USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 55
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 55
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Our subject attended school in his na- tive country until fourteen years old, and when eighteen years of age, as is the cus- tom in Germany, he entered the army and served over seven years. In all this time his regiment was not ordered to the front, but he saw enough of a soldier's life to satisfy him, without remaining longer in service. After leaving the army he learned the cigar business, and in 1867 came to America, locating first in the city of Sandusky, Ohio, and there remaining until 1874, when he removed to Port Clinton. Since that time he has carried on business for himself. He employs from six to eight men all the time, and has a large trade in the surrounding coun- try; he also has a fruit farm, etc. Mr. Meyer was first married in Sandusky, on October 10, 1868, to Miss Julia Luedecke, by whom he had one child, Gustave, who is engaged in business in Cleveland, Ohio. The mother died September 19, 1871, at Sandusky, Ohio, and on September 28, 1872, Mr. Meyer was again married, this time to Miss Louisa Bolte, who was born in Hanover. They have two children: George, a clerk in the German-American
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Bank of Port Clinton, in which his father is a stockholder; and Lillie. Mr. Meyer has a fine fruit farm at Graytown, this State, on which he raises quinces, pears and plums; he also owns property in Port Clinton. In politics, he is a Democrat, and in religious faith is a member of the Lutheran Church; socially, he belongs to the I. O. O. F. He is a public-spirited citizen, always ready to aid any project tending to the welfare of his town and county.
A NTON YOUNG, one of the oldest pioneers, and also one of the prominent agriculturists of Allen township, Ottawa county, was born in Germany, February 2, 1823, near the banks of the beautiful river Rhine, his parents being John and Kate (Diefenthaler) Young, also natives of Germany.
The early years of our subject were spent in school in his native province, and he assisted his father on the farm until he was nineteen years of age. At that time he was drafted into the army, being required to learn the science of warfare, having to drill and perform all military duties and receiving a furlough every six months. In 1849, when the revolution broke out in his native land, he was called upon to take up arms in defense of the government, and served until peace was restored in 1850, when he received his discharge. He then returned home and worked on his father's farm, and also for other parties until 1852. In March of that year he emigrated to this country, and came to Ohio, locating in Toledo, where he was married and remained for a short time. In 1853, Mr. Young came to Allen township, then a portion of Clay township, Ottawa county, where he bought sixty-five acres of land, most of which was covered with timber, and on which he built a log cabin. He immediately
began clearing his land, planting, as fast as the trees were removed, small patches of corn, potatoes, etc., with which to sup- port his family. After several years of hard toil he succeeded in converting the place into a well-cultivated farm, and erected a commodious dwelling house with large barn and other outbuildings, the property now being considered among the finest in Allen township. In 1863 Mr. Young was drafted into the Union army, but not feeling willing to leave his wife and young family, he paid $300 to be exempted. He afterward had his money returned to him, as the draft was not a legal one. In 1864 he was again drafted, but did not have to answer the call. In 1865, when the last call for volunteers was made, Mr. Young enlisted in the One Hundred and Eighty-ninth Ohio Infantry, and was sent to Nashville, Tenn. It so happened that he was not in any engagement, and on October 9, of the same year, he received his discharge and returned home. Since that time he has lived upon his farm, where with his good wife he is passing the evening of his days in peace and happiness.
Mr. Young was married, January 30, 1853, at Toledo, to Mary Kohler, daugh- ter of Philip Kohler, a farmer, who was of German birth. To this union nine children were born, of whom eight are living, viz .: John, born July 15, 1855, is a farmer in Allen township; he was married in June, 1887, to Mary, daughter of Hiram Overbeck, a farmer of Wood county, and they have two children, Her- man, born September 1, 1888, and Eva K., born November 1, 1891. Christina Young was born April 29, 1858, and is living at home with her parents. George J. was born November 2, 1860. Philip, February 17, 1863. Andrew, May 20, 1865. Edwin, July 20, 1867. Katie, July 1, 1870, and Henry, May 10, 1873. All of these were educated in the public schools of Allen township, and are at home with their parents. Mary, who was
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born February 2, 1854, died July 28 of the same year.
John Young, the father of our subject, was born in Germany, where he was a farmer. He was married in 1819 to Katie Diefenthaler, and five children have blessed their union, viz .: Philip, George, Anton, Jacob (who is a farmer in Wood county, this State) and Susan (who died in Ger- many when a child). Philip Kohler, father of Mrs. Young, was born in Ger- many, where he was married, and he be- came the father of four children, viz .: John Philip, who died in Toledo; Bar- bara, the wife of John Young, of Toledo; Kate, who died when a child in Germany, and Mary, the wife of our subject. The father died in Germany, and the widow married Philip Diefenthaler, with whom she came to this country, locating in Wood county, Ohio. By this second mar- riage a family of four children was born: Maggie, who died in Germany; Christiana M., wife of John Bush, a farmer in Wood county; and Jacob and Anthona, both of whom are farmers in Wood county. The mother died in that county in 1864.
Our subject held the office of school director in Allen township for several years. In politics he is a Republican, and the family are members of the Evangel- ical Church.
D ANIEL V. FLUMERFELT. The subject of this sketch disclaims the possession of any qualities that entitle him to the mention which his friends believe should be made of him; yet it is in no spirit of adulation when we say that his busy and active life is illustrative of the success that attends honest, well-directed endeavor, industry and adherence to duty. "Uncle Dan," as he is everywhere known, is one of those men to whom the trite term "self-made" is appropriately applied. Though lacking the advantages of a higher education in college, he has absorbed much from those
valuable instructors-experience and ob- servation.
Those who know Mr. Flumerfelt well and intimately need no explanation about him. To strangers, however, it is suffi- cient to say that he has inherited from his father a great deal of his looks and per- sonal appearance, but more so his tenacity and perseverance. His sound judgment and good business capacity were shown in many instances while living in Seneca county, especially in the building of the "Flumerfelt bridge," which is a fair monument of his perseverance and sa- gacity. As early as 1836 he had assisted, as carpenter, in putting up the frame work of the Stem's and the Hedge's mills, near Green Spring, Ohio, which were pat- ronized by pioneer farmers for many miles around. His native pluck was shown, later, in litigation with a railroad com- pany, whose opposition he contested to the supreme court, securing a verdict in his favor in each court in which the case was tried.
The father of our subject, Cornelius Flumerfelt, was born in New Jersey July 10, 1774, in Sussex county, and was reared on a farm. In 1804 he was mar- ried to Catharine Christman, On the second day of May, 1826, they started for Ohio. It took them four weeks to reach Seneca county. He bought the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 16, in Pleasant township. Mr. Daniel Rice had a lease on land from the commissioners of Sandusky county, which he also bought. Mr. Rice had built a log cabin, and Mr. Flumerfelt moved into that. Mr. Flumer- felt was twice married. There were six children of the second marriage, of whom Daniel V., our subject, was second, and is the only one of them now living. Cor- nelius Flumerfelt was a fine specimen of well-developed physical manhood. He was six feet tall, of fair complexion, had blue eyes, and was very straight and well- proportioned. He was of purely German type, very firm in his convictions, slow of
DANIEL V. FLUMERFELT.
MRS. MELINDA FLUMERFELT.
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speech and fixed in his habits. He voted for every Democratic candidate for Presi- dent after Washington, and always took an active part in politics. He was one of the positive men of the country. His word was his bond, and to be relied upon. He was. highly respected wherever he had become known. He died August 28, 1871, at the age of ninety-seven. His second wife died in 1847.
D. V. Flumerfelt, our subject, was born in Sussex (now Warren) county, near Danville, N. J., October 13, 1807. He came to Seneca county, Ohio, with his father's family. He married Miss Melinda Littler, of Hardin county, Va., October 12, 1837. This union was blessed with five sons and five daughters, of whom one son and three daughters have died. Those living are: (1) Mathilda, who mar- ried Matthew T. Lutz, a retired farmer, Ballville township; (2) Ann Maria, who married Dennis Deran, a farmer in Ball- ville township; (3) George, who married Ellen Cheney, living in Ballville town- ship; (4) Amos, who married Etta Crowe, and lives in the State of Kansas; (5) Charles, single, living at Old Fort, Sen- eca Co., Ohio, an ex-member of the Ohio Legislature; and (6) Abraham, un- married, living with parents.
Our subject came to Ballville town- ship, Sandusky county, in the spring of 1884, and purchased his present beautiful home near Sandusky river. He is the owner of 1,200 acres of land. His first vote was for Andrew Jackson.
W ILLIAM CLARK. A sketch of the life of this early settler of Ottawa county, who bore such a prominent part in the affairs of his community, and whose death was deeply mourned by all to whom his name was familiar, is truly worthy a place in this volume.
William Clark was born in Devon- shire, England, August 11, 1827, and 24
was a son of William and Ann (Clark) Clark, also natives of that county, where the father passed away. Here the son was educated and reared to manhood, spending his time upon a farm until 1853, when he immigrated to America, and coming to Ohio settled in Danbury township, near Port Clinton, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits for about eight years. In 1862 Mr. Clark removed to what was then Clay (now Allen) township, and from that date until his death, which occurred No- vember 29, 1894, he was a continuous resident of that township, and held a leading place among its most enterpris- ing and progressive citizens, giving his support to all projects tending to the ad- vancement and welfare of the town and county. He was largely engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, in connection with mill- ing, the manufacture of lime and an ex- tensive mercantile business. He was also postmaster for twelve years. In all these various lines he was conspicuous for his energy, untiring industry, strict integrity and faithful performance of his duties, and having brought up his children to the same commendable habits they are to- day able to carry on his large enterprises with credit to themselves and honor to the memory of their father. Mr. Clark was married, in Lincolnshire, England, December 5, 1852, to Susan, daughter of Robert and Ann (Chapman) Wilkin- son, the former of whom passed away March 20, 1874, in Allen township, the latter dying October 5, 1893, in her na- tive land.
To the union of our subject and his wife nine children were born, as follows: Sarah Ann, September 8, 1854; William W., November 8, 1855; James A., No- vember 8, 1857; George F., November 26, 1859; Charles E., April 1, 1861; Ira A., March 2, 1863; Alice N., March 15, 1865; Mary E., January 2, 1868; Florence A., March 2, 1870. Of this family Sarah Ann died July 24, 1874. William W.
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Clark was educated in the district schools of his native township, and since his early youth has been connected with his father's business enterprises. He is a inember of Clay Lodge No. 584, I. O. O. F., at Genoa, and also of the Encampment at Elmore, and of the Daughters of Rebekah. He is a Re- publican politically. James A. Clark was married December 18, 1891, to Miss Mary R. Richards, and resides at Clay Center; since arriving at the years of manhood he has always given his atten- tion to the duties pertaining to the home- stead farm; like his brothers he attended the district school in his boyhood. George F. Clark was married October 19, 1883, to Nellie J. McIntyre, and they have two children, Alva B., born February 15, 1890, and Florence A., born February 4, 1892. He received his education in the public schools of Clay township, and has always assisted in his father's busi- ness. He is a member of Genoa Tent No. 173, Knights of the Maccabees. Charles E. Clark was married Decem- ber 23, 1889, to Miss Stella Ross, of Colorado, and has one child, Ira E., born October 29, 1891. He also re- ceived his education at the home schools, and was connected with his father's busi- ness up to 1887, when he went to Colo- rado, where he now resides, engaged in farming in Montrose county. Ira A. Clark received his early education in the district schools of Clay township and also spent the winters of 1886 and 1887 in the Normal School of Danville, Ind. He entered the Law Department of Ann Arbor (Mich ) University in 1892, and graduated with honor with the class of June, 1894. He was admitted to the bar of this State in March, 1894, and since that time has practiced in Toledo, where he is meeting with flattering success. He is a member of Clay Lodge No. 584, I. O. O. F., at Genoa, and also of the Toledo Encampment. In politics he is Republican. Alice N. is the wife of
Ralph W. Hill, cashier of the Elyria Savings Bank. Mary E. resides at Clay Center. Florence A. was married June 21, 1893, to Alva H. McIntyre, and resi- des in Toledo.
During the life of our subject his large business enterprises were conducted un- der his own name, but since his death a stock company has been formed consist- ing of all the members of the family, under the title of The Clark Company, of which George F. Clark is president and treasurer, and William W. Clark is vice-president and secretary. Mr. Clark was for several years trustee of Clay township. He was a member of Clay Lodge No. 584, I. O. O. F., also of the Toledo Encampment and Daughters of Rebekah. His widow lives at the old homestead at Clay Center, Allen town- ship.
E DWARD GEORGE MESSER- SMITH, agent of the Wheeling & Erie Railway Company at Lime- stone, Ottawa county, and one of the busiest and most enterprising young citizens of this community, is well-known for his personal activity in the affairs of the county, and also as a member of one of the pioneer families of Benton town- ship, of which he is a native.
Our subject was born April 30, 1868, and spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, attending the district school and acquiring a liberal education. He re- mained at home until the age of eighteen, when he took up the study of telegraphy with H. C. Fedderson, of Limestone Sta- tion, on the Wheeling railroad, and in six months he had so thoroughly mas- tered the business that he went to Hart- land, Huron county, and took the po- sition of night operator for the Wheeling railroad. After eight months' service there he was promoted to a larger field, and the company gave him the position of night operator at Orrville, Wayne county,
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a position he held one year. He was next at Trowbridge one year, and thence was removed to Limestone, now having entire charge of the Company's business at this point, the freight business alone amounting to some $8,000 per year. In addition to his railroad business Mr. Messersmith is also largely engaged in business for himself, which industry is now assuming large proportions and is steadily on the increase. Besides at- tending to all the above mentioned inter- ests, he has charge of the old homestead, a farm of 120 acres, where he now lives with his mother and one sister. The property is owned by himself and brother Charles Albert; the farm is rented, but Mr. Messersmith has full charge and oversight of the business. Politically he is a Democrat, and is a public-spirited citizen, taking a loyal interest and pride in the welfare of his community.
Henry Messersmith, father of our sub- ject, one of the earliest settlers of Ottawa county, and especially well-known and respected in Benton township, was a na- tive of Prussia, born in 1823. His par- ents were also natives of Prussia, the father born in 1785, the mother about 1775, and they died at the ages of seventy-eight and eighty-three years re- spectively. They had a family of nine children-four sons and five daughters. When Henry was eight years of age he came with his parents to this country, the family settling in the present city of Cleveland, then a small town, and there, in the public schools, he received his ed- ucation. When eighteen he began life for himself, learning the cooper's trade, at which he worked until 1865. He then came to Benton township, Ottawa county, a region which at that time was a com- plete forest, and settled on Section 22, where he and his brothers Conrad and Jacob purchased 500 acres of wild land completely covered with timber. There was not a laid-out road in the township, the only one being a path along the banks of
a small stream. They at once erected a stave and heading factory, and in con- nection therewith a sawmill, and com- menced the work of clearing off the tim- ber and making a comfortable home. Day after day could be heard the ring of the axe felling the timber for the great mill to convert into marketable form; the hum of the machinery was heard early and late; gradually the trees were re- moved, and in a seemingly short period of time the 500-acre tract was cleared and transformed into one of the finest farms in Ohio. Jacob sold out to his brothers about 1868, up to which time they had all worked together. In 1849, at the time of the gold fever, Henry Messersmith went to the mines in California, where he remained eighteen months, meeting with very fair success.
In 1870 Mr. Messersmith died at his residence in Benton township, and he was deeply mourned in the community, for in his death the county, as well as the town- ship, lost a thorough business man and a most esteemed citizen. In 1846 he had married Miss Margaret Anna Sell, of Cleveland, and to them were born eight children-five sons and three daughters- six of whom are now living: Louisa, born in 1850; Jacob, born in 1852; Mary, born in 1855; Henry, born in 1863; Ed- ward, born in 1868, and Charles, born in 1870. The daughters are both married, Mary living at the old home, and Louisa (Mrs. Dentzer) in Cleveland. Mrs. Mar- garet Anna Messersmith was born in Prus- sia in 1833, and when four years old came to this country with her parents, who settled in Cleveland. Her opportu- nities for acquiring an education were very poor, but her thirst for knowledge great, and she has walked three miles many a day to school that she might in a measure satisfy her longing for an education. She lived in her native city until her marriage, and came to Benton township with her husband, where she added her efforts to his in securing a home and caring for the
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children born to them, all of whom have now taken their place among the upright and progressive citizens of the township. Mrs. Messersmith's parents were born in Prussia about 1799, and had a family of six children-two sons and four daugh- ters. Two years after Mr. Messersmith's death the property was divided equally between the widow and Conrad Messer- smith, and her eldest son took charge of the farm until 1894, when he sold out his interests to his brothers Edward and Charles. The old mill where Mr. Mes- sersmith sawed the timber with which he paid for his handsome farm and home was afterward burned.
In the gentleman whose name opens this sketch, Edward G. Messersmith, we have one of the most enterprising young men of the times; but in his parents we have those who helped to make Benton township as beautiful as it now is; they were among the early pioneers of the county, and by their industry and econ- omy carved out one of the finest homes to be seen in the township of Benton, or even in Ottawa county. " Honor to whom honor is due."
J H. FAUS, the popular and efficient city clerk of Port Clinton, Ottawa county, is a native of that city, born February 22, 1862, and has resided there all his life.
He is a son of Thomas and Artemesia Faus, the latter of whom is a daughter of Garret Thorne, in his day one of the oldest residents of Ottawa county, Ohio, having located in Port Clinton in 1828, before the county was organized, and there resided the long period of sixty-five years, or up to his death which occurred March 6, 1890, when he was aged eighty- seven years.
When fourteen years old our subject's school days closed, and he then entered the office of the Ottawa County News (D. J. Stalter being then proprietor) to learn
the trade of printer. Here he remained about a year, at the end of which time, Mr. Stalter having sold out to George R. Clark, our subject began work in the office of the Ottawa County Reporter, and there continued some three and one-half years; but that journal changing hands, he was offered, and accepted, the position of foreman in the News office, which he held for fourteen years, or until August, 1895. In September following Mr. Faus purchased of E. H. Bauman his half in- terest in the Ottawa County Republican, and now in partnership with A. G. Win- nie conducts that paper with well-merited success.
Mr. Faus has always been a Repub- lican; was elected on that ticket clerk of Portage township (in which Port Clinton is now situated) four consecutive times (although the township has a Democratic majority of about seventy-five), he on most occasions being the only Republican elected, and being elected by majorities ranging from 2 (the first time he ran) to 179 -- his total term of service as town- ship clerk being eight and one-half years. In 1980 he was elected city clerk of Port Clinton by eighty majority and was de- feated for re-election in 1892 by a major- ity of three in a total of over 500 votes (no Republican was elected in the corpo- ration that year). In 1894 he was again elected city clerk, defeating by seventy- nine votes the same opponent who in 1892 had defeated him by three votes.
On June 16, 1886, Mr. Faus was married to Miss Nettie Doyen, eldest daughter of Hubert and Ellen Doyen, of Port Clinton, and they have one child, a bright little boy, named Alvin G. Our subject is a member of the United Breth- ren Church; socially, he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, and is a charter member of Port Clinton Lodge No. 361. It may be truly said of Mr. Faus that he is a representative self-made man, his education having been very limited, mostly secured during his experience in
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printing offices. He is well-liked, and highly spoken of among all classes of people.
P AUL de la BARRE, M. D. Among the physicians of Port Clinton stands prominent this gentleman, who though yet in the ranks of the comparatively later members of the profession in the county, has already placed himself well in the van.
He is a native of Prussia, born of French lineage November 30, 1851, at Stargard, Province of Pommern, son of Barnhardt and Louisa (Rabe) de la Barre, the former of whom, a watch manufac- turer by vocation, died when about forty- five years old; the latter is yet living. They were the parents of seven children, Paul being the only one to come to the United States. He attended school in his native town till his fifteenth year, and then entered upon a four-years' appren- ticeship at pharmacy. After passing his examination as pharmacist he took a posi- tion in a drug store in Frankfort-on-the- Main, but at the breaking out of the Franco-Prussian war, fired with the spirit of patriotism, he enlisted in the German army, October 2, 1870, as a vol- unteer in First Company, Thirty-fourth Regiment, Second Army Corps, in which he served one year, doing military duty, at Strasburg, Vesoul and other places, after which he was honorably discharged October 1, 1871. He then returned to his former occupation, serving as clerk in a drug store at Mecklenburg-Schwerin some five years, and at Schersleben about eight months, after which he managed a drug store at Hamburg in the neighbor- hood of three years. In 1882 he emi- grated to America, and served in a drug store in New York City about three years, after which he moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he studied medicine in the Western Reserve University, from which he grad- uated in 1887. He then came to and
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