Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 93

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 93
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 93

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N ATHAN PIERSON. The splendid farm of this gentleman in Carroll township, Ottawa county, is a standing monument to his indus- try, perseverance and good management, and he is numbered among the prominent representative agriculturists of the com- munity. He was born on the homestead farm where he still resides, November 18, 1845, and is a son of Alfred and Mary C. (Lindsley) Pierson. His elementary edu- cation was obtained in the common schools of the district, after which he at- tended a commercial college in the city of Sandusky, Ohio. After completing his education, Mr. Pierson followed the vo- cation of teaching for ten years, being em- ployed in the schools of Harris, Carroll and Clay townships, Ottawa county; but since the expiration of that time, he has devoted his whole attention to agricultural pursuits.

On October 15, 1871, Mr. Pierson married Miss Lucinda Moore, a daughter of Cyrus and Esther Moore, who were early residents of Erie township, Ottawa county. where the widowed mother is still living, the father having gone to the final home. Around the domestic hearth of our subject and his wife are gathered their little family of three children-Stella M., born September 4, 1872; Ethel M., born May 19, 1875; and Alfred F., born November 26, 1879. For two terms Mr. Pierson held the position of trustee, and is now serving as township treasurer. He has been clerk of Harris township, and

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also of Elmore corporation. He has been quite prominent in local affairs, and in politics is an earnest advocate of Demo- cratic principles, of which party he is a stalwart supporter. Surrounded by his interesting and intelligent family, Mr. Pier- son is a thoughtful and devoted husband, and a kind, indulgent father. Among men he is genial and companionable; manly and fearlessly independent in thought and character, and consistent and temperate in all respects. His social standing is high and his integrity incor- ruptible. As a friend he is true and loyal; a man of taste and culture, with broad and liberal views; and a man, all in all, of large body, soul and mind.

The father of our subject, Alfred Pier- son (deceased), was one of the prominent farmers of Carroll township, as well as one of its pioneers. His birth occurred in New Jersey in March, 1815, and he was a son of John and Elizabeth (Miller) Pierson, who were of English and Ger- man ancestry. He was reared and edu- cated in his native State, where he also learned the trade of blacksmith and buggy- spring maker, and there followed those pursuits until 1838, when he came to Car- roll township, at that time still a part of Sandusky county, Ohio. For a number of years he worked at his trade in con- nection with farming, but in later years abandoned the former, and devoted his time entirely to agricultural pursuits.

On October 16, 1837, in New Jersey, Alfred Pierson was united in marriage with Mary C. Lindsley, who was born in Chatham township, Morris Co., N. J., February 17, 1819, a daughter of Luther and Nancy (Lacey) Lindsley, natives of that State, coming to Ottawa county in 1838, where the father engaged in farm- ing. His death occurred March 31, 1858; the mother departed this life March 25, 1850. They had a family of nine chil- dren, of whom Mrs. Pierson is the only one now living. To Mr. and Mrs. Pier- son were born six children, namely:

Elizabeth, born July 22, 1838, died March 29, 1856; Lewis, born October 9, 1842, is living on the old homestead; Nathan is next in order of birth; Phœbe, born December 22, 1848, died December II, 1862; Alfred, born November 25, 1855, died June 1, 1856; and Hetta, born March 3, 1857, is the wife of R. B. Sono- crant. The eldest son, Lewis, received his education in the district schools, and since early life has been principally en- gaged in farming, On December 10, 1864, he married Lucina Davenport, a daughter of Edson and Jane Davenport, and to them was born one child, who died in infancy; the mother departed this life October 29, 1869. In his political views, Lewis Pierson is a Democrat, and has served as assessor of his township two terms. He always takes an active part in all measures tending to advance the welfare of the county, where he is highly respected, and is a practical and progressive farmer.

The father was also a strong Demo- crot, and held several important positions of honor and trust, being county com- missioner several terms, infirmary di- rector five years, treasurer of the town- ship sixteen years, and also filled other township offices. Locating in Carroll township in an early date in the history of the country, he and his faithful wife ex- perienced all the hardships and trials in- cident to pioneer life. Here in the dense forest, by which they were surrounded for miles on every side, Mr. Pierson carved out a home for himself and family, subse- quently clearing up and improving an ex- cellent farm. In this home the family also experienced some of the hardships of pioneer life, mitigated, however, by va- rious pleasures common to backwoods life in those early days. In the vast forest around them was game of all kinds, and though their white neighbors were few and far between, a warmhearted neigh- borly feeling existed among them, and their social intercourse at the frequent

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house and barn raisings and quilting bees, was of the most friendly character. In after years Mr. Pierson devoted close at- tention to his agricultural interests, and was considered one of the most industrious citizens, as well as one of the most syste- matic and intelligent farmers of the dis- trict. He was deservedly popular among all classes in the community, and his de- mise left a blank not easily filled.

L AURENCE D. RYAN, one of the most prominent and successful farmers of Carroll township, Ot- tawa county, and a gentleman honored and respected by all who know him, was born February 18, 1851, in the township where is still his home, and is a son of Edward P. and Monique (Du- Ruchie) Ryan. His father was for many years engaged in the grocery business and in trading in furs, but the greater part of his life was devoted to agricultural pur- suits. He served as auditor of said coun- ty in 1860 and 1862. He was born in Detroit, Mich., October 31, 1816, of Irish descent. His father was a brick- layer and mason by trade, and put up the first brick building ever erected in the city of Detroit. Edward Ryan married Miss Du-Ruchie, a lady of French line- age, born in Monroe county, Mich., De- cember 22, 1826. They came to Ohio in 1846, locating in Carroll township, where Mr. Ryan purchased land and transformed it into a fine farm. They went through all the experiences and hardships incident to pioneer life, and were honored and re- spected residents of the township. The father died June 20, 1867, the mother July 10, 1875, and their memory will long be cherished by those who knew them in life. They had a family of twelve children, as follows: Luke P., the eldest, was born at Sandy Creek. Monroe Co., Mich., June 1, 1842, and is now residing in Toledo. William, born at Monroe City, August 5, 1844, enlisted

in 1861, in Company I, Forty-first O. V. I., and served through the war of the Rebel- lion; on October 31, 1867, he accident- ally shot himself while duck hunting. Elizabeth was born at Locust Point, Ot- tawa county, February 26, 1847, and died in infancy. Laurence D. (1), born at Locust Point, March 7, 1849, died in infancy. Laurence D. (2) is the next younger. Clarissa was born in Carroll township, May 31, 1853. Edward was born April 13, 1855. Napoleon B., born July 29, 1857, resides in Allen township, Ottawa county. Clement V. is also liv- ing in Allen township. Josephine was born in Carroll township, Ottawa county, July 4, 1859, and died August 6, 1881. Eugenie, born March 20, 1861, died September 8, 1872. Dean Richmond, born June 3, 1867, died February 2, 1868.

Laurence D. Ryan was reared to manhood on the old homestead farm, and received the advantages of a fair ed- ucation in the district schools of Carroll township. Within its borders he has spent his entire life, and from early youth has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is an enterprising, progressive citizen, always taking a leading part in interests that are calculated to improve the coun- ty and community in which he resides. He is an industrious and practical farmer whose busy and well spent life commands the respect of all, and his character is be- yond reproach. In Carroll township, Ottawa county, July 15, 1873, he was married to Miss Lucina A. Gyde, who was born in Carroll township, August 14, 1850, a daughter of William and Harriet B. (Meeker) Gyde. The marriage has been blessed with four children: Hattie, born March 20, 1876; Ernest, born July 3, 1878; Elva L., born April 30, 1883; and Nellie E., born August 15, 1889.

Mr. Ryan has frequently been solicited to accept official positions of trust in his township, but having no aspirations in that direction he has always declined to become a candidate, believing that in

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order to achieve success it was necessary for him to give his entire time and atten- tion to his farming interests. This he has done, and his well-directed efforts have brought to him a comfortable com- petence.

H ENRY ANDERSON. Each com- munity has its representative citi- zens, men who are devoted to its best interests and to the advance- ment of all that pertains to its welfare. Among this class is numbered Mr. Ander- son, and the record of his life is as follows.

He was born in Auburn, N. Y., Sep- tember 18, 1835, and is the son of William and Sarah (Sanders) Anderson, the former born in Pennsylvania, in August, 1800, the latter born September 16, 1806. They were married in 1823, and had a family of nine children, of whom eight are now living. The family is of Scotch origin, and the great-grandfather of our subject, John Anderson, was born in Edin- burgh, Scotland, in 1771. He was a farmer by occupation, for many years served as justice of the peace, and died in 1846. His wife was a Miss La Bruer. The maternal grandfather, Henry Sand- ers, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1766, and his wife was born in 1763. He owned and operated a distillery, and died in 1841.

During his infancy, Henry Anderson was brought by his parents to Sandusky county, Ohio, where he made his home until seventeen years of age. He then went to Fremont, and he was a resident of that place until 1866. His education was acquired in Woodville, Ohio, where his childhood and youth were quietly passed. When President Lincoln issued his first call for 75,000 volunteers to crush out the Rebellion in its infancy, Mr. An- derson was among the first to enlist, and after serving for three months he entered the mechanical department of the army, where he continued some eighteen months. He then joined the navy, and for fourteen

months served as steward on one of the boats engaged in the Union service. When the war was over and the country no longer needed his aid, he returned to Ohio, and settled in Fremont. For a year thereafter he was engaged in clerking, and in 1868 he went to Elmore, where he began business as a dealer in harness and saddlery, carrying on operations along that line for about six years. In 1874 he began the development of a farm which had been inherited by his wife from her father's estate. This farm he cleared of timber, fenced and drained it, and soon, where once were wild forest trees, ap- peared waving fields of grain, a substan- tial residence, barns and outbuildings, a good orchard, containing a variety of fruits, the latest improved machinery, and all other accessories of a model farm of this latter part of the nineteenth century.

In 1874 Mr. Anderson was united in marriage with Miss Mary C. Nellis, of Elmore, and their union has been blessed with a son, George A., who was born May 10, 1875. Her father, David Nellis, was born August 6, 1806, and her mother, Caroline Nellis, was born October 22, 1809. They had a family of six children, of whom three yet survive. Mrs. Ander- son is second cousin to Commodore Perry of naval fame, and is also a distant rela- tive of Gen. Anderson. Her grandfather, John Nellis, was a native of Germany, born in 1786, and his wife was born in the same country in 1787. Her maternal grandfather, Mr. Stedman, was born in New York, in 1783, and his wife was a native of the Empire State, her birth oc- curring in the same year. Her great- grandfather on her father's side was born about 1764.

Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are pleasantly located in Elmore, in a fine home on Main street, and he is now doing a thriv- ing business in the harness and saddlery trade. He is energetic and enterprising, and his success has come to him through labor, constant and concentrated. His

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son George is a young man of high ambi- tions, of superior intellect and business ability. He completed a course of study in the Elmore High School in 1893, and then took a thorough business course in a commercial college of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He has since been engaged in business with his father, aiding in the labors of the farm and of the store, and both Mr. An- derson and his son have the confidence of the public, and the esteem of the social world.

H ENRY O. MYLANDER, a car- riage maker and blacksmith of Oak Harbor, and a popular and progressive citizen, was born upon the old homestead farm in Salem town- ship, Ottawa county, February 27, 1864, and is the eldest son of Casper and Flora (Brinkmyer) Mylander. The public schools of the neighborhood afforded him his educational privileges, and he spent the days of his boyhood and youth upon his father's farm until eighteen years of age; but not wishing to make agriculture his life work he then began to learn the blacksmith's trade in Oak Harbor. A few years later he embarked in business for himself, and carried on operations for about eight years, when he found that his health was failing. This necessitated a change of employment, and selling out, he accepted a position on the steamer, "Frank E. Kirby," plying on the lakes. He continued in that employ for three summers, working at the blacksmith's trade during the winter. On the expira- tion of that period he returned to Oak Harbor, and in December, 1894, again began business for himself in that place.

Mr. Mylander was married in Port Clinton, Ohio, March 17, 1885, to Miss Annie Holder, daughter of Christian and Mary Holder, who was born in Witten- berg, Gerniany. They now have two in- teresting children: Eleanora F. R., born November 24, 1885; and Clara Lucilla

Mary, born July 27, 1889. They gladden the home with their presence, and the little household is noted for its hospitality which is cordially extended to the many friends of our subject and his wife. In his political views, Mr. Mylander is a Dem- ocrat, but has had neither time nor inclin- ation for public office, although he faith- fully performs every duty of citizenship as it comes to him. He is now doing a good business as the leading carriage maker and blacksmith in Oak Harbor, where by cour- teous treatment, fair dealing and an earnest desire to please his customers he has built up an excellent trade. He is enterprising and progressive, and well deserving of the success that may come to him.

ACOB HARMON, who is numbered among the native sons of Ohio, was born in Pickaway county, January 18, 1835, and is a son of Jacob and Susan (Peer) Harmon. The father was born in Knox county, Penn., in 1790, and died in 1853, his remains being interred in the cemetery of Elmore, Ohio. The mother was born in Virginia in 1800, and in their family were two children-Jacob, subject of this sketch, and Mrs. Dorotha Schafer, of Toledo, Ohio. The paternal grandmother of our subject was born in 1772, and little else is known concerning the ancestry of the family.

During the infancy of Jacob Harmon, his parents came to Ottawa county, Ohio, locating in Harris township, where they spent their remaining days. Upon the old homestead he was reared to manhood, and his early life was very similar to that of farmer boys of the neighborhood. At the age of twenty-three he was united in marriage with Miss Martha Randall, of Benton township, Ottawa county, who was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, March 9, 1837. Her father, Daniel Randall, was born in Allegany county, N. Y., in 1800, and her mother's birth occurred in 1812, while her maternal grandmother was born

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in 1791. Her paternal grandfather was born in 1790, his wife in 1793. They became the parents of eight children, six of whom are now living. Of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Randall, six vet survive. During the early girl- hood of Mrs. Harmon, the parents re- moved to Lorain county, where she at- tended the public schools of Pittsfield, concluding the prescribed course of study there. She then lived in Benton township until her marriage.

Mr. and Mrs. Harmon began their domestic life on a farm on the old river road, where they lived some three years, after which they removed to Minnesota, where our subject was engaged in the manufacture of potash for a year, return- ing then to his father's farm in Harris township, Ottawa county, where he re- mained until 1875, when he became owner of forty acres of timber land in Section 5, same township. This he at once began to clear, and as the trees were cut and the stumps removed he plowed and planted the land, till now he has it under a high state of cultivation. He also planted a fine orchard, and the place is to-day one of the best improved farms in his part of the county.

The home of our subject and wife has been brightened by the presence of seven children, their names and dates of birth being as follows: Daniel, March 18, 1859; George, July 11, 1862; John, July 6, 1864; Elizabeth, April 26, 1867; Eph- raim, October 22, 1871 ; Katie, November 5, 1869; Jacob, July 13, 1874; they lost two children-Daniel, who died October 23, 1861; and John, who died November 7, 1892. For many years Mr. Harmon has served as supervisor of Harris town- ship, and has also been school director of his district five years. He has experienced many of the hardships and trials of a pio- leer life, and for some years after locat- ing upon his present farm, he expected each spring that his home would be flood- ed as the river rose. He has ridden on

horseback from Portage river to Toussaint creek when the water was deep enough to wet his feet as the horse made its way through the woods. The cabin home stood in the midst of a dense forest, and it seemed to Mrs. Harmon that the trees could never be cleared away so that she might look across the country to her neighbors.

This has happened, however, and as the years have passed advancing civiliza- tion has done away with the trials of frontier life, and to-day Mr. and Mrs. Harmon are the owners of a fine and valuable farm. The success which has crowned their efforts is well-merited, and their lives are busy and useful. Their son, Jacob, now operates the home farm, and cares for those who cared for him during his childhood, relieving them of much labor and anxiety.

D ANIEL M. LOWE, a farmer and wholesale butcher of Allen town- ship, Ottawa county, was born in Franklin county, Penn., March 16, 1845, and is a son of Philip and Mary Nancy (Lowery) Lowe, of the same place. He received his early education in the dis- trict schools of his native county, and for sometime worked by the month on va- rious farms, afterward returning home and learning the blacksmith's trade with his father, which occupation he followed some three years. At the expiration of that time he became overseer of slaves on a plantation in Maryland, remaining there two years, or until the beginning of the Civil war in 1861.

On leaving Maryland, Mr. Lowe re- turned home and assisted his father upon the farm for about four months, when he went to Somerset county, Penn., and worked in a tannery for the same length of time. Although he did not enlist as a soldier, Mr. Lowe had some exciting ex- periences during the war. While in Som- erset county, the Rebels crossed the Po-

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tomac and the owner of the tannery with his employes were obliged to leave their occupation. They fled to Yorktown, with a string of twenty-two six-horse teams, with neighbors and people from different parts of the country. There they remained three weeks until the enemy was repulsed, when they returned to their work. The calm, however, was of short duration, as the Rebels again came upon them, and forced our subject and his em- ployer to take refuge in the mountains, with the same stock. There they hid for three days, and then once more returned to the tannery, only to be driven out the third time, the Rebels this time carrying off the best of the farm stock, including his father's. Discouraged in his attempts to go on with his work at this point, Mr. Lowe again returned to his father's home, but even here his ill-luck pursued him. One day while out on a creek near his home, he was seized by a party of the enemy and forced to drive the stock be- longing to his neighbors to their camp across the Potomac. Here he was kept as a prisoner four days, herding cattle. Watching his opportunity, he got away one dark night and reached his home in safety. He worked on the farm some six months when he was again surprised by the Rebels which invaded our country, this time taking with them the remainder of the farm stock.

Mr. Lowe remained on the old home- stead until his marriage, March 30, 1865, to Miss Susan A. Talhelm, daughter of William and Susan Talhelm, of Washing- ton township, Franklin Co., Penn. He then came to Ohio, locating in Sandusky county in 1866, and for two years worked by the month on a farm, at the end of

that time renting a farm for himself. In 1878 he removed to Clay (then Allen) township, and in addition to farming took up the business of a butcher, in both of which pursuits he has been successful, having a good trade in the surrounding county, and a fine, productive farm. Mr.

and Mrs. Lowe are the parents of ten children, of whom the following record is given: Susan A., born April 9, 1866, is the widow of Charles Brown, and the mother of two children, one of whom lives with his grandfather, our subject, the other at Lulu, Mich .; Emma C., born September 18, 1867, is the wife of Jacob Youncker, a farmer in Allen township, and they have three children; Clara E., born October 18, 1869, married William Jacobs, and resides in Coleman, Mich. (she is the mother of five children); Al- bert, born June 4, 1871; William C., June 15, 1873; John P., March 24, 1875; Franklin D., January 3, 1877, died May 12, 1882; Herman E., born October 18, 1878; Jessie B., born July 14, 1881; Myrtle M., born January 3, 1884, died May 6, of the same year.

Philip Lowe, grandfather of our sub- ject, was of Scotch nativity. His son (also named Philip), the father of our sub- ject, was born in Franklin county, Penn., where he carried on farming and also blacksmithing. He married Nancy Low- ery, who was of Pennsylvania birth, and ten children were born to them, viz .: William, Philip, John, Martin, Daniel, Josiah, Henry, Jacob, Barbara and Su- san. The wife of our subject was born in Pennsylvania. Her parents were na- tives of Pennsylvania, the father born October 5, 1845, and they are still living in Pennsylvania. Her grandparents were born in Germany. Mr. Lowe is an ar- dent Republican, and with his family at- tends the Church of the United Brethren.

W ILLIAM J. BAKER, one of the prominent agriculturists of Allen township, Ottawa county, was born in Devonshire, England, February 28, 1847, and is a son of James and Eliza (Bailey) Baker, the former a native of Devonshire, the latter of Corn- wall, England. He received a limited education in the schools of his native coun-

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ty, attending to his studies during the winter seasons and working upon his grandfather's farin in Cornwall, in the summer, until he was sixteen years old. He then learned the trade of a carriage maker, spending five years as an appren- tice and one year afterward as a journey- inan.

On February 20, 1869, Mr. Baker left the home of his birth for America, find- ing his way to Ohio, and locating in Woodville township, Sandusky county, where he followed carpentering and paint- ing some eight years. He then married and moved to Allen (then Clay) township, and began work on a farm of seventy-five acres owned by his wife, the larger por- tion of which was unimproved. He did much hard work on this place, letting not a moment go to waste, and succeeded in clearing the land, erecting a large, com- fortable dwelling house, barns, outhouses, and making other improvements which to-day testify to his industry and enter- prise. The marriage of our subject took place September 13, 1877, when he was united to Miss Mary E. Kent, daughter of Anson and Mercy (Wood) Kent, farmers of Allen township. To them has been born a family of five children, as follows: Della P., born June 24, 1878, was edu- cated in the schools of Allen township, and is housekeeper for her widowed father; Eliza M. was born July 29, 1880; Mary E. on April 1, 1884; Florence M. on Au- gust 2, 1886, and Dorothy H. on August 14, 1891. All the younger children are attending school in Allen township. Mrs. Baker, the wife of our subject, was born in Clay township, Ottawa county, Au- gust 21, 1856, and there obtained her education. Her father died April 28, 1864, and her mother was again married, this time in December, 1869, to John Tiplady, of Allen township. He died January 5, 1892. The mother is still liv- ing, and resides in Allen township with her daughters, Carrie, who was born Oc- tober 31, 1870, and Inez, born October

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Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 93

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