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 58
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
In 1866, in Erie county, Ohio, Mr. Hastings married Miss Barbara Hastings, a native of that county, and a daughter of Joel Hastings, a farmer. This wife died June 28. Isso, and was buried at Risingsun. For his present wite our subject chose Miss Minnie Groff, who was born in Sherman township, Huron county, and is a daughter of George Groff. They now have
1179
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
₡
one son, Vivian A., born in 1895. In politics, Mr. Hastings is a firm believer in the principles of the Democratic party, but has never been an office seeker or politician, and socially holds membership with the Grand Army of the Re- public. His comfortable competence is the re- sult of good business management, and " Jack," as he is familiarly called, has many friends throughout Wood county.
CHRISTOPH LEHMANN. The history of this gentleman, who for a quarter of a century has made his home in Bowling Green, where he holds a high position in the esteein of his fellow citi- zens, is a striking example of what can be ac- complished in this land of the free, by the man who possesses sufficient force of character to over- come adverse circumstances and work his way steadily forward.
Mr. Lehmann is a native of Germany, born in Baden, April 9, 1843, the son of William and Catherine (Hauenstein) Lehmann. His parents were both natives of Baden and were married there. His father, who was a weaver by trade, died when our subject was three years old; the mother remarried, and lived to be sixty-eight years of age. She had a large family, of whom four grew to maturity: Thomas, a farmer in Wood county; Jacob, who still lives in Germany; Chris- toph, our subject; and Gottlieb Schwechheimer, a son by her second marriage.
When twenty-two years of age Mr. Lehmann came to America, landing at New York City with a capital of fifty cents. Through the kindness of a friend he was enabled to reach Tiffin, Ohio, where he worked at anything that came to hand, shoveling dirt on the railroad, working in a brew- ery, etc., until he went into a meat market and learned the trade of a butcher with John Rem- erly, remaining with him three years. At this time he determined to improve his knowledge of English and entered a country school at Tiffin, Ohio, where he remained a short time. He then went to Toledo, Ohio, and while in that city. came to the end of his resources; wondering how to raise money to live on, he fell in with a wan- dering Italian innsician. The two concluded to do business together, and Mr. Lehmann passed the hat while the other performed on the harp. They inade considerable money, but one fine morning, our subject awoke to find that his part- He had enough money left ner had decamped. to take him to Tiffin. There he met Gen. John C. Lee, for whom he worked over a month, doing various odd jobs about his premises and being paid $1.65 per day. He then went to Chicago,
Ill., where he worked at his trade for three months, afterward going to Buffalo, N. Y., and then to Crestline, Ohio, finally returning to Tiffin, where he borrowed $100, and in 1868 started a meat market of his own. On August 27, 1871, Mr. Lehmann took up his residence in Bowling Green, where he has since pursued his calling with great success. He made money steadily, and invested it in property, his first purchase being the building which he still occupies. In 18;7. in connection with Messrs. Bolles & Manville, he put up the brick structure known as the . Union Block," in 1885 built another brick block, and still another in 1896, of which he is the sole pro- prietor.
Mr. Lehmann was married November 11, 1869, to Miss Caroline Kabig, of Tiffin, who was born in Wooster, Ohio, July 22, 1848, and sev- en children have come to them: William and Frank, associated in business with their father; Mrs. G. W. Fernside; Margaret; Carrie; James Garfield; and Katie.
In politics Mr. Lehmann is a thorough Dem- ocrat, and a worker in the interests of his party. Socially he belongs to the Masonic Order and the I. O. O. F. He was a member of the city council for many years, and has always com- manded the respect and esteem of the commun- ity. He is a man of good sense and excellent judgment, and his advice is often asked in mat- ters of interest pertaining to the welfare of the public. He is always willing and ready to give of his time and money for the furtherance of public enterprises, and has proved a loyal citizen to his adopted country. He has made his way in the world by his own industry and thrift, and well deserves the success which has attended him.
SHELMAN BAIRD is a member of one of the honored pioneer families of Wood county, who for half a century has been connected with its upbuilding and progress. He was born Decem- ber 17, 1829, in Wayne county, Ohio, and is a son of Asa I. and Sarah (Shelinan) Baird. When the latter was quite small her mother died, and she was reared in a family by the name of Whit- ford. The father was an Eastern man by birth. and a son of Charles Baird, who came to Wood county at a very early day, dying here in March, 1848, and was laid to rest in Perry Center ceme- tery. Asa Baird had been married in Wayne county, and in October, 1848, brought his family to Perry township, where he owned forty acres of land in Section 20, and eighty acres in Section 19. Two of his brothers had previously come to
1150
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
Wood county-Ora, who had located in Bloom township as early as 1833; and Milton B., also an early settler of that township. The first home of the family was of round logs, with a clapboard roof and puncheon floor, the size of which was only 18 x 20 feet, but later an addition of hewed logs was built. Only a small portion of the land had been cleared, mainly the high knolls. The father brought the first separator into the southern part of Wood county, and for twenty years followed threshing in connection with the operation of his own land. He possessed a great fondness for horses, and owned a draft horse known as .. Old Rockingham." He was a hardy, robust man, who lived to the age of sixty- eight years, dying in 1870, and surviving his wife about five years. Their remains were interred side by side in Perry Center cemetery. They belonged to the Disciples Church, and he was an enthusiastic member of the Republican party, while before its organization he was a Whig. Their children, who lived to an adult age, are as follows: Hannah, who died in Wayne county, Ohio, upon her wedding day, of scarlet fever; James, who died in Charlotte, Mich. ; Shelman, of this review; Mary A., who first wedded Levi Spitler, but is now the widow of John Langam, and lives in Indiana; David, a farmer of Perry township; and Sarah A., now Mrs. H. J. Pelton, of Bloomdale, Ohio.
· Shelman Baird passed his boyhood and youth in the manner of most fariner boys, and with his parents came to Wood county in the fall of 1848. It was on October 10, 1850, that he married Keziah Lacey, who was born in Pennsylvania, March 23, 1831, and was a daughter of Peter Lacey, who followed farming as a means of live- lihood. They became the parents of the follow- ing children: Sarah J., born August 8, 1851, is the wife of George Zimmerman, of Sandusky county, Ohio; William S. resides in Bloom town- ship, this county: Malissa L., born July 23, 1855, married John W. Sharp, and died in Henry town- ship, Wood county, March 31. 1892; Mary Ann M., born January 13, 1858, is now Mrs. John Houtz, of Sandusky county; Minnie K., born July 6, 1861, is the wife of David Henning, of Henry township; David, born October 24, 1863. lives in the same township; Claria E., twin sis- ter of David, married Charles Milbourn, of Bays, Wood county; and Lorenzo C., born December 18, 1866, makes his home in North Baltimore, Ohio. The mother of this family died May 17, 1873, and was laid to rest in Millgrove ceme- tery.
At Tiffin, Ohio, September 12, 1881, Mr.
Baird was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Isabella Taylor, widow of Henry Tay- lor, by whom she had seven children: Mary E .. now Mrs. Daniel Weller, of Fremont, Ohio: Eva M., who died in infancy; Addie, now Mrs. George Bowersox, of Tiffin; Richard H., of San- dusky, Ohio; George D., of Rockaway, Ohio: Leonard E., who lives with our subject; and Herbert, who died at the age of five years. Mrs. Baird was born in Mansfield, Ohio, October 5. 18.37, was a bright scholar in the common schools, learning rapidly, and at the age of twen- ty was licensed to teach, but never followed that profession. Her parents, Henry and Sarah (Kitchen) Bowen, were married in Pennsylvania. and had eight children, three sons and five daughters. The father, born in Connecticut. February 6, 1801, was a tailor by trade, which he followed in Mansfield and near Sandusky. Ohio, as well as in Portland township. Drie county, and in Hancock county, Ohio, died, when past the age of seventy-three. His wife, who was born in Lycoming county, Penn., August 7, 1806, died in Fostoria, Ohio, when nearly eighty years of age.
After his first marriage Mr. Baird had located upon his present farm of eighty acres in Section 18, Perry township, and has converted the dense forest into one of the best farms of the locality. He is now the oldest male descendant of this branch of the Baird family, is conservative, but commands the respect of all, and in politics was a Republican until 1875, when he joined the Greenback party, but is now a Populist. Mrs. Baird is an intelligent, cultured lady, possessing a retentive memory, and her knowledge of Na- tional issues of importance is wonderful. She is an earnest Christian, a member of the Disciples Church.
JOHN T. JOHNSON, a prominent agriculturist residing near Dowling, was born November 13. 1850, in Hanover, Germany. He was a son of Garrett and Mary Johnson, their family consist- ing of Mary, John T., Catherine, Garrett, Mar- getta (wife of Fred Myers of Hanover, Germany). Henry, Hank and Derrick.
Mr. Johnson availed himself of the excellent educational opportunities afforded by the schools of his native place, and on reaching manhood de- termined to come to America to make his home. Previous inquiries had caused him to decide upon this locality as the best field for his efforts, andi in 1872 he arrived in Perrysburg. There were but fifty-four cents in his pocket; but he pos- sessed a stout heart, and a willingness to accept
1
.
1181
WOOD COUNTY, OIIIO.
toil and hardships as the price of success. He secured employment on a farin by the month, later worked in a sawmill, and by close economy managed to save enough money to buy forty acres of wild land. Here the proud and happy owner proceeded to build a log house and clear a. farm.
In 1874, Mr. Johnson married Miss -Engel Brinker, of Perrysburg township, and ten chil- dren were born to the union, of whom seven are living: Mary (the wife of Charles Shelden), Hank, John, William, Louie, Whilomene and Katrina. As his first little home came under cultivation, Mr. Johnson gradually extended its borders until he now owns one of the finest farms in the township. He is a Democrat in politics, and a leading member of the Lutheran Church.
JOSIAH HALL. Among the most progressive and successful farmers of Perry township will be found the gentleman whose name opens this sketch, and who is regarded as one of its repre- sentative citizens.
Mr. Hall was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, December 15, 1828, and is one of eleven chil- dren comprising the family of Joseph and Mary (Mills) Hall. The father was of Irish ancestry, and a man of sturdy build and of an active, ener- getic character. He was a self-made man, and acquired, through his own efforts, a comfortable fortune, being the owner, before his death, of 300 acres of good land in Crawford county. He died in the latter county, at the age of seventy-two years, his wife preceding him to the better land some eight years.
Josiah Hall was the youngest son of the fam- ily, and was only one year old when his parents settled in Likens township, Crawford county. He had a very limited education, and his boyhood was spent in the usual manner of farmer's lads, working on the home place, and getting what schooling he could during the short days of the winter time. All the other sons, as they reached maturity, went out into the world to make their own way, but our subject remained with his par- ents until their death. November 1, 1885, in Bloom township, Seneca county, Mr. Hall was married to Miss Sarah A., daughter of Chris- topher and Mary Swartz, and who was born in Virginia, January 23, 1830. For eight years after his marriage our subject lived on the old homestead, and then, in April, 1864, bought eighty acres in Section 18, in Perry township. Wood county. For this he had paid in part with a team and some tools, but was still heavily in debt.
1
Only ten acres of the place were cleared,
and on this was built a hewed-log house, but much work was still needed to bring the soil un- der cultivation. He owned this land for eight years, working on and improving it, before tak- ing up his residence there, in the meantime add- ing eighty more acres to it, so that when he finally removed to the farm he had a fine proper- ty of 160 acres. After locating there perma- nently, he erected good buildings, and otherwise improved the place, and has never since spent a month at a time away from his home. He now owns 280 acres, and is one of the well-to-do farm- ers of the community.
To Mr. Hall and wife eight children have been born, as follows: William, who is farming in Milton township, this county, on forty acres given him by his father; Mary and Franklin, who died in childhood; Eliza, who died when twenty- three years of age; Owen, living with his par- ents; Alice, now Mrs. Frank Patterson, living in Perry township: Dow and Daniel, both at home with their parents. Mr. Hall has always been a stanch Democrat, and, while taking the interest which every good citizen should take in the gov- ernment of the State and Nation, he has never aspired to office. He is unusually well preserved for a man of his age, and is still industrious, working about his place, and overseeing affairs as actively as a much younger man might do. He is an excellent citizen, progressive in his ideas, and has deservedly made a success of his calling.
HARRISON NELSON. The story of our heroic American ancestors is a source of inspiration, in- terest and encouragement, and often valuable lessons can be learned from those around us. The life of our subject is 'in many respects ex- emplary, for his career, honorable and upright in all respects, is that of a self-made man who has overcome the obstacles of limited circum- stances, and by persistence, energy, and resolute purpose worked his way steadily upward. Mr. Nelson was born in Mercer county, Penn., Jan- uary 8, 1840, and is a son of Nicholas and Cath- erine (Lightner) Nelson, also natives of the Key- stone State. His great-grandfather, William Nelson, was born in the North of Ireland, and in the latter part of the eighteenth century came to America, establishing the family in this country. His son Joseph, the grandfather, removed from Huntingdon to Venango county, Penn., in ISO2. but in 1810 returned to Huntingdon, where he made his home until 1837. In that year he re- moved to Mercer county, where his death oc- curred in 1850. His children were John, who died in 1878; Harriet, deceased wife of John Mc-
1182
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
Kim, of Pennsylvania; Daniel and James, both deceased; Margaret, wife of Matthew McCord, of Mercer county; Lydia, wife of Curtis Pierson, of Mercer county. On both the paternal and ma- ternal sides the family of our subject is connected with men prominent in American annals, espe- cially the history of the Revolution. Among the number were Thomas Nelson, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence from Virgin- ia. The father of Robert Lee was also descend- ed from the same ancestry.
The father of our subject was born in 1804. was reared as a farmer boy, and throughout his life carried on agricultural pursuits, owning 100 acres of valuable land in Mercer county, Penn. There his death occurred in 1882, and his wife passed away July 12, 1859. Their children were James, who is living on the old homestead in Mercer county; Samuel, also on the homestead farın; Adam, who has lived in California since 1860; Nancy, who died at the age of seventeen; David, who entered the United States army in 1861, and died in the hospital in front of Rich- mond, June 9, 1862: Harrison, of this sketch; and Catherine, who died at the age of four years.
In his youth Mr. Nelson, of this review, ac- quired a good English education, and at the age of fifteen entered upon his business career as clerk in a mercantile establishment in his native county, being thus employed at the time of the breaking out of the war. In October, 1861, he enlisted as a private of Company F, 57th Penn. V. I., and served until November 12, 1864, par- ticipating in the battles of Yorktown, Williams- burg, Fair Oaks, seven day's fight in front of Richmond, Bull Run, Chantilla, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Kelly's Ford, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Har- bor, Petersburg, Deep Bottom and the siege of Petersburg. In May, 1862, he was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant, and in May. 1863, after the battle of Chancellorsville, for gallant and meritorous service was made first lieutenant. After the battle of Gettysburg he was promoted to the rank of captain, but for two months was forced to lie in a hospital in Virginia, owing to a wound received in the left thigh during that most important engagement of the war. In March, 1863, he had been detailed as adjutant of the regiment, and continued in that capacity until Jan- uary 1, 1864, when he assumed command of his company. When his term expired, Capt. Nelson returned home and resumed clerking. In 1877 he entered the employ of the Standard Oil Com- pany, with which he has remained continuously
since. On the 29th of November, 1888, he came to Wood county, and assumed charge of the bus- iness of the company here in- the capacity of guager. He started out in life for himself as a poor boy, but has steadily worked his way upward, his merit and fidelity winning him continued pro- motion, until he now occupies a remunerative and responsible position.
On March 29, 1866, Mr. Nelson was joined in wedlock with Miss Kate Bell. a native of Mercer county, Penn., born December 14, 1844, and a daughter of John B. and Ann (Scott) Bell, na- tives of the Keystone State. In politics Mr. Nel- son is an active Democrat, and an earnest work- er in his party. In religious faith, his views coincide with the doctrine of the Presbyterian de- nomination. Socially, he is connected with the Masonic Lodge, the Union Veteran Legion, and the Grand Army of the Republic, and in all the relations of life he displays the same loyalty and fidelity, that marked his career, when, on South- ern battle fields, he followed the old flag that now waves victoriously and proudly over the united nation.
LEWIS F. MYERS, who is engaged in general farming in Bloom township, is a native of the same locality, born in Section 12, July 26, 1854, and is a son of John Myers. The paternal grand- father, Frederick Myers, was born in Switzerland, where he was married, and later came to the United States, being six months upon the ocean. during which time some of his children died and were buried at sea. After living for a time in Pennsylvania, he removed to Stark county, Ohio, and later, to Seneca county, same State, where he owned forty acres of land, but he and his wife passed their last days in Indiana.
The birth of the father of our subject oc- curred December 25. 1820, in Pennsylvania, and when ten years of age he left home, going to live with a man who sent him to school. On the re- moval of his parents to this State he came witli them. In Seneca county he was married June 15, 1840, the lady of his choice being Miss Polly Bare, who was born in Washington county. Penn., February 3, 1817, daughter of Henry and Catherine (Kraft) Bare. Her father died in the Keystone State, after which Mrs. Bare accom- panied her father. Henry Kraft, to Stark county, Ohio, later moving to Seneca county, where she married David Snyder, and there her death oc- curred. After his marriage Mr Meers rented land in Seneca county for a time, but, in the fall of 1854. he removed to Section 14. Bloom township, Wood county, having purchased eighty
1183
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
acres there the day after Franklin Pierce was elected President. Not a stick of timber had been cut, and most of the place was under water, while the dwelling was a rude log cabin with clapboard roof, and boards, laid loosely, formed the floor. It was a difficult task to clear and develop the land, provisions were high, flour being $14 per barrel, and the family experienced all the sufferings and privations incident to pioneer life. The father still makes his home upon that land, which is now one of the best -cultivated tracts in the community, and is operated by the youngest son, while he is practically living retired. He was formerly a Democrat, but now supports the Peo- ple's party, taking little interest in politics, however. During their early residence here Mrs. Myers, after a hard day's work, would sew for others; thus aiding in the support of the family. She is an earnest Christian woman, a member of the Protestant Methodist Church. In the fam- ily were the following children: Catherine A., wife of William Apple, of Bloom township; Will- iam, who was a member of Company A, Sth O. V. I., and was killed at the battle of Gettysburg, being buried in the National Cemetery there; Henry, of Toledo, Ohio; Barbara. now Mrs. Snowden Sargent, of Jerry City; John G., of Cyg- gent, Ohio; George, who died at the age of twen- ty-one years; Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Madden, of Bloom township; Lewis F., of the same town- ship; David, of Jerry City; and Josiah at home.
As his parents were in limited circumstances the school privileges of Lewis F. Myers were lim- ited, and since the age of fourteen he has pro- vided for his own maintenance, working as a farm hand for several years. His first property con- sisted of forty acres, which had originally be- longed to his brother George, who was drowned, and he purchased the interests of his brothers and sisters. It was in its primitive condition, and he began its improvement while still under the parental roof.
On December 5, 1886, Mr. Myers was united in marriage with Mrs. Aggie Mann, widow of David Munn. Her birth occurred in Liberty township, Wood county, March 12, 1850, and she is a daughter of Snowden L. and Hannah (Jones) Sargent, farming people. Our subject and his wife began their domestic life upon rented land; but in the summer of 1887 he erected his present home upon his place, and, on its com- pletion, they removed to it. He has also built a barn 36x Go feet, with 18 foot posts, and made other necessary improvements. He is 1 sys- tematic farmer, progressive and industrions, as the neatness of his place well indicates. At
State and National elections he generally votes the Democratic ticket, but in local affairs he is not strictly partisan, holding himself free to vote for the man and not the party.
ISAAC WHITSON is one of the highly-esteemed and popular citizens of Wood county, who, dur- ing the Civil war, went forth in the defense of his country, and made for himself an honorable record as one of the boys in blue. All who know him, respect him for his genuine worth, and he is justly numbered among the leading citizens of Perrysburg township. His father, James Whitson. was a native of Scotland, and in the early '40s became a resident of Stark county. Ohio. In 1843 he married Jane Rideout, and took up his abode near Massillon, Ohio, whence, in 1853, he removed with his family to Daven- port, Iowa. He died in that city two years later, leaving a widow and the following children : Isaac; George Washington, who was drowned in Maumee river, in 1857; Mary, wife of Horace Coy, of Oregon township, Lucas Co., Ohio; and Ella, wife of Arthur Mandell, of Perrysburg town- ship.
The subject of this review acquired his early education under rather unpropitiouscircumstances. He entered the schools of Massillon, Ohio, spent two terms in a school at Davenport, Iowa, and continued his studies in Ross township, .Wood county, whither he had come after his father's death to live with his grandparents. Before he attained his majority he entered the army, en- listing February 13, 1864, as a member of Com- pany C, 3d Ohio Cavalry, under Capt. O. M. Brown, and Col. Horace Howland. He served for eighteen months, holding the rank of cor- poral, and participated in the battles of Edgefield, Big Shanty, Atlanta, Kenesaw Mountain and Wil- son's raid. On August 4. 1865, he received an honorable discharge and returned home.
In October, 1868. Mr. Whitson was united in marriage with Miss Lavina Mogle, a native of Wood county. They have four children: George E., born July 2, 1869, is now married, and living at home; William J., born January 13, 1871, is also married, and living at home; Ida May, who was born October 28, 1875, and is the wife of Charles Zingg; and Sarah Jane, born May 4, 1881.
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.