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 54
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From his father, Mr. Ackerman inherited forty-four acres of land, and afterward purchased thirty-six acres of his brother, so that he now has an excellent farm, upon which he has made many
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splendid improvements. His present commodi- ous home was erected in the fall of 1893. In politics he is a Democrat, and is an intelligent, self-made man and highly esteemed citizen. His wife belongs to the United Brethren Church.
J. D. PHILO, a well-known agriculturist of Webster township, and one of the leaders in local affairs, was born in Erie county, Ohio, Oc- tober 28, 1854.
Daniel Philo, the father of our subject, and one of the most prominent pioneers of this vicin- ity, was born in 1827, in Luzerne county, Penn., where his father, Hurlbut Philo, was for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits. On reach- ing fris majority, Mr. Philo left home and worked as a laborer for three years. He then rented a farm of 200 acres in Erie county, Ohio, where he. remained until April, 1858, when he came to Wood county, and settled on a farm near Ton- togany. He was married in Erie county, Jan- uary 19, 1854, to Miss Caroline Marks, a native of England, born April 27, 1835, who came to America with her parents when she was seven years old. Of this union seven children were born: J. D., subject of this sketch: Mary is the wife of Isaac Emmett; William A., George, Ward, and William L., are all prosperous farin- ers, and Sarah Jane, the youngest, is the wife of Job Walker.
Our subject was educated in the schools of his district, and remained at the old homestead until the age of twenty-one, when he started in business for himself. In 1879 he bought twenty acres of land near Fenton, to which he added later purchases until he now has eighty acres under cultivation, with fine modern buildings. He was married in 1879 to Miss Maria Fenton, of Webster township, and has three children, Lewis, Fred, and Robert. Mr. Philo is a man of rare geniality and kindness, and his good judgment and ability make him a popular can- didate of the Democratic party of his township. He was a supervisor for a number of years, school director for six years, also a member of the board of education, and is now serving his second term as trustee, giving general satisfaction in tlie dis- charge of his duties.
SAMUEL HYTER, of Bloomdale, has accom- plished satisfactory work as a farmer, and, hay- ing acquired a competency to live on in his de- clining years, has retired from the business to make room for younger blood, required in the active life of a farmer. He was born in what is now Carroll county, Md., July 22, 1826.
His father. Jacob Hyter, was also a native of Maryland, where he married Margaret Koontz, and to them were born the following children: Elias, who was known as the "lame schoolmas- ter," being crippled from white swelling from the age of three years; Ephraim, a farmer of Henry county, Ohio, who died in March, 1895; Alice, who became the wife of John Longley (after whom the station on the Ohio Central railroad was named), and died in Seneca county, Ohio: Susan, who married Hezekiah Dern, in Mary- land, and died in Fostoria, Ohio; Catherine, now Mrs. Samuel Shunk, who resides near Westmin- ster, Md .: Julia A., who first wedded G. W. Crabb, but is now the widow of John Conley, and lives in Hillsdale county, Mich .; Jacob, who died at the age of three years; Margaret, now Mrs. David E. Coe, of Perry township, Wood county; Samuel; Abraham, of Bradner, Ohio: and William, a farmer of Clinton township, Sen- eca county. The parents were both of German descent, and spoke that language very readily. but the children never learned it.
On October IS, 1839, the parents. with six of their children, including a married daughter and her husband, started for Ohio with two two- horse wagons. The father had disposed of all his property in Maryland, and had several hun- dred dollars. He purchased forty acres of par- tially improved land in Pleasant township, Seneca county, to which he later added an adjoining forty acres, and there died at the age of seventy- five years, his remains being interred at Tiffin. His wife, who survived him, lived to the age of eighty years, and was buried in Perry township, Wood county. She was a Methodist in religious belief, while he belonged to the German Re- formed Church. He was a strong man, never ill, weighing almost two hundred pounds, and, at the time of his death, his hair was not yet gray. In the success of the Whig party he took an active interest, and he delighted in arguments both on politics and the Scriptures, on which he was well informed.
The education of Samuel Hyter was obtained principally in Maryland; the nearest school in Seneca county was three miles from his home, and he was allowed to attend only a few weeks in the winter season, as through the summer mouths his services were needed upon the home farm. At the age of twenty-three he started out in life for himself, securing forty acres of land in Jackson township, Seneca county. In that towa- ship Mr. Hyter was united in marriage, ou Octo- ber 18, 1849, with Miss Rebecca Mckee, who | was born August 27, 1824, in Washington coun-
الحمة ضسيا
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ty, Penn., daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Scheller) McKee. Her father was a native of County Down, Ireland, whence, at the age of nine years, lie came with his father, John McKee, to America, locating in Pennsylvania, where the son was married. When only two years old Mrs. Hyter was taken by her parents to Muskingum county, Ohio, later to Guernsey county, where she taught two terms of school, and, after going to Seneca county, in 1346, engaged in teaching for one term, her wages being but $10.00 per month.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hyter be- gan their domestic life upon the old "Longley homestead," in Jackson township, Seneca county, and she spun and wove the cloth for the family's use, being quite an expert in spinning flax. The children that came to brighten their home are as follows: John A., a farmer of Perry township, Wood county; Margaret A., wife of Dr. B. R. Hubbard, of Sandusky, Ohio; Emily J., now Mrs. Charles Redfern, of Perry township; Cora, who died at the age of four years; William A. and Rolla, who died in infancy; and Luella, who died at the age of fifteen years. They have an adopted son, Earl D. Bossler, who has lived with them from the age of four weeks. On selling his first farm of forty acres, in Seneca county, Mr. Hyter bought eighty acres in Section 28, Perry township, Wood county, to which he subsequent- ly added until he at one time had 200 acres. There he made his home until November 14, 1882, when he removed to Bloomdale, where he has a commodious brick residence, and there he and his estimable wife expect to spend their re- maining days in peace and retirement. They are leading workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which they have contributed liberally, and Mr. Hyter was one of the building commit- tee at the time the present house of worship was erected, and is now trustee of the Church.
C. B. HATFIELD, M. D., a rising young phy- sician of West Millgrove, is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of Wood county.
Our subject's birth occurred in Perry town- ship, December 2, 1861, and he is the son of John S. and Johanna (Bunnell) Hatfield. Dur- ing his youth and early manhood he remained upon his father's farm, receiving in the meantime a substantial foundation for an education in the district school. In the fall of 1889, at the age of twenty-seven years, he entered Western Reserve Medical School, at Cleveland, Ohio; but, before completing the prescribed course, was compelled to leave school, in the spring of 1891, on account 1
of ill health. He later, however, became a stu- dent in the Kentucky School of Medicine, at Louisville, where he graduated in the spring of 1893.
In June of that year, Dr. Hatfield located at West Millgrove, Wood county, where he has since engaged in a successful practice. He has won his way to the regards of the people, with whom he comes in contact in his daily rounds, by his ready tact and kindly sympathy. At Fos- toria, Ohio, on the Ist of September, 1892, he wedded Miss Caroline E. Simon, a native of Bloom township, and a daughter of Stillings Si- mon. A bright little daughter blesses this union - Neva V., born August 5, 1894. At local elec- tions the Doctor is independent of party lines. his only criterion in such matters being that a proposed measure is for the benefit of the com- munity in which he lives; but on national ques- tions his sympathies are usually with the Demo- cratic party.
JOSEPH G. STARN, a well-known merchant of Bowling Green, dealing in decorators' materials. was born in Galion, Ohio, December 10, 1853.
His grandparents, Jacob and Mary Starn, were among the early settlers of Wingard's Corners, Crawford county, coming from Penn- sylvania, where their son, Samuel, our subject's father, was born in 1815. He was married in Ohio, to Miss Elizabeth Dague, a daughter of Gabriel Dague, a hardy pioneer of Medina county, eighty-two years old at the time of his death in November, 1868. For some years the young people lived in that county, where Mr. Starn was employed as master mechanic on a railroad. Later he moved to Crawford county, and then to Hancock county, farming and working at the car- penter's trade. In 1864 he came to Perry township, Wood county, and ten years later went to Fos- toria, where he died in 1891. His wife, who was born in 1823, survives him and resides in Fostoria. They had nine children: (1) Rachel. deceased, formerly the wife of H. B. Nievel: (2) Martha, who died in childhood; (3) Mahala. who married J. H. Nievel, of Tiffin; (4) Hannah. the wife of J. B. Linhart, a wealthy farmer living near Van Buren, Ohio; (5) Joseph G., our subject : (6) Frank and (7) Johnson, residents of Fostoria; (8) Thomas C., who died in early man- hood; and (9) Edwin Wilkins, who died Decent- ber 20, 1895.
Mr. Starn passed the first five years of lus boyhood in Galion, but, his parents removing then from that town, his education was obtained chiefly in the district schools of Arlington, Ohio
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and Perry township, Wood county, and in the high school at Fostoria. At the last mentioned place he learned the trade of decorator, serving a two-years' apprenticeship. His employer then put him in charge of one of his shops where he remained until 1873, when he went to Akron and engaged in carriage painting. In 1878 he came to Wood county, and for some time fol- lowed his trade in Bowling Green. He was mar- ried the same year to Miss Maggie Minear, a native of Hancock county, born September 29, 1856. They have one living child, Harold, their first born, Glennah, having died at the age of nine. In 1880 Mr. Starn moved to Fostoria and formed a partnership with his father in the gro- cery and queensware trade; but about a year later he sold his interest, and returned to Bowl- ing Green to work in the auditor's office. The term expiring, he began clerking, and this he continued for several years with different firms -- fires, failures and sickness giving him a number of unwelcome vacations. In January, 1890, he opened his present store, where he keeps a well- selected stock of paper hangings, paints and artists' supplies. He also contracts for the ar- tistic decoration of interiors, taking orders in town and country. He has a number of other business enterprises, and is a director in the Globe Building and Loan Association of Colum- bus, a stockholder appraiser in the Indemnity Building & Loan Co., of Cleveland, and owns a farm of forty acres near Bowling Green.
He is an active and influential worker in the Republican party, and has held the office of clerk of Plain township for seven years, and been trustee of Oak Grove cemetery for nine years, serving as secretary and treasurer of the board, and devoting much time and energy to the im- provement of the grounds. He belongs to the fraternal orders of the K. of P. and the P. O. S. of A.
GEORGE WAGONER is well known throughout Lake township as one of the most thorough-going and enterprising farmers, pleasantly situated in Section 33. His birth occurred in that township, in 1844, and here he has ever made his home. His parents, Samuel and Catherine (Shook) Wagoner, were natives of Franklin county, Penn., where they were reared and married, and emi- grated to Wood county, Ohio, in 1835, making their first location at Stony Ridge, or East Em- pire House, where the father followed blacksmith- ing and was also employed on the pike. He en- tered 110 acres of wild land in Lake township, which he at once began to clear and cultivate, and
made his home thereon until his death in 1883. His wife departed this life in 1889.
The parental household included nine children. namely: Joseph, who joined the boys in blue during the Rebellion, becoming a member of the 189th O. V. I., and died in Alabama. Samuel, who was a member of the same regiment, with which he served nine months, and died in Lake township, in 1894. Mrs. Sally Crayo, who ie- sides in that township. Catherine, who became the wife of Joseph Shook, and lives in East To- ledo. Ohio. Barney, who also served for nine months in the 189th O. V. I., and now resides on the old home farm in Lake township. Jonathan, who was a member of the same regiment, died in Ottawa county, Ohio, in I891. Isaac, who served for three years in the frIth O. V. I., and died in Lake township, in 1893. George, the subject of this sketch, is next in order of birth. Henry, who also belonged to the irith O. V. I .. in which he served for three years, and now makes his home at Emporia, Kansas.
Our subject obtained his education in the dis- trict schools of Lake township, and remained upon the home farm until his enlistment in the Union army. In February, 1865, he joined Company G, 189th O. V. I., for one year or un- til the close of hostilities. At Camp Chase, Co- lumbus, Ohio, he was mustered in and was first ordered to Nashville, Tenn. At Huntsville, Ala .. the regiment was engaged in guarding railroads and bridges and in scouting, until honorably dis- charged at Nashville in the fall of the same year. Mr. Wagoner at once returned home to Lake township, where he has since engaged in farming. In 1875 he located upon his present farm ; having purchased eighty acres of timber land, and erected thereon a good brick residence. He has two sub- stantial barns besides other outbuildings, one built in 1876, which is 18 x 2S feet, and the other 36 x 50 feet was erected in 1882. He now has ninety-three acres, all cleared and placed under a high state of cultivation, and the neat appear- ance of the place indicates the progressive and en- terprising spirit of the owner.
In 1865, in Sandusky county, Ohio, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Wagoner and Miss Matilda Baker, a native of Stark county, this State, and a step-daughter of Levi Baker, who became a resident of Lake township, but is now deceased. Her mother, Mrs. Leah Baker, still makes her home in this township. Six children have been born to our subject and his wife ---- James, who is married, and resides at Stony Ridge; Mrs. Laura Truman, who lives on the home farm; Hallie, also at home; and three
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others who are all deceased: Cyrus G. died April 18, 1872, aged two months; Dory Edna died March 9, 1883, aged three years, one month and twenty-five days; and Gracy Ellen died March 29, 1883, aged five years, eight months and seventeen days.
Mr. Wagoner belongs to one of the old and honored families of Lake township that was so well represented in the Union army during the Civil war, seven of the sons having entered the ranks to fight for the old flag that now waves so proudly over the united nation, and one laid down his life on the altar of his country. The political support of our subject is unswervingly given the Democratic party, and he has served as a member of the school board. He takes a just pride in the welfare and advancement of his township and county, and has aided materially in its improvement.
JOHN A. CREPS is numbered among the county's pioneers, and for fifty-seven years has been identified with the interests of his locality. He has, therefore, witnessed much of its growth and upbuilding, and has ever borne his part in the work of progress as a loyal and devoted citizen. He was born in Perrysburg, this county, August 24, 1838. His father David Creps, was a native of Cumberland county, Penn., and, in 1830, was married to Rosanna All. They came to Ohio, in 1831, taking up their residence in Perrysburg, where he was engaged in tanning leather from 1831 to 1847. They became parents of seven children, namely: Joseph, deceased; Amanda, wife of John Mercer; Shebna S., deceased; John A .; Mary, wife of Samuel Ryder; Catherine, de- ceased wife of George Chapman; and David R., a farmer of Waterville, Ohio. The father of this family carried on agricultural pursuits for twenty- one years. His death occurred in 1868, and his wife passed away in 1878.
In the district schools of Middleton township, John A. Creps acquired his literary education. and subsequently attended the Commercial Col- lege of Maumee, graduating from that institution. He then worked in a sash and blind manu- factory at Perrysburg, and after a time became the owner of a controlling interest in the estab- lishment. Later, he sold out, and from 1858 to 1861 was in the grocery business at Perrysburg, when he sold his interest to his partner, who gave his note for the amount. The partner afterward became bankrupt, and Mr. Creps lost over $700 through the transaction. From 1861 to 1871 he was engaged in the wholesale and retail butcher- ing business in Maumee, meeting with fair success
in that undertaking. In 1871 he returned to the homestead farm which he operated for his moth- er until her death, and has since carried it on in his own interest. He now has an excellently improved farm, and is successfully engaged in the raising of grain and stock.
Mr. Creps is a man of excellent business and executive ability, of resolute purpose and of great force of character. He started out in life for himself a poor boy, but has been enterprising and progressive, and is now the possessor of a handsome farm. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, and for six years served as school director. His religious connection is with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In ISS8, in Lucas county, Ohio, he was united in marriage with Susanna Carroll, a native of Waterville, Ohio. and a daughter of James Carroll, of Lucas county.
JOSHUA WEAVER, an agriculturist of energy and ability, is a native of Bloom township, where he still resides, belonging to one of the pioneer families. His birth occurred August 17, 1849. and he is a son of John and Harriet (Martin Weaver, both natives of Washington county. Penn., the father born in March, 1815, and the mother December 26, 1814. There they were married, and about 1840, with their two children. started for Wood county, Ohio. The father pur- chased eighty acres of land in Section 28, Bloom township, from Joshua Swayne, and immediately began its improvement. There he died April 12. 1875, and his wife on December 26, 1886. They were laid to rest in Weaver cemetery, which is on a portion of the old home farm. He had be- come one of the substantial farmers of the com - munity, owning at the time of his death 320 acres, 240 of which were in one body. He always took quite an active interest in political affairs, supporting the Democratic party, and held several prominent positions, including those of justice of the peace, assessor, treasurer, and trustee. Although not a member of any Church. he always contributed liberally to the support of several.
In the family were the following children; Isaac, who died after reaching manhood in Blcom township: Joel, of Hancock county, W. Va .. Sarah .A., who first married Cornelias Howard later became the wife of Conrad Flaugher, and died in Bloom township: George, a farmer of Kosciusko county, Ind .; James, who died in Bloom township after reaching maturity: Mary ES., who died while young; Joshua, subject of this sketch; Thomas, deceased; Harriet S., now Mrs. William Nusbaum, of Hancock county, Ohio.
"The
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and Emma, wife of Samuel Kochensberger, of North Baltimore, Ohio.
Joshua Weaver passed his early life upon his father's farm, which he now owns and success- fully operates, and received his education at Dis- trict School No. 9, his first teacher being George Bronson. After completing his studies he gave his entire time and attention to the cultivation of the land, and now has a good farm of forty acres in Section 28, on which, in 1886, he erected liis present comfortable residence, while the barns and other outbuildings are all that could be. wished for.
The marriage of Mr. Weaver and Miss Amy Whitacre took place in Bloom township on Sep- tember 13, 1874. The bride is a native of that township, born June 12, 1855, and is the daugh- ter of Isaac and Elizabeth (McCrory) Whitacre. To this worthy couple have been born six chil- dren: Mary R .. George, Isaac N., Alta M., Earl R. and Floyd J. All are at home with the exception of George, who died in infancy, and Floyd J., who died at the age of four years. The parents are active members of the Disciples Church at Eagleville, and are true and sincere Christian people. In politics Mr. Weaver is a strong adherent of the doctrines of the Demo- cratic party, although but little of a politician. As a friend he is an ardent and consistent one, and at his death will leave to his children the priceless heritage of a good name, which is to be chosen rather than great riches.
M. C. BRIGGS. Foremost among the enter- prising business men and capitalists of Bairds- town is the subject of this sketch, who, though he is not a native of the county, has during his short residence here so thoroughly identified himself with its best interests, and demonstrated his abil- ity and public spirit, as to receive the entire con- fidence of the conimunity. He is of " Yankee " ancestry, and displays all the shrewdness, caution and energy which characterize that race.
Mr. Briggs was born December 12, 1851, in Plessis, Jefferson Co., N. Y., where his parents, Clark and Margaret (Spalsbury) Briggs, still re- side. Only two of their children lived to adult age, the other being Edwin D. Briggs, a promi- nent resident of Bairdstown. During boyhood our subject attended the schools of his native vil- lage and assisted his father, who was a carpenter by trade, working also at odd jobs as opportunity offered. At the age of sixteen he began clerking in the general store of Vandeberg & Avery, at fifty cents per day, which seemed a small fortime to him. It required twenty-six and one-half days
of this labor to secure a new overcoat, and, al- though it was by no mean's of the best material. he took great pride and satisfaction in it. After one year passed in the store, he attended a select school, where he pursued advanced studies and made rapid progress. At nineteen he began to learn the trade of cheesemaking, and for five years worked at that in summer, teaching school in the winter. From boyhood he has been noted for thoroughness and efficiency in any work he undertakes, and, therefore, he naturally made a success of his cheese making. In 1875 he re- ceived a gold medal and $75 in money from the Watertown Dairymen's Board of Trade for the best sample of cheese made, the contest being open to New York State.
On March 15, 1876, Mr. Briggs was married at Plessis, by Rev. William M. Holbrook, to Miss Amanda Jones, a native of Oneida county, and a lady of fine social gifts. She was a teacher in Jefferson county, N. Y., for fifteen terms. They have a bright and interesting family of four chil- dren-Tennie C., who is now teaching music (she studied music under Prof. Billings, of Findlay); and Carie M. and Mand C. (twins), and Estella. Mr. Briggs came to Wood county November 17. 1877, to take a position as bookkeeper for the Dewey Stave Co., at Bairdstown. He discharged his duties so satisfactorily that in the following year he became manager of the general store conducted by the company. In October, ISSI. he and a brother-in-law, William A. Jones, bought this store, which they have carried on ever since, the firm name being first M. C. Briggs & Co., and later Briggs & Jones, They now own 555 acres of land, of which 405 acres are in Bloom township, seventy acres in Perrysburg township, and eighty in Hancock county.
On March 26. 1886, the Palmer Oil Company was incorporated, Mr. Briggs being one of its' leading members, and he has been the secretary from that date to the present. The affairs of this company have been managed. with unusual discretion and ability, and it is one of the most successful companies operating in Wood county. where they hold 600 acres in fee, and 4,000 acres under lease. No less than 125 wells are in operation, and the average monthly output is 30,000 barrels. They drilled the largest gas well ever put down in Wood county, "The Simon Well."on the N. W. } of Section 29, which at this writing has been in active operation for ten years, and is still a paving investment The Company have also extensive interests in south- eastern Kansas, where they have 40,000 acres under lease, and are operating thirteen wells,
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