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 59
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Alexander McCombs began his education in the schools of Tuscarawas county, and continued his studies for a short time after coming to Wood county with his parents; but his school training
was rather limited. On July 24, 1862, he enlisted at Tontogany, in Company G, First Ohio Light Artillery, under Capt. Alex. Marshall and Col. Barnett, and was mustered in at Toledo. From there the troops proceeded to Nashville, Tenn. , after which they participated in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Franklin, Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain, besides numerous small engagements. While in winter quarters at Chattanooga, Mr. McCombs was cooking some meat about ten feet from his tent, when a shell was thrown down from the mountain above, and exploded in the tent, totally destroying every- thing, yet he was uninjured! Though in many hotly contested battles, he was never wounded. At the battle of Franklin, two pieces of his bat- tery were sent out on the pike to cover the retreat of the Union army, and, while marching into Franklin, Hood had his forces massed so solidly on a high knoll, that three out of the four men at the gun on which our subject served were killed, he alone surviving. They held the Con- federates at bay as long as they could; but it be- came so hot the captain ordered them to limber to the rear, and get inside the line of works. Mr. McCombs had not time to put up equipments, but carried sponge-bucket in one hand and sponge-staff in the other, and, while marching in, quite a number of Hood's men followed them in- side the breastworks. It was a hard fight while they were at it; "but," Mr. MeCombs says, " the . Johnnies' used us much better at Frank- lin than they did at Stone River, where, on the third day's figlit, they killed about half of our horses and took four of our guns. It was a ter- rible slaughter, and after the conflict was over they went to Nashville and drew new guns and horses." Mr. McCombs and his .bunk-mate." H. G. Mercer, grew up together in boyhood, and served together throughout the war. Mercer was Mr. McCombs' partner when his tent was blown up at the foot of Lookout Mountain, as related above. On the close of hostilities our subject was discharged at Nashville, Tenn .. June 13, 1865, and returned home, having made for himself an honorable war record, of which he may be justly proud.
Mr. McCombs then gave his attention to agri- cultural pursuits, operating a rented farm for seven years, when he purchased forty acres of land, which had been entered by his uncle from the government at seventy-five cents per acre. since which time it has never passed out of the family. Nineteen acres had already been im- proved, but he has since drained the tract, using 16,000 tile, erected a fine house at a cost of
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
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$1, 100, built fences, and set out a fine orchard upon his land, the place being now a credit to the enterprise and industry of the proprietor. On February 11, !868, he married Catherine Crom, a daughter of John Crom, a prominent farmer of Washington township, and five chil- dren blessed their union: G. E., who died at the age of fourteen months; L. A., a farmer of Washington township, who married Martha Daniels, by whom he has two sons-George and Harold; J. Chester, a farmer, at home; W. H., who is still under the parental roof; and H. A., who died at the age of three years. The un- wavering support of Mr. McCombs is given the Republican party, whose principles he stanchly advocates, and has held several offices in his township, being trustee for seven years, and for many years he was school director and a mem- ber of the board of education. His religious belief is that of the United Brethren Church, while socially he is connected with Walter A. Wood Post, G. A. R., at Tontogany. In the summer of 1895 he attended the grand encamp- ment at Louisville, Kentucky.
F. M. COOK. The subject of this sketch, who is a prominent farmer of Plain township, is well-known as a man of intelligence and enter- prise, and also as a brave soldier, the story of whose adventures in the "Far West," as it was called some twenty-five years ago, reads like some tale of fiction. He has no need to recall fairy stories to relate to the children, for his own experiences are quite as exciting as any of these, and have the added merit of being true.
Mr. Cook was born in Liberty township, April 3, 1845, to Robert and Elizabeth (Huff) Cook. His father was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, December 12, 1816, and spent his younger days in Circleville. Ohio. He came to Wood county when about twenty-five years of age and was here married. Soon after this event, in 1848, he removed to Miami county, Ind., where he carried on general farming and dealt in stock, driving hogs to the market at Cincinnati. He was a Whig in his earlier years, but afterward became a Republican. He died in Indiana, Sep- tember 23. 1870. Henry Cook, the father of Robert Cook, was born in Virginia in 1790, and was a soldier in the war of 1812, and by that means became a resident of Olio. He was a shoemaker by trade, and in religion was a Uni- versalist. He died in Indiana at the home of our subject's father. His family comprised ten chil- dren, of whom the following grew to maturity: Robert; Cervantes, who was a soldier in the
Civil war, belonging to Company B, 40th Indi- ana, and died at Nashville, Tenn., from wounds received at the battle of Stone River; Reason, who died in Indiana; Alvin, who was killed by the falling of a tree; Melissa married George Gordon, and died in Kansas: Catherine married Joab Gordon, a brother of George; Susanna mar- ried a Mr. Morehead, and died in Indiana. Henry Cook was of Scotch-Irish descent, and his ancestors fought in the Revolutionary war.
The mother of our subject was a daughter of Henry and Huff, who were natives of England, and were there married. She was also born in England, and was the only one of the family who grew to maturity. Her parents came to America in 1832, and settled at Erie, Penn., where they remained one year, and then came to Wood county, Ohio, locating first in Liberty township, and later in Plain township, where the father died in at the age of eighty-six years. He did not vote until the time of the Civil war, when he became a Republican. He belonged to the Methodist Church.
The subject of this sketch was one of four children, of whom the following record is given: Adaline, married William Lucas, and died in In- diana. William lives in Lake county, Ind. ; he served during the Civil war in Company B, 40th Ind., and was wounded at Mission Ridge, but did not leave the army until the war was over. F. M. is the third in order of birth. Mary is the wife of Thomas Mearing, whose sketch will be found in another place. Mr. Cook was a child of three years when his parents removed to Miami county, Ind., and there obtained his edu- cation, and grew to manhood. In 1864, he en- listed in Company A, 138th Ind., for the hundred- days' service. His time expired when he was in Nashville, Tenn., and he re-enlisted in the 151st Ind. regiment, in which he served until the close of the war. He was honorably discharged at Indianapolis, and returned home, where he re- mained two years, then went west with the pur- pose of locating. His first stop was at Fort Scott, Kans., which at that time was a pretty rough place, being infested with bushwhackers from the North and South, who had congregated there. Two men were killed the first night Mr. Cook was in the town, and, although he remained there, and in the vicinity, for about four months. he decided to find some other place in which to try his fortnne.
Mr. Cook's next step was to take up a claim on the Salmon river, and in the latter part of Aa- gust, of the same year, the settlement was raided by the Indians. They killed a number of the
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WOOD COUNTY, OMIIO.
white settlers, and took the women and children captives, destroying and burning the cabins and everything within their way. Gov. Crawford, of Kansas, came to the rescue of the whites, and organized a company of young men to follow the savages and exterminate them. Our subject was one of these volunteer soldiers who com- posed what was known as the 19th Kans. Cav., and on September 20, 1868, they started in pur- suit of the red men. Driving the Indians before them, this brave band swept up the Salmon river, finally reaching Fort Hayes, where they were met by gallant " Little Phil " Sheridan and the 7th U. S. Cav. ; this little army then was ex- tended in a line from Kansas on their forward march, determined that none of the savagesshould escape them. The latter made a stand at the Arknasas river, but were so closely pressed that they fled. The soldiers all massed at Camp Supply, and, under the command of the lamented Gen. Custer, marched sixty miles south of Wolf creek and struck the river, on whose banks the Indians were encamped. The troops attacked them before daylight, taking thein by surprise and capturing all who were not killed. The prisoners were marched back to Camp Supply, and a few days later some of the soldiers returned to the battle field to care for the dead, but found only the bones of their comrades, the wolves hav- ing destroyed the bodies.
Mr. Cook was one of a company of men de- tailed to accompany a train of five hundred wagons sent to Fort Hayes, five hundred miles distant, for supplies. On the way they met a band of rov- ing savages, and sent two men back to report the fact at headquarters. On the return of the ex- pedition they found the head of one of these men in one place and parts of his body in other places, and later the other man was found tied to a tree, his body full of arrows. Both had been killed by these terrible scourges of the Plains. In addition to the other hardships of this never-to-be-forgotten trip, the teamsters drove both ways in a blizzard. Many other most thrilling and interesting incidents are related by our subject, of his experiences during this wild life on the Western frontiers. Among other things he saw herds of bufflalos, so numerous that no team or horseman could drive through them, and containing thousands of these great animals. Mr. Cook remained with the army in the West until June 19, 1869, when he went to Kansas City and worked in a woolen-mill there for a year. On the death of his father in isto, he returned to his old home in Indiana, and took charge of affairs. He succeeded his father as
justice of the peace, in Miami county, holding the office for eight years. In 188t he came to Wood county, Ohio, where he has since made his home.
Mr. Cook was married November 4. 1875. to Miss Martha E. Paul, who was born September 30, 1856, and they have two children, Glenn C. born August 7, 1876, and James H .. born July 7, 1883. Mr. Cook is a Republican, a member of the G. A. R., and is popular among his ac- quaintances.
GEORGE H. SPECK. Among the newspaper men of northwestern Ohio, few have a wider ac- quaintance than the popular editor and pro- prietor of the Pemberville Leader. At the time he assumed the management of the paper. the tide of its fortunes was at a very low ebb, but his energy and tact have succeeded in gaining for it a place among the most prosperous journals of Wood county. Possessing an inexhaustible fund of humor, together with a wide range of infor- mation upon topics of every nature. he is well fit- ted for the responsible position he holds.
The family to which our subject belongs origi- nated in Germany, where his great-grandfather, Godfrey Augustus Speck, was born in 1754, and whence he emigrated to America. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Townsend, was born in September, 1763, and passed away De- cember 13, 1815. His death occurred December 24, 1828. Among their eight children was Au- gustus, our subject's grandfather, who was born in Pennsylvania, December !3, 178;, and died in Guernsey county, Ohio, June 12, 1870. His wife, Sarah Reed, was born April 22. 1789, and died August 7, 1875. Their family consisted of eleven children.
On his mother's side our subject traces his ancestry to Benjamin Hiskett, a native of Vir- ginia, who died in Belmont county, Ohio. A son of the latter, Norval Valentine Hiskett. our sub- ject's grandfather, was born in Loudon county, Virginia, February 15, 1805, and died in Morrow county, Ohio, in 1852. He married Massey Nichol, who was born December 13. IST, and passed away April 19, 1844. Isaac G. Speck. the father of our subject, was born near West- chester, Guernsey Co., Ohio, April 11. 1832. and is a merchant by occupation. At Carding- ton, Ohio, June 23, 1853. he married Matilda Ann Hiskett, who was born near Mt. Gilead. Morrow Co., Ohio, March 3. 13 They became the parents of ten children, namely: John F., who was born july 17, 1854: Sarah E .. February 16, 1856; Mary V., boru June 14. 1857.
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and died July 23, 1857; Eda A., born July 18, 1858; Ira E., July 4, 1860; Ocenie B., January 4, 1862; George H., June 8, 1865; Charles E., May 21, 1867; Clarence C., who was born Au- gust 27, 1875, and passed away September 12, 1879; and Clive L., whose birth occurred De- cember 5, 1880.
In the public schools of Defiance and Green Spring, Ohio, our subject received such educa- tional advantages as those institutions of learn- ing afforded. At the age of seventeen years he entered the office of a newspaper at Green Spring, the "Times," and though he commenced, with the humble position of "devil", soon worked his way upward, and within two years was local editor of the paper. In 1885 he be- came connected with the Greenwich Enterprise, of which he was editor and business manager for one year. In 1887 he went to Chicago, and for a year and a half he was employed in a job print- ing office. In April, 1889, he came to Pember- ville, and became editor of the Leader, of which he has since been in charge. The task of resur- recting the departed fortunes of this paper was not an easy one; but he applied himself to it with ardor, and soon achieved noteworthy success. Besides his regular newspaper work, he has a job printing office, and turns out a very superior quality of work. While the Leader is independ- ent in politics, Mr. Speck himself is a stanch ad- vocate of Republican principles, and always casts his ballot for the candidates of that party. Socially, he is connected with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and K. O. T. M., and in religious belief is a Methodist. His mar- riage was solemnized at Lima, Ohio, June 12, 1888, his wife being Miss Cora Ann Smith. They have lost one child by death, and have two sons living, Clayton S., and Claire H.
S. P. HATHAWAY has the reputation of a strictly first-class business man, reliable and energetic, and is a citizen of whom Wood county may justly be proud. He is one of the oldest merchants of Luckey, having begun business there in 1872, and in 1881 erected a two-story building, which burned down in 1893. but with characteristic energy he at once rebuilt it, and now has a substantial two-story brick block, in which he is doing a large and Incrative business.
A native of Wood county, Mr. Hathaway was born in Webster township October 6. 1847, and is a son of Isaac M. and Nancy (Stevens) Hatha- way, the former a resident of Geauga county, Ohio, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania. The father's birth occurred in 1822, and in his
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native county he acquired his education, after which, at the age of eighteen years, he came to Montgomery township, Wood county, with his parents, Daniel and Polly (Merricks) Hathaway, both of whom were born in Fall River, Mass. About 1820 the grandparents of our subject re- moved to Geauga county, Ohio, and later came to Montgomery township, this county, where they opened up a farm; for many years made their home in Webster township, Wood county, where the grandfather died in 1856, and his wife in 1880. He served his country in the war of 1312. By trade the father was a shoemaker, but also car- ried on farming. In Webster township he enlisted, in 1861, as a member of Company K, 2Ist O. V. I., for three years, being mustered in at Findlay, Ohio, and served in the army of the Cumberland. At the close of his term he re- enlisted in the same company and regiment, and was killed on May 31, 1864, at New Hope Church. His wife still survives him, and makes her home in Luckey. Our subject is the eldest in their family of six children, the others being James and John, both of Luckey; Mary, who died in Webster township; Mrs. Elizabeth Nichols, of Michigan; and Mrs. Lasetta Hibbs, of Auburn- dale, Lucas Co., Ohio.
S. P. Hathaway was reared in the usual manner of farmer boys, receiving his education in the district schools of Webster township, but after the outbreak of the Civil war, although quite young, he laid aside civ pursuits, and in 1 864 joined Company K, 21st O. V. I., enlisting for three years or until the close of the war. He was mustered into the United States service at Toledo, Ohio, and was assigned to the army of the Cumberland. He participated in many bat- tles and skirmishes, including the engagements at Buzzard's Roost. Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca. Kingston, Kenesaw, Atlanta, Jonesboro, siege o Savannah, went in pursuit of Hood, and was with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea. He was in the Carolina campaign, being in the battles of Averyboro and Bentonville, and at the latter place was taken prisoner He was confined at Danville and Richmond. On being discharged at Columbus, Ohio, in June, 1865, he returned to his home in Webster township, where he followed farming for a time. At Toledo, in 1866. he joined the regular army, and during the three years of his service was stationed at Fort Leaven- worth, Fort Randall and Fort Sully, after which he returned to Wood county.
On August 20, 1873. Mr. Hathaway was mar- ried to Delila (Bochuman) Kinney, and to the marriage was born a daughter, Mary (Mrs. Clem
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
Eberhart), September 7, 1874. She was educated in the public schools of Luckey and of Albion, Ind., and is now a resident of Ann Arbor, Mich., and has one child, Gertrude.
In 1878, in Troy township, Mr. Hathaway was.the second time married, this time to Miss Mary Bushnell, a native of Sandusky county, Ohio, and a daughter of William and Emily (Clough) Bushnell, who were early pioneers of Troy township, and are both now deceased. The lady is a sincere and faithful member of the Christian Church.
In his political relations, Mr. Hathaway is identified with the Republican party, served acceptably as postmaster under both Harrison and Garfield, and is a notary public of Troy township. He belongs to Benedict Post, No. 26, G. A. R., at Pemberville, in which he has filled the chair of quarterinaster-sergeant, and is a member of Freedom Lodge No. 127, I. O. O. F. Personally and in a business sense he is popular among his townsmen, and considered a valuable addition to the community.
J. E. SOMMERS, M. D. This well-known and popular physician of North Baltimore was born May 22, 1854, on the Atlantic Ocean, while his parents were on their way to this country from Germany. He is the son of Frederick and Ro- sina (Groli) Sommers, both of whom were natives of Wittenberg, Germany.
The parents of our subject settled on a farm in Medina county, Ohio, where they lived until 1861, when they moved to Wood county, taking up their residence in Portage township. The year following Mr. Sommers offered his serv- ices in defense of the flag of his adopted coun- try, enlisting in Company I, Iith O. V. I., and serving as a private for three years. In all this time he was not wounded, but contracted rheu- matism from which he was a sufferer the remain- der of his life. He was born in 1821, and died in 1878 in the prime of life. His wife, who was born in 1829, is still living in North Baltimore. Four children comprised their family, as follows: J. E., the subject of this sketch; Jacob, living in Henry township; Frederick, also in North Balti- ; more; and Christina, who was the wife of Dr. Knight, of Portage, and is deceased. The par- ruts were both members of the Lutheran Church, although the mother is now connected with the Christian Church at Mungen.
Our subject was seven years old when his jirents took up their residence in Wood county, and here he attended the public schools, acquir- uig a good common-school education. In 1889
he began the study of medicine under Dr. Bry- ant, of Toledo, afterward attending the Cincin- nati Medical College, from which he was gradu- ated in June, 1892, with the degree of M. D. He began his professional career in North Baltimore soon after his graduation, and in a short time has built up an extensive practice. He is a man of fine ability, a close student, and has the confi- dence of the people, a most necessary factor in the success of a physician. He is also popular on account of his genial ways and many excellent qualities as a neighbor and friend.
Dr. Sommers was first married, in 1878, to Miss Clara Wallace, who died a little more than two years after her marriage, leaving one child, Henry. The Doctor took for his second wife Mrs. Rebecca McCrory, of Liberty township. who was born June 3, 1852. She has one child, Mary, by her first marriage, and one by her mar- riage with our subject, Floyd. Dr. Sommers be- longs to the Northwestern Ohio Eclectic Medical Association, and the Ohio State Medical Associ- ation, and is medical examiner for the lodge of Woodmen of the World at North Baltimore. He is a Democrat politically, and in religious con- nection is a member of the United Brethren Church at North Baltimore. In addition to his practice, he looks after a tract of land which he has leased to the Ohio Oil Co., and on which he has placed many improvements. He also owns city property in North Baltimore, and the Colum- bia Drug Store, in the same city, which is con- ducted by a professional pharmacist, F. M. Hoff- man, the Doctor's time being entirely taken up with his extensive practice.
MARSHALL R. GORRILL owns and controls one of the leading industries of Middleton town- ship, being engaged in the manufacture of lum- ber and staves at Dowling. Fully in sympathy with the spirit of progress and enterprise charac- teristic of the age. he carriesforward his business interests with energy and perseverance, and is recognized as one of the leading representatives of commercial circles in his locality.
Mr. Gorrill is one of the native sons of the county, his birth having occurred in Troy town- ship, August 3. 1854. His father, Thomas Gor- rill, was born in Devonshire, England, in iso ;. and about the year 1830 crossed the Atlantic. taking up his residence in Center township. this county. Subsequently he removed to Troy township, where he sent to claim of 20 deres. which he cultivated and improved. He mar- ried Miss Eliza Barr, a native of Peru, Ohio, and they had eight children: Robert W., a Con-
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tractor and farmer; Martha J., wife of Wesley Thurston, a lawyer of Toledo; Marshall R .; Samuel B., Thomas A .. and Henry L., James C., all four now deceased; and Mary G., de- ceased wife of S. Smith, of Elmore, Ohio. Two of the sons-Samuel B. and Thomas A. - were soldiers in the Civil war, the former serving in the IS9th O. V. I. some nine months; Thomas A., who had a gallant record, served three years in all, first in the 72nd O. V. I., but on April 8, 1865, he was commissioned lieutenant in the 189th O. V. I., receiving an honorable discharge with his regiment at the close of the campaign. The father of this family served as county com- missioner of Wood county for several years, was justice of the peace in Troy township, and was an honored, respected man. In his political re- lationship he gave an unswerving support to the Republican party. His death occurred in 1874, that of his wife in ISSo.
Our subject was educated in Troy township, and in the Normal Schools at Fostoria and Berea. For several terms he taught school, and then worked on the home farm until 1881, when he and his brother, Samuel B., built a hoop and stave factory at Stony Ridge, this county, ex- pending thereon some $4,000. On July 26, 1885, they were burned out, and, unfortu- nately, were uninsured; but with characteristic energy, they in the following year commenced the manufacture of staves and hoops, at Dowling, furnishing employment to from twenty-five to forty hands. On December 31, 1890, Samuel B. died from injuries received on the 26th of the same month, being crushed by a log, and then Marshall R. assumed exclusive control of the business, which he has since conducted with well- merited and gratifying success, shipping the prod- uct of his factory to all parts of the country. In addition to this he is interested in the oil indus- try, being a director in the Dunbridge Oil Co., who have ten wells in operation at present, and contemplate drilling more in the near future. Mr. Gorrill also owns and manages 120 acres of land in Middleton township.
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