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 45
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first of the American line settled in Union county, Pennsylvania.
John Heeter, our subject's father, was born in ISII, in Union county, Penn., and in early life moved to Seneca county, Ohio, where he engaged in clearing and cultivating his farm of 160 acres. He was married there to Miss Elizabeth Clay, and reared a family of nine children: Isaac, a farmer in Nebraska; Sarah, the wife of James South, of Henry county, Ohio; John, a veteran of the Civil war, now a resident of Henry county; David and Jacob, deceased; William, a soldier in the Civil war, now deceased; Perry, our subject; Lovina, the wife of Isaac T. Bisher, a veteran of the war; and Lizzie, who married S. R. Barton, of Grand Rapids township. Our subject's father moved to Williams county, Ohio, in 1850, and bought 160 acres of timber land, improved and cultivated it until 1857, when he went to Iowa, and purchased 240 acres; this he lost through some defect in the title, and in 1859 he came to Wood county, a poor man. He rented a farm, and, by careful management, in a few years was able to buy a good eighty-acre farm in Wood county, near Grand Rapids, Ohio. In 1871, he sold this farm, and returned to Iowa, where he died in 1879, followed January 12, 1881, by his wife.
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Perry Heeter attended the country schools of Seneca and Wood counties during his boyhood, and worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-five years old. On October 7, 1869, he was married to Miss Mary M. Kerr, a lady of fine mental powers and generous culture, who had been for four years a teacher in Grand Rapids and Weston townships. She was a daughter of Jesse Kerr, a prominent resident of Weston township, and a sister of William B., Rev. James E., and Rev. Joseph W. Kerr. Two children were born of this marriage: (1) J. Eldon, February 28, 1872, who attended the district schools of Grand Rapids township when a boy, and at the age of thirteen entered the High School of Grand Rap- ids, where he graduated with honor, after which he taught school for two years. He then entered college at Monmouth, Ill., striving earnestly for the education he so much desired. He afterward went to Ada, Ohio, and attended the Students Normal Music School, of which he was. business manager, for one year; and then completed both scientific and classical courses. He is at present a student of theology at Xenia, Ohio. (2) A younger child-Lura M. - born January 15, 1876, died in 1878.
Mr. Heeter and his wife began their married life with but little worldly wealth; but, by hard work and careful management, saved enough to
buy timber land, which he traded for forty acres of improved land, on which he lived some years. He sold this and bought eighty acres near Grand Rapids, known as the J. M. Carter farm, which he has brought to a high state of improve- ment. Aside from providing a comfortable home for old-age, they have been able to educate their son, J. Eldon, thus proving that industry can still win prizes in the business arena. Mr. Heeter and wife have been inembers of the United Pres- byterian Church for over a quarter of a century. He is Republican in politics, and holds an influ- ential place among the local leaders; takes especial interest in educational movements; has been mem- ber .of the township board of education of which he has been president; and he is a good citizen and neighbor.
WILBUR D. MUDGE conducts one of the largest and best appointed drug stores in Wood county. He was born February 7, 1860, in Tiffin, Ohio, and, his mother dying when he was eighteen months old, he went to live with his maternal grandparents at Milan, who were re- tired farming people. Here he passed his youth and early manhood, attending the district schools in his earlier years, and later taking a two-years' course at the Delaware (Ohio) University, which he completed in 1879. He then came to Weston and engaged in the drug business, accepting a position as clerk with the firm of Beverstock & Smith. After remaining with them one year. he was appointed deputy postmaster, in which capacity he served one year. He then bought out Mr. Beverstock, and for two years thereafter the store was conducted under the firm name of Smith & Mudge, the latter continuing the busi- ness alone from that time until 1890.
In April, 1890, Mr. Mudge sold the store and accepted the position of assistant cashier with the Exchange Banking Company, in which he was a stockholder and director. This position he held some three years, and then again entered the drug business, in which he has since continued. He bought the property which he now occupies in 1890, and has fitted it up until it now is one of the finest drug stores in the county.
On January 4, 1892, Mr. Mudge was marnie i to Miss Ida B. Roscoe, and they have one child. Wilbur D., Jr. Mrs. Mudge is the daughter .. Levi and Julia (Gibbs) Roscoe, of Milan, both of whom were natives of Ohio, the mother born in Milan, where the father is a farmer and trust grower. He served as a soldier in the Civil war They had three children: Ida B., born Match 26, 1861; Cora M., now Mrs. M. H. Bassett. ot
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Milan; and Emma, who died when twelve years old.
Mr. Mudge holds a prominent position in fra- ternal circles. He is an active member of the F. & A. M., of Weston; is affiliated with Kenil- worth Lodge No. 340, K. of P., Weston, in which he has passed all the chairs (he was a represent- ative to the Grand Lodge in 1895 and 1896); with the I. O. O. F. in all its branches, in which he has also passed all the chairs (he is a repre- rentative to the Grand Encampment at Marion, Ohio, this year); and with the K. O. T. M., Weston. He has held various local positions of trust, having served two years as member of the village council, and two years as township treas- urer. In political sentiment he is a Republican, and in religious connection a member of the Pres- byterian Church.
Rev. John A. Mudge, father of our subject, was a prominent M. E. divine in his day, being on the circuit for many years. He preached in Cleveland, Norwalk, Sandusky, Mansfield, Elyria, and many other citics in northern Ohio, and was secretary of the Northern Ohio Conference for many years. He was born October 27, 1829, in New Hampshire, of old Yankee stock, and died on his forty-fourth birthday. He located in Green Springs, Ohio. Like his ancestors, he was a Republican. On September 7, 1858, he mar- ried Miss Hannah D. Beverstock, who was born in Ridgefield township, Huron Co., Ohio, Sep- tember 26, 1835, and died September 26, 1861, at Monroeville. Wilbur D. was their only child. Mrs. Mudge was a daughter of Volney L. and Mary L. Beverstock, whose other children were: Barney S. ; Harriet L., who died November 28, 1880; Edwin J. ; Mary U. Harrict L. was married to Henry C. Shattuck November 5, 1868, and had three children: Harry, Ralph, and Charlie. Mary U., born January 9, 1850, was married November 26, 1873, to George A. Dimon; they have had five children - James V., Thomas B., Harry, Ralph, and Mary U., deceased. The first child, Barney S .. born February 4, 1839, was married December 26, 1860, to Miss Eliza A. Husted, of Monrocville; their children were John V., Kate E .. Bertha, Frank, and an infant, who died at Weston April 20, 1894. Edwin ]., a real-estate dealer in Washington, D. C., was born July 4, 1841, and in 1867 was united in marriage with Miss Maggie F. Bell, of Piedmont, W. Va. ; they have one daughter, Pearl.
1818. His grandfather, who was of German de- scent, was born in New Jersey, and for some years lived in Berks county, Penn., coming from there to Ross county, Ohio, where he carried on farming the remainder of his life. The following record is given of the children of this early pio- neer: Peter, was a farmer in Ross county, Ohio, where he served many years as justice of the peace, and where he died: Daniel died in or near Ada, Ohio, on a farm; George was a farmer in the eastern part of Ohio, and died there; Henry was a farmer in Ross county, and died there: Jacob was the father of our subject. All these children were born in Pennsylvania, and came to Ross. county at an early day, when Chillicothe was the State capital.
Jacob Frederick was married in Pennsylvania to Miss Elizabeth Betzer, a native of that State. and of Dutch extraction. After removing to Ross county, he carried on farming there until 1837. when he took up his residence in Seneca county. where his death occurred in 1840, when he was about sixty-two years of age; his wife died in 1869, aged eighty years. This estimable couple were consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, and were highly respected by all who knew them. Their children were as follows: William died in Seneca county; Peter died in Piqua, Ohio; John died early in life: Jacob died in Ross county; Solomon died in Wood county. in 1895: Anthony lives in Bloom township. Wood county; J. S. is the subject of this sketch: Daniel was a member of the 49th O. V. I., during the Civil war, and died at Washington City: Amos died in Ross county; Susan married Samuel Pontius, and died in Ross county: Maria married J. W. Lawhead, and died in Seneca county.
The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood in Ross county, being seventeen years old when his parents removed to Seneca county, settling on a tract of land in the woods. Here the boy worked hard, assisting his father in clearing oft the timber and cultivating the land, and learning by experience the toils and hardships of a pio- neer's life. When twenty-one years old he re- turned to Ross county, and for a time attendo 1 school; then went to work at the carpenter's trade, remaining in Ross county two years. In 1843 he was married in Seneca county to Miss Mary M. Lawhead. a native of Gettysburg. Penn., born December 25, 1827. After his mar- riage Mr. Frederick settled on a farm in Seneca county, where he lived until coming to Bowling Green in 1868. After taking up his residence in the latter city, he followed the occupation of a
J. S. FREDERICK (deceased), who in his life- time was a well-known citizen of Bowling Green, was born in Ross county, Ohio, February 22, | contractor and builder, and carried on an exten-
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sive business. His estimable wife passed away in 1884, after which event Mr. Frederick took little interest in business affairs. He died Janu- ary 29, 1896. In politics he was always a stanch Republican, held a prominent place in his party and in the community, and did considerable work as assistant county treasurer. For fifty years he was a consistent member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, and in all the relations of life proved himself a man of high principles and strict integrity.
To Mr. Frederick and his worthy helpmate seven children were born as follows: Jennie is now the widow of R. C. Kinney, and has one child-Wells; Melissa married E. H. Selkirk, and lives in Bowling Green (they have two children- Clyde and Robert); Howard, a boot and shoe merchant of Sandusky, married Miss Hattie Mas- sey, of Sandusky City, and they have four sons -Howard, Samuel, Paul and Fred; Florence is the wife of A. S. Kinney, and. lives in Wyandot county, Ohio (they have one child-Ralph); Homer married Nettie Bloomfield, and they live in Toledo (they are the parents of four children- Beulah, Maggie, Robert and Charles); Emma is the wife of N. S. Palmer, of Bowling Green (they have four children-Fred, Frank, Floyd and Howard); William married Miss Nettie Dunbar, and has two children-Mary and Beulah.
JOHN DULL, a pioneer farmer of Damascus township, Henry county, was born in Perry county, Ohio, July 19, 1822, and is one of a family of eleven children. Samuel Dull, father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, where he married Miss Catherine Koester, and after- ward moved to Perry county, Ohio, and later, in the year 1831, located in Weston township, Wood county, trading a homestead in Perry county for a one-quarter section in Weston, a part of which he sold to his son Jacob. The re- mainder he cultivated and lived on until his death, which took place in 1864. His wife departed this life in 1850.
John, the subject of this sketch, came to Weston township in 1831, and attended the log school on Beaver creek, after which he worked on the homestead with his father, clearing the farm of underbrush and trees, and at times secur- ing employment on some of the neighboring farms-chopping wood, clearing the land, etc. - Later he moved to Damascus, Henry county, where he bought some land, cleared it, and con- tinued to add to it, until to-day he possesses 320 acres, all of which is under improvement, and on which is a fine dwelling, barns and cribs, and an
orchard where several varieties of fruit are grown. He has also been a stockraiser to some extent, and altogether may be considered one of the en- terprising and progressive agriculturists of Henry county.
In 1843 Mr. Dull was united in marriage with Miss Delilah Kimberlin, a daughter of Henry Kimberlin, a pioneer farmer of Weston town- ship. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dull, as follows: Jane is the wife of Mather Brown; George is a farmer of Henry county, and married Miss Rebecca -; Henry T. looks after the home farm; Sarah is the deceased wife of Albert Heyman; John died aged twelve years.
Mr. Dull in politics is a Republican, and has been school director, and supervisor of Weston township for several terms, and held the same offices in Damascus, besides being trustee of the latter township. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the United Brethren Church. to which they are liberal contributors, Mr. Dull is in- dustrious, highly respected, and, although verg- ing on to four-score years, is hale and hearty, and is enjoying the fruits of his early toil.
PHILO S. PELTON. His entire life having been passed in Perry township has rendered this worthy citizen familiar to the majority of its people, with whom he is considered an important factor in its growth and development. He is a man who has made the most of his opportunities in life, and has kept his eyes open to what was going on in the world around him. These qual- ities, in connection with his natural industry and perseverance, have served to make him, wherever known, an object of uniform regard.
Mr. Pelton was born in Section 21, Perry township, October 13, 1853, and is a son of Daniel and Eleanor (Helm) Pelton. He attended school in District No. 4, and in farm work was an apt pupil of his father's. He remained under the parental roof until his marriage, which was celebrated in Perry township, on March co. 1878, Miss Josephine Patterson becoming his wife. She is a native of Hancock county. Ohio. born March 8. 1860, and is the daughter of Will- iam and Matilda ( Post) Patterson, farming people. who only had two children, the son being An- drew, a resident of Chicago, Ill. Mrs. Pelton's education was such as the common schools af- forded.
For a short time our subject rented land in Section 16, Perry township, after which he cool :- ducted the old homestead in Section 17, until his removal to his present farm of eighty-two acres that he had previously purchased. An okl log
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house and log barn were the only buildings upon tlie place, but the former was replaced by his present comfortable dwelling in ISS5, and in 1893 a good barn was built, while his fine farm is principally the result of his own efforts and management.
Mr. and Mrs. Pelton have become the parents of nine children, namely: Maud D., born Jan- uary 30, 1879; Pearl M., who was born Novem- ber 14, ISSO, and died at the age of eight years; William Wade, born December 26, 1882; Bessie M., born January 2, 1885; Henry D., born March 17, 1887; Grace M., born April 17, 1889; Lee D., born December 21, 1891; Guy A., born December 11, 1893; and Lenah L., born January 18, 1896. In religious belief the parents are Methodists, attending Union Church, and, politic- ally, Mr. Pelton is a strong supporter of the men and measures of the Republican party.
JOHN GUNDER was born in Franklin county, Penn., August 13, 1840, and is a representative of one of the old families of that State. His fa- ther, Isaac Gunder, was born near Harrisburg, Penn., and, having reached man's estate, mar- ried Susan Heller, a native of Harrisburg. They lived on a farm, and had a family of twelve chil- dren, namely: Daniel and Elizabeth, residents of Franklin county, Penn .; George, a farmer of Michigan; Catherine, wife of Daniel Shinew; David, a farmer of Portage township; John: Mrs. Susanna Warren; Benjamin F., a farmer of Mid- dleton township; and Sarah, Rebecca, Solomon, and Manuel B., all deceased. The father of this family removed to Wood county, in 1848, loca- ting near West Millgrove, where he carried on agricultural pursuits until his death. His wife died in 1895.
Our subject was quite young at the time of the removal. During his youth he attended the district school, and worked on his father's farm, and at an early age was employed as a farm hand in the neighborhood. In 1862 he enlisted at Haskins, in Company B, 111th O. V. I., under Capt. Norris and Col. Bond, and during his three-years' service participated in a number of important engagements. He was honorably dis- charged in North Carolina, in July, 1865, after which he immediately returned home. locating in Middleton township, where he worked on the farin of W. H. Ewing. For five years he oper- ated that eighty-acre tract on shares, and then purchased eiglity-four acres of land, which he still owns, and on which he has made many excellent improvements. In 1888 he bought eighty acres, where he now resides, and, alto- 1
gether, owns 164 acres, which is under a high state of cultivation, and yields to him a handsome tribute in return for his care and attention.
JOHN TELFER, deceased, represented in his life a splendid example of what downright hard labor, perseverance and close application to busi- ness can accomplish. He commenced life at the foot of the ladder, but blessed with a prudent and sensible wife as a helpmeet, not too proud to la- bor, he had secured at the time of his death a comfortable competence.
A native of Scotland, Mr. Telfer was born at Pettinain, Lanarkshire, in June, 1822, the son of John Telfer, who there spent his entire life. He was reared as a farmer boy, and was quite poor when he crossed the Atlantic to the New World, being the only one of the family to become a resi- dent of the United States. He had secured, through his own efforts, a few dollars with which to pay his passage; but he carried with him a recommendation from the minister of the Church which he attended, as to his integrity, honesty and character, such as any young man would feel proud to possess. He had spent much of his time as a forester on the Carmichael estate in Lanarkshire; but in June, 1850, boarded a sail- ing vessel bound for America. The long journey, occupying nine weeks, he thoroughly enjoyed, as he was used to the water, having lived along the Clyde, and he had often run the ferry boat which his father owned.
On his arrival Mr. Telfer worked at anything that he could find to do, at last becoming steward in an insane 'asylum at Harrisburg, Penn., where he met the lady who afterward became his wife- Miss Martha Craig. She was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in 1827, the daughter of Seth and Mary (Patton) Craig, who in later years came to the United States, and died at Philadel- phia, Penn. Mrs. Telfer, when twenty years of age, crossed from Londonderry, Ireland, on a sailing vessel-the " North Star "-which arrived safely at Philadelphia after a voyage of seven weeks and three days. There she happened to meet a gentleman from Ireland, Thomas Buch- anan, who was an acquaintance of her father. and with whom she made her temporary home. She was then employed as a domestic at differ- ent places until securing a position as attendant in the insane asylum at Harrisburg. Penn., where lier marriage was celebrated on January 3, 1850. With the combined savings of himself and wife. Mr. Telfer began life upon a rented farm near Har- risburg; but one misfortune after another soon exhausted their means, though it did not wholly
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discourage him. Coming to Mt. Union, Ohio, in 1859, he worked for five years on the farm of William Nixon, and then purchased seventeen acres of land near Deerfield, Portage Co., Ohio, for which he went in debt. After living upon that place for seven years he sold out and bought another farm of forty acres in the same vicinity, on which he erected all the buildings; but in March, 1882, he came to Wood county, here buying eighty acres in Section 13, Montgomery township, where he made his home until his death, May 10, 1895. His remains were in- terred at Prairie Depot, Wood county. A faith- ful member of the Presbyterian Church, Mr. Tel- fer was a devout, conscientious man, avoiding notoriety and preferring the company of his family to the turmoil and excitement of political life. His political support was always given to the Republican party, in whose policy he placed the utmost reliance.
In the family were seven children: Mary P. is now the widow of Jonathan W. Hoiles, and lives in Montgomery township: Agnes W. is the wife of George Palmer, of the same township; Will- iam C. died at the age of three years; JOHN A. is next in order of birth: Jeanette is the wife of Theodore E. Frisbie, of Montgomery township; Margaret E. died when nearly fifteen years old; and Thomas died at the age of twenty-two years. Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Telfer has lived on the old home farm, which is operated by her son, John A., who is one of the most highly respected and prosperous young farmers of the community.
EMANUEL ZIEGLER, one of the most enter- prising and prosperous of Bloom township's agri- culturists, was born October 6, 1850, in Ashland county, Ohio, and came to Wood county with his parents, Peter and Sarah (Fulmer) Ziegler. in the spring of 1855. This family stands high in the esteem of the community, and an interest- ing history of our subject's ancestors is given in the biography of his father, which appears else- where.
1851, the daughter of Jackson Blair. a prominent farmer, who came to Bloom township in 1864. After his ·marriage, Mr. Ziegler took charge of his father's farm, and, for his home, fitted up an old house that had been built as a temporary home for the family, when their dwelling was destroyed by fire. This had been used as a store house for a time; but with some labor it was transformed into a comfortable abode, and Mr. Ziegler and his wife occupied it for eleven years. In 1883 he bought eighty acres in Section 15, of Bloom town- ship, near Ted, going in debt $1,400. Only forty acres were cleared, and the buildings were poor: but Mr. Ziegler has now seventy acres under cul- tivation, and has made many substantial improve- ments, including a fine barn built in 1891. He has made his own way, working hard, and never resorting to trickery in order to inake larger gains. His straightforward methods have won for him the confidence and esteem of his neigh- bors, and his success demonstrates the truth of the old adage, " honesty is the best policy." He has a comfortable home, and a family of bright children: Charles, born March 12, 1874, is at home; Elmer, August 8, 1875, is a farmer of Bloom township; Lyman, August 25. 1880. died at the age of one year. nine months and seven- teen days; Harley. May 21, 1884. and Milo, No- vember 1, 1888, are at home. Mr. Ziegler is a believer in the doctrines of the Democratic party. but takes no active interest in politics, and sel- doni votes.
C. KEEFER, one of Perry township's best farmers and most well-to-do citizens, is a native of Orange township, Ashland county, where he was born November 15, 1834, and which at that time was a part of Richland county.
Mr. Keefer was but a lad of five years when his parents, William and Barbara (Kreps) Keef- er, came to Perry township, and located in the woods on the same farm on which he now lives and owns, in Section 28. Our subject received meager schooling in the district schools, which it- stitutions he has seen greatly improved and heartily endorses the improvement. Reared in a new, undeveloped country, as Perry township was in his youth, he in early days became thor- oughly initiated into the hardships and trials of a pioneer farmer boy's life.
Being only five years old at the time of the removal to Wood county, Mr. Ziegler was reared here, attending the district schools in boyhood, and learning the details of farm management by practical work. His first home here was in a hewed-log cabin 18 x 20 feet, and game abounded On May 1, 1856, our subject was marriot in Perry township to Miss Mahala MeCrill, who was born in Ashland county, October 18, 1837. In the fall of 1856 he and his wife began house- keeping in a log house, then on a portion of the in the surrounding woods. As times improved his father built a more commodious and tasteful dwelling, however. Ou August 27, 1872, Mr. Ziegler was married to Miss Einma Blair, a na- tive of Washington county, Md., born July 28, ¡ home farin, one acre, which he purchased from:
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