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 63
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of the United Brethren denomination, in which he is serving as trustee of the Church and super- intendent of the Sunday-school. A man of the strictest integrity, Mr. Smith enjoys the confi- dence of all, his word never being questioned. He is a skilled mechanic, and, besides engaging in farming and carpentering, he has also dealt exten- sively in slate for roofing purposes, at Bloomdale.
ABRAHAM WALKER, sexton and custodian of the Bowling Green cemetery, was born in Fay- ette county, Penn., January 15, 1821. He is the son of Thomas and Mary (Solenbarquer) Walker. The father of our subject was born on the Susquehanna river, in Lancaster county, Penn., and was a stone mason by trade. He . died in Columbiana county, Ohio, near New Lisbon, at the age of sixty years. The mother died in Stark county, Ohio, when eighty years old. She was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. The paternal grandfather was of Irish descent, and his mother's people were Pennsylvania Dutch, her grandfather, David Sol- enbarquer, having been born in Pennsylvania, and died in Fayette county, Ohio.
Abraham Walker, our subject, is one of eleven children, ten of whom grew to maturity: David, Thomas, Presley, Henry, Abraham, Joseph, Ann, Clarissa, Mary, and Isabella. Of these, Joseph and Clarissa, besides our subject, are alive, Joseph living in Stark county, Ohio, and Clarissa at Warren, Ohio. Mr. Walker's early life was spent in Columbiana county, on a farm. He was married March 1, 1845, to Miss Lloyd, who was born in New Jersey, August 31, 1824. They settled in Columbiana county, Ohio, for four years, and then came to Wood county, in the fall of 1847, and, after living at various places, finally located in Bowling Green, which is still his home. There was no sign of a town when he first came to what is now the prosperous town of Bowling Green. He had learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, at which he worked and farmed, alternately. That was in the days when the huge forests were being cleared away in Wood county, and black salts and potash were about the only cash com- modities. He was engaged in making potash for fifteen years, and then became sexton in the Methodist Episcopal Church and the public school house for five or six years, finally accept- ing the position of sexton of the cemetery, which he has held for thirty-two years. He is a Re- publican, and has been a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for thirty-five years. Mr. Walker is a strong, hale and hearty
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man, and long has been the procession of youth and aged whom he has seen join the silent major- ity, sleeping their last sleep beneath the sod. Mrs. Walker, as well as her husband, has been spared in excellent health by the . grim reaper" to a ripe and happy old age. Both of their lives have been nobly spent, and stand as an excellent example to be followed by succeeding generations. To this couple have been born four children, as follows: Martha, who is the wife of Allan Cook. a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, and a cit- izen of Bowling Green. Jemima, who is the wife of Thomas Baker, a resident of Putnam county. Ohio; they have five sons, Nathan. Alva, Will- iam, Ira and Charles. Sarah died when thirty - one years old; she was the wife of Henry Dibert. Henry died when six weeks old.
The parents of Mrs. Walker were Floyd and Mary (Sparks) Lloyd. They were botht natives of New Jersey, and died there when Mrs. Walker was a child.
JOHN WELLING, a leading agriculturist of Per- rysburg township, is a native of same, born in Perrysburg township in 1855, and although his earlier years were spent upon a farm in Wood- ville township, Sandusky county, where he was educated, he returned in early manhood to settle at his birthplace. His grandfather Welling came from Hanover, Germany, accompanied by his family, and made his home in Sandusky county.
His son, Harmon Welling, our subject's fa- ther, then a young man, was married there to. Miss Margaret Albert, who was also a native of Hanover, and afterward moved to Wood county. locating upon a farin in the eastern part of Per- rysburg township, where he died in 1856, leaving two children-George, who resides in Perrysburg township, and the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Welling was married a second time, her husband being Samuel Schreiner, of Stony Ridge: her death occurred in 1861. Two children were born of the second marriage-Henry, a resident of Toledo; and Caroline, now Mrs. Emch, of Woodville township, Sandusky county.
Left an orphan at an early age, Mr. Welling was reared at the old home of the family in San- dusky county; but, in 1880, he came to his pres- ent farm, near Stony Ridge, where he built a comfortable and tasteful farm residence. He was married, in 1883, to Miss Sophia Warns, a daughter of Bromain and Catherine Kane Wains, who came from Germany in early life and settled in Perrysburg township, where they still reside. Four children were born of th ... union -- Arthur, Edward, Lenora and Walter
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Mr. Welling and his wife are prominent members of the Lutheran Church at Stony Ridge, and have taken a leading part in various enterprises for the social and religious advancement of the community As a farmer, Mr. Welling is pro- gressive and enterprising, and his improvements are first-class-his barn, built in 1887, being a model structure, 40 x 62. He is a general farmer, but has given especial attention to stock raising. In his home farm there are fifty-seven and a half acres, but he owns also a farm of seventy-six acres in the same township. Politically he is a Democrat.
JOHN H. CHRISTELLER was born on the farm which is still his home, in Section 1, Portage town- ship, March 20, 1856. His father, Christian Chris- teller, was a native of Switzerland, born in 1793, and when a boy came to the United States. In Columbiana county, Ohio, he wedded Miss Anna Morolof, whose birth also occurred in Switzerland, in 1816, and who, when seven years old, was brought by her parents to America. To them were born five children-Frederick, who died when forty years of age; Louisa and John, who died in infancy; Elizabeth. now Mrs. Amos Huffman, of Montgomery township, Wood county; and John H., of this review.
On coming to the New World the father was twenty-five cents in debt; but, with energy as his capital, he started out. He had learned the tan- ner's trade in Switzerland, and after his arrival here followed shoemaking, and also worked as a stone cutter on the Beaver & Ohio canal. He secured eighty acres in Section 1, Portage town- ship, giving in exchange a gold watch and a small piece of town property he owned, but did not re- move to.this place for some years. He drove to Wood county, and began house-keeping in an old log house on his farm, near which the pioneer road was laid out; but later, when the section lines were established, the roads were changed and the house was found to be near the center of the farm. It was not the intention of Mr. Christeller to en- gage in farming when he first secured his land, but he later became attached to the business as his children grew up, and he continued to follow it during the remainder of his active life, though he still carried on shoemaking to some extent. On June 13, 1877, he passed away at the age of eighty-four years, six months and fifteen days, and his wife died in February, 1881, at the age of sixty-five years, being buried by the side of her husband in Rochester cemetery. They were members of the Lutheran Church, and in politics he was a stalwart Democrat. He was not over
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five feet in height, but was a very industrious, en- ergetic man, and was still well preserved for one of his age at the time of his death. He had in- creased his landed possessions, until at one time he owned 240 acres, all in Portage township.
The first school which John H. Christeller attended was taught by a Mr. Wollam, and the good practical education he secured was all ob- tained in the district schools of the neighborhood. His first ideas of farming were received on the land where he still practices them. On the di- vision of the property, after the death of his father, when our subject was twenty-one, he re- ceived as his share the old homestead, on which a substantial brick residence had been started. This he completed, and his mother lived with him until her death.
In Portage township, on March 20, 1890, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Christeller and Miss Eliza Emslie, who was born in Ruggles township, Ashland Co., Ohio. August 20, 1866, and is the daughter of James and Elsie (Thom) Emslie, farming people. Previous to her mar- riage, Mrs. Christeller had engaged in teaching in both Ashland and Wood counties. Mr. Chris- teller owns 1 18 acres of excellent land, and gave to the Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church, the land on which their house of worship was erected, it being a part of his farm. He is now serving as one of its trustees, and his wife is also one of its faithful members. In politics he supports the men and measures of the Republican party, and takes a prominent part in local political affairs. Naturally he is a man of more than ordinary in- telligence, is quite a reader, and keeps well in- formed on the leading topics and events of the day. In their hospitable home both himself and estimable wife delight to entertain their many friends.
JACOB HELFER, a retired farmer of Perry township, was born in Germany, July 27, 1824, and is the son of Peter Heifer.
Peter Helfer, who was a teamster in the old country, brought his wife and eight children to the United States, thirty-six days being passed on the ocean, during the most of which time the mother was ill. The glowing accounts of the re sources of the New World had deceived Mr. and Mrs Helfer, and they did not find the conditions in America as bright as they had an- ticipated. For three weeks after arriving in Stark county, Ohio, the family slept in a barn. Mt. Helfer then bought twenty acres of land, which was cleared and improved, and on which they lived for six years, at the end of that time trading
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it for eighty acres in Loudon township, Seneca county, to which place the family moved. The land was unimproved, and full of timber and un- dergrowth. A log house, 20 x 28 feet in dimen- sions, was built to accommodate this large family of ten people, whose condition at that time was deplorable. The task of clearing the land was a laborious one, and the boys helped their father, working from early morning until late at night. The woods abounded in game and wild animals, and at one time, our subject, then but a boy, was driving the cows home, when he encountered six- teen wolves. His only protection was a little torch he carried; but with this he managed to keep the animals at bay until he reached home. Mr. Helfer lived on this farm until his death, which occurred when he was seventy-five years old; his wife was eighty-three years of age at the time of her demise. Their family consisted of fourteen children, eight of whom grew to maturity: Jacob, Philip, Peter, Michael, Elizabeth, William, Catherine, and Samuel. Mr. and Mrs. Helfer were members of the Lutheran Church.
Our subject, who was eight years old when he came to this country, attended school but a short time in Germany. He was reared as a farmer's boy, and worked at odd jobs on the farms in the neighborhood, turning over what money he earned to his parents, with whom he lived and helped to support until he was twenty-seven years old. In August, 1851, he was married in Loudon town- ship, Seneca county, to Miss Catherine Long, a native of Germany, who came to the United States when eighteen years old. They went to house-keeping in Seneca county, on a tract of timber land, eighty acres in extent. Here, in a log house, 18 x 20 feet in size, and with an in- debtedness of $500, he began life in earnest; but he prospered, and for fifteen years lived in this log house. In March, 1877, he sold his eighty acres for $6,000, and bought 160 acres in Section 23, Perry township, for which he paid $12,000, and where he has since resided. To Mr. and Mrs. Helfer have been born children as follows: Daniel, a resident of Cleveland, Tenn .; Cather- ine, now Mrs. Henry King, of Liberty township, Seneca county; Jacob, Jr., living at home; John, who died when five years old; Henry, farming on the old homestead; Samuel, also living at home; and Mary, the wife of Jacob Luman, of Perry township. Mrs. Helfer departed this life No- vember 17, 1893, and is buried in Fostoria.
In politics our subject is a Democrat; in re- ligious faith he is a member of the Lutheran Church, in which he has held office. He is gen- erous to the deserving, and a liberal contributor | vacations were spent in farm work.
to churches of all denominations. In 1884 he retired from active farm work. He has always been a hard worker, and, although not possessed of much education, has considerable practical knowledge, and is a shrewd business man. He is well-to-do, and is one of the substantial citizens of Perry township.
LEVI TABERN, proprietor of seventy-two acres of land in Section 6, Portage township, and a gentleman of education and intelligence, who employed his earlier years as a teacher in the public schools, is now operating his farm in a highly successful manner. His father, James Tabern, was a native of Devonshire, England, born in 1816, and, when a young man, resolved to seek his fortune in the New World. Soon after his arrival lie came to Wood county, buying land in Section 6, Portage township. In Bowl- ing Green, in February, 1854, he was united in marriage with Miss Anna E. Jones, who was born in Greene county, N. Y., September 7, 183 !. and is a daughter of Andrew and Phoebe (Bullis) Jones, who were Eastern people by birth, but in 1834 came to Wood county, becoming pioneers of Plain township. In the family were two chil- dren, the other daughter being Naomi, who died at the age of eighteen years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Tabern were born four children: William. who was born March 5, 1855, and died October 23. 1861; Levi, of this sketch; Joseph, who was born February 19, 1859, and died August 19, 1878; and Phoebe M., who was born March II, 1861, and is now Mrs. Wallace Strack, of Port- age. The father operated his farm of 100 acres in Portage township until his death from con- sumption, in December, 1861; his remains were interred in Sargent cemetery. He was a mem- ber of the Methodist Church. The mother of our subject, who is a consistent member of the United Brethren Church, later married Noah Foltz, by whom she has two sons -- Albert L .. who was born April 22, 1868, and resides in Kansas; and Franklin P., who was born Noveni- ber 4, 1870, and is still with his mother.
The birth of Levi Tabern occurred December 9, 1856, on the farm where he still lives. His education was secured at the " little red school. west of the village of Portage, and, in the com- mon schools of that place, fitted himself for teach- ing, which profession he took up in Bloom town- ship, at the age of seventeen. For two years he was then a student in the Northwestern Ohi Normal School, at Ada, and, after leaving the institution, taught for seventeen years, while his
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On April 21, 1887, in Milton township, Wood county, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Ta- bern and Miss Louise Ries, a native of Townsend township, Huron Co., Ohio, and a daughter of Henry and Louise (Puder) Ries. They began their domestic life on the farm where he was born, and, in 1892, he erected their pleasant residence. The home is brightened by the pres- ence of a little son-Glenard W., born August 20, 1890. The mother holds membership with the Methodist Church. Although not bound by party ties, Mr. Tabern usually votes the Repub- lican ticket, is a man of more than ordinary abil- ity, well posted on the current events of the times, and is an excellent .citizen and prosperous farmer of Portage township.
JOHN D. WEAVER, an industrious and thrifty farmer, resides in Section 31, Lake township, where he has a good farm. His birth occurred in Franklin county, Penn., in' 1842, and he is a son of George W. and Eliza (Davis) Weaver, also natives of Pennsylvania, where they were married, and whence in 1849 they took their fam- ily to Seneca county, Ohio. The journey was made with a two-horse team, and occupied six weeks. There the family remained until coming to Lake township, Wood county, in 1860. where the father purchased a tract of timber land, on which he erected a log house the same fall. His death occurred upon that farm in July, 1888, and the mother also closed her earthly career in the same township, in 1886, leaving behind them an honorable record of industry and honesty.
The parental household included fourteen children, nine of whom are still living. Our sub- ject, who is the eldest, was followed by Mary Ann, wife of Samuel Wagoner, of Lake town- ship; Mrs. Sarah Richards, of Gibsonburg, Ohio; Mrs. Margaret Kurfess, of Lake township; Eliza, who became the wife of Barnabus Wagoner, and died in Lake township, December 25, 1879; George; Martha, who died in Seneca county; Martin, a resident of Lucas county, Ohio; Maria, who died in Lake township, in 1860; Jessie D., who lives in that township; Mrs. Urilla Joseph, of Plain township, Wood county; George B., of Mungen, Ohio; Gilbert, of Melmore, Seneca county; and Harry E., who died in Lake town- ship, in 1886.
John D. Weaver was about eight years of age when he arrived in Seneca county, where he attended the primitive schools of that day, and at the age of eighteen came with his parents to Lake township. Here he aided in clearing and cultivating the home farm, and has ever devoted
his time and attention to agricultural pursuits- besides general farmning, being engaged in thresh- ing for many years. He was one of the first to own a threshing machine in the county, which was run by six horses; but for the past fourteen years he has operated a steam thresher. Twen- ty-five acres of the old homestead are now in his possession, and he also owns fifteen acres addi- tional, located in Section 31, Lake township.
In that township, Mr. Weaver was married in 1870, the lady of his choice being Miss Susan Baker, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, and is a daughter of Levi and Leah (Sherrick) Baker. natives of Pennsylvania and pioneers of that county; from which they removed to Crawford county, Ohio, and, in 1862, to Lake township. this county, where the father died in December. 1886. The mother, however, is still living, and resides upon the old homestead here. Seven of her ten children yet survive; they were as fol- lows: Matilda, wife of George Wagoner, of Lake township; Susan, honored wife of our subject: Mrs. Mary Harr, of East Toledo, Ohio; Adaline. wife of Isaac Hufford, of Lake township; Elias, who died in that township at the age of nine years: Samuel, who resides on the home farin: Elmira, who died in 1879: Mrs. Cora Keller, of Lake township; Henry, who is married, and also lives on the old homestead; and Harvey, who is married, and resides at Stony Ridge, Ohio.
To Mr. and Mrs. Weaver have been born ten children, namely: Charley, who is married, and resides in Troy township, Wood county; Sydney. who is married, and lives in Lake township; Ezra. Cyrus, Eroy, Ida and Laura, all at home: Cora, who died in 1886, at the age of one year; Parm E., who died in March, 1892; and Clinton, who also died in the same month.
Mr. Weaver has witnessed much of the devel- opment and progress of Wood county, and has always taken an active interest in everything that will promote its welfare. His ballot is generally cast for the men and measures of the Democratic party, and he has acceptably served as a member of the school board.
JOHN C. MONKS, a retired farmer of Wood county, who, with his estimable wife, is now spending his later years in ease and comfort at his pleasant home in Bowling Green, is a native of England, where he was born at Redmile, in the Vale of Belvoir, March 8, 1833.
Thomas Monks, the father of our subject. was born in the same place as his son, and was a shoemaker by trade, also carrying on a boot and shoe store. . He was of Irish descent, and
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was a relative of the illustrious Gen. Monks, who helped place King Charles II on the throne. Thomas Monks was born in 1796, and died in May, 1886, when. a little over ninety years old. He was a clerk of the Church of England in his parish for over forty years, and was highly es- teemed in his community. His wife died at forty years of age, having been the mother of seven children: George, James, and Thomas, reside in England; William died in that country; John C. is our subject; Charles H. lives in Eng- land; Mary died in that country.
After the death of his mother, which took place when he was seven years old, the subject of this sketch attended school in his native place until 1852, when, a lad of eighteen, he emigrated to America, landing at New York City. He after- ward came to Ohio where he worked for some time on a farm at Ridgeville, Lorain county, going from there to Olmstead. Cuyahoga county, where he was married November 24, 1859, to Miss Nancy Ann Fitch, a native of that county, born August 9, 1835. Here he carried on gen- eral stock farining, raising cattle, sheep, etc., until May, 1887, when he sold out and removed to Bowling Green. which has since been his home. One child was born to himself and wife. This son, F. T., whose birth took place Novem- ber 13, 1863, was educated in the schools at Olmstead and at Berea College, and married Letta Burdick. His wife died some three years ago, leaving two children, Edna A., born No- vember 29, 1888, and Charles Gilbert, born Sep- tember 10, 1890.
Mr. Monks is one of the substantial citizens of Bowling Green, and has acquired a comforta- ble property through his own industry and good management. His family stands high in the re- gard of their large circle of friends and acquaint- ances, and they are always ready to assist in the furthering of any worthy enterprise. In politics Mr. Monks is a good Republican, although never taking a very active part in matters of the kind, further than to cast his vote for the men he con- siders most suitable for offices of public trust. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist Church, and take a leading part in its work.
B. F. GUNDER is one of the native sons of the county. He was born in Perry township, April 25, 1854, on the old family homestead of his parents, Isaac and Susanna ( Heller) Gunder. The district schools of the neighborhood afforded him his educational privileges, and he had ample physical training upon the honte farin, where he
remained until eighteen years of age. He then began earning his own livelihood, by work in the neighborhood, and, in 1888, desiring that his labors should more directly benefit himself, he rented a farm of 124 acres, in Perrysburg town- ship, which he operated for four years. He then purchased fifty acres of land, on which he now resides, and also rents 100 acres, so that he is operating almost a quarter of a section. His farm is now a well-developed tract, and yields to him a golden tribute in return for the care and cultivation he bestows upon it.
On March 30, 1876, was celebrated the mar- riage of Mr. Gunder and Miss Ella Williams, who was born in New York, July 25, 1856, and is a daughter of Josiah Williams, a carpenter and joiner. They had four children: Etta, born in March, 1877, now the wife of William Kanza- mire, a farmer of Middleton township; Cora, born in 1878; Hattie, born in 1881; and one who died in childhood.
In politics Mr. Gunder is an advocate of Re- publican principles, and, socially, he belongs to Fort Meigs Lodge No. 774, I. O. O. F., also the Rebekah Lodge; and Masonic Lodge No. 123; Knights of Pythias No. 524, all of Perrysburg. He has led an industrious and useful life, is a genial. whole-souled gentleman, popular with all his many friends.
S. S. DILLEY, M. D., a prominent physician of Pemberville, was born in Hancock county, Ohio, November 30, 1860.
Freedland Dilley, our subject's father, was born in Wilkesbarre, Penn., and in early life en- tered upon a theatrical career. When a young man, he came to Ohio, where he met and mar- ried Miss Arabella Baker, a native of Hancock county, where he established his home. Soon after his marriage the Civil war broke out, and he enlisted, but he died at Washington, D. C., of smallpox, while on his way to the front. His widow afterward married Solomon Frederick. and removed to Wood county, where he died in 1895; she is now residing in Jerry City, Wood county.
S. S. Dilley, our subject, her only child. ob- tained his early education mainly in the schools of Jerry City. His first money was earned by finishing boat oars; but later he learned the bar- ber's trade, which he followed for some time. He began the study of medicine, with Dr. Bry- ant, ex-sheriff of Wood county, and after careful preparation he attended one term at the Medical College at Fort Wayne, Ind., and two terms at the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical Institute, from
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