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 23
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
his locality. No one in the county is a warmer friend of education, or has done more in its in- terests, than Mr. Stearnes, and the advantages now enjoyed by the children of Perry township are in a great measure due to his untiring efforts in their behalf.
Mr. Stearnes was reared upon a farm, and early in life showed such business ability that he was intrusted with matters of great magnitude for one of his youth, and he managed them with discretion and excellent judgment. He remained upon his father's farm until one year after his marriage, and in 1876, removed to the farm on which the "Old Stone House" stands and which is still his home. This old mansion, his first residence, is one of the land marks of Perry township, and was built in 1840 by a Mr. Brown. Mr. Stearnes purchased 117 acres here of his father, and at once moved onto it, his entire possessions being conveyed to the place in three loads, such as a one-horse sled could carry. The land was wet, and but little draining had been done, and, with his poor team and still poorer equipment, our subject found an up-hill task be- fore him. His energy and industry were, how- ever, equal to the emergency, and by constant labor and untiring perseverance, as well as good management, he succeeded in bringing it under a fine state of cultivation. He has at present 160 acres of excellent land, and in 1892 built one of the finest pressed brick residences in Wood county. His barns and outbuildings are also of the best, and the entire place bears evidence of careful thrift and labor. Mr. Stearnes has done considerable ditching by contract throughout the county, and, since the discovery of oil and gas in this section, has done a large amount of work in teaming, etc., for the oil producers.
Our subject was married September 2, 1875, to Miss Sarah Kyes, who was born August 21, 1855, in Freedom township, this connty. Her father, Samuel Kyes, was a native of Lorain county, Ohio, and was a farmer by occupation. He served as a one-hundred-days' man in the war of the Rebellion. His wife, mother of Mrs. Stearnes, was Mary, daughter of John Fish, who died in 1864. Their children were as follows: Sarah, wife of our subject; Caroline, wife of Everett E. Householder, living near Hoytville, Ohio; and Mary A., wife of Albert Addelsperger, of Seneca county, Ohio. On the death of his first wife Mr. Kyes was again married, his choice being Mrs. Mary A. Silverwood, who bore him two sons. Of these, William lives in Bowling Green, Ohio, and Samuel was killed by a falling tree when a lad of seventeen. The father died
in Center township, Wood county, when nearly sixty years of age. Mrs. Stearnes was only nine years of age when her mother died, and the children were scattered among different families, she working for her living until her marriage. She is a most estimable woman, and is a good wife and mother. The following children have come to bless the union of our subject and his wife: Nellie, born June 27, 1876; Alice, who died when three years old; Samuel, born May II, 1880; Albert B., born December 17, 1882; Sarah A., born April 9, 1885; and Pearl, born June 17, 1888.
Mr. Stearnes has always been an ardent Re- publican, and is a leading member of his party in Perry township. He has served three years as township trustee, and has been a director of School District No. ; for some nine years. In both these offices he has done much for the growth and welfare of his township, and is looked upon as one of its most valued citizens. By the will of his father, Mr. Stearnes was made one of the administrators of his estate, consisting of over 300 acres of land and $10,000 of personal property. He is a member of No. 445 Lodge, K. of P., at West Millgrove, and both he and his wife belong to the Rathbone Sisters, of Bloomdale
J. M. BAUM, one of the prominent and repre- sentative men of Ross township, is engaged in general farming and gardening in Section 33. where he located in 1872, at that time purchas -- ing a partially improved farm of forty acres. He also devotes some attention to fruit raising, in which he has been quite successful. He is a na- tive of Ohio, born in Northfield township, Sun- mit county, on Christmas Day, 1833, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Purkey) Baum. the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania. As early as 1801, however, he accompanied his fa- ther, George Baum, to Columbiana county, Ohio. where the latter, at that time. purchased 160 acres of land of the government at $1. 25 per acre. The city of Salem is now built on the same. George Baum was a native of Germany, and was born November 17. 1754. At the age of seventeen he sailed for America, but, on account of bad weather, he was six months on the voyage. He landed at Philadelphia, and was "sold" to a man for three years, to pay his passage, the sum being twelve dollars. In 178; he was married to Mary Higgin, a native of Pennsylvania.
Thomas Baum was married in Columbian ; county. In ISet he became a resident of North field township, Summit county, where he pur- clased a farmi eighteen miles from Cleveland,
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paying three dollars per acre for same, and there his death occurred December 24, 1862. His wife departed this world on her birthday, June 28, 1855, at the age of fifty-eight. They reared a family of six children: John enlisted in the ILIth Regiment, O. V. I., in Williams county, Ohio, and served nearly three years; he died in that county, November 16, 1865. Mrs. Sarah Powell makes her home in Northfield township, Summit county. Mrs. Mary White resides in Jennings county, Ind. . Mrs. Martha Horner lives at Akron, Ohio. Mrs. Elizabeth Silver also makes her home in Jennings county, Ind. A. M. Baum completes the family list.
During his boyhood and youth our subject attended the district schools of his native county, and assisted his father in clearing up and devel- oping his land. In 1853 he married Maria L. Wetherill, who was born in Vermilion, Erie Co., Ohio, and is a daughter of William and Sarah (Boughey) Wetherill, the former a native of England, the latter of Erie county. The father was one of the first settlers of Plyinouth, Huron Co., Ohio, where he opened up a farm; but his death occurred in Ross township, this county. The mother has also departed this life. To our subject and wife two children have been born: William T., who is married, and resides in Ross township, and Rosetta A., wife of Horace Rideout, of the same township.
In politics Mr. Baum is a Democrat, and takes considerable interest in all the campaigns of that party. He served as the first justice of the peace of Ross township, and acceptably filled that office for six years. Being very fond of hunting, he used to come to Wood county as early as 1855, when game here was quite plenti- ful, and engage in that sport. He has always taken a deep interest in everything for the good of the county, and was one of the promoters of the Woodville stone road.
JOHN SCHON, a native of Gerinany, was born in the village of Hontheim, Kreis Wittlich, Bey- erk Trier, on the Rhine, April 26, 1836. His father, Casper Schon, who was a farmer of that locality, married Anna Simmons. They spent their entire lives in that village, and to them were born the following named children: Ho- bartus and Barbara, both now deceased; Marga- ret, Christina, Mathias, Annie, Mary and Peter, all six deceased; Casper, a farmer of Milton town- ship; and john.
The last named was reared as a farmer boy, and acquired his education through attendance at the common schools between the ages of six
and thirteen years. At the age of twenty-three he entered the German army, and served for three years. At the place of his nativity, in the year 1862, Mr. Schon was united in marriage with Barbara Steffens, who was also born in that village, and in 1866 they came to America, sail- ing from Rotterdam to Liverpool, where they spent sixteen days. They were then obliged to return to Rotterdam, on account of the illness of their eldest child; but after two days they took passage on the sailing vessel " Disburk," which reached New York four weeks later. From there they at once came to Wood county, and Mr. Schon purchased twenty acres of wild land in Milton township, on which he built a plank house; then turned his attention to the develop- ment of a farm. In 1882 he sold that property. and purchased eighty acres of land on Jackson Prairie; but subsequently he bought his present farm, comprising seventy-eight acres. For this land he gave $5,000, and has since made many excellent improvements upon it, so that he now has one of the most highly developed and desir- able country homes in Wood county.
The children born to John and Barbara Schon were: Casper, who died at the age of three years: John, a wagon maker, of Michigan; Annie, wife of John Pouff, of Ohio; Frank, a black- smith, of Milton, Ohio; Mary, wife of Charles Koch, of Milton township; and Clement, of Illi- nois. The mother of these died in 1873. and was laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery at Cus- tar. In 1875 Mr. Schon was again married, his second union being with Margaret Schmitz, a na- tive of Germany, born February 2. 1841, and who came to this country in 1873. By this mar- riage there were six children: Joseph, now of Lorain county, Ohio; Margaret and Nicholas. both at home; Peter, who died in infancy; Peter, the second of the name; and Lena, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Schon are members of St. Louis Catholic Church, of Custar, toward the building of which he was a liberal contributor.
ANTON SCHUSTER, a well-known saloon-keeper of Grand Rapids, was born March 4, 1849, in 'Wirfus, Rhine Province, the only child of Frank and Sophia (Wolf) Schuster. The father was a native of the same place, born September S. ISto, and came to America in 1863, locating on a farm in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where he died AApril 18, 1864. The mother died when our sub- ject was but a child. For his second wife Frank Schuster married Anna M. Wolf, by whom he had five children: Nicholas, now a resident of Custar; Jacob, a farmer in Milton township; Will- 1
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
iam, who died in childhood; one daughter, who died in childhood; and Peter, now living in Mil- ton township with Anna M. Schuster, his mother.
Anton Schuster came to America with his father, and remained in Cuyahoga county until 1870, when he went to Keokuk county, Iowa, and there remained for two years. On his return to Ohio he settled in Custar, where he followed the trade of carpenter eight years; then moved to Weston, and engaged in the saloon business. After two years there he transferred his business to Grand Rapids, where he has since resided. He has prospered, and has built a fine brick busi- ness block there. In 1883, Anton Schuster mar- ried Miss Mary B. Shamberger, a native of Lucas county, born October 2, 1864, and died July 27, 1884. On November 17, 1885, Mr. Schuster for his second wife married Elizabeth F. Long, who was born December 25. 1858, in Lucas county, and four children have blessed this union: Clare Cecelia, deceased; George C .; Omer F., and Zgro Ross. In politics Mr. Schuster is a Democrat, and he is a leading member of the Roman Catholic Church, of which his parents were also adherents.
RUBELLUS J. SIMON, M. D., the leading and scholarly physician of Pemberville, was born on a farm in Bloom township, Wood Co., Ohio, August 9, 1846, being the next to the eldest son of Levi Simon, whose biography appears else- where in this volume.
Our subject is one of ten children, whose names with dates of birth are as follows: My- conius N., March 3, 1845; Rubellus J. (the sub- ject of this sketch); Damiette, December 18, 1847 (she married Frank Ledyard, of Bloom township, and died August 23, 1884); Jerusha, October 10, 1850 (she died November 10, 1872); Belenia, August 6, 1852 (she married D. A. Deal, and died November 11, 1884); Poliander, July 22, 1856 (a remarkable child, and at the time of his death August 30, 1863, was intellectually equal to many of double his years); Montibello and Mettilene (twins) March 28, 1859 (the former now a farmer and dairyman of Bloom township; the latter died September 4, 1863): Phoebe E., June 11, 1861 (an unusually gifted child, possess- ing mental development far beyond her age at her death, December 30, 1877); and Elma O., February 19, 1863 (now Mrs. Jacob Fischer, of Helena, Montana).
The boyhood years of our subject were spent at his father's farm. His early education was obtained under the direction of his parents, both of whom had been teachers, and were well fitted to train him for a life of usefulness and honor.
At sixteen he entered the Poland Union Seminary, becoming a student in that institution the same year that Gov. Mckinley completed his studies there. After nine months in the seminary, he received a teacher's certificate, and entered that profession, teaching the Mackey school. in Bloom township. For several terms he taught there and in other districts, then entered the Findlay High School, where he continued his studies for eight months. Later he taught in the grammar school in the same institution for three terms, after which he entered. Oberlin College, expect- ing to fit himself more thoroughly for the profes- sion of a teacher.
Two years were spent in study at Oberlin College, but meantime his ambition changed. Noticing that most of those who devoted their lives to teaching remained poor, and having a de- sire to gain possession of some of this world's goods by honest exertion, he determined to abandon the profession upon which he had en- tered. However, he taught a few terms after- ward, and in that way gained the means with which to prosecute his medical studies. Under Dr. S. B. Emerson, of Eagleville, he began to read medicine, then took a course of lectures at the Eclectic Medical College, of Cincinnati, after which he continued to study and practice with Dr. Emerson for a year and a half. Later he took another course of lectures at the same col- lege, graduating May 13, 1873. In August of the same year he opened an office at Pemberville, and commenced the practice of his chosen pro- fession.
On March 4, 1874, DI. Simon was married to Mary A., daughter of Henry Mohr, of Eagle- ville. At that time he was in debt $600.00, but success came to him quickly, and at the end of a year he was out of debt and owned a house and lot. From that time to this he has had a large practice, and lias acquired a splendid compe- tence. In addition to professional duties, he has done an extensive business in fire insurance, and is medical examiner for two of the leading life- insurance companies of the United States -- the New York Life and the Mutual Life of New York. He is the owner of 180 acres of fine land in the oil regions, which alone represent a small fortune. His home is a beautiful one, and he also owns other property.
Formerly Dr. Simon was identified with the M. E. Church, but there being no Church of that denomination in Pemberville at the time he set- tled there, he became interested in the Fresh- terian faith, assisted in the organization of the Church here, and was for eight years its only
3
Mary a. Smon
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
elder. He has served in that office up to the present time, and has always been one of the most active workers, not only in the Church, but also in the Sunday-school, of which he was form- erly superintendent. For six years he has been a member of the board of education, during which time the new school building was erected. During his service of four years as a member of the city council, the new city hall was built. In fact, he has been one of the most influential resi- dents of the place, and has been prominent in so- cial, professional and business circles. He is a great lover of fine horses, and is proud of having a team that will not " take dust" from any other team in Wood county.
Dr. and Mrs. Simon have had four children, two of whom died in infancy, and one, Ina, when three months old. The only one living is Nina O., a bright and attractive child. now, fall of 1896, about four years old. In politics, the Doctor is a strong Republican, which is also the political faith of ninety-five per cent. of the entire Simon family, now numbering seven or eight hun- dred members.
CHARLES MERCER, a wealthy retired agricult- urist of Bowling Green, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, April 22, 1826, but. has been for over sixty years a resident of Wood county, where his parents were among the pioneers.
His father, William Mercer, was born in Lan- caster county, Penn., May 13, 1775. On the 8th of November, 1798, he married Miss Charity Pettit, a native of Lancaster county, born June 17, 1781. Her parents, Daniel and Martha Pet- tit, both lived to a good old age, the former dy- ing in 1831 at the age of eighty-seven, the latter in 1827, aged seventy-six. For many years after their marriage they lived on a farm in Colum- biana county, Ohio, but September 20, 1834, they settled in Wood county upon a tract of wild land purchased from the government, which has since been developed into a fine farm. They were prominent members of the Christian Church, to which all their descendants adhere. The father died March 2, 1839, the mother February 2, 1855.
Our subject was the youngest of thirteen chil- dren, of whom three are still living. The names with dates of birth and death are as follows: Martha, September 20, 1799, 1830 (married An- drew Pettit); Mary Ann, May 4, 1801, 1875 (married Enos Monehan); George, April 27, 1803, September 1, 1890; William, August 13, 1805, 1849; John, September 9, 1807, March 4, 1890; Daniel, October 10, 1809, August, 1885; Beulah,
November 27, 1811, April, 1887 (married William Pike); Caleb, born March 24, 1814, lises in Bowling Green; Charity, April 3, 1316, 1875 (mar- ried Samuel Taylor); Lucretia, May 12, 1318, De- cember 17, 1847 (married Henry Groves); Abra- ham, July 8, 1820, lives at Rudolph, Ohio; Ellis Ann, born April 24, 1822, died at the age of two years; Charles, the youngest, is our subject. Beulah left a great many descendants in the vicin- ity of DesMoines, Iowa, and Charity left a large family in Lawrence county, Penn., and to the north of Enon Valley.
Onr subject was but eight years old when he came to this county, and his education was ob- tained in the public school at Portage. He re- mained at the old homestead until 1888, when he retired from active work and came to Bowling Green to live. He was married in 1855 to Miss Jane Mominee, who was born in Lucas county, February 28, 1840, the daughter of Anthony and Angeline (De Mars) Mominee. Of the six children of Charles Mercer and wife. three are living. (1) Lenora, born August 3, 1856, died January 6, 1865. (2) Hiram, born December 31, 1857, died January 23, 1867. (3) Abram F .. born August 1, 1855, lives at the old homestead. He was married February 26, 1879, to Miss Frances C. Frisbie, who was born in Wood county, November 10, 1859. They have had four children-Clayton. Elmer, Blanche and Leonard, of whom, the eldest died aged ten years. (4) Hamilton, born October 22, 1860, died Jan- uary 7, 1861. (5) J. D., born March 27, 1863, lives upon a part of the old farin. He votes the Prohibition ticket, while his father and brother are ardent Republicans. He was married April 6, 1884, to Miss Rebecca Aller, a native of Geauga county, born May 5, 1863, and has three children-Lorenzo, Ina, and Hazel. (6) Alnetta. born May 6, 1870, was married January 2, 1891. to H. J. Rudolph, and lives in Rudolph, Ohio.
Mr. Mercer united with the Christian Church at the age of eighteen, and has been an active worker in its interests throughout his manhood
Mrs. Mercer's grandfather, Louis Mominee, was born in 1740, in Quebec, Canada. in 1859, immediately after Montcalm's defeat. he came thence to what was at that time the Territory of Michigan, settling in Monroe county, near Monroe. In 1761 he married Leahr Preedom, and twenty- two children were born to them, of whom An- thony Mominee, Mrs. Mercer's father, was the twentieth. He was born Jannary 15. 1;85. 11 Monroe county, Mich., and died July 5, 1554. He served throughout the war of 1812, and during that struggle was taken prisoner by the Indians.
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On February 17, 1817, he married Margaret Duso, and by her had two children. On June 4, 1821, he wedded Angeline De Mars, who was born October 11, 1800, and ten children blessed their union, seven of whom are yet living. The only son, Peter, enlisted in 1864, in Company A, 130th O. V. I., and served sixty days in the summer of that year. He is now a resident of East Toledo, Ohio: Of the six daughters, Angeline Ducat, Margaret and Matilda McCullock, reside in East Toledo; Mary Edom, in Barry, Ill .; Elizabeth Ducat, and Jane, the wife of our subject, live in Bowling Green.
ANDREW J. RICKARD (deceased) was one of the most prominent and influential business men of Milton, and at the time of his decease was serving his second term as mayor of that city. Through his various commercial interests he proved an important factor in the upbuilding of the town, and no one is more missed in the community. He was born in Chautauqua coun- ty, N. Y., March 20, 1844. His father, Andrew Jackson Rickard, when a young man learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in connec- tion with farming during the greater part of his life. He married Hannah Rockwell, of Chautau- qua county, where they resided until 1852, then they removed to Erie county, Ohio, the father renting a farm in Milan township. In 1862 he came by wagon with his family to Wood county, and settled on a farm near Bowling Green. In 1864, in connection with our subject, he purchased fifty acres of land in Plain township, on which stood an old log cabin which he made his home for a number of years. In 1880 he lost his wife by death, after which event he married Maria Porter, widow of Rance Porter. He is now liv- ing in a home in Milton, built for him by our subject.
Andrew J. Rickard, whose name introduces this sketch, was one of a large family, the others being Ellen, deceased wife of Henry Gross: Zinie. of Erie county, Ohio; George W., of Sandusky county, who was a member of Company D, 34th O. V. I., during the Civil war, and was captured at Harper's Ferry; Orange J., now of Henry county, Ohio; Elizabeth, wife of William Sheets, . of Milton, who was a soldier of the zend O. V. I. ; Isaac, who is living near Leipsic, Ohio; Philip, of Milton; John, of Weston; Liddy, who died at the age of seven years; and Nathan, who died in Milton Center at the age of thirty. Our subject attended school in his native county; but had to pay a tuition fee, and the teachers boarded round among the scholars. He was a lad of | own efforts. He. died at his home in Milton
eight when the family went to Erie county, Ohio, where he continued his education and was mak- ing preparations to pursue a college course when the Civil war broke out. In July, 1861, at the age of seventeen, he became a private, in Eric county, of Company D, 34th Ohio Regiment of Zouaves, under Capt. Furney. At Cincinnati the troops einbarked on a vessel for West Virginia. At the battle of Princeton, under Gen. Cox, our subject was severely wounded in the leg by a revolver shot. He fell into the enemy's hands, and was sent to a Rebel hospital, where he lay for ten months, when he was paroled and joined his regiment as soon as able. His next battle was at Fayetteville, wherein he received a severe gunshot wound. He was taken prisoner at Rocky Gap, and sent to Andersonville, where he remained until September, when he was transferred to Savannah, Ga., and on the 12th of October sent to the stockades at Milan, Ga. There he was exchanged, and November 19. 1864, boarded a boat on the Savannah river. At Charleston, in the fall of 1863, he had re-enlisted as a veteran, and was finally mustered out at Wheeling Island, July 29, 1865.
Mr. Rickard then returned to Weston, and began work in a sawmill for Clark, McDonald. Richardson & Stone. In that place he pur- chased a home, for he had been married in the meantime. While home on a parole, after his release from Andersonville, he was wedded in Monroeville, Huron Co., January 17, 1864, to Emina Cole, who was born in Huron county, Ohio, August 31, 1843, and on the 9th of Au- gust, 1866, Alice, their only child, was born. She is now the wife of David Willier, a resident of Milton township, and has two children. Mr. Rickard traded his property in Weston for a saw- mill in Milton, and began business in this place. His new property was afterward destroyed by fire; but with characteristic energy he rebuilt. and later bought out his partner, Mr. Whitaker. continuing alone for a number of years. For a time he conducted two sawmills, and was also the owner of a farm of 120 acres, but this he sold at the time the mill burned in order to ac- quire the capital with which to rebuild. after a second fire, in which he lost between $6,000 and $7,000 worth of property. In May. 1885, he purchased a drug store, and up to his death con ducted a large and profitable business in that line. In addition he operated a planing-mill and sawmill, and was recognized as one of the most progressive and enterprising business men of Wood county, his success being all due to his
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