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 4
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A E Selway
909
WOOD COUNTY, OJIIO.
his family, and soon after (July 18, 1872) his wife died, her remains being interred at Fostoria. Five children were born of this union: (1) Will- iam C. now conducts the homestead for his father. He married Margaret Keefer, and has three children. (2) David died when nine months old. (3) Carrie B. married Chares Overholt, of Hancock county, and has four children. (4) Anna married George Rice, of Bloomdale, and has four children. (5) Jesse died at the age of eleven years.
On October 28, 1873, Mr. Linhart was mar- ried to his second wife, Miss Elizabeth McKee, a native of Allegheny county, Penn., and a daugh- ter of Robert McKee, of the same county, and soon afterward he moved to a farm of 110 acres, six iniles from Charlotte, Mich. In 1875 his father moved to Bloomdale, and Mr. Linhart bought the homestead, consisting of 163 acres of as good land as can be found, which he has ever since operated, living there until 1886, when he came to Bloomdale, leaving the active work of the farm to his eldest son. April 12, 1890, his second wife died, and January 12, 1892, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Logan, a daughter of James H. Logan, a prominent farmer of Bethel township, Allegheny county, Penn., and his wife, Matilda (Simmons) Logan.
Mr. Linhart has been a hard worker, and is still quite active, taking a prominent place in various lines of effort. He holds stock in the Bloomdale Creamery, and the Bloomdale Build- ing and Loan Association, and in public affairs has always exercised wide influence in a quiet way. He has been elected on the Republican ticket to various township offices, and was a mem- ber of the first city council of Bloomdale, serving two ternis. He is no office-seeker, but is always greatly interested in the success of the candidate of his choice. His friends are many, won to him by his own friendly and unassuming manners and sterling qualities. In the Lutheran Church, of which he and his wife are leading members, he has held many offices, and is now a trustee.
GEORGE H. BAKER, one of the leading citi- zens and self-made capitalists, of Risingsun, is still comparatively young; in fact is just entering upon the usual period of accumulation in the life of the average man, and his rapid rise from a clerkship to this present position in financial cir- cles is the result of rare business ability, atten- tiveness, and fair and honest methods with his patrons.
He was born March 14, 1858, in Jackson township, Seneca Co., Ohio, the second son and
third child of John and Louisa (Strouse) Baker. He was but a child, when his parents came to Wood county, and the first school that he at- tended was at Prairie Depot. At the age of fif- teen he entered the store of that old pioncer merchant, Addison Lansdale, at Prairie Depot. and here gained invaluable training in the busi- ness which he so successfully carried on in later years. His first wages were but little more than board and clothes, and after a year and a half he went home to the farm for a short time. His second clerkship was in the general store of Charles Bell, at Portage, Ohio, but owing to Mr. Bell's failure, he was there only one year. Another short siege at farm work for his father followed before he began clerking for A. F. Munn, of Weston, Ohio, where he remained some time, and his next work away from home was a brief period as a section hand on the C. H. & D. R. R. Soon after this experience he becan clerking for Wyman, North & Co., at Risingsun, and dur- ing his ten years of service in that capacity, he made friends and formed acquaintances upon which his later success as the head of the store was largely based -- a strong evidence of the esteem in which he was held even then. In July, 1887. he purchased the business at a cost of over $5, 000 payable in four years in installments, and he succeeded in making the store pay for itself in that time. Each year increased his trade, which became the largest of any store in the county in a town the size of Risingsun, and before he dis- posed of his business. in April, 1896. he had had . a career which has never been approached by any merchant in that place.
In addition to his mercantile enterprise Mr. Baker has been extensively interested in oil, being a member of nearly every local company. and of somne which are not local, and has probably the largest investments of any local producer of which Risingsun has a goodly number. He also conducts a coal business, of which some idea may be gained when it is mentioned that over 550 car loads were shipped during the seasons of 1895 and '96.
In 1885 Mr. Baker erected one of the best residences in Risingsun. His first wife, Miss Phoebe Winchell, daughter of L. C. and Jane (Baker) Winchell, was born June 17, 1865, in Scott township, Sandusky county. They had five children: Belle, Flo, Reed, Nina and Marie, all of whom are living except Flo, who met a tragic death at the age of six years, the result of her clothing catching fire. The mother of this little family departed this life September 23. 1893, while under medical treatment at Toledo. In June, 1895, Mr. Baker again entered the
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matrimonial state, his second wife being Miss Minnie Hodgeinan.
Politically Mr. Baker is a Democrat, but not a strict partisan, the fitness of the various candi- dates being always considered, and at times he has given his hearty support to a Republican. Al- though he is an active worker in local politics he has never been a politician in the sense which that word now conveys to the public. August 15, 1893, he was appointed postmaster at Rising- sun, and September 18. 1894, he was re-appoint- ed to that position. He was a charter member of Onward Lodge No. 329, K. of P., at Rising- sun, and was its first treasurer.
WILLIAM BOLLINGER, a leading citizen of Wood county, operates a good farm of eighty acres, in Section 12, Portage township. He came to the county in 1873 a poor man-poor in everything but pluck and indomitable will-power. He has met with serious reverses in his business career, suffered a great deal from fever and ague, which resulted disastrously to his financial inter- ests, but he commenced life on his present farm with renewed zeal. His sound judgment and shrewd management brought him success, and gave him an assured footing among the well-to-do farmers of the community.
Mr. Bollinger was born in York county, Penn., February 5, 1834, and is the second in a family of fifteen children, eight sons and seven daughters. His father, John Bollinger, was a millwright by trade. In the subscription schools our subject was educated, then learned the trade which his father followed. On June 5, 1862, in his native county, he married Lydia Stump, who was born in Maryland, January 4, 1841, and they have become the parents of the following chil- dren: Amelia, born April 28, 1863, in York county, Penn., was married to John Huber, of Montgomery township, Wood county, March 10, 1881; Oliver J., born July 29, 1865, died January 12, 1866; John, born October 19, 1866; Albenia, born August 2, 1868; William, born December 3, 1871, died in infancy; Barbara E., born March 5, 1873, married Frank A. Hastings, March 31, 1896; Elias, born September 16. 1874; and Jacob, born April 11, 1882.
On coming to Wood county, in 1873, Mr. Bollinger rented land for four years in Montgom- ery township, and then purchased his present place, which was covered with timber. For a time he made cross ties, which he would haul to Woodville, Ohio, and sell; but now devotes his time wholly to the cultivation of his land. He is straightforward and honorable in all his dealings;
but has lost considerable money through unprinci- pled men with whom he has had transactions. He casts his ballot with the Democratic party; and he and his wife attend the Dunkard Church.
JOSEPH HERRINGSHAW was born in Nordelph, County of Norfolk, England, November 19, 1841, and is a son of John and Mary Ann (Lyon) Her- ringshaw, the former of whom was a farmer and boatman in England. He was born in 1814, and died in 1861, leaving a widow and seven children, our subject being nineteen years old at the time, while the youngest child was but two years old. A brief record of the family is as follows: Ann married Thomas Harrison, also of England; Jo- seph comes next; John married Eliza Roush, of Sandusky county, Ohio; Saul married Eliza Wat- son, of London, England; Frederick married Beatrice Needham, of North Baltimore, Ohio; William married Mary Hough, of North Balti- more, Ohio; and Rebecca is at home taking care of her mother, who is now seventy-nine years old, having been born December 21, 1816, at Somerson, Huntingdonshire, England. She never remarried. When our subject was two years old the family removed to Stickney, Lincolnshire, England, where he attended a subscription school. When he was a lad of six his parents returned to Nordelph. where he completed his education, paying one penny per week for his tuition. In April, 1851, the family crossed the Atlantic to America, and after a voyage of twenty-nine days landed at New York, on the 15th of May. They then started by boat for Albany, and there some "sharpers " claimed that the father had not paid money enough for his passage, and withheld his luggage. Mr. Herringshaw then consulted the mayor, who sent an officer, and compelled the men to give up the goods. The family then pro- ceeded by canal boat to Buffalo, and for a year resided within eight miles of that city, the father working as a farm hand for $13 per month. He then went to Sandusky City, Ohio, and on to Bellevue, in which locality he again secured farin work. His next home was at Townsend, San- dusky Co., Ohio, where he remained until 1856, when he removed to Huron county. making his home near Hunt's Corners until 1860, spending the following year in Weston. In 1861 the family came to Liberty township, and bought eighty acres of land in the wilderness, in the southwest corner of the township, having Henry. Jackson and Milton in the other corners. At the north- east corner is a nice brick school house; at the southwest corner, a dry-goods store; on the south- east corner (in Henry township) is a store, the
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
place being known as Haney. Four of the family reside in Jackson, one in Liberty, and all own good farms.
In the various communities in which the fam- ily lived our subject attended school. He re- mained at home working on the farm until twenty-six years of age, when in Bowling Green, Ohio, June 6, 1867, he married Mary Ann Scott, who was born in the County of Norfolk, Eng- land, February 24, 1838, and is a daughter of Darius and Charlotte (Fletcher) Scott. Mrs. Herringshaw was in her sixteenth year when she came with her two sisters and brother to Amer- ica, on the sailing vessel "Woodcock," which aft- er a voyage of five weeks landed at New York. Her mother died in England when the daughter was only ten years old, and Mr. Scott came to this country three years before his children, es- tablishing a home for his family near Cleveland, Ohio. About 1860 they all came to Wood coun- ty, and he purchased a farm in Webster township, which he afterward sold, buying property in Lib- erty township. Later he owned another farm in Webster township, and afterward bought the "Ten Mile House," which he carried on until 1894, then sold, and is now living on a farm in Lucas county, Ohio. He has been three times married, and by the last union had eight chil- dren. Mrs. Herringshaw is one of six children by the first marriage, the others being: Sarah, wife of Jacob Grim, of Jackson township; Char- lotte, widow of Peter Marker, of Clay county, Iowa; Darius, who enlisted, in 1861, in Company K, 21st O. V. I., and was starved to death in the prison where he was incarcerated by the Reb- els; Susan (deceased), first married to James P. Daley, and after his death wedded Frank Pow- ers; and Levi, a soldier of the Civil war, who went from Iowa to California about 1891, and is now living at Oceanside, that State.
Upon their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Herring- shaw located in Jackson township, where for five years he rented a farm, and then purchased forty acres on Jackson Prairie, being the first to build on that prairie. He still owns his first farm, but since the spring of 1889 has resided at his pres- ent home, where he also owns forty acres of land, a fine residence, good barns and all the other accessories of a model farm of the nine- teenth century. He takes quite an active inter- est in politics, and supports the men and meas- ures of the Democratic party. He and his wife hold membership with the United Brethren Church, and he belongs to the I O. O. F. of Milton Center, and is a Master Mason, his lodge connections being at Deshler. In 1889 he re-
turned on a visit to his native land, also went to Ireland and France, and attended the World's Fair in Paris, returning to his home after an ab- sence of three months.
F. FAIRBANK. Among the active farmers and well-known citizens of Montgomery township, the gentleman whose name begins this sketch holds a prominent place. A native of Ohio, he was born in Medina county October 31, 1850, and belongs to a family noted for longevity, his great- grandfather having lived to the extreme age of one hundred years.
His father, J. M. Fairbank, was a native of Massachusetts, and was quite young when his fa- ther died. He was bronght to Ohio by his step- father, who located in the eastern part of the State, where he grew to manhood, and in Medina county married Miss Savina Bowman, who was born in that county, of Pennsylvania-Dutch ex- traction. He followed his trade of carpentering there until 1854, in that year removing to Section I, Montgomery township, Wood county, where he erected a sawmill which he operated for some time. Later he went to Sandusky county, and in 1872 located at Helena, where, although over seventy years of age, he still follows the car- penter's trade. He is entirely a self-made man, having, at the time of his marriage, only $6; but he now has a comfortable home, 160 acres of farming land, and money out at interest, all of which have been acquired through his own un- aided efforts and strict economy. The mother of our subject passed away long since, leaving five children-Lewis, of Madison township, Sandusky county; F. Fairbank, of this sketch; Minnie, wife of William Peck, of Scott township, Sandusky county; Charles, also of Madison township; and Christopher, of Helena, Ohio. An uncompro- mising Republican, the father has always taken a prominent part in political matters, and was once a candidate for county commissioner in Sandusky county; but as it was strongly Democratic he failed of election, though by only one vote, which plainly indicated his popularity. During the dark days of the Rebellion he enlisted in Coin - pany I, 72nd O. V. I., in 1861, and served for over three years. At Guntown he was taken prisoner, and held in captivity for nine months.
Our subject was only a child when brought to Wood county, and his education was such as could be obtained by a two-months' attendance during the year at the district schools, at first entering the " fractional school." As his help was needed upon the home farm, his educational privileges were necessarily limited. but his train -
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
ing at farm work was not so meagre. At the age of twenty years he started out as a farm hand.
In Montgomery township, on December 6. 1871, Mr. Fairbank was joined in wedlock with Miss Lucinda Hartman, who was born in Sec- tion 12, that township, October 31, 1851, and is the daughter of William and Esther (Butchel) Fairbank. They have become the parents of nine children, namcly: Grant, a carpenter, rc- siding at home; Nellie, widow of William Hol- comb, who was killed in the oil fields February 5, 1894: Tillie, now Mrs. David Williams, of Pemberville, Ohio; Eulo, Pearlie, Hattie, Hca- lon, and Frankie, all at home; and Milo, who
died in infancy. Mr. Fairbank began his domes- tic life upon his father-in-law's farm in Section 12, Montgomery township, but at the end of one year removed to his father's farm in Madison township, Sandusky county, which he operated in connection with his brother Lewis. Later he rented land in Scott township, that county, but on April 14, 1884, located upon his present farin in Section 10, Montgomery township, Wood county, making his home at first in a log house. In 1890, however, he erected his present excel- lent residence, and in 1894 built his barn, which is a substantial structure, 38 x 56 feet. Hc has made many other useful and valuable improve- ments upon his place, and ranks among the lead- ing agriculturists of the community. He casts his ballot in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, is now serving his second term as township trustee, and socially is a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows fraternity at Helena, Ohio.
ORLIN S. BURGESS, an enterprising and suc- cessful agriculturist of Webster township, was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, May 20, 1832. He is a descendant of Abrahamn Burgess, the third of the House of Burgess of England, who came with two brothers to this country in the " Mayflower," landing at Plymouth Rock in the year 1620.
Alvah Burgess, his father, who was a native of New York State, came to Ohio about 1830, and after short periods of residence in Ashtabula and Lorain counties, settled, in 1838, in Wood coun- ty, and entered eighty acres of land in Montgom- ery township, which he cleared and improved. He was an Old-line Whig in politics, and a con- sistent and faithful believer in the doctrines of the Disciples Church. He married Miss Betsey Frost, who was a native of Maine, and they had eight children, the youngest of whom died in in- fancy. Seven lived to adult age: William, Rus-
sell, John, Daniel, Bradley, Harriet, and Orlin S. (our subject), who is now the only survivor of the family.
Orlin S. Burgess began work on his own ac- count at the age of sixteen, renting fifty-five acres of land which he afterward bought. He has since made additions from time to time until he now owns 186 acres of the best land in Webster township, which he has improved according to modern methods. He is an extensive stock- raiser, and one of the first in the township to breed thorough-bred horses. Among the noted horses now in our subject's possession is . John Harper Longfellow," a dark bay with black points, weight 1, 300 pounds. Hc is a first-class race horse, having taken first premium and sweepstakes at the Northern State Fair at Cleve- land in 1879, and first premium at the State Fair at Toledo the same year. He also has three thorough-bred mares which have never been trained, but possess a good record. Of all his horscs he prizes "Longfellow" the most, and will keep him to the end of his natural life.
On October 12, 1853, Mr. Burgess was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Myers, a daugh- ter of Michael Myers, a prominent farmer of Freedom township. She is a native of Steuben- ville, Ohio, born February 9, 1834, and moved to New Rochester, Wood county, the same year. Six children were born of this union: Emily. the wife of James P. King; Mary, who died at the age of twenty-two; Fred, a successful stock- raiser and farmer in Webster township: Clay. who now has charge of the old homestead: Kitty Luella, the wife of W. D. Isman; and Celia, who died September 27, 1873, aged two years. Mr. Burgess is a Democrat in politics, but, although he takes an intelligent interest in all public move- ments, local, State or National, he has never en- gaged in the active work of his party. He is a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 123, F. & A. M .. of Perrysburg.
FRED M. SMITH, one of the most progressive and scientific of our agricultural workers, is a leading citizen of Montgomery township, and a veteran of the Civil war.
Patriotism flows in his blood as a heritage from a hero of the Revolutionary war. his grand- father. Conrad Smith, a native of New York. having served eight years on special duty. He was at Valley Forge during the historic winter. and carried to his grave two bullets, one British and the other Indian. The Government gave him 160 acres of land in western Pennsylvania. but his last years were spent in Portage courity.
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O. S. Burgess
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
918
Olio, where he died at the age of fifty-five. He teared a large family, among whom was a son Michael, our subject's father, who was born in Pennsylvania February 22. 1800, and was only a child when his parents moved to eastern Ohio. As may be supposed his educational opportu- nities there werenot of the best. He was married in eastern Ohio to Miss Elizabeth Hemminger, who was born in Pennsylvania November 19, 1809, daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth (Yunk- man) Hemminger. In the latter part of the " thirties " Michael Smith came to Wood county, where he entered forty acres in Section 5, Mont- gomery township, the last entry in the section. The land was in its wild state, and he built a log house and lived through the usual experiences of a pioneer farmer. He was small of stature, but was robust and free from ills, and when sixty-five years old walked to Prairie Depot to vote; he was a Democrat, and never failed to support his convictions, but he was not an office seeker. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church. His death occurred April 15, 1869, and she survived him until May 27, 1880, their mor- tal remains being consigned to earth near Brad- ner, Ohio. They had six children, of whom Conrad enlisted in Company A, 100th O. V. J., and died at Andersonville in May, 1854; Moses resides in Portage township; Ann married Clark Flaugher, and died in Bloom township; Fred M. is the subject of this sketch; Aaron is a resident of Portage township.
Mr. Smith was born at the old farm Decem- ber 4, 1844, and during his lifetime that locality has undergone a wonderful transformation. The old log school house, known as the " Hill School house," was the first that he attended, and his own inferior opportunities have made him desire better advantages for the children of this day. His time was spent at home assisting upon the farm until November 19, 1861, when he enlisted in Company C, 72nd O. V. I., under Capt. Snyder. His first battle was at Shiloh, and he took part in all the engagements of his regiment until he was captured, at Guntown, Miss., June 12, 1864; he was sent to various prisons-Mo- bile, Andersonville, where he contracted gan- grene, and Milan, Ga .- and in the latter part of November was paroled at Savannah. In De- cember he returned home on furlough, and was discharged February 14, 1865, from further serv- ice. He was wounded at Vicksburg, and lost siglit of his left eve. After his return home he worked for his father as his health permitted, and after the death of his parents he bought the in- terests of the other heirs, and now owns the
original homestead. In all, he lias 100 acres in Montgomery and Freedom townships, and as a farmer he is noted for his good business qualities and systematic management, while his neatness and love of order are shown in every part of his estate. He is gifted with fine mechanical abil- ity, and has worked at various trades, including that of painting, and he also clerked for one year at Pemberville, Ohio.
On March 2, 1880, Mr. Smith was married in Montgomery township to Miss Eliza Adams, a native of Sandusky county, Ohio, who was born January 22, 1864, the daughter of William and Christina (Smith) Adams. Four children brightened their comfortable home-Chester F., born November 20, 1880; Elsie E., June 9, 1882; Chauncey A .. January 11, 1887; and Archie F .. January 19, 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are not Church members, but they contribute to the support of different denominations, and take a generous interest in all progressive movements. Possessing a keen and active intellect, and a good memory, Mr. Smith has made himself familiar with much good literature, and is well-informed upon the questions of the day. While in Ander- sonville prison he voted for Abraham Lincoln, and has ever since been a Republican of the stanchest sort, but, he has always declined any overtures looking to official position. He is an active member of the I. O. O. F.
THOMAS C. BRANDEBERRY, a most genial and companionable gentleman, has made his home in Bloom township since pioneer days. He at once made his way into the esteem and confidence of the people of his locality, and is numbered among the most valued citizens. He was born in what was then Richland county, but is now Ashland county, Ohio, October 17, 1825, and is a son of Philip and Catherine (Zimmerman) Brandeberry, the former a native of Pennsyl- vania, and the latter of Virginia. They were married before the war of 1812, in which the father participated, being in the engagements at Fort Meigs. They came to Ohio in the early part of the present century, locating first in Co- lumibiana county, later going to Richland county, and on August 9, 1839, arrived in Wood county, making a settlement in the geographical center of Perry township. The township elections were often held in their pioneer home. The father later purchased three eighty-acre tracts of land in Bloom township, which he subsequently gave to three of his sons, Thomas C. is one of the family of nine children, the others being Betsy. who became the wife of John Chilcote, and died
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