Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 53

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 53
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 53

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Clark was a man of more than ordinary ability, and he made his influ- ence for good felt throughout the com- munity. He possessed a wonderful mem- ory, great discretion and shrewd judg- ment, and on account of these prominent

Joseph R Clark

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traits of character was very frequently found on the jury when important cases were to be tried. His clear mind and impartial verdict were so highly appreci- ated by all who knew him that when he was chosen as a juror neither attorney objected to his sitting. He was for many years justice of the peace in Riley township. A sentence sometimes speaks volumes. One of Mr. Clark's contempor- aries says of him: " You need not fear that you will over-estimate the man in writing his sketch." To Mr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Clark came twelve children, ten of whom are mentioned as follows: William W., Mrs. Cleaver, John and Rebecca (both deceased in infancy), Leander, Joseph (who died at the age of nine years), Lucretia (deceased in in- fancy), Sarah Ann, James and Clara. Of those yet living, Leander, who was born June 5, 1839, is unmarried (he served four years during the war of the Rebellion as a member of Company F, Seventy- second O. V. I.); William W., born March 13, 1834, married Sarah M. Bell, February 22, 1862, and to them five children were born, four of whom are now living-Mrs. Jesse Stevens (of Fos- toria), Mrs. Jennie Hyter (of Bradner), William E. (who resides in Indiana), and May (who resides in Fostoria). William W. Clark is now extensively engaged in the oil business; he makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Stevens, of Fostoria, his wife having died some years ago.

Mrs. Joseph R. Clark was the daughter of William and Rebecca (Budd) Welsh, the former of whom was born about 1771 and died in 1833; the latter was born about 1778. To them were born eleven children, three of whom are now living.

W H. K. GOSSARD, one of San- dusky county's representative self-made men, is the son of Alvin P. and Mary (Cooley) Gossard, and was born September 8, 1839, 23

in Scott township, Sandusky county. His education was acquired at the Ohio Wes- leyan University, and, although the ordi- nary advantages for literary pursuits at that time were meager, Mr. Gossard obtained a liberal training, and for several years was one of the foremost teachers in San- dusky county.

On March 31, 1864, our subject was united in marriage with Lucinda Hollo- peter, of Seneca county, and soon after- ward settled upon eighty acres of wild land in Scott township, on which were no buildings. Here began the struggle with the forest from which he determined to secure a home; success has crowned the efforts of himself and wife, and to-day Mr. Gossard has the original purchase un- der high cultivation, with excellent build- ings and orchards, and to this property he has added another farnı the same size. To him and his first wife were born three children: Mary O., born January 10, 1865, who married C. P. Aubert, at that time of Columbus, Ohio, now of Wash- ington State, and she is the mother of three children-Claudius, Thalia and Mabel (Mr. Aubert is superintendent of Port Townsend (Wash.) public schools; for five years prior to her marriage she was teacher in the public schools of San- dusky and Wood counties); William Ar- thur, born January 30, 1866, who married Miss Clara Shale (he was also a teacher); and Myrtle R., born October 29, 1871, who like her father, brother and older sis- ter, is a teacher, having been engaged in the profession for the past six years. The mother of these children was born August 23, 1843, and was for a number of years a teacher; she died June 2, 1873, and was buried in the Metzger cemetery, and on April 23, 1879. Mr. Gossard was mar- ried to Miss Helen M. Canfield, of Wood county, who was born September 26, 1850. She completed her education in Saginaw, Mich., where she was graduated in 1871, and was also a teacher for twelve years, holding some very fine positions,

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among others teaching in the Woodville, Genoa and Bowling Green high schools. To Mr. and Mrs. Gossard have been born three children: Florence A., December 14, 1882; Harry C., March 13, 1884; and Hellen Gladys, October 12, 1890. Silas Sprague Canfield, father of Mrs. Gossard, was born March 13, 1824, in Hamburg, N. Y. The history of the Canfield family, through the researches of Prof. Averill B. Canfield, has been traced back to 1350, when James De Philo, a French Huguenot of Normandy, France, emigrated to Eng- land and became a loyal subject of the Crown. In course of time the name was shortened and Anglicized into Cam. Philo, then Campfield, Camfield, and Canfield. From this line came Amon Canfield, who was the great-grandfather of S. S. Can- field. Silas S. Canfield's mother was Phoebe Dart. Mrs. Gossard's mother, Matilda Adaline Wetherell, was born at South Barre, Orleans Co., N. Y., and died February 10, 1885.

Mr. Gossard's father, Alvin P. Gossard, was born June 6, 1808, in Ross county, Ohio, and when a young man came to Scott township, Sandusky county, where he purchased a farm. Philip Gossard, his father, was born in America about 1777, of German parentage, and married a Ken- tucky lady, a Miss Plummer, who was born about 1779. In 1835 Alvin P. Gos- sard was married to Miss Mary Cooley, of Sandusky county, and they settled on the farm which A. R. Gossard has purchased, and began a life which was prosperous in every way. Mr. Gossard was a great stockman, a shrewd dealer, and in that business made a great deal of money. For a long time he turned off one hundred head or more of cattle each year, which he had fattened, besides the large number purchased and shipped directly. By care- ful attention to his business he added to the small farm he had originally purchased until he at one time owned 800 acres, which he paid for mainly from his stock business. He was the father of eight

children, six of whom are now living: W. H. K .; P. J .; A. R .; Mary, now Mrs. Mc- Ewen, of Wood county; Ann, now Mrs. Sidel, of Fulton county; and Mrs. Inman. The two deceased are Charles and Ed- mund. Mr. Gossard died May 6, 1887, and was buried in Metzger cemetery; his wife was born March 1, 1810, in Canada, daughter of Peleg Cooley, who built the first frame house in Fremont, Ohio. Peleg Cooley's grandmother was stolen from Wales when a little child and brought to New York, where she was sold for enough to pay her passage, $18; she was so young she did not remember her father's last name, but simply knew that they called him "John." When in the hands of her captors, on the boat, she heard her father's voice on board the vessel, but dared not speak.

J OSEPH M. BUCHMAN, carpenter, of Fremont, Sandusky county, son of Godfrey F. and Magdalena Buch- man, was born at Fremont, Ohio, October 3, 1873. He spent his youth in his native city, assisting his father in a store, and attending the parochial school of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, under the preceptorship of Rev. S. Bauer, D. D .; he graduated from St. Joseph's High School in 1890, and afterward took a course in a business college.

With a view to preparing himself for the occupation of contractor and builder, he next served an apprenticeship at the carpenter trade, under the instruction of Christian Vollmer, until March, 1894, since which time he has worked with various other parties. He assisted in the building of the celebrated Hochenedel Block, on Croghan street, Fremont, the Lutheran Church at Gibsonburg, and other buildings of note elsewhere. He is a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, of the Young Men's Society of the B. V. M., and of the Catholic Knights of Ohio, Branch No. 8, and Uniformed Comman-

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dery No. 2. By his habits of industry and thrift, strict attention to business, and fair dealing with his fellow men, Mr. Buchman has laid the foundation of a successful business career.

A NTHONY C. NUHFER was born January 16, 1835, and is a son of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Creek) Nuhfer, born, the father on June 2, 1814, in Baiern, Germany, and the mother on March 28, 1810.

Nicholas Nuhfer and Elizabeth Creek were united in marriage in 1834, and be- came the parents of seven children. They came to America in the year of their mar- riage, and located in Buffalo, N. Y., where they remained a short time. They then removed to Ohio, where he worked on the Maumee and Western Reserve pike for two years; later bought twenty-five acres of land, which he kept a short time and then traded it for forty acres of timber land, put up a two-story house, and cleared the larger part of the land. In 1845 Mr. Nuhfer commenced to preach, and this work he followed until his death; he preached three years in Cleveland, Ohio, and three years in Detroit, Mich., and was elder for eight years. He died January 31, 1888, at the age of seventy- four years and some months, and his widow January 18, 1891, at the age of eighty-one years; they were both buried in Woodville township, Sandusky county.

Anthony C. Nuhfer left home at the age of eleven years, went to work for his uncle a couple of years, and then went to school one year. Afterward he learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed for twenty years. He worked at Dela- ware, Ohio, and at Carrington, Ohio, until his twenty-third year, when, on No- vember 22, 1858, he was united in mar- riage with Sophia Whipking, who was born August 28, 1837, in Toledo, Ohio. They have become the parents of two children, as follows: Helen E., born May | ing a goodly number of acres of prime

3, 1861, married George Walter, by whom she had two children-Frank and Carl, and they live in Woodville township; and George A., now a farmer in Woodville township, born June 29, 1864, and united in marriage May 8, 1891, in Fremont, Ohio, with Emma Meford, born January 16, 1866, by whom he has had one child, Clarence, born February 19, 1892.

After his marriage Anthony C. Nuhfer settled in Woodville township, Sandusky county, lived there for some time, then traded his property with his father for the farm upon which he now lives. He leased his farm to an oil company, and they put down three wells, all of which have a good flow. He carries on general farming. Mr. Nuhfer has been a member of the German Methodist Episcopal Church since 1854. He has always voted the Republican ticket, is widely and favorably known, and is well liked in the community.

J OHN HOUTZ, a prominent and well- to-do agriculturist of Washington township, Sandusky county, whose farm is situated within one mile of the town of Helena, is a native of the county, born October 7, 1855, in the town of Rollersville, third in the order of birth of five children born to John and Elizabeth (Boyer) Houtz.

John Houtz, Sr., father of our sub- ject, was one of the oldest settlers of San- dusky county; was a Pennsylvanian by birth, born in 1801 and in 1808 moved to Ohio, settling in Sandusky county, the Indians at the time being friendly neigh- bors. He was twice married, the first time to Katharina Houtz, who died leav- ing one child, Mary Ellen Phiester, at present living in Wood county, Ohio. His second wife, Elizabeth (Boyer), be- came the mother of five children, name- ly: Cornelius, a farmer, living near Rol- lersville, Sandusky Co .; Zacharias, farm- er, near his brother Cornelius, both own-

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land; John, subject of sketch; Elizabeth, who died in 1893 (she was the wife of Mr. George Tyson, who is now living in Wood county, Ohio); and Sarah, wife of Levi Tyson, a farmer near Rollersville, Ohio (they have two children). The father of this family died in February, 1880, at the age of seventy-nine years; the mother passed away when the subject of this sketch was but a young lad, and he does not remember much regarding her.

John Houtz, of whom this sketch more particularly relates, received a liberal edu- cation at the winter schools of his native place, from early boyhood assisting his father on the farm, until the time of his marriage. In 1880 he purchased the ninety-two acres of land whereon he now lives, and has by industry, thrift and sound judgment made a success, living and toil- ing on with the bright prospect before him of adding to his possessions.

Mr. Houtz was married February II, 1875, to Miss Mary Anna Baird, daughter of John S. Baird, a farmer of Sandusky county, Ohio, and five children have blessed this union, their names and dates of birth being as follows: Elsie, March 27, 1877; Gary, July 4, 1882 ; Stella, Sep- tember 22, 1884; Mabel, August 10, 1887, and Grace, July 13, 1889. In religious faith Mr. and Mrs. Houtz are members of the United Brethren Church. He has on his farm twelve good oil wells, and the property being one of the best oil stands in Sandusky county, he hopes before the close of the year to discover as many more wells. Wide-awake, progressive and genial, Mr. Houtz has insured for himself a personal popularity that in itself is a fair capital for any man traveling the earlier portion of life's highway.

G EORGE W. WIRES, a retired fruit-grower, and the oldest liv- ing settler of North Bass Island, if not of Ottawa county, was born in Orangeville, Genesee Co., N. Y.,

October 5, 1809, son of Solomon and Susanna (Beals) Wires, who were both born in Northampton, Mass., and were of Welsh ancestry. They came to Ohio about 1819, locating in Leroy township, which is now in Lake county, and after a residence there of about a year removed to the adjoining township of Painesville.

When about ten years old George W. Wires came with his parents to Leroy township, and afterward accompanied them to Painesville, where he received such limited educational advantages as were afforded the youth of those days in the old primitive log schoolhouse. In early life he was bound out to learn the carpenter's trade; but not taking a fancy to the man to whom he was apprenticed he ran away, and hired out as a farm hand with a man named Charles C. Payne, with whom he remained eight years. At the expiration of that time he followed a sea-faring life for about five years, and afterward engaged in various occupations until 1838, when he removed to Kelley's Island, Erie county, where he resided four years. He was next engaged in steamboating on the Mississippi river for about two years, after which he re- turned to Kelley's Island, and after re- siding there about four years lived one winter on Point Pelee Island, Canada, in 1849 removing to North Bass Island, which has been the home of the family for forty-five years.

On May 16, 1843, George W. Wires was united in marriage, on Kelley's Island, with Susan Fox, who was born in Essex county, Canada, March 12, 1820, and they have had ten children, as follows: Charles C., born June 11, 1845, a farmer residing on Pelee Island; Mary Jane, born October 6, 1846, died August 7, 1863; Adeline A., born September 8, 1848, widow of James Cummings, resid- ing on Pelee Island; Lavina Ellen, born September 30, 1850, the wife of George Hallock, residing on North Bass Island; William Tell, born November 30, 1852,

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residing on Pelee Island; Simon Peter, born September 12, 1854, is superinten- dent of a fish hatchery at Duluth, Minn .; George Washington, Jr., born December 9, 1856, residing on North Bass Island; Olive Lenora, born April 22, 1859; An- drew Jackson, born March 16, 1861; and Elsa Rosella, born April 17, 1863. The parents of Mrs. George W. Wires were John and Rachel (Stewart) Fox. Mr. Wires attained his majority during the first administration of President Jack- son, and in his political preferences was formerly a Whig, but has been a stanch Republican for many years.

C HARLES E. BAKER, M. D., a prominent and popular physician of Genoa, Ottawa county, is numbered among Ohio's native sons, his birth having occurred in Fair- field county May 27, 1857. His parents, Richard H. and Lucinda (Baker) Baker, were also natives of that county, the for- mer born in April, 1832, the latter on January 2, 1831. They still reside there, honored and respected, the father being numbered among the esteemed and lead- ing agriculturists of the community. For many years he has efficiently filled the office of township trustee, and other local positions within the gift of the people, and in all has discharged his duties with a commendable promptness and fidelity. The family numbers but two children: Charles E., subject of this sketch; and Eva M., widow of George Turner, of Fairfield county, Ohio. The great-grand- father, Peter Baker, a native of Mary- land, became one of the honored pioneers of Fairfield county, where he located about the year 1799.

Dr. Baker acquired his rudimentary education in the district schools of his na- tive township, and then attended the Fairfield Union Academy, from which he was graduated in June, 1877. For about three years thereafter he successfully en-

gaged in teaching school in Fairfield county, after which he took up the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. H. C. Baker, of New Salem, Ohio. He further fitted himself for his chosen calling by prosecuting his studies in the Columbus Medical College, from which he was graduated with honor in March, 1881. A few months afterward he re- moved to Toledo, where he was con- nected with the Hospital for the Insane for a period of two and a half years. This added practical experience to his thorough knowledge of the science of medicine, and made him a skilled phy- sician. In 1884 he came to Genoa, where for a period of more than eleven years he has continuously practiced, be- ing the second oldest physician in the place. By his skill and ability he has succeeded in building up a large and rap- idly increasing business, to which mnerit well entitles him.

The Doctor was married in Genoa, May 17, 1894, to Mary M. Humlong, and their union has been blessed with one child, George Lee, born August 17, 1895. Mrs. Baker was born January 9, 1864, in Marshall county, Iowa, received her early education in Genoa, graduating from the high school in 1880, and subse- quently attended Berea College, here completing her literary training, after which she was for several years a teacher in the public schools of Genoa. Her parents, William and Emma Humlong, prominent citizens and early settlers of Clay township, Ottawa county, were na- tives, respectively, of Kentucky and Pre- ble county, Ohio, both born in 1836, the father on May 15, the mother on Septem- ber 6. William Humlong took a two- years' course in Oberlin College, and was for some years a teacher in Sandusky county. About 1856 he wedded Miss Emma Swann, and they became the par- ents of four children-John, Ernest, Eugene C. (deceased) and Mary M. (Mrs. Baker). Mr. and Mrs. Humlong settled

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in Genoa, Ottawa county, about the year 1860. He served three years in the war of the Rebellion, and was first lieutenant of Company E, Twelfth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry .. John Humlong (grandfather of Mrs. Baker) was born in 1802 in Kentucky, but was obliged to leave his native State on account of his politics, he being an Abolitionist. He married Mary A. Hollis, who was born December 21, 1812, in Kentucky, and they became the parents of nine children. Robert and Margaret (Crume) Swann, maternal grandparents of Mrs. Baker, were born in 1796 and 1800, respectively, and were married in 1816. Seven chil- dren were born to them. After Mr. Swann's death Mrs. Swann for her sec- ond husband married Judge Gregg, of In- diana.

The Doctor and his wife attend the Presbyterian Church, and occupy a prom- inent position in social circles. His po- litical views are in accord with the prin- ciples of the Democratic party. He is one of the most popular gentlemen in Genoa, and his name is a household word in the homes throughout his section of the county. His genial manner and kindness have won for him hosts of friends among all classes of people. He is indefatigable in his attention to those that are placed under his professional care, and has won golden opinions from friends and patrons, ranking deservedly high among his professional brethren.

H UBBARD M. CLEMONS is a representative of one of the early families of Ottawa county, and was born in Danbury township, March 22, 1848.

Island of Guernsey, two little boys, Isaac and Jacob Clemons, were stolen and placed on board a British man-of-war and brought to this country, being landed at Salem, Mass., probably early in the eighteenth century. Isaac afterward lo- cated in the State of Maine, and Jacob in Canada. The former had two sons, Edward and John, and Edward became the father of four sons, who were named Jock, Samuel, Jabez and Frank. These four brothers removed to Madison, Madi- son Co., N. Y., in 1795. Jock had born to him three sons and three daughters: Samuel, one son and two daughters; Ja- bez, two sons and three daughters; and Frank, three daughters. Samuel re- moved to Fredonia, N. Y. David, a son of Jabez, is, I believe, the father of Sam- uel L. Clemens, better known by the nom de plume of " Mark Twain." John, the brother of Edward, had born to him three sons and three daughters, named re- spectively, John, Jonathan, Eli, Ruth, Han- nah and Eunice. John married Mary Mc- Lallan, of Gorham, Maine, and there were born to this union ten children, named: Carry, Andrew, Alexander, John, Eunice, Ai, Elijah, Nancy, Samuel and William. Ruth, a sister of John, married Col. Charles Wadsworth, a son of Gen. Peleg Wadsworth, of Revolutionary war fame, and uncle of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Hannah married William Cotton. Of Eunice I remember nothing. Alexander, son of John, was mar- ried to Angeline Hollister, February I 1, 1824, and to their union were born four- teen children, as follows: Winslow, Milo, William Alexander, Phineas Harri- son, Sarah, Frances, Myron Elijah, Albert Alonzo, Lucian Monroe, Lester Newton, Lucia Louisa, Hubbard Morti- mer. Ai J., and a babe unnamed. The mother of John and grandmother of Alex- ander was Abigail Wetherbee, who lived to be one hundred and four years old, and left one hundred and sixty-four descend-

A pretty complete history of the Clemons family was written by Alexander Clemons (deceased), of Marblehead, Feb- ruary, 20, 1874, and embodies the facts which were related to him by his father. " While on their way to school on the | ants. The following is the record of births

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and deaths in Alexander Clemons' family: Alexander Clemons was born in Hiram, Maine, February 11, 1794, and died March 12, 1886, in Marblehead, Danbury town- ship, Ottawa county. He wedded Almira Angeline Hollister, who was born in Glastonbury, Conn., April 5, 1806, and died at Marblehead, March 24, 1861. Their marriage was celebrated near San- dusky, Ohio, February 11, 1824, and they became the parents of the following children: Winslow, who was born in Sandusky, December 29, 1824; Milo, who was born April 26, 1827, and died March 6, 1888; William Alexander, born Decem- ber 16, 1829; Phineas Harrison, born February 16, 1832; Sarah, born March 4, 1834; Frances, born April 6, 1836; Myron Elijah, born February 25, 1838; Albert Alonzo, born April 9, 1840; Lucian Mon- roe, born November 28, 1841; Lester Newton, who was born in 1843, and died March 5, 1846; Lucia Louisa, who was born in December, 1844, and died No- vember 20, 1849; Hubbard Mortimer, born March 22, 1848; Ai J., born June 17, 1850; and there was also one child that died in infancy."

The gentleman whose name com- mences this review was reared to man- hood on the old homestead, and acquired his education in the district schools and in the high school of Sandusky City. He afterward engaged in stone quarrying, and subsequently became a member of the firm of Clemons Sons, operating a quarry until 1891. In January of that year he began dealing in coal, wood and ice in Marblehead, and is now doing a good business, having a large and constantly increasing trade. He has always resided in this locality, and is numbered among the representative business men.

Mr. Clemons was married in Sandusky City, January 23. 1873, to Miss Almira L., who was born near Troy, N. Y., Jan- uary 9, 1843, daughter of George J. and Margaret (Hogal) Le Vake, the former a native of Vermont, the latter of New

York. To this union have been born six children: Flora B., November 15, 1873; Lucy A., July 11, 1875; Clara Pearl, De- cember 22, 1877; Ralph M., May 17, 1879; Eunice N., July 17, 1882, and Jessie Mabel, August 10, 1885.

Mr. Clemons is a very prominent and influential citizen of his native county, and is now efficiently serving as mayor of Marblehead. He has also served as jus- tice of the peace, and for seventeen years has been a member of the board of edu- cation. His political support is given the Republican party, and socially he is connected with Peninsula Lodge, No. 607, K. of P., of Lakeside, Ohio. The family attend the Methodist and Congregational Churches, Mr. Clemons holding member- ship with the former. He is one of the successful business men of the county, and the chief element of his prosperity has been close application to business, coupled with executive ability and fore- sight. He furnishes a striking example of what may be accomplished by honora- ble dealing, careful and wise management, and by a business policy that commands the respect of all. He has thus succeeded in attaining an enviable position in the regard of the public, and his prominence is well deserved. A pleasant and genial gentleman, unassuming in manner, he commands the highest esteem of all with whom he has been brought in contact. He is a close observer of men and affairs, and is well-informed on all public ques- tions.

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Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 53

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