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 69
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 September, 1841, in Cleveland, Mr. Far- ley married Annie M. Schwartz, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1822, and came to this country in 1835. Twelve children grace l th'. marriage- six sons and six daughters-of whom seven are living, namely: Mary, wife of George
78
1234
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
Schiple, a farmer of Middleton township; Fred- erick, in the employ of the Standard Oil Com- pany at Lima, Ohio; Catherine; ANDREW P., a farmer of Middleton township; Bernard, also a farmer; Annie R .; and Rosie B. Those who have passed away are John, Joseph, Frances and Maggie, who died in childhood; and Sarah, who died April 22, 1886. The parents and children all became members of the Catholic Church.
- In politics Mr. Farley was a Democrat. He served as school director of Middleton township, and while in Cleveland was for nine years a member of the fire department. He was a man of culture and of broad general information, was special correspondent for several papers in Ire- land, and while a resident of Cleveland was a mathematician and a writer of prose and poetry. An enterprising, progressive man, he was popular with all, and his friends were many. His death occurred December 26, 1883 ; his wife had passed away December 28, 1877.
ELIJAH WHITMORE, a worthy representative of the farming and fruit-growing interests of Ross township, was born on the banks of the Maumee, in Lucas county, Ohio. June 20, 1839, and is a son of Luther and Martha Melissa (Trask) Whit- more, in whose family were six children, the others being Warren, a resident of Lucas county; Lydia, deceased; Fidelia, wife of Robert Cham- berlain, residing on the old homestead; Mary, wife of H. L. Wood, an agriculturist, of North Star, Mich., who served two terms in the State Legislature; and Chester Parnell, a mechanic, residing at home.
Luther Whitmore, the father of our subject, was born May 16, ISIo, in the town of Millbury, Worcester Co., Mass., and in May, 1825, came to Wood county. passing. through what is now Bowling Green, the county seat, and coming on to the Maumee river, at what is now Waterville. After that he settled in Perrysburg, and went to work for John Hollister, with whom he con- tinued, most of the time, until about 1834, when he bought a piece of land containing 123 acres, at that time all in Wood county, but, since, the old Fulton line has cut off twenty-three acres which are now in Lucas county. Mr. Whitmore built his house near the river, also a dock on the river, and cut the timber off the land into cord- wood, which he sold to steamboats then running to Detroit from Perrysburg. Luther Whitmore has lived on the same farm since 1836, a period of sixty years, is now eighty-six years old, but well and hearty, and is numbered among the early settlers and the pioneers of Wood county.
The early education of our subject was ob- tained in the district schools, and he continued under the parental roof until twenty-two years of age, when, on October 12, 1861, at Toledo, Ohio, he became a member of the 67th O. V. I., Tenth Army Corps, under Capt. H. G. Ford, and Col. A. C. Voris. He was first on duty in the Shen- andoah Valley, was at the siege of Charleston, and in the battles of Winchester, Strasburg. Front Royal, Harrison's Landing, Malvern Hill. Franklin, Black Water, and Fort Wagner. From corporal he was promoted to second lieu- tenant October 2, 1862, and was wounded at I't. Wagner, S. C., July IS, 1863, and resigned Jan- uary 28, 1864, as, on account of physical disa- bility from wounds received at Ft. Wagner, he was unable to march. Returning home, Mr. Whitmore worked on the farm until his marriage September 28, 1865, with Miss Mary B. Cham- berlin, who was third in the order of birth in the family of seven children of James B. and Eliza- beth S. (Barber) Chamberlin. The others were Samuel, who died at the age of three years; Rob- ert, who married Delia Whitmore, sister of our subject, and resides, in Lucas county; Elizabeth Dale, wife of Warren Whitmore, of Lucas county; Sarah, who died at the age of three years; James Dale, who was born in Pennsylvania, and died in Toledo, Ohio, at the age of twenty-three years: and Frank Wilson, who married Jennie Reid, of Crestline, Ohio, and resides on the old home- stead. Mrs. Whitmore, as well as her parents. is a native of Pennsylvania. Three children bless the union of our subject and his wife, namely: (1) Herbert L., born July 2, 1866, is a conductor on the C. H. & D. railroad, and married Anna May Chapius, by whom he has two children -- Marguerite, born November 12, 1893, and James Luther, born October 6, 1895. (2) James C .. born February 3, 1869, is a farmier residing at home. (3) Alice Elizabeth, known as " Bessie." was born April 15, 1883.
After his marriage Mr. Whitmore came to Ross township, where he received sixty acres of land from his father, only five of which had been cleared; but he now has the entire amount under a high state of cultivation, and well-improve ! with good buildings, and it is also well-drained and fenced. For several years he has made a specialty of raising small fruits, which he finds : be a profitable source of income. Mrs. Whit - more is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, in the Fifth ward in Toledo, and formerk took an active part in both the Church and Son day-school work; but owing to ill health, and t'. distance which she lives from church, she lis
£
1285
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
been unable to continue in the work. Socially, Mr. Whitmore is connected with Ford Post, No. 14, G. A. R., and the Gen. John W. Fuller Command, Union Veterans Union. For thirty years he has been a school director in either Perrysburg or Ross township, was trustee three terms, assessor two terms, and justice of the peace for nearly two years; but owing to his pressing business affairs, he gave up that office. He has never voted any other ticket but the Re- publican, and is one of the most earnest and faith- tul advocates of the principles of that party. Widely and favorably known, no man in Wood county has more friends, or is held in higher es- teem, than Elijah Whitmore. [Since the above was written Mr. Whitmore has purchased a lot on the old homestead, on the bank of the Mau- mee river, in Lucas county, and built himself a beautiful cottage home, where he expects to live the rest of his days, with his wife and daughter. His two sons are carrying on the farm work at the farm in Ross township.
JOHN LOE, residing in Jerry City, is one of the county's self-made citizens, and, during his active life, gave his attention principally to agri- cultural pursuits. Our subject was born June 23, 1822, in New Jersey; third in the family of Robert and Catherine (Seldenrick) Loe. John Loe attended school up to the age of eleven years, after which he commenced to work, driving for his father, who was foreman at a coal dock, and had two horses and carts. When about fourteen years of age he came with his parents to Ohio, the family settling in Belmont county, and here he worked in a brick yard, which his father and brother William owned-William having thor- oughly learned the business in Philadelphia. John lived with his parents until their removal to Wood county, Ohio, and during his residence there he engaged in various kinds of work, mak- ing several trips to Louisville on coal boats.
fortunate enough to have his house and almost all the contents swept away, while he was absent trying to save the house of a neighbor, a widow. Renting the upper story of a brick house, he brought his family and remaining household goods in a skiff, and moved in through a second- story window. In the spring of 1858 Mr. Loc brought his family to Wood county, the journey being made by rail as far as Findlay, and from there by teams to Bloom township, where. Mr .. Loe had four years previously bargained with his father for seventy-seven acres of land lying in Section 5. Here they settled, living in a primi- tive log cabin, 20x24 feet in dimensions, with puncheon floor and wooden hinges on the door -- a veritable pioneer home. Mr. Loe lost no time in commencing to clear the tract, and it was gradually transformed into a fertile farm, on which he made his home until IS91, when he re- moved to Jerry City. In addition to farmning he was engaged, to some extent, in bricklaying; and, by untiring labor, he succeeded in acquiring a comfortable competence for his declining days. On April 1, 1891, he removed into Jerry City, and his comfortable home there is the finest in the place. He is a highly-respected citizen, and well deserves the rest which he is now enjoying. To Mr. and Mrs. Loe were born children as follows: Samuel R., now of Lenawee, Mich. : William H., who died young; John A., who is a resident of Henry township: James C., who died in infancy; Sarah M., Mrs. Thomas Lewis, of Lenawee county, Mich. ; Emma J., who was first married to Daniel Crow, and is now the wife of Michael Hunisecker, of Bloom township: David S., of Sandusky county, Ohio: Albert, who died in Bloom at the age of twenty-seven years; and Clara C., who died at the age of twenty-four years. The mother of these passed from earth . March 3, 1866, and was buried in Sugar Grove cemetery, her remains being removed later to Jerry City cemetery, where they now rest. For his second wife Mr. Loe wedded a sister of his first wife, Lucinda Hurless, who was born in Harrison county, Ohio. There are no children by this marriage. The Loes are Protestants in religious faith. Politically Mr. Loe is a Repub- lican.
On July 3, 1848, he was married, at West Wheeling, Ohio, to Miss Mary J. Hurless, who was born in North township, Harrison Co., Ohio, daughter of Samuel and Susan (Snyder) Hurless. Mr. Loe rented a house, and, with what money he had, they were able to commence in a com- fortable home. He worked for his brother Will- iam, who was a contractor, first as laborer, and .. HENRY FREYMAN has spent his entire life in Wood county, and has witnessed much of its growth and upbuilding, ever bearing his part in the work of progress. He was born in Henry township, July S. 1842, and is a son of Poter Freyman, a native of Germany, who was born in after two or three years, having picked up a knowledge of the brick-laying trade, he followed it, receiving one dollar and three shillings per day, and continuing thus for some years. He became the owner of a house and two lots in West Wheeling, but during a flood he was un- ) 1806. In 1840 he came with his wife and thice
1236
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO. .
children to America, landing at New York after a voyage of forty-eight days. He went directly to Morgan county, Ohio, and after a year came to Wood county, entering 120 acres of wild land from the government, in Henry township. . He built a log cabin on the place, and at once began to improve the property, meeting with many hard- ships and difficulties in the early days, but event- ually becoming the possessor of a comfortable
home. He died in Williams county at the home of his son, and his wife passed away in 1873, at the home of her son, John, in Wood county. Their children were John, a farmer of Defiance county, Ohio; William, an agriculturist of Will- iams county, Ohio; Elizabeth, who died at the age of ten years; Henry, the subject of this sketch; Caroline, deceased wife of John Fred- erick, of North Baltimore, Ohio; and Catherine, deceased wife of Dillon Ames, of Seneca county, Ohio.
The school privileges which our subject re- ceived were extremely meager, but his training at farm work was ample, as he aided in the de- velopment of the old homestead. On December 26, 1867, in Henry township, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret E. Smith, who was born January 1, 1843, in Richland county, Ohio, daughter of Henry J. and Catherine (Ernsberger) Smith. They lived upon a rented farm for two years, and then Mr. Freyman purchased his pres- ent place, which was at that time a wild tract of eighty acres. Their first home was a log cabin, which, in 1887, was replaced by a substantial and pleasant frame residence, erected at a cost of $1, 500. Mr. Freyman has tiled and fenced his farm, and now has a valuable and productive tract. The home has been blessed by two chil- dren, but Ira died in infancy. The daughter, Mary, is now the wife of Millard F. Leathers.
In politics, Mr. Freyman is a stalwart Demo- crat, and for two terms has served as township trustee, while for a number of years he has been school director, proving a capable and trust- worthy official. Upon his farm he has developed twelve oil wells. He has been the architect of his own fortune, and has built wisely and well. His honorable, upright life, and his pleasant, genial manner has gained him a large circle of friends, and the confidence of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
W. H. BURDITT, a native of Ohio, born in Bay township, Ottawa county, September 12, 1844, is a son of Greenbury Burditt, who was born near St. Clairsville, Belmont Co., Ohio, May 1, 1818, and in 1855 came to Wood county,
,
locating in Washington township, where he pur- chased and improved eighty acres of land. He was married near Fremont, Sandusky county, to Maggie Bowlus, and they became the parents of three children: W. H .; and Lewis Hanson and George, who both died in the Civil war. The mother died in Ottawa county, Ohio, and the father afterward married Martha A. Gray. of Pennsylvania. They had eight children, namely: Maletha Ann, wife of Lawrence Long; Lucy Ann; wife of Zahm Stevens; Andrew; Maitha Jane, wife of William Digby; Maggie, wife of Newton Petteys; Levi, who died in infancy: Sarah Jane, wife of L. S. Woodruff, a minister of the U. B. Church, and Greenbury, Jr. The mother died in the spring of 1894, and the father now makes his home with his son Andrew.
W. H. Burditt remained with his father, and assisted in the care of the home farm until twenty-eight years of age, when he purchased seventy acres of land, and began farming on his own account. At the age of nineteen he en- listed at Tontogany under Capt. Black; but, as his father was ill he remained at home, and in his place employed a substitute who later died in a Southern prison. He has always devoted his en- ergies to farming, and now owns and operates 120 acres of land, which has been acquired through his own efforts, and throughout the com- munity he is recognized as a progressive, wide- awake and industrious farmer.
Mr. Burditt was married in 1872 to Eldretta Gates, of Weston township, who was born in Danbury Conn., on Christmas Day, 1849. They lost their first child, Charlie, but three children. Claude B., Maudie May and Emma E., are yet at home. Our subject has served as school director several terms, and is a warm friend of the cause of education. In politics he is a stalwart Repub- lican, unswerving in his support of the principles of that party.
JOSEPH BRILLHART, deceased, was one of the best known farmers of Washington township, this county, and was truly a self-made man, having acquired all that he possessed through his own in- dustrious and persevering efforts, combined with sound judgment and good business ability. He was born in York county, Penn., on October 22. 1822, and was a son of John Brillhart, who was also a native of the Keystone State, and grew to manliood on his father's farin. On attaining his majority John Brillhart married Catherine Lowe. and they became the parents of eight children. namely: Jacob; Mary, deceased, who was known by the name of " Polly; " John, who was
1237
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
minister of the Dunkard Church, and is now de- ceased; Catherine, who has also passed away; Daniel, a resident of Ohio; Peter, a farmer of Henry county, Ohio; Joseph, of this sketch; and Joanas. After the father's death in Crawford county, the mother removed to Stark county, Ohio, where she departed this life at the age of seventy-five years.
Joseph Brillhart obtained his literary educa- tion in the common schools of Stark county, re- inaining at home until he had reached the age of twenty-six, when he went to Crawford county, Ohio, where for ten years he owned and operated a farm of eighty acres. On selling that property he came to Wood county, where he purchased 104 acres, which were still an unbroken wilder- ness, erecting thereon a log cabin. He immedi- ately began the work of developing his land, inak- ing extensive improvements, and left one of the best equipped farms in the county.
In Stark county, Ohio, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Brillhart and Catherine Epley, and of their union the following children have been born-Benjamin, who is in delicate health, is a farmer by occupation; Rebecca, who died at the age of thirty years, was the wife of White McMann, of Otsego, Ohio; Amanda is the wife of George Mawer, of Grand Rapids township, Wood. county; Hattie is the wife of George Stone; Cal- vin wedded a Miss Jeffers, and operates the home- stead farm; and Frank is also a farmer.
For a number of terms Mr. Brillhart served as school director, and while a resident of Crawford county filled the office of supervisor. He was a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and took a deep interest in its success, and through- out the county was well and favorably known. His deatlı occurred on the old homestead, July 30, 1896.
or
SIMEON F. CROM is a successful fariner and stock-raiser of Center township. His well-spent life silences the voice of criticism, and justly en- titles him to the respect which is accorded him by his fellow citizens. He was born in Center township, Wood county, November 22, 1849. His father, Daniel Crom, was born and reared in Oxford county, Penn., spending his boyhood days the parental homestead. He married Miss Barbara Oberdorf, also a native of Oxford county, and in 1820 started for Wood county, Ohio, making the entire journey with an ox-team. He located in what is known as Beaver Creek, and took up a tract of land which he cleared and then sold, later removing to Center township, where he entered from the government 160 acres of land.
One-half of this he cleared, and the remaining eighty he sold. Upon the part which he retained he erected a dwelling and barn, planted a five- acre orchard, and inade other excellent improve- inents. For several years he served histownship as trustee, as supervisor, and as school director. He died on the old homestead in 1864, and his wife passed away in Center township in 1890. They had the following children who reached mature years: John, who died while serving in the Civil war; Annie, wife of Aaron Phillips, of Bowling Green; Joseph, of Oklahoma; Mary, wife of Henry A. Olds; Aaron, a farmer in Portage township; Simeon F .; and Martha, wife of Levi Loomis, a farmer of Kansas.
Our subject acquired a district-school educa- tion, and worked on the home farin until his fa- ther's death, after which he supported his widowed mother. He began life on his own account on a farm of fifty-two acres, but has now 116, which he purchased and improved, erecting thereon a fine dwelling, good barns and outbuildings, at a cost of more than $2,500. He also planted an orchard, has ditched and tiled the place, and now has one of the most desirable farms of the town- ship, while the community recognize in him one of its progressive agriculturists.
Mr. Crom was married April 16, 1870, to Amaryllis Humisson, daughter of Mrs. Gideon Un- derwood, of Center township. They have two children-Carleton, who was born March 26. 1873, was educated in the district schools and the high school of Fostoria, and now aids in the op- eration of the home farm. Alanson, born June 22, 1878, is also at home. Mr. Crom hasalways taken a deep interest in the welfare of his native county, and faithfully performs his duties of cit- izenship. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and socially is connected with the Odd Fellows Lodge of Bowling Green.
JOHN HOOD, an honored pioneer of Wood county, now residing in Perrysburg, was born in Portland Place, Edinburgh, Scotland, in May, 1825. He was the youngest of the sons of Henry and Elizabeth (Douglas) Hood, and is the only survivor of the family, the elder sons -- James, George, Henry, William and Thomas, and a daughter, Jane-having, with their parents, passed to the unseen life many years ago.
In 1832 the father of our subject, a day la- borer by occupation, emigrated with his family to America, and coming directly to Word county, Ohio, settled upon wild land at Hull Prairie. At that time there were but two other settlers in Middleton township, and they had to endure in
1238
WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
full measure the isolation and hardships of frontier life. This they did with true pioneer spirit, and before Mr. Hood's parents died, they had been rewarded for their work by seeing their lands converted into valuable property. Educational facilities in that locality were poor, and his help being needed upon the farm, Mr. Hood never at- tended school; but his characteristic Scotch shrewdness has enabled him to acquire much in- formation by observation. At the age of fifty- five, after a life of constant toil, he placed the management of his 143 acres at Hull Prairie in other hands, and retired to Perrysburg to enjoy his well-earned leisure. In 1891 he formed a matrimonial alliance. with Miss Ella Tracy,. by whose companionship his later years have been brightened. Mr. Hood is independent in politics, and in religious connection is a member of the Episcopal Church.
FREDERICK HELLVOIGT, prominent among the agriculturists of Plain township, is one of its most progressive and energetic of men, and from a humble beginning in life has accumulated a handsome property. He not only commenced withont means, but was obliged to battle with the elements of a foreign soil and the customs of a strange country, as he is of German birth and parentage. He was born in Hanover, Germany, March 1, 1837, and is a son of Frederick and Augusta (Buck) Hellvoigt. While a soldier in the German army, the father fought in the battle of Waterloo, and he died in his native land in 1847. His widow came to America and died in Toledo, Ohio, in 1885. Frederick is the eldest of their three children, the others being Leontena, widow of Dedrich Smith, of Toledo; and Au- gusta, wife of John Fehlauer.
Our subject received his education in the schools of Germany, and worked upon a farm until 1857, in which year he came to America in a sailing vessel, landing, after a voyage of six weeks, at New York, whence he came direct to Ohio, arriving at Bowling Green on the 4th of July. His first work in Wood county was as a farm laborer, receiving $12 per month, and at- tending school at intervals. He was thas em- ployed for two years, when he married, and worked on his father-in-law's farm for a year. which he subsequently rented for the same length of tinte. In 1862 he moved to Middleton town- ship, where he rented a farm for a year, and then leased another tract in the same township. which he operated some five years. On the ex- piration of that time he returned to Plain town- ship and bought sixty acres from his father-in-
law. Later he disposed of that place, and pur- chased his present farm of sixty acres, which, by the exercise of industry, energy and perseverance, he has now brought to a condition of excellent cultivation. On September 24, 1860, he was united in marriage with Emma Brandes, who was born October 15, 1841, a daughter of Got- lieb Brandes, a farmer of Plain township, where the wedding was celebrated. To this union were born ten children, namely: Freddie, born in 1861, died in September, 1866, aged five years; Minnie, born May 29, 1862, married February 4, 1886, to William Hindly, a farmer of Plain township; August, born May 24, 1864; Charles, born September 24, 1866; Tena, born August 10. 1870; Fred, born May 23, 1872, married March 14, 1896, to Miss Jessie Conklin, of the same township; Emma, born November 22, 1875; Lottie and William (twins), born July 9, 1878, the latter of whom died March 2, 1884; and Edward, born November 21, 1883.
In religious faith Mr. Hellvoigt and his family are identified with the Congregational Church, and follow closely the teachings of that denomi- nation. Politically he endorses the principles of the Republican party, which he supports with his ballot, and for three years served as supervisor of his township, also for the same length of time was school director. He has watched with lively interest the growth and development of the county, and has contributed largely to its reputa- tion as one of the most desirable farming districts in the State.
CYRUS JOHNSTON. This highly respected gen- tleman of Wood county, is paying especial atten- tion to the cultivation and improvement of his farm in Portage township. He was born July 28, 1853, in Section 9, the same township, in the home of his parents, James and Susanna Johnston. He grew to man's estate upon his father's farm, and as soon as old enough assisted in its cultiva- tion until he was twenty-one, gaining a good practical knowledge of the business under the wise guidance of his father. He acquired his education in the district schools, and for one win- ter worked in a lumber camp in Michigan.
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.