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 27
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The early education of our subject was ob- tained in the log school houses of the neighbor- hood; but his shrewd Scotch intellect has enabled him to acquire much wider information than the books, which he studied there, afforded him. He worked at the old homestead until 1864, when he enlisted in Company I. 144th O. V. I. (Capt. John McKee commanding). After receiving in- structions at Camp Chase, his regiment joined the army of the Potomac. Mr. Stewart took part in the engagements at Monocacy and Berryville, and was taken prisoner at the latter place, but made his escape two days later. Four months after he entered the service, he was slightly wounded in the right leg, and honorably dis- charged. Returning home, he again engaged in agriculture, and after clearing the homestead of a debt of $750, he added to his possessions from time to time, until he became the owner of one of the largest farms in the county, comprising in all 480 acres of choice land. He has never married.
A few years ago he built a handsome resi- dence costing $3. 500, and two barns of the most approved plan, which cost $4,000. His chief in- terest is stock raising, and he takes a trip to the West every year to make purchases: but he has invested in various business enterprises, hokiing shares in the Dunbridge Elevator Co., and the Dunbridge Oil Co. His first vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln, and he has been a stanch supporter of Republican principles ever since. His well-known ability, honesty and public-spirit have made him a popular candidate of his party, and he has been school director for ten years, member of the board of education three years. township trustee and supervisor for nine years, and constable tor six years. In isso, he was elected county commissioner and gave largely of his time and energy to the work of his office. During his term, the County Infirmary was built. and new bridges and ditches provided in different parts of the county. He is a member of the
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WOOD COUNTY, OIIIO.
M., No. 112, of Bowling Green, the I. O. O. F., Freedom Lodge, of Pemberville, and the G. A. R., Robert Stewart Post No. 690, of Dunbridge.
JOHN APEL, an extensive land owner of Mid- dleton township, was born in Hessen, Germany, November 30, 1824, and was one of the seven children of George and Catherine Apel, also na- tives of that country.
When our subject was a youth of sixteen years his father died, after which the lad worked on the old homestead to support his mother, un- til his emigration to America, March 22, 1847. He made the ocean voyage in a sailing vessel, landing at New York, May 24, without any money; in that city he pawned his watch to en- able him to reach Buffalo, thence working his passage on a steamboat to Huron, Erie Co., Ohio, where he hired out on a farm, in which employment he passed eight years. On March 2, 1855, he came to Wood county, and with the capital he had acquired through his own industry, frugality and perseverance, amounting in all to $1,000.00, he purchased eighty acres of land, the nucleus of his present extensive possessions. Thereon he erected a good residence and other buildings, and as his financial resources increased kept adding to his realty until he is now one of the most extensive land owners in Middleton township, being the possessor of 280 acres of improved land. His income is also materially increased by the sale of the product of twenty- four oil wells, which are now in operation on his farm, bringing him a nice income per month. He also owns stock in the First National Bank at Bowling Green.
Mr. Apel has been twice married. In 1847. in Erie county, he wedded Margaret Busser, who was born in Germany, February 13, 1821, and by this union he has had five children: Cather- ine, wife of Anson Weaver; Barbara, wife of George Hartman; Henry, a farmer of Middleton township; Maggie, wife of Dr. F. Klusson, of Toledo, Ohio; and Sophia, who died in infancy. The mother of these passed away September 12. 1889, in Middleton township, and March 12, 1891, Mr. Apel married Nannie Johnston, who was born in Perrysburg township. October 14, 1864, a daughter of Freeman Johnston, a veteran of the Civil war. To each of his children, when they commenced life for themselves, Mr. Apel gave $2,000.00.
In politics, our subject is a Democrat. and for three years served as school director. His religious connection is with the German Reformed Church, and he is a benevolent, charitable gen-
tleman of genial, hospitable disposition, well liked by all who know him. Though he did not serve in the Civil war, he showed his patriotism to his adopted country by substantially aiding all movements advanced in support of the Union. He began life a poor boy. had to endure many hardships and trials, and the success which he has now gained, is therefore doubly creditable to him. In 1855, he lost all of his crops through floods, and he and his family were obliged to live on corn bread and acorn coffee for two years. In ISSI, he visited the Old Country for the pur- pose of seeing his mother and some old friends. He took the steamer at New York City, December I, and landed in Bremen December 17. During this voyage he had the misfortune to break his leg, from which time until February 20, 1882, he was under a doctor's care. He left Germany March 12, and arrived home March 29, 1882.
JOSHUA V. SMITH, the oldest gentleman in Troy township, now makes his home in Section 5. He was born in Bellefontaine, Logan Co .. Ohio, on October 5, 1819, and with his parents, Joshua and Huldah (Alger) Smith, came to Per- rysburg, Wood county, as early as 1826. The settlements at that time were widely scattered. the county was almost an unbroken forest, a great deal of the land was covered with water, and the work of civilization had scarcely begun. During the seventy years of his residence here, he has watched the wonderful changes that have taken place, and contributed his share in the de- velopment and upbuilding.
His father was born and reared in Rhode Isi- and, and at the age of twenty years went to New York, where he met and married Huldah Alger, whose birth occurred near Albany, that State. In 1816, they emigrated westward, loca- ting in Ohio, and the following year made a home at Bellefontaine; but the year 1826 found him a resident of Perrysburg, where he engaged in the manufacture of brick, and also worked at the mason's trade. He removed to Troy town- ship in 1832, locating near Stony Ridge, on a arm for which he had traded property that he owned in Perrysburg. He continued its cultiva- tion until his death, which occurred many years ago. His wife survived him many years, dying on January 31, 1879. In their family were seven children, as follows: Lucy, wife of Jalins Blinn, of Toledo, Ohio; Maria, who died in in- fancy; John Lee, who died of cholera, july 27. 1854; Joshua V., of this sketch; Jacob, who en listed at Stony Ridge, in 1861, for three years. in the 72nd O. V. I., and was accidentally killed
John Apel
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January 7, 1865, by a limb falling from a tree; Mrs. Elizabeth Van Camp, who died in Lemoyne, Wood county, in 1866; and Clarissa, wife of Samuel Shook, of Stony Ridge, Ohio.
The subject of this sketch was about seven years of age when brought to Wood county, and secured his education in the schools of Perrys- burg. After leaving the school room he spent his summers in farming, while during the winter months for twenty years he bought furs for the fırın of Hollister & Blinn. He also engaged to some extent in brick making. On the outbreak of the Civil war he resolved to strike a blow in defense of the Union, and was the first man to enlist in Troy township, becoming a member of Company C, 2Ist O. V. I. August 29, 1861. He was mustered in at Findlay, Ohio, and was made a wagoner in the army of the Tennessee; but on account of illness was honorably discharged Oc- tober 6, 1862. However. on July 22, 1863, he re-enlisted, this time becoming a member of Com- pany L, 3d Ohio Cav., and was again assigned to the army of the Tennessee. He participated in many engagements in Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia, and after the close of hostilities was dis- charged at Edgeville, Tenn., in August, 1865. with an army record of which he may justly be proud. On returning to Troy township, he again resumed brick making and farming.
In that township on February 22, 1842, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Mary Van Camp, a native of Buffalo, Erie Co., N. Y .. and a daughter of Benjamin P. and Lorena (Walker) Van Camp, who were also born in the Empire State. Her father was a shoemaker by trade, and in 1836 removed to Lucas county, Ohio; but the following year located on a farm in Troy township, near Lemoyne. His death, how- ever, occurred near Bowling Green, Ohio, in 1875, and his wife was called from this earth May 8, 1885. Their family consisted of nine children: DeWitt, who died at Lemoyne, in 1886; Mrs. Hannah R Utley, who died Novem- ber 19, 1884; Mary, wife of our subject; Corne- lius, of Bowling Green ; Harriet, who was the wife of George Reddick, and died in Peru. Ind., in 1857; Henry, of Decatur, Mich. : Mrs. Sarah Jolly, of Bowling Green; Benjamin Franklin, of the same city; and Esther, who died April 19. 1879.
To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born seven children, six of whom are still living. (1) Cor- win H. died of cholera in 1854, at the age of twelve years. (2) Abram V., who now resides in East Toledo, Ohio, enlisted in 1862, in the 2Ist O. V. I., was taken prisoner at Chick- 65
amauga and confined in Andersonville, Libby. Belle Isle and Florence, being incarcerated for seventeen months and five days. During that time he endured all privations of Southern prison life. After returning home he lost an arm. the effect of scurvy. (3) Charles C. is married, and resides at Hartford, Mich. (4) Joshua B. is mar - ried, and resides in Lucas county, Ohio. 5 Huldah L. is the wife of Joseph Philes, of East Toledo. (6) Millard Fillmore is married, and makes his home in Marion, Osceola Co., Mich. (7) Walter H. is also married, and lives in Mun- gen, Wood county.
In his political faith, Mr. Smith is a Repub- lican, a stanch follower of the doctrines as for- mulated by that party, and before its organization was a Whig, casting his first vote for William Henry Harrison, in 1840. He has served his fellow citizens as trustee and constable, and is a member of Woodford Post. G. A. R., at Perrys- burg. In all matters of public spirit and enter- prise, he takes a prominent part, and gives his aid to everything that will advance the welfare of the county where he has so long found a pleasant horne, and is surrounded by many warm friends. He and his wife are earnest Christian people. belonging to the United Brethren Church at Lemoyne, Ohio.
C. C. HUM, one of the prosperous farmers of Perrysburg township, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, April 3, 1834, a son of David and Mary Ann (Heacock) Hum. The father of our subject was born in Westmoreland county. Penn .. and the mother in New York. They were mar- ried October 20, 1829, in Salem, Ohio, where they settled and spent the remainder of their lives. The father was a Democrat before the war, afterward becoming a Republican, and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Church. They reared a family of six children. namely: Angeline, who married Dickson Hatch- er, and is now deceased; James W., who died in Beaver county, Penn. ; Richard W., living in Mahoning county, Ohio; C. C., our subject : and Elizabeth, who is deceased. The mother of this family died when our subject was six years old
C. C. Huni came to Wood county, was edu- cated at the district schools up to the age of fourteen years, before coming to this county. He was a sailor on the lakes, which occupation he was following when the Civil war broke out. On July 21. 1862, he enlisted in Company A. rooth O. V. I., in which he served as sergeant until February 22, 1864. He was at the siege of Knox- ville, and in other important engagements. Later
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
he was made second lieutenant in the Ist U. S. Colored Artillery, and promoted to first lieuten- ant of the same company (company B), same regiment. Most of his time, while an officer, he served on staff duty under Brig. Gen. Tilson, Maj .- Gen. Stoneman and Gen. Q. A. Gillem. In the fall of 1865 and spring of 1866, he was pro- vost marshal at Chattanooga, and April 1, 1866, he was mustered out of the army, after having faithfully served his country during the en- tire war.
On his return to Ohio, Mr. Huin settled on his farm in Perrysburg township, and for ten or twelve years thereafter sold goods for his own ac- count. He was inarried September 16, 1857, to Miss Caroline E. Davenport, who was born in Tompkins county, N. Y., May 18, 1831, a daugh- ter of Alanson and Eliza (Middaugh) Davenport, the father a native of New Jersey, born in 1807, the mother born in New York the same year. They had a family of nine children, as follows: George M., a farmer of Barry county, Mich .; Caroline E. (Mrs. C. C. Hum); Hannah, now Mrs. C. Priest, in Michigan; Sarah M., Margaret, William H. and James, all four deceased; Har- riet L. (Mrs. John Wade), of Wood county; and Newman R., a farmer of Wood county. The family came to Ohio in 1847, locating first in Huron county, in 1853 moving to Wood county, where the mother died in 1876, the father in 1893. He moved to New York when a boy, and became a cooper by trade, later following farm- ing. In politics he was originally a Whig, after- ward a Republican, and in religious faith he was a Presbyterian. To Mr. and Mrs. Hum were born three children. as follows: (1) Walter C., married Miss Elma Strickland, and they have three children-Chester, Loran and Martha. (2) Alva A. married Emily Bruce, and they have three children -- Earl, Bessie and Nell; and (3) James died when nine years of age.
Mr. Hum is a Republican, and was infirmary director one term, declining a second nomination. He is a member of Wolford Post, G. A. R., and is the only ex-commissioned officer in the town- ship. He is also a member of the F. & A. M., is master of the lodge at Perrysburg, and has filled all the chairs. He is a man of more than ordinary intelligence, and a great reader, keep- ing abreast of the times on all the topics of cur- rent interest. Mrs. Hum is a member of the M. E. Church.
DUDLEY H. AVERY, junior member of the firm of Ross & Avery, prominent hardware dealers at Bowling Green, is one of the most enterprising
young business men of that wide-awake com- munity. The house of which he is now a part- ner is one of the oldest business concerns in the vicinity, having been founded in 1857 by the late Enoch Wiley.
Mr. Avery was born in Huron county, Ohio, April 11, 1857, the son of J. O. and Harriet (Manley) Avery. His father was born in Con- necticut in 1828, and came to Wood county in IS52, where he has since followed farming as an occupation. He is a progressive and patriotic citizen, and went to the front as a soldier during the Civil war. He now resides near Weston. Wood county. Our subject received an excellent education in his youth in the public schools of Oberlin, and the Normal School at Fostoria. His first business venture was at farming in Plain township, Wood county; but after six or seven years he abandoned that for a grocery store at Bowling Green. Subsequently he engaged in the hotel business on Mackinac Island, on the Straits of Mackinac: but February 15, 1895. he bought an interest in his present enterprise, where his ability and energy have a congenial field.
Mr. Avery was married in 1879 to Miss Ettie Wiley, who was born in Perrysburg September 23, 1857. Her father, Capt. Enoch Wiley, who was the original owner of the store, with which Mr. Avery is now connected, was born in Lewis- ton, Penn., October 9, 1833. In 1857, he, with his family, moved to Bowling Green, Ohio, where he lived until he entered the army. On the first day of the battle of Stone River he fell mortally wounded. The G. A. R. Post, of Bowling Green, was named . Wiley Post" in honor of him. One son, Ray Dudley, has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Avery. Our subject is a Republican, and influential among the younger element of the party.
JOHN H. ANDREAS. This popular young busi- ness man was born at Fremont, Ohio, in 1865. and when eight years of age moved with his parents to Bowling Green. His earlier years were spent in school, and, when old enough, he was in the employ of Charles Miller, who kept a bakery and restaurant, and later was with Par- inenter Bros. & Smith, clothing merchants.
In 1884 Mr. Andreas took a trip through Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, spending the latter part of the year and the first few months of the following year in college at Valparaiso. Ind. During July of 1885, he went to Mon- tana, where he was employed as foreman by the Anaconda Copper Co. He was sent by the Ana-
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
conda Copper Co. to Georgetown, Mont., to make a. 30-day-test-mill run on gold ore, from the Pyrenese gold mine, resulting in general satis- faction to the company, and, when in mining countries, his occupation was that of gold amal- gamator, and he has proven by his work, as well as written recommendations from prominent mining companies, that he is one of the best in the State of Idaho. He has treated gold, silver and copper, during his sojourn in the West. He was engaged in that and other mining pursuits for two years. In 1887 he went to Idaho, and discovered the Vixie and Franklin mines in Pine Grove, which latter place was founded by himself and brother. The two young men operated these two mines until 1890, when our subject accep- ted a positon as traveling man for the Western Re- source Paper House, of Lincoln, Neb., and meanwhile organized a mining company in Chi- cago. He leased and bonded his interest in the mines; but in the money crash of 1893, said company could not draw their money from banks, so the mines and mills stand as before, although he and his brother Frank still retain a control- ling interest in the property. During the opal excitement, Mr. Andreas was sent to the fields on Snake river, Idaho, by a Chicago and Boise City syndicate, making several valuable pur- chases for the company. It was at his sugges- tion that the exhibit of "American Opals " was inade at the World's Fair at Chicago in 1893.
Mr. Andreas returned to Bowling Green in 1893, and the following year entered into the restaurant business on South Main street, where his place, "The Idaho, " became so popular that he had to move to more roomy quarters, and is now located in the Union Hotel block, where he is carrying on a flourishing business. In politics he has always been an ardent Republican, and during his life in the West became acquainted with many of the leading politicians and finan- ciers of that section. Socially he belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees, the P. O. S. of A., the Sons of Veterans and the Woodmen of the World. Mr. Andreas is popular both in business and private circles, and is a highly respected citizen.
The father of our subject, John R. Andreas, was born in Luzerne county, Penn., where he learned the trade of a tailor. When about twen- ty-one years of age he removed to Ohio, locating first in Wayne county, and afterward at West Salern, in both of which places he followed the occupation of a merchant tailor. He next re- moved to Sandusky county, near Fremont, where he was engaged in farming when the Civil war 1
broke out. With other of his patriotic country- inen, he enlisted in the 72nd O. V. I., under the command of Gen. R. P. Buckland; but before the regiment left he met with an accident by which one of his legs was broken. This delayed his active service; but after regaining the use of his limb he again joined the regiment, serving in the construction corps. At the close of the war he removed his family to Bowling Green, where he died in 1891. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Collar, was born in Berks county, Penn., in 1844. She is still living in the enjoyment of good . health, and makes her home in Bowling Green. To this estimable couple were born eight children, namely: Henry, who died when two years old; Almeda, wife of William Alexander. living at Pemberville, Ohio; Frank, who is en- gaged with our subject in the mining business in the West, and who now has charge of their prop- erty there (mines and mineral springs (medical) at Pine Grove, Idaho); Lorinda, the wite of Da- vid Klotz, residing in Helena, Sandusky county; John H., subject of this sketch; Emma and Amelia (twins), the latter of whom is the wife of Robert Householder, of Wood county; and Charles, who has charge of a ranch in Idaho.
JOSEPH H. MITCHELL, who has been a promi- nent agriculturist of Wood county, and at this writing is a director of the county infirmary, is spending the later years of his life, retired from active business, in his pleasant home at Bowling Green. He was born in Liberty township, Wood county, April 22, 1838, and is the son of Joseph and Ann (Trass) Mitchell.
The father of our subject was a native of Somersetshire, England, where he was born in 1802, and where he was married, his wife being a native of the same place, her birth occurring in ISO7. They came to America in IS30, locating first in Ashtabula county, Ohio, and three years later took up their residence in Wood county. They settled on government land in Liberty township, and made their home there for ten years, then removing to Plain township adjoin- ing, where they built a house and resided the re- mainder of their lives. Joseph Mitchell owned 250 acres of land, and was one of the earliest set- tlers of that vicinity. When he first made his home here, there was but one log house where the city of Toledo now stands, and the land on which it is built was then worth only three dollars per acre. He lived long enough to witness the won- derful growth and prosperity of this section of the State, his death taking place October 2 ;. 1878, his wife surviving him until September 17,
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
1885. The parental family comprised six chil- dren, namely: Martha J. is now Mrs. J. H. Howes, of Plain township; Mary Ann married Joseph Logan, of Deerfield, Mich., and died March 4, 1863; Joseph H .; Samuel L. lives in Bowling Green; Elizabeth A. married James R. Judson, of Bowling Green; Oliver C., born August I, 1848, lives in Bowling Green.
The subject of this sketch was reared in Plain township, and obtained his education in the common schools at Bowling Green. On the breaking out of the Civil war, his patriotic impulses led him to offer his services in defence of his country; and he enlisted August 14, 1862, in Company D, ILIth O. V. I. His regiment was assigned to the army of the Cumberland, and participated in the following memorable engage- ments: Campbell Station, siege of Knoxville, Fort Sanders, Strawberry Plains, Blain's Cross Roads, Resaca, Rocky Face, Kenesaw Mountain, Decatur, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Stone Mill, Franklin and Nashville. Mr. Mitch- ell served his company as corporal, and was un- harmed during the campaign; but was taken ill shortly before the close of the war, and was obliged to return home, being discharged July 4, 1865, at Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Our subject was married December 26, 1865, to Miss Martha Taburn, who was born in Eng- land April 18, 1841. Their only child, Minnie, who was born June 10, 1868, is the wife of W. F. Ries, and they have one son, Freddie M. Aft- er his marriage Mr. Mitchell settled on a farm of eighty acres in Liberty township, Wood coun- ty, where he has since made his home. He has always been progressive in his ideas, and was the first man in his township to use tiling on his land. The first year he put in 600 rods, greatly to the amusement of his neighbors, who thought it a very foolish undertaking. But at the close of the season he had the laugh on his side, as he had an excellent crop of corn, which he sold at seven- ty-five cents a bushel, while they had nothing. The following year other farmers followed his ex- ample, with satisfactory results. He now has 1, 500 rods laid upon his farm, which is one of the most productive in that locality.
November, 1896. Both himself and wife are members of the United Brethren Church, and are among the most esteemed and respected citizens of their community.
The grandfather of our subject, Joseph Mitchell, came to America some two years later than his son, and located in Liberty township, where he entered land from the government, and where he died when about eighty years old, his wife having passed away soon after reaching her new home. The children were as follows: John, who died in England; Joseph, the father of our subject; Mary, who married Thomas Pullman, of New York City; Elizabeth, who married Henry Wilkinson. and died in Ashtabula county, Ohio; Jane, who became the wife of Thomas Holden, of Chicago, Ill., and died in that city; Martha, who married Alexander P. Logan, of Deerfield, Mich .; Sarah, who became the wife of Charles Morrison, of Cleveland, Ohio: Samuel, who died in De Witt county, Mo .; and Thomas, who died in Elkhorn, Wisconsin.
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