Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 91

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 91
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 91

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Daniel Muggy first opened his eyes to the world December 31, 1845, in New York City, living there until brought by his parents to Danbury, Ottawa Co., Ohio, where he had his home six years. The family then removed to Catawba Island, whence, after a residence of four- teen years, our subject came to Benton township, purchasing a farm in Section 30, whereon he lived one year. He then purchased a farm in Clay township, same county, which he soon sold, and return- ing to Benton township settled on land in Section 13. Mr. Muggy has cleared up three large farms in Ottawa county, also developing a fruit farm on Catawba Island, and on all these tracts he erected buildings and made other valuable im- provements. In 1887 he purchased his present farin in Benton township, which was all timber at the time, and in the eight years of their residence thereon he and his family have succeeded by hard labor in clearing the land entirely of tim- ber, removing all the stumps, etc., and the place has been well fenced and equip- ped with good buildings-an achievement which is indeed worthy of notice. After

the Civil war Mr. Muggy engaged in fish- ing for a time on Lake Erie, and, besides attending to his general agricultural inter- ests, he has for the past several years been extensively engaged in fruit growing, hav- ing twelve acres in fruit; he has also for some time dealt in nursery stock. His business ability has never been allowed to rust for want of use, for since his re- moval to his present farm he has, in addition to all his other interests, been engaged in handling farm machinery, and the prosperity which has attended his la- bors is only the reward which is sure to follow persistent energy and attention to business. There is probably no inan of his age who has aided more in the de- velopment of Benton township than Daniel Muggy, and he is now reaping the fruits of his toil in the enjoyment of the home which he and his estimable wife have, by their care and labor, converted into one of the finest farms in the vi- cinity.

On December 23, 1868, Mr. Muggy was married to Miss Susan E. Tillotson, of Catawba Island. Roy, the eldest child is now in Lima, Ohio, engaged in the insurance business. George, another son, by profession a school teacher, was born on Catawba Island, where he lived until four years of age; his education has been obtained in the same manner that his father obtained his handsome farm, by : hard digging:" he attended the district schools in Clay township un- til fifteen years old, then in Benton town- ship for three years, when he began teaching, a profession he has since fol- lowed; though yet young he is regarded as a leading educator. Unlike many young men he does not waste his summer vaca- tions, but has helped his father on the farm. In addition to his study in the common schools he attended the Ohio Normal University, at Ada, Ohio, where he thoroughly fitted himself for his chos- en calling. He is now in St. Louis, Mo., as agent for the Oak Harbor File & Sup-

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ply Co., for the present season, but he will resume teaching in September. In his own neighborhood, where he is best known, he will probably have the same distinction as his father and grandfather before him, that of being a " self-made man," and he has a bright outlook for the future.

Mrs. Susan E. Muggy was born De- cember 11, 1847, on Catawba Island, where she attended the public schools, acquiring a liberal education, and re- mained in her native town until her mar- riage to Mr. Muggy. She is the daughter of O. Tillotson (who was born in Cleve- land in 1805) and Elizabeth Wonnell (who was born in Maryland in 1817); the father died May 25, 1873, and was buried in Shook cemetery, Ottawa county, by the side of the mother, who had passed away on Catawba Island January 1, 1858. They were the parents of three children- one son and two daughters.

Mr. Muggy's history would not be complete without some mention of his long service in the Civil war. When eighteen years of age he enlisted in the battalion of sharpshooters formed at Cleveland by G. M. Barber, and he par- ticipated in many skirmishes and hard- fought battles, seeing active service at Chickamauga, Ringgold, Dalton, Resaca, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Look- out Mountain, Missionary Ridge, siege of Atlanta, Nashville and Atlanta. Though always in front and in the hottest of the fight, he went through the war without a wound or any sickness, a record equalled by few soldiers of the Rebellion.

J OHN E. MYERHOLTS, an enter- prising and prosperous young farmer of Benton township, Ottawa county, was born January 22, 1864, near Elmore, Harris township, Ottawa Co., Ohio, where he spent his boyhood days, and received his education.

Grandfather Myerholts was born No-

vember 1, 1794, and died July 2, 1857, at the age of sixty-three years; his wife was born December 18, 1797, and died March 21, 1892, aged ninety-five years. Grandfather Dusing was born July 18, 1804, and died April 1, 1880, aged seventy- six years; his wife was born February 1, 1809, and died June 24, 1892, aged eighty-three years.

Henry Myerholts, the father of John E., was born in Germany in 1832, and when two years old came to America with his parents, who settled on the pike near Woodville, Sandusky Co., Ohio, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Henry Myerholts started out for himself in Har- ris township, Ottawa county, when twenty- five years old, cleared the farm where he now lives, and in 1856 was married. His wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was born in Germany in 1836, and when a year and a half old came to America with her parents, who settled in Wood county, Ohio, where she was reared, receiving her education in the district schools of the township where they resided. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Myer- holts had children as follows: Clara, born in 1857; Henry, in 1858; Ricca, in 1859; Fred, in 1861; John, in 1864; George, in 1865; Amelia, in 1867; Mary, in 1869; Louisa, in 1871; August, in 1875; and Lucy, in 1879. One daughter lives in Michigan, a son in Wisconsin, and the remainder in Ohio. The mother of Henry Myerholts (Sr.) was born in Germany, March 21, 1797, and died in Sandusky, Ohio, at the age of ninety-five years.

When a young man John E. Myerholts came with his father to Benton township, where they purchased quite a tract of land, and he now has a fine farm of his own of eighty acres near that of his father. When he purchased the farm, it was nearly all timber, but by hard work he has cleared this away, and erected a nice frame house, a barn and outbuildings for hisstock. The farm is now fenced, under good cultivation, and in every way shows the

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care and industry of the owner. For sev- eral years prior to his marriage he and his brothers " bached, " as they call it, cutting timber and clearing their farms in the winter, and at times having several men helping them. They worked in the woods until noon, then came up and cooked their own dinner. They did their own baking and cooking, John being a general cook and able to bake bread, pies, etc., and, in fact, do any kind of housework. Thus he worked on until the time of his marriage, when he had his farm well cleared and under cultivation, buildings completed, and all in readiness. On September 8, 1892, John E. Myerholts was united in marriage with Miss Emma Libba, of San- dusky county, Ohio, who is to him a faithful wife and helper, and they have one child, Mabel Hazel, born October 20, 1894.

Mrs. Myerholts was born April 28, 1873, in Sandusky county, Ohio, where she was educated, and where she lived until her marriage. Her father, Mr. Libba, was born in Germany in 1833, came to America when quite young, and settled in Sandusky county, near Woodville, where he cleared a farm, making a pleasant home for himself and family. His wife was born in Germany in 1843 and came to America when sixteen years of age. Their children were: Henry, born in 1864; John, in 1866; Flora, in 1868; Anna, in 1870; Emma (Mrs. Myerholts), in 1873; William, in 1875; Edward, in 1878; Car- rie, in 1880; and Rica, in 1884. All but one are living and are residents of Ohio.

Mr. Myerholts has set out a nice or- chard of apple trees, and before long will have an abundance of fruit for his own use and to spare. He is also somewhat engaged in the stock business. It is just to him to say, that, as a young man, he has made his mark in the world, securing a nice farm well cultivated, fenced and under-drained, with good team and tools with which to work. His record as a young farmer is one worthy ol emulation.

L OUIS WILSON WALKER SPOHN, a representative farmer and highly-esteemed citizen of Washington township, Sandusky county, Ohio, was born January 31, 1864, on the farm which is still his home, and is a son of David and Catherine (Spohn) Spohn. They were both natives of Pennsylvania, and, emigrating west- ward in 1854, took up their residence in Sandusky county, Ohio, where the father secured from the government forty acres of land in Washington township. This was a wild tract, on which not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made; but it had not long been in his possession when it was transformed into rich and fertile fields. Success attended his well-directed efforts, and as his finan- cial resources increased he added two hundred acres to his farm. The improve- ments he placed upon it and the care and attention which he gave to it made it one of the most desirable properties in his section of the country, and the owner was ranked among the leading farmers. His death occurred in 1871, when he was aged fifty-seven years, and his wife, who survived him several years, passed away in 1885, willing the old homestead to her son, Louis.

Our subject is one of the three living children in a family that once numbered thirteen members. The educational privileges which he received were those afforded by the common schools, but through contact with the world, experi- ence and observation he has added great- ly to his store of knowledge, and is to- day one of the well-informed men of the community. A well-spent life has also made him highly esteemed, and gained him the confidence and good will of many friends. An interesting event in his life occurred on the 4th of October, 1884, when was celebrated his marriage with Miss Mary Shenfield, a daughter of a well- to-do farmer of Washington township, Sandusky county. One child now graces

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this union, a daughter, Bertha, who was born February 21, 1890.

Mr. Spohn votes with the Republican party, and, as every true American citi- zen should do, manifests an interest in political affairs, but has never been an office seeker. He belongs to the Meth- odist Church, and his life is in harmony with his professions, while his upright, honorable career has gained him a wide circle of warm friends. He is a worthy rep- resentative of a family that has been con- nected with the history of Sandusky county since its pioneer days, and mani- fests a deep and abiding interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the com- munity, and its upbuilding.

E DWARD STONE, of Benton town- ship, Ottawa county, is to-day one of the active men of Benton. He was born in Canada July 4, 1 860. His father J. B. Stone, was born in 1804, in Canada, died in 1874, in Iron- dale, Clinton county, N. Y., and is buried in the cemetery at Redford, in the same county. His widow was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1824, and is still living in Bos- ton, Mass. They were the parents of six children-three sons and three daughters, as follows: Edward, our subject; Henry, who is employed as a lumber contractor in Harriettstown, Franklin Co., N. Y .; John B., a resident of Boston, Mass., a competent engineer, and at present run- ning hydraulic presses; Jennie, living in Cambridge, Mass .; Anna, in Chelsea, Mass. ; and Rosa, in Kittery Point, Maine.

When Edward Stone was seven years of age, his people moved to New York State, where they lived until 1873, when, at the age of only thirteen years, he struck out in life for himself. His first move was to Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked in a meat market for two months. He then went to Toledo, remaining only a month; was office boy in Deshler, Henry Co., Ohio, for two months; took

charge of a machine in the hoop factory there, where he remained one year; then went into a machine shop, at the same place, and was there fifteen months. He then went to Sandusky City, Erie Co., Ohio, where in 1875 he embarked as a deck hand on the steambarge "Yose- mite," running on the lake between San- dusky and Bay City, Mich. At the close of the season on the lake Mr. Stone went to Mooretown, Canada, engaged as clerk in one of the hotels, remained there two months, was on a farm for a short time, and then returned to the lakes, on the steamer "Huron City," running be- tween Alpena and Buffalo. At the close of the season Mr. Stone made a visit of two months in Toledo, Ohio, and then went to Harris township, Ottawa Co., Ohio, where he spent the winter cutting timber on Joseph Terault's farm. He then returned to the lakes again, making his headquarters at Cleveland, remained during the sailing season, returned to Ben- ton township as hoop worker for the winter, and in the spring went back to the lakes. At the close of that season Mr. Stone went to Lindsey, Sandusky Co., Ohio, as fireman in a stave factory, remaining six months, and then engaged as engineer in a tile yard, and remained one year. He next worked by the month for two years on a farm in Sandusky county, and was engaged in hoop working for a year in Paulding county, Ohio. For six months he was employed in the cam- bric mill at Boston, Mass .; worked also at East Brookfield, Mass., in a wheel factory, and as engineer in a pottery at Spencer, Mass .; also drove a 'bus in Providence, R. I., four months, and from there went to a summer resort at Saranac Lake, N. Y. Mr. Stone then returned to Ohio by way of Canada, and began farming. After about eight months, and while at Peter Lickert's, he was united in marriage, March 17, 1888, with Miss Kattie R. Harman, of Harris township, Ottawa county, and they have had two

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children, namely: Jennie May, born De- cember 30, 1888; and Daniel Edward, born September 20, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Stone remained one summer at Mr. Lick- ert's where he was employed in clearing and getting out timber. They then came to the farm on which they now live, con -. taining eighty acres, fourteen of which Mr. Stone has cleared himself and fenced and tilled. In addition to his farming, he deals in all kinds of stock, selling to local dealers.

Politically, Mr. Stone is a Democrat. His estimable wife is the daughter of Jacob and Martha (Randall) Harman, and was born in Harris township, Ottawa county, received a literary education in the public schools of that township, and lived there until her marriage. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harman, are now living in Har- ris township.

E LI LA VIGNE, general merchant and postmaster at Martin, Ottawa county, well worthy of represen- tation in this volume, is numbered among the most prominent and influential citizens of the county, and belongs to that type of representative Americans who advance the public welfare, while pro- moting individual prosperity.

A native of Michigan, he was born in La Salle township, Monroe county, Feb- ruary 7, 1847, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Jenaur) La Vigne, both of whom were natives of Michigan, and were of French-Canadian parentage. The father followed the occupation of farming in that State, but both he and his wife are now passed away. Their family numbered eleven children, six of whom are still liv- ing, namely: Joseph, a resident of La Salle township, Monroe Co., Mich .; Eliza, wife of Samuel Arguett, of Wayne county, Mich. ; Eli, subject of this sketch; Dolphus, who is living in Wayne county; Moses, a resident of Monroe county,

Mich .; and Rosaline, wife of Charles Bomier.

. In taking up the personal history of our subject we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and fa- vorably known in Ottawa county. The public schools afforded him his educational privileges, and to his father he gave the benefit of his services until twenty-six years of age, working on the home farm. In 1872 he came to Ohio, and has since been a continuous resident of Martin. For a few years he was in the employ of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company, and in 1875 he em- barked in business as a general merchant at Martin, and is still conducting one of the leading establishments of the kind in the county. His genial and affable man- ner has won for him the esteem and pat- ronage of the residents of Martin and the surrounding locality, and he carries a large stock of goods to meet the grow- ing demand of his trade.

In Erie township, in his native county, on August 8, 1876, Mr. La Vigne was married to Agnes Baron, who was born May 18, 1858, and is a daughter of Noel and Margaret (Mominee) Baron, natives of La Salle township, Monroe county. Five children have been born to our sub- jeet and his wife, their names and dates of birth being as follows: Gertrude, born in Martin, May 26, 1877; Clarence, March 9, 1879; Mary Ettie, November 17, 1881 ; Alice, April 21, 1884; and Bes- sie, April 24, 1890.

Mr. La Vigne is now serving his sec- ond term as postmaster of the village of Martin, having first been appointed by President Cleveland to a second term. He is a sound Democrat in his political views, and the religion of himself and fam- ily is that of the Roman Catholic Church. He possesses business ability of a high or- der, and his keen discrimination, enter- prise and sound judgment have brought to him success. He is one of the most popular and influential citizens of his

Eli La vigne

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adopted county, and is public spirited in an eminent degree, taking an active inter- est in all that pertains to the welfare of the community and its advancement. A pleasant, genial gentleman, his circle of friends is limited only by the circle of his acquaintances, and all who know him have for him the highest regard.

J OHN YOUNG, owner of a fine farm in Allen township, Ottawa county, is one of the many German settlers who came to Ohio in an early day, bringing with them the habits of industry, thrift and perseverance acquired in their native land, and which have enabled them to become important factors in the growth and progress of the State of their adop- tion.

Our subject was born in Spiesheim, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, April 10, 1838, and is the son of John and Cather- ine (Young) Young, both natives of the same province as their son. His boyhood days were spent in schocl and upon his father's farm, and in 1856 he came with the family to America. They settled in Lake township, Wood Co., Ohio, and here, when old enough, he carried on farming until February 13, 1865, when, on the last call for men to take arms against the Rebellion, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Eighty-ninth Ohio Infantry, under command of Col. Henry Kingsbury. He served in this regiment for eight months, and on September 28, same year, received his discharge at Nashville, Tenn. He then returned to Wood county where he worked on his father's farm for upward of twenty years, at the end of which time he went to Hills- dale county, Mich., where he bought land and farmed two years. In 1886 Mr. Young returned to this State, and pur- chasing fifty-three acres of partially- cleared land in Allen township, Ottawa county, began the improvements, which have made it such a valuable piece of

property. He now has a comfortable dwelling, etc., and is regarded as one of the solid, thorough-going and intelligent men of the county. Mr. Young was mar- ried July 30, 1871, at Genoa, Ohio, to Katie, daughter of John and Susanna (Bihn) Young, who were farmers of Ot- tawa county, and of this union there are seven children, as follows: Matilda, born August 20, 1872, was married March 29, 1894, to John Vogelpohl, a farmer of Lucas county, Ohio, and has one child- Willie, born April 15, 1895; Charles J., born June 29, 1874, is farming in Ottawa county; while Magdalena, born April 26, 1876, Mary E., June 3, 1879, Lewis J., No- vember 25, 1882, and Katie E., July 18, 1889, are all at home with their parents. One child died in infancy.

John Young, the father of our subject, was born in Germany in 1802, and was a farmer by occupation. He was there married to Miss Catherine Young, who was born in 1800, and they emigrated to this country when their children were quite young. They at first settled in New York State, near Niagara Falls, where they re- mained for three years, then came to Ohio and made their home in Lake township, Wood county. They were the parents of seven children, all born in Germany, of whom the following record is given: Philip, the eldest, is a farmer in Wood county; Charles is a stone mason, and lives in Toledo; Elizabeth married Joseph Kapp, a farmer of Wood county, and both are deceased, the former dying September 2, 1891, the latter on August 26, same year (they left five children); John, our subject, is the fourth in order of birth; Andrew is married, lives at Toledo, and is the father of four children, two of whom are living; two died in Germany. The parents of this family died in Wood coun- ty, the father in August, 1866, and the mother in September, 1862.

It is a curious coincidence that the names of the fathers of both Mr. and Mrs. Young should be John Young, and that

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those of our subject's mother and his wife should both be Catherine Young. The father of our subject's wife was also a na- tive of Germany, his birth taking place in Spiesheim, Hesse-Darmstadt, February 21. 1819. He followed farming in the old country, until his emigration to Amer- ica, in 1857. He settled in Clay town- ship, Ottawa Co., Ohio, where he carried on farming for a number of years; he now resides in Genoa, that county, where he is a mail carrier. He was married in 1843, in Germany, to Susanna Bihn, daughter of Peter Bihn, and to them have been born six children: Mary E., born January 22, 1844, now the widow of Jacob Long, a farmer, and residing in Michigan; Katie, born August 6, 1848, now the wife of our subject; Jacob, born January 28, 1854, married, and living in New York City; Phillipina M., born December 31, 1856, now the wife of John Ernst, a jeweler, residing in Genoa; John, born August 4, 1858, a butcher by trade, and living in Huntington, Ind. ; Matilda, born October 24, 1862, died at the age of eleven years, in Ohio.

Mr. Young is highly esteemed by his fellow citizens, and held the office of school director in Lake township, Wood county, for two years, and in Allen town- ship, where he now resides, for the same length of time. He is a strong Republican, and has the best interests of his com- munity at heart. He and his family are regular attendants at the Lutheran Church.

W ILLIAM ERNSTHAUSEN is the owner of one of the fine farms of Ottawa county-a tract of land of 100 acres on which stands a comfortable and commodious brick residence, and substantial barns and outbuildings for the care and shelter of the stock and grain. Well-kept fences divide the land into fields of convenient size, and the place is under a high state

of cultivation and improved with all mod- ern accessories. The owner of this desir- able farm is recognized as one of the most successful agriculturists of the community, and is well deserving of mention in this volume.

He was born in Genoa, Ohio, Decem- ber 31, 1862, and is a son of Casper and Dorotha (Gerwin) Ernsthausen. The father was born in Germany, June 15, 1826, and was a son of Henry Ernsthau- sen, who was born in the same land in 1790, and was by trade a carpenter. The great-grandfather, Fred Hunter, was born in 1779, and his wife, Sophia, was born in 1786. He served in the German army from 1803 until 1812, and was instrumen- tal in saving the life of Prince Bismarck, the father of Germany's late chancellor, and in recognition of this service was pre- sented with a tea-set by the Prince. The ancestry of the Gerwin family can be traced back in the following manner: The grandfather of our subject, Lewis Gerwin, was born in Germany, August 15, 1798, and was a wagon maker by trade. In 1826 he married Sophia Hunter (who was born in Hanover, Germany, March II, 1803), and to them were born seven children, of whom five are living, all resi- dents of America. His father, Henry Gerwin, was born in Germany, in 1762, and wedded Clara Brightholdt, who was born in 1767. The mother of our subject was born in Germany, November 12, 1827, and there resided until she was nineteen years of age, when in 1847 she crossed the Atlantic to the New World, and after two years spent in New York became a resident of Toledo, Ohio, where her marriage wtth Casper Ernsthausen was celebrated.

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Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 91

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