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 99
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The parents of our subject, James ( a carpen- ter by trade ) and Nancy ( Speer ) Patty, were both born in Pennsylvania, the father, in 1800, in Westmoreland county, of Scotch-Irish descent, the mother, in Armstrong county, in 1817. Both passed away in the latter county, she in 1864, and he in 1882. The father of James Patty, also named James, was a native of Westmoreland county, Penn., and one of the early settlers of Gettysburg, that State. Our subject was one of five children, namely: James, who was a member of the oil firm of Patty Brothers, and died in 1894; R. S .; Belle, who was a prominent school teacher in Armstrong county, Penn., and is now deceased; George, who, it is supposed, was mur- dered while drilling wells in the West; and Eliz- abetli, the wife of Samuel Blakely, of Marion, Indiana.
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R.S. Patty
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
T. T. ROSENDALE, M. D., one of Fostoria's iking young physicians and business men, is a native of West Millgrove, Wood county, the son of that well-known and successful practitioner, Dr. Charles R. Rosendale. His early education was obtained in the district school of his native village, his first teacher being Miss Sally Buck- mugham. In 1887 he entered the Northern Indi- ana Normal School, where he remained three years. He had previously read medicine with his father and Dr. C. A. Henry, of Fostoria, and in 1890 he entered Western Reserve Medical College at Cleveland, from which he was gradu- ated with the degree of M. D. in 1893. In 1892 he made a trip to Europe in the interest of his profession, and immediately after graduation en- tered into active practice, taking an office in the opera block at Fostoria, where he is still located. In common with all young professional men he found it no easy matter at first to compete with older practitioners, but each year has found him steadily gaining in the confidence of the people, and he now enjoys a practice highly creditable for one of his years and experience. In 1894 he attended the University of California, where he pursued post-graduate work, giving special atten- tion to dissecting.
On September 10, 1895, the Doctor was mar- ried to Miss Madge P. Harris, a native of Virginia, who is the daughter of V. H. and Angusta P. Harris. Mrs. Rosendale was graduated from the Fostoria High School in 1885, and in the scientific course from Buchtel College, Akron, Ohio, in 1889.
Dr. Rosendale is one of the wide-awake, pro- gressive young men of Fostoria, seeming to in- herit the business tact and shrewdness of his father, whose success in life has but few parallels in Wood county. In addition to his practice he has extensive business interests, which receive careful attention. In 1895 he erected on Perry street one of the finest houses in the city, where he and his wife entertain their large circle of friends in a delightful manner. Politically he is a stanch Republican, taking an active part in the politics of the city.
CAPTAIN J. B. NEWTON, one of the most prom- inent citizens of Bowling Green, with the chief interests of which city he has for many years been identified, was born September 10, 1837. in Chenango county, New York.
His grandfather, Daniel Newton (1), a native of New England, born May 9, 1786, settled in Chenango county, N. Y., in early manhood, and married Miss Patty Bell, who was born in Con-
necticut, July 8, 1788. Their son, Daniel New. ton (2), born October 12, 1810, married Miss Sarah Burdick, also a native of Chenango county, born February 10, 1810. They were married January 12, 1834, and six years later came west, located in Wood county, Ohio, first in Center township, and later ( eight years afterward ) in Bowling Green. In 1864 they removed to Roach- ton, but in 1876 they came back to Bowling Green, there to pass their declining years. They were both earnest and consistent members of the M. E. Church, and faithful workers in every line of Christian duty. Mr. Newton was originally a Whig, later a Republican, and was an intelligent student of public affairs. He died March 20, 1881, his wife having preceded him to the grave, November 18, 1872. Of their six children, thrce grew to adult age: Louis . M., born October 8, 1834, now a leading resident of Garnett, Kans. : I. B., our subject; and Jennie, who married L. D. Stearns, now of Willapa, State of Wash- ington. The deceased are: Jeremiah C .. born September 20, 1842, died August 19, 1849: James L., born August 9, 1846, died December 4, 1846; and Chloe E., born July 21, 1847, died July 31, 1847.
Capt. Newton's early education was restricted to an attendance at the district schools near his home. When the Civil war broke out he was among the first to enlist for the three-years' serv- ice, in August, 1861, joining Company A, 14th O. V. I. Hisregiment was assigned to the 14th Corps, army of the Cumberland, commanded by Gen. Thomas, and served through the campaigns in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Georgia, taking part in the historic march to the sea, and was present at the surrender of Johnston. Capt. Newton was promoted from private through the grades of corporal, sergeant-major, second lieu- tenant, first lieutenant, to the rank of captain ; as second lieutenant he was detailed as adjutant, and served in that capacity until promoted to captain. During the latter part of his service he was detailed mainly on brigade staff duty. At the close of the war he went to Washington and participated in that "Grand Review," and was finally discharged at Cleveland, Ohio, in July. 1865. He was never wounded, and never absent from his command, except once, by reason of sickness, in 1862.
In 1868 he married Miss Maggie Blackwood. who was born in Oakland county, Mich. , January 23. 1844, and four children came of this union: Welles B., born April 17, 1869, now a druggist in Toledo; Clyde B., born May 22, 1874, a stu- dent at Alma, Mich., Earl W., born June S.
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
IS81; and Mary Belle, born November 27, 1882. Soon after his return from the army, Capt. New- ton was elected county auditor. and served three terms of two years cach. He then engaged in agricultural pursuits in Center township some fif- teen years, during which time he did an extensive business in feeding and shipping stock. When the gas boom came to Bowling Green, the Buck- eye Glass Co. was among the first to utilize the new product, and selected him to manage the financial affairs of the company. The Ohio Flint Glass Co. was incorporated in 1891 for the man- ufacture of table glassware, and the attendant lines common to that branch of the business. When the natural gas, for fuel for manufacturing purposes, failed at Bowling Green, the company decided to remove their plant to the gas fields of Indiana. They selected Dunkirk for their loca- tion, and entrusted Capt. Newton with the man- agement of the affairs of the company. In 1895 he was elected president thereof, and given charge with general management of its affairs, retaining his residence in Bowling Green. Politically he votes the Republican ticket, is very influential in party affairs, and takes a leading place in all pub- lic movements; he has always been ready to assist in any movement tending to advance the interests of the city, and was one of the early clerks of the corporation as soon as he became of age. Socially he is a member of the G. A. R., Wiley Post, No. 46; of the I. O. O. F. and En- campment, and a member of the Loyal Legion in the Ohio Commandery.
COLONEL M. F. MILES, a representative farm- er of Montgomery township, was born in Ches- terville, Morrow county (at that time Knox coun- ty), Ohio, December 10, 1838, and is a son of Davis and Julia A. (Denman) Miles. His grand- father, Enos Miles, was born in Chester county, Penn., July 3, 1786. He married Miss Eliza- beth Frame, who was born April 3, 1790. They came to Ohio in an early day, bought up tracts of land, and Mr. Miles named Chester township, also Chesterville. A man of means, he erected a large brick hotel and other buildings, one of which he fitted out as a school and boarding- house; but his ideas were far too advanced for those days, and his venture involved him in finan- cial difficulties. Mr. Miles died in Chesterville, May 18, 1840, and his wife on August 18, 1871. Their children were Davis, Euclid, Enos, Jane and Catherine.
Davis Miles, the father of our subject, was born in Chester county, Penn., in 1814, came to Ohio with his parents, and was married in Ches-
terville in 1837. His wife was a daughter of Joseph Denman, a farmer. At the time of his father's death, Davis took charge of his affairs, which were much involved; but he took an exten- sion of time, and was able to hold, the property. He conducted the hotel business successfully, and when the property was divided it was not by a forced sale. At the organization of Morrow county Mr. Miles was chosen first sheriff. He owned considerable land adjacent to the village of Chesterville, and hired almost all of his work done, although in early life he was an active farmer. He was a man of excellent judgment and common sense, and possessed a strong nat - ural intellect. He was a stanch Republican, a prominent man in his community, and served two terms in the Ohio Senate. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Miles were as follows: M. F., our subject; Enos W., a traveling salesman, of Mansfield, Ohio; and Mary C., who died young. Mr. Miles passed away August 6. 1865, and Mrs. Miles in 1876, and both are buried at Chester- ville. They were members of the Baptist Church. in which, later in life, Mr. Miles took an active part; socially he was a member of the Masonic fraternity.
The early schooling of our subject was ob- tained in his native village schools. At the age of twenty he entered the Ohio Wesleyan Uni- versity, at Delaware, where he remained one year. For two years he was a student in the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and while there enlisted in the students' battalion, whose services were rejected ou account of the quota of men being already filled. Mr. Miles returned home, and on September 14, 1861, enlisted in Company B, 43d O. V. I .. under Gen. C. Smith, and went into camp at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, where he was appointed sergeant. On January 9, 1862. he was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. and assigned to Company A, 49th Regiment, then camped at Green River, Ky. On February 14, 1862, the regiment was ordered to Bowling Green, Ky., and thence to Shiloh, advancing to the assistance of Gen. Grant. His regiment participated in that battle, and with other forces held their position from IT A. M. to 4 P. M., when the enemy was obliged to retreat. The other battles in which our subject took part are as fol- lows: Corinth, Lawrenceburg, Stone River, Lib- erty Gap, Crab Orchard, Chickamauga, Mur- freesboro, Mission Ridge, Rocky Face Ridge. Cassville and Pickett's Mills In the battle of the last mentioned place, which occurred Mes 27, 1864, the 49th entered the fight with 560 men, and lost 224. After the fall of Atlanta our
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
subject returned with his regiment to Nashville, participating in the battles of Franklin and Nasli- ville. On June 15, 1865, it was taken to Texas in order to quell any continuance of the Rebellion, it forming a part of the 4th Army Corps. Or September 30, 1862, Mr. Miles was promoted to first lieutenant, and assigned to Company B, 49th Regiment. On March 2, 1863, he was made adjutant of the same regiment, and was then transferred to Company H, and promoted to the rank of captain of that company. On October 4, 1863, he was made major, and March 29, 1865, promoted to lieutenant-colonel. On June 26, 1865, he was mustered out, but in No- vember of the same year he was sent to Victoria, Texas, and was not finally discharged until De- cember 31, 1865.
After the close of the war, Col. Miles engaged in the lumber business at Logansport, Ind., for some time, and then went to Chicago and started in the retail drug trade on State street, at the corner of Taylor. He had a previous knowledge of this business, but failing health compelled him to give it up and return to Wood county. Here he was married, October 11, 1866, to Miss Mag- gie E. Diver, a native of Montgomery township. born June 30, 1843, the daughter of Osman and Esther F. (Robinson) Diver, the former of whom was born August 23, 1809, and the latter April 2, 1818. Mr. Diver was twice married, his first wife being Miss Margaret Kinnaman, who bore him three children, two of whom - Franklin and Laura - grew to maturity; by his second wife, Mr. Diver had three children - Maggie, Osman A., and Harriet M.
Col. Miles began the business of flour-milling in West Millgrove, Wood county, in 1868. The mill burned down in 1872, and he and O. A. Diver built on its site the present structure, with which our subject was connected for twelve years. Since retiring from that business he has resided in Montgomery township, in Section 29, where he has a comfortable home and carries on farming, having over 377 acres under his direc- tion. He has always been a Republican, and in 1887 was elected sheriff of Wood county, serving two terms, but retaining liis residence in Mont- gomery township during his service. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church. in which he has been an elder for many years. He is also secretary and treasurer of the 19th District Ohio Christian Missionary Society. So- cially he belongs to the Masonic order in Fos- toria, and to the G. A. R. Col. Miles, as he is always called, is a prominent citizen of Mont- gomery township, is a man with a keen concep-
tion of right and wrong, loyal and trusted, and a strong supporter and earnest advocate of what- ever is for public good.
Mrs. Miles is State president of the Christian Woman's Board of Missions, an auxilliary to the Christian Church, which is a grand organization. She went to school at Fostoria, Ohio, and at Oberlin, later graduating at the Seminary at Mt. Vernon. She is a woman of considerable liter- ary ability, her writings being mostly on religious subjects, which have been printed in the leading publications of that character.
GEORGE C. STEVENSON, a member of the firm of Matthews & Stevenson, leading grocers of Bowling Green, who is even better known as a breeder of blooded horses, was born June 2, 1844, in county Down, Ireland.
His grandfather, James Stevenson, was an officer in the British army, a quartermaster un- der Sir John Moore, and while in Ireland on a recruiting expedition he was so charmed with the beauty of the country that he resolved to return there to live, if it were possible to do so. Some time afterward, having been wounded in the bat- tle of Waterloo, he was retired from service, and he purchased an estate in county Down, where- on he spent the rest of his life.
William Stevenson, the father of our subject, was born in Spain, eight days before the battle of Coruna, in which Sir John Moore was killed. His early life was passed mainly in Ireland. At the age of nineteen he came to America, but re- turned to Ireland, where he was married to Miss Jane McAlpine, a descendant of one of the old -. est and most powerful of the Scottish clans. In 1851 he came to America again, bringing his family, and located first at Pittsburg. Penn., and finally settled in Ashtabula county. Ohio, Our where he engaged in the lumber business. subject was second in order of birth of six chil- dren: James, the eldest, lives in Seneca county. Ohio; Margaret is the wife of Charles Scoville, of Ashtabula; Mary (deceased) was the wife of V. L. Chapin; W. J. is a resident of Williams county, Ohio; William died in Pittsburg. Penn- sylvana.
Our subject was educated in an academy at Ashtabula. When the Civil war began the martial spirit inherited from both paternal and maternal ancestry impelled him, though a boy in years, to join in the struggle. On August 20. 1861, he enlisted in Company K. Sad P. V. L., , and served throughout the war, receiving his final discharge June 18, 1865. He was in the battles of Big Bethel, Yorktown, Malvern Hill, Cold
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
Harbor, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Chancellors- ville, Gaines Mills (where he was slightly wounded), Laurel Hill and Charles City Cross Roads. In 1862, at Malvern Hill, he was shot through the right lung, and the night after the battle his captain, who had hunted him up, got the surgeon to examine and dress his wounds; but Mr. Stevenson was then informed that he could not live till morning, as he was bleeding internally. Thus confronted with death, this worthy descendant of heroes declared that, hay- ing done his duty, he was satisfied. He could die in no better cause. About 7 o'clock the next morning, however, a negro discovered him, and, lifting him up, gave him a drink of whiskey, which so revived him that he managed to walk or crawl some five miles, when he was picked up and taken to Harrison's Landing. Thanks to his wonderful constitution, he recovered. and at the end of eleven months re- enlisted in his old company. At Cold Harbor, in 1864, he fell on the field with two wounds. At Laurel Hill he was rendered unconscious by the concussion of a shell. and when found by his lieutenant he was bleeding from the mouth, nose and ears, but he soon had his external wounds dressed. After the close of the war, Mr. Stevenson engaged in the lumber business in Ashtabula county and that vicinity, and in 1874 located in Danbridge, Wood county. In 1886 he began breeding fine horses, roadsters and trotters, a business in which he still continues, and he owns a fine stock farm in Middleton township. On May 22, 1895, he bought an in- terest in a grocery store in Bowling Green, for- merly owned by Henry Hughes.
In 1866, Mr. Stevenson married Miss Viola L. Reeve, who was born in Ashtabula county, August 2, 1850. They have six children: E. K .; Jennie, who married O. N. Grover, a teacher at Dunbridge, and has one child-Genevra; Lamira L .; Ethel A .; George R., and Clyde V. The family reside at Bowling Green. They are members of the Presbyterian Church, and active in various forms of philanthropic work. Mr. Stevenson is a leading worker in the Republican party in this county. He served two years as trustee of Middleton township, and also as mem- ber of its board of education, of which he was president one year. Fraternally, he is a men- ber of the F. & A. M., and of Kenneth's Lodge No. 158, K. of P., of Bowling Green; he also belongs to Robert Stewart Post No. 690, G. .. R., of Dunbridge. The Reeve family came from Connecticut. . Mrs. Stevenson's parents, H. A. and Lamira (Peck) Reeve, were born in Ash-
tabula county, Ohio, where they were engaged in farming. The father is still living; the mother died in 1871. They had five children, three sons-Wells H., Ellsworth S. and Wilson-and two daughters -- Viola L. (Mrs. Stevenson), and Celia Adele. The Reeves were noted Abolition- ists in ante-belluin days, their home being a sta- tion on the famous " Underground Railroad." Capt. James Reeve, Col. Arthur Reeve, Harri- son F. Reeve (all three of whom died in the army during the Civil war), and Capt. L. C. Reeve, Mrs. Stevenson's uncles, were valiant de- fenders of the Union cause.
DANIEL MERCER (deceased), who in his life- time was one of the most prominent of the pio- neer citizens of Bowling Green, better known as "Uncle Dan" throughout his wide circle of ac- quaintances, was born August 3, IS26, in Colum- biana county, Ohio, where his ancestors were among the earliest settlers. He was of mixed German, English and Irish blood, and manifested the best qualities of each strain.
His father, William Mercer, was born in Co- lumbiana county, and was there married to Miss Margaret Ikirt. a native of Pennsylvania. They came to Portage township, Wood county, in 1836, and settled in the woods where they made their first dwelling out of brush supported by a couple of trees. Our subject was ten years old at that time, and can well recall the howling of the wolves around them, and his fear lest they should break through the frail shelter. A log cabin was built later, and the land prepared for crops, the father seeking work after the seed was planted, in order to supply his family with food. He died at the early age of forty-three, and his wife at thirty-seven, the lives of both having been shortened by the privations and exertions of pio- neer life. Of their fifteen children, twelve grew to maturity, our subject being the eldest: Eli- zanna married Josiah Milburn; Elizabeth mar- ried W. Johnson; Pierce was a farmer in Liberty township; Mary Ann married Cornelius Simons: Harriet married George Babcock; one son. Bielby, lived in Indiana: Margaret and Martha (twins), the former was Mrs. Robert Johnson, and the latter is now Mrs. Frederick Amos, of Portage township; Rufus is a farmer in Henry county ; Euphemia married Russell Chilcote. el Perry township, and Caroline married John Boozer, of Bloom township. None of this large family are now living except Daniel and the four younger children.
Uncle Dan's early educational advantages were limited, but he made the most of them, and
Danielellercer
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
at the age of seventeen gained an insight into the principles of arithmetic in seventeen days. He was twice married, first time at the age of twenty to Miss Susan Roberts, who died August 22, 1865. Ten children were born to this union. (1) Emeline, married Sheldon Welton (now de- ceased), formerly of Liberty township; they had twelve children -- Emmett, who married and has one child; Norton; Lillie, who married and has one child; Della; Daniel; Myrtle, who married George Brubaker, and has one child, and John, Edna, Ruth, Clayton, Anna and Clarence, the six last being still at home, except Ruth, who is deceased. (2) Delascos lives in Liberty town- ship: he married Louisa Donsey, and has five living children-Lucy, married to James White, and has one child; Eddie, a student at Bethany (W. Va.) College; Clarence, Tillie and Abraham G. ; two others died in early life. (3) Apalinda first married Samuel Whitaker (now deceased), and had two children-Thomas E. and Ella E. -.... both attending Bethany College; she afterward wedded John Knight and had two children, one of whom, Deyo, is living. (4) Alcenus is a farmer in Liberty township; he married Ella Ducat, and has four children -- Rosa, Libbie, Normia and Lloyd. (5). Elmira married Robert Place, of Liberty township, and has two living children --- Alfred, a . student at Bethany College, and Alta. (6) Eugene married Jerusha Bay, and has three children -- Mable, Virnie and Edith. (7) Ruth married Robert Marbel, of Bowling Green, and has one son-Leonidas. (8) Cyrenus mar- ried Alice Dubbs, and has one son-Ira. (9) Flora and (10) Florence (twins) are married, Flora to Milton Tellers, of Plain township, and Florence to Clarence Griner.
Mr. Mercer was married the second time, June 24. 1866, to Mrs. Lucy A. Aller, who was born in Genesee county, N. Y., July 23, 1828, daughter of Asahel and Lucy (Johnson) Martin. By her former marriage with Zacheus Aller she had nine children, of whom seven are living: (1) Margaret, married to Porterfield Mercer, and has five children -- Frank, Ethel, Manley, Marian and Emma. (2) Nelson (now deceased), mar- ried to Julia Lowe (now deceased), and had three children -Millie, Leory and Porterfield. (3) Zerelza, married to James Miller, and has four children --- Ernest, Grace, Royal and True. 4) Elliott, married to Cora Hunt, and has three children -Ernest, Bertha and Lucy. (5) Henry, married to Addie Swartz, and has two children -- Elmer and Blanche. (6) Amos, not married. 7; Rebecca, married to Dowling Mercer, and has three children-Lorenzo, Ina and Hazel. 31
By his second marriage " Uncle Dan" had two sons : (1) Leonidas, pastor of the Christian Church at Ravenna, Ohio; was educated at Bethany (W. Va.) College and Chicago Univer- sity, and ordained in i891; he is married to. Jessie Green, of Alliance, Ohio. (2) Robert, a farmer near Bowling Green; he completed his education in Hiram College, Ohio, and is inarricd to Miss Millie De Lano; like his father, he is an ardent Prohibitionist. All of these nineteen chil- dren have been reared together by our subject, and all are members of the Church. He lately gave each of thein $2,000, making $4,000 in all to each, he having previously given $2,000 to each one.
About two years after his second marriage Mr. Mercer bought a farm of 400 acres in Lib- erty township, where oil was afterward discov- ered, and at the time of his decease he had an income from sixty-five wells. In 1889 he re- tired to Bowling Green, there to spend his de- clining years, and he employed his time devising new ways to do good with his money. He was a liberal patron of the Christian Church, of which he had been a member some fifty-three years, and an elder for thirty years. He took the lead in the financial affairs of the Bowling Green society, and made large donations in other places, helping to build more than twenty churches. He also gave generously to Bethany College, Hiram College and other educational in- stitutions, and was extremely liberal to Churches. regardless of creed. Politically, he was formerly a Democrat, but in later years was a Prohibition- ist, taking an active interest in all temperance work. Daniel Mercer; the subject of this sketch. died September 23, 1896, and was buried in the cemetery at Rudolph.
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