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 30
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Baltimore, of most excellent habits, and is well worthy the high esteem in which he is held.
WILLIAM S. ARMSTRONG was born in Franklin county, Ohio, January 1, 1859, and is a son of Henry A. Armstrong, a native of Franklin, Conn., who, in that place, acquired an excellent educa - tion. When a young man of twenty-two, he went with a brother to Franklin county, where he pur- chased a one-hundred-acre farm in Perry town- ship. For several years he successfully followed school teaching. In this State he married Sarah Ann- Tone, a native of Lebanon, Vt., and a daughter of Christopher Tone, a captain of the war of 1812. They had five children-James H., a farmer near Columbus, Ohio; Josephine, wife "of Henry Neds, of Delaware, Ohio: Emma, wife of Walker Hall, of Franklin county; William S .; and Alice, who died at the age of sixteen.
Our subject was reared in the usual manner of farmer lads, and the district schools afforded him his educational privileges. At the age of thirteen he assumed the management of the home farm (his father having been paralyzed), and suc- cessfully operated it until his father's death. He was married in Perry township, Franklin county, November 25, 1881, to Sarah Hannah Donald- son, who was born in Marysville, Ohio. He took his bride to the old homestead, and there lived until the estate was divided, in 1888. Selling his share of the farm, he then came to Wood county. and purchased forty acres of land in Jackson township. In 18SI he had also purchased forty acres, and now owns and operates this tract of eighty acres. In April, 1895, he purchased a half interest in the sawmill and tile works of Hoytville. and has since given his attention to that business.
Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong had four children. but the eldest died in infancy, and Maud died at the age of nine years. May and Ollie are at home. In politics, Mr. Armstrong is a stalwart Republican, and has served for one term as as- sessor of his township. He belongs to the United Brethren Church, and his many excellencies of character have gained for him the warm regard of many friends.
WILLIAM COMSTOCK, a well-known citizen of Perrysburg, was born in Plain township. Decem- ber 15. 1853, a son of Robert C. Comstock. and his wife, Sarah (McDowell) Comstock.
Abel Comstock, grandfather of our subject. was a native of New York State, a millwright by trade, and died at the advanced age of ninety years. He married Isabel Cummings, and they reared a family of eight children, named respect-
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ively: Robert C., Abel, David, William, Phoebe, Helen, Isabel, and Clara. Of these Abel and David were millwrights, William was a soldier in the Civil war, and Robert C., the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in New York State in 1818, and in 1835 came to Ohio, set- thing on a farm in Plain township, Wood county, where he yet resides. In 1842, in Pennsylvania, he married Sarah McDowell, by whom he had eight children, five of whom are yet living, viz. : Abel, an attorney at Bowling Green; Robert, a farmer in Michigan; Jennie (Mrs. E. Chapman), residing in Connecticut; William; and Edward, living on the old farm in Plain township. The mother of this family was born in Mercer county, Penn., in 1819, and passed from earth in 1888.
William Comstock, whose name introduces this memoir, was reared on a farm, and educated in the public schools, together with a few terms at a select school. When twenty-one years of age, he married Miss May A. Chapman, of Mys- tic River, Conn., and for some nine years after- ward was engaged in teaching during the winter season, and farming through the summer months. He then began selling furniture for a Toledo firm, later handling rubber clamps, for another house, for a year. In 1886. he engaged with the Owosso Casket Co., of Owosso, Mich., as a trav- eling salesman, and in this found his-vocation, he having decided ability for this kind of work, and meeting with eminent success. His territory comprises Michigan, Virginia and West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and the cities of St. Louis, Mo., and Atlanta, Georgia.
Mr. Comstock has amassed a comfortable competence, and a few years ago brought his family to Perrysburg, where he erected a beauti- ful residence on the banks of the Maumee river, at a cost of $5000.00. The situation is one of the most picturesque in the county, while the house is artistic ir its architecture, and furnished in the best taste. Here, with his charming family, he spends his time when not on the road, and dispenses open-handed hospitality to his large circle of friends. He belongs to the Toledo Traveling Men's Association, and to the Casket Salesman's Protective Association. Socially he is a member of the F. & A. M., Phoenix Lodge No. 123, and of the I. O. O. F., Fort Meigs Lodge, both of Perrysburg. Politically he is a Democrat. He is a man of much natural ability, and commands the respect and esteem of all who know him.
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Mrs. Comstock was born at Mystic River, Conn., September 12, 1854, a daughter of Ros- well B. and Mary A. (Wilcox) Chapman, both
also natives of Connecticut, the father born in 1814, the mother in 1826. They had four chil- dren: Amos R. (a Democratic member of the Connecticut Legislature); Everett B. ; Mary A., and Martin W. The father of these, who was a ship-builder by trade, died in 1876; the mother lives in Mystic River, Conn, To Mr. and Mrs. Comstock have been born six children: Roswell W., Clement R., Lelia M., Harry R., Howard M., and Jennie A.
HENRY C. BACON, one of the most prominent agriculturists of Montgomery township, was born in Brownhelm township, Lorain Co., Ohio, Aug- ust 20, 1836, the son of Samuel and Ruth (Davis) Bacon.
The father of our subject was a native of Berkshire courity, Mass., and was the son of George Bacon, who was one of the twenty-seven young men which composed the famous " Boston Tea Party." George Bacon came to Ohio in 1817, and settled in Lorain county. He had three sons, George, Jr., and Benjamin and Sam- uel, twins. These all reared large families. and died in Lorain county at advanced ages. Samuel Bacon was brought up in Stockbridge, Mass .. which in that day was quite a literary center, and where he obtained a good common-school educa- tion. He was married in his native State. and early in life was engaged in farming. He after- ward became identified with a woolen manufac- tory, but business reverses compelled him to seek some other employment. In 1832 he came to Lorain county, Ohio, and settled in Brownhelm township where he again took up farming and successfully followed that occupation during the remainder of his life. He died in October, 1865, when seventy-six years of age. His wife survived him until 1875, when she passed away, aged seventy-two years. Of their children, those who lived to maturity were as follows: Jane mar- ried Edmund West, and died in Oberlin in 1895; Samuel, Jr., died in Brownhelm township, in 1868; Eliza resides in Oberlin; Benjamin, now living in Anderson county, Kans., was, during the Civil war. lieutenant of Company K, 144th O. V. I. ; Henry C. is the next in order of birth; Lucy is the wife of Cyrus Whittlesey, of Brownhelm township: Charles was a farmer, and died in Brownhelm township; Ruth resides in Oberlin. Samuel Bacon was not a wealthy man, but he was comfortably situated in life, and his children were carefully reared. He was a Democrat until the formation of the Republican party, with which he was thereafter connected. He was well versed in political matters, and served in various township
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offices. Both he and his wife were members of the Congregational Church.
Henry C. Bacon had only the advantages of the district schools of his day, but he possessed much natural intelligence, and is to-day well in- formed on all topics of general interest. He was reared upon a farm, where he was working when the Civil war broke out, and in July, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, 103rd O. V. I., and was mustered in as sergeant. This regiment saw active service from the time of its going to the front, which was soon after its formation. Mr. Bacon served throughout the war, being promot- ed to the rank of second, and later to first, lieuten- ant. . During all this time he was never sick or wounded, and was never absent from his regi- ment. He was honorably discharged June 22, 1865, and at once returned to his home in Lorain county.
On April 17, 1866, Mr. Bacon was married in Sheffield township, Lorain county, to Miss Eliza F. Day, who was born in that township March 10, 1839, daughter of Norman and Julia (Root) Day, who were both natives of Berkshire county, Mass., her father being a farmer. Mrs. Bacon attended school in Elyria, Ohio, and was a junior in the literary course at Oberlin College. She is a woman of more than ordinary intel- lect, highly cultured and refined, and one of pro- nounced literary tastes. Her sisters are also lit- erary woinen, and are contributors to well-known newspapers. At the time of his marriage Mr. Bacon had only a small sum of money which he had saved from his earnings; but he had some time before bought 109 acres of school land in Section 16, Montgomery township. This land was in a primitive state, and he had made some small improvements upon it. In the spring of 1866 he removed to the property, renting a house near by, in which he lived until 1876, when he built his present residence. Here he has resided ever since, with the exception of temporary ab- sences while his children were being educated. Julia D., his eldest daughter, was a graduate of Ada College, and became the wife of Hervey Williams; she died in Geauga county, Ohio, leav- ing one child, Norman K., who lives with our subject. Louis H. was a student at Oberlin Col- lege, and is now a merchant at Prairie Depot. Laura A. graduated at Oberlin College in the class of 1893, and is at home with her parents. Politically Mr. Bacon is a Republican, and he has held various township offices with credit to himself, and to the satisfaction of the public. With his wife, he is a member of the Congrega- tional Church, and is a liberal contributor to all
worthy causes. He has never aspired to become a wealthy man, and has spent much of his money in educating his children and assisting other peo- ple. He has a pleasant home, and his family are popular leaders in social circles.
MRS. ANN CARR. To the pioneer women of Wood county, equally with the men, a debt of gratitude is due for what they have done in the county's behalf. Their labors, perhaps, have been in a more quiet and less noticeable way, but none the less effective. Mrs. Carr belongs to one of the old families of this locality, and her many friends we feel assured will gladly welcome this record of her life.
She was born in Pemberville, January 3, 1852, and is a daughter of Horatio Nelson Alexander and Mary Huff., Her father and mother were natives of England, and there the father married Ann Keats, with whom he came to America, lo- cating in Wood county, in 1833, where he en- gaged in farming. He also took quite an active part in politics, and was a prominent figure in the Republican party, speaking in its interests throughout the State. His first wife died in Pemberville, and in Wood county he married the mother of our subject, then located on a tract of land whereon now stands the town of Pemberville. Mrs. Alexander died while visiting at the home of her stepdaughter in Perrysburg, and the father, for his third wife, married Mrs. Jolly. His fourth wife, with whom he was liv- ing at the time of his death, was Mrs. Sarah Cable, widow of Ephraim Cable. The father died on the homestead in Pemberville, January 2, 1866, at the age of sixty-one years. The children of his first marriage were Eliza, de- ceased wife of Oliver Thompson, of Perrysburg; Agnes, deceased wife of George Newton, of Perrys- burg; Ambrose, who was engaged in the livery business in Toledo, Ohio, where he died in 1892: Mary Jane, wife of Oliver Thompson, of Perry's- burg; and Theodore, of Bowling Green, who served the county as recorder for two terms- from 1883 to 1889. The children of Mrs. Carr's parents are George, who died in childhood: Henry, an oil producer, of Woodside, Ohio; William, a carpenter of Pemberville; Oliver, a farmer of Washington township; and Mrs. Carr. The children of the fourth marriage are Nelson H., and Stella, the latter being a school teacher of Toledo.
Mrs. Carr was only four years old at the time of her mother's death, after which she was reared by her grandparents. Mr. and Mrs. William Huff. three miles west of Bowling Green. When her
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Mrs. Ann Carr
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grandmother died she became her grandfather's housekeeper, and cared for his home for three years, when he was again married, and she went to live in the family of Moses Lane, of Plain township, with whom she continued until her own marriage, which was celebrated at their home, January 30, 1875, she becoming the wife of John M. Carr, a native of Ashland, Ohio, and a farmer by occupation. In 1863, when eight- een years old, having been born May 21, 1845, he enlisted, in Plain township. this county, as a private of Company H, 67th O. V. I, with which he continued until the close of the war, and on one occasion he was wounded in the side. For two years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Carr resided on his father's farm, when the former purchased forty acres of land in Liberty township, on which his widow is still living. His death occurred January 2, 1883, and he was greatly mourned throughout the community. He was quite prominent in public affairs, and an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party. All who knew him respected himn, and he had a wide acquaintance.
William H. Carr, the eldest child of the fam- ily, was born March 21, 1876, and is now a pu- pil in the Valparaiso (Ind. ) Normal School, and expects to study medicine later. The other members of the family are Moses Lane, born July 3, 1877; Ida Gertrude, born September 24, 1878; Mary L., born March 19, 1880; Luke B., born September 27, ISSI: and John Mitchell, born June 9, 1883. Mrs. Carr is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has been a teacher in the Sunday-school for many years. She is a pleasant, affable and niost gracious lady, kindly and charitable, and her home is noted for its hospitality. She is also a lady of excellent business and executive ability, which she has demonstrated in the management of her property since her husband's death.
NATHAN WHISLER, the well-known tile man- ufacturer of Jerry City, was born June 22, 1846, in Franklin township, Richland Co., Ohio.
Hancock, Wood, and Crawford counties, giving to five of his sons 320 acres each, and to four daughters 160 acres each. He himself settled upon a farm of 400 acres in Richland county. which he improved in a handsome style, then quite unusual. His wife dying October 23, 1880, he sold his stock and implements and all but ninety acres of land, and lived in retirement un- til his own death, which occurred August 13. 1883. He was a believer in the doctrines of the . Dunkard denomination, and for many years ex- pounded the Gospel to the congregation. He was a man of great mental force and strong char- acter, and was held in high esteem wherever he was known.
The subject of this sketch, the youngest of the family, received a district-school education, and remained at home until his marriage, never working elsewhere for wages but one day, except when exchanging labor with neighbors. On Feb- ruary 9, 1867, he was married to Miss Margaret E. Hamnman, a near neighbor, who was born May 2, 1846. Her father, Samuel Hamman, was a native of Dauphin county, Penn., and mar- ried Hannah Kimmel, the daughter of William Kimmel, an early settler of Wayne county. The young couple went to housekeeping on a farm of 360 acres in Pleasant township, Hancock county. which Mr. Whisler set to work to redeem from its primitive state. He had to cut trees to make a way to the spot where he intended to build his log cabin, having selected the highest point on the property. This was a wise choice, for in June of the same year there came a rain which flooded the entire farin up to the door sills of his house, floating away all the chips from under it. After living on this farm for three years he traded it for a hotel property in McComb, " Travelers' Rest," which he conducted during the summer of 1870. Selling this, he rented a farm about three miles east of Columbus Grove, remaining there nearly two years. At his parents' request he re- turned home, and labored for his father for two years, when he bought twenty acres near Shen- andoah, Richland county, on which he lived for six years. During this time he engaged in tile making, in partnership with Wilson Starr. In 18So he sold his interest and moved to Bloom township, buying ten acres of land, where, in the following spring, he began the manufacture of brick, filling orders for several public buildings. In July, 1881, he began making tile on his farm. and after a few years he took a partner, Mr. Henry Hise, for a short time. On his withdrawa!
Jacob Whisler, his father, was a native of Berks county, Penn., born March 3, 1801, and by occupation was in early life a wagon-maker and later a farmer. He was married in his na- tive State to Miss Anna Funk, who was born August 27, 1802, and they had fifteen children, ten of whom lived to adult age. A self-made man, he realized the advantages of a good start in life for his family, and, when he had accumu- lated a few thousand dollars, he came to Ohio, : Mr. Whisler sold, to his son Jacob and J. L. and bought large tracts of government land in ! Shane, each a one-third interest; but he has 66
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since bought out the latter, leaving the business in the present firm name of Whisler & Son.
Mr. Whisler is regarded as one of the reliable business nien of Bloom township, a man whose word is as good as his note. His farm of fifty-six acres is kept in a fine state of improvement, and his buildings, which are all of his own construction, are tasteful and substantial. He and his wife are leading members of the Church of God, in which Mr. Whisler has been a ruling elder for ten years, and was deacon for three and a half years at Shenandoah. He also takes an active part in the Sunday-school. having been superintendent for several years. Five children were born to them, all of whom are living: Jacob, born in Pleasant township, Hancock county, is now his father's partner; Cora A., born in the same place, is now Mrs. J. L. Shane, of North Bal- timore; Allen, born in Allen county, is at home; Elva I., born in Richland county, married Riley Milbourn, of Cygnet; and Willard, born at Shenandoah, is at home. Politically Mr. Whisler is a Democrat; but he is not slavishly bound by party ties, voting for the best candidate wherever he inay be found. He is among the leaders in local affairs, taking especial interest in educa- tional matters, and has been school director six years, during three years of the time clerk of Dis- trict No. 5.
W. H. DOWNING. As one of the enterpris- ing and wide-awake business men of Trombley, Ohio, and one who, through his own efforts, has established himself among the prominent and successful men of the county, we take pleasure in giving the sketch of this gentleman. He comes from across the sea, his birth having occurred in Devonshire, England, August 25. 1851, and in the fall of 1869 he was brought by his parents, J. B. and Jane (Bickel) Downing, to the New World, sailing from Liverpool on the steamer "Siberian," which landed them eleven days later in Boston, Mass. Their destination was Mill- bury, Wood Co., Ohio, where the mother had a sister living-Mrs. John Bailey. The father was a well-to-do man in England, and on his arrival in this country had considerable money, which he invested in two farms, and he seemed to prosper up to the time of the death of his wife in 1873. That was the beginning of a series of misfortunes, and, through unprincipled and designing parties, he lost almost everything. He now makes his home in Gibsonburg, Sandusky Co., Ohio, with his daughter.
Our subject is the second child in the family of seven, four sons and three daughters, and,
strange as it may seem, this prosperous and suc- cessful merchant never attended school more than a year during his entire life, and that at such great intervals that it was scarcely any benefit to him. He has, however, become a well-informed mian by reading and observation in subsequent years. He was early inured to hard, labor and when only a boy would often do a inan's work. For a time after coming to the United States, he re- mained with his father, and, on starting out in life for himself, could only seek employment at man- ual labor on account of the lack of a good edu- cation. He ran a stationary engine for a while, and, after serving long enough for his efficiency and ability to become apparent, his employers --- Skidmore & Thatcher, lumbermen and stave manufacturers-made him foreman of their fac- tory at Latchie, Wood county. His eleven years service with that company speaks for liis faithful- ness, and in the fall of 1886 he came to Trom- bley, the following May opening a general store in a room [2 x 20 feet, on the site of his present block. It was an entirely new business to him; but here one of his strongest characteristics was manifested, that of adaption. By careful atten- tion he soon gained a thorough knowledge of it, and his future success was assured. From this beginning, with a small room and limited stock, he has built up a trade such as is enjoyed by few country stores in Wood county, and his goods are such as to merit a large patronage.
In Monroe, Mich .. October 4, 1876, Mr. Downing led to the marriage altar Miss Casstin Sprout, a native of Scott township, Sandusky Co., Ohio, and daughter of Samuel Sprout, who was born in Pennsylvania. They have no chil- dren of their own, but have given hoines to sey- eral at different times. Mr. Downing takes an active interest in local political affairs, and is a faithful supporter of the Republican party, while socially he is a member of White Swan Lodge No. 384, K. of P., of Cygnet, Ohio. While in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1874, he was the victim of a strange and unfortunate affair. Being inistaken for another from similarity in apparel. he was at- tacked with a club, and the wound inflicted ef- fected the sight of the right eye, so that in 1880 he was obliged to lose that organ, as from sym- pathy the other eye became affected.
CAPTAIN ARCHIE M. FASIG. one of Bloom- dale's leading and popular business men, was born in Ashiland, Olio, March 10, 1850, and is a son of Samuel and Lucinda Greenland, Fasts The father was a bricklayer, and in that itne became an extensive contractor; but later he
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became a preacher of the Baptist Church, and continued the work of the ministry for nearly thirty years. He is now living retired at Forest, Ohio. At Ashland, Ohio, he is engaged quite extensively in the marble business. In his family were the following children: Armenious, who died in Ashland; William B., a well-known horse- man of Cleveland, Ohio, having a national repu- tation as a breeder, judge and promoter, who was for years secretary of the Cleveland Driving Park Association, and instrumental in making that association foremost among those in the United States; D. D., who died in Ashland: Ella, who became the wife of Isaac Reed, and died in For- est, Ohio; Lewis, who also passed away in Ash- land; Charles, a horseman of Cridersville, Ohio; Emma, who became the wife of Oscar Smith, and died in Waynesfield, Auglaize Co., Ohio; Newton, who died in Ashland; and our subject. On ac- count of his strong Abolition views, the father joined the Republican party, and often raised his voice against slavery. Though no politician in the sense of office-seeking, few men were better versed on the political history of the United States than Mr. Fasig, he being perfectly familiar with all the old and important issues, their causes and advocates. At one time he was a great de- bater, and he has met many celebrities on polit- ical and religious questions. He is a man of broad, general information, and is still a great student.
The schools of Ashland, Ohio, furnished Archie M. Fasig his educational privileges, and on leaving home, at the age of nineteen years, he learned the bricklayer's trade. For twenty- five years he followed contracting in this work, being for some time in partnership with his father, and erected many public and school buildings in Hardin, Wyandot, Allen, Auglaize and Putnam counties, Ohio. In the fall of 1870 he was married near Wharton, Ohio, to Miss Marietta Clark, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a daughter of George and Martha (Randolph) Clark, the latter a relative of the cel- ebrated John Randolph. To them have been born two children-Walter S. and Cora B., both of whom are at home.
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