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 57

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) cn; J.H. Beers & Co. cn
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1140

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 57

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Jolin Katon was instructed during his boy- hood by his father, who was a man of unasual mental ability and attainments, and remained at

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home until August 5, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. H, 18th Mich. V. I., Col. Doolittle and Capt. Ingersoll commanding. He participated in all the battles in which his regiment was en- gaged, and endured hardships and exposure from which his health ever suffered. He was discharged June 26, 1865, and returned to Michigan, and, after the removal of the family to this county, he continued to assist his father until 1869, when he bought twenty acres of land and began farming on his own account. He possessed naturally the energy and industry which onsure success, and gradually enlarged his farm until he owned sev- enty-nine acres of fine land with well-planned im- , provements. His ill health, which dated back to his gallant service in the army, had of late years been a source of anxiety, and on the advice of his physicians he retired to Grand Rapids to seek freedom from responsibility and care. He was married October 13, 1869, to Miss Ruvilla Kerr, a sister of W. B. Kerr, a prominent resi- dent of Grand Rapids township, and had three children: William W., born November 8, 1870, farmer in Grand Rapids township; Carrie, born May 17, 1874, who resides with her par- ents; and Clyde E., born January 16, 1876, who has a prosperous grocery and meat market in Grand Rapids. Mrs. Katon is a lady of fine so- cial gifts and gracious manners, and is one of the leading workers of the Presbyterian Church, to which Mr. Katon also belonged, and in which faith he passed away July 20, 1896. He held a high place in the esteem of his acquaintances; his upright character and liberality of thought inade his friendship something to be valued.

In politics he was a Republican, and he was for several years school director and member of the school board in his township, and, later, was elected to the office of trustee, but he was obliged to resign because of his health. He was a mem- ber of the G. A. R., Bond Post No. 24, at Grand Rapids.

ville was a soldier, and ex-sheriff of Brown coun- ty, Kans., and died at Oil Springs, Cherokee Strip, Indian Territory, in 1890; Theron died in Iowa; Mercy died at an early age in Iowa; Win- field S. is a specialist physician of St. Joseph. Mo., and possesses great natural ability.

Mr. Phillips' first schooling was obtained in Seneca county, in log school houses, furnished with plank seats, and of which he has fond recollections, as he claims that better progress was made then than at the present time. He learned rapidly, although his attendance was inter- rupted by his being compelled to work on the farm, as his parents were poor. He walked three miles to and from school, without overcoat or underwear in winter, as such luxuries were unknown in those days. and for his lunch carried a package of corn bread. His clothing was home made, the product of his mother's skill. He was a hardy, robust boy, to whom sickness was un- known, and in the morning he would get up, and in his bare feet would run eighty rods in the snow to a quail trap. In the spring of 1853 Mr. Phillips started for Cedar Rapids, Iawa, riding the entire distance on a little bay mare. He had $45 in cash, and was twenty-eight days on the road. When he reached Linn county he had $27 left. He worked at odd jobs by the day, but in July. 1853, was unfortunate enough to be taken ill. He sold his mare for $95 and bought eighty acres of land in Otter Creek township, Linn Co .. Iowa, where he put up a shanty twelve by four- teen feet, with one window in it.

On September 18, 1855, he was married in Tiffin, Seneca Co., Ohio, to Miss Ann M. Lott, who was born in that county, October 16. 1835. She was the daughter of Peter and Mary (Black) Loti, the former of whom was born in Adams county, and the latter near Fredericksburg, Md. They were early settlers in Seneca county and had eight children, three sons and five daughters. Peter was one of the well-to-do men of his section, and was justice of the peace for twenty years in Seneca county. Our subject went to housekeeping, first on his prairie farm in Iowa, where the furniture consisted of what Mr. Phillips made himself, and was consequently very crude. At that time he was as poor as . Job's turkey. " In the fall of 1864 he returned to Ohio. and in the spring of 1865 bought eighty acres of land in Montgomery township, Wood county. where he remained a few years and then went to Pleasant township, Seneca county, and later to Perry, Hear Norris Station. In the spring of IS;t he came to Section 9, Perry township.

J. R. PHILLIPS, a merchant and farmer of West Millgrove, was born in Rutland county, Vt., March 10, 1832, a son of Caleb and Rhoda (Sherman) Phillips. Our subject was two years old when his parents moved to Seneca county, Ohio, and located near Melmore, where they lived until 1854, and then went to Linn county, Iowa, where the mother died in 1864. The father returned to Vermont, and died there in 1888, at the age of seventy-eight years. They had seven children, as follows: Izetus died in Millgrove; J. R., our subject; Sally A., married Solomon Yambert, and died in Iowa: Montro- | bought 160 acres of land, for which he paid cash.

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and on which he now lives. To him and his wife were born the following children: Lisuel, died in infancy; May, May 8, 1857, married E. D. Maffett, of Hartford City, Ind., who is editor of the Times : Elmer E., April 9, 1859, a farmer of Perry township; Metta E .. January 22, 1861, is the wife of J. M. Laurence, of Prairie Depot : Barton M., March 30, 1866, is employed in the store of our subject; Jennie, April 13, 1869, died in infancy.

Mr. Phillips is a Republican, and was for nine years justice of the peace of Perry township, and for eight years mayor of West Millgrove. He is counsellor and advisor of his party, in which "he has always manifested a keen interest. In 1876 he entered into partnership with his brother in the general merchandise business at West Millgrove. After his brother's death he took entire charge of the store, which he now con- ducts in connection with his farm. Both he and his wife are members of the Disciples Church. "Squire " Phillips, as he is known, is a self-inade man, and one of the substantial citizens of Perry township. He is a man of finc intellect. a fair legal knowledge, and his opinion is sought by many on matters of various kinds. By hard work in his younger days, and with the cheerful assistance of his good wife, he has secured a comfortable competency, and is enjoying his lat- ter days in the peace and quiet he has so well earned.

CORNELIUS BIERLY. Among the influential members of the farming community of Montgom- ery township, and one of its most highly respected citizens, is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He is entirely a self-made man in the truest sense of the word, having been the architect of his own fortune, and he was one of the brave defenders of the Union during the Civil war. He was born April 24, 1837, in Miles town- ship, Center Co., Penn., and traces his ancestry back through several generations to a Prussian cavalryman, who served in the Thirty- Years war in Europe, and was founder of the family in the United States, locating in Pennsylvania. His son, Anthony Bierly, aided the Colonies in their struggle for independence, and in the Keystone State wedded a Miss Warner.

The next in direct line was Nicholas Bierly, the grandfather of our subject, who was born in Sunbury, Penn., and was one of the oldest in a family of twelve children, three sous and mine daughters. In Miles township, Center Co., Penn., he was united in marriage with Lucinda Buchtel. also a native of Sunbury, and they became the : 8, 1862, in Company C, 72nd O. V. I., under

parents of ten children-Nicholas; Hannah; Mich- ael; John; David, living in Montgomery township, Wood Co., Ohio; Anthony, the father of our sub- ject; Reuben; Peter; Simon; and George, also of Montgomery township. The grandfather, who was a large, tall man, was a farmer by occupation. a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, while his wife be- longed to the German Reformed Church. He died at the age of seventy-five, and she when sixty-three years of age.

Anthony Bierly was a natural mechanic, and a cooper by trade, but he also engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. In Center county, Penn .. he wedded Rachael Ruhl, a native of that State, and to them were born nine children, as follows: Catherine, Hannah, Lydia, Cornelius, Abie, Mar- garet, Paulina, Reuben and Fayette; all are still living with the exception of Catherine and Abie. The parents, who are now deceased, passed their entire lives in Pennsylvania.

Our subject is the only one of the family to come to Ohio. He had a common district-school education in his native State, and remained at home until seventeen years of age, aiding in the work of the farm and in his father's shop, as he was a natural niechanic. At that time he began learning the trades of a brick-layer and a plasterer, and during the first summer, while he was work- ing as an apprentice, his wages were only two shillings per day. As he learned quite rapidly. he then became a journeyman, and was employed at his trade until the spring of 1857, when he came to Ohio with his uncle, George Bierly, who at that time had a felon on his thumb, and wished our subject to help him in getting settled in this State.

On his arrival he decided to remain, and he worked at his trade for some time at Fostoria. Bellevue and elsewhere.

On January 30, 1858. in Section 12, Mont- gomery township, Mr. Bierly led to the marriage altar Miss Caroline Hartman, who was born near Prairie Depot, November 19. 1840, the daughter of William and Esther ( Buchtel: Hartman. They now have three children -- Clara E., wife of C. H. Hailes, of Prairie Depot; A. A., a plasterer, of Prairie Depot, Ohio; and Delta G., a music teacher, residing at home. Mr. Bierly located upon his father-in-law's farm, but also worked at his trade in connection with farming. In !Sóo he removed to Prairie Depot, where he bought a log house on a lot which is now in the center of the business portion of that village, for $100, and lus first payment consisted of cattle worth St7. Prompted by patriotism he enlisted, on October

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Capt. Samuel Snyder, and joined the regiment at Duc !. Port, La. He was with the command during the siege of Vicksburg, but illness com- pelled him to enter the hospital, and he was later transferred to the invalid corps, with which he served until discharged in August, 1865.

After visiting his old home in Center county, Penn., Mr. Bierly returned to Prairie Depot, very much broken down in health, and for three years was there engaged in the mercantile business, in connection with work at his trade. Selling out his store, he gave his entire attention to the lat- ter occupation until November 23. 1886, when he removed to his present home, having previ- ously purchased sixty acres in Section 12, Mont- gomery township, which is one-half of the old Hartman homestead. He has a very pleasant residence, and has also erected all the other buildings upon the place. Until 1881 Mr. Bierly was a Republican, but since that time, on account of his views on the temperance question, he has been a stalwart Prohibitionist. While a resident of Prairie Depot, Mr. Bierly served as a member of the council, receiving every vote cast with the exception of four, and was a member of the first board of aldermen that assembled in that village. He has also been constable in Montgomery town- ship, and a member of the school board of Prairie Depot District.

CLARENCE POTTER, of Liberty township, is a young man of excellent business and executive ability, whose leading characteristics are enter- prise and energy. He is careful in his manage- ment, far-sighted in his dealings, and above all is honorable and straightforward in every transac- tion. His fellow citizens accord him a place among the representative men of Liberty town- ship, and give him their confidence and high regard.

Mr. Potter was born in Fayette county, Penn., September 5, 1859, and is a son of George and Almira Jane (Collins) Potter. The father was born in Fayette county, in 1833, was educated in the district schools, and then began work at the stone mason's trade; he also learned chair-mak- ing before his marriage, and followed that occu- pation for a number of years. At the age of twenty-six he was married, in Fayette county, to Miss Collins, a native of West Virginia, who died April 14, 1879. The father afterward wedded Mary Leonard, with whom he is now living, on a farmi which our subject purchased in the spring of 1889. The children of the first marriage are Clarence; Miriam, of Youngstown, Ohio; Charles, a lumber merchant of Washington county, Penn. ;

Isaac, who died at the age of three years; Joseph. who died in infancy; Eunice, who died at the age of three years; Josephine; Angeline, who is living with our subject; and Horace. The two children of the second marriage are Jessie and Logan.

Our subject received a good English educa- tion, and at the age of sixteen began work in a tannery, on Beaver creek, one mile and a half from his home. He also followed the mason's trade to some extent, and before the age of six- teen laid the foundation under his father's barn. As a boy he greatly enjoyed hunting and fishing. and was an expert shot with the rifle. At the age .of twenty he went to Mckean county, Penn., and procured work as a tool dresser in the oil fields of Bradford, receiving $2 per day for a year, and afterward $3 per day. He continued in the oil fields of McKean county and of Allegany county. N. Y., for three years, and became a driller. Subsequently he went to Bottineau county, N. D., where he secured a squatter's claim on the bank of Willow river. The journey was made by rail to Devil's Lake City, and thence on foot to his destination, a distance of 200 iniles. This was in the summer of 1884. On his 160-acre claim of prairie land he built a rude cabin, partly of logs and partly as a dug-out, and then broke fifteen acres of land. with a team of horses bor- rowed from his nearest neighbor, whom he re- paid by aiding him to erect a substantial dwell- ing. As he could not get a deed for his land. on account of it being unsurveyed, and not in the market, Mr. Potter returned in the following No- vember, to the Allegany county oil fields, ex- pecting to return to his claim in the spring; but. having a paying position, he abandoned this plan. After two years in the oil fields, he returned home, and in March, 1887, removed to Findlay. Ohio, where he engaged to go to Bowling Green and take charge of the De Witt oil well for his uncle, Isaac Collins. He continued to work in the oil fields of Ohio and Michigan until the spring of 1888, when he purchased tools and be- gan taking contracts for drilling wells. In 18Ss he drilled, on the Ducat farin, a well whose esti- mated yield was 10, 000 barrels per day: after two weeks he sold this well for $10.000. In June. 1889, he purchased forty acres of land. to which he has added until he now has 200 acres, upon which he has drilled twelve wells, which have proved productive and profitable. Mr. Potter has also many acres of leased land, upon which he has nineteen producing wells; his production of oil for the month of March, 1896, shows over three thousand barrels, net.

.42

GEORGE.

CLARENCE POTIER.

MRS. LUELLA POTTER.

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Mr. Potter was married, in Milton township, April 15, 1891, to Miss Luella Poland, who was born August 31, 1866, in Hancock county, Ohio, a daughter of Joseph and Nancy (Swisher) Po- land. They have one child, George Poland. In politics Mr. Potter is a Republican. He is a popular and esteemed citizen, genial and pleas- ant in manner, and ever ready to extend a help- ing hand to those in need, many having received timely assistance from him.

HENRY HUFFMAN, a leading agriculturist of Grand Rapids township, was born near Harris- burg, Penn., November 4, 1831. His family is of German origin; but his father, John Huffman, was born in Pennsylvania, where he followed, for many years, the occupation of tailoring. He. married Miss Nancy - -, and reared a family of twelve children, of whom our subject is the eldest. Catherine is the widow of Jacob Walters; Mary is the widow of John Walters; Jacob and Daniel are farmers in Washington township; Harriet married Francis Franklin, of Tontogany; John is a farmer in Grand Rapids township; Jeremiah is a grocer in Grand Rapids; Israel is a butcher in the same town; Anna married R. D. Hannah; Joseph is a farmer in Washington town- ship; and Sarah is the wife of Byron Phillips, of Otsego. Our subject's father came to Wood county in 1850, and bought a large tract of land in Grand Rapids township, which he cultivated until his death, which occurred March 15, 1864. His wife survived him many years, passing away August 12, 1880, having seen her large family, whom she and her husband had early trained in the Christian faith, all well settled in life.

Henry Huffman, the subject of this sketch, attended school in his native State during his boyhood, and afterward learned the tailor's trade. which he followed for some years. At the age of twenty-one he took a farm on shares, and kept it for seven years, when he bought eighty acres in Washington township, where he constructed a dwelling and farm buildings out of logs. In 1868 he bought forty acres more, and built a hand- some brick residence, with barns of modern style, and, a few years later, he bought forty acres near Grand Rapids, building a fine residence, in which he now lives, and making "first-class improve- ments. He has since purchased thirty acres more, now owning 190 acres of land: but for the last ten years he has left the active work of his estate in the hands of his sons and sons-in-law. He has been twice married first, in I859, to Miss Christiana Seitz, who was born in Lancas- ter, New York, October 31, 1836. Eight chil-

dren were born of this union, whose names, with dates of birth, are as follows: Lucy E., Novem- ber, 1860, is the wife of C. A. Eager, of Pleasant Bend, Ohio; Clark F., April 25, 1864; Samuel H., August 10, 1862; Fannie E., July 17, 1865. married Charles Riggs, of Grand Rapids, Ohio: Sarah A., April 9, 1867, married George Kylean: John W .. November 13, 1868, is in the windmill business at Boston, Mass. ; Cristie Maria, Octo- ber 9. 1872, married George Mason; and Meno M., February 15, 1874, is a manufacturer of windmills, at San Francisco, Cal. The mother of this family died May 21, 1876.

On March 3, 1878. he married, for his second wife. Miss Mary Roth, who was born February 27, 1844, a daughter of Nicholas Roth, a well- known farmer of Lucas county. Cheered by her companionship, Mr. Huffman is passing his de- clining years in retirement, taking no part in worldly affairs, and already looking forward to the joys of another and higher life. He is a de- voted student of the Bible, and a member of the New Mennonite Church.

B. P. STRATTON, a member of the well-known firm of Stratton, Powell & Co., leading hard- ware merchants at Bowling Green, was born at Milan. Ohio, August 10, 1859.

His grandfather, Daniel Stratton, came front Beaver county, Penn .. to Norwalk, Ohio, as a "Fireland Pioneer " at an early date, and lived there for many years. He died at Tontogany. Wood county, in 1876. Our subject's father. N. T. Stratton, was born in Norwalk, he lias fol- lowed farming as an occupation all his life, most of the time in Wood county. In 1871 he en gaged in lumbering, and had a general store at Averill, Mich., but he now resides at Yale, Mich. In politics he is a Republican, and he has always been an earnest supporter of progressive move- ments in his locality. He married Miss Jennie A. Smith, who was born on August 18, 1834, in Milan township, Erie county, by whom he had seven children: Frank, who resides at Portage. Ohio: B. P., our subject: John W., of Yale, Mich. : Hattie, wife of Harry Higgins, of Yale; Mellie, the wife of Frank A. Griswold. of the same place: Burt S .. and Louie, both residents of Howell. Mich. Our subject's mother died in 1884, deeply mourned by a large circle of friends in the M. E. Church, of which she and her husband had been members for many years.

Mr. Stratton's early education was obtained in the schools of Woed county, and in Flint. Mich., where he studied for about eight years. For a short time he worked on his father's farm

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in Wood county, but soon established a store at Portage, dealing in hardware and all sorts of im- plements. This he sold in 1885, and, coming to Bowling Green, he and J. W. Powell formed a partnership in a similar business, which is now known far and near, and is regarded as one of the most substantial, as it is certainly one of the most popular, in northern Ohio. Much of its success is due to the personal influence of Mr. Stratton, whose fine presence and courteous manners have won him friends wherever he is known. His en- ergy and judgment are highly appreciated in business circles, and he is a valued member in the Crystal Oil Co., holding the offices of secre- tary and treasurer; he owns a one-fourth interest in this company. In municipal affairs, also, is his advice prized, and he is a leading member of the city council of Bowling Green, where his influence can always be relied upon for any measure tend- .ng to promote the good of the community. Mr. Stratton married Miss Hattie J. Avery, an ac- complished and honored young lady, of Weston, and has two children, Pearl and Harold. He is a member of the fraternal order of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Masonic Order.

HENRY A. SCHROEDER, a well-known agricult- urist of Perrysburg township, residing near Dowling, was born in Perrysburg township, April II, 1849. His parents, Herman and Angeline (Sielscott) Schroeder, were natives of Germany, the father born in Prussia, in 1818, the mother born in Hanover in 1831. They were early set- ers of Perrysburg township, where they acquired a large traet of land. The father died in 1891, but the mother is still living at the old homestead, which is now managed by our subject's brother. John F. Schroeder.

Henry A. Schroeder received his early educa- tion in the district schools, and · assisted his father on the farm up to the age of twenty-seven, when he inherited 137 acres of land from his father, which he has since improved and converted into a fine farm. He does a general farming and dairy business, and is engaged, to some extent, in stock raising. His industry and frugality, combined with a sound business judgment, have made him successful in every undertaking so far, and given him a high reputation in business cir- cles, while his genial nature makes him friends throughout the community. In 1877 he mar- ried Miss Eliza Hartman, a daughter of Philip and Clara Hartman, a prominent citizen of Woodville, Ohio. She was born December 7. 1852, and died March 5, 1891, leaving two chil- dren: Edward H., born September 10, 1882,

and George P., born January 14. 1886. On May 7, 1896, Mr. Schroeder was married to Miss Carrie White, a daughter of Henry R. and Mary White, prominent citizens of Perrysburg town- ship; she was born in Toledo, Lucas county, September 21, 1856. In politics Mr. Schroeder is a Republican.

A. J. HASTINGS, one of Risingsun's substan- tial citizens, and a man who has been identified with its business interests ever since his residence there, was born on November 30. 1816, in Groton township, Erie Co., Ohio, and is a son of Ephraim Hastings, a native of New York, and a farmer by occupation. Our subject is next to the youngest in a family of eight children -- all sons-and was reared in the usual inanner of farmer boys of his day, his school privileges be- ing such as the locality afforded.

Mr. Hastings remained at home until his en- listment in the Union army. December 28, 1863. when he became a member of Company K, 128th O. V. I., which did guard duty on John- son's Island, near Sandusky City, until the close of the war, our subject being discharged in July. 1865. When hostilities had ceased, he began life for himself, ambition and energy being his only capital. At Sandusky he worked for some time in a wheel factory, and after leaving that employ opened a grocery store at Parktown, Ohio, which was his first experience in mercan- tile pursuits. He was there engaged in business for six years, during which time he was quite successful, and on selling out he became pro- prietor of the well-known hotel, .Seven-Mile House," in Erie county, which hostelry he con- tinued until October, ISSS.

It was at that time of life that Mr. Hastings came to Risingsun, where he was engaged in the same line of business for some time, but later carried on a retail liquor store, which proved very profitable, and he was thus employed until 1895. During that time he conducted a very respectable and most orderly place of business. In 1896 he erected a valuable store room on Main street, where he owns a lot, having a 132 foot front, on which is also located his comfortable home.

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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 57

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) cn; J.H. Beers & Co. cn Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1140

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) cn; J.H. Beers & Co. cn
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1140