Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 6

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 6
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 6

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).

Sarah married Peter Shriner, and lived near Union Mills, Md. Three of the sons-Henry, Simon and Benjamin-be- came ministers of the Gospel. The average age of all these sons and dangh- ters was upward of eighty years. Levi Fluegel, now in his eighty-third year, is living at Frizellburg, Md. In religious faith the family originally belonged to the Reformed and Lutheran Churches, but later most of them became members of the Church of God.

Peter Burgoon, the father of our sub- ject, came west from Maryland in 1824, first locating in Somerset, Perry Co., Ohio, where he worked at his trade about two years; then removed to Licking coun- ty, and there staid one year. In October, 1829, he came to Sandusky county, Ohio, and settled in the forest of the Black Swamp, on the bank of the Little Mud creek, about four miles northwest of Lower Sandusky (now Fremont). Sev- eral tribes of Indians were living here then, and the woods were teeming with wild animals. The Burgoon family had no white neighbors nearer than two miles distant, with the exception of Mrs. Rachel Coe, who had settled on an adjoining farm. Here Mr. Burgoon built a log cabin, and began to clear up the land with all the energy of a man of pluck, resolution and perseverance. Being possessed of sound practical common ' sense, he was often consulted by his neighbors on matters of business. In connection with farming he worked at his trade about twelve years, and was em- ployed on the residence of Dr. L. Q. Rawson, which was the second brick edifice erected in Sandusky county. With many of the business interests of the coun- ty he became identified, and he held various offices of honor and trust. In politics he was originally an ardent Demo- crat, but during the Civil war he was a firm supporter of the U. S. Government, and from that time forward he affiliated with the Republican party. He was

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

possessed of robust health, a strong physi- cal constitution and an iron will, and by his many sterling traits of manly charac- ter he gained and held an honorable place among the pioneers of Sandusky county. He died March 17, 1879, and was buried with Masonic honors; his wife passed away June 8, 1871, a member of the Reformed Church. Their remains rest in the Lutheran and Reformed Ceme- tery, four miles west of Fremont. Their children were named as follows: William, Washington, Miranda, Upton, Elizabeth, Margaret, Romanus, David, Isadore H., Mary and Malinda. Of these, William Washington died July 21, 1846, aged twenty-four years; Miranda married N. R. Tucker, a farmer of near Fremont, Ohio; Upton married Nancy A. Kerr, April 8, 1848; Elizabeth died October 4, 1835, aged six years; Margaret married Solomon Albert, July 4, 1852; Romanus married Mary Taylor, April 12, 1858 (he died January 14, 1860); David married Cynthia Skinner, May 1, 1863; Isadore H. married Eliza Ann Chapman, October 19, 1865; Mary married August Baumer, September 18, 1862; Malinda married O. R. Smith, April 6, 1869.

MAJOR I. H. BURGOON, railroad man- ager, Fremont, Sandusky county, was born in Sandusky township, Sandusky Co., Ohio., January 25, 1839, a son of Peter and Margaret (Fluegel) Burgoon, who at that time were living on a 200- acre farm about four miles north of Lower Sandusky (now Fremont), Ohio. He spent his early life on his father's farm, and received a liberal education at the common schools of the district. In the fall of 1858 he commenced teaching a country school, and in the fall of the fol- lowing year he attended Oberlin College three months, after which he taught another term of winter school in the coun- try. On September 10, 1860, he came to Fremont and took the position of office boy and clerk for Dr. L. Q. Rawson, presi- dent of the Fremont & Indiana railroad.

He remained in the service of that road eighteen years, as follows: From 1861 to 1864 he was clerk in the president's office, and freight and ticket agent; 1864 to 1865, conductor; 1865 to 1866, train master; 1866 to 1867, assistant superintendent; 1868 to 1872, superintendent; 1872 to 1875, general superintendent; 1875 to 1878, receiver; 1878 to 1879, general superintendent of the Lake Erie & Louis- ville railroad, after the sale and reorgani- zation; October, 1879 to 1881, general superintendent Toledo, Delphos & Bur- lington railroad; August 1, 1881, to 1883, general manager of the Ohio Con- struction Company; 1881 to 1885, gen- eral manager Cleveland, Delphos & St. Louis railroad; May, 1881, to 1885, gen- eral manager, secretary and treasurer, of the Cleveland, Delphos & Western Tele- graph Company, and general manager of the Cleveland, Delphos & St. Louis rail- road; May, 1885, to June 30, 1886, general agent of the Indiana, Bloomington & Western railroad; July 1, 1886, to Decem- ber 31, 1890, receiver and general man- ager of the Bellaire, Zanesville & Cincin- nati railroad; September 1, 1889, to Octo- ber, 1892, general manager and treasurer of the Terre Haute & Peoria railroad. When the Terre Haute & Peoria railroad was leased to the Terre Haute & Indianapolis, he was made superintendent of the Peoria division, serving as such from October, 1892, to October, 1893. In January, 1894, he accepted the position of general super- intendent of the Findlay, Fort Wayne & Western railroad, under a receiver. Upon the sale and transfer of this prop- erty, Mr. Burgoon was called to Salt Lake City, Utah, on August 15, 1894, and was appointed general superintendent and general freight and passenger agent of the Utah Central railway, his head- quarters being at Salt Lake City, where he is at present, though retaining his resi- dence at Fremont, Ohio, having here many business and social interests. Dur- ing all his management of these roads he

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

made a clean record. By his enterprise, prudence, economy and integrity he secured the good will and best wishes of all par- ties concerned. He received many flat- tering testimonials from his superior offi- cers, and from those who had confided their interests to his care, of which the following may serve as a sample: After having acted as receiver of the Lake Erie & Louisville railway, about three years, Mr. Burgoon filed in the court of com- mon pleas, of Sandusky county, his final report and the account of his doings and dealings in the management of the road, of which he had full charge as receiver, under direction of the court, and his re- port and accounts were confirmed not only without a question but by consent of counsel on both sides, and he was highly complimented for his management of the affairs of the road, as is shown by the order of confirmation which follows:

And this Court, having examined the said final account and report, and found the same in all respects in accordance with law and the order of the Court, and that the said receiver has duly paid and delivered all money, credits and property of every kind which came into his possession or control, by virtue of his ap- pointment and office in accordance with the order and direction of the Court, and has in all respects well and truly and faithfully dis- charged all his duties as such receiver, it is hereby ordered that the said final report and account be and the same is hereby ap- proved and confirmed, and the said Isadore H. Burgoon discharged from all further account- ability as such receiver. And he is especially commended for the ability and faithfulness with which he has discharged the arduous duties of his office.

Approved.

R. P. BUCKLAND AND CALVIN S. BRICE, Attorneys for Lake Erie & Louisville Railway Company.

OTIS, ADAMS & RUSSELL, Attorneys for plaintiffs, the trustees.

On May 2, 1864, Mr. Burgoon entered the military service of his country, as private in Company F, One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Regiment, O. N. G. I. He served with his regiment at Fort Ethan Allen, Virginia, a term of four months, and was promoted to the rank of sergeant-

major, a position he held until the expir- ation of his term of service, September 4, 1864, having earned a record for promo- tion in the discharge of his duties. He wrote many interesting letters to his home papers during his time of service.

Mr. Burgoon has for many years been an active member of the Sandusky Coun- ty Pioneer and Historical Society, of which he is still vice-president and secre- tary, and has been one of the leading spirits in making the annual reunion pioneer picnics a success. He takes a laudable interest in all public affairs in the city of Fremont, but has never been a political office seeker. He was raised a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Stephen A. Douglas, for president, since which time he has been a Republican. He has been a member of the Masonic Fraternity since 1862, and has taken all the degrees in the York Rite, and the Scottish Rite to the 32d degree. He is a member of the Eugene Rawson Post, G. A. R., at Fremont, Ohio, and has al- ways taken an interest in the welfare of the soldiers. Since the year 1888 he has been president of the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth, O. V. I. Regimental Asso- ciation.

On October 19, 1865, I. H. Burgoon was married at Fremont, Ohio, to Miss Eliza A. Chapman, who was born Feb- ruary 10, 1844, at Marion, Ohio, a daughter of Joseph and Dorinda (Ayers) Chapman, and their children were: J. Chapman Burgoon, born August 10, 1874, died September 19, 1874; and Charles Paine Burgoon, born May 25, 1878. A lasting honor was fittingly and worthily bestowed on Mr. Burgoon, when, on No- vember 18, 1873, the citizens of the new town, established at the crossing of the Lake Erie & Louisville and the Toledo, Tif- fin & Eastern railroads, in Jackson town- ship, Sandusky county, concurred in ask- ing the Post Office Department to name the new post office " Burgoon" after Mr. I. H. Burgoon, whose uniform courtesy

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

as an official of the Lake Erie & Louis- ville railroad had won for him the best wishes of the people of that community.

S HARON C. LAMBERSON, editor and co-proprietor of the Demo- cratic Messenger, Fremont, San- dusky county, was born in Seneca county, Ohio, November 16, 1838, a son of William and Anna Mary (Creager) Lamberson.

William Lamberson was born at Eas- ton, Penn., March 23, 1813, and came with his parents to Ohio in 1830, locating in the forests of Seneca county, where he helped to clear up a farm. In politics he was a radical Democrat. He married, January 4, 1838, and died January 15, 1882. Ann Mary Lamberson was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, June 12, 1815, and died February 6, 1887, and died a member of the Reformed Church, in which faith she was reared. Their children were: (1) Sharon C., our sub- ject; (2) Eunice A., wife of John Huston, living near Dayton, Ohio; (3) Virgil D., a veteran of the Civil war, living at Tiffin, Ohio; (4) Janett C., widow of Victor J. Zahm, and one of the proprietors of the Democratic Messenger; (5) Her- schel W., a farmer, living at Ha- vana, Huron Co., Ohio; (6) Curtis M., who lives in Wamego, Kans .; (7) Dewitt C., who died August, 1875; (8) M. Marcena, a maiden lady, living at Tiffin, Ohio. Daniel Lamberson, our subject's paternal grandfather, was born near Easton, Penn., served in the war of 1812, became a pioneer settler of Seneca county, Ohio, and died at a good old age. Our subject's maternal grandparents came from Maryland, and settled near Dayton, Ohio. Both of S. C. Lamberson's parents were of German descent.

Our subject was reared on a farm, and after receiving a cominon-school educa- tion in Seneca county took a course of study at Heidelberg University, Tiffin,

Ohio, from which institution he graduated in 1859, with the first honor of his class. He followed school teaching and farm- ing, alternating these occupations until 1873, when he engaged in the mer- cantile business at Tiffin for two years. He then became connected with the coun- ty auditor's office at Tiffin, for six years. On April 7, 1885, in partnership with his brother-in-law, V. J. Zahm, he purchased the Democratic Messenger, the organ of the Sandusky county Democracy. His partner died in August of the same year, and Mr. Lamberson has continued to conduct the paper since that time. Polit- ically, he is a Jeffersonian Democrat, and socially, has been a member of Seneca Lodge, No. 35, I. O. O. F., about thirty years. On April 18, 1887, he was married, at Tiffin, Ohio, to Miss Johanna C. Zahm, who, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., November 30, 1838. Mrs. Lamberson's parents were born in Ger- many and came to America, her father in 1832, her mother in 1833.

P ETER BEAUGRAND, M. D., of Fremont, Sandusky county, one of the oldest living practitioners in the State of Ohio, was born at Detroit, Mich., August 26, 1814.

The Beaugrand family is of French origin, the grandfather of Dr. Beaugrand, John Baptiste Beaugrand, having emi- grated from Bordeaux, France, to Canada about the year 1760. But little of his life's history has been preserved; but it is believed that he was a merchant, and spent his life in barter with the Indians. Dr. P. Beaugrand is a son of John B. and Margaret (Chabert) Beaugrand, the father born in Three Rivers, Canada, in 1768. He grew to manhood there, and at the age of twenty-one migrated to Detroit, Mich., where he engaged in busi- ness as an Indian trader with good suc- cess until during the war of 1812, when he was burned out by the Indians. He

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

removed with his family to Fremont (then Lower Sandusky), Ohio, settling here during the first week of January, 1823; he had spent the previous year here as a trader. The mother of our subject was born in Detroit, Mich., February 26, 1781, and died May 12, 1859, at Fremont, Ohio.

The family consisted of ten children: (1)Margaret, who married Rodolphus Dickinson, a brilliant young lawyer, who came to Lower Sandusky from the East shortly after the Beaugraud family took up their residence there; afterward was member of Congress, and died during his second term in Congress, in 1849. (2) Julia, who married B. F. Fletcher, who died in 1849, just after his election for the second term to the office of county re- corder. (3) Sophia, who married La Quinio Rawson, a physician who became very eminent in his profession, and died in 1888. (4) Isidore D., at one time sheriff of Sandusky county. (5) John B., who was a sailor and a captain on the lakes; he was strong and athletic, and of a venturesome spirit; in 1846 he was pre- sented by the mayor of Cleveland with a stand of colors for safely bringing into that port, during a severe storm, his boat, having on board a large number of passen- gers. (6) Peter, the subject of our sketch. (7) James, born in Detroit, died at Fremont at the age of three years. (8) Richard, who was also a sailor on the lakes, enlisted, and died during the Civil war. (9) Helen M., who married M. S. Castle, an attorney at law, of Cleveland, Ohio, where she resided until her death in 1890. (10) James A., who has always been engaged in clerical work, is now liv- ing in Racine, Wis., and is deputy clerk of courts at that place; he and the Doctor are the only survivors of the family.

Dr. P. Beaugrand is a man much respected in Fremont and vicinity, both as a skillful physician, and a gentleinan of culture. He has been a student of the most ardent type during a long and busy

life, and is remarkable for his intellectual talents and his genial, kindly disposition. His profession has been to him as his bride, for he has led none other to the al- tar. Quick in perception, broad and charitable in his sympathies, with a mem- ory that has never failed, and an integ- rity that has never wavered, Dr. Beau- grand possesses the essential qualities of a successful physician; and if implicit faith in a inan by a whole community is of any solace to him, as he descends the western slope of life, the Doctor should be one of the most contented of mortals. He has also been a favorite in literary cir- cles, there being few important facts of history or science with which he is not familiar.

In 1823, Dr. Beaugrand came with his parents to Fremont. He recollects dis- tinctly the trip from Detroit to Lower Sandusky on the ice on Lake Erie, and the incidents that occurred on the way, one of which was the breaking of the ice, by which the parties in the sleigh all got wet, and how they all made for the shore, and built a huge fire by which to dry themselves. He is still able to point out the very spot at which they came ashore to make the remainder of the trip over- land. Dr. Beaugrand attended the com- mon schools here, and at the age of eight- een was a student one term at Wells' Academy, Mich. In March, 1833, he com- menced the study of medicine at Findlay, Ohio, with B. and L. Q. Rawson, and when the latter returned to Fremont he came with him. During the winter of 1834-35, he attended medical lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Fairfield, Herkimer Co., N. Y. During the scholastic year of 1844-45 he gradu- ated from the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, Ohio. He began the practice of medicine at Lower Sandusky in 1834, continuing thus up to 1845 before he took the degree of M. D., and he now has a retrospect of more than sixty years of professional life, at the beginning of which

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

our country was in its infancy. He re- calls with accuracy the great questions which agitated the public mind during the days of Clay, Webster, and their il- lustrions compeers.

In the spring of 1864 Dr. Beaugrand was appointed surgeon of the One Hun- dred and Sixty-ninth Regiment, O. V. I., at Cleveland, Ohio, and served one hun- dred days at Fort Ethan Allen, Va. On his return home he resumed the prac- tice of his profession, which he still pur- snes, not from personal necessity but to accommodate old patients. He has ac- cumulated a handsome competence which enables him to complete the rest of life's journey at his ease. The Doctor was a Democrat before the war, and during that struggle voted for Republican candidates; but his views at present are Democratic. He has always had a high regard for his mother, who was a remarkable woman, very active in visiting the sick and poor among the early pioneers, and who was very charitable. An oil painting of her now adorns the public library at Fremont.

W ILLIAM E. LAY. Since the year 1828, this venerable, intel- ligent and highly-respected citi- zen of Sandusky county has lived upon the one farm in Green Creek township, a residence that is perhaps unequaled in the county. He has been an eyewitness to the growth of the county from its primitive condition to its present advanced stage of development. But the feature of his citizenship is not chiefly its duration. In public spirit and character, he ranks among the foremost residents.

Mr. Lay was born in Tompkins coun- ty, N. Y., October 20, 1809, son of John and Mary (Squires) Lay. John Lay was born in Connecticut January 22, 1775, and was the son of Aaron Lay, who, when a young man, emigrated with two brothers from England. One of these brothers, James Lay, afterward settled

near Buffalo, N. Y. Mary Squires was born September 9, 1777, and was married January 22, 1797, to John Lay. Their eight children were as follows: (1) Jere- miah, born January 17, 1798, married in 1826, settled in Seneca county, Ohio, and died there about 1879. (2) John, born September 7, 1801, a shoemaker by trade, lived at Attica, Seneca Co., Ohio. By his first wife, Aurora Ewer, he had one child. Henry, who died young; by his second wife, Mary Silcox, he also had one child, William, born September 6, 1850, and died June 18, 1873. John died August 12, 1889. (3) Almira, born No- vember 16, 1803, married John Woodruff, lived in Jackson township, Sandusky county, and reared a large family; she died in 1874. (4) Eustacia, born August 9, 1805, married John Bartlett, lived in Green Creek township, and reared a family; she died in 1877. (5) Harmon, born June 13, 1807, died April 30, 1810. (6) William E. is the subject of this sketch. (7) Mary Ann, born September 8, 1817, married Hiram Babcock, of Green Creek, and died leaving six chil- dren. (8) Susan J., born February 16, 1820, was married first to Jacob Martin, of Castalia, by whom she had one child, and afterward to Horace Simpson; she died near Fremont, Michigan.

After marriage John and Mary Lay settled in Seneca (now Tompkins) county, N. Y., but moved thence to Steuben county. In 1816 he migrated to Ohio, going by team to Buffalo, and there tak- ing passage on the schooner "American Eagle," and landing at the mouth of the Huron river. Living at Speers' Corners two years, he moved to the eastern part of Seneca county, and three years later crossed the Sandusky river to the western part of the county. He then moved back to Clinton township after five years, and in 1828, or three years later, settled on the farm in Green Creek township, San- dusky county, which his son William E. now occupies. Here the parents re-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

mained until their death. They were buried on Butternut Ridge, or Lay's Cemetery. John Lay was a Henry Clay Whig, and he voted at the first election held in Sandusky county, in 1819; in early life he was in religious faith a close-commun- ion Baptist, and for over thirty years he was either clerk or deacon of the Church; in after life he accepted the Universalist faith.

The boyhood of William E. Lay was spent in the wilderness home of his par- ents in Seneca and Sandusky counties. Indians were then abundant, and he had more Indians for playmates than white boys. The Seneca reservation was just across the river from the first home of the Lays in Seneca county. He received lit- tle education at Speers' Corners, Huron county, and scarcely any more in Seneca county. His chief instruction he obtained sitting in his father's cabin, book in hand, and reading by the light of the log fire. One winter he attended school there, but his days were pretty well occupied by farm work, and the echo of his axe was heard in the forest until midnight.

Mr. Lay was married April 11, 1833, to Margaret Lee, who was born in North- umberland county, Penn., September 15, 1815, moved with her parents to Franklin county, Ohio, and thence in 1823 to Seneca county, Ohio. After marriage he began housekeeping on the farm his father had occupied five years earlier, and has lived there ever since; he now owns 200 acres of well-improvedland. Eleven children have been born to William and Margaret Lay, as follows: (1) Polly Minerva, born January 26, 1834, died July 26 of the same year. (2) Harkness N., born December 8, 1836, worked on the farm until the war broke out, and then enlisted in Company A, Seventy-second O. V. I .; he was orderly sergeant, and was taken prisoner at Brice's Cross Roads, near Guntown, Miss., June 10, 1864, with 247 other members of the regiment, and was confined in Andersonville prison nine months. On October 4, 1865, he was

married to Jemmetta Almond, and has two children living-Francis M. and Bes- sie. He has followed farming and car- pentry since the war, and now lives at Chicago. (3) Ann E., born April 20, 1839, died unmarried February 25, 1888. (4) Cornelia, born July 29, 1840, married Jacob D. Le Fevre October 4, 1865, and died, childless, February 10, 1892. (5) Henry S., born June 16, 1842, unmarried, lives at home and operates the farm. (6) Clementine, born August 6, 1844, at home, unmarried. (7) Francis Marion, born August 24,

3 1846, enlisted in April, 1864, before he was eighteen, was taken prisoner at Guntown, June 10, 1864, and died from exposure and starvation at Savannah, Ga., October 24, 1864. (8) Fidelia, born September 12, 1848, mar- ried Cyrus Alexander February 2, 1870, lives on a farm in Erie county; they have no children. (9) Alice, born August 2, 1851, married December 30, 1892, to Abraham Van Doren, and resides at Clyde. (10) William B., born May 15, 1858, farmer, of Sandusky county, married Alice L. Jones October 24, 1883; they have no children. (II) Mabel V., born July 27, 1860. married Fred Hutchinson March 12, 1884, and has five sons-Claire L., Ern- est D., Karl A., Frank M. and Ralph.

In politics, William E. Lay was a Democrat until the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, when he became a Republi- can. He cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson at his second term. He is a man of the strictest integrity, and one of the most highly respected in Sandusky county. In social affairs he has been a leader. Having amassed a goodly fortune, he con- tributes liberally to public enterprises. His family is highly cultured, and the af- ternoon of his life is cast in an atmos- phere that is most congenial. Com- manding the esteem of all good citizens, his life reflects the abilities and virtues that have lifted him to the enviable niche he occupies in the great social fabric of our land.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

L EWIS W. WARD. Progress is born of courage. Courage stands erect and thinks while fear re- treats. Courage advances step by step, believing in science and in eternal law. If properly guided by a conscience, courage will achieve deeds of heroism in defense of right and honor and friendship worthy of the noblest knighthood. As a living example of one who in early life had the courage of his convictions, in manhood dared where others faltered, one who was willing to forego his golden schemes of wealth for the sake of caring for his widowed mother, and who later kindly cared for other aged people left in his care, we present the subject of this sketch.

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Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 6

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