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. 2 > Part 11
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N. R. HARRINGTON, a prominent attorney, of Bowling Green, was born August 27, 1860, in Pickaway county, Ohio, of English descent. His grandfather, William Harrington, was one of the early settlers of Trumbull county, coming from Vermont, and locating there in 1819. He died at the age of ninety-one.
W. A. Harrington, our subject's father. was born in Trumbull county, in 1829, and died there June 5, 1893. From 1858 to 1880 he followed farming in Pickaway and Madison counties, but he returned to his native place to spend the re- mainder of his days. He was a justice of the peace in Trumbull county for many years, and took an influential part in the local work of the Republican party. He married Miss Helen M. Ross, who was born in New Hampshire in 1835. and died in 1883. They were both active inen- bers of the Presbyterian Church, and leading spir- its in the various progressive movements in their society. They had four children, onr subject be-
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ing the eldest; two died in infancy, and the other, Minnie M., is now the wife of Orlo Woodruff, of Rock Creek, Ohio.
Our subject received excellent instruction dur- ing his boyhood in the public schools of Warren, Ohio, and started in business life as the book- keeper for the Lima Paper Mills, of Lima, Ohio, and later was made secretary and superintendent of the works. He resigned in 1884 to study law, in the office of his uncle, C. A. Harrington, of Warren, a partner of William T. Spear, now jus- tice of the supreme court of this State. While reading law he served as deputy clerk of court. for some time. He was admitted to the bar in March, 1887, at Columbus, and in the following May began the practice of his profession in Bowl- ing Green. In 1888 he forined a partnership with Robert Dunn, in law and abstracting, which con- tinned until 1890, when he went into business with his present partner, Frank Baldwin. In ISS8 he was elected city solicitor on the Republican ticket, and made a fine record; but since the ex- piry of his term he has devoted himself to private practice, in which his marked abilities have already won him a high reputation. Mr. Harrington was married January 1, 1887, to Miss Laura Belle Case, of Trumbull county, and has three children: Edward A., Helen M. and Frank A.
REV. ANDREW HAYS, one of the most widely and favorably known citizens of Wood county, has for over half a century been engaged in the work of the ministry. He was born in Hanover township, Beaver Co., Penn., May 6, 1818, and is a son of Henry and Hettie (Marshall) Hays, the former a native of Maryland, and the latter of Hancock county, W. Va. They were the par- ents of seven children-Louisa, who became the wife of John Wade, died in Richland county, Ohio, and was buried at Plymouth; Marshall, a tailor, of Fostoria, Ohio, died in 1890; James, who also died in Fostoria, was for forty-nine years a successful school teacher; Andrew is the next in order of birth; David is a wealthy citizen of Fostoria; Thomas, who died in that city, was the proprietor of the "Hays House;" and Sarah A. died while young. The mother of this family died in Pennsylvania, and in Beaver county, that State, the father wedded Jane McCormick, by whom he had a son-John, who passed away in Char- lotte, Mich., after reaching manhood.
Henry Hays owned a good farm in Beaver county, Penn., where he was regarded as one of the substantial farmers of that section; but in the spring of 1834, resolved to come to Wood county, where with his family he arrived on May
I, making the journey in a covered wagon. where the boys slept at night. While en route the family stopped in Richland county, Ohio. with a married daughter, Mrs. John Wade, and the father came on to enter his land. He se- cured 240 acres in Sections 20 and 29, Perry township, and then returned for his family. Nature was still undisturbed in this locality, and they had to cut their way through the dense tim- ber to their home, where Mr. Hays died April 10, 1837, and was buried near Olive Branch church. in Hancock county. The funeral sermon, which was delivered by Wesley J. Brock, was among the first.preached in the neighborhood. After it was over the minister offered to conduct services every two weeks if a place could be secured, and Mrs. John Chilcote offered her cabin home for the purpose. From that humble beginning sprang the beautiful edifice of Union Church, in Perry township. The father had served in the war of IS12, was a member of the convention held in Perry Center that organized Perry town- ship in 1835, and was a Democrat in politics. He belonged to the Presbyterian Church, as did also Andrew's mother.
Andrew Hays was sixteen when he came to Wood county, and his primary education was secured in the district schools of his native county. When he left Pennsylvania he was but an ordinary scholar, but, as work was quite plen- tiful in those pioneer days, he did not continue his literary studies for three or four years. After his conversion at the age of nineteen years, he began reading some, and his first instruction here was in the South Ridge school. Later he attended a more advanced school taught by Lemuel L. Gorsuch, and for one year was a stu- dent in the seminary at Norwalk, Ohio, which was among the first Methodist schools in the State. While there he was licensed as an ex- horter, and in the winter of 1844-45 was licensed to preach, since which time he has been a local minister, the year 1895 ending his fifty-third year as an expounder of the Gospel.
At Fostoria, Ohio, October 24, 1844, Mr Hays was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Thomas, who was born in Chartiers township. Washington Co., Penn., August 23, 1823, and was a daughter of Joseph Thomas, a pioneer of Hancock county. Four children blessed this union: Edwin R. and Lorin N. were both at- torneys of Knoxville, Marion Co., Iowa. where Edwin died February 26, 1896: Celestia died at the age of twenty-three years; and Enuna B. is the wife of Edward Myers, of Tennessee. The mother of these children departed this life Sep-
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tember 28, 1872, and was buried in Fostoria. In that city, on October 17, 1873, Mr. Hays wedded Mrs. Jane Thomas, widow of Cyrus Thomas, who was killed during the Civil war. She was born January 8, 1843, and bore the maiden name of Jane York, daughter of Cyrus York, who was a native of Hardin county, Ky. By his second marriage Mr. Hays lias a son, Nor- man M., born May 28, 1877.
Cur subject went to housekeeping in a small log cabin on his farin, but it was a happy home, where good cheer always abounded, as it does in the more comfortable home of his later years. For many terms he taught school, receiving fif- teen dollars per moth, and as low as twelve dol- lars, barely enough to supply the common neces- sities of life. However, he now has a good farm of 117 acres. During the war he supplied pul- pits for miles around, has probably married more couples than any other minister in Wood county, and has officiated at over 1,000 funerals. He is well preserved for one of his years, both men- tally and physically, has a very wide acquaint- ance throughout this territory, and is held in the highest regard by all who know him. His first Presidential vote was cast for William Henry Harrison, the Whig candidate. Being an Aboli- tionist from principle, he joined the Republican party on its organization, and now on account of his views on the temperance question he is a stanch Prohibitionist, believing it his Christian duty to do all in his power against the liquor traffic. He made the first Prohibition speech in Perry township, and probably in Wood county, and for three or four years cast the only Prohibi- tion vote in Perry. township.
ADELBERT D. TULLER is one of the leading ag- riculturists of Center township. His farm, with its tasteful and substantial buildings, its neat fences and general air of thrift and comfort, forms one of the most attractive spots in the landscape of the township. As a citizen and business man, our subject stands high in the es- tuation of his neighbors. In the various enter- prises inaugurated for the advancement of the community, he has been a cheerful and ready as- sistant, and takes a lively interest in the progress of the people around him.
Mr. Tuller was born in Liberty township, Delaware Co., Ohio, September 26, 1839, and is son of Alvin and Elvira (Maynard) Tuller, and brother of Dr. W. M. Tuller, of Bowling Green. Ilis early life was spent after the manner of most farmers' sons, his education being carried on in the district schools during the winter, while in
the summer he aided in the work of the fields. He remained with his father until 1864, when he enlisted in Company D, 20th O. V. I., at Dela- ware. From there the troops proceeded to Camp Chase, then to the Mississippi and Black river. For a time they were stationed at Cairo, Ill., and participated in the Atlanta campaign. Mr. Tuller was in all the engagements in which his company took part, and at the close of his serv- ice was honorably discharged at Louisville. Kentucky.
On returning to Ohio, our subject worked on the old homestead in Delaware for a time, and then removed to Licking county with his parents, where he operated eighty acres of land. He next went to Franklin county, where he farmed 1 10 acres for fourteen years, at the expiration of which time he came to Wood county, locating in Center township. In connection with the culti- vation of the eighty-acre farm belonging to his brother, the Doctor, he also owns eighty acres, which was entirely unimproved at the time of his purchase.
In Delaware county, Ohio, in October, 1867, Mr. Tuller was united in marriage with Martha E. Smith, who was there born on March 27, 1845. She was called to her final reward De- cember 17, 1869, and Mr. Tuller was subse- quently wedded to Elizabeth A. Shanholts, of Licking county, born in 1849. Five children graced tbe second union, namely: LeOda, born April 26, 1872; LeElda, who was born Novem- ber 12, 1874, and is the wife of Azro Perrin; Linden, born March 23, 1876; Olland, born Feb- ruary 12, 1878; and Worthy R., who died in in- fancy. The mother of these children died Au- gust 10, 1891, leaving many friends to mourn her loss. In politics Mr. Tuller is identified with the Republican party, being a strong believer in its principles. He is numbered among the lion- est, industrious and enterprising citizens of the township, and is respected throughout the com- munity for his sterling worth and unbounded liberality.
RUFUS B. MOORE, attorney at law, formerly the junior member of the well-known firm of Parker & Moore, Bowling Green, was born March 30, 1860, in Hancock county, Ohio, and is a son of Levi and Margaret (Line) Moore. His father was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1824, and his mother in the same county in 1826. They were married December 1. 1844, and cel- ebrated their golden wedding in 1894, on their farm in Wood county. Mr. Moore, Sr .. was reared upon a farm in the north part of Fairfield
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county, and received his education in the academy at Lythopolis, teaching for one year before his marriage, and for the same length of time after- ward. He then entered the ministry of the United Brethren Church, becoming an itinerant, and was presiding elder of Sandusky Conference for a number of years. He was also for a time financial agent of Otterbein University, at West- erville, Ohio. In pursuit of his calling he made his home at various places, among them being Fostoria, Galion, Green Springs, Westerville, Elmore, and Bowling Green, retiring from active work about two years ago.
Five children were born to the parents of our subject: Melissa, who married A. H. Berry, and died at Galion in 1880; Alida, who is at home with her parents; Flora E., who is a grad- uate of Otterbein University, married the Rev. P. B. Lee, and lives at White Cloud, Kans .; Rufus B .; and Cara A., who after teaching in the high schools of Hicksville and Fostoria, is now a stenographer in her brother's law office.
The subject of this sketch was graduated from the high school at Galion, Ohio, in 1878, with the highest honors of his class, and also with the same grade from Otterbein University, in 1883, where he took a full classical course. His father being in moderate circumstances, Mr. Moore paid nearly all his school expenses by teaching during the vacations, and during part of the school terms. After finishing his college course, he taught for one year in the grammar school at Bowling Green, then going to Cowley county, Kans., where he was superintendent of schools and high-school teacher at Burden for two years. During the summer vacation of 1885, he went out on the western prairies about fifty miles from any railroad, and into a new country, built himself a sod house, and took up a claim of 160 acres from the government, which he duly proved up, and for which he received a deed. In 1886 he returned to Bowling Green and studied law with R. S. Parker, being admitted to the bar in June, 1888, and immediately after formed a partnership with that gentleman under the firmn name of Parker & Moore. This partnership was continued until January 1, 1895, when Mr. Moore opened an office, and has since been doing busi- ness for himself. In the spring of 1887 he was elected township clerk, and has been re-elected at the end of each term ever since. In the spring of 1892 he was elected city solicitor of Bowling Green, and is now serving his third term in that office, having been re-elected in 1894 and 1896. He is a young man of more than ordinary intelligence and business ability,
and in the important positions he has held has gained the confidence and esteem of the entire community. He is popular with all classes of society, and has a brilliant future before him.
Mr. Moore was married January 1, 1889, to Miss May Rudolph, youngest daughter of J. R. and Mary Rudolph, who was born in Wood county, May 5, 1864, and died February 19, 1896. They have three children: Murton R., Donald R., and Harold B. In politics Mr. Moore is a Republican, and fraternally belongs to the K. of P. and I. O. O. F. He is a mem- ber of the United Brethren Church of Bowling Green, and does his share in supporting all pub- lic and philanthropic enterprises.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, Levi Moore, was born near Hagerstown, Md., in 1779, and came to Ohio in 1799. He married Miss Sarah Bright, and his sister Debbie became the wife of Major Bright, whose descendants are numerous in Hancock county. Levi Moore set- tled near the present site of the city of Colum- bus; removing from there to the northern part of Fairfield county, he took up land which is still in possession of the family. He died in 1858, and his wife in 1861. The Moore family is of Eng- lish descent.
GEORGE KNAUSS. The history of this leading farmer and prominent citizen of Plain township, if written out in full would be an interesting story of the trials and hardships of pioneer life in the early days of this great State, and also an illus- tration of what may be accomplished by a strong will and persistent energy in the face of all ob- stacles.
Mr. Knauss was born in Wurtemberg, Ger- many, March 21, 1830, and when a young man of eighteen years came with his parents to Amer- ica. He had obtained a good education in the excellent schools of his native land, but could not speak a word of English. On November 23. 1852, he was married to Miss Catharine Hirsch, also a native of Germany, born May 23, 1829. They settled on a rented farm in Medina county. Ohio, and from there caine, in 1854, to Wood county, where our subject worked for his father for two years, receiving for his services thirty- three and one-half acres of land. On this the young couple settled in a log house which Mr. Knauss built, and then the hard work of his life began. During the daytime he worked for neigh- boring farmers at fifty cents a day, and at night cleared his own land, and made such improve- inents as he was able. Many a time the sound of his axe was heard, while the blaze of his fire.
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burning the brush, was seen long after midnight, and daylight of the next morning found him up and ready to go to work again for the small pit- tance which supported himself and wife.
In 1856 Mr. Knauss rented a piece of prairie land, broke it up, and raised a good crop by which he cleared $600. This was his first real start in life, and this money was made under the greatest difficulties, for he was afflicted with that scourge of the early settlers, chills and fever, and worked straight on when really not able to be on his feet. Often when his wife brought his dinner to the field, so that he could eat while the ox-team was feeding, she would find him lying on the ground too sick to taste the food. Yet in spite of all this he persevered, and soon was on the high road to prosperity. A man with such pluck and endurance is bound to win in the end; and now Mr. Knauss, with his fine farm of 500 acres, his handsome home, one of the best in the county, and filled with all the comforts and lux- uries one could wish-surrounded by affection- ate children and grandchildren, and with the lov- ing companionship of his faithful wife who with him has borne the burden of care-can look back upon the hardships of his early years with coin- placency, and spend the remainder of his days in peace and contentment.
Ten children have blessed this happy home, of whom the following record is given: (1) Katie W., born September 5, 1853, is the wife of Au- gust Kaeding; they have seven children-George, Martin, Bertha, Edward, Adolph, Minnie, and Meta L. (2) George G., born May 23, 1855, is unmarried, and lives with his parents. (3) Mary J., born October 13, 1857, is the wife of John Hilt, of Fremont, Ohio, and has two children --- George and Theodore. (4) Matilda B., born De- cember 16, 1859, is the widow of William Fried- rich. (5) Adolph C., born March 9, 1862, mar- ried Mary Knettle (they live in Wood county, and have one child, Katie). (6) Anna E., born No- vember 20, 1864. (7) Fred C., born May 13, 1867. (8) Helena C., born December 16, 1869, married Jaines Brim, and they have three chil- dren-Walter, Ethel and Mabel. (9) Louise M., born February 2, 1873, died July 21, 1875. (10) Bertha O. L., born February 9, 1876. These children are all members of the Lutheran Church, and were educated in the district school.
Our subject's parents were George and Eliza- beth (Barbera) Knauss, both born in Wur- temberg, Germany, the former on January 23, 1803. and the latter on February 12, 18og. They were married in Germany, and came to America in 1848, locating first in Medina county, Ohio, 35
and in 1854 removing to Wood county, where the father died at Bowling Green April 10, 1879, and the mother on October 29, 1880. Fifteen chil- dren were born to them, of whom five grew to. maturity, as follows: George, the subject of this sketch; John, a farmer in Wood county; Amelia, wife of C. Heiser, of Riga, Mich .; Paulina, married to Levi Linegar, and living in Nebraska; Gilbert, a farmer in Wood county.
Mr. Knauss is known throughout the county as a progressive, public-spirited man, in favor of public enterprises, and always ready to assist in projects for the welfare of the people. He was the chief advocate of the stone road northi of Bowling Green, and contributed time and money for building the same. He gives it as his opinion that the chief reason why the German born citizens, who located in this part of Ohio, have outstripped the native-born farmers in the accumulation of wealth, is because of the supe- rior education of the Germans in agricultural matters, they having a better knowledge of the proper methods of tilling the soil, drainage, etc., and being able to make their land produce all it is capable of. Mr. Knauss is a well-in- forined man, a capable manager, and is highly esteemed by all who know him. In his political predilections he is a Democrat. but in voting he selects the man who, in his estimation, is best fitted for the place. He and his family are all members of the Lutheran Church.
JOSEPH E. BAIRD, clerk of the courts of Wood county, and one of the most courteous and popular officials at the county seat, was born November 12, 1865, at Perrysburg, where his parents still reside. Proud of being a " Wood county product," he has thoroughly identified himself with the interests of this locality, and in return the community has bestowed upon him a hearty indorsement at the very outset of his career.
C. C. Baird, his father, was born in 1830 in Stark county, Ohio, and came at an early age with his parents to Wood county, where he grew to manhood. He engaged in the hotel business at Perrysburg, and has also been prominent in the political work of the Republican party. hold- ing various offices, from constable to sheriff of the county. He was elected to the latter posi- tion in 1872, and served for two terms, after which he returned to Perrysburg. In 1858 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Croft, who was born at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1838.
Our subject, who is one of ten children born of this union, was obliged to depend upon his
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own exertions for an education, and was still further handicapped by the loss of a leg when he was ten years of age. But his worthy ambition was supported by fine mental gifts, and the re- sistless energy which a life of high moral ideals and correct habits develops, and he triumphed over every obstacle. After graduating from the high school at his native place, he taught for some years with marked success, was also asses- ser for two terms in his township, being elected on the Republican ticket in a strongly Demo- cratic neighborhood. Entering the Law depart- ment of the University of Michigan, he was graduated therefrom in 1893. In August of that year he became the candidate of his party for his present position, and three months later was elected by 1, 638 majority, being 319 more votes than were cast in his county for the head of the ticket, Governor Mckinley. His native town usually gives a Democratic majority of 175, but he carried it by 275 votes. The universal esteem in which he is held is largely due to his excellent principles and good habits, as well as to his recog- nized talents. Socially, he is a member of the K. of P., and the I. O. O. F. lodges, both of Perrysburg.
LEWIS C. EDGAR, attorney at law, and the popular mayor of Prairie Depot, Montgomery township, was born iu Stark county, Ohio, De- cember 18, 1846, and was a child of two years when his parents came to Wood county. Robert Edgar, the father of our subject, was born in Cork, Ireland, and came to America when eight years old. He was married in Pennsylvania to Miss Jeannette Perrine, a lady of Scotch extrac- tion. He was a poor man, and made his living by his trade, which was that of a carpenter, when he settled in Section 13, Montgomery township; later he came to Prairie Depot, where he died at about the age of eighty; his wife passed away when over seventy-six years old. They were the parents of thirteen children, our subject being the youngest, all but one living to maturity. In politics Robert Edgar was first a Whig, later a Republican.
Our subject received a limited education. He lived at home until his enlistment in January, 1864, when but a little over seventeen years old, at Freeport, in Company C, 72nd O, V. I., under Capt. Samuel J. Snyder. The first engagement was at Paducah, Ky., and the next with Sturgis' raid, in which our subject was taken prisoner near Ripley, Miss., and conveyed to Anderson- ville and other Southern prisons, where he re- mained nine months. He was then paroled and
went to Camp Chase, where he was discharged in June, 1865. Returning to Prarie Depot, he attended a select school, later going to Lebanon, Ohio, where he taught for awhile, and then at- tended school for two terms at Oberlin. In all' he taught for thirty-five terms, eighteen of which were at Prarie Depot, and all, with the exception of one, in Wood county. In 1873, Mr. Edgar began to read law with Lockwood & Everett, in Toledo, and later with Haines & Price. His study was interrupted by his teaching, but, in 1880, he resumed his reading with Brown & Guernsey, of Fostoria, and in the spring of 18S2 was admitted to the bar and opened an office in Bowling Green, where he remained until 1887. when he returned to Prairie Depot, and has lived and practiced there ever since.
On January 2, 1876, Mr. Edgar was married, in Montgomery township, to Miss Ida Gould, who was born in Scott township, Sandusky Co., Ohio, August 29, 1855, a daughter of John and Harriet (Cook) Gould. Mr. Edgar is a Republican; in his younger days was clerk of Montgomery township, and also served as a member of the board of education. In 1889 he was appointed mayor to fill an unexpired term, and with the exception of one term, lias served continuously since. He is a charter member of Petroleum Lodge No. 499, K. of P., at Prairie Depot, and he and his wife are members of the Church of Christ, in which he is an elder, and she is superintendent of the Mission Band. She is also a member of the Y, P. S. C. E., and the C. W. B. of M. Mr. Edgar gives his entire at- tention to his professional and official business.
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