Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 48

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 48
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 48

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).

In the spring of 1863 D. M. Wolfe en- listed in Company K, Fiftieth Regiment, O. V. I., in which he served as second lieutenant, doing guard duty at Johnson's Island, where Confederate officers were

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confined, in the fall of that year. In poli- tics he has always been a Republican. He and his wife were for a number of years members of the United Brethren Church, but now attend the Presbyterian Church.

Mrs. Eunice J. (Black) Wolfe was born January 6, 1833, in Richland county, Ohio, and was educated at Lexington and Westerville, Ohio, afterward teaching for a number of years, part of the time in the high school at Lexington. To Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe have come five children, as follows: (1) Charles M., born November I, 1857, is a carpenter and contractor of Fremont; he was married May 23, 1883, to Miss Clara Potter, daughter of Henry J. and Zeruiah A. (Dawley) Potter, and the names and dates of birth of their children are: Irene, September 5, 1884; Libbie, December 7, 1885; Ella, July 14, 1888; Blanche, April 18, 1891; and Stanley, born August 22, 1893. (2) Sally Irene, born December 21, 1862, lives with her parents. (3) Elbridge B., born August 30, 1866, is a farmer; on November 23, 1889, he married Miss Ida McIntyre, and their children are Lucile, born October 13, 1890, and Gladys, born February 19, 1891. (4) Mary Inez, born July 28, 1869, lives with her parents. (5) Daniel M., Jr., a carpenter, lives with his par- ents, and works at his trade with his brothers.

H ON. HOMER EVERETT. Per- haps no one of the early pioneers of Sandusky county contributed more to make its local history, and took more pains to put on record the stirring events which occurred when the wilderness of the Black Swamp began to be cleared up, and the little Indian trad- ing-post called Lower Sandusky (now Fremont) first sprang into prominence as a thriving village of enterprising white people, than the subject of this sketch. His literary tastes, his official positions,

his wide acquaintance, his social nature, his habit of writing down the incidents and events which he gathered from fre- quent visits and conversations with the early settlers, and his powers of oratory, by which he presented, in the form of his- torical lectures, the well-digested results of his investigations, all rendered him very useful to the community, and en- titled him to the lasting gratitude of his fellow citizens, and the honor of being the first pioneer historian of Sandusky county.

Hon. Homer Everett, son of Jere- miah and Elizabeth (Emery) Everett, was born in Huron county, Ohio, January 30, 1813. When two years old he came with his parents to Lower Sandusky. His school education was such as could be picked up in the wilderness at that early day, his teachers being Justus and Ezra Williams, Edson Goit and Samuel Crow- ell. He grew up amid the toils, cares and privations of the early settlers, shar- ing the hardships of the common people; but he was always cheerful and hopeful. At the age of seventeen he left the farm upon which he had spent his early boy- hood, and entered the store of Jesse S. Olmsted, in which he rendered faithful service about six years. In 1837 he was appointed postmaster at Lower Sandus- ky, by Martin Van Buren, and while serv- ing in this office he was also deputy clerk of courts, under James A. Scranton. In 1839 he was elected sheriff of the county, resigning the office of postmaster, and was re-elected sheriff. He commenced read- ing law in 1834, improving his leisure time in so doing until 1841, when he was admitted to the bar. He now resigned his office as sheriff, and began the practice of law with Nathaniel B. Eddy, of Lower Sandusky; was subsequently a partner of L. B. Otis, who afterward removed to Chicago. On various occasions he was member of the city council, for several years township clerk, one of the first members of the City Board of Education,

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in which body he served fifteen years, and was mayor of Fremont two terms.

In 1847 he retired from the practice of law for the purpose of leading a more quiet life on a farm, but was soon re- called by the votes of the people. In 1848 he found himself in the chair of the county auditor, which office he held two terms. At the close of his second term he resumed the practice of law, entering into partnership with Gen. R. P. Buck- land. In 1862, Mr. Buckland retired from the practice to enter the army .. During the Civil war Mr. Everett made many eloquent speeches in favor of the enlistment of Union soldiers. In 1866 he formed a partnership with James H. Fowler, an ex-soldier, who had been his law student. In 1867 Mr. Everett was elected to the Ohio Senate, and in 1869 was re-elected to the same position. He fostered the Akron school law, and was on the select committee which construct- ed the first municipal code for the State of Ohio. On his return home he again resumed the practice of law. In 1881-82 he furnished valuable records for the His- tory of Sandusky county, to H. Z. Will- iams & Bro., publishers, Cleveland, Ohio.

Mr. Everett was married, in 1837, to Miss Hannah Bates, of Sandusky county. She died in 1840, leaving an infant daughter, Hannah Bates Everett, who, in 1856, became the wife of Henry Hatfield, and had two sons-one living in Kansas. and one in Colorado. Mr. Everett, for his second wife, married in December, 1842, Mrs. Albina Brush, widow of John T. Brush, and by her had two sons and two daughters: (1) George, who was telegraph operator for Gen. Thomas at Nashville, Tenn., during the Civil war, and died at home in 1874. (2) Charles Egbert, who was a soldier in the naval service during the Civil war (he married Miss Hattie Tindall, of Ballville town- ship, and their children are-Eddie and Nellie, living at the old homestead; he

learned and follows the trade of cabinet making). (3) Albina Elizabeth, a teach- er, who was married at Osborne City, Kans., to Frederick Yoxall, a native of England, and they have two daughters. (4) Lillie, a very fine musician, who mar- ried James A. Wilson, a hardware mer- chant, of Osborne, Kans .; they have one daughter. The second wife of Homer Everett died in 1855, and in 1873 he married Miss Minerva E. Justice, daugh- ter of James Justice. The death of Homer Everett occurred on June 22, 1887, at the home of his daughter, in Kansas, and his remains were brought to Fremont, Ohio, for interment in Oakwood Ceme- tery. The Fremont Bar Association and Brainard Lodge, F. &. A. M., of which he was a member, each passed fitting resolutions of respect to his honored memory.

A HORNUNG. A striking illustra- tion of that time-worn proverb fa- miliar to every school boy, "tall oaks from little acorns grow, " is seen in the business career of the gentleman whose name opens this sketch, and who is a member of the well-known firm of Zorn, Hornung & Co., leading citizens and pioneer merchants of the town of Gibsonburg, Sandusky county. The sim- ple story of his life shows that there is always a chance for the boy or man who takes hold of fortune with strong hands and steady will, and compels her to be- stow those gifts which the timid suppli- cant can never win.

Mr. Hornung was born March 7, 1842, in Washington township, Sandusky county, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Sick- endahler) Hornung. This worthy couple were natives of Germany, where they were married, and whence, in 1833, they emigrated to America, settling in Penn- sylvania near Allentown, where they lived for about six years. They then came to Ohio, settling in Washington township,

artomany

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Sandusky county, on a farm, where they remained during the rest of their lives. The father, whose birth took place in 1796, died in 1871, the mother, who was born in 1807, surviving him until 1892. Mr. Hornung was a Democrat, and both he and his wife were consistent members of the Lutheran Church. Their family consisted of six children: Charlotte, who married Aaron Krotzer, of Gibsonburg; Caroline, who married Adam Ansted, and lives in Washington township; Mary; Tilman, residing in Washington township; our subject comes next; and Jacob, who lives in Gibsonburg; two children died when infants.

The subject of this sketch spent his early days upon his father's farm, per- forming the many tasks which fall to the lot of a farmer's boy, with scanty sources of amusement or pleasure, and but small opportunity to acquire an educa- tion. At the age of fifteen, tiring of the monotonous life in the country, determined to strike out for himself, he commenced and served an apprentice- ship in the shoemaking trade under Mr. Zorn, his present partner, who was then located at Hessville, Sandusky county. Here he remained some six years, making his home with Mr. Zorn, with whom he boarded nine years. At the end of six years he bought the shoe business from Mr. Zorn, carried it on for three years, and then formed a partnership with his old employer.

The new firm continued in business at Hessville until 1871, when, seeing that the present location of Gibsonburg bade fair to become a leading point in the county, they decided to open a branch of their business there, Mr. Hornung taking charge of the same. The first building put up in the present town was his store. It was erected on the corner now occu- pied by the large and commodious struc- ture in which their present extensive mer- cantile business is now carried on, and it is around this pioneer establishment that 21

the present flourishing village of Gib- sonburg has crystallized. The entire busi- ness of the firm was soon centered at this point, and it has been steadily growing in size and importance. Not content with this, these energetic men have constantly had in view the progress and enlargement of their chosen community, and have been prominent factors in its growth and prosperity. At the present time they are carrying on, in addition to their flourish- ing mercantile business, the manufacture of lime; have erected an elevator, and stave heading factory; established a creamery, and, besides, are pioneers in the gas and oil producing business, now owning and operating a gas plant and ex- tensive oil fields with many oil wells. It is generally an unwise thing to have so many "irons in the fire," but the un- doubted ability and well-known energy, perseverance and excellent judgment al- ways evinced by Mr. Hornung and his partner in the management of their large ventures, are a guarantee of their success in whatever direction they turn their at- tention. They are valuable citizens of Gibsonburg, and as such command the respect and esteem of all who know them.

On April 8, 1867, Mr. Hornung was married in Washington township, to Miss Catherine Stotz, who was born in Ger- many May 28, 1842. Four children have been born to them: Elizabeth, George, Charles and Julia; of these, George is a member of the firm, Charles being in its employ as bookkeeper; the daughters are at home. In politics Mr. Hornung is a Democrat, and he and his wife are mem- bers of the Lutheran Church.

M ICHAEL OBERST, JR., a farmer of Sandusky township, Sandusky county, was born in that township December 8, 1848, a son of Michael, Sr., and Anna (Mohler) Oberst.

The father of our subject was born in

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October, ISII, in Prussia, Germany, grew up there, and came to America about the year 1844. He settled in San- dusky township, Sandusky Co., Ohio, and worked as a farmer in Sandusky and Ottawa counties. At the outbreak of the Mexican war he volunteered in the U. S. military service, and served under Gen. Scott, afterward returning to San- dusky county. After his marriage he settled where he now resides. In the war of the Rebellion he joined the Union army, serving during the last year. He is one of the few Mexican war pensioners living in Sandusky county. In politics he is a Democrat, and in religious faith he is a member of the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Oberst was born in Switzerland October 27, 1829, and is still living. Their children were: Michael, our sub- ject; John, who died when six years old; Daniel, living in Millersville, Sandusky county, who married Miss Burgoon, by whom he has two children-Ralph and Merven; Mary Ann, unmarried, who is living at home with her parents; and George, who died when ten years of age.

Our subject was reared in Sandusky county, and was educated in the public schools. In 1873 he married Miss Sarah Lobdill, who was born in Sandusky coun- ty, July 18, 1854, and their children are: Olive, Charles, Lucy, Frank, Anna, Earl and Clair. Mr. Oberst now owns a portion of the old homestead on which he was reared. He is recognized as one of the leading, progressive men among the younger agriculturists in the township, is a competent business man, and adopts the most advanced ideas and business meth- ods. He was formerly a Republican; but awakening to a strong realization of the many evils consequent to the liquor traffic he identified himself some years ago with the Prohibition party. He is one of the leaders in the temperance cause in his community, has served as State delegate to Prohibition conventions, and is work- ing for the interest of the party.

G EORGE H. WAGGONER, owner of a valuable farm in Sandusky township, Sandusky county, is a native of the county, born No- vember 10, 1851, in Washington town- ship, where he spent his boyhood days, and received his early education, later attending one term at Oberlin College.

Mr. Waggoner remained on the home farm until twenty-three years of age. On December 10, 1874, he was married to Miss Mary E. Engler, of Sandusky town- ship, Sandusky county, in the same house in which they have since lived. Shortly after their marriage his father purchased the farm-142 acres-for which he paid $15,000, and later deeded the entire tract to his son George in consideration of $3,000. Here the latter has resided since his marriage, during which time he has much improved the place, in the way of under-drainings, erecting new buildings, etc., in general making it one of the best farms in Sandusky county. While Mr. Waggoner has been engaged in general farming, he has also paid much attention to the raising of good stock, including horses, cattle and sheep, and he is a pros- perous, thorough-going agriculturist. To Mr. and Mrs. Waggoner have come four children: Orie Odell, born September 2, 1878, has attended the district school and paid special attention to music, having been organist for the past three years at Mount Calvary U. B. Church; Chester C., born July 20, 1881, has attended the home school (he is interested in the Sun- day-school); Vernie May was born October II, 1886 (she is taking music lessons); and Elmer E., born November 30, 1889.

Samuel Waggoner, father of George H. Waggoner, was born December 12, 1827, in Perry county, Ohio. About 1830 he came with his parents to Wash- ington township, Sandusky Co., Ohio, where he made his home until within the past three years, since when he has lived in Fremont. His wife, Sarah (Miller), was born August 28, 1831, in Ohio, and

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they were married in February, 1851. To their union were born nine children, of whom George H. is the oldest; Caroline died in infancy; Clara is the wife of H. A. Bolan, and has one child; Eugene married Hattie Boyer, and died in 1892; Henry married Emma Carr, and has two children; Malvina, Mrs. Charles Keefer, of Sandusky township, has four children; Charles E. married Ellen King; Hattie is Mrs. Chester Wolf; Miland D. died at the age of fifteen. Mr. Waggoner's paternal grandfather, George Waggoner, was born November 10, 1795, and died at the age of ninety-six years; the grandmother, Margaret (Klingler), was born May 10, 1802, and had nine children, three of whom are living. At the time of his death the great-grandfather owned and lived on the farm our subject now owns. Great-grandfather John Waggoner was a member of George Washington's body- guard during the Revolution. Mr. Wag- goner's maternal grandfather, Isaac Miller, was born July 19, 1805, and was killed during the construction of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad, in 1847; his wife, Elizabeth (Stierwalt), was born July 5, 1800, and they had three chil- dren, all of whom are living. They were all early pioneers of Sandusky county.

Mrs. Mary E. Waggoner was born December 4, 1854, in Washington town- ship, Sandusky county, and when a child moved with her parents to Sandusky township, where she has since lived. She was educated in the district schools of Sandusky township, and for five terms was one of the leading teachers of the county. Her father, Nehemiah Engler, was born February 17, 1832, in Ohio, where he is still living. He was one of the leaders of the Democratic party in Sandusky county, served as county in- firmary director six years, and is now on his farm in Washington township. His wife, Sarah A. (Shively), was born July 10, 1835, in Ohio. They were married June 4, 1854, and their union was blessed

with six children: Mary (Mrs. Wag- goner), William W. (married Alice Hen- ricks, and they have one child), Minerva Jane (Mrs. N. Hetrick, who has three children and lives in Kansas), Hattie Odell (Mrs. F. Karbler, of Fremont, who has one child), Perry Sherman (of Find- lay, who married Sophia Elky, and they have one child), and Joseph Rollin (who died at the age of twenty-two). Mrs. Waggoner's paternal grandfather, David Engler, was born March 27, 1797, and his wife, Edith (Burgoon), was born June 8, 1803. He died about 1856, but she survived to the advanced age of nearly eighty-eight years. To them were born nine children, of whom seven are now liv- ing. The maternal grandfather, Joseph Shively, was born March 30, 1812, and his wife, Susan (Overmyer), was born April 16, 1809. To them came nine children, all yet living. The grandparents on both sides were early pioneers of Sandusky county.

Mr. and Mrs. Waggoner have been prominent members of the United Breth- ren Church since 1874, and have been act- ive in all lines of Church and Sunday- school work since their marriage. For twenty years Mr. Waggoner has been su- perintendent of the Sunday-school of Mt. Calvary U. B. Church, of which his estim- able wife has been Church chorister for nearly a score of years. He has been a trustee of the Church and parsonage for fifteen years, and the life of the Church and Sunday-school is duein a large measure to the untiring efforts of himself and wife. Mr. Waggoner is also deeply interested in educational matters, and has been school director for six years. His visit to the World's Fair was as much a matter of in- tellectual development as of recreation.

F W. SANDWISCH, a retired farmer of Woodville township, Sandusky county, and an ex-coun- ty official, who in past years has been among the most prominent and pro-

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gressive public characters of the county, is a native of Germany.

He was born in Hanover May 7, 1819, the youngest son of Rudolph and Jane (Daterman) Sandwisch. The mother died at the age of fifty-eight years, and the father attained the age of eighty-two Tears. They had five children, as fol- lows: (1) Rudolph, who was born in February, 1805, and married Catherine Sandwisch; he had two children-Henry and Maggie-both married, the former to Christina Meyers, the latter to Fred Puck. (2) Herman, who married Catherine Margee; their five children are William, who married Clarinda Swartzman, and has three children (she lives at Fremont); Mary, widow of Jacob Bishop and mother of five children, living at Toledo; Louisa who married Benedict Emch and has five children, a resident of Woodville; John, a wagon-maker at Bowling Green, mar- ried to Almira Gallup, and has four chil- dren; Emma, wife of Charles Brett, and mother of one son, lives at Atlanta, Ga. (3) Jane, who married Herman Gismort, and died in Germany in 1879, aged sev- enty years, leaving one child. (4) Chris- tian, born in 1817, married to a Miss Reader, by whom he had five children. (5) F. W., subject of this sketch.

In 1836 F. W. Sandwisch, then sev- enteen years of age, ventured alone into a strange and distant land to seek his for- tune. Taking passage in a sailing ves- sel, he seven weeks later landed at New York. His supply of money quickly be- came exhausted, and he secured a posi- tion on a steamboat, plying on Lake Erie between Buffalo and Detroit. He re- mained on the boat all of one season. In 1839 he married Louisa Clousing, who was born in 1815. Three children blessed this union, as follows: (1) John, a farm- er of Woodville township, born Novem- ber 5, 1841, and married to Eliza Meyer; they have eight children-Dora, George, Gust, Maggie, Martha, Martin, Carrie and William. (2) Herman, retired farmer of

Woodville township, born April 28, 1844, married Amelia Winegart; they are the parents of five children-Ella, William, Aaron, Nora and Paul. (3) Frederick, born July 17, 1850; he married Lucy Schroeder, and has six children-Carl, Sophia, Frederick, Joseph, Fred and Eu- gene; he is a carpenter, and erected the first building at Woodville, where he.now lives.

After his marriage our subject worked for a time at the carpenter's trade. Liv- ing for a year in Perrysburg, he then came to the "Black Swamp." He worked for a year on the pike road in Troy township, Wood county, then purchased forty acres of wild land for $200. He built a log cabin and made other improvements, then sold the property and bought seventy acres. This, too, he disposed of advan- tageously soon after, and bought the 160 acres where he now lives. The ravages of the cholera were severe when he first settled in the swamp, and his brothers perished from the epidemic while he was on his way for a doctor. Mr. Sandwisch owned the first ox-team in Woodville township. He had to go eighteen miles to mill, and the trip consumed several days. He was an extensive dealer in horses and cattle, and in 1860 lost twenty- four head of fine cattle.

Mrs. Louisa Sandwisch died October 24, 1855, of consumption, and for his second wife our subject was married to Angeline Bossan, who was born in Ger- many November 8, 1833, daughter of Henry and Gertie Bossan. Her father died in Germany in 1871, aged sixty-nine years, her mother in 1875, aged seventy- four years. Mr. and Mrs. Bossan were the parents of five children: Clement, Henrietta, Henry, Frederick and Ange- line. The second marriage of Mr. Sand- wisch was blessed with ten children, as follows: (1) Edward, a farmer of Wood- ville township, born December 26, 1856; he was married in April, 1880, to Annie Stein, by whom he has five children-

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Edith, Edward, Dora, Mary and Lizzie. (2) Henry, born July 18, 1858, lives, un- married, in Woodville. (3) Carrie, born March 9, 1860, married John Hurrel- brink, and is the mother of three children -Augusta, William and Edward. (4) Jennie, born August 9, 1862, married Herman Linke, a farmer of Woodville township; they have two children, Edith and Lizzie. (5) William, born April 18, 1865, is at home. (6) Charles, born January 26, 1868, is at home. (7) Man- uel, born December 29, 1869, is also at home. (8) Louisa, born December 1, 1871. (9) Frank, born March 22, 1874. (10) Sophia, born June 8, 1876. In 1884 Mr. Sandwisch retired from active farm- ing, and his sons now operate the farm. In 1873 he was elected county commis- sioner, and re-elected for a second term, but on account of ill health he declined the honor. Mr. Sandwisch has also held various other local offices. The family attend the Lutheran Church, and is among the most popular and enterprising of the county .- [Since the above was written we have been notified of the death of Mr. F. W. Sandwisch, which occurred October 24, 1895. He died of old age, at the age of seventy-six years, had been ailing ever since January, 1895, and was confined to his bed for three months prior to his decease. -- Editor.

R ICHARD WILLEY, a retired farm- er of Rice township, Sandusky county, deserves honorable men- tion as one of the early pioneers of the county. He was born in Tomp- kins county, N. Y., February 15, 1817, a son of Eleazar and Mary (Lane) Willey.

Eleazar Willey was a well-to-do far- mer in the Empire State, who came with his family to Huron county, Ohio, in 1829, where he bought a large farm, and re- mained on it about six years. Having in the meantime lost nearly all his property by going surety for a neighbor, he sold

out, removed to the Black Swamp, west of Lower Sandusky, and bought 400 acres of partly-improved land. The title to this land not being satisfactory, he abandoned it, and bought 300 acres in the south part of Rice township, on the west bank of the Sandusky river. Here he cleared up a home, and followed farming after the custom of the early pioneers. The children of Eleazar and Mary Willey were: Abraham, Isaac, Rhoda, Eleazar, Richard (our subject), Sarah Ann, Jane, and Naomi, all of whom are dead except Richard and Jane. The father died Au- gust 17, 1852, aged seventy years, and the mother on January 1, 1866, aged eighty-two. All of those who died, ex- cept Sarah, are buried in Brier Hill Ceme- tery, located on the Willey farm; Sarah died in Kansas.

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Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 48

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