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 43
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though he owned a farm, he never actively en- gaged in its operation, as his crippled condition would not permit it. Being a good scholar, he was also an able writer.
It was in 1860 that the father of our subject came to Wood county, locating first in Mont- gomery township, but after a short time remov- ing to Freeport (now Prairie Depot), where he conducted a hotel in an old log building. Later he replaced this by a frame structure, where he continued to carry on the hotel business in con- nection with work at the carpenter's trade, and also owned a farm adjoining the village on the north. On May 2, 1864, he joined Company K, 144th O. V. I., and died July 14, 1864, of typhoid fever in the hospital at Fort Dix, Md. His remains were interred at that place. He was considerably above the average man, intellec- tually, and being a great reader was well-informed on topics of general interest. In politics he was first a Whig, and later a Republican. After the death of her husband Mrs. Palmer sold the hotel property, and removed to the farm, where she remained until her children were grown. Her death occurred at the home of a daughter in Oneida, Kans., January 26, 1891. In the family were four children: Wilton, born December 24, 1849, who is a physician of Los Angeles, Cal .; Cleantha E., born September 19, 1852, Mrs. George Dale, of Los Angeles; George M. and Laura I., born September 25, 1858, now Mrs. David Gilmore, of Oneida, Kansas.
George M. Palmer was only a child when brought to Wood county by his parents, who first located in Section 13, Montgomery town- ship, near the county line, after a short residence there removing to Prairie Depot, where our sub- ject attended the common schools. Being a warm friend of the cause of education, the im- provements made in the schools are in accord- ance with his ideas. During his youth he assisted in the work of the home farm, but at the age of twenty-one he entered the general store of S. E. Tilton as a clerk, and there remained for seven years. On February 1, 1883, in Montgomery township, Mr. Palmer was united in marriage with Miss Agnes W. Telfer, who was born in Pennsylvania, January 7, 1859, daughter of John and Martha (Craig) Telfer, the former of Scotch and the latter of Irish extraction. They came from Deerfield, Ohio, to Montgomery township. Wood county, and here the father died. In their family were seven children-three sons and four daughters. Seven children graced the union of onr subject and his wife: John R., born May 5, 1884; Kenneth W., born March 5, 1886;
Esther M., born May 25, 1888; Roland C., born July 22, 1890, died August 21, 1892; Thomas T., born July 15, 1892; Margaret E., born July 3. 1894; and George Mckinley, born September 16, 1896.
Palmer's addition to Prairie Depot was so named because it was taken from a part of Randolph P. Palmer's farm, and our subject pur- chased the remaining thirteen acres, which ad- joined the village. After residing there for some time, he traded it for a tract of land in Section 13, Montgomery township; but on March 20, 1892, he removed to his present farm in Section 28, comprising sixty acres of excellent land. He also owns 120 acres in Marseilles township, Wyandot Co., Ohio. Upon his present farm he has five producing oil wells, and upon the old farm adjoining Prairie Depot, was found the most fertile field in the township. He is one of the most progressive and prosperous farmers of the locality, and is well-informed on the leading topics of the day. A stanch Republican, he has much more than a voting interest in the success of his party; for three terms was clerk of his township, and since 1894 has been trustee. Socially he is identified with the I. O. O. F .. the Sons of Veterans and the Patrons of Industry, and he merits and receives in the highest degree the respect and confidence of the community in which he lives.
E. M. FRIES, an able young attorney of Bowl- ing Green, junior member of the firmn of Parker & Fries, was born in Bloom township, September 29, 1866, the fifth in a family of seven children born to his parents, who were natives of Lehigh county, Penn., where the ancestors of both had settled at an early period. His father's people were of Scotch and English blood, but had lived so long among the Pennsylvania-Dutch that they spoke their language.
Solomon Fries, our subject's father, was born November 24, 1824, and his inother, Louisa Char- lotte Steckel, a lady of Dutch descent, was born in 1835. They were married in Tiffin, Ohio, where for several years Mr. Fries followed the brick- layer's trade, and in 1862 they removed to their present home in Bloom township.
After some years of attendance at the district school, our subject spent two years in the academy at Fostoria, and the same length of time in the Ohio Normal University, at Ada. taking the course in civil engineering in addition to his work in the literary department. After leaving school he taught one year, and then entered the employ of the L. E. & W. R. R. as civil engineer. A year
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later he went to Seattle, Wash., where he re- mained eighteen months, working for the city en- gineer and for a land company. Returning to Ohio, he took a course in the Cincinnati Law School, graduating in 1893 with the degree of LL. B. He then came to Bowling Green, and after a year of preliminary work in an office he became a partner of Robert S. Parker. His fine native talents and thorough training give warrant to his large circle of friends in their expectations of a successful career. In politics he is a Re- publican.
GEORGE W. HEDGE, an extensive lumber dealer residing at Prairie Depot, is one of the best-known aud most popular citizens of Mont- gomery township, and was born in the town of Abbeyville, Medina Co., Ohio, February 22, 1848. He is the eldest child of his parents, George B. and Catherine M. (Crawford) Hedge.
When our subject was seven years old the family moved to Wood county, and he entered District School No. 3, in Montgomery township, which was taught by Mrs. S. C. Guernsey. He had already attended school in Medina county, entering at the early age of four years. He was very apt at learning, and after spending some time in the district school was sent to a private institution at Prairie Depot, taught by a Mr. Mc- Peck. His father was at this time in the saw- mill business, and the lad early acquired a knowl- edge of its details, so that when seventeen years of age he took entire charge of the mill, early displaying the ability which has manifested itself in the more extensive operations of his later days.
1888, when it was dissolved, and in June, 1889, our subject started the mill which he is now operating. On January 5, 1874, Mr. Hedge was the victim of a terrible accident, from the effects of which he will never recover. He was caught in a belt, and dragged under the shaft and thrown some distance, his right arm being torn into pieces, the hand being thrown in one direc- tion, and other portions in different places, while the bone at the shoulder was entirely stripped of flesh for some nine inches. It was a horrible sight, but Mr. Hedge walked unassisted to his house, a distance of thirty rods. Many a man would have succumbed to such a shock, but his great vitality aided his rapid recovery, and in four weeks he was again ready to attend to busi- ness. Although the loss of his arm has been a great hardship, he has mastered every detail of his business, and has been remarkably successful in all his undertakings. His saw, planing and feed mill is an extensive plant, built in modern style, equipped with the latest machinery, and from ten to twelve men are employed the year round. In connection with this he has a large lumber business, and handles all kinds of woods, both na- tive and foreign. He has erected the dwelling in which the family lives, his home place has been transformed into fertile fields and fruitful or- chards, and comfortable buildings, with all modern conveniences, have taken the place of the primi- tive structure in which he at first made his home. Mr. Hedge now owns 284 acres of land in Mont- gomery township. He is a stockholder in the Wood County Fair Association, and is one of Montgomery township's leading men and repre- sentative citizens. His grand success in a busi- ness, wherein a majority fail, can be attributed to his thorough knowledge of its requirements, and to his fair and honest methods of dealing. There is no detail in his establishment, no matter how intricate, that he is not perfectly familiar with. While suffering under the disadvantage of having but one arın, he can skillfully operate machinery that many men with both arms would not be able to manipulate. While he had no capital in the way of money with which to start in life, his as- sociation with his father, as a member of the firm of George B. Hedge & Son, gave him great pres-
Mr. Hedge remained at home until his mar- riage, December 28, 1873, in Prairie Depot, to Miss Melita Graham, daughter of John and Me- lita (Anderson) Graham. She was born January 8, 1852, in Montgomery township, and was educated in the district schools of that locality. The young couple located on twen- ty acres in Section 20, Montgomery town- ship, which, with the exception of a clear- ing of three acres, was in its primitive condi- tion, covered with trees and brush, which had to be cleared away before a house could be erected. On this place Mr .. Hedge lived, cultivating his ; tige and credit, which in later years he has never land, and at the same time working in the mill abused, and as an individual he stands as high as that firin ever did. Mr. Hedge has a delightful home, in which he takes great pleasure, and there are few men in Wood county in private life who have so extensive and so valuable a circle of ac- quaintances. One child, only, has blessed the union of our subject and his wife, a daughter. with his father, who had made him a partner in the business when he was only twenty-two years old. They had in operation at this time a self- acting shingle machine, which was the first one of the kind in this part of Wood county. This partnership continued until February,
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
named Carrie. For many years she was a great sufferer from inflammatory rheumatism, but through the best medical skill that money could procure, and the tender nursing of her devoted par- ents, she has finally recovered. In his political views Mr. Hedge is in sympathy with the Demo- cratic party, but supports good men for office, even if they happen to be of some other political faith. He belongs to the I. O. O. F. at Prairie Depot, and both he and his wife are members of the Rebekah Lodge.
JOHN W. KNIGHT, one of the worthy citizens that England has furnished to Ohio, was born September 1, 1852, in Taunton, England, and is a son of Thomas and Eliza (Warren) Knight, also natives of the same country. He was about four years of age when his parents removed to the Isle of Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands. There he attended French schools and became thoroughly conversant with the French language ; he also had an English governess at home. When a youth of nine summers he was brought by his parents to America on a German vessel, which landed at New York, October 10, 1861, and the family took up their residence in San- dusky, Erie Co., Ohio.
Our subject attended the public schools of that place, and completed his education in a bus- iness college in that town. Subsequently he was for five years employed in the printing office of the Sandusky Journal, but was obliged to abandon that vocation on account of ill health. He then came with his parents to Wood county, and here followed farming continuously until 1891, when he turned his attention to the development of oil wells, and now owns and controls fifteen wells, from which he derives a good income. He also served as postmaster at Trombley, to which po- sition he was appointed during President Cleve- land's first administration, being the first incum- bent in the office.
Bowling Green (familiarly known as "Uncle Dan"), and from the Whitacre estate. Mr. Knighit has erected a handsome barn, as good a one as the county affords, also a poultry house and yards, which are worthy the notice of many poultry owners. He also owns on his premises an electric-light plant, lighting his residence and barn, all the building and fixing being done dur- ing the year 1896. In politics our subject was formerly a Democrat, but is now a stalwart Pro- hibitionist. For many years he has served as school director, and the cause of education finds in him a warm friend, while in Church work he takes an active part, and is now elder in the Dis- ciples Church.
JOSEPH BENDER is one of the industrious and skillful farmers, fruit growers and gardeners of Center township, and one of the representative men of that portion of Wood county. He is the owner of a splendid farm, all of which is highly cultivated; his residence, which is a very hand- some and commodious one, his fine barns and outbuildings, add materially to the appearance of the place, and to its value from a financial point of view. He is a native of Crawford county, Ohio, born June 8, 1830.
His father, George Bender, was born in Cum- berland county, Penn., where he learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner, which he fol- lowed there, but when still a young man removed to Crawford county, Ohio, and there engaged in farming. He wedded Mary Failor, and they be- came the parents of seven children: Elizabeth, wife of Nelson Close, of Crawford county; An- drew F., a retired farmer of Michigan; Mary, wife of John Ealy, an agriculturist of Crawford county; Susan, wife of John Kyser, a very sys- tematic and industrious farmer, a prominent Grange lecturer, and a representative of his county in the State legislature; George, a time- honored minister of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ: Samuel, deceased; and Jo- seph, of this sketch. The father died in Craw- . ford county, and the mother, who preceded him to the world beyond, passed away in 1832.
Mr. Knight was married in Liberty township, October 30, 1878, to Mrs. Apalinda (Mercer) Whitacre, widow of Samuel Whitacre. She had two children by her first marriage: Olearius T. and Eletha O., both students in Bethany College, Joseph Bender continued on the home farm until reaching his majority, receiving as good au education as conld be obtained in the common schools of that period, which education he sup- plemented by two years attendance at Otterbein University, and then spent three years teaching school. He then went to Wyandot counts. Ohio, which was mostly inhabited by Indi- ans, and remained there several years, devoting West Virginia. The children of the second marriage were Lloyd, who died at the age of six- teen monthis; and Deyo R., at home. Our sub- ject has prospered in his business undertakings, owing to his well-directed efforts. He is now the owner of 490 acres of land, lying in Liberty, Henry, Jackson and Weston townships, 120 acres of which came by inheritance to Mrs. Knight, from her father, Daniel Mercer, late of : his time and attention to the cultivation of a
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Mrs Apalinda Knight.
John H. Kright
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
farm of seventy acres, which he converted into a valuable tract. On selling out, he came to Wood county, buying forty-six acres of land in Center township. There he built a fine residence at a cost of $2,000, put up good barns and out- buildings, and, besides general farming, gives a great deal of attention to fruit growing-having an excellent orchard, and other land planted in berries. He finds a ready sale for his products in the markets of Bowling Green, and on his place has some very fine Jersey cows-the best in the county-in which he takes an especial pride, and he is fast becoming an extensive breeder and shipper of A. J. C. C. stock.
In Wyandot county, in 1854, Mr. Bender was married to Miss T. M. Wilcox, and to them were born two children: Wilder Pease, born August 14, 1855, received his primary education in the district schools, and was graduated with high honors from Otterbein University in the classical course in the class of ISSo, of which class he was elected orator; he then took a course in theology, and was ordained a minister of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, in 1883; he is now a prominent minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the Central Ohio Conference, and is at present stationed at Port Jefferson, Ohio. His wife was Miss Kate Kershner, of Bowling Green. Sherman Larkum, the younger son, was born July 5, 1857, received his primary education in the district schools, and was a student in Otter- bein University until his junior year, when he was obliged to give up his literary pursuits and cherished desire of the profession of law, on ac- count of failing eyes; he is now in the employ of the United States Express Company at Toledo, Ohio. He married Miss Jessie Stackhouse, of Fremont, Ohio.
Mr. Bender is classed by his fellow citizens as one of the public-spirited and representative men of the township, and merits and receives the warmest confidence and esteem of the entire com- munity. He is a worthy and sincere Christian gentleman, holding inemberslip with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, of which he has been trustee, besides holding other offices, and his family also hold the same faith. He and his two sons take an active interest in everything for the welfare of their township and county, and use their right of franchise in support of the Re- publican party.
JOHN H. MONASMITH. Among the young and energetic farmers of the county is this gentleman, who is successfully operating a fine farm in Bloom township. He is a representative of one of the 45
honored pioneer families, his parents being Elias H. and Elizabeth (Flaugher) Monasmith, and was born October 14, 1865, in Section 28, Bloom township.
The father's birth occurred in Mahoning coun- ty, Ohio, March 10, 1831, and he was one of the eleven children of George and Esther Mona- smith, the others being John P., Susan, Eliza- beth, Samuel, Henry, Mary A., Lydia E., Mar- tin, Levi and Martha C. Five of the number served in the Union army during the Civil war -. Samuel, Henry, Martin, John P. and Elias H., the latter belonging to Company E, 144th O. V. I., serving until honorably discharged at the close of his term of enlistment. He was first married 'in Mahoning county to Elizabeth Musser, who there died, leaving one child-W. E., now a resident of Bloom township. It was in 1859 that the father arrived in Wood county, entirely without means, owning only a horse and buggy. He had recently passed through a siege of typhoid fever, which, together with the expenses of his wife's sickness and death, exhausted his resources, and he was $100 in debt. Rinehart Simon kindly of- fered him a home until he could obtain work. For his second wife he wedded Elizabetlı Flaugher, one of the fifteen children-seven sons and eight daughters- of Jacob and Elizabeth Flangher, and they became the parents of three children-Flora, now Mrs. Adam Exline, of North Baltimore, Ohio; John H., subject of this review; and Frank W., a fariner of Bloom town- ship. The mother, who was a Methodist in religious belief, died in September, 1890, and was laid to rest in Bloom Chapel cemetery. Later the father married Elizabeth Kistler, of Newton Falls, Ohio. At the time of his first purchase of forty acres of land in Bloom town- ship he had $So to pay on the same, and he took up his abode in the house once occupied by Smith, the noted horse-thief, who had fled from the com- munity at the time his thefts were discovered. Besides his farming operations, Mr. Monasmith also engaged in ditching to a considerable extent. and continued to make his home in Bloom town- ship, engaged in improving the farm to its pres- ent fine condition, until April 1, 1895, when he removed to Newton Falls, Ohio, where he is now living retired, though he still owns ninety acres of valuable land in Bloom township. He became one of the well-to-do farmers and highly respected citizens of the community, honored alike by yonng and old, rich and poor. His political sup- port is given to the Republican party.
John H. Monasmith acquired a practical edu - cation in District School No. S, and, in addition
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to his farm duties, at the age of fifteen years he began ditching for his father, which business he followed until after reaching his majority. On April 13, 1891, in Bloom township, he was united in marriage with Miss Ella Ridgely, a daughter of William H. Ridgely, and their union has been blessed by the birth of three children- Emma C., born March 22, 1892; Pearl M., born September 7, 1893; and Ervy C., born August 27, 1895.
Mr. Monasmith is a straightforward agricult- urist and business man, honorable in all his deal- ings, and is destined to win success in his chosen calling. He has done much in the work of placing the old homestead under a high state of cultivation, so that it yields him bountiful returns. He is identified with the Republican party, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while his wife belongs to the Disciples Church. They are earnest Christian people, and are the center of a large circle of warm friends.
JOHN H. Cox, who carries on farming opera- tions in Plain township, is a native of the county, having been born June 2, 1853, in Center town- ship, and is a son of Joseph and Jane (Under- wood) Cox.
Joseph Cox was born September 30, 1802, in Virginia, whence, in 1816, he moved with his parents to Findlay, Ohio, which at that time was but an Indian village, known as Fort Findlay. On September 2, 1838, he married Jane R. Un- derwood, and to them were born twelve children "-eight sons and four daughters-of whom seven sons survive. Five of the eight sons served in the war of the Rebellion, fighting for their country, and one of them, Joseph U., never reached home again, dying from wounds received at the battle of Murfreesboro. Of the four daughters, two died in infancy, the other two growing to womanhood, and dying within about one year of each other. The father was a pio- neer of Wood county, and lus life was one of hardships; but he was always upright and honest in all his dealings; was equally patriotic. and ever zealous for the right. He died December 7, 1878, aged 76 years, 2 months and 7 days.
Our subject was educated at the district school of Perrysburg township. and worked on his father's farm until 1889, when he bought eighty acres of land in Plain township, known as the "Chapman Farm." On this he has placed many improvements, and converted it into a val- uable property. In Isz9 he married Miss Naomi De Selms, who was born in Ottawa county, in 1855, a daugliter of Jason De Selmis. Of this
union have been born eight children, namely: Ethel G .; Jessie M. (deceased); Lucretia L .; John W .; Ralph E .; Clyde H .; Jason D., and Dwight L. (deceased). Mr. Cox has served as school director in both Perrysburg and Plain townships, and is a member of the United Breth- ren Church, at Bowling Green.
JAMES MILLER, a retired agriculturist, resid- ing in Bowling Green, was born in Cambridge- shire, England, July 12, 1838. When he was about four years old, his father came to America with his family, and after a voyage of six weeks landed at New York, from there going to Cleve- land, subsequently to Medina, Ohio, and finally settled in Wood county, April 15, 1854.
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The father of our subject, William Miller, was born in Soham, Cambridgeshire, England, September 13, 1801, and was married in 1828 to Elizabeth Turner, whose birth took place De- cember 11, 1802, in Reading, Berkshire, England, William Miller was a tailor by occupation, and after coming to this country worked at his trade in the various places in which he lived, owning a shop in Medina. After coming to Wood county he purchased a farm in Liberty township, on which his family resided while he carried on his occupation, working for some years for Austin VanBlarcum, of Portage, He afterward went to Kansas with one of his sons, and died at Clifton, that State, June 28, 1877, his wife having passed away many years previous, her death taking place March 28, 1848.
Mr. Miller, Sr. was a man of fine proportions and weighed IS0 pounds. He was an intelligent, active man, a great reader and well-informed. He and his wife were devoted members of the Episcopal Church, and were consistent Christian people. In politics he was a Republican, and was a loyal citizen of his adopted country. To him and his estimable wife the following chil- dren were born : Sarah married Charles Wa- ters, now deceased, and lives in Medina, Ohio; Henry, died when fourteen years old; Ann mar- ried Isaac Waters, and they now reside in Kan- sas; Robert is a banker in Tiffin, Ohio: William died February 16, 1887, in his fifty-third year; James is our subject; Thomas is a farmer in Clif- ton, Washington Co., Kans; Eliza is the wife of Arbor Tebbit, of Medina, Olio; the ninth child died in infancy.
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