USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 74
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 74
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125
Mr. Dutcher had a sudden death from heart failure. Arising on the morning of January 25, 1886, in his usual health and spirits, about ten o'clock, sitting in his arm chair by the stove opposite his be- loved wife, he suddenly placed his hand on his breast, saying. "I don't know what is the matter," leaned back, and ceased to breathe. He was buried from his home, January 27, under the auspices of the Port Clinton Masonic Lodge, the members of which came in a body to do honor to their deceased Brother.
C HARLES BLECKNER, a popu- lar druggist of Oak Harbor, and one of the leading influential men of that prosperous little town in Ottawa county, was born in Troy, N. Y., March 19, 1852, a son of Adam and Christina (Lenhardt) Bleckner, both na- tives of Germany, who emigrated to the United States in March, 1852, landing in America on the day our subject was born.
On their arrival in this country the- parents located first in Troy, N. Y., re- maining there only a few months; then removed to Fremont, Sandusky Co., Ohio, thence to Rice township, same
502
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
county, where Mr. Bleckner engaged in agricultural pursuits for upwards of two years. But from the year 1855 up to the time of his death, which occurred in .857, he was employed at his trade, that of stone mason. The family consisted of two sons and one daughter: Charles, the subject proper of this sketch; William, the efficient postmaster at Oak Harbor; and Lucinda, now the wife of William Mckenzie, of Bellevue, Ohio. The mother was again united in marriage, her second husband being Charles Remley, and is now a resident of Fremont, Ohio.
Charles Bleckner, the subject proper of these lines, received his preliminary education in the public schools of San- dusky county, and later in life, being a young man of very studious habits, he added considerably to his fund of knowl- edge. The family being deprived, in the death of the father, of the only means of support, our subject was com- pelled to start out when very young to earn his own livelihood. When eleven years of age he hired out with a neigli- boring farmer, for whom he worked eight years, receiving in compensation for his services his board and clothes, and at the age of twenty-one succeeded in purchasing some land and engaged in agricultural pur- suits on his own responsibility; but in 1877 he severed his connection with the farm and accepted a position as clerk in his brother William's drug store, and in 1879 purchased his drug business at Rocky Ridge, Ohio, remaining there for two years. In 1881 our subject returned to Oak Har- bor and purchased a half interest in his brother's store, in 1892 becoming sole proprietor, and he has since carried on the business in his own interests, his store being one ot the handsomest in the county. Mr. Bleckner is a " self-made man " in the broadest sense of the term. Thrown upon his own resources when but a young lad, he has displayed wonderful tact in the way in which he has prospered. Ilis reputation as a chemist-second to none
in the county-his success as a business man, and his popularity as a citizen, have been acquired by a life of hard, honest labor.
On December 22, 1872, Mr. Bleckner was united in marriage, at Perrysburg, Wood Co., Ohio, with Miss Annie A. Hufford, a daughter of Jacob and Cather- ine Hufford, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania, the latter a native of Holland, honored and respected resi- dents of Wood county for many years, both now deceased. To this union have come six children, as follows: Noah H., born September 24, 1873, now a clerk in his father's store; Emma C., born Jan- uary 13, 1875, now a teacher in Ot- tawa county; Charles C., born May 19, 1877, will graduate from Oak Harbor public schools in June, 1896; Cora M., born June 27, 1880, died September 24, 1880; Vernah V., born April 28, 1884; and Chester H., born October 3, 1885. Mr. Bleckner is an active member of the Oak Harbor school board, a stockholder in the Oak Harbor Natural Gas Co., a member of Oak Harbor Lodge No. 495, F. & A. M., and Fremont Chapter No. 64, Royal Arch Masons, and a charter mem- ber of Oak Harbor Lodge No. 735, I. O. O. F. Politically he is affiliated with the Democratic party. The family are members of the M. E. Church.
H ENRY LAMMERS (deceased). who was one of the prominent and representative farmers and fruit growers of Ottawa county, spent his entire life in Danbury township, where his birth occurred February 2, 1850, in the old log house that then stood on the homestead farm. His parents, Frederick and Martha (Teeman) Lam- mers, were both natives of the Province of Hanover, Germany. He was reared in the usual manner of farmer boys, aid- ing in the labor of the field and attending the district schools of the neighborhood,
HENRY LAMMERS.
503
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
where he acquired a good common-school education. The occupation to which he was reared he made his life work, and was very successful in his undertakings.
At Port Clinton, Ottawa county, on the 15th of November, 1877, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Henry Lam- mers and Miss Mary L. Graves, who was born in Danbury township, March 2, 1854, and is a daughter of John F. and Christine Graves, old and highly-respected residents of Danbury township, but who are now living in Hanover, Germany. To our subject and his worthy wife were born two sons, both still living, namely: Edwin August, born December 26, 1879; and Walter Frederick, born December 4, 1883.
Mr. Lammers passed to the other shore on the 14th of June, 1891. Though yet a young man at the time of his de- cease, still he had done much toward the prosperity of his native township, and was held in high esteem as a friend and neigh- bor. His wife continues to superintend the duties pertaining to the farm, and the neat and thrifty appearance of the place indicates taste and good judgment, as well as ability.
G EORGE DEEL is the proprietor of the Enterprise Machine Works, of Oak Harbor, Ottawa county, No greater pleasure can be en- joyed by the aged than to look back on a life usefully spent for the good of others as well as themselves-a happiness that can be enjoyed in an eminent degree by the gentleman whose name opens this sketch.
Mr. Deel is a native of Pennsylvania, born in New Berlin, Union county, May 7, 1831, and is a son of Jacob and Eliza- beth (Newhart) Deel, both of whom were natives of the Keystone State. On both sides the families are of German ancestry, the paternal great-grandparents of our subject, who were natives of Hessen, 32
Germany, emigrating to what is now Frederick City, Md., and at the time of the Revolutionary war they were resi- dents of that city. The parents of our subject came to Ohio in 1861, locating first in Fremont, Sandusky county, but after a short time came to Ottawa county and took up their residence in Salem township, near Oak Harbor, where their remaining days were passed, the father departing this life in 1878, the mother in 1882. They had twelve children, six of whom are yet living besides our subject, namely: Rebecca, widow of John Marks, of Benton township, Ottawa county; Mary, wife of John Orandorf, of Center county, Penn .; John, who is living on the homestead in Union county, Penn .; Jacob and Peter, both of Bar- ton county, Kans .; and Joseph, who is living in Gun Marsh, Michigan.
George Deel acquired a common- school education near his home, and af- terward learned the trade of a ship car- penter, which pursuit he followed in Penn- sylvania until 1861. He then came to Ohio, locating in Salem township, about three miles east of Oak Harbor, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits and in the purchase and sale of timber for about six- teen years. In 1877 he came to Oak Harbor, and in connection with dealing in timber he also engaged in the hotel business, conducting the first hostelry of any importance in the town. In 1878 this hotel was destroyed by fire, and the following year he erected the large and commodious brick hotel, so well and favorably known to the traveling public, called the " Portage House." It too was consumed by the flames, on August 4, 1894, and in both conflagrations Mr. Deel was a serious loser. In August, 1894, he purchased the Enterprise Machine Works, and is now conducting a good business.
Mr. Deel was married, in McAlister- ville, Penn., September 2, 1853, to Julia M. Koch, who was born in Richfield, Juniata Co., Penn., September 28, 1834,
504
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
a daughter of John and Catherine (Baer) Koch. Seven children came to bless this union : Mary Alice, born September 1, 1858, who is the wife of William Fry, of Oak Harbor; Clara E., born November 2. 1860, who died September 29, 1862; James E., born November 13, 1862, who died May 24, 1864; George A., born Jan- uary 19, 1865, who is now a professor in Eastman College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y .; Martha E., born January 7, 1867, who died April 12, of that year; Nelson K., born January 22, 1869, and Lottie V., born April 11, 1871, the last two still under the parental roof.
In March, 1865, Mr. Deel manifested his loyalty to the government by enlisting in Company C, One Hundred and Ninety- sixth O. V. I., and served until the close of the war, acting as hospital steward part of the time. His brothers, Jacob, Joseph and Peter, were also Union soldiers. Mr. Deel has served for three years as super- visor of the township; was school director for fifteen years; was township assessor three years; has been councilman nine years; was infirmary director six years: was township trustee six years, and coun- ty treasurer for one term, of two years. The very fact of his being called to these various positions indicates the confidence and trust reposed in him by his fellow townsmen, and his honorable official rec- ord shows that this confidence has never been betrayed. In connection with his other interests, he is a charter member of Oak Harbor Lodge No. 495, F. &A. M., the e ond oldet Mason in the place, an a to mber of George Field Post No. 168, G. A. R In panties he is a Democrat. Ivadbton to los other business inter- Hora director of the Oak Harbor Ton T. J. Bi fw men have come mtact with the inter- ty. anh none have ofpletely the respect bo community at large.
1 word acquaintances is and in the history of
Ottawa county he well deserves repre- sentation. The Deel family attend the Lutheran Church.
W ILLIAM NOBLE, a retired farm- er of Salem township, Ottawa county, and a highly-respected resident of Oak Harbor, was born June 19, 1830, in Germany, on the line between the Provinces of Hanover and Prussia, and is a son of Frederick and Lena Noble, both of whom passed away in their native land.
Our subject received his primary edu- cation in his native land, and there ap- prenticed himself to the trade of carpen- tering. In 1850 he emigrated to America, and for two years was employed as sales- man in a provision store in New York City. In 1852 he removed to the State of Ohio, locating in Danbury township, Ottawa county, working at his trade dur- ing the winter and sailing on Lake Erie during the summer months. In 1858 he purchased land in Salem township, and engaged in agricultural pursuits; and al- though for the past four years he has been living a retired life, enjoying the rest he has so well earned, he still retains his farm, which is in charge of his sons.
Mr. Noble was married in Danbury township September 22, 1858, to Miss Mary Ott, a daughter of Frederick and Fredericka Grouman) Ott, both natives of Germany, who located in Danbury township in 1855, and moved to Salem township with their daughter and son-in- law in 1858, passing away there in 1867 and 1875 respectively. Mrs. Noble was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, January 18, 1837. To this union were born nine children, viz. : Doris, wife of Sinese Bahn- sen, residing in Salem township; William, born April 14, 1861, a prominent farmer of Salem township; Frederick, born No- vember 22, 1863, a merchant of Azalia, Mich. ; Matilda, born March 24, 1866, wife of Niss Paulsen, residing in Bay
505
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
township, Ottawa county; Charles, born October 1, 1868, residing on the home- stead; Rudolf, born September 28, 1870, now of Toledo, Ohio; Mary, born July 15, 1873, died March 4, 1876; August, born December 30, 1878; and one child who died in infancy.
Mr. Noble is a Democrat in his polit- ical views, has filled a number of town- ship offices, and by the entire community in which he lives is looked up to and ad- mired and respected as a man of sterling qualities. The family are members of the Lutheran Church.
H ENRY F. HARRISON. Among the leading, influential and repre- sentative citizens of Oak Harbor, Salem township, Ottawa county, there is probably no one who enjoys, to a greater degree, the confidence, respect and esteem of his fellow citizens, than does Henry F. Harrison, who was born in Yorkshire, England, July 13, 1833, being a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Jackson) Harrison.
The parents emigrated to America in 1844, in the days when nearly all the transportation across the Atlantic had to be done in sailing vessels. After a rough, tempestuous voyage, extending over nine weeks, they landed at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and upon the reopening of navi- gation in the spring of 1845 proceeded to Boston; thence they journeyed to Ohio, eventually settling in Erie township, Ot- tawa county, where Mr. Harrison engaged in agricultural pursuits for nearly a year, then moving to Henry county, where he found employment at his trade, that of a miller, remaining there until his death, which occurred in 1848, he being one of the unfortunates carried off by the epi- demic of cholera, which passed over that section of the country in that year. After the death of her first husband Mrs. Har- rison was again married, this time to Phineas Nearing, and, with part of her
family, moved to Port Clinton. She finally passed away at the home of her daughter, Mary Ann, in Erie township. The family consisted of eight children, two of whom still survive, viz .: Mary Ann, wife of Frederick Rymers, a resident of Erie township, and Henry F.
Henry F. Harrison, the subject of this biography, received his primary edu- cation in the district schools of Henry county, Ohio, and in the public schools of Port Clinton, his early life being devoted to agricultural pursuits. In 1853 he pur- chased a rough, uncultivated tract of land in Salem township, then but a wil- derness, and, setting to work with that energy and determination characteristic of the early pioneer, he soon became the owner of a valuable farm, and in the face of disappointments and difficulties estab- lished himself among the well-to-do agri- culturists of that township. In 1882 he sold this farm and purchased the land in Oak Harbor upon which he still resides, where, in connection with agricultural pursuits, he is also engaged in fruit grow- ing and floriculture. In his long life and early pioneer experiences, Mr. Harrison has an interesting history of days gone by, full of hardships and dangers unknown to the present generation.
Our subject has been united in inar- riage three times, the first time to Miss Susanna E. Kirk, daughter of John and Belinda Knight Kirk, who was born in Erie township, Ottawa Co., Ohio, April 25, 1837; her parents were both natives of Cecil county, Md., the father, born January 17, 1806, the mother on Febru- ary 1, 1809. To this union were born two children: John W., born March 20. 1857, died June 9 1857, and Mary E., born August 19, 1858, the wife of William Snyder, of Toledo, Ohio. Mrs. Harri- son's death occurred February 10, 1862, and on October 1, 1864. Mr. Harrison wasagain married, this time to Mrs. Sarah ME. Vincent, widow of Freeman Vincent. of Lorain county, Ohio. To this second
506
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
union were born five children, two of whom now survive: Susan E., principal of the Oak Harbor High School, and Ralph M., in the fruit business with his father. After the death of his second wife Mr. Harrison was married to her sister, Lydia A. Merion; no children were born to this marriage. Mr. Harrison's second and third wives were daughters of David and Mary (Shaller) Merion, the former of whom was born in 1839, passing away in 1876; the latter was born in 1835; their parents were born near Boston, Mass., the father in 1796, the mother in 1801; these died in 1886 and 1860, respectively. They were married in 1819, and became the parents of eleven children-nine who grew to maturity and two who died in in- fancy. They came to Ohio the year of their marriage, first locating near Colum- bus, where they lived a few years, and thence removing to Ottawa county, where they made a permanent home and passed the remainder of their days.
In politics our subject votes with the Republican party; socially he is a mem- ber of Oak Harbor Lodge No. 495, F. & A. M. He also fills the position of vice- president and secretary of the Oak Harbor State Bank, and director of the Oak Har- bor Natural Gas Co. The family are de- vout adherents of the Methodist Episco- pal Church.
J OHN BLOOM. Prominent among the retired successful agriculturists of Ottawa county, and typical rep- resentative German - Americans of the industrious and thrifty class, may be found the gentleman whose name here appears.
He was born in Prussia, Germany, October 3, 1829, a son of John and Mar- garet (Demon) Bloom, natives of the saine province, the former born in 1802, the latter in 1801. In the year 1832 they emigrated to the United States, settling in Schuylkill county, Penn., where the
father purchased land, engaging in agri- cultural pursuits, and where he and his wife passed the rest of their days, hon- ored and respected by all who knew them. The father died in 1835, the result of a railroad accident, caused by the locomo- tive, on which he was riding, leaving the track; the mother passed away in 1861, and was laid besides the remains of her husband in a cemetery near their old Pennsylvania home. Their family num- bered six children, as follows: Catherine, now Mrs. John Engerhart, living in Penn- sylvania; Mary, wife of Henry Boch, also in Pennsylvania; John, the subject of these lines; Christian, a blacksmith in the Keystone State; and two who died in in- fancy. As will be seen, John Bloom was between two and three years of age when he accompanied his parents to this coun- try, and at the common schools of the neighborhood of his first New-World home he received his education, at the same time assisting on the farm. Under his father's preceptorship he became well ex- perienced in the various details of agri- culture, and deciding to make it his life work, he, on reaching maturity, purchased a farm for himself in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania.
In 1851 Mr. Bloom was united in marriage with Miss Polly Leiser, of whom further mention will presently be made. In 1861 the family migrated to Rice township, Sandusky Co., Ohio, whence at the end of a year they removed to Salem township, Ottawa county, the father having purchased 160 acres of tim- ber land, being the N. E. quarter of Sec- tion 19. Here, assisted by his family, he set to work to hew out a home, clearing away the forest trees, converting the wild land into fruitful fields, and placing good buildings thereon. Later he bought an- other eighty-acre tract in the same sec- tion, which he afterward disposed of to one of his sons. In 1888, having by that time accumulated a comfortable compe- tence, he and his faithful wife, who had
507
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
well done her share toward securing their prosperity, retired from the arduous duties of farm life, and took up their abode in the village of Oak Harbor, where in a comfortable home they are enjoying the fruits of their labor. In addition to his farm our subject also owns a sawmill in Washington township, Sandusky Co., Ohio, which was successfully conducted by him some twenty-five years in connec- tion with his other interests, and is now being operated by his son Levi.
To Mr. and Mrs. John Bloom have been born six children, a brief record of whom is as follows: (1) John M., born June 29, 1854, married Sarah Ann Boyer (by whom he had two children), and died in 1881; his wife passed away in the month of March, same year. (2) Levi, born January 6, 1858, married Catherine Boyer, by whom he has five children. (3) Louisa, born June 4, 1862, married Israel Druckenmiller, a farmer of Wash- ington township, Sandusky county, Ohio, and has four children. (4) Susanna, born December 12, 1864, married Perry Boyer, tile manufacturer, also of Washington township, by whom she has three chil- dren. (5) Franklin, born March 1, 1867, married Ida Auxter, and has two chil- dren; he rents his father's farm. (6) Charles H., born October 23, 1870, mar- ried Alvesta Siegenthaler, and has one child; he also operates his father's farm.
The mother of this family was born October 21, 1832, in Pennsylvania, where she grew to womanhood, receiving her education at the schools of that State. She is a daughter of Jacob and Susan (Schumaker) Leiser, both also natives of the Keystone State, her father born in 1812, and died in 1880, the mother born in 1809, and died in 1887. They were the parents of eight children, to wit: John (deceased), Nathan, Polly (Mrs. Bloom), Sarah, David, Joseph, Rebecca (deceased) and Samuel; those yet living are all residents of Ohio. The maternal ancestry of Mrs. Bloom dates to days
long prior to Revolutionary times. Her maternal grandfather, John Schumaker, was born in 1776, and died in 1856; his wife, Susanna Kunze, died the same year and at about the same age as her hus- band. Mrs. Bloom's great-grandmother Susanna Kunze was born in 1756, and lived to a ripe old age.
Mr. Bloom is a stockholder in the Oak Harbor State Bank, and also in the Basket Factory of Oak Harbor. Polit- ically, he supports the principles of the Democratic party; socially, he is a mnem- ber of the I. O. O. F. Lodge No. 735, Oak Harbor, while Mrs. Bloom is affili- ated with Lodge No. 735, Daughters of Rebekah, Oak Harbor.
G EORGE L. SEELEY, one of the leading, influential and repre- sentative men of Oak Harbor,
Ottawa county, and cashier of the Oak Harbor State Bank, is a native of Ohio, born May 2, 1853, in Lorain county.
Morton C. Seeley, father of our sub- ject, was of New England birth, coming at an early day to Lorain county, Ohio, where for many years he was engaged in agricultural pursuits and real-estate busi- ness until in his declining years he retired into private life. He was a progressive and honored citizen, and filled many county offices, with honor to himself and satisfaction to the community which he represented. He married Sophia On- stein, also a native of New England, and they had one son, George L., the only child born to them.
The subject proper of this sketch re- ceived his elementary education at the public schools of his native county, which was supplemented with a course of study at Oberlin College, and, after graduating therefrom, he was employed in drug bus- iness for about three years, then in a banking business at Amherst and Chicago until 1887. In October of that year he
508
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
removed to Oak Harbor, and assisted in the organization of the Oak Harbor State Bank, since which time he has continu- ously filled the position of cashier, with recognized ability and judgment. In 1884 he was married, in Medina county, Ohio, to Miss Luetta M. Spitzer, daugh- ter of Garret and Mary Spitzer. the for- mer of whom died January 3, 1891, aged seventy-three years; the latter at the present time an honored and respected resident of Medina. To this union were born on July 10, 1885, twin sons named respectively Morton C. and Clifton M. Mrs. Seeley in her native town attended the Congregational Church, but in Oak Harbor she worships in the Methodist Church. In his political views Mr. See- ley is a stanch Republican.
Garret and Mary Spitzer, parents of George L. Seeley, had born to them a family of eight children, all of whom are yet living, a brief record of them being as follows: Alice is the wife of Aaron Loom- is, a prominest merchant of Wyoming, Iowa; Amherst T. is president of the Medina Savings and Deposit Bank, with residence at Medina, Ohio; Eva is the wife of W. C. Lyon, editor of the Newark (Ohio) American, and ex-lieutenant gov- ernor of the State of Ohio, his home be- ing in Newark; Aaron E. is a prominent clothing merchant of Vinton, Iowa; Francelia is the wife of Dr. David N. Loose, a well-known physician of Maquo- keta, Iowa; Adelbert L. is a banker and prominent citizen of Toledo, Ohio; Luet- ta M., is the wife of George L. Seeley, the subject proper of this sketch; Bessie is the wife of Dr. Hodson D. Bishop, a popular and leading physician of Cleve- land, Ohio.
G EORGE W. KEIGHTLEY, a talented lawyer and progressive citizen of Elmore, Ottawa Co., Ohio, was born in Chatham, Province of Ontario, Canada, June 30,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.