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 49
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farmer, who has made his way in the world un- aided, and has won the high regard of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
On October 30, 1890, in Montgomery town- ship, Mr. Broyles was united in marriage with Miss Hattie Brown, who was born in Section 2, of that township, March 23, 1868, and is a daughter of William T. and Roena (Stahl) Brown, and they have become the parents of three chil- dren-William E., Alice B., and Ralph M. In religious belief both Mr. and Mrs. Broyles are Methodist Protestants, and he casts his ballot in support of Democratic principles.
ADAM DICKEN, a prosperous farmer of Mont- gomery township, was born in Bedford county, Penn., April 9, 1830. His parents, Charles and Ke- ziah (Purdue) Dicken, moved to Crawford county when he was a child, lived there a while, and then went to Liberty township, Seneca county, where the father died. The mother died later in Jackson township, Seneca county. Mr. Dicken was a successful farmer, and left considerable property, being considered well-to-do for those days. To him and his wife nine children were born, four of whom are yet living, namely: Adam, our subject; Jonathan, of Jackson town- ship, Seneca county; William, of the same place; and Eliza J., the widow of William Valance.
Adam Dicken attended school in Liberty township; but, being the eldest boy, he was the first to be of use to his father on the farm, so his schooling was somewhat limited. He lived at home continuously until June 9, 1854, when he was married to Miss Elizabeth Stahl, who was born in Perry county, November 17, 1837, the daughter of Jacob and Tena (Smith) Stahl. Mr. and Mrs. Stahl were natives of Pennsylvania, and came to Seneca county in the spring of 1838, lo- cating in Jackson township. They had seven children, as follows: Maria, now Mrs. Thomas Pennel, of Fostoria: Elizabeth, wife of our sub- ject; Sarah, who married Emmanuel Hampshire, of Anderson county, Kans .; Andrew, living in Gibsonburg, Ohio; William, a native of Gratiot county, Mich .; Levi, residing in Sandusky coun- ty; aud Jacob, who died in Burgoon. Mrs. Stahl died at the age of thirty-two, and Mr. Stahl took, for his second wife Miss Eva Smith, by whom he had one child, Tena, who married Curt Eller, and died in Defiance, Ohio.
Mr. Dicken lived one year with his father after his marriage, and later went to housekeep- ing on his 160 acres of new land. where he built a log cabin 18 x 20 feet square, living there nearly three years. Then, his father having died, he |
sold his land and bought the home farm, subse- quently selling half of it, as it was too great an expense. He lived there until the fall of 1869. when he sold out and came to Wood county. lo- cating in Section 29, Montgomery township, and purchasing 160 acres, on which he has continued to live. On this farin are nine producing oil wells, with five locations which promise fine ad- ditional profits. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dicken: Mary. E., now Mrs. Frank Wollam, of Montgomery township; Jacob, of Jerry City; Jackson, in Montgomery township; William, a fariner in same township: Sherman, who died when five years old; Curtis, at home; Estelle, now Mrs. Clarence E. Dowl- ing, also in Montgomery; and Charles F., who also resides there. Our subject is a member of the Evangelical Church, and formerly was very active in Church work, contributing liberally and holding various offices. He has always been fair and honest in all his dealings; and no citizen of Montgomery township is more highly respected. We may add that Mr. Dicken has never engaged in litigation either as plaintiff or defendant.
M. E. DIRK, member of the furniture firm of Dirk & Hough, was born September 7, 1862, in Henry township, Wood county. He spent his early life in North Baltimore, attending the pub- lic school there for several years, and then went to the Ada Norinal School, at Ada, Ohio. After leaving school Mr. Dirk went to work on a farm, following that occupation until his marriage to Miss Libbie Beatty, which took place February 18, 1884. One child, Glenn, was born to them Mrs. Dirk died November 19, 1891, and Mr. Dirk afterward married Miss Mary Dayringer.
In 1888 our subject entered the furniture bus- iness with Mr. Hough, who was reared on a farm adjoining that of Mr. Dirk, and the friendly rela- tions begun in boyhood have been maintained in their business careers. They have established an extensive trade, and in their well-stocked store may be found everything in the way of furniture that could be desired for the fitting out of a bean- tiful home. Mr. Dirk has demonstrated his abil- ity as a business man by the successful manner in which he has conducted his store. He is genia' in disposition, npright in character, and holds the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
Jacob Dirk, the father of our subject, Wis born in 1819, in Pennsylvania. His wife, Suah (Povention), was born in 1825. They Were married at Sugar Rilge, Hancock county. Pois there until 1850, when they came to the present site of North Baltimore, and Mr. Dirk bought
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land on which the present city has been built. In 1887 he erected a brick block, two stories in height, and 75 x 100 fect. Mr. Dirk is a Repub- lican, and a member of the United Brethren Church. Both he and his wife enjoy the distinc- tion of being among the pioneers of the county. To them were born five children, as follows: Jennie, the wife of Joseph Smith, of Liberty township; John, living in North Baltimore; Will- iam M., a retired farmer in Weston, Ohio; Amanda, who was married to George A. Smith, a Jerk in Bowling Green; and M. E., our subject.
M. D. SMITH. Among the leading and rep- resentative agriculturists of Perry township. stal- wart and sturdy tillers of the soil, there is none who stands a more prominent figure than the gentleman of whom this notice is written. His birth occurred in the Empire State, on April 10, 1850. His parents, Martin D. and Mary J. (El- vert) Smith, were natives of Ireland, and immi- grated to the United States about 1849, locating in New York, where the father followed farming, and there died when our subject was but a child. He was then taken by his mother to Lorain county, Ohio, where they remained until 1856, when they came to Wood county. In Ionia county, Mich., the mother was again married, becoming the wife of E. A. Pelton, and now makes her home in Eagleville, Ohio.
On reaching a sufficient age our subject en- tered the common schools of Lorain county, which were much inferior to the schools of the present day, and there he pursued his literary studies. To rural pursuits he was reared, being employed on farms when quite young, and in 1866 went to Bowling Green, Ohio, near which place he obtained work as a farm hand, there re- maining until 1873, when he returned to Perry township.
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On May 23, 1874, was celebrated the mar- riage of Mr. Smith and Miss Sarah J. Hall, a native of Perry township, born in Section 17. March 5, 1859, and a daughter of A. J. and Mary M. (Patterson) Hall. Her education was obtained in the district schools of the neighbor- hood. By her marriage she has become the mother of six children: Bertie E., born Angust 16, 1876; Harry W., born April 1. 18;9; Charles N., born August 16. 18St; Andrew M., born July 29, 1883; Mary M., born August 4. 1886; and Ray D., born September 26, 1890.
For about ten years after his marriage, Mr. Smith lived with his wife's people, and in the fall of 1884 removed to his present farm of forty acres in Section 17, Perry township, which he
had purchased three years previously. In 1887 he replaced their first home, which was of logs, with a very comfortable and modern residence. All that he now possesses has been secured through hisindustry and perseverance, as he re- ceived no outside aid from any source. In busi- ness transactions he is perfectly honorable and straightforward, is progressive in his methods of farming, and justly ranks. among the prominent citizens of the community. His political affilia- tions are with the Republican party.
J. D. CONKLIN, one of the well-known and successful business men of Weston, was born in Huron county, Ohio, May 25, 1855, and is the son of James and Eliza (Davenport) Conklin.
Our subject was educated in the district schools of Plain township, Wood county, and assisted his father upon the home farm until he was twenty years of age, when he rented a farm for himself in the same township. This he op- erated for six years, when he came to Weston, and was in the employ of H. H. Kecl for eight years. He then went into the drug business, in connection with D. L. Aldrich, subsequently sell- ing out his interest to his partner. In IS88 he was made postmaster, receiving his appointment under John Wanamaker, who was then Postmas- ter-General. This office he held for four years, and then engaged in the grocery business in 1893. Hc has since built a handsome brick business-block, two stories in height, and 20 x So feet, in which he now has his store. He carries a complete-stock of fine goods, which he selects with great care, and with an eye to the wants of his customers. His well-known business ability and pleasant, genial manners, have secured him a large trade, which is constantly increasing, and he has a host of personal friends. In politics Mr. Conklin is a stanch Republican, and works for the interests of his party. He belongs to the Congregational Church, and to the F. & A. M., at Weston.
Mr. Conklin was married May 19, 1886, to Miss Ella R., daughter of William Mailev, and they have one child -Archie-born May 14. 1889. Mrs. Conklin was born September is, :864. She is a lady of refinement, and an act- ive worker in all good causes. She is a member of the Methodist Church, and belongs to the Home Mission Aid Society.
HARLAND W. HEDGE. a representative farmer and well-known business man of Montgomery township, was born in Section 17. that town. hip. February 23, 1862. the fifth child and fourth son
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of George B. and Catherine (Crawfoot) Hedge, who have taken a prominent part in the upbuild- ing and welfare of the community.
The education of our subject was acquired in the district schools, and, when not busy with his text books he aided in the work of the home farm, and in hauling logs to his father's mill. He much preferred agricultural pursuits, however, and as a result became more skillful along that line than at the other occupation. He remained under the parental roof until his marriage, which was celebrated at Bowling Green, Ohio, October II, 1883, Miss Annie E. Carr becoming his wife. Her birth occurred in Eden township, Wyandot Co., Ohio, January 25, 1861, and she is a daugh- ter of Richard and Mary (Alexander) Carr, farm- ing people. To Mr. and Mrs. Hedge have come two interesting children-Foil D., born February 15, 1888; and Earl S., born March 14, 1893. The young couple began their domestic life upon a good farm of forty acres in Section 18, Mont- gomery township, where they still continue to live. In August, 1892, Mr. Hedge purchased his father's interest in the extensive tile manufactur- ing plant of F. T. Hedge & Co., the members of the firm being himself and brother F. T. This is the largest factory of the kind in Wood county, and the product turned out is first-class in every particular. Our subject gives much of his attention to the business, but also operates his farm, on which he erected an excellent barn in 1894. Though a faithful Democrat, Mr. Hedge manifests but a voting interest in politics; he strongly sympathizes with his party, but is not radical, and cares nothing for political pre- ferment. He is a genial, large-hearted, jolly good fellow, honest and upright in all his deal- ings, and is one of the most highly respected cit- izens of the township, in which he has made many warm friends.
L. J. LEFLER, one of the most progressive and substantial agriculturists of Bloom township. and a leading resident of Jerry City, was born October 8, 1851, in Brush Creek township, Mus- kingum Co., Ohio.
His father, Adam Letler, was a cooper by trade, and filled large orders for salt barrels, which were much in demand in his day, cutting down the trees and making them by hand from the very beginning. He married Miss Mary Fetzer, and, of their family of eight children, five sons lived to adult age: John, who died in Zanesville in 1875; George, formerly a teacher, who is now farming in Bloom township; Noah, who died in Jerry City in 1882; L. J., our sub-
ject; and Alva, who was once a teacher, and is now an employe in a wholesale house in Toledo. Of the three daughters, Angeline died at the age of four years; Lorena, when two years of age; and Mary in infancy. Mrs. Mary (Fetzer Lefler was born in Stuttgart, Germany, March 5, 1820, who, with a poor widowed mother and large family embarked at Amsterdam, in May, 1833, on a sailing vessel for America. The ship, becoming disabled, lost her reckoning, and wan- dered about at sea until provisions, especially water supplies, became very low. In fact, the family and others, would almost have perished for lack of water, had not Mrs. Lefler's mother fortunately had a keg of vinegar which she had taken on board with her. and which they diluted with the very scanty allowance of stale water that was portioned out to them. They finally landed at New York after a voyage of 108 days. during which dire experience nine persons died and were buried.at sea.
Mr. Lefler's parents were not wealthy, but they owned a farm of forty acres, and managed to give their boys as good an education as the schools of the vicinity could furnish; several of them became successful teachers. At the age of twenty-one our subject entered this profession, which he followed in his native county for some years, at a time when teachers built their own fires and swept the school house. On September 30, 1875, he was married to Miss Mattie Fulker- son, who was born September 7. 1851. the daughter of Gabriel Fulkerson, a pioneer farmer of Muskingum county. They " kept house " dur- ing the following winter in a rented dwelling, and Mr. Lefler continued teaching; but, desiring to better his prospects, he moved to Wood county in the spring, traveling on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad to Fostoria, and taking a hand- car on the Coldwater railroad from that point to Jerry City, landing at Jerry City April 11. 1876. When their goods were moved Mr. Letler drove a team from Fostoria, while his wife came by hand- car. With $200, saved from his earnings. he made a start, he and his brother Alva renting a farin for four years in what is now Jerry City. For two years he was the proprietor of the "Union Hotel" there, after which he joined his brother Alva and Peter Gobble in the purchase of 1044 acres of land near the town, and he has ever since cultivated his portion of it; there are four oil wells on the place. He has tasteful and sub- stantial improvements, including one of the best houses in town His barn, which was burned July 17, 1895, entailing a loss of $1,000, was a good modern structure. For some years after
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coming to Wood county he continued teaching, and his work in Bloom, Portage and Montgomery townships was deserving of high praise, afford- ing an improvement upon the ordinary district school of the day. He is a good business man, ranking among the first in his locality, and in spite of losses, including that of a deposit of $600 in a bank at Fostoria, he has done well in life. In 1885 his parents came to Wood county to be near " their boys, " and the mother now lives in Section 16, Bloom township, the father having died April 21, 1896.
Mr. and Mrs. Lefler have always been in hearty sympathy with the progressive element of their community, taking part, as they had oppor- tunity, in philanthropic movements. They have had three children: Carrie E. (a teacher at the present time), born September 26, 1876, who was married August 21, 1895, to Charles Conner, of Jerry City; Omar F., who died in infancy ; and Vernie M., born April 26, ISgo, at home. In politics Mr. Lefler is a Democrat, and he is an active worker in local affairs. He served two terms as township assessor, two as village clerk, and two as member of the city council, and is now the president of the board of education.
J. E. SMITH. The gentleman whose name stands at the beginning of this sketch is a gen- eral farmer, pursuing his pleasant and profitable occupation in Section 31, Ross township, and is the efficient town clerk, to which office he was elected in 1891, succeeding C. L. Hicks. He has continuously served in that position to the satisfaction of all concerned.
Mr. Smith was born in Ross township, in 1867, and is the son of Jerome B. and Rachel (Eggleston) Smith. The father, who was a na- tive of Onondaga county, N. Y., became a resi- dent of Oregon township, Lucas Co., Ohio, as early as 1830, and there opened up a farm in the midst of the wilderness, which is now within the corporation limits of Toledo. In 1846 he was married to Miss Mary Cobb, who died in 1864; and, in Ross township, in 1866, his marriage with Mrs. Rachel Eggleston) Lake was cele- brated. She was also a native of New York, and a daughter of Truman and Lorinda (Paine) Eggleston, who were born in Dutchess county, that State, and, in 1858, came to what is now Ross township, locating in the midst of the woods. There the death of her father occurred, in 1863. and that of her mother in 189r. In their family were three children, who are still living: Am- brose P., who resides in Kansas; Mrs. Sarah Ann Gleason, of Chicago, Il. ; and Mrs. Smith. The
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father of our subject purchased an eiglity-acre tract of timber land in Ross township, which lie cleared and developed, and thereon made his home until his death, in 1888. He was an ardent Democrat in politics, and served as a member of the school board. His wife is still living upon the old home farm. Their union was blessed by the birth of five children, three of whom are liv- ing, the eldest being the subject of this sketch; the others are Addie B. and Hattie L.
Mr. Smith, whose name introduces this nar- rative, was reared to farm life, having aided his father in the work of the fields as soon as he was large enough, and obtained his education in the district schools of the neighborhood during the winter months, and is now engaged in general farming. He is one of the most progressive and public-spirited young men of Ross township. and delights in noting its growth and progress, with which he has been prominently identified. Polit- ically he follows in the footsteps of his father. giving his unfaltering support to the men and measures of the Democratic party, and for the past five years has capably filled his present office.
JAMES L. SPINK is a worthy representative of one of the honored pioneer families of Wood county, his grandfather, Buckley Spink, having located in Montgomery township at an early day. The latter was born April 11, 1793. at Rome. N. Y., and in that State was married, October 4, 1820. to Amy Moshier, who was born on January 14, 1796, at Attleboro, Mass., a daugh- ter of Jonathan Moshier. The young couple located upon a farm in Hanover township. Chautauqua Co., N. Y., where were born to them three children-James R., born December 8. 1821, died March 3, 1852, in Montgomery town- ship, Wood Co., Ohio; Tenetta, born February 22, 1824, died in the same township September 1, 1874: and Adelia, born June 26. i827. now the widow of Charles Brooke, of Prairie Depot. Ohio. After their removal to Collins, Erie Co .. N. Y., in 1828, the family circle was increased by the following children: Solon, born March 27, 1829, the father of our subject: Emeline. born November 24. 1831, the wife of Levi Hal- comb, died in Montgomery township February 17. 1855: Volney, born January 26, 1834. died in the same township November 13, 1850; and Amy A., born November 8, 1836, How Mrs. Samuel Hemninger, of Montgomery township
After settling upon his farm in Erie county. N. Y., the grandfather heard rumors about the title being imperfect, and, with many others of
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that locality, sold his land and began looking for another home. He had two brothers, who were prominent citizens of Perrysburg, Ohio-John, a well-known attorney, and Shibnah, a successful merchant. They each owned eighty acres of new land in Section 21, Montgomery township, which they gave to Buckley Spink in order to induce him to locate there. In a covered wagon drawn by three horses, he started with his family for Wood county, in the spring of 1837; and they were eleven days on the road, two and a half days being required to travel the last twenty-one miles from Fremont, Ohio, to their farm, and they were often compelled to seek help from owners of oxen to pull them out of the mud. Their first home was of logs, with a puncheon floor, and they endured all the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. Upon that farm the grandfather died, May 26, 1877, and his wife August 20, 1874. They now rest side by side in the cemetery at Prairie Depot. His political support was given to the Republican party.
On reaching man's estate Solon Spink was married, March 6, 1859, in Wood county, the lady of his choice being Miss Martha Burns, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, September IS, 1836, daughter of Jacob Burns, and they became the parents of three children-James L., subject of this review; Albert W., a prominent farmer of Montgomery township; and Minerva F., now Mrs. John J. Dicken, of Jerry City, Ohio. The father was engaged in operating the home farm until his death, which occurred January 31, 1876, and his remains were interred at Prairie Depot. He left a debt upon the old homestead, as he was buying it from the other heirs, and was called from this life very suddenly, before he had finished paying for the place. The sons were quite young; but they went resolutely to work, and now have the farm free from indebted- ness. It comprises 159 acres of rich and arable land, which they have placed under a high state of cultivation, and it is made to yield bountiful harvests for the care and labor expended upon it. The widowed mother still finds a pleasant home there with our subject, who is half-owner of the farm.
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James L. Spink was born upon the place May 9, 1860, and as soon as old enough he en- tered the district school of the neighborhood; but his educational privileges were somewhat limited, as he had to begin work at the early age of eleven years, and he was only sixteen at the time of his father's death. On February 7, 1879, he married Miss Harriet Bockey, who was |
born in Montgomery township January 11, 1862. daughter of Jackson and Elizabeth (Burns; Bockey. Her father died in Mungen, Portage. township, Wood county, and her mother is now making her home there. To Mr. and Mrs. Spink have been born four children, their names and dates of birth being as follows: Elsie E .. Febru- ary 26, 1880; Phila, December 24, 1882: Emily. June 19, 1885; and Wilber, January 5, ISS7. In 1894 our subject erected a pleasant residence upon his farm, on which he has made many excellent improvements, and he has stocked his place with a fine grade of Shropshire sheep and Jersey cattle. The neat and thrifty appear- ance of his farm denotes able management. strict attention to every detail of the business, and an enterprising, progressive and painstaking owner. As a man he holds a foremost place in the estimation of his fellow citizens, and well deserves the respect and confidence of all.
CHARLES L. CONKLIN, who is classed among the successful farmers of Plain township, is well worthy of notice in a work of this kind, and to be ranked among the men who have distinguished themselves as useful and enterprising citizens. He was born in Huron county, Ohio, December 15, 1851, and is the third in the family of seven children born to James and Eliza (Davenport Conklin, the others being Jay, a farmer of Wood county; Alfred D., of Weston; James D., a mer- chant of Weston; Orma D., wife of Rev. B. Dupoy, of Henry county, Ohio; Luella J., wife of J. Brown; William H., a farmer; and A. J., of Middleton township. The father's birth occurred in 1825, in the Empire State, and when a young man he removed to Huron county, Ohio, where he was married to Miss Davenport, but later be- came a farmer of Plain township, Wood county. He is now living retired, he and his wife making their home in Weston.
In a manner similar to that of most farmer boys, Charles L. Conklin passed the days of his boyhood and youth, attending the common schools, and working on his father's farm until he reached his majority, when he started out in life for himself. He was first employed by the lum- ber firm of Stearns & Dubbs, of Deshler, Henry Co., Ohio, with whom he remained for five years, when he returned to Plain township and purchased twenty acres of arable land, which he operated for four years. He then disposed of that property and bought the forty-acre farin on which he now resides. A destructive fire visited him a few years ago, destroying his dwelling with its contents, also his barns and other farm build-
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