Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 49

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 49
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 49

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Richard Willey spent his childhood in New York State, his youth in the Fire Lands of Huron county, and grew to manhood on his father's farm in Rice township, Sandusky Co., Ohio. He en- tered with a zest into both the toils and the pastimes of pioneer life, was an ex- pert marksman, and kept the family well supplied with wild game. He delighted to hunt deer and wild turkeys in the deep woods, and to shoot wild geese and ducks on the river and in the marshes. He often went to mill for his neighbors who had no teams, wending his way through the woods and across streams of water, to Cold Creek (now Castalia), in Erie county. His book learning was limited to only a few weeks of irregular attendance at a country school. On March 4, 1847, he married Miss Harriet Walker, who was born July 1, 1825, a daughter of David and Elizabeth Walker, at that time neigh- bors of the Willeys. About the year 1850 Mr. Willey removed to Rollersville, Ohio, and there burned lime one year; then returned to the Willey farm, which has been his home ever since.

The children of Richard and Harriet Willey were: (1) Eliza, who April 26,

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1893, married Alfred Berlincourt, who was a minister of the Christian Church about ten years in Paulding county, Ohio, then joined the M. E. Church, at Find- lay, Ohio, and the Central Ohio Confer- ence at Fremont, June 13, 1894; his death occurred near Findlay, September 9, 1894. (2) George W., who married Lydia Willey, and lives at Bronson Sta- tion, Branch Co., Mich. (3) Mary E., born September 16, 1853, who March 27, 1879, married Wallace, son of Jamies and Mary (Fry) Scrimger, formerly of Allegan county, Mich. Richard Willey and his wife have lived to a venerable old age. Their land is now farmed by their son-in- law, Wallace Scrimger. They are mem- bers of the M. E. Church.

The following is a brief account of Mrs. Willey's parents' family. The chil- dren of David and Elizabeth Walker were: (1) Mary Ann, wife of Richard Parham, of Burr Oak, Mich .; she died leaving three sons-Aaron, Ann and Lo- rin, all of whom are now heads of fam- ilies. (2) William, who married Hattie Gifford; both have died, leaving several children in Michigan and California. (3) Fannie, wife of Abraham Willey, brother of Richard; they had four children, two of whom, Alfred and Lydia, are heads of families. (4) Welcome, who married Abigail Mitchell, of Iowa; they have three children-Everett, Ira and Ella, all mar- ried and heads of families. (Miss Nellie Walker, daughter of Everett, at the age of seventeen manifested remarkable apt- ness and genius in the line of sculpture, having executed a marble bust of Abra- ham Lincoln, with rude tools picked up in her father's marble shop, without any previous instruction in the art of sculp- ture, and guided in her design with noth- ing but a picture of Mr. Lincoln, which she had torn out of a book and tacked on a board. She finished the task in less than a month, besides helping her mother meanwhile in domestic work. The bust in question was exhibited at the Colum-

bian Fair in Chicago, and was pronounced by an old neighbor of Mr. Lincoln as the most natural he had ever seen. Miss Walker has since that time executed very satisfactory busts for other parties. She resides at Moulton, Iowa). (5) Eunice, wife of John Myers, a farmer, living in Seneca county, Ohio, who has six chil- dren, married. (6) Eliza, wife of Wash- ington Alexander, now living in Michigan. (7) Harriet, wife of our subject. (8) W. G. Walker, an artist, residing at Ottumwa, Iowa. (9) Mrs. Maria Fowler, of Fre- mont, Ohio.

H G. HOUSE, farmer, Green Creek township, Sandusky county, was born in Switzerland, March 16, 1833, a son of Jacob and Mary (Hooser) House, also natives of Switzer- land, who emigrated to America in 1847, landing at New York City. From there they at once proceeded to Lower San- dusky (now Fremont), Ohio, where the father worked at his trade as a stone mason, and soon after bought a farm of forty acres in Riley township, which they inade their home.

Jacob House was born June 3, 1800, and died in September, 1874. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Roman Catholic Church. Mary Hooser, mother of our subject, was born in 1798, and died in April, 1874. Five of their children grew to maturity, of whom H. G. House is the oldest; John is a marble cutter in California; Casper died at the age of forty-nine years; Matthew is a stone mason in Fremont, Ohio; Mary married Joseph Huttinger, and is living east of Fremont. After coming to America H. G. House learned the trade of a stonemason, at which he worked at intervals for about twenty years, at the same time operating his farm in Riley township, Sandusky county. In 1857 he took a trip to California, by the Panama route, and spent several years on the Pa-

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cific coast. He worked on a farm and in the mines; spent six months in British Columbia, assisted in building a pack- horse road for the Hudson Bay Company, and in 1861 he returned to Fremont, Olio.

On November 5, 1861, our subject married Miss Catharine Bisang, born at Buffalo, N. Y., in March, 1841, and they have thirteen children, all of whom are liv- ing: Mary M., born May 21, 1863, married Philip Wamus, who lives in Sandusky county (they have three children-Rosa, Clarence, William); Amelia, married to Barney Halbeisen, a farmer of Ballville township (they have six children-Laura, Louisa, Louis, Clarence, Leona, Urban), Charles married Katie Young, and they have two children-Louisa, Carl; Joseph is a carpenter of Portland, Ore .; Laura married John Weiss, an employe at the Carbon Works, Fremont, Ohio (they have one child-Leona); and William H., Catharine, Rosa M., Martha L., Aloisius H., Francis, Helen, and Antonio. Mrs. House is a daughter of Joseph and Mar- aret (Geiger) Bisang. Her father was born in Alsace, France, married there to his first wife, and came with her to America; she died in Buffalo, N. Y. They had children as follows: Theresa, Mary, Joseph, and Peter. For his second wife Mr. Bisang married Margaret Geiger, and by her had six children: (1) Mar- garet, who married Samuel Babione, and died in Ballville township, Sandusky county; (2) Elizabeth, born October 14, 1844, who married John P. Baker, a merchant tailor, of French descent, who worked at his trade in Fremont, and died in 1877; (3) Magdalena, who married George Fend, and is now living at Port Angeles, Wash .: (4) Mary, who married John Schaff, now of Helena, Mont., and (5) Caroline, who married George Dun- ning, an undertaker at Portland, Ore. Mrs. House lived in Buffalo, N. Y., until twelve years of age, and then came to Sandusky county. Her father was born

in 1793, and died in Fremont, Ohio, in 1874; her mother was born in Baden, Germany, November 24, 1804, and died March 14, 1894, at the home of her daughter, near Fremont.

W ILLIAM HUMMEL, a well- known resident of York town- ship, Sandusky county, is the eldest son of William and Clara (Walter) Hummel, and was born in Sny- der county, Penn., April 24, 1843. He grew up to habits of thrift, frugality, and strict morality, which he at present pos- sesses to a marked degree.

For more than 150 years the Hummel family have resided in Pennsylvania. They are noted for physical stamen and indefatigable industry. William Hummel, Sr., inherited these qualities, and during his life was rarely, if ever, deterred from important undertakings by difficulties, and was noted for his hardiness and firmness of character. He was born in 1813 in Union county, and in 1842 was united in marriage with Clara Walter, bornin 1818, daughter of Conrad Walter, a Lutheran preacher. Mr. Hummel died in 1861; his wife passed away in the spring of 1894. William, the subject of this sketch, was the eldest in the family of William Hun- mel, Sr., and Clara, his wife. Moses, the second son, died in 1872, leaving a widow and two children; his widow has married John Boyer, of Seneca county, and Emma Jane, his daughter, married Mr. Acker, also of Huron county. Aaron, the third child, married Amanda Stin- inger, and lives on the old homestead in Pennsylvania. Benjamin also lives in Snyder county. Catherine, the only daughter, died in 1880. John, the young- est of the family, is a farmer of Union county; he married a Miss Weaver.

On Christmas Day, 1862, William Hummel was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Aigler, daughter of Amos and Armina (Bobb) Aigler. She was born in

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Juniata county, Penn., November 9, 1842, and was raised in Snyder county. Irvine W., who lives at Mt. Pleasant, York township, is the eldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Hummel, and was born February 3, 1864. In 1885 he was united in marriage with Anna Gemberling, of Snyder coun- ty, Penn., and they have two children -William Aigler and Sophara Pickert. Mr. and Mrs. William Hummel's other child, still living, Lillie Marguerite, born April 23, 1876, is the wife of John Kern, a farmer of York township, and they have one child-Laurel Celestine. Four chil- dren of our subject and wife have died, as follows: Charles P., born February 4, 1867, died April 6, 1867; Calvin E., born May 15, 1870, died August 31, 1870; Carrie E., born November 5, 1871, died August 31. 1872; and Mabel S., born May 7, 1882, died June 11, 1882. Mr. Hummel has ever been an ardent cham- pion of the principles of Republicanism, and he puts his preaching to practical use by voting for the candidates of that party. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hummel are members of the Evangelical Church.

J I F. GERWIN, a substantial farmer of Woodville township, Sandusky county, was born in Hanover, Ger- many, May 1, 1842, son of Christian and Julia (Linnerbrink) Gerwin, who were born August 14, 1811, and September 17, 1816, respectively.

Christian Gerwin came to America in 1835, and after a short sojourn returned to Germany. In 1842 he again came to this country, and same year located in Ohio. He married Julia Linnerbrink, and they had seven children, as follows: J. F. is the subject of this sketch. William mar- ried Mary Kleily, and they have had two children; they live in Woodville township. Angeline married Frank Hursall, a tailor by trade; she died in 1881, the mother of six children. Caroline married Peter Knaup, a farmer in Michigan, and they

have had three children. Louis married Carrie Bronckseker. Eliza died young. Mary died at the age of twenty-one years. The father, Christian Gerwin, has traveled a great deal, and is known far and near; the mother died June 16, 1892, at the age of seventy-six years and two months.

J. F. Gerwin was united in marriage March 28, 1878, with Eliza Blausey, who was born in Woodville township, Sandusky county, March 31, 1857, and they have had four children, namely: Ella, born March 9, 1881; Lillie and Millie (twins), born November 7, 1885; and Julia, born November 7, 1889. Mrs. Gerwin is one of the six children of Henry and Mary (Yeastings) Blausey. Mr. Gerwin leased his land to the Standard Oil Company in 1891, and has seven oil wells on his farm. He has held several township offices, is a member of the German Methodist Epis- copal Church in Woodville township, and is well and favorably known.

H ENRY L. WOTT. Among the successful farmers of Sandusky county none sustains a better rep- utation for carefully attending to his own affairs, for industry and thrift, than does Henry L. Wott, whose traits, thus outlined, are distinctively those of his nationality, for Mr. Wott is of Ger- man birth. He was born in the Kingdom of Prussia May 25, 1839, son of Charles and Charlotte (Wott) Wott.

Charles Wott was a farmer of some note, and a squire or magistrate, an office corresponding to our justice of the peace. His wife's father, also a magis- trate, was superintendent of a large es- tate. In 1866 Charles Wott emigrated with his family to America. He lived for a year in Venice, Erie Co., Ohio, then came to Green Creek township, Sandusky county, and purchased eighty acres of land, where he lived and fol- lowed agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in the fall of 1868, when

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he was aged sixty-three years. In re- ligious faith he was a member of the Lutheran Church. His wife survived un- til April 5, 1894, when she passed away at the age of eighty years. They had a fam- ily of twelve children, as follows: Car- olina, Albertina, Henry L., Charles A., William (of Oak Harbor), Wilhelmina, Kate, August, John, and three who died in Germany.

Henry L. Wott was twenty-seven years of age when he came with his parents to America. He remained with his father in Venice, Erie county, and came with him to Green Creek township. Upon his father's death, which occurred about six months after he had bought his farm in Green Creek township, Henry L. and his brother Charles pur- chased the interest of the other heirs, and began to farm the newly-acquired home place. They also purchased eighty acres additional, and later divided the property between them, Henry L. re- taining the home farm, and now owning ninety acres of excellent land, eighty of which are under a high state of cultiva- tion. In 1883 he erected, at a cost of $3,000, a fine brick residence, carefully designed and constructed.

Mr. Wott was married April 20, 1869, to Mary Schiska, and to them five children have been born: William, Charles, John (deceased), Minnie and Henry. In politics our subject is a Dem- ocrat, and in religious faith he is an act- ive member of the Lutheran Church.

A DOLPH PETERS is an intelli- gent and highly-respected citizen, now numbered among the leading farmers and stock raisers of Wood- ville township, Sandusky county. He was born in Wadenschwyl, Canton Zurich, Switzerland, December 24, 1849, and is a son of Rudolph Peters, who was a na- tive of the same locality.

The father was there employed as a

dyer in a cotton factory until the spring of 1854, when he crossed the Atlantic to America, locating in Ballville, Ohio. He left his family in the land of his nativity until he should succeed in obtaining em- ployment here, when he wrote for them to join him in his new home. Western life attracting him, he left Ballville for Michigan, securing employment on the railroad. As he had not then secured a definite location in Michigan, he wrote to his family to postpone their coming for a short time, but before the arrival of the second letter they had boarded a sailing vessel, on which were two hundred other passengers. After they had been some days on the ocean cholera broke out on board, causing the death of forty passen- gers. Mrs. Peters was stricken with the disease, but finally recovered. They landed at Belgium, but after a short rest again started for America, and after a long and tedious voyage reached the shores of the New World. They soon arrived at Ballville, Ohio, but finding the husband and father had left that place, Mrs. Peters and her son secured employ- ment as weavers in a factory, she having learned the weaving business in her na- tive land. As soon as the father learned of the arrival of his family in this country he joined them and found employment in Ballville among the farming population, while the other members of the family secured work as they could, all helping to earn a living. After a three-years' resi- dence at that place they removed to Mad- ison township, Sandusky county, renting a farm which they operated for three years. Purchasing a tract of eighty acres in Woodville township, they next removed to their new home, and began clearing away the timber, a dense growth of which covered the land. Father and sons soon made this a tract of rich fertility, and the farm became one of the most highly cul- tivated in the neighborhood.

To Mr. and Mrs. Peters were born the following children: (1) Henry, who

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was born in Switzerland January 20, 1841, and there acquired his education; was employed in a factory in Ballville, Ohio, on first coming to America; he now fol- lows the occupation of farming in Wood- ville township; he was married December 12, 1863, to Louisa Clink, a daughter of Caleb Clink, and a sister of Jacob, Reu- ben and A. J. Clink, all well-known resi- dents of Sandusky county; she was born August 11, 1837, and now has six chil- dren-Mary, born September 30, 1864, and is the wife of Henry Hurleman, a farmer of Wood county, Ohio; William H., born January 26, 1866, follows farm- ing and operates oil fields (he married Tilley, daughter of Conrad Oberst); the other children of Henry Peters are George A., born May 4, 1869, died October 7, 1870; Charles W., January 1, 1871, work- ing in the oil fields; Frank C., born May 12, 1874, died April 24, 1875; and Lillie D., born March 3, 1879; the mother of this family died July 28, 1883, after which Henry Peters married Annie Blausey, a daughter of Henry Blausey, a farmer of Madison township, Sandusky county; they have four children-Raymond, born Jan- uary 22, 1887; Grace M. and Mabel M., born August 6, 1890; and Annette, born February 14, 1895. (2) John Peters, the second of the family, was born in Swit- zerland May 24, 1844, and was a farmer and lumber manufacturer; he died April 1, 1883. (3) Adolph, subject of this sketch, is the next younger. Two other children died in infancy. The father of this family is still living at the ripe old age of eighty-six years, and makes his home with his son Adolph, who tenderly cares for him in his declining years. He is well known throughout the community, and is highly respected.

The gentleman whose name opens this record was educated in the schools of Ballville, and after school hours worked in the mills. When his parents removed to Madison township, Sandusky county, he labored upon the farmn, giving his

father the benefit of his services, and took an important part in clearing the old honiestead and placing it under a high state of cultivation. He resided thereon until 1876, when in partnership with his brother John he engaged in the manufac- ture of lumber, devoting his time and en- ergies to that business some eight years, during which time he furnished employ- ment to a number of men in cutting tim- ber, logs, etc. On the expiration of that period he sold his interest in the lumber business, together with one hundred acres of land, and in 1884 returned to the old home place. He then purchased sixty- two acres of land, which he succeeded in clearing, fencing and tilling, making it a tract of rich fertility. He now cultivates more than 140 acres of improved land, and to-day has one of the finest farms in Sandusky county, complete in all its ap- pointments from the substantial dwelling to the outbuildings for the stock. An air of neatness and thrift pervades the place, and waving fields of grain indicate good harvests.

Mr. Peters was married July 27, 1874, in Seneca county, Ohio, to Lucy Parker, who was born February 14, 1855. They are the parents of six children: Edward A., born June 25, 1875, now working in the oil fields; Ephraim R., born January 29, 1878; John R., born November 6, 1880; Sarah E., born December 20, 1876; Jessie, born October 21, 1882; and Elmer E., born September 27, 1888. Mr. Peters is a member of Freedman Lodge, No. 723, I. O. O. F., of Wood county, and in politics is independent, supporting the man and not the party. He has al- ways taken a deep interest in educational matters, has held the office of school di- rector for more than fifteen years, has been clerk of the school board, and is now its president. In all possible ways he aids in the advancement of interests cal- culated to prove of public benefit, and is well-known and highly respected through- out the county as a man of industry, in-

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tegrity and enterprising and progressive ideas. His genial and kindly disposition has won for him the good will of all with whom he has been brought in contact, either in business or social life, and he is indeed a highly esteemed citizen.

G EORGE J. LEHRMAN, who for many years has been identified with the agricultural interests of Sandusky county, is a Western man by birth and training, and possessed of a true Western spirit of enterprise and

progress. He was born September 20, 1849, and is a son of Mathias and Mary (Bowers) Lehrman, both of whom were natives of Hanover, Germany. In 1834 they bade adieu to that country, and crossed the Atlantic to the New World, taking up their residence in Canton, Ohio; but after a short time they removed to Fort Wayne, Ind., where for twenty years they made their home. On the ex- piration of that period, they came to Washington township, Sandusky county, and purchased ninety-six acres of good farm land. The father carried on agri- cultural pursuits throughout his life, and both he and his wife spent their remain- ing days on their home in Sandusky county.

This worthy couple were the parents of a family of ten children, namely: David, who is now engaged in farming in Scott township, Sandusky county; Josephine, who died in infancy; John, who was killed while aiding his country in the Civil war; Caroline, wife of Philip Kirsch, a farmer residing in Coldwater, Ohio; Ellen, wife of Joseph Maers, an agriculturist, living in Scott township, Sandusky county; Lizzie, who became the wife of Fred Bevie, and died in 1893; George J., subject of this sketch; Mary, wife of Joseph Weaver, a farmer, residing in Madison township, Sandusky county; Sarah, wife of Joseph Ottney, who also carries on agricultural pursuits in Madi-

son township; and Audulph, who died in infancy. Mr. Lehrman, of whom we write, spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Fort Wayne, Ind., and came with the family to Sandusky county, Ohio. To his father he gave the benefit of his services throughout his minority. and even after his marriage he remained at home with his parents, carrying on the work of the farm. Upon his mother's death he purchased the old homestead, and since coming to the county has al- ways lived upon this place, which is a val- uable tract of land, under a high state of cultivation, and well improved with the accessories of a model farm.

In 1873 Mr. Lehrman was united in marriage with Catherina Noss, and they began their domestic life upon the old homestead. Their union has been blessed with a family of five children (three of whom are living), namely: George, born March 23, 1874; Ellen, born in 1877, who died when three years old; Lena, born October 15, 1879; Sylvester, born September 11, 1893; and John, born July 11, 1875, died in infancy. Mr. Lehrman is a supporter of the Dem- ocracy, and for two years served as school director, but has never sought or de- sired political preferment, for his time and attention have been wholly taken up with his business interests. He and his wife are members of the Catholic Church.

W ILLIAM HENRY HARRISON ICKES, a prosperous farmer of Madison township, Sandusky county, was born in Bedford county, Penn., August 27, 1840. His parents, Charles and Elizabeth (Burket) Ickes, were natives of the same county, and his mother's ancestors were also born in Pennsylvania. Charles Ickes was born September 14, 1817, and was married in Bedford county, Penn., in 1839. He car- ried on farming, and is still living in that State. In his early days he was a Whig,

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but on the formation of the Republican party he joined its ranks. His wife died February 9, 1885, when a little over sixty- seven years old.

Our subject is the eldest of seven chil- dren, the others being: Jacob, Julia A., Thomas, Simon, Mary and John, all of whom live in Bedford county, Penn. William H. H. Ickes spent his youth upon the home farm, alternating his tasks in ploughing, sowing and caring for stock with attendance at the district school. and acquiring such an education as can be ob- tained under these circumstances. When twenty-one years of age he worked out one summer on a farm, and the following year, 1862, he left home and came to Ohio, locating first in Fremont, where he remained, however, only one month. Thence he went to Helena, this State, where he was employed some four years on the farm of Joseph Garns. Returning to Fremont, he was married October 7, 1866, to Sarah Kemmerling, daughter of Peter Kemmerling, a farmer in Sandusky county, but their married life was brief, the young wife dying two years thereafter, on January 3, 1869; their only child died in infancy.

After his wife's death Mr. Ickes re- mained with his father-in-law for nine months. He was married, the second time, on February 10, 1870, his bride being Miss Sophia Sampsel, whose family history is given in the sketch of Joshua Sampsel. Shortly after he removed to the town of Gibsonburg, where he worked by the day for two years, and then in- vested in forty acres of land in Madison township, to which he has since added thirty acres. At the time of purchase this land was covered with a dense growth of timber, of which Mr. Ickes cleared forty- five acres, and put under cultivation. When the discovery of oil was made in the township this land became very valu- able; eleven oil wells were sunk, and he leased fifty acres to the Hazelwood Oil Company, the remaining twenty to Lieber

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Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 49

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