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 61
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On his way home from Cincinnati, Mr. Bald- win met a stranger who entered into conversation with him, and who soon discovered from the young man's appearance that he was feeling rather blue and discouraged. He inquired into the latter's history, and seemed favorably im- pressed with his story and his evident enterprise and ambition, and, without knowing anything more about him, advanced him $600, taking not even a note for it, and advised Mr. Baldwin to return home and invest the money in hides. This he did, and the result of the transaction was that Mr. Baldwin made $400 for himself, besides paying back the $600 loaned him by his new friend, Mr. May, and also paid the latter $50.00 for the use of the money.
Mr. Baldwin continued buying and selling hides until 1864, when he went to Milton Center and bought a store. This he carried on for six months, in which time he made $2,000, then built a store in Weston, and, in connection with J. E. Clarke, engaged in general merchandising. At the end of a year Mr. Baldwin sold out his in- terest to his partner, and went on a farm, which after a couple of years he was obliged to sell on account of ill health. Hethen formed a partner- ship with W. B. Ladd, in the hardware business, and subsequently owned a gristmill which he operated for twelve years. During this time Mr. Baldwin was also speculating in lands, in 1870 buying the 120 acres where he now lives, and for which he paid $55. per acre. On this property he erected a fine dwelling at a cost of $3, 300, and engaged in general farming for three or four years, when he purchased the stock of goods be- longing to Mr. Clarke, afterward trading it for 200 acres of land adjoining his present home. This gave him quite an extensive farm: but ow- ing to severe winters and other ill fortune he lost $10,000. His next enterprise was the purchase of a stock of goods at Mt. Blanchard, where he carried on a store for six months, then removing it to Weston, and traded a farm for a stock of goods in Columbus Grove; he brought that to Weston, and in 1884 Mr. Baldwin cleared $io, - ooo, in his business, and the following year, $11,- ooo; in connection with the store he handled stock and grain. Fortune, which hitherto had smiled upon him, now turned a cold shoulder. for, in the following three years he lost $42,000, owning to dishonest help. This caused his fail- ure in business, and canie near destroying his faith in mankind, for, when he most needed their assistance, those whom he had helped failed to show their gratitude, and left him to face the storm alone. He, however, put his trust in a
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Higher Power, remembering how, when a lad of seventeen he started out on his career, his dear mother placed in his hands an old black Testa- ment, and told him to guard against doing anything wrong, and, whenever he was tempted. to read his Testament and follow its teachings.
With renewed perseverance, and by diligent labor, he recovered from this disastrous blow, and to-day is the owner of a good farm of seventy acres, also of a grain elevator, and of various other business interests, which bring him in a good income. He is the gainer in many ways by his hard experiences, and. as he is now still in the prime of life, can look forward to many years of activity and it is to be hoped of uninterrupted prosperity. Mr. Baldwin was married January 1, 1866, to Maria Taylor, a sister of Thomas Taylor. Five children have blessed this union, as follows: Albert B., born March 14, 1867, travels for the wholesale notion and dry-goods house of L. S. Baumgardner & Co .. of Toledo; Thomas Watson is deceased: James V. married a daughter of A. J. Munn; Almon is deceased; Harriet A. is at home.
Mr. Baldwin is a stanch Republican, but has never cared to run for office. He is a trustee in the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is also steward and a class leader, and has been superintendent of the Sabbath-school for twenty- three years. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and the K. of P., and is esteemed and respected by all who know him.
HENRY W. STERLING, a wealthy oil operator and real-estate owner of Wood county, now re- siding in Bowling Green, was born April 6, 1843, in Hancock county, Ohio, where his ancestors were among the earliest settlers. His grand-fa- ther, Jacob Sterling, came there from Ireland in early manhood, and cleared the land upon which he made his home until his death, at the age of seventy years. His wife lived to the advanced age of ninety-five.
Their son George, our subject's father, was born in Guernsey county February 13, 1812, and died July 15, 1885, in Iowa. He was twice mar- ried, and had twenty children. At the age of sixteen he married Miss Delilah Cuminings, who was born October 1, 1812, and died June 30. 1843. Ten children were born to this union, as follows: Olive M., born July 28, 1832, inarried James Lanning, of Hancock county; John Al- thans, born March 2, 1833, is a resident of Ham- inansburg, Ohio; George C., born November 27. 1834, lives in California; infant, born March 17, 1835, died two days later; twins, born in 1836,
died the same year; Mary Ann Isabel, born June 22, 1837, died October 11, 1887, the wife of N. Richmond; William Jackson, born February 15, 1839, was murdered in Umatilla, Ore., September 30, 1886; Nancy J., born August 20, 1841, died in 1892; Henry Wesley is our subject. Mr. Sterling's second wife was Miss Mary Ann Llewel- lyn, who was born March 26, 1828, and died August 16, 1888. Ten children were born to them: James Wellington, born October 7, 18.46, now living in Wisconsin; Delilah, born Novem- ber 13, 1840, died September 8, 1850: Melissa J., born April 5. 1850, married and living in Iowa; Arkinson B., born February 17, 1852; in- fant, born February 19, 1854, died when three days old; Margaret D., born May 25, 1855, the wife of George Helline, of Des Moines, Iowa; Francis M., born March 10, 1859, a resident of Des Moines; Hiram Perry, born July 5, 1861. living in Iowa; Rebecca E., born May 10, 1864, married and living in Montana; Amanda E., born July 19, 1869, died December 19, same year. Our subject's parents lived in Hancock county for some years after their marriage, then moved to Michigan and later to Indiana. Returning to the old home after about fourteen years of ab- sence, they lived there a short time, and finally moved to Iowa. The father was a man of excep- tional strength, and weighed 240 pounds. In politics he was a Democrat, first, last and all the time.
Henry W. Sterling spent his boyhood in Han- cock county. When nine years old he went to live with Jacob Crist, remaining with him eight years, when, not being able to agree as to what he was to receive on reaching his majority, he left and hired out to do farm labor for $4.00 per month. In September, 1862, at the age of nine- teen, he enlisted in Company H, 21st O. V. I., which was assigned to the army of the Tennes- see. He was taken prisoner at Murfreesboro. and spent three months in Libby prison, enter- ing in good health, weighing 185 pounds, and coming out weighing 94 pounds, and wholly unfit for duty. The prison was so crowded while he was there that all the men could not lie down at the same time. After four months in a hospital, and a short stay at home, during which he was mar- ried. on December 24, 1863, to Miss Catherine . Fellers, he rejoined his regiment in Atlanta, and took part in the famous march to the sea. He was in the battles at Bentonville, Fort Mc.Al- lister and Savannah, and from the latter place went by boat to Raleigh. When the war closed his regiment marched to Washington, and had its place in the Grand Review. Returning home, he
W. Sterling
Henry
Julia Sterling
WOOD COUNTY, OIIIO.
spent a year there, and then located in Henry township, Wood county, buying a farm, where he lived some twenty-one years. Having in- vested in a place in Liberty township, he lived there for five years before purchasing his present residence in Bowling Green.
Mr. Sterling's first wife was a native of Han- cock county, Ohio, born July 7. 1845. She died May 13, 1884, mother of nine children: Mary E., born September 24, 1864, married W. Thrush and has five children-Scott, Wesley, Gertrude. Earl and Burton; Daniel M., born January 9, 1869, married Miss Laura Courtright, and has one son-Clarence; Florence C., born January 9. 1869, is the wife of Cornelius Swope, of Wood county; Dallas W., born December 26, 1871, married Miss Addie Buchanan, and has one daughter -- Melinda; Henry W., born May 19, 1875, and John S., born October 13, 1877, are both living at home; Oliver, born April 26, 1884, died July 15, 1884; Grace C., born August 15, ISSI, died September 15, same year: Willie C., born April 6, 1874, died aged one month and seven days. On October 6, 1885, Mr. Sterling married, for his second wife, Miss Julia Mac- Faden, who was born in Bowling Green, March 26, 1848.
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Mr. Sterling has been one of the most enter- prising and successful business men in Wood county. At present he is engaged in the livery business. For fourteen years he ran a sawmill, and also made a specialty of contracting for the digging of ditches. He is a member of an oil company, which is extensively engaged in oper- ating upon leased lands in various parts of the county, and he owns an interest in fifteen wells, having eleven on his farm in Liberty township. He never sold the farm in Wood county, which he bought when a young man, and his two farms in the county now comprise 340 acres of iand. In politics he is a Democrat; socially he is a mem- ber of the I. O.O. F. and Encampment, and he is also an active member of the P. O. S. of A. and the G. A. R.
L. N. LEMBRICH, treasurer of Portage town- ship, and one of its prosperous farmers and lead- ing citizens, was born December 24, 1855, in Section 8, of the same township. His parents are Martin and Margaret (Amos) Lembrich. In District School No. 3, he received his education, and being the eldest son carly began to assist in the labors of the home farm, remaining a mem- ber of his father's household until reaching man's estate, when he started out in life for himself.
Mr. Lembrich was first married in 1878 to
Miss Flora Johnston, of Portage, who bore him one child, Edith M., at home. This wife died December 6, 1881, and was laid to rest in Mercer cemetery. Later he wedded her sister, Miss Sophia Johnston, daughter of Robert Johnston, and they have two children-Ray A. and Wanda. She is an earnest Christian woman, a faithful member of the Disciples Church.
For a time after his first marriage, Mr. Lem- brich rented land, and then purchased forty acres in Section 8, Portage township, which he yet owns, though his home is located on another tract of forty acres in Section 3, which he subsequently purchased. He has been quite successful in his undertakings, is progressive and enterprising, and all that he possesses is the result of his own in- dustry and good management. He is one of the leading Democrats of the community, enthusi- astic in the support of his party, has served as constable for four years, and in ISS7 was elected treasurer of Portage township, which office he has since capably filled to the satisfaction of all concerned. Though quiet and unassuming in manner, he gains many friends, which he always retains, and socially is a member of Whitney Lodge No. 589, I. O. O. F., of Portage.
WILLIAM A. MANDELL, son of Henry and Frederica (Kreps) Mandell, was born Febru- ary 1, 1849, in Perrysburg, Ohio, and at Mandel! school, District No. 6, some four and one-half miles from Perrysburg, he received a liberal education.
At the age of eighteen years he left school. and during the succeeding twenty-three years he followed agricultural pursuits. He has always lived on the old homestead of his parents, and has a comfortable frame residence, and owns a well-kept farm near by. On November IS, ISSO, he was married to Miss Ella Whitson, by whom he has had five children, as follows: Henry Elbert, born March 6, 1882; Mabel Edith, born September 11, 1883, and died July 5. 1887: Raymond A., born September 1, 1888; Harry W., born November 12, 1890, and died October 18, 1895; and Ralph E., born September 7. 1895. In his political preferences Mr. Mandell is a Republican, his first Presidential vote being cast for Gen. Grant. He has neither sought nor accepted office, merely taking a voting interest in public matters. Socially he is a member of the I. O. O. F., Fort Meigs Lodge No. 774. Perrys- burg, Ohio.
CHARLES LEMART JUNKINS has, by his well- spent life, shown that success is not always a
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794
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
matter of genius, or talent, but inay be achieved through persistent, earnest and honorable effort. He was born in Weston township, September 25. 1863, his parents being Thomas and Elizabeth Nancy (Long) Junkins. He received a common- school education, and spent his boyhood days on his father's farm. At the age of twenty-two he was married in Weston township, July 2, 1885, to Inez Lucretia Wright, who was born May 19, 1864, and is a daughter of O. H. Perry and Mary Jane (Marks) Wright, both natives of Ohio. Their danghter, however, was born in Jay county, Ind., and during her early girlhood was brought by her parents to Wood county. Two children grace this union-Thomas Perry and Ethel Lotta.
Upon his marriage, Mr. Junkins took his bride to his parents' home, but after a short time purchased his present farm of eighty acres, for which he paid $1,000. Many of the improve- ments on the place are the work of his hands, and he is well known as an enterprising, pro- gressive agriculturist, whose well-directed efforts have brought him success. In politics he is a Republican, but has never sought office, giving his time and energies to his business interests. His estimable wife is a member of the Disciples Church at Milton Center.
JERRY LOMAN, of Bloomdale, is an encour- aging example of a self-made man, having be- come, with but little help, one of the substantial inen of that vicinity. His great-great-grandfa- ther Loman, came from Old England at an early period, and settled in Maryland, where our subject's father, Richard Loman, was born in 1803. His father, Richard Loman, Sr., moved to Lancaster county, Penn., at an early day, later coming to Ashland county, Ohio, where he remained until April, 1832, when he moved to Wood county, and located on a tract of wild land in Perry township, there being at that time only four otlier settlers in that township. His first home was a shanty which had been abandoned by some Indians. The road to it had to be cut ont for the wagon, as he proceeded through the almost unbroken forest of heavy timber. Rich- ard Loman, Sr., was a heavy-set man of five feet eight inches in height, and was of an active and aspiring disposition. He died in 1853, and five years later his wife followed him, both being buried at Fostoria. They had six children - three sons and three daughters -- of whom our subject's father was the eldest, and the one who lived longest.
Richard Loman, our subject's father, had
but limited opportunities for an education, and his youth was spent on his father's farm. which he afterward inherited. In 1842, he was mar- ried in Fostoria to Miss Caroline Ward, a native of Gallia county, Ohio, and four children were born to this union, our subject being the eldest; Thomas R. is a grain dealer, and owner of an elevator at Newmarket, Iowa; Nancy J. married William Fry, of Siam, Iowa; and Sarah married Samuel Hiller, of Bloom township. The mother of this family died in October, 1851, and was buried in Fostoria. In 1854, for his second wife, he married Miss Jane Hannan, of Fostoria, who died in 1879, leaving two children: Mary E., now Mrs. John E. Wineland, of Bloomdale, and Delilah, the wife of J. F. Smith, also of Bloom- dale. Richard Loman was prominent in local affairs, and, although no office seeker, he held various offices in the township, and was school director for many years. He was a steadfast supporter of Democratic principles, but some- times in local politics " scratched the ticket," if the Republicans nominated a better man. He was member of the U. B. Church at the time of his death, which occurred in 1886, when he was aged eighty-two years. He had enjoyed the best of health until within the last four years of his life, when he was seized with dropsy, and he then retired to Bloomdale. In 1884 he went o Iowa to visit his sons, but returned only to breathe his last at the home of our subject.
Jerry Loman was born April 5, 1844, on the old farm in Perry township, and in boyhood attended the district school, his first teacher be- ing Rev. Andrew Hays. At the age of sixteen he began to study in Fostoria with the intention of preparing for a medical course-Dr. William Cake, of Fostoria, a cousin by marriage, having offered to assist him; but at the beginning of the third term this benefactor entered the army as surgeon of the 53d O. V. I., and on October I. 1861, Mr. Loman enlisted in Company B. 57th O. V. I., under Capt. Phillip Faulhaber. They re- mained in camp at Findlay until January 14, 1862. and were then mustered in at Columbus. They took part in some of the fiercest battles of the war, including those of Shiloh, Corinth, Chicka- saw Bayou (where their captain was killed. De- cember 28, 1863), and Arkansas Post, where. on Jannary 11. 1863, they captured the garrison and all. They then worked on the attempted canal at Vicksburg for a time, in Sherman's Fif- teenth Corps, going up the Yazoo river to Haines Bluff and Milliken's Bend, crossing the Missis- sippi at Port Gibson, and joining the fight at Champion Hills, May 12 and 13, 1863. Then
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followed operations around Vicksburg, and on May 22, during the second grand charge, 600 volunteers were called for to proceed in the van of the line of battle, and carry ladders and planks to surmount the breastworks when reached- surely as brave a piece of work as any soldier ever did. Mr. Loman was one of that heroic band, of whom only 135 came out without a wound. A few days prior to that, he had been slightly wounded in the right arm. He worked for nearly two weeks in the tunnel leading under the fort at Vicksburg. After Pemberton's sur- render, July 4, 1863, Mr. Loman's regiment left for Jackson, Miss., and took part in the battle there. They then joined the forces at Chattanooga, arriving the day before the engage- ment at Missionary Ridge. Their next work was to march to Knoxville to relieve Burnside; but when sixteen miles away Longstreet left for Vir- ginia, and they moved on to Larkinsville, Ala .. arriving December 31, 1863. On the next day Mr. Loman's regiment re-enlisted-the first regi- ment of the Fifteenth Corps to re-enlist. He came home on a thirty-days' furlough, and, April I, re- joined the regiment. On May 5, they left Lark- insville to participate in Sherman's campaign, and then came the battle of Resaca, May 14; Dallas, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, June 27; Peach Tree Creek, July 20, and Atlan- ta two days later. On August 31, came the des- perate and bloody struggle at Jonesboro, where the Rebels fought to recover the railroad which brought their supplies to Atlanta, and, on Septem- ber 1, Atlanta fell. Mr. Loman took part in Sherman's raid of November 14, 1863, and the engagement at Fort McAllister was his next. He was one of the host that marched to the sea un- der that great leader, and was the detailed fora- ger for Company B, during that historic journey. From Savannah the 15th and 17th Corps were taken to Port Royal by vessel, and after the bat- tle at Bentonville, March 19, 1865, there followed 1 the surrender of Johnson at Durham Station, without a struggle. After this affair Sherman's army marched to Washington, and took part in the grand review May 22, 1865. Although most of the participants in that glorious parade were allowed to go to their homes, the Second divis- ion of the 15th Corps was sent to Little Rock, Ark., to do guard duty, and Mr. Loman's brigade went several hundred miles into the Indian Terri- tory. On their return to Little Rock, the "boys" concluded that they would go home. and one morning at bugle call they stacked their rifles and made known their intention, despite the severe threats of their officers, who telegraphed to Wash-
ington for instructions. An order to discharge them came forthwith, so they were mustered out at Little Rock, August 15, 1865, and at Colum- bus, twelve days later, were discharged. Mr. Loman lacked only four days of four-years' serv- ice, during which time he had three furloughs, and had spent twenty days in Cumberland Hos- pital, Nashville, having been injured by a log rolling on him while building breast-works.
On his return home he rented his father's farm, and October 28, 1866, was married, in Tiffin, to Miss Colletta Steckel, a native of Hamilton county, and daughter of William Steckel, a well- known farmer there. Two years later he bought forty acres of wild land in Clinton county, Mich., and began farming there, remaining until 1871, when he moved to Charlotte, Mich., and began clerking for Baughman & Fouts, dry-goods iner- chants; after two years he entered the carpet and dry-goods store of Hazlett Bros .. in the same capacity. On August 22, 1874, his wife died, and was buried in Tiffin. Her loss so affected him that he resigned his position, but later re- sumed the work, until 1875, when he returned to Wood county and again engaged in farming, buying an eighty-acre tract adjoining the old homestead. On December 27, 1876, our subject was married, in Tiffin, to Miss Rosa Troxell, a cousin of his first wife, and a native of Lehigh county, Penn., and by her had three children: Nina, Lloyd R., and Carl C., all yet at home. In 1883 he made up his mind to go west, and sold his property, but undertook to do some teaming for E. S. Bryant. the lumberman of Bloomdale, later becoming superintendent of teams for him, finally the superintendent of the entire plant of Bryant & Linhart, continuing until 1895. His second wife died November 20, 1890, and was buried in Baird cemetery. Mr. Loman was again married, August 23, 1891, this time to Miss Rhoda S. Redfearn, daughter of Joseph and Ann (Phillip) Redfearn. She died December 1, 1894, and was buried at Fostoria.
Mr. Loman moved to Bloomdale in 1879, and two years afterward bought a house and lot there. In 1884 he traded eighty acres of land in Iowa for forty acres within the present limits of Bloomdale, and later added twenty-three and a half acres to it, making a fine farm where he now resides; he also owns several village lots. He is cantious and shrewd in his investments. In politics he has always been a Republican, casting his first vote while in the army, and that for Abraham Lincoln. He has been township trustee, and treasurer of the school board for three years, but is not an office seeker. In G.
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
A. R. affairs he is very active, and was a charter member of Urie Post No. 10, Bloomndale, and was first adjutant and has been commander. He belongs to the I. O. O. F. Lodge No. 406, Bloomdale, joining August 13. 1868, and is a charter member of Bloomdale Lodge No. 278, K. of P., and a member of Green Encampment at Bowling Green.
DAVID B. BROWN, M. D. The professional men of Pemberville are an element in the devel- opment of this progressive little city, to the repu- tation of which they are constantly adding by their talents and skill. To this class belongs Dr. Brown, who has conducted a general practice as a physician and surgeon here since 1881. As a physician he is patient, constant, sympathetic, yet, in the hour of extremity, cool, calm, and courageous, thus inspiring his patients with the greatest confidence in his skill. Although his practice requires almost his entire time, yet he still continues the study of his profession, keep- ing himself abreast with the practical details in the improvements of medicine.
For several generations the family to which the Doctor belongs has resided in Ohio. His father, Thomas Brown, was born in Knox county, this State, near the city of Mt. Vernon. He was reared upon a farm, and upon arriving at man's estate selected agriculture for his life occu- pation. Settling in Morrow county about 1850, he engaged in cultivating a farm there for about nine years. In 1859 he came to Wood county, and afterward made his home upon a farm seven miles south of Pemberville, where his death oc- · curred in 1887. His widow, who is still living on the old homestead in this county, was a native of Maryland, and bore the maiden name of Rachel Mills. Orphaned by the death of her parents when she was a mere child, she came to Ohio with a family by the name of Meyers, with whom she remained until her marriage.
During the residence of the family in Morrow county, Ohio, the subject of this sketch was born April 17, 1852. The family of which he is a member consists of three brothers and three sis- ters, all of whom are living. Henry B. has for twenty-four years been principal of a college at Valparaiso, Ind .; William T. resides on a farm near Bradner. Ohio; Sarah is the wife of James Shoewalter; Ellen married Milton Ashley: and Mary is the wife of Joseph Jennings. The first seven years of the life of our subject were passed on the home farm near Mt. Gilead. In 1859 he came with his parents to Wood county, where he attended the district schools of the neighborhood,
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