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 48
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Mr. and Mrs. Levers took up their residence in Brookfield, Ohio, but a year later removed to a farm in that locality, on which they lived for two years. They afterward spent two years .on a farm in Wayne county, and subsequently lived for one year on a farm near Tiffin, Ohio, and aft- erward near Hedgetown, Ohio. Going to San- dusky county, Mr. Levers there worked at his trade for two years, and in 1860 he came to Wood county, settling at Bowling Green. Dur- ing the years passed there he made the first im- provements upon a twenty-acre tract of land, which he had purchased. He cleared and drained this, built thereon a rude log cabin, and contul- ued the work of improvement and cultivation un- til he now owns a valuable farm.
WILLIAM H. LEVERS was born December 17, 1825, in Franklin county, Peon., and is a son of To Mr. and Mrs. Levers have been born the following children-William T., born February 20. 1851; Isaac Newton born October 28, 1853. now an oil man of Liberty township; Mary Ma- tilda, who was born June 17. 1855. and is the deceased wife of Joel Reeves; Emily Anna, born May 11, 1857; Liddy Ann, born October 10. William S. and Elizabeth Light! Levers. The father was born on the ocean, while his parents were crossing the Atlantic, from Switzerland to America, on May 8, 1772. The grandfather, Abraham Levers, was a banker in Switzerland in comfortable circumstances. He with his wife and daughter came to the New World, and made | 1858, now the wife of Richard Ducat, of Wood
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county; Daniel Webster, born May 11, 1861, a farmer of Liberty township; Viola Belle, born August 30, 1863, now the wife of William Errett; Izora, born May 10, 1865, now the wife of Wilbur Hansen; and Precida Louisa, born February 17, 1869, now the wife of George Hansen.
Our subject has always been a stanch Repub- lican in politics, and served for four years as trus- tee, while for many years he was township clerk of the school board. He belongs to the Method- ist Church, and is a charitable and benevolent man, who is ever ready to extend a helping hand to the poor and needy, and to aid others less fortunate than himself. He owes his own suc- cess entirely to his energy and good management, and may truly be called a self-made man.
EDWARD S. BRYANT, of Bloomdale, the well- known lieutenant-colonel of the 2d Regiment, O. N. G., of which one company is the famous Bloomdale Rifles, and a prominent business man of this county, was born July 12, 1853, in Pitts- field, Lorain Co., Ohio.
His father, John W. Bryant, was a student at Oberlin College, where he met Miss Elvira Harmon, a descendant of one of the pioneer families of Lorain county, to whom he was mar- ried about 1847. Three children were born of this union: Warren C., Edward S., and Charles H., all of whom reside in Bloomdale. Our sub- ject's father was a man of great natural ability and wide culture. He practiced law successfully for some years, and then having purchased the Ban- ner, of Albion, Ind., he assumed editorial charge and soon made it a power in political circles. He died at Albion in 1857, and was buried there amid the sincere mourning of a wide circle of friends. Mrs. Bryant was married again, this time to Mr. Barnes, of Wellington, Ohio, but after his death she moved to Bloomdale, where she died in 1888, her remains resting in VanBuren cemetery.
Left fatherless at the age of four years, the subject of this sketch found a home with a man named Chet Smith, of LaGrange Center, Lorain county, and later with Bishop Bradley, of Pitts- field, doing such work at each place as his years permitted, and attending the district schools. At twelve he became an errand boy in the con- fectionery establishinent of Henry Weisgerber, at Cleveland, and was soon advanced to a inore responsible position. After three years he re- turned to Pittsfield, where his mother then lived, and began to study telegraphy at Oberlin. walking three and a half miles to and fro each morning and evening. Four months later he entered the
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office of the L. S. & M. S. R. R., at Oberlin, as an apprentice, and not long after was made night operator there. Later he held the position of operator at Wauseon, Ohio, and Ligonier, Elk - hart, Goshen and Kendallville, Ind., and then resigned from the service of the L. S. & M. s., receiving a letter of recommendation which made it easy for him to secure similar work elsewhere. For some years he was in the employ of the Pennsylvania R. R. Co., first at Crestline, Ohio. and then in Columbia City, Ind., and South Chi- cago, Ill., and when the B. & O. R. R. was com- pleted to Chicago, he became their first operator there, remaining nine months. By this time he had become weary of the routine of office work. and prepared himself to add the duties of station agent, his first assignment to the double duty being at Cromwell, Ind. On December 13, 1875. he opened the first telegraph office at Bloomdale. holding also the position of agent in the newly established depot.
November 25, 1877, he was married to Miss Effie Wineland, a native of Hancock county, and a daughter of Daniel Wineland. a prominent busi- ness man of Bloomdale, and the senior member of the firm of Wineland Bros., operators of a saw- mill there. Col. Bryant took an interest in this business, and, by the introduction of improved machinery, gave it new life, the trade increasing until he found it necessary to give up his position with the railroad. For some time he carried on the sawmill alone, until Joseph Linhart, and later S. A. Linhart, joined him, the firm name from 188t to 1883 being Bryant & Linhart Bros. Since the retirement of Joseph Linhart the firm has been Bryant & Linhart, a name distinguished throughout trade circles for enterprise, progress- ive methods, and fair dealing. Col. Bryant is interested in many lines of business, and is a. charter member of the Bloomdale Building and Loan Association, and an incorporator of the Diamond Oil Co., chartered in July, 1895. the first to be organized in Bloomdale. Col. and Mrs. Bryant have always taken a prominent place place in the social life of Bloomdale. They have had three children: Detie, born September 23. 1879; Alma, born March 28, 188:, died at the age of two; and Clyde, born May ;, ISS5.
Politically Mr. Bryant is a Republican, aud has served as chairman of the Wood county con- tral committee. He is one of the chief counsci- lors of his party in this vicinity, and, although he seeks no favors for himself, the success of more than oue candidate has been due to his efforts. Col. Bryant's connection with the renowned Bloomdale Rifles of the O. N. G., which he was
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active in organizing, has given him a wide ac- quaintance in military circles. He served five years as captain, and had been re-elected for an- other term, but in April, 1893, he was elected to his present rank. He belongs to the F. & A. M., Fostoria Lodge, to the I. O. O. F., and is a charter- member of the K. of P., 278, Bloomdale Lodge, where he has served in all the chairs; is colonel of the U. R. K. of P., 6th Regiment, headquarters Bowling Green, and is U. S. Deputy Marshal, Toledo District.
W. H. BENN, deceased, was one of the hon- ored pioneers of Washington township, where he was widely and favorably known. He was a native of New York, born on January 12, 1832, and was one of the seven children of John and Elizabeth (Moore) Benn, the others being George, a veterinary surgeon, of Toledo, Ohio: Eliza- beth, widow of James Bogers, of Toledo: Han- nah, wife of S. Sharpiot, of Toledo; John, de- ceased; Elias; Emily, wife of Allen Drues. The parents removed with their family from the Em- pire State to Huron county, Ohio, but afterward came to Wood county, where they located on a farm of eighty acres in Plain township. There they spent the remainder ot their lives.
In the schools of Huron county, Ohio, W. H. Benn pursued his literary studies, and remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority, assisting his father in the operation of the farm. When old enough he also worked as a farm hand for others. In 1845 he left Huron county, coming with his father to Plain township, Wood county, where he worked in a sawmill. In 1865 he bought a farm of forty acres in Wash- ington township, which he improved and operated, and as his financial resources increased, added to it thirty acres more, all of which he placed under a high state of cultivation, making it one of the best farms in the locality. Neat and substantial buildings were erected thereon, and the whole place indicated the progressive spirit of the owner. Feeling that his country needed his services, he enlisted in 1861 in Company A, 144th O. V. I., under Capt. Black, and participated in all the en- gagements in which his regiment took part, being always found at his post of duty.
In Plain township, in July, 1856, was cele- brated the marriage of W. H. Benn and Rhodie Hogue. To them were born two sons, James and Johni, who now make their homes in Cleve- land. The mother died of consumption on An- gust 18, 1863, after which Mr. Beun was again married in 1865 at Tontogany, his second union being with Martha Brown, a daughter of J. B.
Brown, a cooper, of Sugar Ridge. They became the parents of seven children, but two died in in- fancy. They are as follows: Charies W. ; Jennie, wife of William Lennard, of Washington town- ship; Addie, wife of Thomas Custer, an oil oper- ator; Cora; William H., who resides on the homestead farm; and Emma and May, twins, who have passed away.
Mr. Benn took an active interest in school matters, serving four years as school director. and also held other offices in the township, including that of supervisor. A Democrat in politics, he gave his earnest support to the principles of the party, and his religious connections were with the Presbyterian Church. An honest, industrious man and highly respected citizen, his death was deeply regretted by all who knew him. He passed away in Washington township.
THOMAS GOODENOUGH, a wealthy farmer of Weston township, was born in Wiltshire, Eng- land, December 10, 1845, his parents coming to this country, in 1849, when he was four years old. They settled at Greenfield, Huron Co .. and there he received his education in'the com- mon schools.
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When old enough our subject learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he followed for three years, and then learned the boiler maker's trade at Brownell's boiler works, in Dayton, Ohio. He was employed there until 1873, when he came to Plain township, this county, and bought ninety acres of land. This he improved, but subsequently sold, and removed to Weston township, purchasing the Ward farm of 100 acres. This property Mr. Goodenough has placed under a high state of cultivation, drain- ing, tiling it, and otherwise making it a model farm. He has erected a comfortable residence. and has one of the best barns in the county, which cost $1, 500, also a grain barn which was built at a cost of $500, and a fine windmill. He has a small orchard of choice assorted fruit trees set out, and, taking all in all, the place is one of the best arranged and most complete in the township.
Mr. Goodenough was the first boiler maker in Wood county, and followed his trade, at the same time managing his farm, for seventeen years, being known, also, as the most extensive hog raiser in the county. He experienced many of the hardships of pioneer life in his early days, and, among other experiences, tells of the time when, for a year, he was a sailor on the great lakes, sailing most of the time between Grand Haven and Manistee, Mich. He is a man who
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Thomas Goodenough Many of Goodenough.
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has worked hard, has been energetic and saving, and well deserves the prosperity which has crowned his efforts, and enabled him to spend the remainder of his life in ease and comfort.
Mr. Goodenough was married, April 14. 1877, to Miss Mary E. Dotts, of Bowling Green, Ohio, and three children have blessed their union: Hattie, born August 14, 1878, wife of George Gloor, a farmer in Milton township; Robert, born March 3, 1881; and Thomas S., born March 24, 1839. Mrs. Goodenough's parents were Jacob and Ann (Battin) Dotts, the former born about 1816, in Pennsylvania, the latter in 1817, in Columbiana county, Ohio. They were married in Ohio, and had seven children: John Y., a farmer; Eli B., who enlisted in the Civil war, in Company K, ILIth O. V. I., and died in hospital; Osborn S., a farmer in Defiance coun- ty, Ohio (he was also a soldier in the Civil war, serving with the 130th O. V. I.); Jefferson S., who is a farmer in Weston township; Sarah P., deceased; Mary E., born November 29, 1855, at Bowling Green, wife of our subject; and Cynthia M., wife of S. Johnson, a farmer near Weston.
In politics our subject is a Republican, and was for five years supervisor of Plain township. He served as clerk of the school board for nine years, and was also a member of the township school board in Sub-District No. 9. He is a Master Mason, belonging to Lodge No. 560, F. & A. M., at Weston. The family are all re- spectable citizens. Mr. Goodenough is a self-made man, and he is highly respected and esteemed in the community, where he is regarded as a most worthy citizen.
WILL S. BAIRD. The subject of this personal sketch is one of the successful and progressive farmers within the borders of Bloom township, and one of the representative men of this sec- tion. He has made his special field of industry a success, and highly esteemed and respected "by those who know him best. He is the second child in the family of Shelman and Keziah (Locy) Baird, and was born in Perry township, Wood county, December 17, 1852.
Mr. Baird was educated in District No. 4, of his native township, and remained under the parental roof until eighteen years of age, when he hired out as a farm hand, previous to this time, however, he had begun to. learn the car- penter's trade, but not liking the business he gave it np. Later he resumed carpentering, working one season for C. J. Updegraft. On April 18, 1878, he wedded Miss Addie Pelton, who was born in La Grange, Lorain Co., Ohio,
August 14, 1861, and is a daughter of James and Lydia (Beaumont) Pelton. On coming to Wood county, her parents first located in Bloom town- ship, later moved to Perry township, and died at North Baltimore, Ohio.
On Section 18, Perry township, Mr. Baird began housekeeping, having scarcely any furni- ture or cooking utensils, and those he had, being second-handed. He later purchased a cow, span of horses, and a buggy. At the end of a year he removed to his father's farm, which he culti- vated on the shares for nearly two years, when he went to Bloomdale, there being employed as a laborer by Bryant & Linhart for the same length of time. During that time he was able to save enough money to purchase two lots, and he built a house in Bloomdale, which he sold in 1883, removing to Section 16, Perry township, where he rented a house and a small piece of ground, while he worked in the sawmill of his father-in-law. In the spring of 1884, Mr. Baird purchased eighty acres of land in Section 13, Bloom township, from Andrew Emerine, for which he went in debt $1, Soo, and the first sea- son, which was very wet, his crops failed; but he did not allow himself to become discouraged, hoping for better days. Fortunately he had purchased his place of a gentleman who was .very lenient with him, and instead of forcing the payment of $200 annually, he allowed the debt to go for three years without any payments. Our subject secured outside work which enabled him to earn considerable, and as his land was further developed it became more productive. It is now entirely free from debt, and in 1895 a substan- tial home was erected thereon. With the excep- ton of twenty acres, the land has all been cleared, thoroughly tiled and drained, and now bountiful harvests yield a ready return for the care and labor expended upon the place.
Mr. Baird and wife may be properly classed among the self-made citizens of Wood county, who, by the exercise of their own industry and perseverance, have not only gained for themselves a honie, but have materially assisted in the progress and development of the country around theni. They have always enjoyed life, taking many pleasures that others in their circumstances would have probably denied themselves. His first vote was cast with the Democratic party, later he became a Prohibitionist, and is now a Republican, though not bound by party ties. voting for the best man regardless of politics. He is a charter member of West Millgrove K. of P. Lodge, No. 445, while himself and wife are active members of the Disciples Church.
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F. E. WHITKER, a well-known grocery mer- chant of Bowling Green, a member of the firmn of Bankey & Whitker, is a strictly first-class bus- iness nian, reliable and energetic. He was born at Weston, Wood county, November 2, 1867, and is the offspring of excellent stock of stanch German ancestry, his paternal grandfather hav- ing come from the Fatherland. He located near Pemberville, Wood county, where John Whitker, the father of our subject, was reared. At Toledo, Ohio, was celebrated the marriage of the latter and Miss Elizabeth Matzinger, a native of Switz- erland, who had come with her people to the New World and located in that city. After their marriage the parents made their home at Weston, where the father engaged in the lumber business for ten years, and then removed to his present farm, two and a half miles northwest of that village. Our subject is the oldest child, the others being Lillie, John, Maggie, Abbie, Alice, May and Mertie.
In the place of his nativity, Mr. F. E. Whit- ker grew to manliood, and attended the public schools there until January 1, 1884. On laying aside his text books he became a clerk in the store of H. C. Uhlman. In 1893 he came to Bowling Green, where he entered business as a co-partner in the firm of Bankey & Whitker, and they have become the leading dealers in grocer- ies, crockery and queensware in the place.
On June 15, 1892, Mr. Whitker was married to Miss Maude Royce, who was born November 29, 1871. Socially, he holds membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Royal Arcanum. In business, he is energetic and trustworthy, and has gained the confidence of the people by his honesty and integrity.
ABRAHAM COEN, a well-known retired agricult- urist of Bowling Green, was born in Knox coun- ty, Ohio, July 27, 1817.
. His father, William Coen, was a native of Pennsylvania, but came early in life to Knox county, where he was engaged in farming inany years. He was married near Wheeling, W. Va .. to Miss Sarah Brokaw, who was born in New York State, in 1800. In religious belief, they were Presbyterians, and they exemplified their faith in faithful, practical, right-doing. Their later years were spent in Hancock county, where onr subject's mother died in 1840. His father died in 1853, at the age of sixty-six. They had nine children, five of whom are yet living: (1) Cecelia, deceased, formerly Mrs. Robert Black, of Tontogany; (2) Ann, Mrs. I. S. Wilson, of Coles county, Ill .; (3) Abraham, onr subject; (4) 1
John, a prominent resident of Bowling Green; (5) Margaret, deceased, formerly the wife of John Gray, of Cloud county, Kans .; (6) James, de- ceased, a resident of Indiana; (7) William, a well- known citizen of Bowling Green; (8) Ebenezer, of Wood county, Ohio, fell in the battle of Mo- nocacy, in the Union army; (9) George Coen, of Indiana.
Mr. Coen lived with his parents in Knox county until the age of fourteen, when they moved to Hancock county. His early education was obtained in a log school house near his home, and his time was mainly devoted to farm work and getting out logs for the market. On August 28. 1838, he married Miss Sarah Hall, who was born December 30, 1818, in Harrison county, Ohio. The first years of their married life were passed in Hancock county, but in 1849, they came to Plain township, Wood county, and bought a farm, which they cultivated until the development of the oil industry in that locality resulted in the opening of four wells upon their estate. A few years ago they moved to Bowling Green to enjoy the fruits of their labor, and here Mrs. Coen sank into the unbroken repose of death, December 20, 1894, after over fifty-six years of married life. Eleven children were born to them, six of whom grew to adult age: (1) Harriet married Andrew Rush, of Bowling Green, and both died, leaving a family of five children-Flora, Erva, Benham, Boyd and Newell. (2) Mary married Henry Goodenough, a leading citizen of Plain township, whose biography appears elsewhere in this vol- ume; five children were born to thein-May, Ruth, Sarah, Harry A., and Walter. (3) Aaron died as the result of exposure and hardship in the army. He was a member of Company C. 21st O. V. I., and had re-enlisted at the end of his first term, when his health gave way and he was sent home. (4) Nancy married Thomas E. Adams, of Findlay, Ohio. (5) Delilah is the wife of A. Chapman, of Bowling Green. They have four children-Fred, Anna, Arthur and Ralph. (6) Rachel married William Hopper, of Piain township, and has three children-George, Perry and Virnil.
Mr. Coen is a prominent member of the Pres- byterian Church, and politically is a Republican. His first vote was cast for William H. Harrison. He is a man of remarkably fine physique, and has usually weighed 220 pounds, his "working weight." His declining years are free from care. but the passing away of early associates brings of necessity the chill of loneliness, and a longing for reunion. Notwithstanding the esteem of later friends, and the affection of his children lie " 13
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like a giant oak, which, having outlived the storms which laid his companions low, now stands alone. "
PETER KRAMP, a retired agriculturist, now re- siding at Bowling Green, was born in Nassau, Prussia, January 17, 1835. His parents both died when he was quite young, and no record of them has been kept. He was one of six chil- dren, the others being Adam, a miner, who died in Germany, at an advanced age; David, who also lived to an old age, and died in Germany; Elizabeth married Philip Schid, and died in Ger- many; Jennie married Henry Menor, and died in the old country: Catherine is the twin sister of our subject, married Ernest Gross, and lives in Germany.
When Mr. Kramp first came to America, in 1854, he took passage in a sailing vessel, and was thirty-two days in making the voyage. In 1894, when he visited his sister in Germany, he made the trip in eleven days, and the return trip in ten days.
After the death of his parents, our subject and his sister were reared by their eldest brother. Mr. Kramp attended the public schools, and at an early age worked at and learned the tailor's trade. When he came to America, he landed in New York, and thence went direct to Sandusky City, Ohio. At the end of the journey he was indebted four dollars to a friend who had assisted him to reach his destination. He worked on a farm at first, for six dollars per month, and after- wards for $160 per year, until he got married. After his marriage he rented a small farm in Erie county, Ohio, the owner of the farm furnishing a team to do the plowing and heavy work, Mr. 'Kramp being able only to furnish a horse to do the light work. His wife was a great help to him, and through her assistance and economy, at the end of a year they were able to buy a team, and then rented a larger farm, upon which they lived until they came to Wood county, in 1869. At this time they had saved $1,000, which they paid on an eighty-acre tract in Plain township, which they had purchased for $4,000. After liv- ing on this land for eight years, Mr. Kramp ex- changed it for 160 acres in the same township, which he yet owns. There are about fifteen pro- ducing oil wells on this farm, which yield a com- fortable income to the owner. He removed from his farm to Bowling Green about three years since, and has built a comfortable residence in the west part of the village, where he now lives in contentment and quiet enjoyment.
He was married, February 22, 1861, to Miss
Christiana Seel, who was born in Germany, No- vember 13, 1840. Twelve children were born to them, as follows: (1) Henry, now living on his father's farm, born November 13, 1861, inarried Miss Ida Plowright, and has six children, viz. : Ralph, Mabel, Lena, Clarence, Wallace and Es- ther. (2) William, born May 18, 1864, married Miss Lydia Wright, and has three children, viz .: Floyd, Leah and Lucy. (3) Philip Peter, born June 7, 1866, married Miss Ada Hartman, and has two children, Edna and Merle. (4) Fred- erick, born May 22, 1868, died December 9, 1891. (5) Peter, born July 17, 1870, married Miss Vallie Pulse, and has one child, May. (6) George, born August 13, 1872, married Miss Ettie Wright, a sister of his brother William's wife, and has one child, Burl. (7) Louise, born December 9, 1874, died February 9, 1875. (8) Charley, born January 15, 1876, was married in 1895 to Miss Mattie Borland, who died in 1896; one child was born to them, but is now dead. (9) Christiana, born April 11, 1878, lives with her parents. (10) Edward, born April 10, 1880, and (11) John A., born May 28, 1882, reside with their parents. (12) Reuben, the youngest. was born September 2, 1885.
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