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 60
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Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have five children- Robert C .; Agnes G., wife of Harvey Garner, of Lima, Ohio; Lula M., Walter L. and Nellie, at home. By his ballot, Mr. Thompson evinces his hearty endorsement of Republican principles. and is a liberal, progressive citizen, devoted to the welfare of the community. Socially, he is connected with the Masonic and Odd Fellows societies.
EVERHARD GERKINS, who devotes his tiae and energies to agricultural pursuits, in Perrys. burg township, was born June 24, 1826, in Gel
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many, and is a son of Clamor and Gertrude (Bruning) Gerkins, natives of Schledehausen, Prussia, and farming people of that country. They had six children, of whom our subject is the eldest; the others being John, who was born September 16, 1833, and is a farmer of Prussia; Annie Elizabeth, who was born in 1835, and died April 3, 1860; Annie Marie, who was born October 13, 1837, and is now in Prussia: Clara, who was born September 29, 1840, and died in America in 1872; and Herman, who was born in 1844, and is now living in Prussia.
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Our subject acquired his education in his native land, and came to the United States in 1853, reaching Toledo, Ohio, on October 6. The following spring he began farming, which pursuit he followed two years. He then re- moved to Lucas county, Ohio, where he remained for eight years, when he came to his present home, a valuable and well-improved property of one hundred acres. He has placed this under a high state of cultivation, and has added all the accessories of a model farm.
On April 10, 1849, Mr. Gerkins married Miss Anna Maria Schwake, who was born July 15, 1825. They have nine children: Kathrina, who was born June 2, 1850, and is now deceased; William, who was born 1852, died 1853; Melissa, who was born 1853, died in infancy; Sophia. who was born February 28, 1854, and is the wife of Philip Ziss, of Wood county; Elizabeth, who died at the age of three years; Henry, who was born June 2, 1859, and was killed by a runaway team October 2, 1888; Anna, who was born December 4, 1861, and is the wife of Albert Limmer, of Wood county; Amelia, born Feb- ruary 2, 1864, now at home; and Carrie, who was born September 22, 1866, the wife of Theo- dore Minneker, of Toledo, Ohio. The parents have been consistent members of the German Reformed Church, of Toledo, since 1866, and for twenty years our subject has served as elder. Since becoming an American citizen he has given his political support to the Democracy, and has been an advocate of all measures calculated to prove of public benefit, or to promote the general welfare.
men who have operated to such good purpose in Wood county. His first purchase comprised eighty acres, but now i16 acres pay to him a golden tribute in return for the labor expended upon them.
The birth of our subject occurred in Wood- ville, Sandusky Co., Ohio, in 1853, and he is a son of George and Betsy (Loop) Brim. His fa- ther, who was a native of Devonshire, England, came to Wood county, when a young man, lo- cating in Troy township, where his marriage with Miss Loop, a native of Pennsylvania, was cele- brated. He was employed on the construction of the Maumee pike, but, after his marriage, re- moved to a farm in Woodville township, San- dusky county, where he made his home until his death in 1873. His wife departed this life in the same township. in March, 1895. In their family were eight children: James, who still operates the old home farm; Walter, a resident of Mill- bury, Wood county; Mrs. Emeline Duke, of Pettis county, Mo .; George, who died in John- son county, Mo .; Mrs. J. C. Ricker, of Troy township, this county; G. B., of this review; Tillie, wife of George Ash, who is engaged in the manufacture of furniture at Logansport, Ind .; and Mrs. William Gardner, of Lake township.
Mr. Brim, whose name introduces this sketch, passed his boyhood days in a manner similar to most farmer lads, and remained a member of his father's household until coming to Wood county in 1875, where, for two years, he resided in Millbury, and then removed to his present farm. In Lake township, on March 1, 1877, he was married to Miss Lizzie Hahn, who was born in Perrysburg township, Wood county, and is a daughter of Valentine and Magdalene (Berg) Hahn, who are both natives of Germany. but were married in Ashland county, Ohio, whence they removed to Perrysburg. Both are still liv- ing, and are numbered among the honored pio- neers of the county. Seven children grace the union of our subject and his wife-George, Clara, Otto, Orville, Lloyd, Logan and Edua.
The Republican party finds in Mr. Brim a stalwart supporter, and he has served as a mem- ber of the school board for a number of years. Socially, he is identified with the Knights of the Maccabees, being an honored member of the lodge, and takes a genuine interest in the enter- prises set on foot for the progress and welfare of his adopted county.
G. B. BRIM. The well-appointed farm of this gentleman is finely located in Section 27, Lake township, within whose limits he arrived in 1877, though he had purchased the land two Years previously. He has given his close atten- tion to its cultivation and improvement, withresults WILLIAM BUDD, a farmer of prominence in which can hardly fail to be satisfactory to himself, ; Perrysburg, was born in Minden, Prussia, June He is numbered among the energetic and stirring | 3, 1845, and is the son of Casper and Anna
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Mary Budd, the former of whom was born in Hanover, December 13, 1786.
Casper Budd's name was Casper Henry Cur- tis, but according to the custom of the country at that time, he took his wife's surname upon mar- rying her. She was born in Minden, Prussia, September S, ISII, and was married the day be- fore Easter, 1828. Mr. and Mrs. Budd re- mained in Germany seventeen years. following the occupation of farmers. Mrs. Budd owned an estate, but they lost it, and in 1846 they came to America, the voyage occupying seven weeks and two days. They located at Cincinnati, Ohio, where Mr. Budd secured work in a stone quarry. He had a hard time of it, and among other misfor- tunes broke his leg. He then moved to Perrys- burg and chopped wood, saving enough to buy four acres of land on which he built a log cabin, where our subject was born. Their lot was a hard one, and Mrs. Budd worked hard and took in washing. Later they bought eighty. acres of Government land in Perrysburg township, built a shanty on it and subsequently sold it. Mr. Budd was a long time in recovering from the injury he received, and Mrs. Budd was obliged to earn a living for the family. During the war Mr. Budd engaged in the huckstering business. in which he made money enough to buy ISo acres of land. After the war he quit the huckstering business and retired to his farm, where he died in 1872. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, as is also Mrs. Budd, who is still vigorous for one of her age. To this couple were born ten children, four of whom grew to maturity, as follows: Anna Mary, who married Chris Spilker, lives in Perry's- burg township, and they have ten children, all of whom are living; Caroline M. is the widow of Charles Clander, and lives in Minnesota; Peter is a contractor and carpenter, and lives in Toledo, Ohio; William, our subject, was the fourth child, and he grew up in Perrysburg where he was able to obtain but limited advantages in the way of schooling. He learned the butcher and huckster business, in which he was engaged for ten or twelve years, eight months of which he spent in Wisconsin. He gave this up, and returned to the home farm, where he has continued to reside ever since.
On April 10, IS88, he was married to Miss Jennie Walker, who was born in Scotch Ridge. May 23, 1866, and who is a daughter of William and Lydia Ann (Bowen) Walker. Six children have been born to them, namely: Sarah M., No- vember 17, 1888; Mary Della, December 27, 1889; John C., February 15, 1891; Eugene W., August 29, 1892; Esther R., February 4, 1894;
Jennie S .. September 30, 1895. Mr. Budd is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the I. O. O. F. at Perrysburg.
WILLIAM BUCK, who is successfully engaged in general merchandising in Milton, and is num- bered among the leading business men of the community, was born in Stark county, Ohio. July 31, 1832. His grandfather, David Buck, was one of the heroes of the Revolution, and served throughout the long struggle for independence. The family was founded in America by three brothers, who came from England and located in Pennsylvania. The father of our subject. Thomas Buck, was born in Lancaster county, Penn., in 1791, and was a farmer by occupation. When a young man he came to Ohio, and mar- ried Miss Twesch, who died in Stark county. They had five children, bat Mrs. Susan Bishop. of La Salle, Ill., is the only one now living. One son served in the United States army dur- ing the Mexican war. He afterward joined a surveying expedition, and it is supposed was mas- sacred by the Indians while on his way to Utah. For his second wife, Mr. Bock married Mrs. Wintrode, a lady of German descent, who was formerly Elizabeth Fox. She became the mother of our subject. Her father served all through the war of 1812, and while returning home was accidentally killed by the discharge of a gun. The parents of our subject had six children. namely: William; Levi, of Deshler, Ohio; Thomas, a farmer of Iowa; Rachel, of Nebraska, widow of John Heldenground; Sophia, of Illinois. widow of Joseph Stover; and Louisa, wife of Leal Mitchell. of Kansas.
William Buck was a child of seven years when he came with his parents to Wood county, and first attended school in Milton township when thirteen years of age. His father had entered forty acres of land from the government which he aided in clearing, until fifteen years of age, when he started out to make his own living. He also aided in the support of his parents until their deaths, which occurred in Illinois, whither they had removed in 1862. During the summer inonths our subject worked at farm labor, re- ceiving $8 per month and board, and in the win- ter season attended school. His wages were afterward increased to $16. When a young man of twenty-four he went to Portage, and began learning the harness-maker's trade, at which he served a two-years' apprenticeship, when h. bought out his employer, and continued the 011 ness for four years. He then sold out, and for three years was engaged in general merchandising
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in Portage. On the expiration of that period, he again disposed of his property, and came to Mil- ton, conducting there a general merchandising establishment for three years. When he had sold his store there, he bought a farm of forty acres in Milton township, which was afterward taken from him on account of a mortgage that had been placed upon it by the former owner. He lost everything he had, except the household goods, and in consequence returned to Milton, and once inore engaged in the harness trade. In IS8; he added a store of general merchandise, and in the conduct of this business has been quite success- ful. He is strictly a self-made man, whose suc- cess is attributable entirely to his own efforts. In politics he is a Republican, and has served for many terms as school director, trustee, township assessor and school treasurer. He also belongs to the Disciples Church.
Mr. Buck was married in Milton township, December 13, 1861, to Ann Hartz, who was born in Pennsylvania, February 11. 1843, a daughter of Conrad Hartz, now deceased. Their children are Burton B., who married Jessie Schooley, and is cashier of the Bank of Weston; Cora E., wife of Solomon Harris, of Toledo: and Royal William.
JULIUS HAHN, a prominent and progressive farmer, and a business man of more than ordi- nary ability, is a worthy representative of the ag- ricultural interests of Troy township, owning a fine farm of 120 acres in Section 2, where he lo- cated in June, 1876. He is a native of the Buck- eye State, born in Ashland county, in 1848, and is a son of Valentine and Elizabeth (Burg) Hahn, both natives of Bavaria, Germany.
On becoming a resident of Ashland county, the father was still single, but there he married the mother of our subject, and in 1850 removed to Perrysburg township, Wood county, where the mother died three years later, leaving two sons- Julius, of this review; and Rudolph J., a resident of Lake township, this county. In 1855 the father purchased land in Troy township, Wood county, on which he still makes his home. He was again married in Perrysburg township, his second union being with Ellen Burg, and to them were born ten children -- Elizabeth, now the wife of G. B. Brim, of Latchie, Ohio: Harmon, of Cygnet, Wood county; Mary and Laura, twins. the former now Mrs. Brown, and the latter Mrs. Andrews; Theodore, at home: Mrs. Barbara Waggoner, of Toledo, Ohio; Katie; Albert; Au- gust and Clara.
The boyhood days of our subject were passed
in Perrysburg and Lake townships, where he aided his father in clearing his land until his re- moval to his present farm in 1876, which at that time was mostly covered with timber. In 1885 he erected his present comfortable and substan- tial residence, and upon his place is engaged in general farming with most excellent success.
In Troy township, in 1885, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Hahn and Miss Emma Kel- ler, who was born in Lake township, and is a daughter of John and Ursula (Houser) Keller, na- tives of Switzerland, who in a very early day be- came residents of Lake township, where they opened up a farm. The father died in 1876, but the mother is still living and makes her home at Perrysburg. Three children bless the union of our subject and his wife -- Walter, Nettie and Or- vil. In political sentiment, Mr. Hahn is a stal- wart Democrat. No man takes a deeper inter- est in the prosperity of his adopted country, and it is safe to say that few have contributed in a larger degree to bring about the results.
J. C. BRANDEBERRY, an industrious and thrifty farmer of Wood county, was born in the north- east corner of Section 34. Bloom township. Feb- ruary 29, 1844. and is a son of William and Anna (Clark) Brandeberry. The father's birth occurred in Columbiana county, Ohio, October 19, 1819, and in pioneer days he located in Perry township, Wood county, where he married Miss Clark, a daughter of George Clark. Soon after he located on the farm of eighty acres, where our subject was born, erected a log house, 18 x20 feet, with stick chimney, and made all the ini- provements upon the place, which at the time of his purchase was still in its natural state. There his first wife died in 1851, and was buried in Brandeberry cemetery, Perry township. She left five children-Philip, who enlisted Angust 12. 1861, becoming a corporal of Company E, 49th O. V. I., and died at Camp Nevin, Ky., Novem- ber 5. of the same year; J. C., of this review: Thompson, a butcher af Jerry City, Ohio; Isaac. who died after reaching manhood, at Bloom Cen- ter, Wood county; and Samantha, who first wedded Joseph Wilson, but is now the widow of Henry Dardis, of Bloomdale, Ohio. The father later married Miss Sophrona Monroe, by whom he had six children-Henry and William, both farmers of Bloom township; Grace, who died in infancy: Mercy, who also died in infancy: Oliver of Bloom township; and Silas, who died in in- fancy. The mother of these children pissed away April 1, 1883, and was also laid to rest in Brandeberry cemetery, as was her husband, who
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died February 14, 1893. He always took an active part in political affairs, casting his vote with the Republican party.
The first school which our subject attended was taught by Clarissa Roberts, and he has watched with satisfaction the great improvement made in educational matters since that time. He remained under the parental roof until his enlist- ment on the 2nd of May, 1864, in Company E, 144th O. V. I., under Capt. Smith, and was mustered into the United States service at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, whence he pro- ceeded to Baltimore, Md., to report to Gen. Wallace. He was later sent to Wilmington, Del., where he did guard duty, until the expiration of his time, and on being discharged at Columbus, August 25, 1864, he returned home, working on his father's farm until his marriage.
In Bloom township, on the 13th of February, 1868, Mr. Brandeberry was married to Miss Har- riet Berger, who was born in Boardman town- ship, Mahoning Co., Ohio, July 26, 1849, and is a daughter of John and Susan (Fiester) Berger. To this worthy couple have been born five chil- dren: Adell, who was born August 22, 1869, is now Mrs. James O'Leary, of Bloomdale, and a member of Jewell Temple, Rathbone Sisters; Harry E., who was born February 16, 1871, and is a member of Sr. O. U. A. M .; H. James, who was born July 7, 1873, and now makes his home in Bloomdale; J. Scott, who was born October 7, 1875, and died at the age of ten years from measles and pneumonia; and Minnie M., born July 30, 1883.
After his marriage Mr. Brandeberry located on the fifty-acre tract in Section 35, Bloom town- ship, which he still makes his home. The land was all wild, and he erected the first buildings upon the place. He is an energetic, enterprising Inan; the trees soon fell before his sturdy blows, and the place has been transformed into a highly- cultivated farm. Politically he is a Republican, for which party he always casts his ballot, and, socially, is a charter member of Urie Post No. IIO, G. A. R., of Bloomdale, while his wife be- longs to the Woman's Relief Corps, an auxiliary of that order, and is a faithful member of the Lutheran Church.
ABRAM MANSON LASHUAY. It is largely to the young men that the West is indebted for its rapid advancement, and to this class of enterpris- ing, progressive citizens belongs our subject. He was born in Liberty township, October 4, 1865. son of Alexander Elixir and Charity (Mercer) Lashuay, the former of whom, a native of Michi- 1
gan, came during his boyhood to Wood county, and was married in Liberty township. The chil- dren born to this union were Abram M .; Hattie, deceased wife of William Kidd, of Portage town- ship; Dana Cline, who died in infancy; and Clar- ence, at home.
Under the parental roof our subject spent his boyhood days, aud attended the common schools of the neighborhood until eighteen years of age, when he entered the Normal School at Ada, Ohio, pursuing his studies there for three terms. He then returned home and resumed farm labor on the old homestead, being thus employed until he went to a home of his own. He was married, November 24, 1887, to Miss Luella McMahan, who was born in Liberty township June 29, 1867, daughter of George and Emily (Bradshaw) Mc- Mahan. Her father, a farmer, died in 1874, leaving one child, Mrs. Lashuay; Benjamin Frank- lin, her brother, died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Lashuay at the time of their marriage located on a tract of land of eighty acres, which she had inherited from her father, and there lived about three years. They next removed to an eighty-acre farm, of which our subject had inherited ten acres from his father. He now con- trols the entire amount, and his wife rents her property, on which are eight producing oil wells. Their union has been blessed with two children. Flossie B., born November 1, 1888; and Eldon Stanley, born August 20, 1893.
Mr. Lashuay was a supporter of the Repub- lican party until 1892, after which he was a stal- wart advocate of the Prohibition party, until the "money question " came up, when he returned to the Republican party. In religious faith he holds membership with the Disciples Church, takes quite an active part in his work, is a warm friend of tlie cause of education, and lends his aid to all enterprises that he believes will benefit the community or promote the general welfare.
A. FULTON M. MERCER, still a resident of Liberty township, was born there August I. 1859, son of Charles and Jane ( Mominee) Mer- cer, of Bowling Green. To the public schools of his home neighborhood he is indebted for his ed- ucation. Hle left school on attaining his major- ity, and began farming in his own interest on a tract of 137 acres of land in Liberty township. He is a wide-awake and enterprising farmer, fol- lows progressive methods, and is always found on the side of advancement. In 1888, on the le- moval of his father to Bowling Green, he took up his abode on the old homestead, which he has since purchased, and here owns 100 acres,
FEDON S.
FLOSSIE B.
Mars. Ou Os Lashway a. M Selec
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together with a farm of 240 acres in Jackson township. Over his business career there falls no shadow of wrong, for every business transac- tion conducted by him has been one of fair deal- ing. and he has the confidence and support of many friends.
On February 26, 1879, Mr. Mercer was mar- ried to Miss Frances C. Frisbie, a native of Wood county, and a most estimable lady. Their union has been blessed with four children-Clayton, who died at the age of ten years; and Elmer, Blanche and Leonard, all at home. In his polit- ical views Mr. Mercer has always been a Repub- lican, and he has served ten years as school direc- tor, being a warm champion of the cause of edu- cation. He is also an active member of the Christian Church of Rudolph, and does all in his power to promote its interests. Popular and esteemed, his friends are many, and he is well liked by all who know him.
B. F. LUSHER, an enterprising merchant and the popular postmaster of Latchie, established business there on March 21, 1892, when he pur- chased the building which he now occupies. For a year and a half previously he had conducted a store at Moline, Wood county. He has suc- ceeded in building up a good trade, which his well- selected stock and courteous treatment of his customers well merit. He also owns a good farm in Lake township, well improved, and from that source adds not a little to his income.
A native of Wood county, Mr. Lusher's birth tood place in Perrysburg township, in 1846, at the home of his parents, Rudolph and Lavina (Zimmerman) Lusher. His father was born in Switzerland, and on coming to the New World, he first located in Virginia when nine years of age. Later he accompanied his father to. Perrys- burg township, Wood Co., Ohio, where he as- sisted in building the pike, and was there mar- ried. The mother's death occurred in Perrys- burg township, November 1, 1889, when she was aged sixty-nine years; the father died June 16, 1896, aged eighty-four. Their family consisted of four sons and four daughters, namely: Samuel, who, in 1861, enlisted in Lake township, in the the 72nd O. V. I., for three years, and died at Corinth, Miss .; David, a merchant at Moline; B. F., of this sketch; Ezra, who operates the home farm in Lake township; Emeline: Mrs. Edgar Mandell, who died July 15, 1893. at the age of forty-three years; Mary Ann, who die tin Lake township. October 5. 1884; and Delil th.
B. F. Lusher was seven years of age on the removal of the family to Lake township, where,
as soon as large enough, he began to assist in clearing and developing the land, and continued to engage in agricultural pursuits until starting in the mercantile business at Moline. He ac- quired his education at that place, and is well- informed, especially on the current topics of the day. In 1893 he was appointed postmaster of Latchie, which position he is now capably filling.
In Perrysburg township, in 1895, Mr. Lusher was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Margaret Creps, a native of that township, and a daughter of John and Maria (Cranker) Creps, the former born in Pennsylvania, and the latter in Perrysburg township. Her father was one of the early pioneers of the township, arriving there in 1833, when only thirteen years of age, and there his father, Joseph Creps, carried on a tavern for some years. The latter died at Perrys- burg, in 1854. After his marriage, the son lo- cated there, where he engaged in carpentering, but at present he and his wife are living upon a farm in Perrysburg township.
On political questions, Mr. Lusher affiliates with the Democratic party, and served as trustee of Lake township from 1887 to 1893. He is nothing of a politician, however, giving most of his attention to his business; but is in favor of any or every thing that is calculated to elevate the community in which he lives. Whatever he has accumulated in this world is due entirely to his own industry, energy and perseverance. Mrs. Lusher, a most estimable lady, is a con- sistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Lime City.
FRANK H. VENIA, one of the well-to-do and prosperons farmers of Ross township, is one of those men who thoroughly understand the busi- ness they are pursuing, and he is rapidly progress- ing toward a comfortable competence. Besides general farming he is also extensively engaged in fruit growing. In 1867 he came to Ross town- ship, where he bought a tract of forty acres of timber land, which he sold in 1883, and pur- chased his present farm of sixty acres, forty of which he has tiled and placed under a high state of cultivation. He is the architect of his own fortune, having started in life with but little cap- ital beyond his own industry and laudable ambi- tion to rise in the world.
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