Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 62

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 62
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 62

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).

The grandest book of grandest thoughts this world has ever known:

Between its lids, would man obey, the balm of healing flows, To settle all earth's differences and mitigate its woes.

L'pon the Cross where cruel hate its torturing nails has driven, A dying Saviour cries aloud, " Forgive, and be forgiven !" And underneath that crimson flow all cruel passions fall, And peace expands her golden wings where Christ is all in all.

That smitten Rock is pouring forth its living waters pure; There's manna in this wilderness the humblest may secure; That Word divine, the fiery cloud for Israel's faithful guide, And Miriam's shout " We've been redeemed," resounds from yonder side.

Yea, though the sea before us lies, and Satan's hosts draw nigh.

Through faith the frowning waters part to leave athway

dry ;

And God's command to forward go, fresh confidence inspires, And promised triumphs realized, transcend all fond desires.

In grateful praise these lips employ, and joy o'erwhelms the soul,

As Providence directs the way to yon celestial goal ;

By faith we mount the shining stair, where Jesus sits en- throned,

And view the mansions there prepared for those He hath atoned.

Eye hath not seen, no ear hath heard, nor heart of man con- ceived,

The glories that awaiteth those who have in Him believed ;

The sun may fade in sombre night, and light of stars grow pale,

But Christ the Christian's Light and Life cao never dim nor fail.

Eternal life, that priceless pearl transmitted from the cross, Can never find a recompense in any wordly dross,

And science doth not yet unfold or solve that mystery,

That love divine and boundless grace have rendered full and free.

That Word, the all pervading Light, can make these temples shine,

And fill the soul with joy and peace akio to that divine,

And melt away the locks and bars that doth the future seal, And in a risen, living Christ, eternal life reveal.

My brother, take that Holy Book, and as yon turn its leaves, Remember it hath treasures rare for him that well believes. But to the doubting, scoffing soul that reads from base desire, Twill ever prove a stumbling block, an all-consuming hre.

Ahiding firmly in the Law, with Prophets well in view, The central Light of history the student may pursue, And all the royal lord of earth will cast its diadem,

I'pon the brow of Israel's King, the Child of Bethlehem.

Hail, glorious Prince of Righteousness! Thy sceptre rule the earth.

Thy word he taught till every soul shall know and feel its worth,

And o'er this world from pole to pole, the troubled nations rest.

Till hope is in fruition lost, forever with the blest.

"All hail the power of Jesus' name, let angels prostrate fall. Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown him Lord of all." "Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise Him all creatures here below,

Praise him abore, ye heavenly host, praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost."

Amen ! Amen ! So let it be, on earth as reigns above,

When man shall meet his fellow man, with charity and love, And truth and mercy join their hands and sweetly dwell to- gether,

And righteousness and peace unite, embrace and kiss each other.

The inherent patriotism and religious zeal of Mr. Terry's nature is manifest in all his work. He has been for years a leading teacher in the M. E. Sunday- school, and the influence which he wields at Clyde is directed unmistakably to- ward the higher and better life.

A DAM BRUNTHAVER. Promi- nent among the hardy pioneers of Sandusky county, who, with hearts of oak, muscles of iron, and nerves of steel, subdued the dense forests of the Black Swamp, and cleared up the country for the purposes of agriculture, is the subject of this sketch, and as such he deserves honorable mention in this volume.

Adam Brunthaver, Patriarch of the Brunthavers of Green Creek, and Ball- ville townships, Sandusky Co., Ohio, was born near Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Penn. His father was a native of Alsace, France, who served as a soldier in the capacity of teamster, under the First Napoleon, and subsequenty emi- grated to America, where he was em- ployed by the United States Government to drive cattle through the wilderness, from Pennsylvania to the military post at Detroit, Mich. He was always on friendly terms with the Indians, learned to con- verse with them, and served with his party as interpreter. When passing those Indians who were allies of the British, he would represent to them that he was driving cattle for the "Great Father," the King of England. A full record of his life can not here be given.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Our subject, Adam Brunthaver, was reared on a farm, learned the trade of cooper, became a soldier in the war of 1812, and about the year 1828 made several visits to the Sandusky region, where he bought a quarter section of land of William Snyder, at $1.25 per acre, and arranged with Joseph Hawk to build a log cabin for him on the spot now oc- cupied by his grandson William, as a place of residence, in Green Creek town- ship. He was married, in Pennsylvania, to Miss Mary Ridenhour, and first settled in Fairfield county, Ohio. In 1835 they moved to Sandusky county, and the fam- ily for many years occupied the log cabin which Mr. Hawk had erected for them. Mrs. Mary Brunthaver died in the fall of 1835. Of their children: Sally, wife of John Purdy, of Ballville township; Esther, wife of Mr. Bowman, of Fulton county, Ohio; Henry, who married Miss Emma Cook, now residing at Clyde, Ohio; Mary, wife of Caleb Clink, of Woodville, Ohio; Christena, wife of Luther Van Horn, of Portland, Mich .; John, who married Miss Matilda Scouten, and settled in Green Creek township; Elizabeth, wife of Jona- than Spohn, of Green Creek township; and Leah, wife of Enos Osborn, of Ball- ville township.

In 1839 Adam Brunthaver married Mary Smith, daughter of Adam Smith, who had settled in Green Creek township, in 1824. The children by this marriage were: Louis, who married Miss Loraine Forgerson; Martin, who married Hannah Smith; Margaret, wife of Bert Rathbone; Lucinda, wife of John Duesler; Minerva, who died single; Adam, who married Miss Olive Potter; Delilah, wife of Norton Young; William, who married Miss Ann Smith; and Martha, wife of Owen Maurer. These families reside in Green Creek and Ballville townships.

The death of Adam Brunthaver, Sen., occurred April 28, 1860, at the age of seventy-five years. He was buried in Long's graveyard, now known as Mount

Lebanon U. B. Cemetery, in Ballville township. To this place the remains of his first wife were removed from the pioneer Kernahan burial place. Mr. Brunthaver's widow married, in 1861, Rev. Israel Smith, of Fremont. In 1867 they moved upon a farm in Ballville township, bought by them jointly. Mr. Smith died in 1885, and his widow has since that time occu- pied the Smith homestead, which she had secured by the proceeds from the Brun- thaver homestead.

P ETER BRUNTHAVER, a farmer of Ballville township, Sandusky county, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, February 9, 1823, son of Adamı and Mary (Ridenhour) a Brunthaver. At twelve years of age he came with his parents to Sandusky coun- ty, where he learned the trade of carpen- ter, at which he wrought in Lucas, Wood and Sandusky counties for upward of twenty years. At Perrysburg, Ohio, July 4, 1847, he married Miss Mary Jane Cook, who was born March 2, 1827, in Richland county, Ohio. Several years after their marriage they settled on a farm east of Fremont, where he became one of the substantial farmers of Ballville township. He was a trustworthy, reliable man, a Democrat in politics previous to the Civil war, later a Republican. He and a part of his family were members of the U. B. Church. His death occurred April 6, 1891, that of his wife April 8, 1893, and they were buried in Mt. Lebanon U. B. Cemetery.

The children of Peter and Mary J. Brunthaver were: (1) Charles E. Brunt- haver, born April 16, 1848, in Lucas county, who married Miss M. A. Merrald, November 16, 1870; she died November I, 1873, leaving two children-Edward, born September 14, 1871, and Clara, born May 29, 1873, the latter of whom died at the age of ten years; Charles E. Brunthaver has been a clerk in the War

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHIICAL RECORD.

Department, at Washington, D. C., for upward of twelve years. (2) Lucinda Jane Brunthaver, born September 29, IS49, in Wood county, who married Charles Dawley, a farmer of Green Creek township, Sandusky county, June 20, 1872; she died August 30, 1883; their children were: Willis W., born February 20, 1874; Nellie, January 23, 1876; and Hazel, November 16, 1881. (3) Ellen E. Brunthaver, born May 30, 1851, in Sandusky county, married Henry Bennett, December 25, 1871; she died March 24, 1882, leaving three children-Clarence A., born October 26, 1872; George Henry, February 19, 1877; and Fanny A., Oc- tober 18, 1878. (4) Samuel Willard Brunthaver, born August 18, 1853, mar- ried Miss Ann Norton, June 9, 1883. (5) Orrin James, who will be more fully spoken of presently. (6) Frank P. Brunt- haver, born January 16, 1862, was brought up on a farm, educated in the home dis- trict and the Fremont city schools, took a course in the Medical Department of the Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, and, after practicing medicine at Maumee City about three years, took a course at the Post Graduate Medical School and Hospital, in New York City; he was married, November 27, 1884, to Miss Mary E. Smith, of Sugar Ridge, Wood county, Ohio, and their children are-Carrie L., born August 4, 1888; Merine A., April 14, 1890; and an infant son. (7) Minnie E. Brunthaver, born October 22, 1863, married Silas Stroh- Inan, a farmer, of near Tinney, Ohio, May 27, 1885, and their children are- Edna E., born March 9, 1886; Cora M., December 17, 1889; and Mildred E., September 5, 1893. (8) Clarence W. Brunthaver, born March 12, 1867, died in childhood.

ORRIN JAMES BRUNTHAVER, born June 20, 1859, was reared on a farm, learned the carpenter's trade of his father, attend- ed the F'remont High School and the Fos- toria Normal School, read law for some

time with the firm of Everett & Fowler, Fremont, became administrator of his father's estate, and since 1893 has been employed in the Railroad Postal Service between Cleveland, Ohio, and Syracuse, N. Y. He was married at Fremont, Sep- tember 24, 1893, to Miss Carrie E. Snyder, who was born February 23, 1871, at Hudson, Mich., and they have one son -Harry Allen, born October 30, 1894.

M ARTIN SEIPLE, one of the leading farmers and stock rais- ers of Madison township, San- dusky county, is a native of Pennsylvania, born May 20, 1849, in Williams township, Northampton county.

John and Susanna (Unangst) Seiple, parents of our subject, were also natives of Northampton county. In 1864 they removed to Scott township, Sandusky Co., Ohio, where the father purchased 300 acres of land, and carried on farming. In their family were ten children: Ed- ward (deceased), who during his life fol- lowed farming, and whose widow resides at Helena, Sandusky county; Valentine, a farmer, butcher and stock dealer, who died in Pennsylvania; Thomas, a farmer, living on the old homestead; Eva A., wife of William Schrantz, an agriculturist, who operates half of the old home farm; Au- gust, deceased; John, who was a member of the One Hundred and Fifty-third P. V. I., and was killed at the battle of Gettysburg; William, who died of brain fever, in Pennsylvania; Adam, a retired farmer living in Helena, Ohio; Martin; and one who died in infancy. The par- ents are both now deceased.

Henry and Sarah (Wagner) Seiple, parents of John, were born, the former September 29, 1776, the latter April 4, 1780; and both died in 1863, he on Jan- uary 12, she on October 16. They had a family of five sons and three daughters, viz .: John (father of Martin Seiple), Henry, Conrad, David, Joseph, Sarah

martin Seiples

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

(who married Samuel Johnson, of Allen- town, Penn.), Katy (who married Henry Hildibrand, of Bethlehem, Penn.), and Julia (who married Henry Woodring, of Carroll, Iowa).

Mrs. Susanna (Unangst) Seiple, moth- er of our subject, was the daughter of Val- entine and Elizabeth (Morgan) Unangst. Valentine Unangst was born July 27, 1769, and died August 23, 1857, aged eighty-eight years. Elizabeth (Morgan) Unangst was born in 1754 and died in 1824, aged seventy years; her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Morgan, was born April 23, 1727. Valentine Unangst had an only sister, Eve Ann Unangst, who was born June 24, 1764, and died November 15, 1857.

Martin Seiple attended school in his native county up to his sixteenth year, when he removed with his parents to Ohio, and located in Scott township, Sandusky county, on a farm of 300 acres. Here he continued his education for a short time, and then entered upon his business career. working upon his father's farm until 1867. He had in the mean- time saved from his earnings some capi- tal, with which he now purchased eighty acres of land on which stood a small frame house. It took many years of hard toil to place the tract under its present high state of cultivation, and to add the improvements that we to-day find, in- cluding an excellent frame residence, barns and outbuildings, which are models of convenience, a fine orchard and other general improvements. He also has ten oil wells upon his land, which are owned and operated by the Buffalo Oil Com- pany, in which Mr. Seiple owns stock; he is also engineer in helping to pump in the same. He is one of the most progressive men in Madison township, and good man- agement and business ability have placed him in a substantial position.

In August, 1869, Mr. Seiple was mar- ried, in Medina, Ohio, to Ruby K. Bow- man, daughter of Daniel and Caroline 27

Bowman, of Medina county, the former born in 1817 in Pennsylvania, in which State he acquired his education, and for a time carried on farming there. Subse- quently he removed to Medina county, Ohio, where, in 1842, he married Miss Caroline Ross, a native of Vermont, and by their union were born fourteen children, nine of whom are living: Levi, a farmer of Michigan; Jayett, wife of Jesse Jacobs, an agriculturist in Michigan; Ruby, who was born September 12, 1850; Walter, a resident of Medina, Ohio; Alice, wife of George Moulton, a farmer of Medina county; Charles, who follows the same pursuit in Medina county; Frelena, wife of Lewis Abbott, an agriculturist of that county; Edelia, wife of Elsworth Gilbert, who operates a farm in Medina county; Orson, who resides in Lorain, Ohio; Mary, John, Joshua and George, all de- ceased, and one who died in infancy. Mr. Bowman died in 1879, in Medina county, where his widow is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bowman were in James T. Garfield's (afterward President) audience when he used to preach in John Bowman's barn in Medina county.

Grandfather Christopher Bowman was born about 1783 in Germany, and he and his wife both died about the same time, in 1858, and were buried in the same grave in Lafayette township, Medina county; they had a family of fourteen children, three of whom are now living. Mrs. Seiple's maternal grandfather Ross was born about 1783, his wife, Susan Ross, in 1799. They were the parents of ten children, of whom are now living: Mrs. Caroline Bowman (mother of Mrs. Seiple), Charles, Mrs. Almeda White (of Michigan), and Mrs. Elizabeth Newens (of Cleveland).

To Mr. and Mrs. Seiple have been born five children-two sons and three daughters-of whom John D., born June 4, 1872, was educated in the public schools of Madison township, Sandusky county, and is now attending the Normal

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

University, at Ada, Hardin Co., Ohio; when quite young he suffered from diph- theria, and afterward from spinal fever, which left him a cripple. Chloa, born on the old home farm in April, 1874, was educated in her native township, where she was married April 7, 1894, to Corne- lius Burgher, an oil driller, by whom she has one child. Caroline S., born Sep- tember 13, 1877, also obtained her educa- tion in Madison township. Pearl, born August 2, 1881, and Orson, born June 8, 1888, are still with their parents.

Mr. Seiple is pre-eminently a public- spirited citizen, taking a deep interest in everything that tends to benefit the town and county generally. He is a warm friend of the cause of education, has several terms served as school director, and does all in his power for the advance- ment of the public schools. He is a popular and highly esteemed man. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and he and his family are adherents of the Reformed Church, attending service in Helena.

F RANK H. SMITH, one of the youngest successful and prosper- ing residents of Gibsonburg, San- dusky county, extensively engaged in the oil business, was born in Venango county, Penn., August 16, 1865, son of Abraham and Sarah Smith) Smith, the parents not by blood related.

Abraham Smith was born in 1830 in V'enango county, Penn., and followed the trade of blacksmithing. He died April 9. 1883. The mother, Sarah Smith. was a native of Franklin, Venango Co., Penn .. and died in 1873. They reared the fol- lowing family of seven children: Leah, who married J. B. Wilson, and lives at Gibsonburg: Laura, wife of C. B. Neely, of Venango; Myram, a resident of Free- port, Ohio; Frank H., subject of this sketch; Clara, wife of Geo. Bloodheart, of Gibsonburg, Ohio: Cora, who married

George Speck, of Pemberville, Ohio, and P. A., a contractor of Gibsonburg.

Frank H. Smith was a lad of only fourteen years when he left home and drifted to the oil fields of Mckean, which attracted him. He secured employment in the oil business at once, and has ever since been engaged in it successfully, fol- lowing the oil fields of Pennsylvania con- tinuously until 1890, when he came to Ohio, and has here continued the same pursuit. He obtained his start as a drill contractor of oil wells. About four years ago he became interest- ed in leasing oil lands in Sandusky coun- ty. He was first with the firm of Smith & Dohn, a firm which has undergone various changes, and to whom he sold many leases when partly developed. Mr. Smith is now interested in a 200-acre lease along the Pennsylvania railroad. three miles north of Gibsonburg, where he has twenty-nine wells producing, and the venture has been a marked financial success. The leased land produces over 12,000 barrels of oil per month. On February 9, 1895, Mr. Smith and his part- ner, Mr. John Shertzer, purchased the Gibsonburg electric light plant, paying the sum of $4,500 therefor. and holding this until July 10, of the same year, when they sold to a Pittsburg firm for $5, 500.

On September 23. 1886, Mr. Smith was married in Pennsylvania to Miss Liz- zie Lusher, and has two children: Arthur D. and Roscoe M. Mrs. Smith was born May 5, 1864, in Rockland township, Ve- nango Co., Penn., where she resided un- til her marriage. Her parents George and Charity (Jacobs) Lusher, were also natives of Pennsylvania, born October 8, 1831. and May 30, 1834, respectively, and they had a family of eight children. viz. : Andrew married a Miss Gilmore, and has four children; Bell lives at home; Miles married Maggie Shoper, by whom he has four children, and lives near Gib- sonburg: Maggie is Mrs. J. Watson, of Pennsylvania; Emma became the wife of

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

H. Davis, of Cleveland; Lizzie is Mrs. Smith; Perry, unmarried, is employed by Mr. Smith in the oil fields; Harry is at home. The paternal grandfather of this family, Jonathan Lusher, was born in Pennsylvania March 17, 1812, and died December 1, 1884; he married Eliza Smith, born about 1815, and they had a family of fourteen children. The mater- nal grandfather, Jacob Jacobs, also had a family of fourteen children. Mr. Smith owns a pleasant home in Gibsonburg, and, financially, he has prospered far beyond his years. He is recognized as one of the ablest and most successful young bus- iness men of Sandusky county.

C A. MINER, a prosperous and highly successful business man of Clyde, Sandusky county, was born at Ithaca, N. Y., January 5, 1825, son of Avery and Emma (Eddy) Miner.

Avery Miner, a large-hearted and enterprising man of affairs, was born of English ancestry March 10, 1774. He accumulated considerable wealth at Lan- sing, N. Y., but at this point his generos- ity was his ruin. Becoming surety for some acquaintances who proved unequal to the task of meeting their obligations, the property of Avery Miner was taken in satisfaction. Thus bereft of fortune. he went Ithaca in 1835 at the age of sixty-one years; then came west, where capital seemed less essential to success, lo- cating at Huron, Ohio, where he paid $3 for a broken-down stage horse, and in a wagon that corresponded with the steed began to keep a meat market. He pros- pered as a butcher, and followed that business until his death, which resulted from blood-poisoning, May 13, 1854. A neighbor had requested Mr. Miner to conduct the autopsy of a fine cow that had died of some unknown ailment, and in the dissection Mr. Miner accidentally cut his left hand. A Dr. Burdick, who

was present, predicted serious results, and the prediction slowly came true. Gradually he lost the power of his hand, but he survived six or seven years before death ensued. Nearly thirty years later the son, C. A. Miner, met Dr. Burdick, and the latter at once inquired as to the result of the accident, so deeply had it impressed him. Avery Miner was a powerful man, physically. In politics he was a Whig. Emma Eddy), his wife, was born March 23, 1797, at Great Bend, Penn. They were married Febru- ary 1, 1816. After her husband's death she resided in Huron, Toledo, and finally in Clyde until her death, which occur- red December 8, 1874. Avery and Emma Miner had three children, as follows: G. F., born July 16, 1817, for many years a resident of Huron and Milan, and who died at Monroeville; William H., born August 29, 1828, unmarried, who resided for years in Clyde, and died July 16, 1895, at Toledo.

C. A. Miner, the subject of this sketch, attended the schools of Ithaca, Huron and Milan, Ohio, and his youth was closely associated with the stock business. He was reared to business in his father's meat market, and early in life commenced shipping cattle to New York and other Eastern cities by boat, afterward by rail, lifting the steers into the boats by means of tackle fastened to their horns. For nearly twenty-five years Mr. Miner fol- lowed the cattle business at Huron very successfully. He bought a farm which he used as a pasture and shipped hogs, cat- tle and horses extensively. In 1859 he moved to Clyde, purchasing a half section of land, a portion of which is now within the corporation limits. He was married, November 22, 1855, to Mary E. Miller, who was born at Ballston, N. Y., May 9, 1821. She died January 4, 1860, a de- voted Christian woman, enthusiastic and faithful in Sunday-school and all Chris- tian work. Both she and her busband were active teachers in the Presbyterian

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Sunday-school at Huron, and Mr. Miner now has an elegant Bible which was presented to him by the school at Huron. He remained on the farm only one year after his wife's death. He then sold his Clyde farm and purchased an interest in a foundry and machine, shop at Sandusky. Gas from the foundry proved injurious to his health, and two years later he sold out and removed to Toledo, Ohio; for one year he traveled through the West. He then took care of his mother's farm at the Junction at Toledo for two years. Returning to Clyde he bought a ware- house, and for some years was engaged in the grain business, and a grocery, after- ward handling general produce. For some years Mr. Miner has led a retired life, which he has well merited after his active and prosperous business career. The second and present wife of Mr. Miner was Miss Maria Veletta Stark, who was born in Fremont February 6, 1842, and whom he married May 17, 1877. T this marriage have come two children: Charles L., born November 25, 1880, and Helen, born September 8, 1883.

C HARLES T. MOORE. The great ancestor of the Moore fam- ilies with which our subject is connected was Samuel Moore, who emigrated from Dalkeith, Scotland, about the year 1760, and settled in New Jersey.

His son, David Moore, grandfather of our subject, moved from Huntington county, Pennsylvania, to Ross county, Ohio, in 1814, and from Ross to San- dusky county in 1818. He built and oc- cupied a double log cabin on the west bank of the Sandusky river, about half a mile southwest of the present village cf Ballville. A short distance below that he built a gristmill and a sawmill which were patronized by the early pioneers for many miles around. His death occurred December 24, 1829, and was caused by

an accident in falling at night from the attic in the mill to a lower story. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Davis, remained on a farm in Ross coun- ty, where she died July 1, 1826. Their children were: Eliza (Justice), Sarah (Fields), George, James and John Moore, all of whom came to reside in Sandusky county. George Moore returned to Ross county in 1830, and settled near Chilli- cothe, where he died in 1850. John Moore was for many years a miller at Ballville, and died there in 1876.

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Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 62

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