USA > Ohio > Wood County > Commemorative historical and biographical record of Wood County, Ohio : its past and present : early settlement and development biographies and portraits of early settlers and representative citizens, etc. V. 1 > Part 100
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MURRAY P. BREWER, one of the proprietors of the Wood County Sentinel, and editor ot the same, is a native of Ohio, born November 23. 1 849, and received his schooling at Westerville.
In 1868 he went to Toledo and engaged in the printing business as a practical printer, and in 1870 came to Bowling Green, here taking a po- sition on the Wood County Sentinel-the official organ of the Republican party. In 1873 he be- came sole proprietor of the Sentinel by purchase from C. W. Evers, later selling to Rudulph Bros .. and was then for one year one of the proprietors of the Wauseon Republican. In 1884 he again became one of the proprietors of the Sentinel. and has been its editor ever since. He is one of the ablest writers in Ohio, and always alert to the interests of his town and county. He has
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been mayor of Bowling Green two terms ( 1882 and 1884), and served ably and well on the school board many years, also in the city council 1877- 1879-1881-1885-1886-1894-1895 and 1896.
On January 8, 1873, Mr. Brewer was married to Miss Luella G., daughter of Norton and Ella R. (Wells) Reed, natives of Ohio and New York State respectively, the father being of Scotch origin. To our subject and wife have been born children as follows: Charles R., John W., Harry and Dixie.
E. L. SPAFFORD, the well-known young civil engineer of Bowling Green, is a descendant of one of the earliest pioneers of this region, his great- great-grandfather, Major Amos Spafford, who was born in Sharon, Conn., April 11, 1753, hav- ing been for some time deputy revenue collector at Perrysburg. The Major's eldest son, Samuel Spafford, our subject's great-grandfather, was commissioner of Wood county, from 1822 to 1828; he died at Perrysburg in 1831, at the age of fifty-six. Amos Spafford, the grandfather of our subject, went to California during the "gold fever" of 1848-49, and was never heard from afterward. His son, Ara C. Spafford, our sub- ject's father, was born in 1835, and in 1861 en- listed in Company C, 2Ist O. V. I., and served in the army of the Cumberland until he was stricken with yellow fever, from which he died October, 1864, at Camp Sorghum, South Caro- lina.
On the maternal side, also, Mr. Spafford is descended from a family which has held a prom- inent place in the history of northwestern Ohio, his mother, formerly Miss'Amanda M. Baird, be- ing the daughter of G. W. Baird, a man of rec- ognized influence in business and political circles, and a representative in the Legislature from this District, in 1841-42. E. L. Spafford is the sec- ond in a family of three children. The eldest, Clifton A., lives in Providence, R. I. ; the young- est died in infancy. His mother, who was born September 18, 1838, is still living, and has con- tracted a second marriage with F. H. Thompson, of Perrysburg; they have had two children-L .. A. and Edward.
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Our subject was born at the old homestead in Perrysburg July 8, 1861, and received his early education in the schools of that town. The foundation, thus laid, has been added to by subsequent reading and observation, until he has become noted for liis broad and accurate informa- tion. His technical studies in engineering and surveying were pursued nder the able guidance of Prof. Hubbard, at Perrysburg. At the age of
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nineteen he began teaching, and, after seven years of successful work in this county, he engaged in the practice of his chosen profession, working as an assistant to the county surveyor. His ability and skill, combined with absolute fair dealing in disputed cases, has brought him an extensive business in this and adjoining counties.
On May 4, 1894, Mr. Spafford was married to Miss Mildred Kramer, of Bowling Green, who is a worker in various philanthropical movements, and an active member of the M. E. Church. One son, James Francis, born January 1, 1896, has blessed this union. Mr. Spafford is a straight Republican in politics; socially, he belongs to the I. O. O. F. Lodge No. 77, of Perrysburg.
PROF. J. N. BAKER, a prominent educator, of Wood county, now residing in Bowling Green, was born near New Lisbon, Columbiana county, Ohio, May 9, 1843.
His father, Abraham Baker, was born in I Sos, in Adams county, Penn., and came to Ohio, with his parents, when a little boy; his mother, who was Miss Elizabeth Cope, before her marriage, was a native of Harper's Ferry, Va, and came to this State, with her parents, at the age of eighteen months - both families settling in the vicinity of New Lisbon. Poverty was no obstacle in the eyes of lovers in those days, and in 1830 our subject's parents were mar- ried, although they had nothing to live upon but the young husband's wages as a day laborer. In 1850, they bought a farm of ten acres, which they sold four years later, when they removed to a farm in Section 31, Bloom township, Wood county. Here they spent the remainder of their days. They were Quakers in religion, with all the sterling moral qualities of that sect. Mr. Baker died May 27, 1888, aged eighty years: his wife August 15, 1894, aged eighty-six years. Of their six sons, five served in the Civil war, and the other had a willing spirit, but failed to pass the examination. Their two daughters married men who volunteered and went to the front. John C., the eldest son, enlisted in the 47th O. V. I. He now resides at the old homestead. Sarah A. married J. R. Slaughterback, of Han- cock county, a private in Company E, 21st O. V. I. Joshna C. was drafted, but was discharged on account of physical disability; he now resides in Hancock county. Elisha M., served in Co. D), 5th Mo. Cav. during the war, and now lives in Auburn, Nebr. Jason C., a private in Co. E. 21st O. V. J., under Gen. Sherman, was killed at Vining Station, Ga., July 9, 1864. Isaac P. served in Co. G, 21st O. V. 1., and died in the
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hospital at Nashville, February 6, 1863, of pneu- monia, caused by exposure during the battle of Stone River. Mary C. married Frank Pattee, of White Beach, Wisconsin.
Our subject was the sixth child in this patri- otic family. He was about twelve years old when his parents came to Wood county, and he received his early education in the district schools of Bloom township, and in the high school at Findlay. Before completing his course, the war broke out, and August 9, 1862, he enlisted in Co. G, 99th O. V. I., taking the rank of corp- oral. He served under Buell, Rosecrans, and Sherman, and took part in the battles of Perry- ville, Ky., Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Ringgold, Dalton, Dallas, and others of the At- lanta campaign. He was wounded at Kenesaw Mountain, June 21, 1864, and sent to Regimental Headquarters, but returned to duty in three weeks. After the capture of Atlanta, his regi- ment formed part of the force under Gen. Thomas, sent against Hood, and took part in the two- days' struggle at Nashville, in which that cam- paign ended. The 99th was then consolidated with the 5oth Ohio, and transferred to the East, and was engaged at the capture of Wilmington. They re-joined Sherman at Goldsboro, and were discharged from the U. S. service at Salisbury, when the war closed, and finally mustered out at Camp Dennison, Cincinnati, in June, 1865.
Returning to Findlay, Prof. Baker resumed his studies, finishing the course in the Findlay High School, in 1866. He has ever since been engaged in educational work, teaching two years in the A Grammar Grade at Findlay; three years as superintendent at Carey; two years at home, where he bought a farm and spent his spare time in cultivating it; nine years as superintendent at Portage; three years as superintendent at North Baltimore, and seven years in the A Grammar school at Bowling Green. He then resigned, in- tending to retire from professional work, but was prevailed upon to take charge of the schools at Tontogany, where he spent last year. He is now resting. While attending school at Findlay, he taught three winters' terms in the country, mak- ing, in all, thirty years of work. He married Miss Levina Shellabarger, one of his pupils at Carey, who was born in that town, November 3, 1852. She has been a true helpmeet, sympa- thizing heartily in all his plans, and has taught with him in the schools of Portage, North Balti- more, grammar grade, and Bowling Green, in the A Primary grade. Prof. Baker has been a member of the board of county examiners for four
years. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the G. A. R., Wiley Post, of which he has been commander for two terms.
ROBERT STEWART DAVIDSON. The David- son family is of Scotch origin, and the subject of this sketch, a prominent business man of Scotch Ridge, Webster township, traces his genealogy back to Robert Davidson, who was a farmer, born in Linlithgow, Scotland.
His son, Robert Davidson (2), grandfather of our subject, was also born in that country, and was one of seven children. He came to America in 1834, and settled at Perrysburg, Ohio. A few months later, going to Pennsylvania and buying a large tract of land. While on his journey homeward he died, when four iniles from Fre- mont, on the Maumee and Western Reserve Pike. His wife was a Miss Margaret Murdock, also a native of Scotland. Nine children were born to them: Robert, who is now a retired farmer, living at Scotch Ridge; William; Jean- nette; James; Walter, father of our subject; Anna; Andrew; Thomas and Margaret.
Walter Davidson married Jane Stewart; both were natives of Scotland, born in 1822. They came to America in 1832, when children. For a tinie they lived in Perrysburg, Ohio, afterward removing to Webster township. Their family
consisted of the following children: Robert Stewart, subject of this sketch; Maggie, born in 1845, married Thomas Shanks, and lives in Web- ster township; Mary, born in IS47; Sarah, born in 1849, married Frank Stevens, of Webster township; Andrew died when about two years old; Thomas, living in Webster township; Mattie is the wife of Charles Muir, of the same town- ship. The father was county commissioner for six or seven years. He died April 14, 1891, aged sixty-nine years; his wife died some four years previous.
Robert Stewart Davidson was born in Scotch Ridge, Webster township, this county, April 1, 1843. He attended the district school, which in those primitive days was held in a log school house with rough slabs for benches, a puncheon 1. floor, and a slit in the side of the walls, covered with greased paper, doing duty as a window. When eighteen years old his patriotic impulses were stirred by the call to arms, and he offered his services to assist in putting down the Rebel- lion, enlisting on October 22, 1861, in Company H, 67th O. V. I., his regiment being assigned to the Eastern Division of the army. His termi of service expiring, he re-enlisted in February, 1864, and remained until the close of the war.
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being mustered out December 7, 1865. Mr. Davidson took part in some of the most noted engagements of the war, among them being the battles of Winchester, Va .; two battles at Fort Wagner, Chester Station, Va .; Bermuda Hun- dred, two battles at Wier Bottom Church, Va .; Petersburg and Appomattox. He was wounded at Fort Wagner and Chester Station, and has the record of a brave and faithful soldier, of which he may well be proud.
Mr. Davidson was married August 14, 1872, to Miss Alice Stevens, who was born January 28, IS50, in Monroeville, Huron Co., Ohio. Eight children have blessed this union, namely: Jennie May died when eighteen months old; Walter is in business with his father; Maggie; Daisy; Bruce, died when two years old; Frank, Arthur and Laura. Mr. Davidson established a general mer- chandise business in Scotch Ridge, in 1872, being at the outset in partnership with his father, under the firm name of Davidson & Son, and which style is still used, although the senior partner died some years ago. Mr. Davidson erected the large building which he now occupies, in 1883, and has built up an extensive trade by his strict attention to the details of his business, his well- known integrity, and genial personality also attract- ing to him many warm personal friends. He has been greatly prospered during the twenty-three years of his active business life, and is one of the highly esteemed residents of the township. Mr. Davidsonhasalways taken an active part in politics, in which he affiliates with the Republican party. He has been treasurer of Webster township for twenty-four years, first being elected in 1869, and serving for twelve years; after an interval of two years he was again re-elected, and has held the position ever since. He is the treasurer and a stockholder in the Pemberville Creamery, and is the treasurer of the United Presbyterian Church, of which he is a inember, and is now treasurer of the Wood County Farmers' Mutual Fire Associa- tion, which has an assessable stock of $1,000, - 000.00, and is steadily increasing. He is also a member of Wiley Post, G. A. R., at Bowling Green, and is prominent in all public enterprises. He owns a farm of sixty-two acres near Scotch Ridge, on which he resides, where he has a de- lightful home.
FRANK W. DUNN, a well-known resident of Bowling Green, was born on the east coast of England December 18, 1841, and is the eldest in the family of four children born to John F. and Miriam (Wright) Dunn.
The mother and two of the daughters died in
1847, and a few years subsequently the father emigrated to Canada, bringing with him his two remaining children- the subject of this sketch and his brother Robert. Members of the family on the paternal and maternal sides had previously emigrated from the mother country, some of them having settled in Canada, others in the United States. For a time, Frank lived with his uncle on a farm near Toronto, and afterward with an old friend of his father. After a residence of about two and a half years in Canada, the father and his two sons came to Ohio, settling in Bloom town- ship, this county, on a tract of land adjoining the village of Eagleville, where some of his father's relatives were then living. The land purchased was covered with heavy timber; the surrounding country was new; money was a scarce commodity, and a good deal of hard work was necessary to make a comfortable home.
With a view of earning money to assist his father in paying for and improving his land, our subject went to Lorain county, in the spring of each year, for several seasons, and worked on a farm, during the summer months, returning to Wood county in the fall. In September, 1862, while employed on a farm in Lorain county, he enlisted, for three years, in the Hoffman Battalion. afterward merged into the 128th Regiment, O. V. I. He remained in the service until June. 1865, and was honorably discharged, by reason of the termination of the war. In September. 1865, he went to Alpena, Mich., then a very small village, aud spent the winter in the pineries north of that place. Returning to Ohio in the spring of 1866, he followed the pursuits of a farmer for several years, in Perry township, Wood county, and was twice elected assessor of the township, at the second election receiving every vote cast in the township. In the winter months, he usually taught a term of district school, in either Bloom or Perry township. In 1873 he came to Bowling Green, and has resided here ever since, excepting two years spent in western Kansas.
For several years Mr. Dunn was deputy sheriff of Wood county, and at intervals has been em- ployed in all the various offices of the county. In 1880, he was one of the United States census enumerators, and was clerk of Center township, for two years. While living in Kansas he was elected and served as county recorder.
In the spring of 1888, our subject was married to Miss Emina J. Loomis, the eldest daughter of Daniel Loomis, of Bowling Green. She was deputy clerk of courts, in Wood county, for sev- eral years, and has the distinction of being the first lady legally appointed to an office in the
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Frank It. Bunn.
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county, the late Judge Pillars making the appoint- ment. Subsequently she filled the office of dep- oty recorder of the county. Mr. Dunn is a mem- ber of the firm of Robert & Frank W. Dunn, abstracters of land titles, who have made a spe- cialty of this work for more than twenty years.
GEORGE W. GAGHAN, auditor of Wood coun- ty, and one of the most capable and popular business men of Bowling Green, was born in Whitehall, N. Y., May 3, 1850.
His parents, George and Mary (Finney) Gaghan, were born in Ireland, the father in (816, the mother two years later. They came to America in IS49. settling in Whitehall, where they lived some eight years, in 1857 removing to Toledo, where they remained two years. In 1859 the family removed to Medina, Medina Co., Ohio, where they also resided two years, thence removing to West Millgrove, Wood county, where, in 1865, they rented a farm near Tontogany. Here they lived three years, at the end of that time buying a farm in Milton town- ship, where Mr. Gaghan died. Politically he was a Democrat. An upright citizen, and an energetic worker, he never spared his strength when he set-himself a task to accomplish. His life was extended beyond the limit of three-score and ten, his death occurring September 23, 1892. His wife, and six sons and daughters survive him, of whom our subject is the eldest; Catherine is the wife of J. Dubbs, of Milton township; Mary married Nate Corhell, of Jackson township; Jaines lives at the old home in Milton township; Rosa married Wesley Sharp, of Hammansburg, Wood county; Myrtle is the wife of Caleb Roe, of Jackson township.
G. W. Gaghan acquired the rudiments of his education in the common schools near his home, and at about the age of fifteen came to Bowling Green, to find or make for himself a place in the business arena. For two years and a half he clerked in the general store of C. F. Button, and for four years with S. L. Boughton, in the same line. Possessing in a marked degree those innate qualities of character which win public confidence, he had by this time gained a host of friends, and on venturing to invest his savings in a stock of dry goods, his enterprise found ready support. He continued in business with a grow- ing trade until late in the year 1887. when he was burned out with a loss of $3, 500, He then en- Raged in the oil business, in which he continued come two years. In ISSS, he rebuilt the Gaghan Block, which is a fine property. In 1889, he was appointed postmaster of Bowling Green, re-
ceiving the appointment from Harrison without solicitation on his part, and held the office nntil January 1, 1894. when he gave it up, having been elected to his present position the previ- ous November. Since October 15, 1894, he has ably discharged the duties of county auditor. to which office he was re-elected in November, 1896. He did not come to this work an untried and inexperienced official, having held many minor offices in which the public had learned his worth. As township clerk, and for ten years treasurer of Center township, and as a member of the-city council for twelve years, his integrity, good judgment. energy and public spirit had been fully proven. What Mr. Gaghan lacked in collegiate training has been made up by close observation and private study, the love for which college life does not always develop. He has always been a recognized leader in the local ranks of the Republican party, for whose inter- ests he has devoted both his time and means. He has served on the County Central Com- mittee, and is regarded as one of the party's best men in Wood county.
Mr. Gaghan was married, March 14, 1872, to Miss Alice A. Pike, who was born in Bowling Green in 1853, and they have two children, Byrdie and Mabel. He is a member of the K. of P. and Modern Woodmen of America.
JOHN GAGHAN, who is one of the agricultur- ists of Jackson township, has lived an honorable and upright life. His career, however, is un- marked by events of thrilling experience, but is that of a man who has faithfully perforined his duty. He was born in Wood county, January 15, 1868, of parents George and Mary (Finney) Gaghan, who for a time resided at West Mill- grove, then in Washington and Milton townships respectively. In the latter our subject began his education, acquiring a fair knowledge of the English branches. He was brought up as a farmer's boy, and his training in that line of labor was not meager. He early displayed an indus- trious, energetic nature, and these qualities are among his marked characteristics, and have been important factors in his success.
Mr. Gaghan remained at home until twenty- four years of age. and then removed to his par- ents' farin, comprising eighty acres of land which was given him by his father. He was married in Milton township, Thanksgiving day, 1892, and at once took up his residence on his land where he has since had a comfortable and pleasant home. The work of improving the property has all been accomplished by him, for it was an unbroken
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wilderness when it came into his possession. His characteristic energy, however, has transformed it into a fine farm, and he now has a valuable and richly improved tract of land.
Mrs. Gaghan bore the maiden name of Sarah Srohl. She was born in Ottawa county, Ohio, in January, 1873. By her marriage she has be- come the mother of one child, an interesting lit- tle daughter, Myrtle, born July 20, 1894. The parents are widely and favorably known in this locality, and have many warm friends. In poli- tics, Mr. Gaghan is a Democrat, unswerving in his support of the principles of the party.
DANIEL W. HUFFMAN, farmer and fruit grower, Washington township, was born Scptem- ber 12, 1841, in Dauphin county, Penn., the third son of John and Nancy Huffman.
Our subject's boyhood was passed on his father's farm, which he assisted in clearing up, while in the winter months he also attended the district school. He was seven years old when he accompanied his parents from Pennsylvania to Weston township, Wood county, and when he attained his majority, he began to work for his father on wages In 1867 he bought his first land, forty acres, and, when he had improved it to a considerable extent, sold it and bought sixty acres. On disposing of this last property, he bought eighty acres in Washington township, and has transformed it into a valuable farm, highly improved. In 1872, he bought eighty acres ad- joining, and now has a quarter section, all under a high state of cultivation. Thereon he erected a comfortable country residence, at a cost of $2,000.00, and has built commodious barns and other necessary out-buildings. In addition to the cultivation of grain he raises some fine varieties of fruits, which find a ready sale on the market. For the past ten years he has also engaged in stock raising.
On May 2, 1864, Mr. Huffman enlisted at Tontogany, in Company B, 144th O. V. I., under Capt. Black and Col. Miller. The regiment went to Columbus, Ohio, thence to Baltimore, Md., participated in the battle of Monocacy, July 9, 1864, and August 13 following, our sub- ject was taken prisoner, by Col. Mosby, whilc he was guarding a wagon team en route from Harper's Ferry to Winchester. It was the more . aggravating to Mr. Huffman, as on that very day his term of enlistment had expired, and he fully expected he would be sent home as soon as the wagon train should arrive in Winchester. After capture, he and three fellow prisoners ( two of whom werc Joli Phillips, of Tontogany, and
Hugh Stewart, also of Wood county ) were placed on mules and started off, under guard, to join the Rebel army at Culpeper, Va. At the end of some forty-eight hours' ride, however, Mr. Huff- man succeeded in effecting his escape by hiding in the bush, his guard being not over ten feet from him when he made his dash for liberty. This was on a Monday morning, and the follow- ing Saturday night he found himself within the Union lines, near Alexandria. During the nights he tramped along with great caution, in daytime keeping close or resting himself, never once stop- ping at any house for fear of capture, but living on green apples and anything else he could find in the woods. He suffered much from hunger and exposure, which resulted in an attack of rheumatism. On September 14, 1864, he was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio.
In 1866, Mr. Huffman was married to Carrie Phillips, who was born April 27, 1844, a daughter of John Phillips, of Washington township. They had four children: Arthur, who died in infancy; Alice, wife of Charles Bassett, of Weston town- ship, by whom she has three sons-Wayne, Clyde and Cecil; and Eva and Howard, both at home. The family is one of considerable prominence in the community, and the home is noted for its hospitality. Mr. Huffman has been school di- rector for a number of years, and clerk of the board. He was also supervisor for some years, and is now serving his fourth term as trustee. He belongs to Walter A. Wood Post, G. A. R., of Tontogany, and in politics is a Republican. His possessions have been acquired entirely through his own efforts, and his career demon- strates what can be accomplished through earnest labor.
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