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 36
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Like many of the men who have contributed to the development of the resources of Wood county, Mr. Gault it a native of the Keystone State, having been born in Salisbury township, Lancaster county, November 10, 1831, and is a
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son of William and Margaret (Goodman) Gault, who were the parents of thirteen children, seven sons and six daughters. Our subject was next to the youngest, and was only four years old when his mother died, while at sixteen he was left an orphan. His education was very limited, and he was early employed as a farm hand, receiving $2.50 per month when fourteen years old. In 1850 he left his native State, going by way of Pittsburg, Beaver, Canton and Massillon, Ohio, to Perry township, Ashland county, where for two years he was employed by Jacob Gardner.
In that township, in April, 1852, Mr. Ganlt was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Morr, who was there born June 30, 1829, and is a daughter of John and Hannah (Sonda) Morr, German farming people who came from Center county, Penn. Seven children were born of this union: Oliver P., who died at the age of twen- ty-two years; Hannah S., who died at the age of seventeen; Francis M., a farmer of Jackson town- ship, Wood county; John M., who died at the age of twenty-five; William E., a farmer of Han- cock county; and Ezra L. and Howard W., at home.
For a time Mr. Gault rented land in Mont- gomery township, Ashland county, their little home being meagerly furnished as most of his earnings went to buy tools and equipments to carry on the cultivation of the land. After renting for several years, he became owner of twenty-nine acres, which he sold, and in 1864 removed to Bloom township, Seneca Co., Ohio, where he leased farms most of the time. April, 1871, witnessed his arrival in Perry township, Wood county, where he purchased forty acres of land in Section 30, which is still his home, though he has added to the amount, and now has fifty-five acres. His wife has ever been a faith- ful helpmeet, and is a member of the United Brethren Church. He was first an Old-line Whig, but now casts his ballot regularly with the Republican party. For almost three months this worthy couple visited in the West, going to Denver, Cheyenne, Salt Lake City and the lead- ing places of interest in California, which made an enjoyable trip.
SAMUEL E. BRANDEBERRY is the owner of a fine farm in Perry township, the operations of which he carefully superintends, and which is largely devoted to general farming. A native of Wood county, he was born in Bloom township. on March 13, 1847. The birth of his father, Philip Brandeberry, occurred in Westmoreland county, Penn., January 10, 1812, and he was a
son of Philip Brandeberry, Sr., an honored pio- neer of this locality. In Wood county the father was married, October 17, 1844, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary Burns, who was born in Ashland county, Ohio, February 2, 1820, and was a daughter of Samuel E. and Nancy Burns. Her paternal grandfather, John P. Burns, was a schoolmate of George Washington, and could relate many interesting incidents of their boy- hood days. After their marriage this worthy couple began their domestic life upon a farm of eighty acres in Bloom township, which the father had purchased, and eight children came to glad- den that pioneer home, namely: Samuel E .. of this review; Catherine, who was born September IS, 1848, and is now the wife of Henry Minks, of Center township, Wood county; Albert and Allen, twins, born May 2, 1850, the former of whom died August 9 following, and the latter a farmer of Perry township; John B., of Trumbull county, Ohio, born June 17, 1852; Nancy J., who was born April 14, 1854, and died July 16, 1872; George W., a farmer of Hancock county. Ohio, born December 17, 1857; and David E., who was born September 19, 1862, and was killed by a falling tree, August 28, 1873. The last named was one of the greatest choppers for his age in the township, and when only nine years of age could cut down a tree. Although a small man. the father was strong and energetic, and was a great hunter, killing many deer and turkeys. In politics he was first a Whig and afterward a Re- publican. He died in Bloom township, Septem- ber 24, 1876, his wife on the 27th of May pre- vious, and they now sleep side by side in the cemetery of Perry Center. They were faithful members of the Methodist Church, and in her younger days the mother had been a school teacher, her wages being as low as seventy-five cents per week.
At the Hopewell school our subject received his literary training, and during the Civil war became a member of Company E, 144th O. V. I. Although they attended the drills regularly at Eagleville and Tontogany, Wood county, his company was held in reserve, and never saw any active service. Being the eldest son, he was of great assistance to his parents, and never left home until his marriage.
In Perry township, on June 12, 1877. Mr. Brandeberry led to the marriage altar Miss Sarah A. Tyson, who was born in Portage town- ship, April IS, 1853. and is the eldest of the five children of George and Frances Snyder Tyson, who came to this county from Columbiana coun- ty, Ohio. Three children have been born of this
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union: Arcena, born April 22, 1878; Aldia, who was born November 14, 1880, and died February 9, 1883; and Rosa, born September 30, 1889.
After his marriage, Mr. Brandeberry located upon a part of his present farm, having purchased forty acres in 1857, but now owns 180 acres of valuable land. On October 3, 1887, he lost his barn by fire, but it has been replaced by a more commodious building, while all of the improve- ments upon the place are of a substantial char- acter. He is a natural mechanic, having worked at the painter's, carpenter's and mason's trades. A good manager, he seems to get the best results from everything he undertakes, and has been very prosperous in his business affairs. He is a straightforward, honorable citizen, and a sup- porter of the Republican party.
CHARLES OSTERHOUT, one of the enterprising and progressive farmers living in Hull Prairie, and a gentleman whose genuine worth com- mends him to the confidence and respect of all, was born in Montgomery county, N. Y., Decem- ber 6, 1827, and is a son of George and Cather- ine (Nellis) Osterhout. When quite young, our subject accompanied his parents on their re- moval to Ohio, and was reared and educated in Huron county. He worked on his father's farm until after he had attained his majority, and at the age of twenty-five, with the hope of bettering his financial condition, he crossed the plains to California.
The long and arduous journey across moun- tains and prairie was at length completed, and he remained for a year on the Pacific slope. He then returned home, spending two years in Ohio, but in 1855 again went to California, where he remained four years. He reached this State in 1859, and in 1860 came to Wood county, loca- ting in Middleton township, purchasing 160 acres of land on Hull Prairie. Upon this he made a number of excellent improvements. He after- ward sold eighty acres, but has since purchased sixty acres, and now has a fine farm under a high state of cultivation and well improved.
In 1861, in Erie county, Mr. Osterhout mar- ried Phoebe A. Montross, a native of Pennsyl- vania. They have four children-George, an oil operator, who married Anna Whickem; Hat- tie, wife of George Powell, of Toledo; Mae, wife of William Powell, of Toledo; and Charles, who farms the homestead. The mother of this fam- ily died in 1882, and in 1884 our subject married Carrie M. Goss, who was born in Vermont in 1856. They have two children, Ross and Helen, attending school.
For five years, Mr. Osterhout has served as school director, for five years has been a mem- ber of the township board, was road supervisor two years, treasurer of the township five years. and in all these offices has discharged his duties with scrupulous fidelity. The five oil wells upon his farm add not a little to his income, and he is meeting with success in his business dealings, while among his fellow townsmen he is popular and well liked.
WILLIAM HAMMAN, who was born in Pennsyl- vania, December 9, 1825, died in Hammansburg, April 24, 1893, respected by all who knew him. for he was an important factor in the work of public progress, and his life was an honorable one. When a young man he learned the trade of coverlet weaving. With his parents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Koch) Hamman, he removed to Ma- honing county, Ohio, and was there united in marriage with Miss Rose Dustman. They loca- ted in that county, but subsequently removed to Bloom township, Wood county, and afterward to Fremont, Ohio. Their next home was in Sandusky, Ohio, and from there they came to Henry township, Wood county. While on a visit in Mahoning county, Mrs. Hamman was taken ill and died. Of that marriage were born six children: Jacob, who died at the age of twenty years; Mrs. Henrietta Leathers, of Henry township; Frank, of Michigan; John, of Kansas: and Lewis and Alice, who died in childhood.
Mr. Hamman was again married, in 1852, in Henry township, on this occasion to Miss Mary Henning, who was born in that township. Sep- tember 12, 1840, a daughter of John F. and Elizabeth Henning. She spent her girlhood days on her father's farm, and acquired her education in a log school house near by. Our subject and his wife began their domestic life in a log cabin which stood on the farm, and his energies were devoted to the development of his land, com- prising 160 acres. He continued the cultivation of that property for a number of years, and is 1856 he erected a sawmill in what is now Han- mansburg, named in his honor, that he operate.] for twenty years. Selling that property, he then established a grocery store in Hammans- burg, and later was appointed postmaster of the town. In December, 1890, he removed with l .:- wife and family to Cherokee county, Kans., where he purchased 160 acres of land; but after two years and three months he returned to the old home :: Hammansburg, there residing until his death In politics he was a Democrat. He was a faith- ful meniber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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Hamman William Hamman) Mary
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and belonged to that class of representative citi- zens who manifest a deep interest in the welfare of the community. All who knew him had for him the highest regard.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hamman were born eight children, namely: (1) Lizzie married George Sterling, of Henry township, and died at the age of twenty-three; she was the mother of two children-Arvilla, who died before Mrs. Sterling, and Willie, born September 15, 1885, who has lived with his grandmother, Mrs. Hamman. (2) Josie is the wife of William Peters, of Henry township; they have had four children-Arthur, Earl, Shirley (deceased) and Lola. (3) George B. married Laura Latham, and has two chil- dren-Lillie and LeRoy; they reside in Henry township. (4) Laura died at the age of two years and nine months. (5) Louisa died at the age of nineteen years. (6) Maud is the wife of Jesse Gillespie, and has one child-Lee, born March 18, 1896. (7) Blanche and (8) Grace are living at home. Since her husband's death Mrs. Hamman has disposed of much of the property, including the Kansas farm; but she still owns two houses and lots in the town, and also has a house and lot in Bowling Green. She is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a most estimable lady.
HENRY HOELTER. Among the prominent and enterprising farmers of Troy township, who are of alien birth, is the gentleman whose name in- troduces this sketch. Like others of his country- men, he brought to the New World those habits of economy and frugality which are an inherent characteristic of his native land, and the exercise of which, accompanied by industry and good management, have secured him a comfortable competence. His residence is located in Section 27, where he carries on agricultural pursuits. A native of Hanover, Germany, he was bornin 1846, at the home of his parents, Joe and Elnora (Boehna) Hoelter, also natives of the same prov- ince. By trade his father was a carpenter, and he died in Hanover in 1849, While the mother sur- vived him until 1882. In their family were seven children who grew to maturity, namely: Henry, who was drowned in Hanover: Mrs. Elizabeth Furmeyer, of Cleveland, Ohio; Mrs. Eleanor Walker, who passed away in Germany; Mrs. Re- gina Braucksick, of Hanover; Frederick, who still makes his home in that country; and Mrs. Nora Huffman, who for some years has been a resident of Ross township, Wood county.
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decided to try his fortune on this side of the At- lantic, where, he understood, better opportunities were afforded young men. Therefore, he set sail at Bremen, and after a voyage of seven weeks. landed at New York, whence he came direct to Cleveland, Ohio. In that city, in 1870, he was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Anna Marie Braucksick, who was also born in Germany. and is the daughter of John Henry and Elizabeth Braucksick, both natives of the Fatherland. They came to this county with our subject, but are now deceased. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Hcel- ter are nine children: William, who is married, and engaged in business as a member of the firm of Samson & Hoelter, of Luckey, Ohio; Lizzie. Anna, Carrie, Gus, Henry, Fred, John, and Dora.
From the time of his arrival in Cleveland, in 1869, until coming to Troy township, in 1875. Mr. Hoelter worked at the trade of a cooper in that city. Here he first rented land in the east- ern part of the township, but in 1879 located upon his present farm of eighty acres, then par- tially improved. No buildings stood upon the place with the exception of a log house which was destroyed by fire in July, 1884, and the same year he erected his present comfortable frame resi- dence. The land is now under a high state of cultivation, and all of the improvements found thereon are of a substantial character, indicating the owner to be a man of thrift and enterprise.
_ Mr. Hoelter uses his elective franchise in sup- port of the measures and men put forward by the Democratic party, has been trustee of his town- ship for some years, and also a member of the school board of District No. 5. Both he and his excellent wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and they enjoy the esteem and respect of the neighborhood.
ELISHA B. TURNER, one of the honored and highly esteemed citizens of Wood county, was born in Fort Ann, Washington Co., N. Y., in the earliest days of the history of that State, his birth occurring March 23, 1813. His parents were Leonard and Dianthy . Blakeman) Turner. Their marriage was celebrated in Washington county. and subsequently they removed to Westfield, Del- aware county, the father following farming. He died at the home of his son Charles, in Eaton county, Mich., at the age of eighty-four, and his wife survived him four years. They had seven sons and five daughters: Leonard, a farmer, ot Delaware county, Ohio; Elisha: Mrs Mary Green, who died in Illinois; Laura, wife of Mor-
Mr. Hoelter was reared to manhood in his native land, but at the age of twenty-four years i gan Lewis, of Cardington, Morrow county, Ohio:
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Joseph A., a farnier, who died in Eaton county, Mich .; Charles A., a farmer, of Bellevue, Eaton county: John, a farmer, of Keokuk county, Iowa; Annis, now Mrs. Bean, of Delaware county, Ohio; Marcella Jane, who died in childhood; Louisa, wife of Samuel Sanders, of Kansas; Joel, a farmer, who died in Delaware county; and George, who died in Huron county, Ohio.
Our subject attended school through the win- ter months until fourteen years of age, and then left home to make his own way in the world, be- ing employed in a dairy most of the time until he had attained his majority. He next engaged in clerking two years, and then removed to West- field, Delaware Co., Ohio, where he soon en- gaged in the work of the ministry. His first charge was at Sunbury, where he remained until 1838, being ordained at that place. After a three- years' pastorate there, and two years spent at Mill Creek, he was sent as a missionary by the Mad River Baptist Association to labor in Union, Lo- gan, Champaign and Delaware counties, over which he traveled on horseback. On his long, lonely rides he made a close study of the Bible. His next permanent charge was at New London, Huron county, and after four years he went to Monroeville, where he spent three years.
Mr. Turner was married in Mill Creek town- ship, Delaware county, December 8, 1840, to Eliza Ann Said, who died near Marysville, Ohio, in 1845. They had two children - Delia P., who was born May 3, 1842, and died in September, IS47; and Louisa Jane, wife of A. J. Munn, of Weston, Ohio. In Clarksfield, Huron county, in 1850, Mr. Turner married Mrs. Catherine (Bross) Shaw, widow of Isaac Shaw. They also had two children, but one died in infancy, and Mary D., who was born April 22, 1856, is the wife of J. H. Sands, of Bowling Green, Ohio. The mother was born in Stamford, Conn., September 14, 1822, and is a daughter of Adam and Eliza (Briggs) Bross, the former a native of New York and the latter of Connecticut.
In 1855, Mr. Turner came to Wood county, and purchased eighty acres of land in Liberty township. After farming for a year, he reinoved to Clyde, Sandusky Co., Ohio, where he had charge of a Church for a short time; then spent eigliteen months in Johnstown, Licking Co., Ohio. He afterward returned to Liberty town- ship, and, after selling his farm, opened a genera! store in Portage about 1861, following merchan- dising for four years. Again he removed to a farm, but after a year returned to Portage, where he has since resided. He, however, owns thirty- five acres of land on which are four oil wells.
For years Mr. Turner was a stalwart Repub- lican, but since 1890 has affiliated with the Pro- hibition party. For eleven years he served as justice of the peace. The snows of many win- ters have fallen upon him, but his kindly bearing and genial disposition make him still young in feeling and interests, and he is revered and hon- ored by all.
JOHN J. DEUBLE. The subject of this his- tory, a man of more than ordinary intelligence and business capacity, owns eighty acres of good land in Section 22, Troy township, and is prom- inent among the agricultural interests of Wood county, contributing largely to its reputation by building up one of the most desirable homesteads within its borders. He is in the prime of life, and the midst of his usefulness-admired and esteemed by his friends and neighbors, and en- joying, as he deserves, a generous portion of this world's goods.
Like a large proportion of the go-ahead men of the county, Mr. Deuble is a native of the Buck- eye State, his birth having taken place in Liver- pool township, Medina county, January 28, 1840. His parents, C. F. and Christina (Kushman) Deuble, were natives of Germany; but were mar- ried in Medina county. In Liverpool township the father opened up a farm, where he made his home until his death in 1872. He was also a tanner by trade. The mother of our subject had died in Medina county, in 1849, leaving seven children: Frederick, of Iowa; Mrs. Mary Hen- schen, of Cleveland, Ohio; Mrs. Christina Han- mon, of Litchfield. Medina county: Henry, of Cleveland; Mrs. Sarah Renick, of Havana, Ohio: Charles, of Cleveland; and John J., of this sketch, who was fourth in order of birth. After the death of his first wife, the father was again married, and by the second union had eight chil- dren, who are still living.
The childhood and youth of our subject were passed in Medina county until he reached the age of sixteen, when he started out in life for him- self, going first to Indiana, where he was em- ployed. He later worked both in Iowa and Col- orado, and in 1863 located at Virginia City, Mont., the county seat of Madison county, where he entered land and became one of its first set- tlers. He remained there until coming to Wood county in 1890, carrying on both stock raising and mining, and still owns a stock ranch of 160 acres in that State. He became quite familiar with Western life in all its phases. In 1884 he purchased his present farm, where he located in 1890, and two years later built his good barn.
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40 x70 feet. while his comfortable two-story frame residence was erected in 1893.
On the 12th of October, IS79, in Troy town- ship, Wood county, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Deuble and Miss Sarah Kurfess, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, October 30, IS49. She was educated in Wood county, and is the daugh- ter of Jacob and Frederica (Metzger) Kurfess, both natives of Germany. Her parents were married near Cleveland, but removed to Troy township at an early day, where the mother died in 1884, and the father now finds a pleasant home with our subject. To Mr. and Mrs. Deuble have been born two children: John A., born October 25, 18So, and Paul Frederick, born March 17, ISS3.
In politics our subject is an ardent Democrat, and religiously he and his amiable wife are es- teemed members of the Lutheran Church at Stony Ridge, of which he has served as elder. They are frank, open-hearted, hospitable people, and have made many warm friends since taking up their residence in the community.
MATTHEW PARK is the proprietor of a general mercantile establishment in Dunbridge, and is a prominent factor in commercial circles. A native of the Keystone State, he was born in Lawrence county, February 6, 1844. His father, William Park, was also born in Pennsylvania, and was a son of James Park, who served as a soldier in the war of 1812. The former followed farming throughout his life, and in his native State mar- ried Delila. Underwood, by whom he had eight children-Sarah, widow of Eli Reed; Caroline, widow of A. Steven, and a resident of Pennsyl- vania; Matthew; John, who died in Andersonville prison during the Civil war, while defending the Union cause; Edwin, a soldier of the 2d Ohio Cavalry, and died at Ft. Scott, Kans .; Elizabeth and Henry, who died in childhood; and one who died in infancy. The father passed away in. Pennsylvania, in 1869, and the mother afterward came to Wood county, her death occurring in Plain township in ISS2.
Mr. Park acquired his education in Pennsyl- vania, and worked on the home farm from early boyhood until the Civil war was inaugurated. Loyal to the Union, and anxious to aid in its preservation, he enlisted in 1861, in an Ohio Cav- alry company at Lowell, Mahoning county. He served for four years, participating in some seventy battles and skirmishes, among them Cold Harbor, Five Forks, the Wilson raid in 1864, Sheridan's raid in 1865, Knoxville, Strawberry Plains, Cumberland Gap, and battles of the Wil-
derness. He was at the surrender of Lee at Ap- pomattox. At St. Louis, Mo., September II, 1865, he received an honorable discharge, and returned home with a war record of which he may well be proud.
Mr. Park located in Mahoning county, where he remained for twenty-two years. During the war, in 1864, he had married Miss Mary A. Kramer, a native of Pennsylvania, and to them were born the following named children: Ed- mund, a farmer of Michigan; Armand, a farmer of Wood county; Alma, wife of G. English; Le- roy, Jessie, Elsie, Orlie, and Laverna. In 1892, Mr. Park was again married, his second union being with Marie J. Boyer, a native of Fremont. Ohio. Their only child died in infancy.
Our subject came to Wood county in 1879, locating in Plain township, where for two years he operated a farm. In ISSI he came to Mid- dleton township, and purchased forty acres of land which he operated until 1893, when he sold out and opened his present store in Dunbridge. By close application to business, and honorable dealing, he has built up a fine trade, and thereby secured a comfortable competence. He belongs to Robert Stewart Post No. 690, G. A. R., and the Patriotic Order of Sons of America. He has served as school director for three years, is a Republican in politics, and is regular in attend- ance at the Presbyterian Church.
ANTON ASMUS. The fertile lands of Ohio offer excellent inducements to those who wish to engage in agricultural pursuits, and a promi- nent representative of the farming interests of Wood county is the gentleman whose name be- gins this sketch. A native of Germany, he was born in Nassau, April 3, 1836, and is a son of Henry and Catherine (Hush) Asmus, also natives of that country. He received a good education in the public schools, and his time between the ages of fourteen and eighteen was spent as a clerk in a hotel. He then determined to seek a home in America, and bidding adieu to friends and native land, in 1854, he embarked in a west- ward-bound sailing vessel, which after forty-three days dropped anchor in the harbor of New York. He at once made his way to Sandusky City, Eric Co., Ohio, and in that county worked as a farm laborer for seven years, after which he operated a rented farin for five years.
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