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 29
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the service until August 27, 1865, when he was discharged at Nashville, Tenn. He enlisted as a hardy, robust young man, and the change in his appearance and health was marked on his return. During his furlough, in 1864, he had purchased fifty acres of land in Section 30, Bloom township, paying $50 down, that being all the money he had. He settled upon this little farm after the war, his sisters Elizabeth, Amelia and Araminta keeping house for him for several years in an old- fashioned log cabin, with the chimney on the outside, the house in which Mr. and Mrs. Simon began their married life.
On April 18, 1872, our subject was married at Napoleon to Miss Mary A. Nyswander, a na- tive of Pleasant township, Fairfield Co., Ohio, born January 26, 1839. Her parents, Christian and Elizabeth (Daring) Nyswander, were both natives of Switzerland, and had come to America with their respective families, her father when thirteen, her mother when four years of age. They were married in January, 1834, and in 1846 came to Wood county, locating in the wilderness in Milton township, where they cleared and improved a farm. Mrs. Simon is a wonian of great mental ability and high ideas, and, in spite of the unfavorable circumstances of her early life, she succeeded in obtaining a good edu- cation. The district schools furnished her ele- mentary instruction, and, when she had learned all that they could teach her, she attended the select school at Millgrove taught by Alfred Kelley, that grand old pioneer teacher to whom many of the leading educators of this region owed their best opportunities. He has helped many a strug- gling scholar, furnishing books, if needed, and waiting for his tuition fees until they could be earned by teaching. Mrs. Simon taught for twenty-six terins in Wood and Henry counties, her wages for the first term being $26. for the three months, and she has taught for $2. per week.
After their marriage, Mr. Sinon and his wife began housekeeping in the old log cabin, but eighteen months later they moved into a new house, which has since been enlarged and beauti- fied. They have had four children: Herma E. (who is proud of being born in the old log cabin above mentioned), Reuben E. and Jennie E. , all at home, and Charles E., who died in infancy.
Mr. Simon has prospered, adding to his pos- sessions until he now owns 250 acres of land, of which 200 acres are under cultivation. He is in- dustrious, frugal, honest and tar-sighted. and his success is principally due to these admirable traits in his constitution. In politics he is a Re-
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publican, but in local matters he is not bound by partisan ties. Mrs. Simon has been a member of the Lutheran Church since fourteen years of age.
WILLIAM O. COY, an agriculturist of energy and ability, is a native of Ross township, where he still makes his home, his birth having occurred August 26, 1857, and is a son of Charles and Mercy (Gardner) Coy, who were married August 28, 1842. His father was born in Borton, Ox- fordshire, England, April 1, 1817, and was a farmer. by occupation, while the mother was born in Wolcott, N. Y., January 26, 1823; her father was English, and her mother an American of English descent. Charles Coy was a Demo- crat in politics. He died September 15, IS83, at the age of sixty-six years, five months and eighteen days, and his wife passed away Decem- ber 17, 1893, at the age of sixty-nine years, eleven monthis and eleven days. She was a faithful member of the Baptist Church, and both were highly respected citizens.
Our subject is the youngest of seven children, the other being Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Eggleston, born February 6, 1844; Alice, who was born February 18, 1846, and died at the age of seven years; Caroline, who was born September 13, 1847, and is now the wife of Thornton Dixon, of West Toledo; Louisa Theresa, who was. born February 28, 1850, and is the wife of Isaac Rideout; Alice Adelaide, who was born April II, 1852, and is the deceased wife of Fred Wachter; and Charles Henry, who was born September 16, 1854.
The early education of William O. Coy was such as the district schools of Ross township afforded, but he later attended Olivet College for one winter. Returning home, he engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, renting the old homestead for a few years, and then began fruit growing and truck gardening. Upon his place he has 150 plum trees, 250 pear, 500 peach. 65 quince, 200 gooseberry bushes, 1,000 currant bushes, one- fourth of an acre of grapes, two acres of raspber- ries, two acres of strawberries, and one-fourth of an acre of asparagus, and also carries on general gardening for his own use.
In 1885, Mr. Coy was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Adkins, who was born Sep- tember 27, 1860, a daughter of Joseph Adkins, and they have become the parents of five chil- dren: Arthur C., born October 4, 1886; Harvey Richard, born August 5. 1888; William Dudley, born December 22, 1889; Clarence, who was born November 27, 1891, and died June 29,
1893; and Hazel Mercy, born April 4, 1894. Politically, Mr. Coy follows in the footsteps of his father, supporting the Democratic party. As a business man he is wide-awake and ener- getic, and as a citizen he has the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
CYRUS S. LAMB, who owns 120 acres of the most valuable land in Center township, has dis- tinguished himself as one of the most active and enterprising citizens, and gives his close atten- tion to the improvement of his land, upon which he has erected good buildings, and the soil of which he has brought to a high state of cultiva- tion. He is a native of New York, born in Or- leans county, on October 14. 1826.
His father, Samuel Lamb, was also a native of the Empire State, where the paternal grand- father was born, and the latter served in the Revolutionary war in 1775 and 1776. The boy- hood and youth of the father were passed upon a farm in that State, where his education was also received. He wedded Elizabeth McDonald, a lady of Scotch descent, and they became the parents of seven children, only two of whom are now living-Cyrus S., of this sketch; and Eliza- beth, wife of Josepli Holington, of Center town- ship. Those deceased are James M., Dr. Will- iam G., Alfred, Samuel and Mary.
On leaving New York, the father removed with his family to Lorain county, Ohio, where he bought 370 acres of land in Brighton township. which he operated for ten years, when he sold out, coming to Wood county in 1835. Locating in Plain township, he there purchased 320 acres of unimproved land, which he succeeded in develop- ing with the help of his sons; and his first home. which was a small frame house, was one year later replaced by a substantial stone structure. He made many useful and valuable improve- ments upon his land, and continued to make his home in Wood county until 1866, when he re- moved to Ingham county, Michigan, where his wife died two years later. He then sold his in- terest there, and returned to Ohio, making his home with his children in Center township until his death in 1878. His name was honored and respected throughout the county, and he had the fullest confidence of all with whom he came in contact. He held the position of postmaster of Bowling Green for a number of years, which of- fice he filled with credit to himself and satisfac- tion to the general public.
Cyrus S. Lamb spent his boyhood and south under the parental roof, and attended the district schools near his home. He came with his par-
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ents to Bowling Green, when that city was yet in its infancy, containing but one house, and located in Center township, assisting in the cultivation of the home farm until twenty-three years of age, when he learned the stone and brick mason's trade, and also that of a plasterer, at which he found employment. He aided in the construc- tion of many buildings in Bowling Green, includ- ing the court house, which was the first building in the town done by free labor.
In 1864, Mr. Lamb enlisted in the 185th O. V. I., becoming a member of Company K, under Capt. Black of that city, and remained with that command until his discharge. Upon being transformed from a soldier to a civilian, he resumed farming in Center township, to which occupation he has since devoted his time. On his farm are seen good fences, a fine orchard, substantial barns, and a handsome brick house erected at a cost of $2, 500, and the whole pre- sents a pleasing picture to the passerby.
In New York State, on August 8. 1849, Mr. Lamb was united in marriage with Cynthia A. Whitman, who was born June 22, 1827, and is a daughter of Oliver Whitman. They have two children: (1) Paola Amanda, born July 28, 1850, is the wife of Charles C. Merry, a merchant of Wichita, Kans., by whom she has two children, Helen and Kent. (2) Frank E., born June 30, 1855, received his primary education in the dis- trict schools of Center township, which he sup- plemented with a course at the high school at Mason, Mich., where he was graduated. He fol- lows farming on the old homestead, and married Mary E. Minear, a daughter of Isaac Minear, of Plain township, Wood county. They have two children: Mertie, born March 24, 1882; and Earl. born September 10, 1888.
Although a prominent man in his township, Mr. Lamb has had but very little to do with pol- itics, but votes with the Democratic party. So- cially he is connected with the Masonic order of Bowling Green, Lodge No. 112, F. & A. M., and religiously is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church of that city. He is one of the highly respected and useful citizens of the county, and we take pleasure in presenting this brief sketch of his life work to the readers of this volume.
MILTON FULLER, the prominent dairyman and agriculturist of Center township, was born August 11, 1836, in Henrietta township. Lorain Co., Ohio. Moses Fuller, his father, was a na- tive of Connecticut, born March 4, 1799. For some years in early manhood he was employed on the Erie canal, and he was married in New
York State, in 1830, to Mrs. Laura Woodruff Roe, the widow of Joseph Roe. In 1834 he came to Ohio and purchased 103 acres of land in Lo- rain county, which he farmed until 1868, when he sold it to his son and retired from business. He died nine years later, his wife surviving him five years. They had seven children: Jeannette. the widow of Osgood Wellman, of Lorain county; Maria, the widow of Bliss B. Remington, of Lick- ing county; Angelina, the wife of Chauncey Well- man, of Michigan; Milton, our subject; Byron. a traveling salesman, who resides in Nebraska: Julia, the wife of William Sherman, a keeper in the insane asylum at Toledo; and Amelia, who died in infancy.
Milton Fuller attended the schools of his na- tive place in childhood, and later studied in the high school at Milan, Erie county. He taught for several terms, and at the same time managed the homestead, carrying on a flourishing dairy business. April 9, 1864, he came to Wood coun- ty, where he settled on a partly-improved tract of eighty acres, near Bowling Green, which he has since brought to a high state of cultivation, making many improvements, building new barns, planting an orchard, and remodeling his dwelling- house. He made a great success of the dairy business, and is the most extensive worker in that line in the township, if not in the county.
He has been twice married-first, on May a. 1862, in his native township, to Miss Mary Eliza- beth Haynes, who was born February 3, 1839. in Henrietta. They had four children, whose names, with dates of birth, are as follows: Lid- die, 1863, died at the age of four years; Fred, November 20, 1866; Frank, February 27, 1868. is a blacksmith at New Bavaria; and Myra, 1875. is at home. Mr. Fuller's first wife died in 1892. and he has since married Mrs. Carrie (Higgins; Poe, a daughter of Dr. Higgins, of Center town- ship, and the widow of Arthur Poe.
Mr. Fuller is a Republican, politically, but he does not care to enter the lists as a candidate for office. He is a generous supporter of any worthy cause, and is a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN RICHARD (deceased). The subject of this sketch, a veteran of the Civil war, and for many years a prominent resident of Bloom town- ship, was born in Mt. Pleasant township, West- moreland Co., Penn., July 14, 1825, the ellest son of Jacob and Rebecca ; Richard) Richard.
When a boy John Richard came to Ashland county, Ohio, with his parents, availed lumself of the educational advantages common to farmi-
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ers' boys of his day, and grew to manhood there, engaging in carpentering and coopering. On September 25, 1849, in Jefferson township, Will- iams county, he married Miss Catherine Richard, who was born August 24, 1831, at his own native place. Her father, John Richard, a successful agriculturist, was married in Pennsylvania to Miss Rachel Bair, and in 1842 moved with his family to Ohio, locating for a time in Richland county, and later in Williams county, where he bought a partially-improved farm. His last years were spent in Wood county, where he died in 1874, at the age of seventy-three, his wife sur- viving him until 1 890, when she died, aged eighty- one years, and was buried beside him in Bloom Chapel cemetery.
After his marriage, John Richard and his young wife began housekeeping on a rented farin in Williams county. Their log house was scan- tily furnished, but they were happy in their mu- tual affection. After a short time they moved to West Unity, where Mr. Richard, who was a nat- ural mechanic, and could adapt himself to any kind of work, was for some time engaged in wagon making. In 1852 they came to Wood county. lived for some time on a rented farm, and then went to Eagleville, Mr. Richard securing employ- ment in the sawmill conducted by Alvin Frenchi, and also carrying on the trade of wagon making. In 1860 he bought forty acres of woodland in Perry township, in its primitive condition, which he cleared and improved, building a log house at first for their residence. On August 8, 1862, Mr. Richard enlisted at West Millgrove in Com- pany B, ILIth O. V. I., and served throughout the war, receiving his discharge June 27, 1865, at Salisbury, N. C. Previous to his military service he was a healthy and robust man, but he never entirely recovered from the effects of his expos- ures and hardships. After his return he followed the carpenter's trade in connection with his farm work, continuing both until a few days before his . death, which occurred October S, 1878. In his home circle he was ever kind and indulgent, and the unexpected loss was a sad blow to the wife and children. He was a good neighbor and an honest citizen, and a leading member of the Dis- ciples Church, holding the office of elder therein at the time of his death. A stanch Republican. he felt a deep interest in public affairs, and was a friend of every measure which he believed to be for the welfare of the people.
Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Richard, of whom three survive. Rebecca E., born in Ashland county, October 22, 1850, died March 24, 1856. Horace Benton, born in Bloom
township, December 2, 1853, died June 15, 1866. Warren M., born in Eagleville, July 13, 1857, married Mrs. Alice Black, of Eagleville, Ohio, and is a farmer in Perry township. Teney O., born September 3, 1860, died June 22, 1871. Flora R., born in Perry township, August 12, 1868, married Josiah A. Cramer, of Bloomdale, and has two children, Bernice and Zona. Mary A., born June 12, 1871, in Perry township, married John C. Easley, and has two children, Cecile M. and Ethel M. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Richard remained at the old home until 1889, when she moved to Bloomdale and built a house, later selling it and building another where she now resides, spending her time in retirement, highly respected by all who know her, and hold- ing an honored place in the Disciples Church, of which she has been a member for more than thirty-four years.
MRS. SARAH A. DIGBY. Upon the ever lengthening roll of honor of the progressive women of to-day there is place, not only for those advocates of the higher education of their sex, who have sought to influence public opinion by pleading or argument from the platform, but also for those who, without leaving the quiet and seclusion of domestic life, have demonstrated to all observers the value of mental gifts and cul- ture within the home. In the married life of the late J. E. Digby, of Bowling Green, and his tal- ented wife, there was revealed an intellectual harmony which would silence the most critical objector to advanced study for women. Fellow students to the last, they traveled, read and wrote in helpful companionship, and they even attended school together for two terms after their marriage.
Mr. Digby was born in Bardolph Fen, County of Norfolk, England, June 6, 1833, and came to America in November, 1851. In May of that year Miss Sarah A. Carr, who was born May 6, 1837, in Tilney Fen, same county, had landed in this country, and the two were mar- ried in Monroeville, Huron Co., Ohio, August 26. 1855. For one year they lived upon a farm in Huron county, and then moved to Muscatine, Iowa, where they remained during the war. Here Mr. Digby, who was an ardent Republican, took out his naturalization papers, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. Both Mr. and Mrs. Digby took a keen interest in all the issues of that stirring time, and were uncompromising .b. olitionists, as, in fact, Mrs. Digby had been front her earliest remembrance.
In 1866 they returned te Ohio, and lived for
Sarah a Digby
Jaho E. Digly
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one year in Lucas county, afterward moving to Wood county. They first located near Tontog- any, but three years later bought a farm of eighty acres, on Liberty Prairie, from Charles W. Evers, upon which they remained from 1871 to 1887, when they gave up farming and made their home in Bowling Green, where Mr. Digby died October 27, 1891. They joined the United Brethren Church in 1857, after Mr. Digby's con- version, Mrs. Digby having previously been a member of the Methodist Church, with which she united in 1833. In 1 889 they re-visited Eng- land, and remained several months. An interest- ing account of their trip was published in a series of letters in the Sentinel of 1889. Mrs. Digby is the daughter of Samuel Carr, who was born in Denver, County of Norfolk, England, March 2, 1802, and his wife, Hannah Grice, who was born in Tilney Fen, same county, in December, 1801. They were married in 1824. He was a day la- borer, and a local preacher in the Primitive Methodist Church in England, and of the M. E. Church after his removal to America. The fam- ily arrived in Monroeville, June 6, 1851, having come by canal from Albany to Buffalo, thence by steamer to Sandusky City, and making the re- maining distance by rail, through the woods, where they were overtaken by a terrific thunder storm. Mrs. Digby was one of children as follows: Mary (Mrs. Hilton) is deceased; Hannah (now Mrs. Wright Goodale) lives in England; Jane (Mrs. John Leverton) resides in Wood county; James is deceased; Sarah A. is our subject ; Mary A. (de- ceased) was formerly Mrs. A. Hunt, of Henry county; Rebecca (Mrs. Charles Senn) lives in Monroeville; James died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Digby had no children of their own, but they reared a boy, Willis J. Digby, whom they treated as a son, although they never formally adopted him. He lives upon the old farm in Liberty township, where there are now five good oil wells in operation. He married Miss Elsie Mercer, and has one child, Leora.
ANDREW J. OVITT, who devotes his time and energies to agricultural pursuits in Middleton township, was born in the locality where he still makes his home, June 21, 1850, and is of Eng- lish lineage. His grandparents were Samuel and Harriet (Collier) Ovitt, natives of England. They had three children, one of whom, John W., father of our subject, was born on the voyage from their native land to New York. The family located in the Empire State, and when he was but five years of age he was kidnapped by a man by the name of Blue, and brought to Wood
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county. The man located in Washington town- ship, near Tontogany, and the boy was forced to work hard, being permitted to attend school culy forty-eight days. After he had reached his ma- jority he left the home of his captor, and worked as a farm hand in the neighborhood. Afterward. for a number of years, he was keeper of a ferry. and then worked on canal boats. In 1872, in connection with his son, Andrew, he purchased ninety-seven acres of land near Hull Prairie. where he located, built himself a home, and car- ried on agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1889. He married Louisa Downs, and to them were born three children. but two died in early life. The mother is still living, and is now the wife of Henry Hopewood.
The subject of this review was born in Mid- dleton township, June 21, 1850, and conned his lessons in the district schools of the neighbor- hood. He worked with his father from early boyhood, until he had attained the age of twenty- three, by being employed on the ferry and on the canals. When the farm was purchased he aided in its cultivation, performing the arduous task of transforming the wild land into richly cultivated fields, of ditching and tiling the place, and other work of improvement. He has for twenty-three years resided upon this farm, and now has one of the best improved properties in the township.
In 1876 was consummated the marriage of Mr. Ovitt and Sophia Frederick, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and a daughter of A. Frederick. of that city. Three children grace their union- Daisy, John and Mabel, and their pleasant home is noted for its hospitality, which makes it a favorite resort with their many friends. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ovitt are popular people and highly esteemed. Socially, for twenty-three years. he has been connected with the Odd Fellows Lodge of Haskins, and is a member of the Encampment. while both he and his wife are connected with the Rebekah Lodge of that order. For twelve years he has been one of the efficient and faithful school directors, also a member of the township board, and for five years was supervisor of roads. In politics he is a stalwart Republican. and his name is synonymous with honorable deal- ing, while his well-spent life is worthy of emu- lation.
A. K. DILLINGER. Among the young and en- terprising business men of North Baltimore there is probably none more energetic or thorough-go- ing than the gentleman whose name begins this sketch. A native of Ohio, he was born in Han-
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cock county, June 26, 1872, and is descended from an old Pennsylvania family.
His parental grandparents were Jacob and Eliza (McColom) Dillinger, the former born in Westmoreland county, Penn., in 1818, and the latter in 1819. In 1848 they emigrated to Ohio, locating in Portage township, Hancock county, where the grandfather died in 1869. They were faithful members of the Disciples Church. In politics, Jacob Dillinger supported the Republican party. In their family were the following chil- dren-Mary E., who became the wife of James Withrow, of Hancock county; Cyrus, also of that county, who served three years in the 99th O. V. I .; Archibald, a dry-goods merchant of Find- lay, Ohio; Daniel, the father of our subject; Jan- nect, of Wood county; Samuel, who died in 1872; Jacob, of Hancock county; Malvin, of Findlay; Eliza, wife of Jacob Ralston, of Hancock county. In McComb, that county, the mother of these children still makes her home. She is the daugli- ter of Archibald McColom, who died in Pennsyl- vania, in 1878. at the age of eighty-five years.
Daniel Dillinger, the father of our subject, was born in Westmoreland county, Penn., on April 7, 1848, and in early life accompanied his parents to Hancock county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. He was married November 18, 1869, the lady of his choice being Miss Lucinda Bachtel, who was born in Seneca county, Ohio, May 28, 1846. By trade the father is a carpen- ter; but, on his removal to North Baltimore, in 1874, he entered the ineat and grocery business, which he conducted for about nine years. He then began the real-estate and insurance business, which he carried on for four years, when he gave up the former line. He is one of the foremost men of North Baltimore, where he is numbered among the public-spirited citizens, and no man is more interested in the advancement and progress of the community than he. Five children were born to himself and wife, but our subject is the only one now living. A daughter, Anna Blanche, died Jan- ury 18, 1894, at the age of seventeen years. Mrs. Dillinger passed to her final rest February 7, 1896.
A. K. Dillinger, of this review, was educated in the schools of North Baltimore, and was a member of the first graduating class completing the high-school course; he is also a graduate of Findlay Business College. He began business in his present line, crockery and house-furnishing goods, in 1893, in a brick block erected by his father, and has added to his original stock until he is now at the head of a large and rapidly in- creasing business. He is one of the prominent and representative young business men of North
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