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. 3 > Part 13
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After our subject's first marriage he rented land in Jackson township, subsequently working the home farm of his father in Seneca county. Later he bought one-half of his father-in-law's farm, in Liberty township, of the same county, on which he lived until September, 1865, when he bought his present place in Sections 32 and
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33, Montgomery township, which then comprised 190 acres, and of which he has since sold about seventy acres. He has about 110 acres of this land cleared and under good cultivation, and has a comfortable residence. This is the second house he has built on the place, the first one hav- ing been destroyed by fire. Mr. Feasel has al- ways been a Republican, has been township trustee, and has held other local offices. He is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church, in which he has held office for over twenty-five years. He is a self-made man, and has been a hard worker all his life, but at present does not take an active part in farm work. He is highly respected for his upright, honest life, and is one of the best citizens of the township.
P. F. RICHARD, one of the pioneer settlers of Wood county, now living a retired life at Bowling Green, was born near the village of Noma, province of Alsace (then in France), August 21, 1815. His parents, David and Mar- garet (Britie) Richard, spent their lives upon their farm there, the father dying at the age of eighty-four, the mother at eighty-nine.
Our subject left home when he was nineteen years old, and came to America. He lived for a year and a half in Akron, Ohio, then came to Wood county, with one dollar remaining in his pocket at the end of the trip. He found work upon a farm at $6.00 a month, and, with the thrift and foresight of the typical French farmer, began to look forward to owning a home of his own. August 18, 1842, he was married to Miss Samantha Shively, who was born in Clumbia county, Penn., October 15, 1825, the daughter of Henry Shively and his wife, Margaret Mc- Cartney, both of whom were natives of the same place. Her father was born May 28, 1802, and her mother March 10, 1804. They were mar- ried in 1824, and three years later moved to Wayne county, Ohio. In 1830 they went to Middlebury, Suminit county, where they lived for four years, and then, with a small band of ac- quaintances, they came to Wood county; they traveled by ox-team, arriving, about the middle of April, at Bowling Green, then a settlement containing only two or three frame houses.
as the father of the local society, his venerable but well-preserved form and flowing white whis- kers making a striking figure in the place of honor in all processions and gatherings. He died March 5, 1886, his wife having gone to her long rest May 5, 1879. They had ten children, of whom Mrs. Richard is the eldest. Of the others, the names with dates of birth are as fol- lows: (2) Ambrose, May 26, 1829, married Jane Dubbs, and moved to Mahomet, Ill., where he was a wealthy and influential resident; he was killed by lightning July 28, 1884. (3) Albert, February 9, 1831, enlisted in the army from Grand Rapids, Ohio, and died in Texas, Decem- .ber 16, 1878, from the effects of wounds received in battle. (4) Lucinda, May 9, 1833, married Charles Groves, of Portage, Wood county, now living at Rolla. (5) Alfred, September 9, 1835. enlisted from Decatur, Ill., and was killed Sep- tember 20, 1863, at Chickamauga. (6) Clay, January 15, 1837, also enlisted at Decatur, but returned in safety, and died February 26, 1890, at Papinsville, Mo. (7) Cynthia, September 15. 1839, is the wife of Benton Emery, of Henry county, Ohio. (8) Minerva, September 25, 1842, married Cicero Venette, of Bowling Green. (9) Alva, July 23, 1845, enlisted during the war, was captured and sent to Libby prison. He is now sheriff of Piatt county, Ill. (10) Charles Mor- rison, August 18, 1848, is a farmer in Center township.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard settled upon a farin in Center township, after their marriage, and still own 150 acres of land there. After forty- two years of labor, cheered by affection and re- warded by increasing prosperity, they retired from active business, and October 26, 1884, took up their residence in Bowling Green. Of their nine children, six are living. (1) Margaret, born July 8, 1843, married W. W. Alcorn, of Toledo: they have had three children, Minnietta died at the age of seven; Herbert R. lives in Toledo (he married Miss Grace Smead, of Boston, Mass .. and has one child. Elizabeth Grace); Leon J., at home. (2) David H, born April 29, 1845. mar- ried Miss Florence Donaldson, and lives in Leipsic. (3) Frances, born June 12, 1847, died at the age of eight years. (4) Infant, born August 18, 1849. died when two days old. (5) Mary, January 6. 1851, is the wife of Charles Reed, of Toledo, who is deputy collector of customs, and editor of the Toledo Sunday Courier. (6) George, April 1, 1856, lives at the old homestead; he married Miss Alice Reed, and has four daughters- Leot, Glenna, Florence, and Marguerite. (7) Willis.
The Shively family, and David L. Hixon. with his family, occupied for some time a log cabin 12 × 14 feet, in what is now the southern part of the city. Mr. and Mrs. Shively bore the hardships of life in this new country most cour- ageously, and lived to a good old age. Mr. Shively united with the Masonic order when he was twenty-one, and in later years was regarded | June 12, 1859, married Emily Mills, of Perrys-
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burg, and lives at Bowling Green. (8) Adella, March 24, 1864, died at the age of three. (9) Cora, bori October 26, 1866, is the widow of Harry Remick; their only child, Grace M., is now at school in Toledo.
A young sister of our subject, Louise Rich- ard, visited him some years ago, and while at Buffalo, on her way back to France, she was lost, and never heard from afterward. A half- sister, Catherine, the wife of Fredrick Peachim, died at Watseka, Ill., a few years since. His sister Catherine, whose husband, Fred Bossard, died in Cincinnati, Ohio, of cholera, lives in Bowling Green. Mr. Richard returned to France, in 1865, accompanied by his sister Catherine, and visited the old home. His first voyage had lasted forty-eight days, his second was made in eleven. Mr. Richard has many interesting stories to tell of old times. He was a Whig previous to the war, and was present at the great mass meeting at Fort Meigs, in 1840, also helped to haul the logs and build the minia- ture forts on that occasion. [Since the above was in type, we have learned of the death of Mr. Richard from congestion of the brain. For the past year his health has been failing, and on Wednesday evening, January 6, 1897, he was taken sick, death releasing him from his suffer- ings at 2:55 P. M. Thursday, January 7. - EDITOR.
LEE M. KLOPFENSTEIN, a prominent agricult- urist, and dealer in stone and lime, residing near Bowling Green, was born in Center township, September 30, 1838, on the same estate which he now owns. His father, Peter Klopfenstein, was one of the leaders among the pioneers of this county, to which he came prior to 1839.
The subject of this sketch grew to manhood at his father's home, and, even in his recollec- tion, bands of roving Indians were a frequent sight. Once, while on his way to school, he saw an Indian on the Napoleon road, and ran from him in great fright. The Indian overtook him and soothed his fears, taking him by the hand and saying .. Good Indian." They went hand- in-hand to the school house, where the dusky visitor remained all morning, showing great in- terest and curiosity over the proceedings. At noon the children gave him sweet cakes, and he ate heartily, departing afterward in the friendli- est spirit. Mr. Klopfenstein completed his edu- cation in the schools of Bowling Green, and afterward worked upon the farm. He was mar- ried in 1860 to Miss Julia A. Elliott, who was born in Stark county, March 3, 1841. They have had five children: Charles, a silverware
plater and spectacle manufacturer at South Bend, Ind .; Arthur, a dealer in spectacles in the same town; Warren, who resides with his parents; Mil- ton; and a daughter who died when four months old.
On May 2, 1864, Mr. Klopfenstein enlisted in Company C, 144th O. V. I., and served four months, losing a finger by an accident during the time. The war closing, he returned and worked on the old homestead, and re-opened a stone quarry, which his father, who was a pioneer in the lime-burning business, had worked twenty- six years before, his old rock house, still as good as new, having been built in 1857. Our subject burned and shipped lime for fifteen years, and is now taking out building stone for base- ments, filling large orders for Bowling Green and vicinity, and shipping also to other localities. He migrated to Summit county, Kans., in 1883. and remained three years, buying and selling real estate, and making large profits, but re- turned to his native county. His energy. rare business judgment and enterprising spirit give him high standing in business circles Socially. he is a member of the G. A. R.
FRANK TAYLOR. Among the leading lawyers of North Baltimore is Frank Taylor, the subject of this sketch, who was born June 23, 1847, in Washington county, Md., at the foot of South Mountain. He has for more than twelve years practiced law in North Baltimore, making a spe- cialty of equity cases. Mr. Taylor is the son of Emanuel and Sarah (Meyers) Taylor, the former of whom was born in 1829 in Washington county. Md., and died in the same county in 1875. He was a mechanic by trade, and when our subject was eight years old he removed to Gilboa, Put- nam Co .. Ohio, where he lived and worked at his trade for eleven years, thence going to Hancock county, Ohio, and finally returning to Maryland. where he died. Mrs. Taylor was also born in Washington county, Md., about 1829. After the death of her husband she returned to Ohio. and died in North Baltimore in 1887. Florence. the only daughter. married G. M. Wicks; she was a bright, intelligent woman, and died while attending the Fostoria (Ohio) Academy. On the paternal side the family is of English origin. Grandfather Taylor located in Pennsylvania. where he was married to a Miss Miller, of the same State, who was of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock, and they subsequently moved to Washing- ton county, Maryland.
When .our subject was about eight years old he came to Ohio with his father, and attended
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the district school until twenty-one, afterward going to high school at Findlay. He next went to Heidelberg College, Tiffin, Ohio, and then for a short time to Oberlin, working his way through these colleges by teaching during his spare time. Returning to Maryland he taught school for three years, after which he removed to Hancock coun- ty, and on September 10, 1878, he took charge of the North Baltimore public schools as super- intendent. He then took up the study of law, and was admitted to the bar May 4, 1886. Mr. Taylor has a fine library, well stocked with standard works and reference books. In politics he is a Democrat, and he is one of the leaders of his party, which he has represented as a national delegate to conventions. He has also been a candidate for leading offices on the Democratic ticket in Wood county, and although the Re- publican majority has always been large in the county, he has several times succeeded in redu- cing it materially.
Mr. Taylor was united in marriage, July 29, 1874, with Miss Mary Brown, who was born April 25, 1852, in Hancock county. His repu- tation as an excellent attorney extends through- out northern Ohio. With his wife he occupies one of the finest residences in the city of North Baltimore, and the generous hospitality of this couple leads them frequently to open wide their doors to their many friends and acquaintances.
MICHAEL HENNING, lumber merchant and dealer in sawmill supplies, was born in Stark county, Ohio. November 17, 1838. He is of German descent, both his parents having been born in Germany, his father. J. F. Henning, in Wittenberg. on October 21, 1805, and his mother, Elizabeth Henning, in January, 1810. They came to America, and were married in Philadelphia, Penn., afterward moving to Canton, Ohio, and from there to Akron. In the fall of 1839, they settled in Henry township, where Mr. Henning entered land for a farm. The neighborhood was at that time full of Indians, who came there during the winter to hunt. Mr. and Mrs. Hen- ning remained on their farm until their death, he dying July 18, 1883, and she, July 16, 1875. In politics he was a Democrat. To them were born the following children : Henry, born January 17, 1836, died April 10, 1853; Frederick, born February 6, 1837, died March 6, 1849; Michael, our subject; Mary, married to William Hamman, of Hammansburg. Wood county; David, who lives on the old homestead; Elizabeth, who mar- ried Chris E. Galoway, and is now deceased; Mar- garet, born December 10, 1845, died May 15,
1868: Eliza, died July 15, 1884, at the age of twenty-seven; Jobn, who was born April 8, 1849, died September 10, 1862; William, living at Ham- mansburg; Andrew, residing in North Baltimore.
Our subject was one year old when his parents came to Wood county: He attended the dis- trict schools, and worked on the farm until he was twenty-two years old. In 1867 he engaged in sawmilling at Hammansburg, and supplied all kinds of sawed and planed timber. After the oil fields developed, his business increased. and he was kept busy furnishing lumber for the wells. In 1893 he entered the business as an oil pro- ducer, and now has four wells in operation, pro- ducing ten barrels per day. There are seven wells on his farm which produce over 100 barrels per day, and he receives one-sixth royalty.
Mr. Henning was married, in Bowling Green, June 16, 1870, to Miss Olive O. Wilson, who was born in the State of New York, April 26, 1853. The following children have come to them: William, born June 29, 1871, who mar- ried Miss Cora Merch, and lives on the old home- stead; A. G. W., born March 17, 1873: twins born September 29, 1875, both deceased; Charles, born September 9. 1876; Mary E., born Febru- ary 14, 1879: and Earl R , born February is, 1884. Mr. Henning is a member of the I. O. O. F. of North Baltimore. In political sentiment he is a Democrat. In 1870 he was elected land ap- praiser of Henry township, and in 1880 was again elected to that position. He was treasurer of the township for eight years.
The grandparents of Mr. Henning came from Germany to America at an early day, and lived east of Perrysburg. Mr. Henning is an enter- prising citizen, and has the respect and esteem of all who know him.
WILLIAM M. WOLLAM, a prominent and highly respected citizen of Risingsun, traces his ancestry back to the French Huguenots, who, on account of their religious views, were driven from their native land, and sought homes on the banks of the Rhine, in Germany. Here they were also persecuted, and in order to enjoy greater relig- ious liberty, they embarked for America, landing at Philadelphia, about 1700. The founder of the family was born in Carlsruhe, Baden, Germany, in 1684, and in Berkeley county, Va., in 1704, secured the lease to a tract of land, where his son Jacob, was born in 1715. The son of the latter, was also born there, in 1745 He bore the name of Baltrer, and his son Henry was born in 1777, on the same place. the lease of which ex- pired in 1802.
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Michael Henning C
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Baltzer Wollam wedded Mary M. Weaver, and to them were born eleven children, who, with their families became residents of Colum- biana county, Ohio. In 1804, one of these, Henry Wollam, the grandfather of our subject, was united in marriage with Mary Bough, a native of Frederick county, Va., and in their family were seven sons and six daughters, all of whom reared families, and lived to an advanced age. Their mother died in her eighty-ninth year, and rests beside her husband in the old home- stead cemetery.
Benjamin Wollam, the father of our subject, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, March 11, 1807, and died in Wood county, on April 6, 1887. On Christmas Day of 1832, he was united in marriage with Miss Susannah Smith, who was also born in Columbiana county, August 1, 1811, and died May 14, 1883. They came to Wood county in 1834, where he built a cabin and cleared some land; but in the fall they returned to Columbiana county. There they continued to make their home until 1838, when they again came to this county, this time erecting a good house and barn. They were prosperous in their undertakings, becoming quite well-to-do, and lived to see the county develop from the wilder- ness to one of the best counties of this common- wealth. Four children blessed their union: Mary, who died at the age of eight years; Leah, who was born January 5, 1835, married Gust. Crowel, and is still living at Risingsun; William M., subject of our sketch: and Henry S., who was born November 14, 1844, married Leah Stover, and died August 19, 1874.
Four brothers and two sisters of Benjamin Wollam also became residents of Wood county, The family has been well represented in the wars of this country, nearly every branch furnishing some soldiers to the Civil war, more than twenty in number. Henry B. Wollam, an uncle of our subject, was captain of a company, while Henry, his brother, enlisted in the 21st O. V. I., later in Wheeler's battery, and was subsequently transferred to the 57th O. V. I., with which he served until honorably discharged, owing to the effects of wounds received at the battle of Resaca. His grandfather was in the war of 1812, while his great-grandfather aided the Colonies in the Revolutionary war.
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The maternal ancestors of Mr. Wollam were from Bavaria, Germany, and had a romantic his- tory. The founder of the family in this country, who was born in 1714, served as coachman to Count Rochenbaugh, with whose daughter Cath- erine he fell deeply in love. As the affection
was reciprocated, and knowing that her parents would be opposed to the match, they planned an elopement. When she became of age, she re- ceived an old bread basket full of gold, and dis- guised as peasants they took passage on a vessei bound for Philadelphia, where they landed in 1736. They invested their capital in land. built mills and factories, and made other necessary improvements on their property, living in peace and plenty until gathered to their reward. Then came trouble to their heirs. The McDonnel heirs claimed priority to the estate by virtue of the "tomahawk right," and the courts ejected the Smiths. After this most of the family came to Ohio, where, by industry and economy, they soon had comfortable homes of their own.
John Smith, the maternal great-grandfather. was born in 1744, in Elizabethtown, Lancaster Co., Penn., and there died and was buried. In that county, Lewis Smith, the grandfather, was born in 1774; he died in Columbiana county. Ohio, in 1848. By one wife, Julia Fisher, he had a family of sixteen children, who were fur- nished with only limited educational privileges. but started out in life for themselves, with will- ing hands and a determination to succeed, soon securing comfortable homes here in the wilder- ness, where they lived to a good old age. One son, Lewis Smith, Jr., who served in the war of 1812, was at the siege of Fort Meigs, and during the war of the Rebellion, in which he also took part, died in West Virginia in 1862. Another son, Henry Smith, educated himself for the Methodist Protestant ministry, but afterward took up the study of medicine, a profession which he followed up to the time of his death, which occurred in Brantford, Washington Co., Kans .. when in his eightieth year.
William M. Wollam, whose name introduces this sketch, was born near Cannons Mill, in Madison township, Columbiana Co., Ohio, April IS, 1838, and when he was only a few days old his parents loaded their effects into a wagon. drawn by oxen, and started for what was then called the West. The trip occupied about two weeks. They settled twenty-eight miles south of Toledo, in Wood county, on a piece of land which they had purchased from the government in 1833. Here our subject grew to manhood. with but limited facilities, however, for acquiring an educa- tion. In the summer he assisted in the work of the home farm, while in the winter he attended school, securing the best education that the schools of the locality afforded. The schoo! houses were primitive structures of round logs. heated with a great gaping fireplace, while split
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basswood logs served as seats and desks. Later he supplemented the knowledge there acquired, in a select school taught by Alfred Kelley, at West Millgrove, which he attended eight months. By close application to study and general read- ing, he now possesses a rare fund of knowledge, being familiar with books on nearly every sub- ject, including medicine, theology, law, biog- raphy, travels and science.
On March 22, 1863, William M. Wollam was married to Miss Julia A. Bierly, who was born in Sandusky county, Ohio, January 28, 1845, only a mile and a half from her present home at Risingsun, Wood county. She is a daughter of David Bierly, whose birth occurred in Center county, Penn., December 6, 1805, and who is still living and quite active for one of his years, retaining all his faculties with the excep- tion of hearing. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Magdalene Schellenberger, was born on Mt. Chemong, Switzerland, said to be in the Canton of Berne, and came to America with her parents when twelve years old. The Bierly family also contributed both privates and officers to the Union army during the Civil war, in good- ly numbers. The original ancestor came to this country from Prussia. Quite a number of the family developed fine musical talent, and furn- ished an entire brass band for the army. Two cousins of Mrs. Wollam, Robert and Alfred Bierly, are well-known publishers of music in Chicago, and another cousin, John Buchtel, built and endowed the Buchtel College at Akron, Ohio.
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Three daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wollam, in whom they may take just pride. (1) Dora H., born June 30, 1864, has taught in both the common and graded schools from an early age, giving general satisfaction, and is now taking a course at the Northwestern Ohio Normal University. (2) Lorain M., born May 27, 1865, married Albert Yambert, a well- to-do farmer. and they are now pleasantly situ- ated on a farm of their own, consisting of eighty acres of good land, near Sycamore, Ohio; they have two children-Dale and Fern. (3) Laurel S., born July 22, 1867, married Frank Fry, by whom she had one son, Park, and they, too, have a pleasant home near Risingsun.
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Mr. Wollam has been a lifelong Republican, and strongly supported Mckinley for the Presi- dency, and his religious views are liberal, the Christian Church being his preference. He has never aspired to office; yet has served his fellow citizens in minor positions, with credit to him- self, and satisfaction to all concerned. He now
owns a comfortable home of eighty acres within the corporation limits of the village of Risingsun, where the "latch-string is always out " to his hosts of warm friends. He is a quiet, genial gentleman, one who wins and retains the con- fidence and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact.
DAVID EDMONDS, one of Bradner's most in- fluential and progressive citizens, is a worthy representative of a well-known pioneer family. He was born at the present site of the village, October 1, 1846, and no man stands higher than he in the esteem of the community where his life has been spent.
David Edmonds, his grandfather, was a soldier in the Revolutionary forces. His father, the late Daniel Edmonds, was born between 1795 and ISoo, in what is now a part of New York State, but was then a disputed strip of land on the borders of that State and Pennsylvania. His parents canie to Ohio during his boyhood, and settled near Gnadenhutten, Tuscarawas county, where he grew to manhood as a pioneer farmer's boy. In the war of 1812 he enlisted as a soldier, but was not allowed to serve on account of liis youth. Of robust health and large build, he be- came a powerful man, and his blunt, out-spoken manner was typical of his forceful honest charac- ter, for which he was held in high esteemn. He was married in Wayne county, Ohio, to Miss Mary Stahl, a native of that county, and daughter of Jacob Stahl, Sr., and in the latter part of the "thirties " they settled upon a tract of land in Montgomery township, where Bradner now stands. The deed was signed by President Andrew Jack- son, and the log cabin built at that time was the first house in Bradner. While he was not a poli- tician, he supported the Republican party in later years, and he was always active in local affairs of a non-political nature, being the founder of the M. P. Church at Bradner, and one of its leading supporters. He passed away in his eighty-sixth ycar, his wife following him when nearly ninety-one years of age, and both were interred at Bradner. This honored Christian couple had twelve children, namely: (1) Re- becca, the widow of George St. Clair, of Clinton county, Mich. ; (2) Zephanial, who made his home in Putnam county, Mo., and enlisted in April, 1861, in the 18th Mo .: (3) Catherine. Mrs. James Swaney, of Jackson county, Iowa. (4) Andrew, who died in early manhood: . 5 Elizabeth, who married John Casebeer, and was killed by lightning at Blue Springs, Neb. : (6' Si- mon, who enlisted in Company K, 144th O.V. I ..
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