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 53
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Lee Moore was married November 27, IS17, the lady of his choice being Miss Phoebe M. Brad- ley, who was born March 13, 1798, and was the third child of Ariel and Chloe (Lane) Bradley, both natives of Connecticut, the former born at Salisbury, December 30, 1768, and the latter at Killingworth, October 22, 1770. Her grand- father, James Bradley, died in Summit county, Ohio, at the age of ninety years. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Moore included eleven children, namely: Henrietta, born January 5, 1819, was the mother of our subject; Phoebe M. was born February 10, 1821; Nathan, born January 13, 1823, is now a resident of Toledo, Ohio; Ariel B., born June 6, 1826, died May 19, 1827; Al- bert, born April 24, 1828, died June 30, 1885; Julia Ann was born July 15, 1830; Olive was born October 23, 1832; Milton, born February 25. 1835, was drowned in a well in March. 1838; Chloe was born July 25, 1837; James was born December 9, 1839; and Charles was born in 1843. The mother of these children departed this life February 23, 1872, and the father's death occurred in 1874.
DANIEL ZIMMERMAN, a worthy representative of one of the honored pioneer families of Center township, then a part of Webster township, Wood county, was born there on May 12, 1835. His father, William Zimmerman, was a native of Virginia, born in 1798, and came to this county in 1835, locating on the farm where our subject's birth occurred. He took up 160 acres of wild land, which he at once began to improve and cul- tivate. His wife bore the maiden name of Isa- bella Householder, and to them were born four- teen children, named as follows: John and Mon- roe, who are both deceased; Eliza, deceased wife of Joseph Burdo; Lewis, who has also passed away; Daniel, of this sketch: Mary, deceased wife of George W. Garner; George, who died from the effects of his service in the Civil war: Milton, infirmary director of Wood county: Isaac, a farmer of Portage township; William and Isa- bella, twins, the latter the wife of William Wed-
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dell, deceased; James, an agriculturist of Center township; Lewis E .. deceased; and Harvey, a farmer of Michigan. The father's death occurred in 1884, and the mother passed away in 1889.
The entire life of our subject has been passed in his native township, being reared to manhood on his father's farm, and receiving his education in the district schools of the neighborhood. On the outbreak of the Rebellion, he resolved to aid in the preservation of the Union, and in 1861, enlisted at Pemberville, Wood county, in Com- pany K, 21st O. V. I. On December 31, 1863, he veteranized, and was given a furlough. For two weeks, in 1861, he was confined in the hos- pital at Nashville, Tenn., but during the remain- der of his service was always found at his post of duty, and participated in the battles of Chatta- nooga, East Kentucky, Ivy Mountain, La Vergne, Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, the siege of Atlanta, and the capture of Jones- boro. He was with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea, and on the close of his enlist- ment received an honorable discharge, August 25, 1 865.
At the termination of his army experience, Mr. Zimmerman returned to Center township, where he purchased sixty acres of land, which, after cultivating some seven years, he sold and bought 110 acres, which comprises his present fine farm. It was then, however, in its primitive condition, mostly under water, not a tree having been cut, or a ditch made, and no roads yet been laid out to the place. After much hard labor he succeeded in clearing the land, which he drained, and on which he planted an orchard, and erected a fine dwelling house, barns and other outbuild- ings. It is now one of the model farms of the county, supplied with all modern improvements, and the well-cultivated fields indicate to the passerby the thrift and enterprise of the owner.
On May 24, 1866, Mr. Zimmerman was united in marriage with Miss Emma Fox, a pioneer teacher, who taught twenty-one terms in Wood county, and who was born in Livonia, N. Y., March 14, 1837, and is a daughter of John Fox, a farmer of that locality. Six chil- dren grace this union: William A., a carpenter, who was born August 12, 1867; Lucy M., a school teacher, born May 27, 1869; Jessie M., wife of Charles Barr (a farmer, but now a real-estate agent), born July 13, 1871 ; Aner, a carpenter of North Dakota, boru March 8, 1873; Cever, a farmer residing at home, born January 5, 1875; and John W., born July 6, 1878.
Mr. Zimmerman has watched with lively in- terest the growth and development of the county,
and has contributed largely to its reputation as one of the most highly cultivated districts in this great commonwealth. He and his estimable wife endured all the hardships and privations incident to a life in a new settlement, and well deserve the reward which is now beginning to crown their labors. Politically he identifies him- self with the Republican party, whose principles he stanchly advocates. and has served as school director for six years. He belongs to J. Wiley Post No. 46, G. A. R., and he and his family ad- here to the faith of the United Brethren Church.
H. E. NOBLE, M. D., a prominent physician and surgeon, was born in Broome county, N. Y., August 27, 1855, and is a son of Derwin and Betsey M. (McClure) Noble, also natives of Broome county. In 1860 the parents removed to Huron county, Ohio, where the father engaged in farming for six years, after which he removed to Lucas county, this State, but now makes his home in Stony Ridge, where his wife died in 1893. To them were born five children: Emma Jane, wife of Darius Carpenter, of Stony Ridge; H. E., our subject: Clarence, a traveling sales- man, of Toledo, Ohio; Frank, a sawyer, of Per- rysburg, Ohio; and Clark D., also of that place. They also reared an adopted daughter, Nellie Hubbell, now Mrs. Henry Reifert, of Stony Ridge.
At the age of five years H. E. Noble was taken to Huron county, and was eleven years old when the family removed to ucas county, in
both of which counties he recei a portion of his literary education, which mpleted at Delta High School, at the age ( 1 teen years, after which he began the study of n. licine. In 1877 he entered the Detroit Medical College, completing his course in 1879; ` then located at Swanton, Fulton county, where . practiced un - til 1883, when he again took uo his studies, this time in Toledo Medical College, from which he graduated in the class of 1884. He then estab- lished himself at Stony Ridge Wood county. where he built up a large and h crative practice, making a specialty of surgery and the diseases of women, having attended extra lectures on these subjects in New York City, whe e he was gradu- ated from the New York Institute in 1891. Iu 1896 he removed to Toledo, wh re he has taken up the practice of his profession, devoting his attention to surgery and the diseases of women.
The Doctor holds membership in the North- western Ohio Medical Association, and the Oliio State Medical Society, has served as health of- ficer in Troy township, Wood co inty, two years,
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and has been physician for the poor in Lake township for ten years past. He is medical ex- aminer for the Manhattan Life Insurance Co., of New York, and also the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co., of Milwaukee, Wis. So- cially he is connected with Perrysburg Lodge No. 527, K. of P., and with the K. of H., in which latter he has twice served as dictator. He is a contributor to the "American Medical Compend," of Toledo; also of the "Columbus Medical Jour- nal," and "International Journal of Surgery ." He has read papers on gynecology before the Medical Association. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party, of which he is one of its strongest supporters in his vicinity, and takes an active interest in everything for the good of the community. He is an extremely busy and suc- cessful practitioner, but finds time to aid in all worthy enterprises which will advance the wel- fare of his fellow man.
At Swanton, Ohio, Dr. Noble was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Hunlock, who died in Stony Ridge in 1884. Five years later he there wedded Miss Celina Bonda, who was born December 20, 1873, in Michigan. Her educa- tion was acquired in the public schools of Lena- wee county, Mich. To the Doctor and his wife were born three children: Elizabeth A., born May 25, 1890, and died at the age of five months; Mabel, born July 30, 1894; and Jessie, born September 16, 1895.
N. A. MCALLISTER is a leading and success- ful business man of Walbridge, Ohio, where he conducts a first-class general store, and carries a well-selected stock in order to meet the demands of his customers. He was born in Buffalo, N. Y., April 13, 1850, and is a son of Neil and Catherine McAllister, natives of Scotland, where their inar- riage was celebrated. The father was born in Greenock in 1809, and, in 1849, brought his wife to the United States, locating first in Buffalo, N. Y. From there he removed to Erie county, Ohio, and later became a resident of Wood coun- ty, where he engaged in farming. He also sailed on the lakes for some time, fitting out vessels at Milan, Ohio, and he was engaged in furnishing vessels after quitting the life of a sailor. He died at Walbridge on the 15th of March, 1889. and his wife, who was born in 1812, had died in 1883. . Their family consisted of four children who grew to adult age, namely : Daniel H. and Angus, who are both now deceased; Mary W .. wife of Eugene Winchester, of East Toledo, Ohio; and N. A., the subject of this sketch.
The last named was reared in Milan, Erie 18
county, until eleven years of age, when he ac- companied his parents to Wood county, and later engaged in sailing on the lakes, being mate on the vessel "Hattie Wells" for two years. On giving up that life, he began his present mercan- tile business at Walbridge, where he has now carried on operations with good success for twelve years, and does a large and lucrative business.
On December 28, 1882, Mr. McAllister was united in marriage with Miss Amanda E. Clark, who was born in Oberlin, Ohio, July 2, 1853. and two children bless their union-Ralph D .. and Thorwell G. Besides his store our subject owns a good farm of eighty acres in Lake town- ship, and he is widely known in business circles throughout the county, being regarded by all as a man of rare energy, superior business tact, and undoubted integrity of character. Socially, he belongs to the Odd Fellow's Lodge at East To- ledo, also to the Knights and Ladies of Security, and politically is identified with the Republican party.
JOHN W. BOWLES is a successful and ener- getic agriculturist, and one of the esteemed and valued citizens of Milton township. His well-spent life well entitles him to representation in this volume, and it is with pleasure that we present to our readers the record of his career. A native of Cambridgeshire, England, he was born on May 24, 1834, and is a' son of John and Jane (Dickerson) Bowles. The public schools of his native land afforded him his educational privi- leges, and when quite young he started out to make his own living.
When a young man, Mr. Bowles determined to come to America, believing that he might better his financial condition by taking advan- tage of the opportunities afforded in the New World. He crossed the Atlantic in 1851, and located in Albany, N. Y., where he was em- ployed for a time as gardener. He later went to Rhode Island, where he secured a situation with S. W. Foster, a wholesale merchant. In 1853 he came to Ohio, locating in Monroeville, Huron county, where he worked as a farm hand nntil 1856, when he took up his resi- dence in Wood county. During the Civil war he enlisted at Perrysburg, in Capt. Cook's cont- pany-Company C, 2Ist O. V. 1 .- and was honorably discharged at Columbus, Ohio, in August, 1861. He then returned home and purchased forty acres of land, which he improved. He possesses good business ability, is a careful manager, is energetic and progressive in his methods, and that he has won a place among
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the substantial citizens of Milton township is due to his own efforts. In politics he is a Republican.
In Milton township Mr. Bowles was united in marriage with Miss Jane Watson, who was born in Delaware, Ohio, December 3, 1838. They became the parents of four children --- Benjamin and Mary L., both deceased; William, who married Emma Reid, and aids in the opera- tion of his father's farm; and Maxwell, who is also at home.
PROF. J. C. SOLETHER, principal of the Jerry City schools, has been engaged in teaching for over twenty years, and has an enviable reputa- tion as an educator throughout Wood county and vicinity.
Our subject was born December 28, 1854, in Bloom township, eldest child of Charles and Sarah (Miller) Solether. He first attended at District School No. 5, in Portage township, and Alfred Smith was his first teacher. As he was the eldest, however, he was needed at home to help his father, being thoroughly trained to agri- cultural pursuits, and by the time he reached the age of eighteen he had only an ordinary literary training. He then attended six months at the Bowling Green schools, and by the time he was nineteen had fitted himself for teaching, a pro- fession to which he has ever since given his prin- cipal attention, and it is a fact worthy of note that though he has held many different positions, his work has all been in Wood county and vicinity. After beginning to teach he educated himself from his own earnings, and he at first taught during the winter and engaged in farm work during the summer. He spent one term at the Normal at Fostoria, and studied at Oberlin College part of three years, but after he was twenty-four years old he advanced himself by reading and private study, acquiring no small amount of knowledge in this way. His first school was in Liberty township, and he received $1.50 a day for his services, and he has also taught in Bloom and Portage townships, having been principal of the Portage schools for four years. He is now serv- ing his sixth year as principal of the schools in Jerry City, where he is most favorably known as a competent instructor and a good disciplinarian, and one who has the respect and good will of his pupils. Thoughi he has been unusually success- ful, he deserves the rank he now occupies in his profession, for he has placed himself in his pres- ent position by hard study and untiring devotion to his work. In May. 1889. Prof. Solether was appointed, by Judge Young, one of the county examiners, and has held that position continu-
ously since, serving with his customary efficiency and ability. In 1895 he and his wife went to Denver to attend the Convention of the National Association of Teachers, and on his trip visited Salt Lake City and many other points of interest and importance.
On November 10, 1880, Prof. Solether was married, in Henry township, Wood county, to Miss Lydia Peters, a native of that township, daughter of Squire B. L. Peters. Children as follows have blessed this union: Hallie, Lauren, Pliny, McClellan, and Harry, all of whom are living. At the time of his marriage our subject located on his present farm in Portage township, which comprises ninety-one acres of good land in Section 32, and forty acres in Section 29, and it is still more valuable on account of its situation in the midst of a good oil territory. All the farm buildings and the very pleasant and comfortable residence have been erected by him, and he has displayed as much ability in this line as he has in his profession, having acquired a very fair share of this world's goods. He has a well- stocked library and a most comfortable home. Prof. Solether has been a lifelong Republican in political sentiment, and in Bloom township served as trustee and for two years as clerk. But he is no politician, being thoroughly devoted to his profession and to his home.
T. J. VOSBURG, a well-known resident of Jerry City, was born November 27, IS20, in the town of Salisbury, Litchfield Co,, Conn., son of John and Elizabeth (Miner) Vosburg, and grand- son of Abraham Vosburg.
John Vosburg was an ore digger in Connecti- cut. He was married in that State, and lived there several years afterward, coming to Ohio when our subject, who was the eldest child, was about eight years old. They located on a new farin in Berlin township, Trumbull (now Mahon- ing) county, which was then a pioneer section. and remained there until 1836, when they came to Wood county, arriving June 1. They were fourteen days en route from Trumbull county; it rained every day, and they were obliged to cut their road out the greater part of the way after entering Wood county. It required four yoke of cattle to haul one of the covered wagons of the party from Millgrove to where they located. The Vosburgs settled in Montgomery township. which was then all in the woods and very swampy except on the ridges. Mr. Vosburg had come here the previous March, and entered eighty acres of land, also buying too acres that another had settled upon. The family made a temporary
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home with John A. Kelly, an earlier pioneer, who liad a small double log house, until a cabin could be built, and they began pioneer life in earnest. Game was plentiful in that region at that early day, and wolves gave them considerable trouble on account of the stock. Mr. Vosburg lived and worked on this land the remainder of his life, gradually improving it and acquiring more prop- erty, until he found himself in comfortable cir- cumstances. He died on the farm at the age of about sixty years, and his widow afterward moved to Millgrove, at which place she served as postmistress a few years. She passed her remaining days at Fostoria, dying at the home of her son Harmon, and she and Mr. Vosburg are both resting in the cemetery at Millgrove. They were the parents of ten children, all of whom grew to maturity, and six of whom are now living, viz .: T. J., whose name introduces this sketch; Jeanette, Mrs. John Hoiles, of Huron county, Ohio; Freeman, a farmer of Portage township, Wood county; Phoebe, who first inar- ried David Adams, and after his death wedded his brother, Alex. Adams, who is also deceased; Har- mon, of Fostoria; and Hiram, of Huron county.
When the family settled in Wood county T. J. Vosburg was about sixteen years old, and, being the eldest, was his father's principal help. He had attended school in Connecticut, and also in Trumbull county, where the school house was two and a half miles from his home, and every- thing was of the most primitive character. His agricultural training, however, was not neglected, and he not only helped his father, but also worked away from home, the greater part of his earnings going to help his parents. After mar- riage he settled on twenty acres of land in Mont- gomery township, which he bought from his father, and lived there for some time, improving the place greatly. On selling this tract he came to Portage township, locating on the home farmn of his father-in-law, John Davis, where he lived several years, finally selling out and buying a forty-acre tract, also in Portage township, and subsequently bought and removed to another farm of eighty acres in that township. In 1879 he removed to Jerry City, where he has ever since had his home. At the time of his removal here he bought forty acres of land in Section 4. Bloom township, which he held until 1895; but he never lived there.
On December 7, 1843, Mr. Vosburg was married, in Wood county, to Miss Ennice Davis, a native of Richland county, Ohio, whose father, John Davis, settled in Portage township in the fall of 1836. Children as follows were born to
this union: Margaret E., widow of John Rich- ards, who resides in Huron county, Ohio; Mary, Mrs. Benjamin Simons, of Millgrove, Wood county; Emma, Mrs. John Bunnell, of Fostoria; and Rachel, who died young. The mother of these passed from earth March 14, 1854, and was laid to rest in Millgrove cemetery. For his second wife our subject wedded, in Perry town- ship, Miss Anna Snyder, who was born August 9, 1837, in Mahoning county, Ohio, the daugh- ter of George and Barbara (Martin) Snyder. Mrs. Snyder died when Anna was only a child, and when she was twelve years old her father removed to Seneca county, later settling in Bloom township, Wood county, where he died. Seven children have come to this marriage, as follows: Phœbe A. (Mrs. John Boltz), of North Baltimore; Susan E. (Mrs. William Stuck), of St. Joseph county, Mich. ; Martha M. (Mrs. Edward Adams), of Jerry City; Ella, widow of James McMann, of Jerry City; Clara A. (Mrs. O. T. Wilsey), of Jerry City; Ida (Mrs. William Davis), of St. Louis, Mo. ; and Charles H., who lives at home.
Mr. Vosburg was originally a Whig in poli- tics, becoming a Republican on the formation of that party, which he has always supported, except on one occasion, when he voted the Democratic ticket to please a neighbor. In anti-bellum days he was an Abolitionist. He served for ten years as trustee of Portage township, and held the office of constable there for eighteen years-the longest term of service in that position of any one man. He has been active in Church work, being a member of the Liberal contingent of the C. B. Church, and has heid numerous offices. having been class-leader, trustee, Sabbath-school super- intendent, etc., and the duties of every office in which he has been placed have been discharged with his usual fidelity and ability.
R. R. HILLARD, a rising young farmer of Port- age township, is a native of the same, born April 7. 1873, son of Reuben P. and Mary (Dresser) Hillard.
Reuben P. Hillard was born in Crawford county, Ohio, son of Daniel Hillard. In 1863 he came to Portage township, Wood county, and married there. He was a life-long farmer, pros- pering in his chosen vocation, and he was an act- ive man in the community, where he was highly respected. For several years he served as trustee of the township, and was offered other offices, but declined to serve, preferring to give all his attention to his own business interests. There were six children in his family-R. R., whose name opens this sketch; Nellie M., Mrs. B. F.
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Musser, of Portage township; Charles R., a farın- er, of Portage township; Frank D., Laura A. F. and Daisy E., all of whom live in Portage town- ship. Mr. Hillard died December 26, 1891, and Mrs. Hillard passed from earth September 9, 1894, and their remains now rest in Mt. Zion Church cemetery. They were both meinbers of the Methodist Protestant Church, and in political affiliation Mr. Hillard was a Republican. He was a man of naturally broad intellect, and a close observer, keeping himself well informed on current events.
Our subject received his education in the schools of District No. 7, Portage township, and, being fond of books, he learned rapidly, acquir- ing a good common-school education. He sub- sequently studied bookkeeping at home, and he is a constant reader, keeping himself well abreast of the times, and posted on the issues of the day. He lived under the parental roof until his mar- riage, March 27, 1892, at Bradner, Wood coun- ty, to Miss Rillie A. Sprout, who was born in Seneca county, daughter of William F. and An- geline (Dicken) Sprout, the former of whom was a farmer. One child has been born to this union: Ronald M., January 22, 1894.
In the fall of 1892, Mr. Hillard located on the fifty-acre farm, in Section 35, Portage town- ship, where he has since carried on general farm- ing. He has two oil wells on this farm, and also holds a sixth interest in eleven other wells, nine of which are on the old Dresser farm, and two on the "Hillard Homestead." By his energy and industry, Mr. Hillard has won the good will of all who know him. On September 25, 1894, he was appointed notary public, and has since served in that office with ability and success. In political affiliation, he is a stanch Republican, as was his father before him, and socially he is a member of Rescue Lodge No. 345, K. of P., Jerry City.
F. WENZ, a well-known civil engineer of Perrysburg, was born October 4, 1850, near the historic city of Worms, Germany, where his an- cestors had been for several generations Inspect- ors of the King's Forest. His grandfather, Nico- laus Wenz, and his father, Herman Wenz, were both born and passed their entire lives there, the latter engaging in agriculture in addition to his official duties. He married Miss Elizabeth Eberts, and their son, the subject of this sketch, enjoyed exceptionally good educational advantages in his youth; was graduated from the Polytechnic School at Darmstadt, his course having been in- terrupted by one year of military service in the
Franco-Prussian war. In 1874 he came to Amer- ica. He spent one year at Buffalo, N. Y., serving in the U. S. Coast Survey, and then came to Wood county, where he has since resided, except for trips to the Fatherland in 1878 and 1889.
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