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 62
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81
and the public schools of Bradner. . On complet- ing his studies he began to teach, and followed that profession five years. It was not, however, his intention to make this his life work, and having resolved to become a physician, he in 1872 commenced the study of medicine at Freeport, Ohio, under the guidance of Dr. N. W. Good- rick, with whom he remained two years. In 1874-75 he attended lectures in the Cincinnati Medical College, from which institution he was graduated February 23, 1876.
At once, after completing his medical studies, Dr. Brown opened an office for practice at Sher- wood, Defiance Co., Ohio, where he remained a number of years. In 1881, he came to Pember- ville, where he has given his attention to profes- sional duties ever since, and has built up a large and remunerative practice. Through devotion to his profession he has gained a place among the successful physicians of the county, and has also become the possessor of some valuable prop- erty, including a comfortable residence. Here he and his wife, with their three children-Truman Glen, Dale Benton, and Neva B. - have estab- lished a pleasant home. Mrs. Brown was Miss Minnie Truman prior to her marriage in 1881, and is the daughter of a farmier living near Wood- ville. In his fraternal relations Dr. Brown is a Scottish Rite Mason, and for five years filled the position of master of the Blue Lodge. In the Odd Fellows Lodge he is serving as noble grand. He is also connected with order of the Maccabees. His religious views incline him to the faith of the Baptist Church, with which his father was connected, having aided in the erection of the Ladd Hill Baptist church, of which he was a member until death. Mrs. Brown is an active member of the Presbyterian Church, and is always ready to aid in charitable enterprises to assist those in distress. While the Doctor has never been an aspirant for official honors, he never fails to cast his ballot for the inen nomi- nated by the Democratic party, and his views comcide with the principles promulgated by that organization.
4
AARON LESHER, the popular proprietor of the " Freeport House " at Prairie Depot, and a vet- eran of the Civil war, was born in Sandusky county, Ohio, November 5, 1845. When he was seven years old his parents, Daniel and Fannie (Cain) Lesher, came to Wood county, where his father purchased some 250 acres of land in Sec- tion 15. Montgomery township, near Freeport.
Daniel Lesher was born in Berks comity. Pen., in ISot, his wife in the State of Virginia.
1
-
DAVID B. BROWN, M. D.
£
797
IFOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
in 1811. He was a carpenter and shoemaker by trade, and followed the latter vocation after coming to Ohio, from the time of his settlement in Montgomery township, carrying on farming dur- ing the remainder of his life. He was educated in the common schools of his day, his attendance being limited to a few weeks in the winter season, and, as he was a bright, intelligent man. he ac- cumulated, in the course of his life, a comfortable property. At the time of his marriage, which took place in Pennsylvania, his only wealth was an axe, and a large stock of energy and ambition. Ife was a Republican, and held some minor of- fices in the township. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Church, and were es- timable people. He died in 1872, aged seventy- one years, and his wife in 1864, at the age of fifty-three years; both are buried in Minkler's cemetery, in Sandusky county. The children of this couple were as follows: David, who died when twenty-one years old; Susan, who married William King, and after his death wedded John M. Adains, of Montgomery; Elizabeth, who married George Bonlus, and died in Illinois; Rebecca, who became the wife of Frank Langworthy, and died in Illinois: Sarah A., deceased when eighteen years old; Joseph, living in Cripple Creek, Colo .; Jane, the widow of George Freatenburg, living in Toledo; Martha, who married Henry Miller, and resides in Columbus, Ohio; Fannie, who married John Scott, and died in Toledo; and Frances, Mrs. Oliver Hall, of Toledo.
Our subject's early schooling was obtained in the public schools of Freeport, Wood county. Phoebe Osborne being his first teacher. He re- mained at home with his parents until his enlist- ment, May 2, 1864, in Company K. 144th Regi- ment, O. V. I., under Capt. Philo Hathaway. Their first engagement was at Berryville, Va., where the entire company was captured by the Rebels, nine only escaping, and our subject was one of the fortunate number.
Several Rebel cavalrymen rode up to where he lay on the ground, and drawing their carbines ordered him to follow the rest, but he feigned sickness and refused to move. After they left he took to the woods, and made for Harper's Ferry, eighteen miles away. On the road he met another Union man, and in twenty-four hours they were both safe within the Union lines at Harper's Ferry. A few days after this adventure Mr. Lesher was sent to Columbus, Ohio, where he was honorably discharged in September, 1864. His mother died during his absence in the army. Mr. Lesher remamed at home until 1868, when he entered the dry-goods business in Prairie Depot and later took as a !
:
partner, James Yant. After several years he bought out his partner. and sold out the business to J. W. Graham, resuming farming in Montgom- ery township, in Section 21. Our subject was only twenty-one years old when he was married to Miss Caroline Chapman. of Freeport, the daughter of John Chapman. Since that time he has made his home in Prairie Depot, and in 1869 built his elegant residence, which is one of the most pleasant in the town. In 1895 he com- pleted the present modern hotel known as the "Freeport House", of which he is proprietor, and which has a high reputation throughout the county. . Mr. Lesher is a Republican and an act- ive worker in the interests of his party. He served as mayor of the city for one year, also in the city council, and as clerk of the corporation of Prairie Depot. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Congregational Church, in which he is at present a trustee, and to which he has al- ways been a liberal contributor. He is a mem- ber of the G. A. R. at Prairie Depot. Person- ally he is very popular, being a man of generous disposition, sincere and devoted in his friendships, and thoroughly reliable. He has been consider- ably interested in the oil business and in addition to his property in Prairie Depot, owns sixty acres of land in the township. He is considered one of the leading citizens and farmers of the place.
PROF. HENRY B. BROWN, now principal of the Northern Indiana Normal School, at Valparaiso, Ind., was formerly a resident of Wood county, his home having been with his parents, Thomas and Rachel Brown, near Bradner. He was born October 6, 1847, at Mount Vernon, Knox county. At the early age of two years, his parents removed to Morrow county, and later to their home near Bradner.
Until he was fifteen years old, Henry attended simply the country school; subsequently he went to Fremont to the public school one term, and then began to teach in the country. This laid the foundation for a still higher education, which was gratified, in part, by attendance for a brief period at the Wesleyan University of Delaware. Ohio. After additional teaching he entered the National Normal University, at Lebanon, Ohio. in 1869, and graduated from its Scientific Depart- ment in 1871. In September following he became one of the instructors in the Northwestern Nor- mal School, at Republic, Ohio, under the wall- agement of Prol. J. Fraise Richard, and rendered acceptable service for two years. In September. 1873, he established at Valparaiso, Ind., the Nor- mal School, of which he is now principal, taking
.
. 1
798
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
with him from Republic, as associate laborers, Miss Mantie E. Baldwin, Mr. M. E. Bogart, and Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Perrine. From a humble beginning of thirty-five students, he has developed the largest educational institution in America, its patrons coming from all parts of the United States, and being counted annually by the thousands.
Prof. Brown was married in February, 1886, to Miss Neva Axe, of Valparaiso, the union being a very happy one. Three interesting children --- Helen A., Henry Kinsey, and Ruth A .- have blessed this union.
Prof. Brown and his wife are both active members of the Church of Christ, in Valparaiso. Politically, he has always been identified with the Democratic party. He is in many respects a most remarkable man; magnetic, industrious, self-sacri- ficing. ambitious, and thoroughly in earnest, he is a natural leader and organizer of forces .. His presence is inspiriting and encouraging, and his students are passionately attached to him. He is a thorough financier. These qualifications have enabled him to build up and maintain, not only the largest, but one of the best, schools in the nation.
Prof. Brown has always been devoted to his parents. His father, Thomas Brown, who died id 1887, was a deacon in the Baptist Church, and for many years served his neighbors in the capac- ity of justice of the peace. Mrs. Rachel Brown, mother of Prof. Brown, still lives on the old homestead, near Bradner, and cheers by her presence and kindly administrations her faithful children, as they come back to visit her under the parental roof. Possessed of the confidence of her neighbors, among whom she and her late con- sort lived so many years, she enjoys the satisfac- tion of knowing that her son has become not only one of the great educators of the age, but a man of influence and usefulness in the religious world.
L. L. YONKER, D. D. S. The subject of this sketch was born in Center township, October 16, 1865, and is the son of H. H. Yonker. His boyhood was spent in Bowling Green, where he attended school until thirteen years of age, when he started out in life for himself. He was, for a time, clerk in a store, but when seventeen years old, began studying dentistry with Dr. B. R. Ta- ber, then a prominent dentist of Bowling Green. After remaining with Dr. Taber for several years, he entered the dentai department of Vanderbilt University, at Nashville, Tenn., from which he was graduated, in 1887, with the degree of D. D. S. On his return to Bowling Green, he went
into partnership with his foriner preceptor, which continued until Dr. Taber's death, when our sub- ject succeeded to the business.
Dr. Yonker is a skillful practitioner, and is highly respected both by members of his profes- sion, and by the public generally. He has an extensive practice and is well-known throughout the county. He is a member of the Ohio State Dental Association and the Northwestern Ohio Dental Association, belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and is adjutant of the Sixth Regiment, Ohio Brigade, Uniformed Rank. K. of P. He is an ardent Republican, and has always taken an active part in politics, being for a number of years a member of the County Central Com- mittee. Dr. Yonker was married June 20, 1892, to Miss Bell Goldamer, a daughter of the late Dr. Goldamer, the Rabbi, of Cincinnati, who, with Dr. Wise, were the leaders of the reformed Jewish Church in the United States. Dr. Yonker and his wife hold a high social position, and are popular with all classes.
WILLIAM T. BROWN is numbered among the most progressive and intelligent agriculturists of Montgomery township, where he has a good farm of forty acres in Section I, and is a com- plete master of the calling which he is following. His sterling integrity, and honorable, upright manhood, fully entitle him to the position which he holds in the estimation of the people of the community. He was born at Mt. Vernon, Knox Co., Ohio, July 17, 1845, though at the time of his birth, his parents, Thomas and Rachel (Milis) Brown, were living near the town which now covers their land, and when fourteen years of age was brought to Wood county, the father purchas- ing eighty-one and a half acres in Section 2, Montgomery township, which was but slightly
improved. The timber was very dense, little having been cleared. The family drove the en- tire distance from Morrow county, cia Tiffin, Fostoria, and West Millgrove. Wild game was still found in the locality, deer and turkeys being often seen.
Thomas Brown, the father of our subject, was born at Mt. Vernon, Knox Co., Ohio, May 3, 1812. His father, David Brown, was of Ger- man descent, and died while Thomas was yet a boy. The young man worked faithfully on the farm, and at the age of thirty-one was united in marriage to Rachel Mills, who was born Septem- ber 20, 1820, at Clear Springs, Md., and came to Knox county, Ohio, in 1835. Her ancestors were Scotch. They commenced life without any property, but by careful work and economy they
--
.
3
---
799
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
soon acquired a comfortable competency. In 1850 they moved to Morrow county, Ohio, and nine years afterward to Wood county, where Mrs. Brown now resides. He, while living, filled various offices, constable, justice of the peace, etc. He was a faithful member of the Baptist Church, of which he was for many years an officer, and to this Church almost all of his children be- long. Perhaps no parents ever gave more care- fnl attention to the direction of the lives of their children, and few children have followed more faithfully in the footsteps of their parents. To the training received at the home, all the children attribute whatever success they may have ac- quired. The word of Thomas Brown was always as good as his note. He was the soul of honor, and he, together with his most excellent wife, was held in the highest esteem by his neighbors and friends. He died April 25, 1887, at the ripe age of seventy-five years. His wife still remains at the oid homestead, and makes a pleasant and happy home for the frequent gatherings of her children. Though quite old, he has successfully managed the farm and has taken care of the busi- ness in such a way that it has increased in value rather than decreased. She has shown marked business ability in the manner in which she has conducted the affairs of the estate. ·
ers, it now has an average of more than 2,000 students, with more than twenty fully equipped departments and fifty teachers. He was married in February, 1886, to Neva Axe, and to them three children have been born, Helen A., Henry Kinsey, and Ruth A. (5) D. B. Brown gave his attention to medicine, completing his comise at Cincinnati, Ohio, and since that time has had a very successful practice at Pemberville, Ohio. He was married on July 7, 1381, to Minnic Tru- man, and to them three children have been born, Glen T., Dale B. and Neva B. (6) Sarah Katherine was married to Jaines Showalter, October 3, 1877. To them one child. Belva, has been born. (7) Mary Emeline married Joseph Jennings December 24, 1878. To them three children have been born, Rachel, Benson and Guy.
William T. Brown, the subject proper of this sketch, when young taught one term of school in Sandusky county, then returned to his parents' home, where he remained for two years. On April 28, 1867, in Montgomery township, he was united in marriage with Miss Roena Stahl, who was born in Section I, of the same town- ship, the daughter of Godfrey and Rosanna Stahl. To them were born nve children-Hat- tie B., now the wife of L. O. Broyles, of Mont- gomery township, and they have three children; John T., at home; William R., who died August I, ISSS, at the age of fourteen years; and Jesse E., and Clarence B., also at home. The wife and mother departed this life October 16, 1888, dying in the faith of the Methodist Protestant Church, and was laid to rest in Bradner cemetery.
To this couple were born seven children, three sons and four daughters: Elizabeth Ellen, William Thomas, Henry Baker, Emily Ann, David Benton, Sarah Katherine and Mary Eme- line. Emily Ann died at the age of two years, and all of the others with the exception of one, are near the old homestead. The husbands of Sarah Katherine and Mary Emneline are also On his marriage our subject located on a rented farm in Section 1, Montgomery township, and later lived at other places nntil he purchased forty acres of land in Section 2, of the same township, going in debt for much of the amount. There he made his home for several years, but in the spring of 1883 bought his present forty-acre farm in Section 1. Mr. Brown has ever been quite a student, finding great pleasure in reading, and is a patron of literature. The cause of public education has always received his most earnest support, for three years he served as a member of the Bradner school board, and was also clerk of the board. As was his father, so is he an earnest Democrat, and for two terms was trustee of his township. Religiously he is a Baptist. prosperous fariners, living in the immediate vicinity of the old home. (1) Elizabeth Ellen was inarried to John Stahl, March 17, 1861. Theirs was a happy marriage, but in 1867 Mr. Stahl died, leaving no children. In 1872 Mrs. Stahl married Milton Ashley, and is now residing with her husband and one child at Bradner. Mr. Ashley is a successful mechanic, and they have a very pleasant home. To them two children have been born, Allen and Dot. Allen died at the age of ten years. (3) H. B. Brown was interested in literary pursuits, and commenced teaching school when but a boy. In 1871 he completed his course of study and began teaching at the Northwestern Normal School at Republic. Ohio, where he remained two years. In 1873 he estab- lished the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, Ind., at which place he has remained GEORGE K. DAILY, an old soldier of the Union, is now numbered among the thorough- ever since. The school has been a great success. Starting with thirty-five students and four teach- ! going and enterprising farmers of Montgomery
800
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
township. He owns a good farm of forty acres in Section 4, of which he purchased in April, 1880, when only five acres had been cleared, and the house upon the place was a rude affair. He has made many valuable and useful improvements, in- cluding the substantial buildings now found there, and is accounted one of the most industrious, energetic and highly respected agriculturists of the community ..
Our subject was born in Troy, Miami Co., Ohio, December 8, 1841, the sixth child and third son in the family of nine children born to William and Susan (Brown) Daily, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania; the latter is said to have been the first female white child born within the corporation limits of Troy, Ohio, where her father, William Brown, had located at a very early day. The father of our subject was a large man, above the ordinary height, and was a blacksmith by trade, though in early life he conducted a tavern at Troy. He was first a Whig, and on its organization, joined the Repub- lican party. He died in 1861, in Troy. where both he and his wife are buried, the latter hav- ing died at La Fayette, Ind., while on a visit there in ISS8. In religious belief they were both Methodists. The family of this worthy couple included the following children: David, who went to California in 1849, and returned in 1865, is now a printer of La Fayette, Ind .; Elizabeth is now Mrs. Jerry Layton, of Troy, Ohio: Cather- ine first married William Carroll, a colonel in the Union army during the Civil war, and is now the wife of William Creiger, of La Fayette, Ind .; William is a blacksmith of Troy; Mary is now Mrs. Washington Bemis, of La Fayette; George K. is next in order of birth; Thomas, a baker by trade, died at Homer, Ill .; Sarah is the wife of Robert Adams, of Chicago, Ill. ; and Belle is now Mrs. J. L. Adair, of Frankfort, Indiana.
Mr. Daily, whose naine opens this review, was reared at Troy, where he attended the pub- lic schools, and assisted his father in the black- smith shop. At that place he enlisted, in 1861, in Company H, 11th O. V. I., and the first en- gagement in which he participated was along the Kanawha river, in West Virginia. He remained with his regiment until the battle of Chicka- mauga, where he was shot through the right foot, and it was a year before he was fit for duty. He was at Camp Dennison hospital when his three- years' service expired, and was discharged. In the fall of 1864 he began cabinet-making at Troy, under Andrew Helpman, and there continued to follow that trade until May, 1867. It was in the summer of 1865 that Mr. Daily first' visited Wood
county, and on December 26, 1866, in Montgom- ery township, was celebrated his marriage with Miss Ella D. Adams, who was born in Section 9, of that township, November 20, 1847. the daughter of Thomas and Mary (McGill, Adams. They have become the parents of the following children: Thomas B., born October 14, 1868. now located at Bradner, Ohio; William I., born August 3, 1870, who is an oil-pumper of Mont- gomery township; Frank R., born September 22. 1872, who is also an oil-pumper, residing at home; David O., born July 10, 1874: Albert E .. born October 4, 1876; Charles K., born March 6, 1878: Mary B., born November 12, 1879: Bessie M., born August 17, 1881, died in infancy: Leroy, born April 9, 1883; James L., born De- cember 9, 1886; and Alpha, who was born Au- gust 23, 1889, and died in infancy.
Mr. Daily took his wife to La Fayette, Ind .. soon after their marriage, and there worked at his trade until failing health compelled him to abandon it. For eight years he then made his home at Homer, Ill., where he was engaged in the bakery and confectionery business until 1875. when he came to Montgomery township, Wood county, and lived on his father-in-law's place until April, 1880. Since that time he has lived upon his present farm, and no man is more widely or favorably known within the limits of the town- ship than George K. Daily. He was a Repub- lican in politics until Gen. Weaver became a can- didate. when he joined the Greenback party, and he is now a stanch supporter of the People's party. For fifteen years he has efficiently served as school director of District No. I.
SILAS FOSTER is familiar with pioneer ex- periences in Henry township. He now owns a farm there, which he cultivates in addition to his labors as a minister of the United Brethren Church. He is now the oldest citizen of the community in which his home is located, and as an honored pioneer well deserves representation in this volume. . He was born in Logan county. Ohio, February 17. 1822, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Burket) Foster, natives of Maryland. After their marriage they removed to a farm in Logan county, Ohio, and in 1829 went to Han- cock county, locating on a tract of land which now lies partly within the corporation limits of Findlay, spending their remaining days upon thit farmi of 160 acres. The father died in 1844, the mother in 1857. Their family of children Was as follows: Jacob and Daniel, both deceased: Mrs. Sarah Carlin; John, Thomas and James. who have also passed away; Mrs. Mary Douglas.
Susan Faster
Silas Hoster
801
WOOD COUNTY, OIIIO.
of Findlay, Ohio; Elizabeth, deceased; Mrs. Rachel Greer, deceased; Mrs. Phoebe Hickson, of New Mexico; Jackson, deceased, and Silas.
Our subject, who was about seven years of age when his parents removed to Hancock county, attended the public schools of Findlay, and was reared on his father's farm, assisting in the work of cultivating and improving it until his marriage. In the spring of 1843 he wedded Susan Loehr, who was born in Plainfield township, North- ampton Co., Penn., March 19, 1826, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Brood) Loehr. Her mother died in Pennsylvania, and when Mrs. Foster was twelve years of age she accompanied her father to Hancock county, Ohio, where he spent his remaining days on a farm near McComb. She was the fourth in order of birth in the following family: Adam, Sophia and Louisa, deceased; Susan; William, who has passed away; Catherine, wife of David Wilson, of Allen township, Han- cock county; twins, who died in infancy; Abra- liam, deceased; and one other who died in infancy. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Loehr wedded Mrs. Frances Kemper, and to them were born these children: Sarah, Frederick and Har- mon, all deceased; Jacob, in the West; Frances. wife of Cyrus Dillinger, of Hancock county; and twins, who died in infancy. For about four years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Foster remained on the home farm, and then removed to Wood county, locating on their present place. containing ninety-five acres, which was given to our subject by his father. Their cabin was the first house in the township, built by Henry Shaw, in whose honor the township was named. They experienced many hardships and trials in those early days; but as the years passed prosperity smiled upon their efforts, a substantial residence replaced the log cabin, and the farm became a valuable and productive one. Mr. Foster has also given much time to the work of the Church, and in 1848 was appointed a minister of the United Brethren Church, since which time he has engaged in preaching through this section of the country.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.