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 39
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ROBERT P. WILLCOX. The calling of a farm- er, while not so prominent in the estimation of the public generally as that of a lawyer or physi- cian, or perhaps a merchant, is really the most necessary to the growth and material advance- ment of any county or State. The farmers are the bone and sinew of the country, and it is a vo- cation of which any man may be proud, especially when he has made a success of it, as has been the case with the man whose name opens this sketch and who is recognized as one of the most pro- gressive and prosperous agriculturists of Wood county. Mr. Willcox makes his home in Plain township, near Bowling Green, where he carries on general farming. raising and breeding stock, and, as a specialty, has devoted much time and attention to the culture of potatoes. Of these. during the past year he has grown sixteen varieties, and has been most successful in his experiments with them. He sends all over the country to pro- cure the newest varieties, which he tests, and those which have special merit he offers for seed purposes. The soil is naturally adapted to grow- ing potatoes of splendid quality, and the yield averages from ;o to 225 bushels per acre. He plants and harvests the crop by machinery. thereby saving much hard labor. Through his ex- tensive advertising in the leading farm journals. he has become widely known in this branch of agriculture, and. although one of the youngest farmers in the county, has already made a compe- tence by good management and close application to business.
Mr. Willcox was born in Stark county, Ht .. August 29, 1865. but spent his youth on a farn! near Milan, Eric Co., Ohio, to which his father It. I removed. He was educated in the cheret school and the West in Reserve Nagrad School. at Milan, which latter institution he attended for two years, graduating in the Business course.
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He learned the trade of a printer, which he fol- lowed for about three years, until poor health forced him to relinquish that calling. In 1887 he came to Wood county, to take charge of his father's estate, and, as he is a man of advanced ideas, and one who employs the newest and most approved methods in everything, he has made, as has already been stated, a great success of his undertakings. Mr. Willcox is an extensive reader, and is thoroughly well-informed, not only on the general news of the day, but on all matters relating to agriculture. In politics he is a Demo- crat, but has, so far, been too busily engaged with his own affairs to care for office holding or take a prominent part in party motives. He was married September 26, 1888, to Miss Rose Hart, who was born July 26, 1870, and died June 12, 1894, leaving one child, Sumner Hart.
The parents of our subject are Robert N. and Elizabeth (Root) Willcox, the former born July 20, 1831, in Ledyard, Conn. When twenty years old he went to California where he remained nine years, and on his return located at Toulon. Ill., where he farined two and one-half years. He then sold out and removed to Ohio, settling in Wood county where he purchased 320 acres of land. He subsequently went to Erie county, Ohio, where he and his wife are now living. He is a wealthy farmer, and a prominent man in his community. In politics he is a Democrat, and in religious belief is a Spiritualist. His father was Robert Willcox, who lived and died in Connect- icut.
The maternal grandfather of our subject, Perry Root, was born in Hebron, Conn. He re- moved to Erie county, Ohio, and was killed by the kick of a horse when he was nearly fifty-five years old. He was a man widely and favorably known, and by careful management became one of the most substantial business men of Erie county.
PETER ZIEGLER, a venerable and highly- respected resident of Bloomdale, was born Octo- ber 11, 1806, in Chestnut Hill township, North- ampton Co., Pennsylvania.
lough from Philadelphia, where he was stationed. About the year IS17 the family removed to Co- lumbia county, Penn., and in 1831 came to Ash- land (then Richland) county, Ohio, settling in Orange township, on a tract of wild land. which they improved and resided upon during the rest of their lives, dying at a good old age. They were devout members of the Old-School Presby- terian Church, and the father, who took an in- terest in all public questions of the day, was a Democrat in politics. They had eight children: Ann, deceased wife of Jacob Shopbell. of Ash- land county: Peter, our subject; David, who died in Illinois; Samuel, who died in Fostoria; Cath- erine (deceased). formerly the wife of Andrew Johns; Elizabeth, the widow of Adam Baum, of Ashland; Mary, the wife of Levi McCauley, of Ashland; and Sarah (deceased), who married Michael Ohl, of Ashland county.
Mr. Ziegler was reared upon a farin, and re- ceived such educational advantages as the neigh- boring schools afforded. Until he was twelve years old he attended a Dutch school, and, when the removal of the family to Columbia county placed him suddenly in a school where English was spoken exclusively. he was badly handicapped, as he could not then speak a word of that lan- guage.
On January 1, 1830, he was married in Colum- bia county, Penn., to Miss Sarah Fullmer, who was born February 1, 1811, daughter of John and Hannah (Gardner) Fullmer, early settlers in that locality, who in later years removed to Ashland county, Ohio, where they died well advanced in years. Mr. Ziegler had but little of this world's goods at the time of his marriage, a horse, colt and $100 in money being the sum total of his gains so far. He rented a farm for a time and in April. 1834. he brought his wife and three chil- dren-Caroline, John, and Daniel-to Orange township, Richland (now Ashland) Co., Ohio, traveling for fourteen days in a covered wagon Tavern keepers in those times kept houses for the convenience of movers, who carried their bedding and cooked their own food. He traded one of his best horses for forty acres of new land. a cabin 16x16, and a small garden spot. In June, 1852, he bought eighty acres in Bloom township, to which he removed in September of that year, adding eighty acres a few months later. He now owns 192 acres of land, much of it being valuable oil property. In December. 1887. he moved to Bloomdale to enjoy in quiet the fruits of his previous years of toil, and here his wife. who had been a faithful helpineet in all his efforts.
He is of German descent, his grandfather, Peter Ziegler, having come from the Fatherland during the Revolutionary war to make his home in Bucks county, Penn. He reared a large family, among whom was Jacob Ziegler, our subject's father, who married Elizabeth Savers, a native of Northampton county, and settled upon a farm there. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his son Peter, then a boy of six, has a distinct recollection of his return home on fur- . passed to her long rest November 6, 1892. it
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the age of eighty-two years, after sixty-two years, ten months and five days of married life. Both had been members of the Presbyterian Church from childhood. Mrs. Ziegler was robust and act- ive up to a few weeks before her death from heart disease, doing all her own housework. They had eleven children, whose names and dates of birth, etc., are as follows: Caroline, Septem- ber 23, 1830, married John A. Simon, and died in Bloom township; John, December 4, 1831, is a farmer in Kansas; Daniel, July 19, 1833, lives in Putnam county; Catherine, February 23, 1835, is the widow of William Leathers, who was killed May 7, 1872, in a gristmill at Eagleville, and she now lives with her father; Hannah, February 3, 1837, is the widow of Isaac Fellers, of Findlay: Jacob, January 1, 1839, lives in Fulton county, Ill. ; Elizabeth, March 21, 1845, is the widow of Samuel Heaten, and lives in Eagleville; Sarah, June 17, 1844, is now Mrs. George Brownheller, of Bloom township; Peter, January 4, 1847, lives in Lincoln Center, Kans. ; Emanuel, Octo- ber 6, 1850, is a prominent farmer of Bloom township; and Adaline, March 26, 1853, died at the age of twenty-two. These children have done credit to their parents, all having become good and prosperous citizens. "Uncle Peter " has worked hard for his success, and in early days, when other farmers were enjoying the fire- side in winter, he would be hauling merchandise to and from Fostoria, for the old pioneer mer- chant, James M. Bronson, of Eagleville, earning many dollars in this way. He is still in fine health, and retains his faculties wonderfully, his memory being remarkable, and, as he is a great reader, he is well-informed on the questions of the time. He has been a Democrat from the time of Andrew Jackson, casting a vote for his party at every election, township, county, State and National. He never aspired to office, pre- ferring to give his attention to his own business, but he has held some minor township offices, and has taken especial interest in the improvement of the schools.
WV. G. CONKEY, a prominent and representa- tive farmer of Liberty township, residing in Sec- tion 34, located thereon in ISSo, at which time he came to the county from Bluffton, Allen Co., Ohio. The place of his nativity is Van Buren county, Mich., where his birth took place on the 27th of March, 1853, and he is a son of George V. and Anna Halstead, Conkey, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Michigan. They were married iu Van Buren county, and there the father engaged in farming until his re-
moval to Eagle Center, Hancock Co., Ohio, in 1861, where he carried on a cooper shop for some years. The inother of our subject died in 1857, leaving the following named children: Mrs. Rosana King, of Berrien county, Mich. : Mrs. Betsy Ruggles, of Stark county, Ohio; Mrs. Chloe Hall, of Columbus, Ohio; Shepherd. of Tennessee; Leonard Conkey, of Grand Rapids, Mich. ; W. G., of this review; and G. V., of Cal- houn county. Mich. At Eagle Center, in I85s. the father was again married, his second union be- ing with Elizabeth Bender, by whom he had two children-Mrs. Anna Green, of Hancock county. Ohio; and John, who was accidentally killed at the age of eight years. In 1869, Mr. Conkey took up his residence at Bluffton, Allen Co .. Ohio, where he departed this life in 1891, but his wife still makes her home there.
The educational advantages which our sub- ject received were such as were afforded by the common schools of Van Buren county, Mich .. and at the age of sixteen he accompanied his father to Allen county, where he remained until becoming a resident of Wood county. In Lib- erty township, in 1877, he was united in mar- riage with Minerva Stockwell, who was born in Hancock county, and is a daughter of George and Nancy Stockwell, natives of New York. At a very early day they became residents of Han- cock county, where their deaths occurred.
As before mentioned, Mr. Conkey came to Liberty township in ISSo, and two years later purchased his present farm, which was then but partially improved, but now yields to the owner bountiful returns for the care and labor he be- stows upon it. He devotes his time and atten- tion to general farming, and for nine successive years he has been teaming for the Ohio Oil Co. : he has two good oil wells upon his place, which add materially to his income. Seven children have come to brighten the home of our subject and his excellent wife, who, in order of birth, are as follows: Frank, Rosana, John, Sadie, Belle. William and Ella.
Mr. Conkey takes a leading and active part in the welfare of his adopted county; has been for six years one of the trustees of Liberty town- ship; for eleven years has been a member of the school board, and has also held the office of con- stable. In his political views he is an ardeut Democrat, while religionsly he holds to the futh of the Methodist Episcopal Church, attending services at South Liberty. He takes quite .I prominent part in civic societies, belonging to Vitas Lodge No. 662, I. O. O. F., of Jerry Cits. Wood county; Enterprise Encampment No. 221.
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of Milton Center; and the Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 553, at Wingston, Ohio.
DAVID GUNDER, who, for the past twenty years, has made his home in Portage township. is a native of Pennsylvania, born December 22, 1838, in Dauphin county, son of Isaac and Susan (Heller) Gunder, who were farming people of Dutch and Scotch ancestry.
The parents of our subject removed from Dauphin county to Franklin county, Penn .. and in 1849 came to Ohio, locating first in Crawford county, where Mrs. Gunder's parents lived. In the spring of 1850 they settled in Perry town- ship, Wood county, where Mr. Gunder had pur- chased eighty acres of land, in its primitive con- dition, and there they made a permanent home. He became prosperous, but during his later years was unfortunate in losing his property through going bail for friends, and our subject provided a comfortable home for his parents during their declining years. They now rest in the cemetery at West Millgrove. They reared a large family. of whom, Sarah married Joshua Slorp, and died in Crawford county, Ohio; Eliza, who is unmar- ried, is living in Perrysburg; Daniel is a resident of East Tennessee; Catherine is the wife of Den- nis Shinew, of Portage; Isaac lives in Michigan; David is the subject of these lines: John lives in Wood county; Solomon became a member of the 49th O. V. I., and was killed at the battle of Missionary Ridge; Rebecca died at the age of seventeen years; Susan is the wife of Mel War- ren, of Richland county, Ohio; Samuel is a resi- dent. of West Millgrove, Ohio; Benjamin lives in Perrysburg.
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Our subject was about twelve years old when the family settled in Wood county, and he at- tended school only one winter here. In addition to the ordinary disadvantages which the youth of that day experienced in acquiring even an ordi- nary education, he was hampered by defective eyesight, and also suffered from the fever and ague, so common in this section when the region was little more than a swamp. When fifteen years old he commenced to work for other farmers, and he also engaged in different lines of work, being employed in a shingle mill for a time, working with the surveying corps on the Daytou & Michigan railway, between Perrysburg & Toledo, and was also employed at grading. In March, 1859, he was married, in Montgomery township, Wood county, to Miss Elizabeth Clemens, who was born in Loudon township, Seneca county. daughter of Daniel Clemens, a farmer. The young couple lived with his parents for a short
time, and after that lived on rented land in various places in Perry township, Wood county. and in Jackson township. Seneca county, in the latter place renting one farm of Dr. R. C. Caples, of Fostoria, Ohio, for twelve years. In February, 1875, Mr. Gunder removed his family to their present home in Portage township, Wood county, which comprises eighty acres of good land in Section 24, but which at that time was in its primitive condition, not even a building standing on the place. But since the has conducted the place it has changed materially, buildings and fences have been erected, and he has made a fine home for himself and family by incessant hard work. He is a self-made man in the strictest sense of the word, and is respected by all who know him for his industry and integrity. Mr. Gunder has witnessed the transformation of this entire section of Ohio, for when they came here the country was still a forest, and his father's family made the entire trip from Pennsylvania to Crawford county, Ohio, and from Crawford county to Wood county, in a large covered wagon drawn by four horses.
Mr. and Mrs. Gunder are the parents of two children-John, who is a carpenter, and Harry S., both living at home. Our subject and his wife are both members of the U. B. Church. and in politics he is a stanch Democrat. He is a regu- lar voter, but aside from that takes no active part in public affairs.
SAMUEL MOREHOUSE belongs to one of the pioneer families of Wood county, and was born in Milton township, August 7, 1857. His father. Savenus Morehouse. was born in Paulding county, Ohio, but the grandfather was a native of Penn- sylvania; the former married Cynthia Fuller, and they became parents of the following named children -- Leonard, a leading farmer of Milton township: Mary, wife of George Brant, of To- ledo, Ohio: Silas, of Milton township: S. Jane. wife of John Finney, of Jackson township: Sam- uel, a farmer of Milton township: Rosina, wife of Wert Williams, of Jackson township; Anna, who died at the age of four years; and Ira, who died while serving in the Union army as a member of Company I, 68th O. V. I. The father, who was born July 1. 1816, died April 11, 1895, and the mother, who was born April 6, 1820, died Feb- ruary 22, 1894.
Our subject was reared on the old home farm. and at the age of eighteen started out to make his own living, being employed is a farth hand at pi per day. In iszo he began tarnung with his brother Leonard, and the business relations
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between them still exist. He is a man of ex- : ellent business ability, enterprising and indus- :rions, and the neat and thrifty appearance of his lind indicates his careful supervision.
Mr. Morehouse was married in Milton town- ship, August 4, 1887, to Miss Annie Penterburg, a native of this locality, born December 17, 1869. The children that grace this union are: Nellie May, born March 26, 1889; Pearl, born January 29, 1891; Earl Wayne, born January 7, 1893; and Hazel, born December 29, 1894. Mr. Morehouse is a Republican in politics, and is deeply interested in the growth and success of his party. Socially. he is connected with the Odd Fellows Lodge of Milton Center.
It will be interesting in this connection to note something more of the brother with which Mr. Morehouse is in business. Leonard Morehouse is also a native of Milton township, his birth hav- ing occurred December 18, 1846. He is indebt- ed to the common schools for his educational privileges; at the age of fourteen years he began to earn his own living by working as a farm hand, a pursuit which he followed until twenty-eight years of age. During the war he manifested his loyalty to the government by enlisting in Com- pany I, 144th O. V. I .. and continuing in the service until honorably discharged in September, 1864. On his return he resumed work as a farm hand, being thus employed until 1875, when he purchased forty acres of his present farm. Now, in connection with his brother, he owns and op- erates 120 acres, and the two gentlemen are numbered among the leading agriculturists of the community. His political support is also given the Republican party. Socially he is a member of the I. O. O. F., and the G. A. R. Post at Weston.
ADAM BEIL, one of the leading citizens of Middleton township, was born March 6, 1845. in Germany. His father, Martin Beil, followed the occupation of a farmer, married Fraulein Lena Winter, and reared a family of four chil- dren: Lizzie, the wife of John Weih !; Adam, our subject; Rena, deceased, formerly the wife of Fred Brand: and Conrad, a farmer of Wash- ington township.
Mr. Beil came to America in 1860, having, at the age of fifteen, already acquired a fair edu- cation in the schools of his native place, and learned the details of farmi work under his father's guidance. For four years he worked in Huron county as a farm laborer, and then rented a farm there, which he kept for three years. It 1868 he came to Wood county and bought forty , New York. There he worked for an nucle for
acres of land near Haskins, to which he has added as time passed, until he now owns 120 acres, all under improvement, with ditching, til- ing, comfortable barns and a fine dwelling house. He is a man of good business judgment and great enterprise, and he gives much attention to the breeding of blooded stock. His success is due to hard work and wise management, as he had to take his own way from the time he left the Fatherland. He was married in Middleton town- ship in 1872 to his first wife, Miss Louisa Bishop. by whom he had six children: Lizzie, who mar- ried Fred Dower, a farmer in Middleton town- ship; August, a farmer on the homestead; Julia, Frederick, and Edie, who are at home, and Louisa, who died in childhood. Mrs. Beit died in 1883, and our subject was married in 1884 to Miss Alice Heeter. One child was born of this union, Philipina. Mr. Beil's father died in Ger- many, and the widowed mother came to this country to reside with our subject, and died at his home in 1884.
In politics Mr. Beil is a Republican, and he possesses great influence in local affairs. For six years he has been a school director, and a member of the township board, and he is now serving his fourth term as township trustec. He gives to the discharge of every official duty the same faithful industry which has brought him success in other lines, and he enjoys the complete confidence of the community. He is a member of the German Reformed Church, of which he is trustee and elder, and he has been for many . years teacher in the Sunday-school.
ROBERT PICKERING. Of the worthy citizens that England has furnished to Wood county none are more deserving of representation in this his- tory than the gentleman whose name begins this sketch. A native of Yorkshire, England, he was born December 18, 1824, and is a son of Joseph and Jennie (Widdle; Pickering. natives of England, in which country they spent their entire lives. Their family numbered nine children.
From early life our subject has been depend- ent upon his own resources, and whatever success he has achieved is due entirely to his own efforts. When a boy of only eight summers he began earning his living by caring for sheep on a form In return he received his board and clothing. After two years thus passed he worked as a la- borer for small wages, but, believing he conkl bet- ter his financial condition in America, he, mn 1850, took passage on a sailing vessel, which was hed anchor at Liverpool, and six weeks later reached
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four years. He afterward came to Ohio, locating in Monroeville, Huron county, in 1854; but, in a short time, with two of his countrymen, he came to Wood county, locating in Middleton township, where together they purchased 160 acres of land. This they cleared and then divided, and upon his portion our subject erected a comfortable dwell- ing, good barns and other necessary buildings. He has also tiled the place, and now has a valu- able and richly cultivated tract, to which he has also added forty acres, making this one of the most desirable farms of the neighborhood.
In 1864 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Pickering and Mrs. Polly A. Duncan, who was born in New York, in 1835. They have four children-Mary B., wife of Andrew Knauss, a farmer of Middleton township; Robert L .. who farms a part of the homestead; Mertie, wife of Perry Pultz, an agriculturist; and Estella, who married J. Hires, a laborer, and to them was born a daughter, and then the mother died of con- sumption at the age, of twenty-three years. The parents hold membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, Mr. Pickering is a Republican, and has served as supervisor one term. He has led a busy and useful life, and his record is a most creditable one, for he has worked his way steadily upward from a humble position to one of affluence. Such a record is well worthy of emulation.
JAMES GIBSON. Prominent among the more intelligent, active and enterprising citizens of Troy township, is the gentleman whose name in- troduces this biography. His reputation for integrity and industry is second to none in the county, and he is held in high regard by all who know him. He now owns the old homestead of the family, which comprises 162 acres of land, and thereon has made his home some forty-six years. The premises are kept in good order, and invariably attract the attention of the traveler through this region as the home of plenty.
Our subject was born in Genesee county. Mich., in 1847, and is a son of David and Abigail (Dilly) Gibson. The father was born and reared near Dundee, Scotland, and when about thirty years of age left his native land for the New World. On arriving in New York he went to Michigan, and in Genesee county operated a farm until coming, in 1850, to Wood county, where he parchased a partially-improved farm of 122 acres, on which stood a log house. In Genesee county he had married, and on coming to this country he located upon this land, which he cleared and cultivated, erecting thereon a good
frame dwelling. On that farm he made his home until 1875, when he removed to East Toledo. Ohio, where he departed this life in I88 ;: his wife died very suddenly in Jamestown, Penn .. in 1882. In their family were the following chil- dren: Mrs. Sarah Dennison, of Toledo, Ohio: Stephen, deceased: James, subject of this sketch: May, who makes her home in East Toledo, Ohio; and David, deceased.
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