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 51
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After his marriage Mr. Fry lived for some years in Mahoning county, but came to Wood county nearly forty years ago, locating in Bloom township, and has made his home here ever since. His farm was all woods when he came to it, and he did all the clearing himself excepting a little his sons did after they grew up, and he has one of the finest farms in Bloom township. In early life he and his wife were members of the Reformed Dutch Church, but later united with the Presbyterian Church. They are consistent Chris- tian people, ever ready to assist in all good works. The family is well known throughout the town- ship, and enjoys the respect and esteem of the community. In politics Mr. Fry is a Democrat, and, while not taking an active part in political matters, does his duty as a loyal citizen in uphold- ing good men for office.
LUTHER C. WINCHELL, a well-known bus- iness man residing at Risingsun, is a financier of high standing, and the owner of extensive oil and agricultural holdings. His advice is often sought in important interests, and the esteem in which he is held gives the strongest evidence of the unbroken good faith which he has kept with the public in his dealings.
Mr. Winchell's ancestry on both sides was of Yankee stock, but his father, Luther Winchell, was born in New York State, where he was bound out when a boy, his father having died. In early manhood he served in the war of 1812, taking part in the battle of Sackett's Harbor. He followed the blacksmith's trade for a time. but, disagreeing with his boss, he left him, and coming to Chio settled in Lake county, there marrying Miss Phoebe Waterman, a native of Pennsylvania. Later he spent five years in Du- Page county, Ill., and bought a large tract of land, which he sold at a handsome profit. Re- turning to Ohio, he purchased another large quantity of land at $to per acre in Sandusky county, and his remaining years were passed there and in Lake county, where he died at the age of ninety-one years, his health being good up to the
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last and his faculties unimpaired. His wife lived to ninety years of age, and they were interred side by side in Scott township, Sandusky county. He left a fortune of $50,000, at his death, which had been acquired through his own industry and judicious investments. There was always a blacksmith shop on his farm, and for many years he did his own work; but later he bought and sold paper and managed his real-estate interests. He took great interest in the success of the Democratic party, in which he was a prominent worker, being often called upon to act as chair- man of meetings. Our subject was one of eight children: Sabra, the widow of Elias Jewel, of Du Page county, Ill .; Stephen, a resident of Ris- ingsun; Luther C., our subject; Phoebe, Mrs. Henry Phillips, of Scott township, Sandusky county; Cynthia, who married John Rinehart and died in Indiana; Lucy, who married Walter But- ler, and died in Sandusky county, Ohio; Harriet, Mrs. Sylvester Phillips, of Scott township, San- dusky county; and David, a resident of the same township.
Luther C. Winchell was born Angust 9, 1836, at the old home in Lake county, and was reared as a farmer boy. His health was poor, and his attendance at the district schools was somewhat interfered with, his brothers and sisters having much better advantages than he in that respect, some of them fitting themselves for teaching. The family has a reputation for mental ability, and Mr. Winchell's own efforts in later years have made good his early lack of training. In August, 1862, he was married in Montgomery township by John Norris, J. P., to Miss Jane Baker, who was born January 20, 1847, in Find- lay, Ohio, the daughter of Henry and Mary (Spangler) Baker, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. They died at the home of our subject, the father at the age of eighty-five and the mother at eighty- seven, and were interred in Scott township, San- dusky county. Mrs. Winchell was the youngest of a family of nine boys and two girls, and never attended school after she was twelve years old.
After his marriage Mr. Winchell rented a farm in Jackson township, Sandusky county, from his father, and, although he bought a tract of fifty-six acres, he remained at his first home until April, 1869, when he came to a farm in Mont- goniery township. In 1871 he moved to his present residence in Risingsun. He carried on a mercantile business there for some years, buving and selling stock, grain, produce, fruit, and other commodities, and dealt also in notes to a con- siderable extent.
Since 1891 he has been largely
interested in the oil business, and aside from his valuable realty in Risingsun, which includes a res- idence and business property, he owns 320 acres of land elsewhere. An active man physically and mentally, his enterprises receive his personal attention, and to this fact may be due his suc- cess in rising from limited circumstances to the possession of about $50,000. He is a liberal contributor to Church and charitable purposes, and his family has always been prominent in the social life of the village. Of three children, only one is now living. Phoebe married George H. Baker, and died in Toledo; Rose is the wife of Rev. William Wagner, a Baptist minister at Van- Wert, Ohio; William Franklin died October 4. 1892, in his twenty-fourth year. Mr. and Mrs. Winchell are members of the Church of God, and he helped to build their edifice, and has served as elder, trustee, and superintendent of the Sun- day-school. In principle Mr. Winchell now sym- pathizes with the Democratic party in State and National questions, but his first vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln. In local polities he votes for the best man, regardless of party. He has been a member of the village council, has served as street commissioner, and, since the new school house was built, has been director and treasurer of the board of education.
JACOB J. SNYDER, to whom success has come as the reward of well-directed efforts, is one of the leading farmers of Wood county. His fa- ther, Daniel Snyder, was born in Germany, No- vember 11, 1818, and when a young man came to the United States with his parents. He was married in Liverpool, Medina Co., Ohio, to Miss Eppley, by whom he had one child. Christina, now the wife of August Ehnes, of Toledo, Ohio. In Medina county, Daniel Snyder married, for his second wife, Eva B. Swartz, who was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, in June, 1820, a daughter of Frederick Swartz, who came to the United States in 1830, and settled in Liverpool township, Medina county, where he died of typhoid fever three years later. About 1850, Daniel Snyder removed to Troy township, Wood county, where he now owns a desirable farm of 100 acres, which he has developed almost en- tirely from the wilderness. He has made his own way in life entirely unaided, and is an indus- trions, energetic man, of sterling worth. Polit- ically he is a Democrat, and religiously a devout Lutheran. His wife died April 24, 18os, aud lies buried at Luckey, Ohio. Their children are: Catherine, wife of Jacob Metzger, of Perrysburg township; Frederick, of Perrysburg township:
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Daniel, of Lake township; John, of Cleveland; Elizabeth, wife of James Briggs, of Troy town- ship; Jacob J., of Montgomery township; and Lucian, of Troy township. Two children, Julia and Mary, died in infancy in Medina county.
Jacob J. Snyder was born in Troy township, April 8, 1858, and acquired a fair English educa- tion in the district schools. He was reared on his father's farin, and early became familiar with all the labors connected with its development. On April 23, 1885, in Stony Ridge, Ohio, he was joined in wedlock with Mary Magdalena Burkin, who was born in Baden, Germany, January 18, 1862, a daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Jo- seph) Burkin, who came to the United States in 1866, making the voyage in four weeks on the sailing vessel " Kimball." They located first in Erie county, Ohio, and removed to Webster township, Wood county, when Mrs. Snyder was twelve years of age. The mother died in San- dusky, Ohio, August 3, 1895, and the father is still living in Webster township. They had thir- teen children, of whom three sons and six daughters reached adult age. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have two children-Amelia, born March 9, 1886, and Samuel H., born July IS, 1888. In October, 1884, Mr. Snyder purchased forty-two acres of land in Section 6, Montgomery township, and has since made that farm his home. It was in poor condition, but with characteristic energy he began its development and improvement, and his earnest labors, perseverance and capable man- agement have converted it into a good property, and have brought to him a comfortable compe- tence. He votes with the Democratic party, but has never sought or desired office. Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church at New Rochester, and are people whose many ex- cellencies of character have gained for them the high regard of all with whom they have been brought in contact.
FRANK P. KING is the sole proprietor of an extensive livery establishment in Prairie Depot, and one of the leading men in his line in Wood county. Thorough and systematic in the inan- agement of his interests, he has made his way to success, and he early won recognition of his ability in business.
Samuel King, his grandfather, was born early in this century in New York State, of Yankee parentage, and, when a young man, became a pioneer farmer of Sandusky county, Ohio. He was married there, in 1828, to Miss Mahala Inies, by whom he had seven children: William, our subject's father; Sarah, who married Addison
Lansdale, and died in Prairie Depot. in Decem- ber, 1895; Jasper, a resident of Chicago, Ill .; Hugh, who died in infancy; Mary, Mrs. Samuel Whitmore, of Constantine, Mich. ; Harriet, Mrs. Daniel Garn, of Three Rivers, Mich. ; and Jack- son (deceased), formerly a resident of Jackson township, Sandusky county. The mother of this family died in 1845, and Samuel King was mar- ried, the second time, in Woodville township. Sandusky county, to Mrs. Mary Bixler, nec Moore, the widow of Adam Bixler. She had two children by her first marriage: Minerva, now Mrs. Howard Carmon, of Prairie Depot. and Cary, of Three Rivers, Mich. Eight chil- dren were born to the second union: John S., who lives in San Jose, Cal. ; James P., in Gratiot county, Mich .; Laura P., who died in infancy; Charles C., who is prominent in Isabella and Midland counties, Mich., has been sheriff of his county, and is an active worker in the Republican party: Edward H., an artist, in Grand Rapids, Mich .; Ella R., who married Charles Saunders. a minister of the Adventist Church, at Battle Creek, Mich. (she teaches in the college of that denomination); and Franklin and Emma, who died in infancy. Samuel King was a fine spec- imen of physical manhood, over six feet in height. and weighing at one time 240 pounds. He was a capable business man, industrious and system- atic, and was a leader among the early settlers in his vicinity. Previous to the war he was a Democrat, but he loved the Union, and became a strong Republican. Starting in the woods as a poor boy, he was obliged to make the best of the inconveniences of primitive life for himselt. and he often used strips of hickory bark for traces on his harness, burying them while he went to dinner in order to keep them moist. He succeeded in life, and was worth $20,000 at the time of his death, which occurred in April, 1865. at the age of sixty, after a lingering illness of two years which puzzled the medical fraternity and baffled their skill. He was laid to rest in the cemetery at Clyde, Ohio. After living at the old home three years, his widow removed to Clyde, but in 1895 she went to Battle Creek to reside with her danghter.
William King was born in Jackson township, Sandusky county, in 1829, and was reared as a farmer boy. He attended the schools of the neighborhood at times, but, being the eldest son, he was put in the harness at an early age, his father finding a plentiful supply of work for him. and he developed into a stout, robust young man. of practical ideas. He adhered to the principles of the Old-line Democratic party. In isst he
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was married, in Sandusky county, to Miss Susan Lesher, a native of the same locality, who was born February 27, 1830, the daughter of Daniel and Fanny (Cain) Lesher. They settled upon an estate near the old home, the "Brindel Farm," which Mr. King agreed to purchase from the heirs, but an attack of typhoid fever caused his death in December, 1854, after a brief illness, cutting short a career which had promised to be unusually successful. His remains were interred at Clyde, and his widow returned to her own relatives, who had removed in the meantime to Prairie Depot. There she lived until her marriage to John M. Adams, of Montgomery township. Of the two sons born to her first marriage, our subject is the eldest, and the other, William, born in October, 1854, is now a liveryman in Pem- berville, Ohio.
Frank P. King was born January 27, 1853. He lived with his grandfather, Daniel Lesher, un- til the age of seventeen, when he began to work on his own account at such labor as his youth would permit. He showed great aptitude in the management of horses, and finally secured em- ployment in the livery barn of an uncle, James Lesher, at Toledo, receiving a good salary. On October 10, 1874, he married Miss Lucy Sage, daughter of Edward R. Sage, a well-known resi- dent of Montgomery township, and four children were born of this union: Eddie, who died at the age of four years; Bert H., Charles and Carrie S. For one year after his marriage, Mr. King re- mained at the home of his father-in-law, and then bought a home in Prairie Depot, to which he removed. For five years he followed teamning, at the end of that time renting a farm near Prairie Depot belonging to E. R. Sage. After a short residence there he purchased a one-half in- terest in a livery stock with J. O. Hess, and em- barked in the enterprise which he now conducts with such gratifying results. Mr. Hess sold his interest three years later to A. Lesher, who, in 1890, sold out to Mr. King, leaving him the sole owner. The business has shown constant in- crease from the time Mr. King became interested in it, and in 1895 he bought the property, which is near the business center of the village, and measures 8x 16 rods. His barn is large and well arranged, and he keeps an average of fourteen head of horses.
Mr. King is regarded as one of the substantial citizens of his locality, and while he is no office- seeker, he has served as constable of Montgomery township, supervisor in the corporation of Prairie Depot, and for two years as a member of the vil- lage council. On State and National questions
he is an unwavering Republican, but in local politics he at times supports a good man of another party. Socially he belongs to the I. O. O. F,, and he is a charter member of Petroleum Lodge No. 499, at Prairie Depot.
W. C. HARRIS, a successful fruit raiser of Ross township, is among the stalwart and sub- stantial citizens of Wood county who are of alien birth, but who have by their unaided exertions raised themselves to their present prosperous condition. He was born in Bedfordshire, Eng- land, October 31, 1834, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Hilson) Harris, both of whom died at Stryker, Ohio.
The father was born in England, June 15, 1799, and in his native land accumulated a fort- une, which, later, he lost. In 1850 he brought his wife to America, locating in Williams county, Ohio, where he purchased 160 acres of land at $3.50 per acre, and there continued to reside up to his death, which occurred April 24, 1891. In his family were fourteen children, only six of whom are now living, namely: Eliza is the widow of John Weston (a farmer), resides near Bangor, Van Buren Co., Mich., and has five chil- dren-Joseph, Orilla, John, Jacob C. and Min- nie; James, a fisherman and boatman residing in Ross township, married Elizabeth Harrison, and has eight children -Josephine Lewis, Marion Wedder, John, Joseph, James, Lydia, Lucinda and Oscar; Richard, a resident farmer of Stryker, Ohio, married Margery Bailey, by whom he has seven children- Joseph H., John H., Phoebe, Ellen, Edward, Enos, Rufus and Perry; W. C., of this review; Joseph, of Lenawee, Mich; and David.
Our subject is almost entirely self-educated, learning his letters at the Sabbath-school in Eng- land, and attending school only two winters after coming to the United States, but he now is a well-informed man. In 1846 he crossed the At- lantic, coming over on the "American Eagle, " at that time the largest vessel afloat, and on that trip carrying 1, 200 passengers. He took passage at London, and after a long voyage of forty days landed safely at New York City on the 11th of July. He accompanied a friend of his father. being the one chosen out of three boys, and his father paid his brother's passage, while our sub- ject worked for his after coming to America. His older brother also came to the United States at the same time. and they remained together until the following spring, going with the friend of their father to northwestern Ohio, near the Indiana line. In the spring, however. our sub-
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ject went to Hillsdale county. Mich .. where, for some years, he worked on a farm by the month.
In August, 1856, in Branch county, Mich., Mr. Harris was married to Miss Ann E. Simmons, whose father had formerly lived at Palmyra, N. Y., and by this union four children were born: (1) Charles W., a fruit grower of Perrysburg township, Wood county, married Ann Wisman, by whom he has three children-Frank C., Stan- ley, and Bessie (deceased). (2) George is de- ceased. (3) Mary A. is the wife of Elmer Gray, foreman of the Consolidated Rolling Car Stock Co., at Detroit, Mich., and to them were born five children-Bessie E. (deceased), Harold R., Ellis E., Iva and Sarah. (4) Alfred A., a fruit grower living on the farm of his father, in Ross township, married Bertha Merving, and had three children -Arthur B., Eva E. (deceased), and Carl E. The wife and mother died at Toledo, Ohio, March 19, 1867.
On July 4, 1868, Mr. Harris was again mar- ried, his second union being with Elizabeth Sangston, daughter of James M. and Elizabeth (Debolt) Sangston, who were natives of Pennsyl- vania, and the parents of nine children-Sarah, George D., Isaac M., Harriet, Elizabeth, Ma- linda, Electa, Adelma, and Naomi (deceased). The father died in Holland, Ohio, and the mother in Perrysburg township, this county. Mrs. Harris was born in Wauseon, Fulton Co., Ohio, February 3, 1848, and by her marriage with our subject has become the mother of three children --- Frank A., born August 8, 1869, mar- ried Dorothea Burleigh, by whom he has two children, Mabel L., and Thomas M., and is en- gaged in farming at Oak Harbor, Ohio; Lottie M., born November 16, 1871, is a stenographer and typewriter, employed at the . Jefferson House" in Toledo, Ohio; Fred I., born October 6, 1873, married Mary Jacobs, and is a fruit grower of Ross township.
After being variously employed, Mr. Harris engaged in the wood business for fourteen years, was in the wholesale meat business for four years, and since that time has engaged in fruit culture, having upon his place 1, 000 plum trees; 225 pear; 100 cherry; 2,300 peach; 12 apricot; and 10 quince; also three acres planted in grapes; six in raspberries; four in strawberries; three-quarters of an acre in gooseberries; and six acres in aspar- agus; also some Japanese prune and walnut. On starting this business twenty-six years ago, he had but three acres, but at the present time he has forty-two acres under cultivation, and from the products of his farm derives a comfortable competence.
For five years Mr. Harris served in the State militia, belonging to Capt. Daniel Collins' com- pany, and to the 130th O. V. I., under Col. Phillips. Although for a time he was in the United States service, he never took part in any active engagement, and was discharged at To- ledo, Ohio. He is now a member of Ford Post No. 14, G. A. R., and also belongs to Wapa- koneta Lodge No. 38, I. O. O. F., the former of East Toledo and the latter of Toledo. He is a Republican in politics, and for a number of years served as school director of his district.
JOHN A. KELLY is classed among the influen- tial and prominent farmers of Montgomery town- ship. His birth occurred January 19, 1861, in Section 32 of that township, and he is the third son and fifth child in the family of R. W. and Eliza (Dresser) Kelly. His education was begun in District No. 9, and he later attended the West Millgrove schools for three terms. Being reared to agricultural pursuits, he has always made that vocation his life work.
In Perry township, Wood county, Mr. Kelly was married September 27, 1882, the lady of his choice being Miss Jennie Rosendale, who was born in that township November 22, 1864. the daughter of George W. and Elizabeth (Locey) Rosendale. When nine years of age she was taken to Elk county, Kans., where she remained seven years, returning then to West Millgrove, Ohio, and living with C. R. Rosendale until her marriage. Two children have come to our sub- ject and his wife - Ralph L., born February 26, 1886; and Eliza J., born August 31, 1890. Mr. Kelly took his bride to his father's farm in Sec- tion 32, Montgomery township, where they made their home until their removal to his present farm in Section 31, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation, making many substan- tial improvements thereon. Though not an of- fice-seeker, he takes considerable interest in po- litical affairs as a loyal and faithful Republican. His wife holds membership with the Congrega- tional Church at West Millgrove. They are genial, cultured people, and occupy a high social position in the community.
REV. JOSEPH M. CRIM, a well-known retired minister of the U. B. Church, now residing in Bowling Green, was born May 31, 1834. in Lan- caster county, Penn., where his ancestors. " Pennsylvania Dutch" on both sides, with the exception of his grandmother Crim, who came from England, had lived for several generations.
His grandfather, Jacob Crim, and his father.
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Jacob Crim (2), were both born there, the latter September 30, ISI0, and there, too, our subject's mother, Christina Young, was born in ISII. His father was a farmer, and a preacher in the United Brethren Church. He came to Richland county, Ohio, in 1838, and died there in January, 1892, his wife having departed this life six years before. They had four children, of whom our subject is the eldest; Elizabeth lives in Richland county ; Henry died at the age of twenty-seven, and Sam- uel resides in Crawford county, Ohio.
Our subject attended the district schools of Richland county during boyhood, and at the age of nineteen he was converted, and determined to devote his life to the highest uses. At twenty- one he entered Berea College, and on leaving he ! Our subject began his education in the Powles school of Milton Center. His childhood day's were passed in a manner similar to most farmer boys, and he remained at home until he had attained his majority, when he began work by the day as a had saved, he purchased forty acres of unim- proved land in Jackson township, and at once began to clear and develop the place, erecting thereon a substantial residence. In the spring of 1875 he rented his farm and leased 200 acres of land in Jackson township. at once began teaching, continuing successfully for nine years in Richland, Crawford and Logan counties. In 1861 he made a trip to California, and remained four years. In 1867 he married Miss Rachel E. Biddle, daughter of Rev. Alex- |- farm hand. Two years later, with the money he ander Biddle, of Galion, Ohio, and a native of Ohio, born December 8, 1844. They have had five children: Albert Biddle, who died at two years of age; Mary Louise Gertrude, a teacher in the A Graminar Grade in the Bowling Green schools; Cora, formerly a teacher in Bowling Green, now a student at Otterbein University, Westerville, Ohio; and Reuben and Ruth, who are at home.
Our subject received his first appointment in 1872, was ordained in 1875, and joined the San- dusky Conference. For sixteen years he carried on his chosen calling in various places, leaving behind him evidences of his faithful work, in Churches built or restored, new societies formed, and old congregations enlarged and awakened to greater spiritual life. His last charge was in Bowling Green, and when the time came to leave, after a ten-years' service, the educational needs of his growing family induced him to re- main, and in 1889 he retired from the ministry and opened a grocery store, which he has con- ducted ever since. Politically he is a Repub- lican. He still assists in the local work of the Church, especially during revivals; every Sab- bath morning finds him in his home church, teaching a Bible class of men. Faithful to that duty which lies nearest, his exhortations to right living are more effective than any niere glittering eloquence could be, the quiet but powerful force of example adding weight to precept.
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