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 50
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98
1189
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
ings, causing him a loss of $1, 200, partly covered by insurance. These have been replaced, how- ever, by substantial structures, including his resi- dence, which cost $1,000 ..
At Weston, Ohio, October 6, 1874, Mr. Conk- lin married Phoebe Brisbin, by whom he has three children- Jessie, born June 24. 1875; George, born October 18, 1876; and Edison, born December 10, 1878. Robert Brisbin, the father of Mrs. Conklin, was born in 1809, edu- cated in his native place. and in New York mar- ried Phoebe Call, and twelve children were born by their union-Marsey, deceased; James F .; Elizabeth, deceased; Levi, who was killed in the Civil war; Marion, deceased; Warren, a veteran of the same war; Ellen, wife of Jesse Dease; Eu- gene, a resident of Bowling Green; Albert, who was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, and now makes his home in Bowling Green; Charles, a resident of Michigan: William, of New York; and Phoebe, who was born March 25, 1853. Mr. Brisbin carried on farming in Weston township until his death in 1876, and his widow now finds a pleasant home with our subject.
Politically, Mr. Conklin is a stanch Republic- an, and the religious views of the family are those of the United Brethren Church. His thrift and industry have inet with their legitimate re- ward, and he now has one of the best farms of the locality.
CHARLES A. WHITMORE. This gentleman is a general farmer and fruit raiser, pursuing his pleasant and profitable occupation in Sections 30 and 31, Ross township. He was born in that township, in 1855, and is a son of Waters and Susan (Consaul) Whitmore, the former a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of Steuben county, New York.
In 1825, Waters Whitmore had accompanied his father, Luther Whitmore, to Lucas county, Ohio, where the latter opened up a farm, and there died in 1845, his wife dying a few years later. The son was married in that county to Miss : Susan Consaul, daughter of John and Marthy Consaul, who were also born in New York; they came west and located in Oregon township, Lu- cas county, where they developed and improved a farin, on which the mother died in February, 1862, the father surviving her a few years. After their marriage, the parents of our subject located on the banks of the Maumee river, where the fa- ther erected a brick house, which is still standing. He took the clay out of the bank and burned it. thus making his own brick; he finally sold this, and bought a good farm of 125 acres in Ross
township, this county, to which he removed in 1850; at the time of his purchase the land was covered with timber; but he devoted his time to its improvement, until his place was one of the most highly cultivated in the locality. He made his home there until his death in 1885; his widow is still living at the old homestead. Five children were born to them, one son dying in in- fancy; Louisa and Sopliia, at home; Charles A., of this review; and Mrs. Mary Jane Henry, of East Toledo, Ohio.
Charles A. Whitmore early became familiar with agricultural pursuits upon the home farm, and acquired his literary education in the district schools of the township. He later attended school for one year at Toledo. He has always followed the occupation to which he was reared, and now owns a part of the farm on which he was born and has always lived, just outside the city limits of Toledo, where he is successfully engaged in fruit raising.
In Oregon township, Lucas county, Mr. Whit- more was married in 1882, the lady of his choice being Miss Dorcas Moon, who was born in that township, where her parents, Trayton and Har- riet (Sands) Moon, natives of England, had lo- cated in 1852. Her father aided his adopted country in her struggle to preserve the Union dur- ing the Civil war. He and his worthy wife still make their home upon their old farm in Oregon township. Five children have come to bless the union of our subject and his wife-Freddie, Charley, Nina, Robert and Raymond.
As an honest man and worthy citizen, Mr. Whitmore deserves the respect and esteem in which he is held by his fellow-townsmen. In politics he is a Republican, intelligently support- ing his party by voice and vote, although he does not care to take an active part in public life.
A. J. SCHAUWEKER. Among the enterprising and thrifty citizens of Bowling Green, whose an- cestors were born in the old country, and who have done so much to promote the interests of the community in which they live, is the subject of this sketch. Born in Richland county, Ohio, November 19, 1843, he was the son of Michael and Mary M. (Goodbed) Schauweker, both na- tives of Germany, the former of whom was born about 1803, in Wittenberg, and the latter m 1812, in the same town. They were married in Richland county, and settled for awhile in Co- Imbiana county, later moving to Crawl and coun- ty, in about 1852, where the mother died, when our subject was eight years oldl. The father died in 1879, at about the age of seventy-six years.
1140
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
They were the parents of three children: An- drew, a farmer in Portage township; A. J .; and Mary, who is the wife of Jerry Armstrong, of Wyandot county. After the death of his wife, Mr. Schauweker married Miss Terrece Peters, and six children were born to this union, as fol- lows: Herman, living in Wyandot county; Lena, wife of J. Keller, of Crawford county, Ohio; Emma, who is single; Louise, who married El- iner Baliett, of Wyandot county, Ohio; William, living in Delaware county, Ohio; and Bertha, who is at home.
Mr. Schauweker spent his youth in Crawford county, where he learned the blacksmith's trade. He then satisfied his greatest desire in life by going to California, in 1863, and seeing for the first time the beauties of the Pacific slope. There he located, in Yuba county, and engaged in busi- ness, remaining for a time and then going to Placer county, taking up farming for himself. After staying there for three years, he moved to Santa Clara county, and teamed at Gilroy, besides working on a farm. He next spent one year in Alaska and British Columbia, and another year on the Deyoste river, mining and prospecting. He started from California in February, 1874. reaching his final destination in June, 1874. and remained there one season; then, returning to California, farmed in Contra Costa county for about six years. He was on the Pacific slope altogether eighteen and a half years. He re- turned to Ohio in 1882, and located in Wood county, where he was engaged in sawmilling, in Portage township. In 1888 he entered the oil business, and was associated with various oil- producing companies, in all of which he was very successful, and accumulated a comfortable fort- une, after which he sold out his interest, and, with the exception of looking after his farm, is at present living retired in Bowling Green.
!
Mr. Schauweker was married April 24, 1883, in Wood county, to Mrs. Alice Ricket, who was born in Wood county, December 1, 1861. Four children have blessed this union, as follows: May, Orina, Lloyd, and Howard. He is a meni- ber of the I. O. O. F., the Encampment of Whit- ney Lodge in Portage, and the camp in Bowling Green. He is looked upon as one of the sub- stantial men of the county, and has the respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens.
ALEX. S. BROWN. It is quite interesting to observe, in noting the various members of a community, how they gathered together from different States and localities, and how well they usually combine to form an intelligent and pros-
perous community. The subject of this history is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Allen town- ship, Cumberland county. November 25, 1841. He is the offspring of James R. and Susanna (Searight) Brown, who in, 1852, removed to Har- risville township, Medina Co., Ohio, where they rented land for two years. On August 24, 1855. they . located in Section 31, Perry township. Wood county, their home being a log cabin, 18 x 20 feet, and wild game was still to be found in abundance in this then frontier region. Here the parents both departed this life, the father at the age of eighty, and the mother when over seventy-six years, and their remains were interred in Fostoria cemetery. At the time of their deaths they were members of the United Brethren Church, though they had formerly been Method- ists, and in politics, the father was a stalwart Democrat. Our subject's only brother, James M. Brown, is at present a ranchinan of Custer county, Montana.
Since the early days when Mr. Brown, of this review, attended the district school, he has seen great improvements in those institutions, which he thoroughly endorses. Like mnost farmer boys he was reared to habits of industry, and when the family located on the 160 acres of wild land in Wood county, which the father had purchased, he secured work from neighbors in order to earn the money for the support of the family.
In Hancock county, Ohio, in 1866, Mr. Brown was joined in wedlock with Miss Rebecca Crawford, by whom he had one child, James E., born January 14, 1867, and on the death of the mother she was laid to rest in Cannonsburg, Han- cock county. He was again married in 1870. the lady of his choice being Miss Margaret Liv- ingston, a native of Pittsburg, Penn., born Jan- uary 25, 1843, and a daughter of Thomas and Rachel (Reed) Livingston. The father was a drayman, and was killed, in 1847, by the caving in of a sand bank, which caused him to fall upon a pick. When eighteen years of age Mrs. Brown came to Fostoria, Ohio, and lived with an aunt. Mrs. Mary Ferguson, the wife of William H. Fer-
guson, until her marriage. The family now in- cludes six children born of the second union- William H., an oil-well-driller, of Perry town- ship, born January 17, 1872; Jessie M., born May 4. 1873; Milo M., a bicycle rider, bora Feb- ruary 1. 1877; Raymond 1 ... born September 10. 1880; Frank S., born August 16, 1882; and Carl W. born January 25, 1880.
From its primitive condition. Mr. Brown ht. transformed his land to a finely cultivated farm. bas made many excellent improvements, and isnt
.
1141
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
business man of more than ordinary ability. At one time he owned a half interest in a sawmill upon his farm, and was agent for farming im- plements and wind pumps, which added mate- rially to his income. He now has 156 acres of arable land, which he is operating very success- fully. Politically he is a Democrat, has served as school director of District No. 9, and is at pres- ent trustee of his township, while religiously, he and his wife are members of the Radical United Brethren Church of Bloomdale, of which he has been steward and is now a trustee.
HENRY W. LEHR, a hardware merchant of Dowling, and agent for the Lehr Manufacturing Company, is a native of Michigan, his birth hav- ing occurred in Monroe county, that State, March 28, 1857. His father, John Lehr, was a native of Germany, and acquired his education in the schools near his boyhood home. On coming to America he located in the Wolverine State, where he carried on farming until his death in 1892. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary C. Fos- ter, and was called to the home beyond in 1890. Their family numbered nine children-Joseph; Adam, a resident of Monroe, Mich .; Peter; John F., a miner of Mexico; Frances, wife of Ludwig Lay; Henry; Mary, wife of C. Billmaier; Lizzie, who is keeping house for our subject; and Trissie, deceased.
Henry W. Lehr early became familiar with farm work on the old homestead, and he pursued his education in the common schools of Monroe county, Michigan. At the age of sixteen he left home and went to Fremont, where for three years he worked at the carriage trade. He then en- tered the car shops in Norwalk and Cambridge, Ohio, where he was employed for two years as car repairer, after which he spent five years in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, as a bridge builder on the Lake Erie & Western railroad. In 1892 he came to Dowling, and established the first hardware store in this place. He has since built up a good business, securing a good trade from the town and surrounding country. He is also agent for P. P. Mast & Co., the Lehr Manufact- uring Company, the Plano Co., and D. M. Os- borne, manufacturers of farm implements, and the patronage which he receives in this department of his business also adds considerable to his in- come. He manufactures and sells the Lehr wag- ons, and does all kinds of repair work, and a good business, secured through his capable manage- ment and enterprise, has brought to him a com- fortable competence. He is known far and wide as a successful merchant and wagon maker, and
.
his high reputation in business circles is most en- viable. After the death of his wife, Mr. Lebr spent a year traveling through the South and Southwest-Tennessee, Mississippi. Louisiana, Missouri, Texas, Arkansas and Iowa-and, in the last three States mentioned. was employed for a time.
On September 18, 1878, Mr. Lehr wedded Maggie Madigan, a native of Toronto, Canada, who died at Norwalk, Ohio, in 1883, leaving two children-John O., born April 19, 1879, is in the jewelry business at Toledo; and Ella May, born March 17, 1882, is attending school at Fremont. Mr. Lehr is a Democrat in politics. He holds membership with the Roman Catholic Church of Perrysburg.
CHRIS SHEARER, a retired farmer of Bowling Green, was born in Bavaria, Germany, June 2, 1833, a son of Henry and Wilhelmina (Vight; Shearer. The father was born in Bavaria in 1794, and came to America in 1856, settling in Crawford county, Ohio, where he died in 1877, his wife having departed this life in Germany. Their children were eight in number, of whom the youngest died in infancy. The others were Mary, who died in Germany; Daniel, who still lives in the old country; Nicholas, residing in Crawford county, Ohio; Elizabeth, who died in Germany; Henry, living in Seneca county, Ohio; Jacob, who died in Indiana; and Chris, our subject.
The subject of this sketch spent his youth in attending school, and working on a farm in his native country. In 1852 he emigrated to America. landing at New York City, whence he came to Ohio and settled in Crawford county. The story of his subsequent life is one which could hardly be told of the resident of any other country than the United States, where pluck and energy, with a good supply of common sense, are the best stepping stones to fortune. When the young emigrant reached New York, one dollar repre- sented his entire capital, and he was obliged to borrow money from a companion to take him to Ohio. He could not speak a word of English. yet he at once undertook to learn the carpenter's trade, and soon was able to earn a living His next step was equally as enterprising and success- ful, being his marriage to a bright American girl. Miss Catharine Brillheart, who was born in Stark. county, Ohio, June 16, 1836.
In 1862 Mr. Shearer came to Wood county, where he worked at his trade, and also carried on farming. He first purchased a farm on Ton- togany creek, in Washington township, on which
1
1142
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
he lived until 1870, then buying a place in Plain township. This he cultivated until in October, 1893, when he took up his residence in Bowling Green, where he and his estimable wife are spending their declining years, surrounded by all the comforts of life, and enjoying the fruits of their labor. Mr. Shearer owns 210 acres of pro- ductive land, and during his busy and successful life has accumulated a comfortable fortune. He belongs to that class of sturdy Germans who be- come many of our best citizens. and by whose
industry and thrift our country grows richer and ; part in political work. Both he and his wife stronger. Mr. Shearer and his wife reared a large family of children, whom they trained in habits of diligence and economy, and who have proved worthy. The following is the record: Laura Ann, born October 9, 1857, married Rev. Charles Shear (they reside in Marietta, Ohio, and have one child-Marie); John, born April 3, 1859, married Phoebe Haramon, and they have one child-Howard; Frank, - born January 18, 1861, is unmarried and lives in Colorado; Philip, born December 16, 1862, married Genevieve Hearn, and resides in Texas (they have one child -- Leslie); Mary, born April 3, 1865, became the wife of John Richard, and died June 24, 1881, leaving two children-Claude and Evalena; Oliver, born October 21, 1867, married May Hopkins, and they have two children-Guy and Ralph; Chris, born March 21, 1870, married Iva Irvin, and lives at Weston; Albert, born March 20, 1872, married Edna Himes; Jennie M., born October 9, 1875, died June 25, 1896; and Coral, born December 16, 1878.
In politics Mr. Shearer is a Republican, and in religious faith is a Baptist. He is highly respected by all who know him, and fills an honored place in the community.
GEORGE BROWNELLER, one of the leading ag- riculturists of Bloom township, and a veteran of the Civil war, is one of the self-made men of the county, whose untiring efforts to transforin their once unproductive acres into fertile farms have made this region a beautiful garden spot. He was born November 21, 1842, in Perry township, Fayette Co., Pennsylvania.
Ohio; George, on subject; Rebecca, Mrs. Porter Haggerty, of Hancock county: and Albert, a farmer of near Oskaloosa, Iowa. Our subject's father was a farmer, and accumulated a fine prop- erty from a meager start in life. He was a Dein- ocrat before the war, but became a Republican when the issues of that time were forced to the front; in his later years, however, he showed his sympathy with the temperance movement by voting with the Prohibition party. He was a regular and conscientious voter, but took no other were prominent members of the M. E. Church. They lived to a good old age, the mother dying in October, 1894, when eighty-four years old, and the father in August following, at the age of eighty-six. and both were buried at East Salem church, near their old home.
George Browneller spent his boyhood days mainly in farm work. He attended school three months in the year, and acquired a good element- ary education, and he is now a hearty advocate of the best opportunities which can be given to the rising generation. When seventeen he began to learn the shoemaker's trade, and worked at same until 1862, when he enlisted in Company G. 16th Penn. Cav. He served seven months and was discharged; but later enlisted in Battery C. 2nd Penn. Heavy Art., and served until the close of the war, taking part in the operations around Petersburg and Richmond. He was detailed to carry messages most of this time. In April. 1865, he was discharged, being in the hospital at the time. He returned home, and remained until the spring of 1866, when he came to Wood county on a visit, and, the country pleasing him. he concluded to make his home here. He hauled wood for Mr. Vickers, of Toledo, for one year. and later for E. J. Rosendale and Alva French. of Bloom township. In 1867 he was married to Miss Caroline Rosendale, a native of Lorain county, and a daughter of William Rosendale, a leading citizen of Bloom township. She died in 1873, leaving two children: Sarah Jane, now Mrs. Charles Wineland, of Center township. and Charles M., a farmer of Webster township. Mr. Browneller was married, the second time. on January 21, 1874, to Mrs. Sarah (Ziegler Wal ley, the widow of Alexander Walley, and daugh- ter of Peter and Sarah E. (Fulmer) Ziegler, who came to Bloom township, in 1852, from Ashland county, where she was born, June 1 ;. 184; She had one child by her first marriage- John H Walley, a farmer in Jackson township. Paulding county. Four children were born of the second
Samuel Browneller, his father, was born east of the mountains in that State, but settled, in early manhood, in Fayette county, and married Miss Sarah Slotterback, by whom he had seven children: Lucinda, who married Elliott Porter, and lives near the old homestead: Frederick, a retired farmer, living in Findlay: David, a wealthy carpenter, of Fayette county, Penn. ; Mary, the widow of Jacob Harris, residing near Flushing, union: Tulley lives at home, and is married to
1148
WOOD COUNTY, OIIIO.
Miss Nellie B. Stecker, of Cass township, Han- cock county; George died in infancy; Flossie died at four years of age, and Daisy F. is at home.
After his first marriage Mr. Browneller lived a short time in Eagleville, and then bought sixty- four acres of land in Perry township, for which he went heavily in debt. The land was partly improved, but he was obliged to work hard to bring it into satisfactory condition. In the spring of 1877 he sold it, and bought eighty acres in Section 36, Bloom township, again incurring a debt. Thirty acres were cleared, but little ditch- ing had been done, and Mr. Browneller had many years of hard work to make his present valuable farm, which now includes. 120 acres in fine cultivation. A log house and barn stood on the place, and these they used for a time; but a new house was built in 1878, and a barn in 1879. In addition to the farm near Bloomdale, he owns forty acres in Center township, and at one time he possessed 240 acres, but he had given eighty acres to his children. He is a reliable man, good-hearted, and ready to help forward any worthy pleasure; his wife, who has been to him a most efficient helper, is an active member of the M E. Church. Mr. Browneller is a char- ter member of Urie Post No. 11O, G. A. R., of Bloondale.
AMOS M. NEIFER. a prominent produce dealer of Bowling Green, was born in Paradise town- ship, Lancaster Co., Penn., November 17, 1844, and is of German descent on his father's side.
Isaac Neifer, his grandfather, emigrated from the Fatherland in 1805, at the age of eighteen. He married Miss Elizabeth Miller, after his arri- val, and later they settled at Wolcottville, Ind., where they spent the remainder of their lives. They had twelve children: Isaac (2) (our sub- ject's father), Barbara, Catherine, Margaret, Abraham, Jacob, Christanna, Samuel, Julieann. Susan, Amos and Harriet. Isaac Neifer (2) was born in Pennsylvania, July 29, 1813. He mar- ried Harriet Oberly, a native of the same State, born May 16, 1821, a daughter of Adam Oberly; who was born in Lancaster county, Penn., Feb- ruary 28, 1788. He was married, in ISoo, to Catherine Myers, also a native of Lancaster connty, Penn., born July 6. 1788, and twelve children were born to thein, viz .: Elizabeth, John, Isaac, Catharine, Daniel, Samuel, Mar- garet, Liddie, Sarah, Levi, Harriet (subject's mother), and Adam. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Neifer came to Wood county in 1847, and located in the then unbroken forest, one mile south of Wes- tor. They secured 120 acres of land. to which
they afterward added forty acres in the same sec- tion. being Section 3, Township 4, Range 9. in Milton township. Their implements for clearing and cultivating the farm were of a decidedly primitive sort; all the logging was done by hand, and for breaking the soil an old-fashioned shovel plow was used, with a cutter and oxen. The boyhood of our subject, and his brothers, was mainly spent in cutting and rolling logs, with but a short attendance at the neighboring district school. His father was a Whig previous to the war, and then a Republican until the Hayes and Tilden contest, after which he became a Green- backer. and later an adherent of the People's Party. He and his wife, who is still living on the old farm, united with the M. E. Church many years ago, and he died in that faith on May 17, 1892. They had six children: Cath- erine, who died in infancy; Adam O., residing at the homestead; John M., who did gallant serv- ice for three years during the Civil war, in the roth Company of Sharpshooters, attached to the 6oth O. V. I .; Amos M., our subject; Sarah E .. who died in childhood; and Isaac Newton, now a leading produce merchant at Weston.
At the age of nineteen our subject left the farm and learned telegraphy, and for several years was employed as an operator on the D. & M. S. R. R. Not finding this congenial, he tried several other occupations, and for a time was " on the road, " first as salesman for a cigar man- ufacturer. and later as a buyer for a poultry dealer. He was remarkably successful in these ventures, and soon began trading on commission for himself in grain and other produce. but now deals mainly in poultry. He was inarried in 1866 to Miss Flora Bassett. a native of Wood county. Of their four daughters, the eldest. Emma B., married Russell Angel, of Weston, and has two children-Harry, and Fern: the second daughter, Hattie H., married Charles Strong, of Seville, Ohio, and they now live at Pemberville, Ohio; Minnie, died in childhood: the youngest, Lulu, is still at home.
Mr. Neifer is a man of varied talents, and an original and independent thinker. He takes great interest in politics, making close study of the issues of the time. Until the administration of Hayes he was a Republican, then, after cham- pioning the Greenback cause for some years, he became a supporter of the principles of the Pro- ple's Party. Through these changes he has been led by one consistent hope, that of securing to the common people of our land, the freedom and the prosperity that should be the heritage of all He is an earnest and impressive speaker upon
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.