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 28
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Our subject was a boy when his parents went to Seneca county, and he attended school in a log school house built by the neighbors. The teacher was paid by the parents according to the number of children in each family. Mr. Baker remained at home until after his father's death, when he started out for himself, and wandered around working at various kinds of employment. He began railroading-laying tracks and getting out timbers on the Mad River road, the first one in Ohio. He was for eight years a brakeman. running between Sandusky and Dayton, on the Mad River line. When a boy he worked on the suspension bridge at Wheeling, which was 960 feet long, and for years the largest bridge in the world.
Mr. Baker was married in Big Spring town- ship in 1850, to Miss Louisa Straus, who was born in Sandusky, in 1833, and was a daughter of David Straus, a farmer. The following chil- dren were born: Emily, who was married to
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David Kelly, and after his death wedded James Gangway, of Fort Wayne, Ind., now also de- ceased. She has three children: Almon, of whom see sketch elsewhere; George H., of Risingsun, who has four children; Jane is now Mrs. Samuel Sheller, of Muncie, Ind., and they have two chil- dren. Mrs. Baker died in 1863, while our sub- ject was in the army, and is buried in Prairie Depot. Mr. Baker was again married, his sec- ond wife being Miss Mary M. Hale, who died in 1869, and was buried in Hancock county. Our subject's present wife was a Miss Catherine Won- ders.
On March 22, 1861, Mr. Baker came to Montgomery township from Patterson, Hardin county, where he lived on a farm for three years. He bought 160 acres of land in Section 23, Montgomery township. and went in debt to the extent of $1, 500. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Co. B, 57th O. V. I., as a wagoner, was taken prisoner at Shiloh in April, 1862, but es- caped and returned to his regiment, with which he remained until he was again captured at Wolf River, with seventeen other teamsters, after being pursued for forty miles. While in the en- emy's camp news came in December, 1862, of the burning, by Federals, of the little town of Rowley, Tenn., near which they were encamped. The Confederate officer in charge of our subject and his fellow prisoners, swore that if the report was true he would hang six of his prisoners, and for a day each one expected to be one of the doomed six. They were paroled after two days, and our subject still has the Rebel parole that is given him. He joined his regiment at once, regardless of the parole in his inside pocket, which meant death if again cap- tured by the Confederates. This was unfor- tunately his fate a short time later at Milligan's Bend, Miss. He was taken to Pine Bluff, Ark .. and placed in jail, where he remained for eight days. He was tried as a spy, but was liberated and compelled to travel 600 miles through Ar- kansas. After much suffering from fatigue and hunger, having nothing to eat but corn, he final- ly struck the Mississippi river, 100 miles north of Cairo, Ill., came on to Ohio, and paid a visit home. He reported in parole camp at Cole, Ohio, and watched his chance to leave. He went out with men going to join Rosecrans at Nashville, but at Louisville he was returned to Cole, then exchanged and joined his regiment in Alabama, where he again took a team and fol- lowed with Sherman all through the war, and was present at the grand review in Washington. He was not discharged until August, 1865, at Little
Rock, Ark., when he came home, and has since been engaged in building bridges throughout Wood county, and in farming. For over two years he was at Risingsun, where he built a hotel, and was in that business during his stay there. He was a Democrat, but of late has not been a partisan. He and his wife are members of the Disciples Church.
Mr. Baker comes of a good family, and is a self-made man, and although well along in years he is in excellent condition, both mentally and physically. He is a respected citizen, and is in comfortable circumstances.
WILLIAM L. BROWNELLER, a highly-respected and public-spirited citizen of Wood county, is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred in Fayette county, September 28, 1860. His father was also born there, and was a son of Samuel Browneller. The father, Frederick Browneller, was a farmer by occupation, and in Fayette county married Margaret Springer, whose birth also occurred there. They were residents of their native locality until 1870, when they re- moved to Hancock county, Ohio, where the father purchased 120 acres of land in Liberty township, and afterward added to it an additional tract of forty acres. In 1887 the parents removed to Find- lay, Ohio, and their son David is now carrying on the old homestead. They were parents of the following named children: Mary, wife of Ellis Foltz, who is living near Findlay; William L. ; James, a farmer of Hancock county; David, on the old homestead; Sarah, wife of Jacob Rada- baugh, of Hancock county; Elizabeth, wife of Charles Conaway, of Hancock county; Joseph, Callie and Flora, at home.
Our subject was only nine years of age when his parents removed to Hancock county. He be- gan his education in his native county. and after- ward attended the district schools of Ohio. He completed his education by attendance one term in the Fostoria Academy, attendance two terms at the Findlay High School, and also two terms at the Ada Normal School, at Ada, Ohio. He then returned home and began farming.
In Findlay, on the 7th of February, 1882. Mr. Browneller was joined in wedlock with Miss Elizabeth Bolton, who was born in Hancock county, August 8, 1861, a daughter of Michael Bolton, deceased. Mr. Browneller brought his bride to Wood county, and settled on a farm of [53 acres belonging to his father, whereen he re- sided for seven years. He then purchased his present farm, comprising seventy-nine acres in Jackson township, and since taking up his resi-
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dence here has erected a fine home, built good barns, and inade other excellent improvements which add to the value and attractive appearance of the place. He is widely recognized as one of the leading and substantial agriculturists of Wood county. The home has been blessed with five children, but Clyde and Mabel are now deceased. The others are Gracie, Earl and Flossie, all un- der the parental roof.
In his political affiliations, Mr. Browneller is a stalwart Republican; but has neither time nor inclination for public office. He is an active member of the Church of God, of which he is now serving as elder, and has been superintend- ent of the Sunday-school.
J. H. RHEINFRANK, M. D., a leading physi- cian and surgeon of Perrysburg, was born Sep- tember 28, 1840, in Bridgewater, Michigan.
His grandparents, Zachariah and Margaret Rheinfrank, were natives of Bavaria, where John Rheinfrank, father of our subject, was born. The family came to the United States about the year 1830, and located at Detroit. John Rhein- frank was for several years engaged there in mer- cantile.pursuits, but later retired to a farm near Bridgewater, where he spent his remaining days. He was twice married, first to Miss Elizabeth Lindenschmidt, from which marriage resulted four children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest. The brother, George A., lives at the old homestead; one sister, Martha, has her home near Bridgewater; the other sister, Amelia, died in early youth. After the death of his first wife, the father married Christina Gruber, and to this union three children were born, all of whom are now living in Michigan.
Our subject attended the graded schools of Ypsilanti in his boyhood, and there early evinced a proficiency in the different lines of study which he pursued. In 1861, he graduated from the classical course of the Ypsilanti schools, and en- tered the literary department of the University of Michigan. At the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion, he made full preparations to go to the front; but on account of ill health was prevented from enlisting. In 1862, he was enrolled in the Medical Department at Ann Arbor, and two years later, 1864, took his degree of M. D., from that institution. Soon afterward. the Doctor came to Perrysburg, with the intention of making that place his future home, and the scene of his pro- fessional career. He endured the usual dis- couragements of a young practitioner in a strange city, but his high character and mental abilities soon won him a fine standing, as a citizen,
while his thorough training secured him a prac- tice which grew with the passing years.
Dr. Rheinfrank had not long been launched upon the high road of life when he married Miss Sophia W. Bruckner, a native of Monroe, Mich., and a lady of fine mental gifts and culture. The education of their four children has been the leading object of their lives, and they may well be proud of their efforts. Eva, who was very recently married to C. G. Lampman, of Buffalo, supplemented her fine literary education by a course in music at the Oberlin Conservatory; W. H. graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Michigan, and is now prac- ticing with his father; George B. has studied two years at the same University, and is at present pursuing a course in architecture, to be completed at Philadelphia; and Frederick Eugene has em - barked upon a six-years' schooling in the Law and Literary Departments at Ann Arbor.
Dr. Rheinfrank is a man of broad and gener- erons views, interested in all the questions of the day, and thoroughly alive to every progressive movement in his profession. He is fond of lit- erature, and speaks German and English with equal fluency. In politics, he is a Democrat, having always upheld the principles of true Democracy. He belongs to the fraternal orders of the F. & A. M. and the K. of P., and is a member of the Wood county, Northwestern Ohio, Ohio State, and American and International Medical Societies.
GEORGE W. SNYDER, a thrifty and successful farmer residing in Section 32, Lake township, was born in Liverpool, Medina Co., Ohio, Jan- uary 14, 1846, and is a son of Adam and Marga- ret (Snyder) Sayder, both natives of Bavaria. Germany, the former born in November, ISoo, and the latter in [ Sog. Ater their marriage in their native land, they came to America in 1832, locating first at Liverpool, Medina Co., Ohio, in the midst of a forest, and on that farm continued to live until coming to Troy township. Wood county, in 1855. They made a settlement on the Maumee & Western Reserve Pike, where their remaining years were passed, the father dying in 1879, and the mother in June, tsgt, in her eighty-second year. In early life they were members of the Reformed Church, but later be- came connected with the Lutheran denomina- tion, while in politics. Mr. Snyder was a Demo- crat. To them were born the following children Mary, deceased wife of William Zacharias: Adiet and Daniel, who are both married, and reside on the Maumee & Western Reserve Pike; Frederick.
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John H. Thein frank m&
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of Michigan; Jacob, of Woodville, Ohio; Cather- ine; Caroline, wife of William Gartman, of South Cleveland, Ohio; George W .; Lucien, of Troy township; David, of Paulding county, Ohio; and Henry, who is still living on the old homestead in Troy township.
Educated in a primitive school house, reared on a farm, with its usual hardships and priva- tions, were the marked features of the early life of our subject. At the age of ten years he had accompanied his parents to Wood county, where he continued his studies, which had been begun in Medina county. He also learned the trade of a carpenter, at which he worked in Perrysburg for a number of years, and was also employed at the same occupation throughout the county until his marriage.
On September 9, 1871, Mr. Snyder was mar- ried to Miss Lucy Goss. She was born in April, 1845, on the farm now owned and occupied by our subject, and is a daughter of John and Han- nah (Lewis) Goss, both natives of England, who were among the pioneers of Lake township, where the father died in 1871, at the age of sixty-six years, and the mother in 1882, at the age of eighty-two years. They were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in their family were four children: William, of Troy township; Louis, who resides in Lucas county, near Toledo, Ohio; Mary E., wife of Frederick Snyder; and Lucy, wife our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have one child, Elsie E., who is attending school. They also reared his nephew, A. G. Snyder, who now practices med- icine in Toledo, Ohio. He was educated by our subject, who also sent him to medical college, and gave him a lot in Toledo which he owned.
Mr. Snyder devotes his attention to general farming, and having a large amount of industry, perseverance and energy, has made a noble record as an agriculturist, and stands to-day one of the substantial and reliable citizens of the county. Besides his valuable farm, he also owns city property in Toledo. In his political faith he is a stanch and unswerving Democrat; socially is con- nected with the Masonic fraternity; and religiously is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Stony Ridge, this county.
FREDERICK HERRINGSHAW has been a resident of Wood county since the age of four years, and that his life is a well-spent one is indicated by the fact that those who have known him from boyhood are numbered among his stanchest friends. He was born in Huron county, Ohio, May 19, 1856, and is a son of John and Mary A.
(Lyon) Herringshaw. He is indebted to the dis- trict schools of Liberty township for his educa- tional privileges, and his first teacher was a Mr. Woodbury, an excellent instructor, and a strict disciplinarian. He left school at the age of eight- een, and afterward devoted his entire attention to the work of the home farm until his marriage.
In Findlay, Ohio, September 13, 1883, Mr. Herringshaw was joined in wedlock with Nora B. Needham a native of Ohio, born September 29, 1863, and a daughter of Amos and Jennie (Edgar) Needham. Her mother died when Mrs. Herringshaw was a small child, and she was reared by strangers, being an inmate of the home of Mr. Dirk, of North Baltimore, at the time of her marriage. Four children have been born to our subject and his wife, namely: John, who was born July 21, 1884; William Frederick, born May 17, 1887; Lula Viola, born June 9, 1892, and Frederick Merl, born August 8, 1896.
Prior to his marriage, Mr. Herringshaw had purchased ninety-seven acres of land upon which he has since resided, forty acres lying in Liberty township, the remaining fifty-seven acres in Henry township. He has made all the improvements upon the place, has cleared his farm of indebted- ness, and is to-day numbered among the substan- tial citizens of the community. His political sup- port is given the Republican party, but he has never sought office. His wife is a member of the United Brethren Church, of Wingston. The cause of education finds in Mr. Herringshaw a warm friend, and he is a thorough gentleman, possessed of many excellent qualities.
JAMES STRATSBERY, a prominent agriculturist and fruit-grower of Weston township, was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, March 15, 1830, and is the son of Napoleon B. and Mary (Lowe) Stratsbery.
The father of our subject was born in Virginia, of English parentage, and when a young man took up his residence in Guernsey county, Ohio, where he followed farming, and where he was married. Fifteen children were born to him, of whom James is the eldest; the others in the order of their births are as follows: Robert resides in Indiana: Rosanna, wife of Thomas Westbrook, resides in Brown county, Ind .; Ebenezer is a farmer in Wisconsin; Margaret is the wife of Joseph Shipman, of Weston; William is a farm- er in Weston township: Mahlon is a resident of Brown county, Ind. ; Elizabeth is the wife of David Kesster, and lives in Michigan: Finlay is a resident of Brown county, Ind. ; Joshua is residing in Brown county, Ind. ; Sarah Ann (Mrs. John
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Paimer) lives in Noble county, Ohio; Wesley is deceased; the other three died in infancy. The father of this large family died in Mercer county, Ohio, in 1867, the mother surviving him until 1895.
The subject of this sketch obtained his educa- tion in the schools of Noble county, Ohio, and was there employed at the breaking out of the Civil war. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in Company K, 40th .O. V. I., under Col. Cramer and Capt. Knapp. The family of Napoleon Stratsbery was well represented in the Union ranks-the father and four sons (James, Robert. Ebenezer and Finlay) all becoming soldiers, and serving throughout the war. Among the battles in which our subject participated were those of Middle Creek and Sand River, at the latter of which he was wounded in both legs, and was sent to the hospital, from which he was discharged in IS63. After recovering from his severe injuries Mr. Stratsbery went to Cambridge, Ohio, and engaged in the manufacture of corn-shellers, in which he met with good success. Later he went into the manufacture of brooms and lath, subse- quently taking up contracting on railroad work, building ditches, etc. Among the contracts he carried out were the Jackson cut-off, the con- struction of six miles of the Nickel Plate, six miles of grading on the Coldwater railway, and six miles on the P. F. & W. railway. In 1879 he purchased twenty-five acres of land in Weston township. to which he has added by degrees until he now owns 115 acres, and has become one of the largest fruit and berry growers in the county. His place is finely improved, having on it a hand- some residence, as well as capacious barns and outbuildings, and in the summer season, when luscious berries tempt the palate, and, later, the autumn fruits hang heavy on the boughs, it is a delightful spot to visit. The well-known hospi- tality of the owner and his interesting family draws to his pleasant home a large circle of friends and acquaintances, and many pleasant reunions take place there.
Mr. Stratsbery has been twice married, first time in Guernsey county, Ohio, April 16, 1851, to Miss Mary A. Stoner, and they had four chil- dren, only one of whom is now living. A brief record of them is as follows: Flora died when seventeen years old: Ernest E., who was a farmer and speculator in land bonds, and loaned money, died in Wyandot county, Ohio, in IS92; Joseph was a professor of elocution in Valparaiso, Ind., and died in 1888; Foster is a baggage- tnaster on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad, at Burlington, Iowa. The mother of
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these children passed away in 1865, and July I. 1866, Mr. Stratsbery was married, in Weston, to Miss Anna Lingo, who was born January 7. 18.12. and six children have blessed their union: James, a farmer in Weston township; John W., assist- ing his father in the management of his property. and is an energetic and enterprising young man who has a bright future before him; Fred; Ger- trude; and Mary Grace, who died when nine years of age.
Mr. Stratsbery is a Republican in politics, and is a loyal citizen. He is a prominent member of the G. A. R., belonging to Neibling Post, No. 20, at Weston. He is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge at Weston, and has taken the third de- gree; belongs, also, to the I. O. O. F. and En- campment, and to the K. of P., and he and his wife are members of the Order of Rebekah. Mrs. Stratsbery is also a member of the Woman's Re- lief Corps, and of the Aid Society. in all these organizations taking a prominent part, and being well known for her efficiency and executive ability.
Mr. and Mrs. Stratsbery have witnessed many changes in their lives, and have taken no small part in the progress and growth of the community in which they have so long resided. They are now seeing the results of their labors, and, in the midst of their family and large number of friends, are enjoying a quict and comfortable life, con- scious that their best efforts have been given to their country and their fellowmen.
PETER NYSWANDER, a pioneer farmer of Weston township, was born in Fairfield county. Ohio, September 6, 1834. The father of our subject, Christian Nyswander, was born in Berne. Switzerland, and came to this country with his parents when he was twelve years of age, they settling in Fairfield county. He married Eliza- beth Deering, and six children were born to them as follows: Peter; Mary, who is the wife of Levi Simons, of Bloom township; John E., who died in Bloom township; Sarah, who married Adam Rettick, and lives in Florida, Henry Co., Ohio: Reuben, a resident of Napoleon, Ohio; and Jen- nie, who married John Long, a merchant of
Paulding county. The father of our subject re- moved to Milton township, Wood county, buying and afterward selling 160 acres of land. thence going to Missouri, where he remained six years. at the end of which time he returned to Bloom township. His death occurred December 31 1893, at Florida, Henry Co., Ohio. The mother died in Bloom township in 1881.
Peter Nyswander went to school in Miltoa
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township in the old log school house, which was the temple of learning in those early days, and was instructed in the branches then taught, which, it is safe to say, did not extend far beyond the " three R's." He worked for his father un- til he was nineteen years old, and then started in life for himself. For the next six or seven years he was employed in clearing up land for other people, at the close of that period buying sixty acres of unimproved land on which was built a log cabin, and devoted himself to its improve- ment. In the course of time he added some thirty-two and a half acres to it, and as the result of hard and patient labor he has to-day a valuable property under a good state of cultivation. The log house is supplanted by a handsome residence, and the rude outbuildings by fine barns, while modern machinery lessens the work of the farm- er. In this pleasant home Mr. Nyswander is reaping the reward of his early years of hardship and toil, and, with his interesting family about him, is taking life easily and comfortably.
Our subject was married at Napoleon, Ohio, 1871, to Susan Beverson, who was born Feb- ruary 6, 1853. Her father, Samuel Beverson, was a shoemaker by trade, and also followed farming. He married Maria Weaver, and twelve children were born to them. He and his wife, both of whom have reached a good old age, are now living in Fulton county, Ohio.
To Mr. and Mrs. Nyswander six children have been born as follows: Jennie May, April 22, 1872; Sarah E., September 26, 1873; Edward, March 31, 1876; Reuben, January 9, 1878; Ella M., January 18, 1886; and Jacob, April 17, 1889. In politics our subject is a Populist. He has been a school director for a number of terms, and is a man highly regarded by his fellow citi- zens for his integrity, good common sense and liberal-minded views.
DAVID GIRTON (deceased) was a native of the Keystone State, born in Columbia county, on July 19, 1813, and, as his inother died when he was quite small, he was reared by a maternal aunt. When a young man he removed with rela- tives to Ashland county, Ohio, where he met the lady who now bears his name. In Orange town- ship, that county, on May 21, 1844, he was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Fast, who was there born May 7, 1825, and is a daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Rex) Fast. Her paternal grandfather, Christian Fast, was one of the well- known pioneers of Ashland county, in whose life many interesting incidents occurred, which have appeared in print many times. At one time he
was taken by the Indians, and held in captivity for eighteen months.
For seventeen years, Mr. Girton resided in Orange township, Ashland county, and on coming to Wood county, in 1861, was still in debt for his farm of eighty acres there. He was a hard-work- ing, energetic man, and all that he liad was se- cured through his own labors. He drove through to Wood county, bringing his family, which then comprised nine children, and in Perry township purchased eighty acres of land in Section 10, and twenty acres in Section 11. Eight acres of the amount only had been cleared, and the improve- ments consisted only of a log cabin and pig pen. A heavy growth of timber covered the place. and the land was mostly under water, especially in the spring, the only means of going to the neighbors being to walk on the logs in order to keep from getting wet. Mr. Girton continued to improve and cultivate his land until his death, which oc- curred April 3, 1869, and his remains were in- terred at Perry Center. In height he was five feet eight inches, weighed only 135 pounds, was never very strong, and his health was quite poor the last two years of his life. In politics he was a Democrat, and as a citizen had the respect and confidence of all who knew him.
At his death he left the widow with a family of ten children, and a debt of $600 upon his place. With the help of her sons, Mrs. Girton was able to keep her home, and to-day has 120 acres of as good land as can be found anywhere in the township. The place is neat and thrifty in appearance, the buildings are of substantial char- acter, and all the improvements found thereon have been made by members of the family.
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