USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 57
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 57
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On July 15, 1876, at Toledo, Ohio, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Gos- line and Miss Cora Gates, who was born at Gates Mills, Ohio, October 9, 1857, daughter of Henry and Eunice (Cornwell) Gates. Their union has been blessed with three children, namely: Georgia and Robert (twins), born May 9, 1877, the former of whom died October 5, 1879, while the latter was for some time suc- cessfully engaged in schoolteaching in Salem township, Ottawa county, and is now studying law in the Ohio State University; and Ella Gertrude, born May 21. 1890. The family is widely and favor- ably known in this locality, and its mem- bers hold an enviable position in social circles, while Mr. Gosline is recognized as one of the most prominent and influential citizens of the county.
J AMES H. KRAEMER, probate judge of Ottawa county, with residence at Oak Harbor, is a native of the county, born near Oak Harbor March 18. 1845. a son of Adolphus and Eliza Weaver) Kraemer.
The father of our subject was a native of Hanover, Germany, where he studied medicine and civil engineering, and sub- sequently practiced medicine. About the year 1830 he came to the United States, making his first American home at Lan- caster, Ohio, there practicing medicine, and in 1832 marrying Miss Eliza Weaver.
In 1833 he removed to Sandusky City; later to Toledo, Ohio, engaging there in mercantile business, and in 1834 he came to Oak Harbor, where in 1850 he was elected surveyor of Ottawa county, which office he held six years. While serving as surveyor he began the study of law, and in 1856 was elected to the office of pro- bate judge, which he held six years; was next elected prosecuting attorney, and filled that office also six years. He was then elected a member of the State Con- stitutional Convention, on which he served until its labors were completed, after which he was re-elected prosecuting attorney, which office he was holding at the time of his death. He died in August, 1885, at the age of seventy-five years. He had twelve children, seven of whom died in childhood, the following becoming heads of families: William L., Gustavus A., James H., Helen H., and Charles R., of whom William L. married Miss Mary Black, lived at Oak Harbor, and had three children; Gustavus A. married Lena Stanberry, lived at Texarkana, Ark., and had four children; Helen H. married Dr. J. A. Mckinnon, lived at Oak Harbor, where both died, leaving two children; Charles R. married Carrie Chestnutwood, lived at Oak Harbor, and had three chil- dren.
James H. Kraemer, the subject proper of this sketch, passed his youth at Oak Harbor and vicinity, attending school there until he was eighteen years old, later taking a course at the Bryant, Lusk & Stratton Business College, Cleveland. Afterward he worked on a farm for sev- eral years, and from 1872 to 1875 oper- ated a planing-mill at Oak Harbor. About the latter year he took charge of the Ottawa Exponent, as editor and man- ager, and for the past fifteen years has been proprietor of that paper. On Jan- uary 1, 1869, he was married to Miss Lottie Earl, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Creiswick) Earl, of Cleveland, Ohio, and children as follows have been
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born to them: De Wilton A., Thomas E., Maud E., Lloyd E. and Frank. Po- litically our subject is a Democrat, and has served as mayor of Oak Harbor five years, and also as member and clerk of the board of education. In the fall of 1893 he was elected probate judge of Ot- tawa county, his present position. So- cially he is a member of the I. O. O. F., and enjoys the well-merited esteem and regard of hosts of friends.
As an official Mr. Kraemer has won the respect of all by his diligent and effi- cient performance of the duties devolving on him. His father was the founder of and gave the land upon which all the churches and public schools are located, as well as contributing largely to their erection, and to every enterprise tending to the advance- ment of the town or county. His son, James H., has labored faithfully in the same cause, in the interest of public im- provement and good, as evidenced by many substantial buildings, and as his un- ceasing labors show.
E DWARD DECKER, mayor of El- more, Ottawa county, who by trade is a machinist, was born in Fremont, Ohio, October 25, 1854, and is a son of Samuel and Lydia (Kist- ler) Decker, both of whom located in San- dusky county, Ohio, at a very early day. For many years the father worked at the cooper's trade in Fremont, and in 1859 he brought his family to Elmore, where his death occured in 1880. His wife still survives him, and now at the age of seventy years makes her home in Elmore. In their family were six children, five of whom are yet living: William O., of Toledo, Ohio; Mary E., wife of L. M. Ham, of New York; Edward, subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, a resident of El- more; and Harriet W., wife of W. L. Reeves, of Toledo.
With his parents Edward Decker came to Elmore, where he acquired his
education in the public schools, and on leaving the school room learned the print- ing business, at which he worked for about six years. He then went to Han- nibal, Mo., where he learned the trade of a machinist, residing there for three years, on the expiration of which time he returned to Elmore, and since 1882 has continuously resided here. On Decem- ber 25, 1881, he was married at Elmore to Miss Mary Hineline, daughter of John B. and Rosana Hineline, natives of Penn- sylvania, of German ancestry; they were early settlers of Sandusky county, Ohio, and are now both deceased. To our sub- ject and his wife have been born four children-John Samuel, Mary Emma, James Robert and Paul.
Mr. Decker has ever been prominent in public affairs; for three terms he served as a councilman of Elmore; in 1892 was elected mayor; and in 1894 was re-elected for the term he is at present serving. He is a progressive, public-spirited citizen, and fills that important position to the general satisfaction of all concerned, the manner in which the various public inter- ests of the city are being managed and adjusted by him giving ample evidence of the efficiency and good judgment of its present head. Politically he is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Repub- lican party ; and socially he is a member of Elmore Lodge, No. 462, I. O. O. F., and he and his wife are members of the Christian Church, of Elmore.
OHN GASSER (deceased), who was one of the honored pioneers of Ot- tawa county, was born in Berne, the capital of Switzerland, September 23, 1822, and was a son of John and Anna Gasser, the former of whom was at one time the governor of Switzerland.
Our subject lived in his native land until twelve years of age, and then accom- panied his parents on their emigration to America, locating in Zanesville, Ohio.
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The father soon after went to Sandusky county, where he purchased a large tract of wild land, and there engaged in the construction of a mill race and mill, the first one in the county; but ere the work was completed death suddenly ended his labors. Young John was thus left a mere boy to fight life's battles alone. He was bound out by his guardian to Judge Jus- tus, of Fremont, Ohio, to learn the trade of a tanner and currier, being thus em- ployed until twenty-one years of age, during which time he thoroughly mastered the business, becoming an expert work- man, and was thus employed until the breaking out of the Civil war.
On May 2, 1849, Mr. Gasser was united in marriage with Miss Mary L. Sheperd, of Gypsum, Ohio, and in 1853 they removed to Elmore, where Mr. Gasser resumed work at his trade. Mrs. Gasser was born near Leesville, Tuscara- was Co., Ohio, and in 1833, when four years of age, was brought to Ottawa county, then an almost unbroken wilder- ness; she has seen deer cross the farm in large numbers, and all kinds of wild game abounded. She was a resident of three counties while living in one house. She acquired her education in Gypsum and Fremont, and in the latter place met the gentleman whom she married. Her father, John Sheperd, was born in North Carolina, February 13, 1783, and died December 19, 1854. Her maternal grand- father was born in Virginia, about 1766, and was a fuller by trade. He wedded Mary Long, a highly-educated Quaker lady, who engaged in the practice of medi- cine, in those early days, in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and had been known to ride twenty miles through the wilderness in cases of consultation; she was very suc- cessful; her sister was a minister of the Gospel.
To Mr. and Mrs. Gasser were born five children, three of whom died in in- fancy. Louis Edwin, who was born in Woodville, Ohio, April 18, 1851, com-
pleted a course of study in the Normal School of Tontogany, Ohio, in 1867, and was then employed on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad until his death, August 11, 1870. Eva Luella, the only daughter, was born May 16, 1858, on Rice street in Elmore, and in the same house was married February 27, 1879, to Henry Paffenbach, of Elmore, and in the same house in which her two children were born; she was educated in the pub- lic schools of Elmore, and before reach- ing the age of eighteen began teaching; she also made a special study of the piano, and later taught music with marked suc- cess; she died January 26, 1885, leaving two children-John Edwin G., born March 4, 1880; and Carl Henry, born March 12, 1881. All who knew her had for her only words of praise, and her friends were many.
Mr. Gasser carried on business in El- more until 1864, when, on August 5, he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred Seventy-seventh O. V. I., under Capt. Turner. About October I he left Cleve- land with his regiment, and on the 6th arrived at Tullahoma, Tenn., where, for six weeks, the troops guarded the Nash- ville & Chattanooga railroad. When Hood's army threatened Nashville, the regiment was sent to Murfreesboro, and were there twice engaged in battle with the Rebel forces under Gen. Forrest. Subsequently the regiment was ordered to Spring Hill, and assigned to the Twenty- third Army Corps. On the march from Murfreesboro to Spring Hill John Gasser was taken ill, but remained with his com- mand which went to Clifton on the Tennessee river. On January 17, 1865, the regiment embarked on a steamer for Cincinnati, and thence went by rail to Washington, D. C., where it arrived Jan- uary 25. On February 3, it started for Annapolis by steamer, reaching Port Fisher on the 9th. On the the 16th, Mr. Gasser passed away, dying of typhoid pneumonia, and was buried by his com-
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rades-Baldwin, Carr and Coon. He had patriotically given his life for his country, which required the sacrifice of so many of the brave sons of the nation. He was a very loyal, devoted citizen, and in his death the community suffered a severe loss. An earnest, temperance worker, a devoted Christian man, he did all in his power to uplift and benefit humanity, and had the warmest regard of all who knew him. His family lost a faithful husband and loving father; but the memory of his holy Christian life still lingers and is still green in the hearts of many friends. His widow is yet living in Elmore, an estimable lady, both widely and favorably known.
R EV. NATHANIEL B. C. LOVE, D. D., the subject of this sketch, was born in Rushville, Fairfield Co., Ohio. His father was born in Donegal, Ireland, of Scotch-Irish par- ents. In his childhood he was brought from Ireland to Lancaster, Penn., where he received a good English education. He became a professional teacher, and ex- celled in mathematics, teaching in North- umberland county, Penn., Cadiz, and Rushville, Ohio. He was of the nobler type of Irish Protestants, many of whom have been among the foremost in educa- tion in their adopted country. His par- ents were first Episcopalians and after- ward Methodists. He died in his seventy- ninth year, near Hardin, Ohio.
Dr. Love was converted in childhood, and never forgot his espousal to God, and hence never formed those bad habits which hinder and embarrass so many per- sons for long weary years. His mother had the forming of his character. Her maiden name was Susannah Force, and she came from the Force family of New Jersey, a family that has made a noble record in Church and State. She was in- telligent, possessed great common sense,
and was a devout Christian. Up to his sixteenth year Dr. Love had the advan- tages of good cominon and select schools. When about seventeen years he felt im- pressed to enter the ministry. He did not yield to this call at once, feeling, as every true minister always does, his insufficiency for this lofty mission; but as he wrought in the factory through the day and studied art and history at night, the call to the ministry became more and more impera- tive. About this time he had the advan- tages of the city and select schools of Sidney, Ohio, taught by Judge Wyman, James Linn and Miss Ware. Many of the older pupils of those schools have referred to them as miniature colleges.
When only twenty-two years old our subject entered the ministry of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, and has been a prominent member of the Central Ohio Conference, filling with marked success, and to the full legal term of services, many of its leading stations. The cities and larger towns of central and north- western Ohio have been the scene of his labors. When he was twenty-three he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Ginn, of Sidney, Ohio. Their oldest daughter, Jennie Love, was united in marriage with Mr. Ed. Cowdrick, of Na- poleon, Ohio, but died in eighteen months, leaving a daughter. The second daughter, Mrs. Emma Eberly, lives in Perrysburg, Ohio, a respected lady in Church and society. The eldest son, Edwin Ginn Love, is in the practice of law in Port Clinton, and in his profession is successful and popular, having a large practice in that city, as well as in the surrounding towns and cities. The second son is a railroad agent and telegrapher, employed on the Wheeling & Lake Erie railroad. Lura May Love, the youngest, is the teacher of French and Latin in Findlay College, which is her "alma mater;" she is also a graduate of the Upper Sandusky Graded School; she is well and favorably known as a mezzo-soprano solo-
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ist of excellence. The youngest, Arthur D. Love, is a boy at home with his parents.
Dr. Love is well known as a writer for periodical literature; especially is his name familiar to the readers of the West- ern Christian Advocate, to whose columns he has contributed for many years. Dur- ing six years, for several Sunday-school publications, he wrote notes for lesson help, and in his way of opening up and illustrating the Scripture he was highly appreciated. The same talent which qualified him for this work has made him eminently successful as a teacher of Bible and Normal classes, and he has been engaged in that work some sixteen years at Chautauqua Assemblies. He has the rare gift that few have, the power to draw and paint rapidly before an audi- ence. His "chalk-talks" before assem- blies are immensely popular. He has published a work on object-teaching that met with a rapid sale, and has received the endorsement of many of the best educators of the country. A few years ago, when Dr. Love was stationed at Upper Sandusky, Ohio, he took a great interest in the Old Mission Church and burying ground. This was the first mis- sion of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The old stone church had fallen into ruins, and the burying ground, where many converted chiefs and missionaries were sleeping in hope of the resurrection taught by the Gospel, was a deserted common.
Dr. Love was instrumental in bring- ing the matter in form before the General Missionary Committee and General Con- ference, and the funds were provided for restoring the property and preserving it as a sacred treasure to the Church, and to-day it stands as restored under his wise management, and is the Mecca of Methodism in her missionary efforts. While he was pastor at Port Clinton he collected and published a historical sketch of all the Methodist Churches in Ottawa
county, which is valuable as a source of data.
He is now connected with the great Chautauqua movement, having taught for several years at Lakeside, and for sixteen years connected with various Chautauqua Assemblies. For eight years he has been superintendent of Island Park Assembly. Rome City, Ind. He is a graduate in the C. L. S. C., course of study, the C. N. C., and the Ohio State Normal, and is the friend and promoter of home college reading circles. In recognition of his talents and scholarship the U. S. Grant Memorial University, some years ago, conferred its highest honorable degree of Doctor of Divinity upon him.
E G. LOVE, a rising young attor- ney at law of Port Clinton, Ottawa county, is a native of Ohio, born May 22, 1864, at Crestline, Craw- ford county, a son of Rev. N. B. C. Love, D. D., and Eliza (Ginn) Love. The father was for many years an itinerate minister of the M. E. Central Ohio Con- ference, also a prominent Sunday-school worker, and was for seven years president of the Island Park Assembly, of Rome City, Indiana.
Our subject attended the public schools of different towns at which his father preached until he was seventeen years of age, at which time he went to Ohio Wes- leyan University, at Delaware, Ohio, where he attended college two years, and then, on account of inability of his father to furnish funds to enable him to complete a college course, he struck out for him- self. He worked a couple of years at various occupations, about a year as com- mon laborer at the Milburn Wagon Works, Toledo, Ohio, and then one year as as- sistant shipping clerk. Returning home at the age of twenty-one, he entered the law office of Judge Malcolm Kelly, at Port Clinton, and began the study of law, re- maining as a student, in the capacity of
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the Judge's assistant in his office work, for about two years; then for one year at- tended the Cincinnati Law College, from which he graduated May 23, 1888, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. About a month prior to graduation he was ad- mitted to practice law in all the courts of Ohio. On his return from college after the completion of his collegiate course, he located at Port Clinton, where he has been practicing ever since. In October, 1892, he was admitted to practice law in the circuit and district courts of the United States, and has a large practice
in State and United States courts. In June, 1887, Mr. Love married Miss Nettie McRitchie, daughter of Judge D. R. Mc- Ritchie, of Port Clinton, Ohio, and they have two daughters: Helenand Marguerite.
J OSEPH KINGHAM, M. D. A list of the well-known citizens of Ottawa county would be incomplete were the name of this gentleman omitted, for there are probably few so widely and favorably known. Not only has he dis- tinguished himself in his profession, but also as a leader in business circles, having built up large commercial interests here; and it is only justice to him to state that if the town of Rocky Ridge owes its ex- istence and present prosperity to any one man, it is to the personal efforts and busi- ness ability of Dr. Kingham.
He is a native of the county in whose welfare and advancement he has borne so prominent a part, born December 5, 1839, at Port Clinton, of English de- scent. His boyhood was spent in his na- tive town, and there he also received his early education, graduating from the pub- lic schools in 1854. In 1855 he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, where he remained only one term thence going to the University at Berea, Ohio, where he also studied one term. He then commenced clerking for his 25
father, continuing thus until 1863, and thereafter for a short time clerked for a firm in Fremont, Ohio. In the year 1863 he began the study of medicine at Port Clinton under the direction of Dr. Steadman, after about six months remov- ing to Sandusky, Ohio, where he studied under Dr. Agard until May, 1864, when he was called with the hundred-days' men of Ohio to service in the army of the Po- tomac; he being a member of that body was mustered into service in Company I, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth O. N. G. I., and his company at once went to Fort Ethan Allen to guard the city of Washington. In September, 1864, he was mustered out of service with his regi- ment in Cleveland.
On his return from the army our sub- ject at once entered the University of Michigan, where he took a thorough course in medicine, graduating from that institution in 1866 with the degree of M. D. During his University course he also attended special medical lectures in the summer vacation at Pittsford, Mass. Dr. Kingham began the practice of medicine at Berlin Heights, Ohio, under adverse conditions. His long medical course had somewhat impaired his health, so that when ready mentally to enter upon his chosen profession he was nearly a physi- cal wreck. By careful attention to his physical condition, however, he gradually became stronger and thus better able to attend to the now constantly increasing calls made upon him. At the end of three months the doctor moved to Flor- ence, there entering into partnership with Dr. Lattin, with whom he remained only a short time when he made another change, this time locating in Norwalk, Ohio, where he practiced four years. After leaving Norwalk he went to Bell- more, Ind., and there remained until May, 1875, the date of his removal to Port Clinton, where he continued in his professional duties until 1886. At this time the Doctor came to Rocky Ridge, to
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give his attention to his business inter- ests there, which had been gradually widening during the passing years, and they have continued to grow until, at the present time, he is extensively engaged in numerous enterprises, all of which, under his able management, have proved profitable to him, and, by giving employ- ment to others, have contributed in no small degree to the growth of the com- munity. He is largely interested in agri- culture, owning several farms in the vicinity of Rocky Ridge. In 1878 he en- gaged in the manufacture of lime, and in 1882 erected a sawmill and invested ex- tensively in the lumber business; in 1889 he erected a large grain elevator and flouring-mill in Rocky Ridge. He is now handling large quantities of wheat, oats and corn, and the value . of this enterprise to the local farming industry can hardly be estimated. In 1882, in addition to his other business, the Doctor purchased a drug store at Rocky Ridge, which gradually enlarged until, in 1891, it had become a general store. The Doctor's business had now become so large and complicated, on account of the great variety of interests to which he was giving his attention, that Mrs. Kingham came to his aid, taking her place in the office, and for the past five years she has added her business ability to that of her husband in pushing one of the greatest business enterprises in Ottawa county. Mrs. King- ham attends to the books, keeping an accurate account of all receipts and ship- ments of grain, and in every way render- ing the greatest assistance in conducting the extensive business. Nor have we yet covered the field of the Doctor's business enterprises. In addition to those already enumerated he invested as a stock- holder in Lake Side, the most elegant summer resort on Lake Erie: for many years he has been one of the directors of the company, and at the time of his mar- riage to his present wife was president of the Lake Side Company.
In 1868, Dr. Kingham was married to Miss Mary Ann Partlow, of Bellmore, Ind. A few years afterward, while at Norwalk, Ohio, Mrs. Kingham's health failed, and she gradually became weaker, passing away in May, 1880, at Port Clin- ton. On August 30, 1882, the Doctor wedded his present wife, Miss Ella Sim- kins, of Washington C. H., Ohio, the marriage being solemnized at the Grand Pacific Hotel, Chicago, by the Rev. Ar- thur Edwards, D. D. Mrs. Ella (Simkins) Kingham was born at Washington C. H., Ohio, in 1857, and spent her girlhood days in her native town, from the high school of which place she graduated in 1876. For a time after completing her high school course she attended Wooster University, and subsequently, for five years, she was a teacher in the high school from which she graduated. For one year she was principal of the high school at Muncie, Ind., and at the close of her work there she was married to Dr. King- ham. Mrs. Kingham's father, Richard Simkins, was born in 1831 in New Jersey, and her mother, Martha (Kembel) Sim- kins, was born in Ohio, in 1833; they are still living at Washington C. H. To them were born two children, Mrs. Kingham, and Dr. James Simkins, of Clarksburg, Ohio. Mrs. Kingham's maternal grand- father, Nathan Kembel, was born in 1811 in New Jersey. By his first marriage the Doctor had five children, two of whom are now living: William and Bernard, at present with their uncle, Mr. Jacobs, in California. By his present wife he has two sons, James Jay and George Richard, both living with their parents.
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