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 26
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Six children came to brighten the household. namely: Christy A. H., born January 6, 1866. is the wife of Hugh Reynolds, of Portage town- ship, this county; John W .. born January 29. 1867, died September 27, 1888, and was buried in Millgrove cemetery; Emma D., born October 15, 1870, is now Mrs. Alex Caskey, of Portage township; Ella V., born May 17. 1871, is the wife of Clayton Musser, of Freeport, Ohio; and Charles R., born March 13. 18;6, and Jesse F .. born June 1, 1879, are at home. The parents are earnest members of the Protestant Methodist Church, in which Mr. Bresler is serving as a trustee, and in politics he is a Democrat.
A. J. HALL, deceased, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, June 27. 1825, and was a son of Joseph and Mary (Mills) Hall. The father. who was a native of the Emerald Isle, became one of the early pioneers of Likens township, Crawford Co., Ohio, locating there in 1839, and at the time of his death owned over 300 acres of land. He passed away at the age of seventy-two years. surviving his wife about eight years. Their fam- ily consisted of eleven children, five sons and six daughters. The father was a tireless worker and strictly a self-made man.
Our subject was reared in the usual manner of farmer boys on the frontier, aiding in the work of clearing and breaking the land, and receiving his education in the primitive district schools that were then found in Crawford county. A.s . single man he came to Perry township. Wond county, about 1852, buying 140 deres of wild land in Section 1;, the only improvement upto the place being an old log house.
Mr. Hall was twice married, his first ums being with Miss Susan L. Dresser. a daughter of Aaron Dresser, and the wedding ceremony ws performed on April 6, 185; Mes llull being w ill health, they did not go to house-keeping. Her death occurred August 10, 1855, and in Peri. 1
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township, April 24, 1856, Mr. Hall led to the marriage altar Miss Mary M. Patterson, a native of Chautauqua county, N. Y., born September 19, 1834. in the town of Pomfort, near Lake Chautauqua. Her parents, Nathan D. and Pol- ly (Judd) Patterson, were Eastern people by birth, and in 1842 removed to Lorain county, Ohio, lo- cating in Grafton township. In April, 1855. however, they came to Perry township, Wood county, where their deaths occurred, the father at the age of sixty-six and the mother sixty-eight. They were the parents of seven children, four sons and three daughters; one child died in in- fancy. and of the others only two are now living.
After his second marriage, Mr. Hall took his bride to his farm, which he continued to clear and cultivate until his death, October 15, 1870. The widow was then left with three children, the oldest son being about thirteen years of age, but he only survived his father about a year, so that the entire management of the farm and business matters fell to Mrs. Hall. She was equal to the ernergency, however, and has displayed excellent executive ability in the care of her land, which comprises 140 acres, all but forty of which have been cleared and placed under a high state of cultivation.
The three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hall were: Cyrus, who died in November, 1871; Sarah J., now Mrs. M. D. Smith, of Perry town- ship; and Wilbur, who assists his mother in the operation of the home farm. The father was a stalwart supporter of the Democratic party, and an honorable, upright citizen.
GEORGE W. CUMMINGS, well known among the leading agriculturists of Washington town- ship, being identified with many of its interests, is a forcible illustration of the self-made man. Thrown upon his own resources, he has success- fully paddled his own canoe, and is now num- bered among the prosperous farmers of Wood county. Here his entire life has been passed. being a son of Walter and Olive (Barlow) Cum- mings, and born at Tontogany. February 1, 1852.
His paternal grandfather, Josiah Cummings, was a native of New England, born June 1, 1795. and on November 24, 1821, wedded Lucy Church- ill, whose birth occurred in Massachusetts, Apri! 6, 1797. They became the parents of four chil- dren-Walter, the father of our subject, born July 12, 1824; Mary Ann, born December 15, 1826; Abner, born April 23, 1829; and Clark, born October 8, 1834.
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light of day in Wilkesbarre, Penn., and, on com- ing to Ohio, first located in Summit county; but in 1832, at the age of eight years, he was brought by his parents to Wood county, where he re- ceived most of his education, and grew to man- hood on the farm. On May 1, 1851, he was united in marriage with Miss Olive Barlow, who was born in Ohio, on the banks of the Maumee, January 8, 1826, and they became the parents of seven children, of whom George W. is the eldest. M. Augusta, born October 15, 1853, is the wife of O. N. Gregg, a carriage manufacturer of Barnesville, Ga., by whom she has a daughter, Eva, now the wife of Claude Peyton, a barber of Atlanta, Ga. Hattie S., born March 1, 18:6. died December 28, 1876, at the age of twenty years, nine months and twenty-seven days. Ed- win, born March 16, 1858, is a farmer of Furnas county, Neb. Josiah, born April 23, 1861. is a produce dealer of Claflin, Kans. Melvin B .. born June 15, 1864, is married, and has two chil- dren, Walter and Daniel, and is an operator on the Missouri Pacific railroad at Claflin. Kans. Lucy, born September 6. 1868, made her home in Toledo, at her stepmother's, was married to William Creswell, January 23, 1896, and resides at Columbus, Ind. The mother of these chil- dren died August 21, 1877, at the age of fifty- one years, seven months and twenty -one days. and the father wedded, for his second wife. her sister, Mary Barlow, who was born March 6. IS31. He died June 26, 1888, aged sixty-four years.
Mr. Cummings, whose name introduces this review, spent his boyhood days upon his father's farm, in Washington township, during which time he obtained a practical education in the public schools, and later taught during the winter months, while in the summer season he was em- ployed at farm labor. On the 26th of March. 1874, he was joined in wedlock with Sarah M. Hannah, daughter of W. P. and Elizabeth Han- nah, representative farming people of Grand Rap- ids township. Wood county. Five children graced this union, but three died in infancy, the others being: Charles O., who was born August 5, 1875, and is now attending college at Olivet, Mich. ; and Edith, who was born December 10. 1883, and is also in school. The mother, who was born July 7, 1846, died in 1891. since which time Mr. Cummings married Jane Ketchum, who was born November 1. 18 ;6, and is ; doughier of James A. and Sarah When Brown Het
birth occurred in Stark county. this State.
Mr. Cummings is an earnest supporter of Re- Walter Cummings first opened his eyes to the ! publican principles, and has contributed of hi,
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means to the establishment of educational and religious institutions.
WILLIAM BISHOP, a stalwart and sturdy rep- resentative of the noble yeomanry who make up the agricultural population of Wood county, is a resident of Bloom township. His birth occurred in Eagle township, Hancock Co., Ohio, Novem- ber 25, 1845, and he is the son of Henry and Eve (Smith) Bishop. The father was born in Madi- son township, Franklin Co., Ohio, in 1819; the mother was also a native of the same locality, born May 21, 1821; there they were married. Henry Bishop was a highly educated man, and had followed teaching to some extent; but his princi- pal occupation was that of farming. He re- moved to Hancock county in pioneer days, and was drowned there June. 18, 1855. During the June freshet a pile of drift-wood had accumula- ted along the creek through his farm, and wish- ing to remove this he started to swim across the swollen stream; but cramps seized him, and he sank to rise no more alive. His body was re- covered later, and interred in Bishop cemetery, Eagle township, Hancock county. Politically he was a stanch Democrat, and represented his county in the State Legislature, while in 1840 he was editor of the Hancock County Courier, a copy of which paper, dated October 15. 1840, is now in William Bishop's possession. He left to his family a good farm of 240 acres, where his six sons grew to manhood. They are: George. a farmer of Reed township, Seneca county; Will- iam, the subject of this review; John, of Eagle township, Hancock county; Isaac, a farmer of the same township; Smith, an agriculturist of Clinton township, Seneca county; and Henry, also of Eagle township. Some time after the death of the father of this family, his widow wedded Con- rad Line, again becoming a widow; she died Octo- ber 24, 1896, aged 75 years, 5 months, 3 days.
In much the usual manner of most farmer boys the early days of William Bishop were passed, he aiding in the work of the fields and attending the district schools. At the age of twenty-one he began operations for himself, as partner of his brother George, in the cultivation of a farm belonging to their mother. Later he sold his interest in the home farm, and bought 160 acres in Portage township, Hancock county, but never lived upon that tract, which he subse- quently sold at a considerable profit. He next owned seventy-six acres in Jackson township, same county, and on selling that he bought eighty acres in the same locality. During this time, however, he was living on his uncle's
(Jacob Bishop) farm, which he rented some nine years. In November, 1884, he purchased the southwest quarter of Section 21, Bloom township, Wood county, and on the 19th of the following January he brought his family to this place. He has now one of the best farms in the locality, 140 acres of which have been cleared, and from ninety-four acres of that amount he cut away the timber, making it a cultivable tract.
On March 4, 1869, in Scipio township, Seneca county, Mr. Bishop was united in marriage with Miss Juliette Orner, who was born in Fremont, Ohio, January 27, 1850, and is the second in the family of three children of Jacob and Susanna (Cashner) Orner, the others being Emeline (now Mrs. George Kern), of Nevada, Ohio, and Joseph, of Lucas county. Being left an orphan at the early age of three years, Mrs. Bishop was reared by strangers. To our subject and his wife have been born the following chil- dren: Bertha M., wife of George Walden, of Bloom township; Nancy J., wife of Frank Mona- smith, of the same township; Mark P., at home; Emma E., wife of John Frankenfield, of Seneca county; and Estella, Mary, Herbert, Edson, Jacob, Henry D., Frank, Ray and Ethel, all under the parental roof.
Although Mr. Bishop has met with reverses, he has never become discouraged. and is now the possessor of a good property. On May 11, 1895. he lost his barn by fire; but with characteristic energy he at once rebuilt, the new structure be- ing on a more extensive and modern plan. In August, 1895, the Northwestern Gas Co. began drilling for oil on Mr. Bishop's farm, completing four wells in March, 1896. He now has seven welis on his farm, yielding eleven tanks of Iso barrels of oil each, every week, and he has now the largest oil income from the same number of wells of any man in Wood county. Politically our subject was a Democrat up to the time Peter Cooper ran for the Presidency, and he was the only man in Jackson township, Hancock county, who voted for that candidate. He has served as delegate to the county conventions of that county; was elected assessor of Bloom township in 1895, and re-elected in the spring of 1890 without opposition. His uprightness, integrity and public-spiritedness have won him the conti- dence and esteem of his neighbors, and he is classed among the most respected representative citizens of Wood county.
JAMES PEEBLES, who is prominent among the best citizens and most successful agricultorists of Perry township, was born in Chillicothe, Ohio,
Mors. Juliaette Bishop.
will
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October 21, 1841, and is the eldest son of An- drew and Ellen (McDowell) Peebles, of whom a history is given in another place.
Until he was sixteen years old our subject at- tended the schools in his native city, and, as he was a bright boy, and close student, he learned rapidly, and laid the foundation of an excellent education. His parents removing about this time to a place where the advantages for study were very poor, his schooling practically came to an end, and he went to work, assisting his father in painting, working on a farm, in a hotel, and, in- deed, at anything to which he could turn his hand. While yet in his 'teens he was employed by a large landowner, eventually becoming overseer of his extensive farm at a salary of $35 per month.
Mr. Peebles' parents in the meantime removed from southern Ohio to Wood county, whither he followed them on the 12th of August, 1864. For several years thereafter he worked on his father's farm, continuing with the latter for sometime after he became of age. His first purchase of land was twenty acres in Montgomery township, and he borrowed $100 with which to make the first pay- ment of $150.
The land was only partially im- proved, and had on it a small log house and other log outbuildings. He later added twenty more acres to this farm, and so cultivated and improved it that a few years later he sold it for $2,000.
Mr. Peebles next purchased eighty acres near Bradner, for which he paid $2,400, the advent of the Hocking Valley railway afterward adding to its value, so that he realized $3, 600 from its sale. He then left Montgomery township, and removed to his present location in Section 31, Perry town- ship, where he owns 146 acres, of which 106 acres were cleared when he took possession of it. The whole place shows evidence of superior care and cultivation, and it is a valuable piece of prop- erty. It is due to his good management, fine im- provements, with ditching and tiling, a good barn built in 1883, and a handsome residence erected in 1887. In addition to this he owns a farm of 176 acres of excellent land, highly improved, in Paulding county, Ohio.
In February, 1867, in Van Buren, Hancock Co., Ohio, our subject was married to Sarah Shue. a daughter of Frederick Shue, a farmer of Mont- gomery township. Three children were born to them, namely: Edward J., who has charge of his father's farm in Jackson township, Paukling coun- ty; Minnie, married John Malley, and they live on one of our subject's farms in Paulding county: Jesse is at home with his father. The mother of these children died in June, 1874, and in December, 1876, Mr. Peebles was united in
marriage with his present wife, who was Miss Mary E. Andre, daughterof Philip Andre, who removed from Columbiana county, Ohio, to Wood county. The children of this marriage are-Jennie, Ella, Arthur, and Bessie.
Mr. Peebles is a self-made man, full of push and enterprise, and is one of the substantial farm- ers of his township, who is regarded as an excel- lent citizen, and a man of high principle and honor. His genial, pleasant manners, make him many warm friends. He has always been a stanch Democrat, and an active worker in the interests of his party, but has never been an office seeker. He has served several years as a director of School District No. 9.
HENRY D. STOUFFER, one of the substantial and well-known business men of North Balti- more, was born in Fayette county, Penn., July 26, 1843. His parents, Joseph and Nancy (Dobler) Stouffer, were both natives of Pennsyl- vania, the father born in 1812, the mother in 1815. This worthy couple were married in their native State, and in 1855 removed to Ohio, set- tling on a farm west of Fostoria, where the fa- ther died September 9, 1891, the mother follow- ing him to the better land, January 18, 1895. The farm is still in the possession of the family. and a part of it lies in the oil region, twenty-five wells being sunk within one mile of the property. Joseph Stouffer was originally an Old-time Whig. later attaching himself to the Republican party. He and his wife were consistent members of the United Brethren Church. They were the parents of seven children, viz .: Henry D .. sub- ject of this sketch; Samuel, residing in Han- cock county, Ohio; Josiah, a merchant in Bloom- dale, Wood county; Jacob, living on the old homestead :. Sarah, the wife of James Slosser, of Fostoria; Susan, the wife of John A. Stoner. re- siding at Mt. Pleasant, Penn. ;: and Catherine. living at the old home.
Our subject spent his boyhood days in Han- cock county, where he attended the district schools. He assisted his father upon the farm until eighteen years old, when he began learning the trade of a carpenter. The Civil war break- ing out at the time, he was convinced that it was his duty to take part, and dropping his tools he enlisted, though only a boy, in Company 1. 123d O. V. I. After four weeks with the regiment at Monroeville Ohio, he was rejected on the regi- mental examination; but, in the spring of 1865. he re-enlisted in Company G, 18gth O. V. I .. from which he was honorably discharged October 1, 1865.
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On his return to private life Mr. Stouffer took np the occupation of a carpenter, working in and around Fostoria for three years. Subsequently he located three miles north of Arcadia, Han- cock Co., Ohio, where he worked at his trade as contractor and builder. In 1874 he came to North Baltimore, where he has since carried on a hardware store, adding various other lines at different times, until now he deals not only in hardware, but also in agricultural implements, roofing, spouting, buggies, wagons and bicycles, etc., and he has the most extensive line of stoves in the place. When he first came here there was but one business house in the town, and he has been an important factor in the growth and de- velopment of the city. He started in a small way in a building 20 x 36 feet. In 1874 he put up a business block, to which he has since made extensive additions to accommodate his increased trade; and now, in a store containing over 8,000 square feet, with three sons acting as clerks and machinists, is doing a prosperous business. He is known to be a man of high principle and strict integrity, and has the confidence of the commun- ity as well as the esteem and respect of his per- sonal acquaintances.
On January 12, 1867, Mr. Stouffer was mar- ried in Fostoria to Miss Mary J. Linhart, who was born near Pittsburg, Penn., August 20, 1839. Four children have come to this union, as follows: Nettie is the wife of R. E. Teets, of Milton Center; they live at Montpelier. Ind., and have two children, Glenna and Lena, Harry O. is unmarried, and lives at North Baltimore. W. L. married Miss Lillie Welsh, of Beaver Dam, Ohio, and resides at North Baltimore. Willie is at home. In politics Mr. Stouffer affili- ates with the National party. He served as member of central committee; and has been a member of the city council for five or six years, and has been on the board of health for about fifteen years. In religious connection he is a member of the United Brethren Church.
DANIEL KNISELY is one of the active, promi- nent and enterprising citizens of Montgomery township, and is engaged in general farming in Section 14. He was born in Stark county, Ohio, March 27, 1846, and when an infant was taken to Ridge township. Wyandot Co., Ohio, by his parents, David and Mary (Faylor) Knisely, who were of Pennsylvania-Dutch descent. By trade the father was a blacksmith, and carried on that occupation in connection with farming. When eleven years of age, our subject accompanied his parents to Section 33, Montgomery township.
where the father purchased eighty acres of land. still in its primitive condition, and upon the place built a log house and a blacksmith shop, where he continued to follow his trade. The family had come in wagons from Wyandot county in the spring of the year, when the roads were almost impassable, as much of the land in this county was at that time under water. The father made his home in Section 33 until 1864, when he sold that farin, and purchased eighty acres in Section 14, forty acres of which our subject now owns. For a time he also carried on blacksmithing, but later he devoted his entire attention to agricult- ural pursuits. He now makes his home at Fre- mont, Ohio, at the age of seventy-six years, and there his wife died in October, 1894. They were earnest . Christian people, respected by all who knew them, and he has been a lifelong member of the Republican party. The family circle in- cluded the following children: Mahlon C .. who died at the age of six years; Mary J., now Mrs. William Meeker, of Henry county, Ohio; Rachel A., wife of Levi H. Kohr, of Fremont. Ohio: Daniel, the subject proper of this review; Malissa. who died at the age of three years; Sylvester, who died in infancy; Jay, of North Baltimore, Ohio; Samantha, wife of Charles Frankfather, of Portage township, Wood county; and A. F., of Montgomery township.
As Daniel Knisely was the eldest son of par- ents in limited circumstances, his services were needed upon the home farm, and his educational privileges were therefore quite limited: but when he was able to attend school he learned rapidly. and would have advanced very quickly in his studies if he had had the opportunity. He re- mained upon the home farm until his enlistment in the Union army during the Civil war, with the exception of two years when he was put out to work for his board and clothes.
While he was quietly carrying on agricultural pursuits the storm of war broke over our beloved country, and, in response to the call of the gen- eral government, Mr. Knisely enlisted, in Febru- ary. 1864, though not yet eighteen years of age. in Company E, 25th O. V. I. He was with his regiment continuously until November 30, 1804. when, at the battle of Honey Hill, S. C., he was wounded and sent to the hospital at Hilton Head. at which place he was granted a furlough to conte home, January 25. 1865. On the ist of Apra following he rejoined the command, doing duty in the Carolinas until honorably discharged, on June 18, 1866, when he returned to his home Montgomery township. Besides helping in the I operation of the home farm, he was employed by
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others for some time. He also served a two- years' apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, under Sylvester Turner, of Freeport, Ohio, and later engaged in business with that gentleman for the same length of time.
On November 28, 1872, at Freeport, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Knisely and Miss Josephine Billman, daughter of Daniel and Mary A. Bucher; Billman, and to them have been born four children, namely: Roscoe B., Charles H .. Arthur F. and Hazel A. At the time of his marriage Mr. Knisely owned forty acres of land in Section 14, Montgomery township, which was nearly all paid for by his own earnings. To this place he removed in the spring of 1873, and has since made his home there; but he has added to his original purchase until he is now the possessor of 120 acres of rich and arable land, while his wife owns forty acres additional. In connection with the cultivation and improvement of his property. he followed threshing for several seasons, and thus added materially to his income. As a Republican in politics. Mr. Knisely takes great interest in public questions, and has filled several minor offices in his district, including that of trustee, which he held for four terms. He is a member and past post commander of Randall Post, G. A. R., at Prairie Depot, and is a highly respected and esteemed citizen of Montgomery township, where his gentlemanly deportment and genial manners have gained him many friends.
HUGH STEWART, one of the most extensive real-estate owners of Wood county, and an able and energetic public official, was born August 20, 1839, in what is now known as Webster town- ship, then unorganized. He is a descendant of the ancient Scottish clan of that name.
His grandfather, Hugh Stewart, and his fa- ther, Hugh Stewart (2), were both born near Whitburn, Scotland, and the latter for some years followed the trade of carpenter and joiner there. In 1834 he came to the United States, and located within the present boundaries of Webster township, on eighty acres of land, which he cleared and improved. He was a Whig in politics, and one of the first and strongest supporters of the United Presbyterian Church in his vicinity. In 1836 he was married to Miss Jennett David- son, who was also born near Whitburn, Scot- land. Ten children were born to them, whose names with dates of birth are as follows: Mar- garet. March 19, 1838, died at the age of ten; Hugh, August 20, 1839; Jennett, October 2, isso, married Thomas Roper, a farmer of Free- dom township: Robert, March 19, 1842, died , Presbyterian Church, and belongs to the F. A .1.
February 25, 1864, from the effects of hardships and exposure in the army; James, April 3. 1843. died January 7, 1862; William, July 27, 1844. died February 6, 1848; Ann, April 7, 1846, man- ages our subject's home; Jane, March 6, :sas, married William Davis; Walter D., April Es, 1850, died March 19, 1872; and Mary, January 12, 1852, married Thomas Fitzgerald, and died January 24, 1886. The father of this family died May 15, 1852, the mother survived until April 27, 1883, when she passed away, at the residence of her son, Hugh.
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