USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 97
USA > Ohio > Ottawa County > Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Sandusky and Ottawa, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 97
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Mrs. King, the wife of our subject, was born in Sandusky county August 24,
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1840, and to her and her husband seven children have come, namely: S. Ervin, born August 21, 1859, resides in Saun- ders county, Neb .; Sarah P., born Janu- ary 17, 1861, is the wife of Herman Bunte, and resides at Curtice, Allen township, Ottawa county; Rosie E. married William Gerkensmyer, and also lives at Curtice; Solomon P. resides in Allen township; Viola R. is the wife of Robert Oberst, and lives in Jackson township, Sandusky county; Mary M. and Cynthia Edna live at home with their parents. Mr. King has always been a firm adherent of the Democratic party, and is looked upon as one of the intelli- gent, reliable men of the county. His family are faithful attendants at the Methodist Protestant Church in Curtice.
L AWRENCE WEATHERWAX is one of the oldest residents and leading farmers of Ottawa county. He was born in New York, Octo- ber 3, 1813, and comes of an old Ameri- can family. His grandfather, John L. Weatherwax, was born April 18, 1764, and married Anna Williams, who was born September 14, 1763, and they be- came the parents of Andrew Weatherwax, born September 28, 1788. His business was that of a glass blower. Having arrived at years of maturity he married Lydia Fulton, who was born in 1780, and among their children was the subject of this review.
Lawrence Weatherwax spent the first eight years of his life in the State of his nativity, and then accompanied his par- ents on their removal to Ohio, remaining with them until his marriage, April 2, 1837, with Nancy M. Weatherwax. She was born March 1, 1821, in New York, where she acquired her education, com- ing to Ohio with her parents in 1836. Her father, Adam Weatherwax, was born February 1, 1793, in Albany, N. Y., and her mother, who bore the maiden name
of Elizabeth Fulton, was born in 1796. They were married in 1816, and had a family of three children, of whom two are living. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Weatherwax were John L. and Anna (Williams) Weatherwax, the former born in Holland, April 18, 1764, the lat- ter on September 14, 1763. Their family numbered twelve children, their names and dates of birth being as follows: Cath- erine, July 28, 1785; Elizabeth, October 28, 1787; Andrew, September 28, 1788; Jacob, May 26, 1790; Adam, February 7, 1793; Sebastian, December 30, 1795; George, May 7, 1797; Leonard, February 22, 1799; Anna, March 1, 1801; Maria, in 1803; Anna, February 16, 1805; Mag- dalene, December 28, 1807; and Abra- ham, February 27, 1810. Mr. Fuller, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Weather- wax, was born in 1756, and his wife, Olive, was born in 1759.
Soon after their marriage Lawrence Weatherwax and his wife located on the farm where they now live, in Harris township, Ottawa county, and their home has been blessed with six children, viz .: Elizabeth, born June 13, 1838, is now Mrs. Paden, of Nebraska, and has four children: Lydia, born April 2, 1840, is the wife of S. P. Klotz, of Lenawee county, Mich., and has one child; Nancy, born August 28, 1842, is the wife of Ira Mannahan, and has five children; John, born May 20, 1844, died October 30, same year; Maria Jane, born July 18, 1855, is now the wife of L. F. Leedore; Martha, born July 23, 1859, is the wife of Mr. Wotring, who operates the old home farm.
During the greater part of his life, Mr. Weatherwax followed agricultural pursuits, but is now enjoying a well- earned rest-the deserved reward of a useful life. His career has always been an honorable and upright one, and to-day he is one of the most highly esteemed as well as one of the oldest residents of his adopted county.
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P ETER R. KLEINHANS, son of William and Alzada Kleinhans, and the only one surviving of their children, is a substantial farmer of Erie township, Ottawa county, residing on the homestead farm there. He was born in Erie township, November 1, 1846, and has been a resident of same all his life.
William Kleinhans, now deceased was one of the pioneer settlers of Erie town- ship, and one of the successful and pro- gressive farmers located there. He was born in Williams township, Northhamp- ton Co., Penn., October 16, 1810, son of George Henry and Elizabeth (Richardson) Kleinhans, who were of German and Irish ancestry, and was reared a farmer's boy. He lived in his native township until he was twenty-one years of age, in 1832 re- moving to Ohio and locating in Erie town- ship, Ottawa county, where he cleared up the land and made himself a home, in which he resided the remainder of his life.
In 1839, at Port Clinton, Portage town- ship, Ottawa county, William Kleinhans was united in marriage with Alzada . Deer, and they had five children, of whom only one, Peter R., survives. William Klein- hans was one of the progressive residents of the township, and took an active part in all movements tending toward the ad- vancement of the interests of the com- munity. He died June 3, 1893, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Mrs. Kleinhans, who was the daughter of Ti- mon and Melinda (Russell) Deer, was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., became one of the pioneers of Erie township, having settled here about 1834, and was an es- teemed and honored resident of same for over sixty years. She passed away at the home of Timothy Perry, in Port Clinton, Angust 24, 1894, at the advanced age of seventy-six years and seven months, her husband and four of her five children hav- ing preceded her to the other world. Her life was a continuous career of mercy and benevolence, and she will long be remem- bered by her friends and neighbors, to
whom she was always ready to adminis- ter aid in sickness or in want.
Peter R. Kleinhans was reared to man- hood on the homestead farm, educated in the district schools of the township, and since early life has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. Since the death of his father he has been managing the home farm. In Sandusky township, Sandusky county, Mr. Kleinhans was united in mar- riage, May 11, 1873, with Rachel T. Tucker, daughter of Nelson R. and Miranda (Bergoon) Tucker, and born in Sandusky township November 20, 1853. They have had four children: William Nel- son, born March 20, 1875; Sarah Eliza- beth, born June 30, 1876; Rodney O. Dell, born July 23, 1878, and Bessie Miranda, born February 2, 1885. Mr. Kleinhans has efficiently filled several township offices, is a member of the Grange, and politically has affiliated with the Democratic party. The family at- tend the United Brethren Church.
F RANKLIN H. MARTIN, who is numbered among the native sons of Ottawa county, and now living in Clay township, was born in El- more, Harristownship, November 8, 1856. His parents, John C. and Eva (Brandt) Martin, were both natives of Fairfield county, Ohio, the father born June 22, 1818, and son of William Martin, who followed the occupation of a day laborer. John acquired but a limited education, for the schools of those days were not then free, and followed the occupation of farm- ing, working by the month until the spring of 1850, when he removed to Ottawa county, purchasing 111 acres of land in Harris township, which was covered with timber. For four years he lived on that farm, clearing thirty acres, which he placed under a high state of cultivation and paying off the taxes and mortgages which the original owners failed to do. He was making preparations for securing
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a full title when the first owners, in an underhand way, bought the place which left Mr. Martin without a farm and with- out any profit for his four-years' hard labor. He also lost seven horses and four head of cattle which died in a mysterious way. Going to Elmore he then embarked in the livery business, which he followed until 1859, when he rented a farm near that place, continuing its cultivation for seven years. His next removal took him further down the Portage river, where he bought eighty acres of land, entirely cov- ered with timber. During his seven-years' residence thereon he cleared and culti- vated a considerable portion, built a log cabin and outbuildings, and otherwise improved the place. On selling he came to Clay township, where he purchased eighty-three acres of land, two miles east of the town of Martin, near the boundary line of Benton township. Having built a log cabin into which the family moved, he began the arduous task of improving the land, and in course of time accomplished the work by the aid of his sons. The log cabin was replaced by a substantial frame residence, good barns were built for the shelter of his stock and grain, a fine orchard was planted, and other improve- ments added until the farmn became one of the valuable properties of the county. The trials and difficulties which Mr. Mar- tin had to bear in those days were of a self-sacrificing nature. He frequently had to take his grain to the mill on horseback in order to supply his family with bread- two days being consumed on the trip- during one of which trips he contracted cholera, and had to lie in the woods all night, for if he sought shelter in a home he would probably have given the disease to some member of the family. He re- turned to his own home, and one of his own children was stricken with the con- tagion and died, and his wife almost lost her life.
On November 24, 1842, in Fairfield county, Ohio, Mr. Martin married Miss
Eva Brandt, who was born in that coun- ty, November 5, 1823, and they became parents of nine children, four of whom are living, as follows: (1) Adam W., who was born October 14, 1843, in Fairfield county, and acquired his education in El- more, Ohio, is now a butcher and farmer; in April, 1871, he wedded Ammesta Hul- burt, of Canada, and is living near the old homestead, operating half of the original farm. (2) John Wesley, born December 26, 1846, in Fairfield county, was edu- cated in Elmore, and is now farming in his native county. (3) Rachel was born May 14, 1854, in Harris township, Otta- wa county, was there educated, and is now the wife of James Brownlo. They became the parents of ten children-four sons and six daughters-their names and dates of birth being as follows: Eva, Oc- tober 27, 1874; Lillie, December 30, 1875; Lizzie, February 1, 1877; Emma E., January 1, 1879; Sarah, January 4, 1882; Annie, May 19, 1884; James, June 23, 1886; John, in June, 1888; William, August 31, 1891; and an infant, who was born April 2, 1893, and died unnamed. The parents of this family reside in To- ledo. (4) Franklin H. is the next child of John C. Martin. Those of the family who have passed away are James E., born August 2, 1844, and died October 2, 1845; Jacob, born October 2, 1848, and died April 30, 1850; Sylvester, born Oc- tober 4, 1850, and died October 1, 1852; and twins, born April 1, 1852, died un- named.
John C. Martin passed away on the old home farm, April 18, 1892, leaving many friends and a loving family to mourn his loss. He was well-known throughout the county as an honest, industrious man, attending strictly to his own business, was esteemed as a good neighbor, and was a friend to the poor and needy. His circle of friends was limited only by his circle of acquaintances. He was always a stanch supporter of Republican principles, but never sought political office, preferring to
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devote his time and attention to the inter- ests of the farm and the enjoyments of his home. His widow now resides with her son Franklin at a ripe old age. She belongs to the class of worthy pioneer women who with their husbands shared in the labor of developing the county, and to whom great credit is due for the efforts they put forth. She has now reached the ripe old age of seventy-two years, and for more than half a century she traveled life's journey by the side of her late hus- band, sharing with him in all the joys and sorrows that fell to his lot.
Franklin H. Martin, whose name opens this record, has spent his entire life on the old homestead, and upon his father's death assumed the management and care of the farm. On June 6, 1880, he was joined in wedlock with Mary E. Deal, daughter of Samuel and Jane Deal, of Iowa, and children as follows graced their union, their names and dates of birth being: Jane H., May 29, 1881; Pearl L., March 11, 1884; John D., March 23, 1887; Katie E., August 31, 1889; Alice M., April 18, 1892, and died July 3, same year; and Ruth L., born April 21, 1894. Mrs. Martin was born in Emmet coun- ty, Iowa, June 4, 1854. Her father died when she was quite young , and her mother when she was only eight years of age. She has two brothers and one sister, as follows: John S., who was born April 19, 1852, and is a fruit grower of Oregon; Matilda, who was born July 30, 1860, and became the wife of Frederick Sim- mons, died in Iowa, June 30, 1889; and George Deal, born December 27, 1862, is farming in Nebraska.
Mr. Martin is numbered among the progressive and enterprising agriculturists of Ottawa county, and is now extensively engaged in market gardening, in which he is meeting with good success. In his political views he is a Republican, but has never sought or desired public office, although he faithfully performs all duties of citizenship.
M ICHAEL PUTMAN, JR., son of Michael and Elizabeth (Bates) Putman, was born in Hancock county, Ohio, January 16, 1851. When he was a year old his parents moved to the farm where they now live, in Sec- tion 29, Scott township, Sandusky county. It was heavily timbered, no roads had been made, and in fact the country was He remained practically a wilderness. at home until he was twenty-three years old, receiving his education in the college at Tiffin, Ohio, where he made a special study of surveying. Shortly after his re- turn from college he was married to Miss Melissa Inman, of Scott township, and moved to the home of his father, working his farm for one year. He then bought eighty acres in Section 21, Scott township, where he now lives.
At the age of twenty-five years Mr. Putman was elected county surveyor of Sandusky county. He then moved his family to Fremont, the county seat, where he remained eight years, at the expiration of which time they returned to the farm where he now resides. Mr. Putman has been township clerk for two years, and justice of the peace for one year. When he came to his farm it was in a wild state, but he has cleared it, erected substantial buildings and made a comfortable and pleasant home there. The present sys- tem of ditching in Sandusky county was originated with Mr. Putman when he was county surveyor, the law providing that the county surveyor shall have charge of the ditching. In 1880 $62,000 was ex- pended in Sandusky county, under Sur- veyor's Putman's direction, in putting in suitable ditches, and so carefully had he estimated the cost of the work that when completed it was entirely free from debt, and a credit to his business ability.
In 1892 the oil industry was begun on Mr. Putman's farm. The first lease gave him $180 every six months, until wells were running, and he then received one- eighth of the oil. This well was located
W. Pratica
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on Section 21, and is producing eight barrels pet day. Other wells are being sunk on the farm, for each of which Mr. Putman receives $100 royalty and one- sixth of the oil, which is pumped through pipes to Cleveland, over one hundred miles. Mr. Putman now has a fine farm of 160 acres, and, in addition, works his father's farm of eighty acres.
To him and his wife have come three children: Alfred, born February 11, 1876; Lewis, born August 10, 1881, and Hazel Maudolin, born October 26, 1882. Alfred received his early education in the dis- trict schools, later attending the academy at Fostoria, and began teaching at the age of sixteen years, an occupation which he has followed several terms; his attention is to law or medicine.
The father of our subject, Michael Putman, Sr., was born December 22, 1815, in Pennsylvania, and when four years old, came to Wayne county, Ohio, where he lived until he was twenty. Thence he removed to Hancock county, where he remained one year, at which time he was married to Miss Elizabeth Bates, on March 23, 1837. For many years they have been residents of Scott township, and were among the pioneers of that part of the county, coming hither when all was a wilderness, and clearing a comfortable home. Mrs. Putman was born October 22, 1816, in Stark county, Ohio, and when a girl came to Hancock county, where she remained until her marriage. To them have been born children whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Alpheus, November 10, 1837; Mary Ann, April 29, 1839; Sarah Ann, March 9, 1841 ; Eliza Jane, August 16, 1842; Jacob, May 22, 1844; Andrew, October 20, 1848; Hannah, September 8, 1850; Michael (our subject), January 16, 1851; Sophronia, March 6, 1854; Fanny, August 15, 1857; and Amanda, July 6, 1859.
The paternal grandfather, Jacob Put- man, was born in 1783 in Pennsylvania, and was one of the early settlers of San-
dusky county. His wife was born in 1789, in Pennsylvania. To them were born ten children, three of whom are liv- ing-one in Ohio and two in Indiana. The maternal great-grandfather, Jacob Gross, was born about 1750. The ma- ternal grandfather, Andrew Bates, was born in Pennsylvania in 1787, and was a farmer. He served in the war of 1812. His wife, Anor Homon, was born in 1790. To them were born ten children, of whom are living: Mrs. D. Phillips (of Scott township), Adam and William Bates, Susan Strouse, Anor Smith, Louisa Mil- ler, and Mrs. Elizabeth Putman. Great- grandfather Bates was a soldier in the Revolution. Alpheus was a captain in the Civil war, and was wounded in the battle of Shiloh; Jacob served in the Re- bellion, and was shot at Vicksburg, and Andrew was also in the Civil war.
Mrs. Melissa Putman, wife of Michael Putman, Jr., is a daughter of William and Calista (Barringer) Inman, and was born on a farm in Scott township, San- dusky Co., Ohio, April 27, 1850. Her education was obtained at Tinney, Scott township, where she lived most of the time until her marriage. Her father was born February 14, 1816, in New Jersey, and when a boy removed with his parents to Sandusky county, the family settling on a large farm of 400 acres near Fre- mont. Here he went to school, and at the age of twenty-two years was gradua- ted from the public schools of that place. He was then married to Miss Calista Bar- ringer, of Fremont, and they shortly af- terward, about 1844, purchased a forty- acre farm in Scott township, to which he added until at one time they owned 200 acres. He made two trips to California in the interest of gold mining, in which he was successful, making quite an amount of money. He died in 1892, and was buried in the Metzger Cemetery. Mr. In- man's father, Brazil C. Inman, was born about 1785: his mother was born Octo- ber 15, 1816, about nine miles from Col-
42
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umbus, Ohio, where she lived until she was fifteen years old, and where she at- tended school. She then came to San- dusky county, remaining there the greater part of her life. Her father, William Barringer, was born about 1791, and was a farmer by occupation; he was killed by a falling tree. His wife, Sarah Cammell, was born about 1793. To them were born four children-two sons and two daughters. Mrs. Putman's paternal grand- father was born about 1759; her maternal grandmother, Jane Cammell, was born about 1760.
H ENRY BREDBECK, who occu- pies a prominent position among the prosperous fruit growers and agriculturists of Danbury town- ship, Ottawa county, was born in New York City, September 7, 1842, of Ger- man parentage.
He is a son of Gerd and Martha Bred- beck, both natives of Hanover, Germany. The paternal grandparents, John H. and Martha Bredbeck, were also born in the Province of Hanover, and continued to reside in the Fatherland until they crossed the dark river of death. At the age of nine- teen the father of our subject went to London, England, where for a number of years he worked in a sugar refinery, but emigrated to this country at an early date, and for some time was engaged in the grocery business in New York City. In 1847 he came to the Buckeye State, lo- cating in Danbury township, Ottawa county, where he resided until his death in March, 1883. He was a wide-awake and enterprising citizen, highly esteemed by all his friends and acquaintances for his many sterling qualities. His wife still makes her home in Danbury township.
In 1847 Henry Bredbeck came with his parents to Ohio, where his father en- gaged in agricultural pursuits up to within a short time of his death. After leaving the district schools of Danbury township,
where his education was begun, our sub- ject entered Oberlin College, at Oberlin, Ohio, and continued his studies for two terms. Being familiar with farm duties from his early boyhood, he decided to make that his life work, in which he has been very successful, and has also been extensively engaged in fruit growing, one of the important industries of Ottawa county. He was married in Danbury township, February 26, 1867, Mrs. So- phia Wedekind, a daughter of Frederick and Martha Schraeder. They became the parents of seven children, but only four of them are still living, their names and dates of birth being: Herbert, June 10, 1871; Minnie, December 19, 1875; Fred- erick, February 26, 1877; and Estella, March 20, 1879.
Mr. Bredbeck has been called upon to fill in several positions of honor and trust, having served as township trustee and school director two terms each. He has been the efficient president of the Ot- tawa County Agricultural Society, and for fifteen years has been a member of the board of Erie County Agricultural Asso- ciation. He is a stockholder and director of the German American Bank of Port Clinton, Ohio, and for many years has been a director of the Erie County Farm- ers Mutual Insurance Company, and a member of the Grange. His residence is one of the finest in the township, and all its surroundings bespeaks care and cul- ture, while he owns and operates most successfully one of the best fruit orchards in the vicinity.
In the career of Mr. Bredbeck, we find one of the best examples of what may be accomplished by industry and perse- verance, and although he disdains the pos- session of any qualities that entitle him to the mention which his many friends be- lieve him to be worthy of, yet it is in no spirit of adulation that we say of him that his life is illustrative of the success that attends honest, well-directed endeavor and conscientious adherence to duty. Al-
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though unassuming in manner, he is a very popular man, and his friends are numbered by the score. He devotes to agriculture and fruit growing the care and attention that warrants success, and to- day he ranks with the leading business men of Ottawa county .. His life might well serve as an example worthy of imi- tation by the future generations, as the valuable property which he now posses- ses is the direct result of his own indus- try and good management.
SAAC M. FLORO is numbered among the native sons of Ottawa county, his birth having occurred in Erie town- ship, April 28, 1848, a son of John and Lydia Floro, well known and es- teemed people of the community. In the usual manner of farmer lads he was reared, obtaining his education in the district schools of the neighborhood, and aiding in the labors of the farm as soon as he had reached a sufficient age. The occupa- tion to which he was reared he has made his life work, and to-day he is ranked among the progressive and prominent farmers of the township. He is thorough and painstaking in all his work, and his home place, with its neat appearance and good improvements, indicates the saga- cious supervision of a careful owner.
On June 6, 1873, at Locust Point, Ohio, was celebrated the marriage of Isaac M. Floro and Miss Mary Finkin, who was born in Erie township, March 16, 1854, and is a daughter of Martin and Elizabeth (Sinclair) Finkin. Her father has now departed this life, but her mother is still living in Carroll township, Ottawa county. Mr. and Mrs. Floro are the parents of children, as follows: Martin, born April 12, 1874; Henry, born June 8, 1876; Nana, born .September 25, 1878, now the wife of William Dewitt, a resident of Carroll township, Ottawa county; Hattie, born June 12, 1881; George W., born Decem-
ber 27, 1886; and Calvin L., born July 8, 1892, died August 21, 1893.
Mr. Floro is a justice of the peace in Ottawa county, and has efficiently filled various township offices, discharging his duties with credit to himself and satisfac- tion to his constituents. His political support is given to the Democracy, and he is an enterprising citizen, deeply inter- ested in all that pertains to the welfare of the community. He was deputy master of the Ohio State Grange for Ottawa county for twelve years, having been ap- pointed by Col. J. H. Brigham, then master of the Ohio State Grange.
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