county, Kans., Oc- tober 25, 1888. The grandparents of the subject of this sketch were Philip and Mary (Helm) Weickert; they were born in Hessen, Germany, where they both also died.

Carl Weickert worked for his father until he was of age, then went to Kansas, worked on a farm for about a year, saved his money. and came back to Rice township, Sandusky county, and bought

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thirty-four acres of land adjoining his father's property. He is not married, so lives at his father's home. He raises fine horses, and also a mixed stock. In pol- itics he is a good Democrat, and in religious affiliation belongs to the Evan- gelishe Lutheran Church.

G F. BUCHMAN. Success in any occupation in life requires a genius adapted to a special voca- tion. This is true, in a marked degree, of mercantile business, as there is a greater per cent of failures in this than in any other pursuit, a vast majority of those engaged therein not being pos- sessed of either the qualities or qualifica- tions essential to success. A merchant must understand not only the technical details of his business-what to purchase and what not to purchase, and the amount required at various seasons of the year- but must have a broad and liberal knowl- edge of the financial standing and the in- tegrity of the people in his community as well; and, above all, his own honesty of purpose, integrity and honor must ever be above question.

As a gentleman whose characteristics harmonize with what is suggested above, we introduce a brief biographical sketch of Godfrey F. Buchman, grocer and pro- vision merchant, Fremont, Sandusky county, who was born in Seneca county, Ohio, October 20, 1837, and has been established in Fremont since 1867. His ancestry hail from the gallant republic of Switzerland. His paternal grandfather was a weaver by trade, and worked at that business in winter, living in the vil- lage of Dettingen, and also operated a small farm. The parents of Godfrey F. Buchman were John and Mary Magdalen (Kissenberger) Buchman. John Buchman was born in the Canton of Argau, Swit- zerland, January 24, 1800; Magdalen (Kissenberger), his wife, was born in the village of Dettingen, Switzerland, July

22, 1801. They were married in Swit- zerland in 1826, and three of their chil- dren were born there. John Buchman emigrated with his family to America in 1837, and located on a small farm near Republic, Seneca Co., Ohio, where he remained until 1852, in which year he re- moved to another farm in the same county, close to Tiffin. He and his wife lived on this farm the rest of their lives, and reared their children to economy and industry. They were devout members of the Roman Catholic Church. In his po- litical affiliations John Buchman was a Jacksonian Democrat. They were pros- perous and successful in business, and in due course of time gave a small farm to each of their children. John Buchman died November 9, 1885; Magdalen Buch- man died October 4, 1868. Their chil- dren were: (1) John, born in Switzerland April 10, 1827; he came to America with his parents, grew to manhood in Seneca county, where, April 10, 1858, he married Miss Elizabeth Steigmeyer; he is now a farmer in Seneca county. (2) Joseph, born in Switzerland November 25, 1831; he also came with his parents to America; he is now a member of the Oblate Fa- thers, an order of the Christian Brothers, and has been in British America since 1859, where a branch of the order is lo- cated, engaged in educating and caring for Indian children. (3) Benedict, born in Switzerland March 7, 1835; he was married, in 1868, to Miss Catharine Ober- houser, and is a farmer in Seneca county. (4) Godfrey F. is the subject of this sketch. (5) Peter, born in Seneca coun- ty, Ohio, June, 1841; in 1869 he married Miss Catharine Senn, and is now a farmer in Seneca county. Besides these five children who grew up, two of the family died in infancy

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Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 46

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