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 74
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Mr. Hathaway began housekeeping upon rented farm in Scott township, Sandusky county.
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where he resided for two years, and then moved to an adjoining farm of 100 acres, but in Madi- son township, of the same county, on which he built a log house, where the following three years were passed. He next made a temporary home with his father while his present dwelling was being erected. In 1877 he received from his father forty acres in Section 1, Montgomery township, a few acres of which had been cleared, but no buildings stood upon the place, so that all that are now there found have been put up by him. Since 1888 he has given considerable attention to breeding blooded trotting stock, starting with a Morgan mare, and now has some excellent stock, some of which are of the Wilkes breed. He is a great admirer of good horses, of which he is an excellent judge, and is one of the prominent breeders of the community, which business is the result of an intense desire for high-bred ani- mals. On political questions, Mr. Hathaway regularly votes the Democratic ticket.
HERBERT L. SWEEBE, an industrious and progressive young farmer of Liberty township, is a native of Canada, born in Toronto, Province of Ontario, June 4, 1866. He is a son of Jack- son Sweebe, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.
Our subject spent his school days in Huron county, completing his education at the age of eighteen. He afterward worked on the stock farm of Amos Stover for six years. In 1887 he was married in Liberty township, Wood county, to Almira M. Smith, who was born in Richland county, Ohio, in 1870. For four years they lived on the Stover farin, of which for the last year Mr. Sweebe had sole management. In the win- ter of 1891 he purchased twenty acres of land of his father, erected thereon a good residence, and has since carried on farming and teaming. To Mr. and Mrs. Sweebe were born four children: Willis J., born March 26, 1889; Sarah Merl and Leah Pearl (twins), born August 22, 1891, the former now deceased; and Lester, born Feb- ruary 22, 1894. In politics Mr. Sweebe was formerly a Republican, but is now a supporter of the Peoples party. In religious faith he is iden- tified with the United Brethren Church.
ADAM BLESSING, one of the representative German-American citizens of Montgomery town- ship, was born eighteen miles northeast of Heid- elburg, Germany, June 21, 1821, and is a son of Benedict and Eva D. (Hildebisel Blessing. The father was a general millwright, was quite well- to-do, owning a saw and grist mill in the Father-
land. as well as several acres of land, all of which he sold, but unscrupulous dealers caused him to lose the entire proceeds. In his family were six children: Emma, who was married and died in Germany; Catherine, who there married Adam Graber, and after coming to the United States, died in Montgomery township, Wood Co., Ohio; another daughter, who was married and died in Germany; George, of Wood county: Adam, of this sketch; and Andrew, who was drowned by a freshet in Germany, at the age of eleven years. In 1847 the parents crossed the Atlantic, and in Ashland county, Ohio, the mother spent her remaining days, but the father died in Montgomery township, Wood county.
In Germany, our subject attended the district schools during his boyhood, and learned the trade of a millwright. At the age of twenty- three years he was married, and in 1845 he and his family sailed from Amsterdam for the New World, arriving in New York after a long voyage of forty-nine days, whence they came to Wayne county, Ohio, by way of the Hudson river and Erie canal to Buffalo, N. Y., by lake to Cleve- land, 'Ohio, and by canal to Fulton. Going to Marshallville, Wayne county, he there secured work in a sawmill and among the farmers, for five years. In the meantime George Blessing, the brother of our subject, had come from Germany, and the two bought a mill property in Copley township, Summit Co., Ohio, which they greatly improved. After conducting the mill for some time they sold out in 1855, and came to Rising- sun, Wood county, where they purchased ten acres of land, on which a frame sawmill had been erected. Fitting out the mill with the machinery which they had brought from Suinniit. they continued to operate it in partnership until 1864, when our subject sold out and worked as an employe in a sawmill. Soon afterward he bought the north one-half of the southeast quar- ter of Section 36, Montgomery township, which was then covered with timber. The first home of the family, a log house, 18 x 24 feet, was sup- planted by a frame residence, but as that was later destroyed by fire, he is now occupying the third honse built upon the farm. In 18so, in connection with his son George, he erected a sawmill in Jackson township, Seneca county. Ohio, which they still operate; his present farm comprises eighty acres of valuable land, and he also owns a lot in Risingsun.
Seven children came to bless the union of our subject and his estimable wife, namely: Maggie. wite of Frank Crowell, who is living with hot parents; Catherine, wife of Conrad Shetler, of
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Risingsun; Evc, wife of G. Bartley, of the same place; John, who died in infancy; George, of Jackson township, Seneca county; Fred, who died in childhood; and William, of Montgomery township.
In his political affiliations, Mr. Blessing has ever been a stanch Democrat, and has held the office of supervisor. On starting out in life in the United States, his capital consisted of but five dollars, and his success is due to persistent labor and indefatigable energy, backed by a determina- tion to succeed. He has never shirked work, be- ing as industrious as his nationality would sug- gest,-but is still a well-preserved man. of jovial disposition, a great joker and an excellent con- versationalist. He is widely and favorably known, and is held in the highest esteem by all. His worthy wife is a member of the liberal United Brethren Church.
GEORGE CHALLEN. The present prosperous condition of Plain township is largely due to the class of men to which our subject belongs. He comes from the "tight little island " across the sea, his birth having occurred in Sussex, Eng- land, June 18, 1854, and when but an infant was brought to this country by his parents, William and Mary (Evans) Challen, also natives of Eng- land. They arrived in the New World in 1857, and the father began farming in Plain township, Wood county. In the family were eleven chil- dren, as follows: Jane, deceased wife of Thomas Mitchell, of Plain township; Henry J., who fol- lowed farming, but is now deceased: Elizabeth, wife of Isaac Parkson: Charlotte. wife of Robert Barber; Mary, wife of Thomas Aldrich; William, a farmer of Jackson township, Wood county; Annie, widow of Isaac Borland; Charles, also a farmer of Jackson township; Harriet, widow of George Green; George, subject of this sketch; and John. The mother of this family died in Plain township, in 1882, and the father made his home with his son John until his death, Septem- ber 20, 1896.
The district schools of Bowling Green fur- nished George Challen liis educational privileges, and in the labors of the home farm he aided until he reached mature years, when for a year he rented a farm of 120 acres. In connection with his brothers he then went to Jackson town- ship, where they bought 160 acres, but, later, he sold his interest to his partners and came to Plain township, where he purchased eighty acres. He immediately commenced the improvement of his land, which is now in an admirable state of culti- vation, and it has become a very valuable piece !
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of property, owing to his careful tillage and the neat buildings he has erected. At Tontogany. January 20, 1882, he was married to Miss Jennie Kitchen, a daughter of Philip Kitchen, of Plain township, and one child graces their union: Wal- lace W., born August 23, 1883. Our subject does not care to take an active part in politics, but always casts his vote with the Republican party, and has served for nine years as school director, being clerk of the board for a part of the time. He and his wife are held in the high- est respect for their genuine integrity of char- acter, and their attractive home is the abode of hospitality.
WILLIAM T. LE GALLEY, a prominent agricult- urist of Plain township, was born May 13. 1845, in Peru township, Huron county, Ohio.
His father, William Le Galley. Sr., came to Wood county in 1856 and located in Plain town- ship, where our subject attended the district schools and worked upon his father's farm during his boyhood. On reaching his majority he received from his father thirty-two acres of unimproved land, which he has cleared and brought to a fine state of cultivation, making ditches. planting an orchard, and erecting substantial buildings. In 1864 he enlisted for 100 days in Company C. 144th O. V. I .. under Col. Hunt and Capt. Kitchen. and went by way of Columbus and Baltimore to the front. He remained with his regiment until the expiration of his term, and on receiving his discharge, September 2, 1864, re- turned to his peaceful occupation of farming. In 1869 he was married to Miss Celia A. Jewell, a daughter of the late John Jewell, a leading citi- zen of Plain township. They have had two chil- dren: Maude, born in 1873, died in infancy, and Grace, born in 1878, now attending school.
Mr. Le Galley is a brother of John H. and Myron Le Galley, prominent residents of this county, whose biographies appear elsewhere, and the family holds a high standing in the commu- nity. Our subject and his wife are active mem- bers of the Baptist Church, and take part in va- rious lines of philanthropic and religious work. In politics Mr. Le Galley is a Democrat ; socially he is a member of the G. A. R.
JOHN H. HANNA. Among the leading citizens of Wood county, whose genuine worth well en- titles thein to representation in the history of this locality is our subject, a self-made man, who owes his success in life to his own efforts, and who is highly est somed by many friends.
Mr. Hanna was born in Fairfield county, Ohio.
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January 17, 1859. His great-grandfather, John Hanna, was a native of Ireland, and became the founder of the family in America, locating in Maryland, subsequently taking up his residence in Fairfield county, Ohio, and becoming one of its first pioneers. The father of our subject, Harrison Hanna, was born in that county, and is a farmer by occupation. He wedded Miss
Mary Miller, and some years later removed from Fairfield to Hancock county, there locating on a farm in Portage township. In 1883 he purchased a forty-acre farm in Jackson township, Wood county, where he has since lived. To Mr. and Mrs. Hanna have been born the following named children: Ellsworth, a farmer of Jackson town- ship; Mrs. Annetta Entz, of Fairley, Ohio; Mrs. Ida Rader, of McComb, Ohio; Mrs. Jemima Wright, of Jackson township, Wood county; Harvey, a farmer of Jackson township; Carrie, a successful school teacher of Nebraska; Edwin, at home; and John H. The mother of this family died in 1882.
Our subject attended the district schools of his native county, and for two terms pursued his studies in Van Buren, Ohio. He remained under the parental roof until nineteen years of age; when he began to earn his own livelihood by working as a farm hand, and was thus employed for two years. He is an earnest, energetic, wide- awake business man, and, whatever he under- takes, carries forward to successful completion.
In September. 1879, in Cass township, Han- cock Co., Ohio, Mr. Hanna was united in mar- riage with Miss Sarah A. Albertson, a native of that county. Four children were born to them: Myron Edwin, at home; Wilbur A., who died at the age of thirteen; Elsie E. and Harry Berchord, who are under the parental roof.
Mr. and Mrs. Hanna began their domestie life upon a rented farm in Hancock county, and, in the spring of 1891, came to Wood county, he having previously purchased eighty acres of land in Jackson township. Soon afterward he added to this another eighty acres, and How owns 160 acres of rich and arable land, the greater part of which is under a high state of cultivation, and yields to the owner a good return for his labor. On leaving Hancock county, he sold his farm in Cass township, unid his property in Findlay and Arcadia. At the time of his marriage his cash capital consisted of not more than $5; but he has steadily worked his way upward, overcoming the difficulties and obstacles in his path, and has risen to a place among the substantial citizens of this locality. The Republican party claims his support. He is now serving as school director,
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and as township trustee, having been eleeted in the spring of 1894 to the latter office for three years. While living in Hancock county, he also served as township trustee. He holds member- ship with the Methodist Church, and his honor- able, upright life is in harmony with his pro- fessions
RUDOLPH KINDERVATER, a well-known and highly respected farmer of Perrysburg township. was born in Hessia, Germany, January 27, 1843. His parents were Henry and Augusta (Schultz) Kindervater, both of whom were natives of Hes- sia, the former being born there in 1800 and the latter in 1814. They came to America in 1852, and settled in Perrysburg on a farm, where the father died in 1863 and the mother in 1881. Their children were: Harmon, Henry, Rudolph, Augusta and Frederick.
Rudolph came with his parents to the United States, grew to inanhood in Perrysburg, and was educated in the public schools. On December 6, 1867, he was married, and six children were born to him, as follows: Emina became the wife of John Jacobs, of Perrysburg township, and they have two children-Clifford and Carlin; Frederick married Miss Ella Ward, and they also have two children-Melone and Paul; and Ida. Agnes, Caroline and Lucy. The daughters of Mr. Kindervater are remarkable for their beauty, as well as for their intelligence.
PETER KLAG, who owns and operates a good farm conveniently situated in Middleton township, is one of the native sons of Germany, He was born in Bavaria, May 31, 1836, and is one of a family of ten children born to Valentine and Eliza- beth (Sunckle) Klag. His father came to this country in 1862, and died in Norwalk, Ohio, in 1872, while his wife passed away in 1883.
Our subject acquired his education in Ger- inany, and worked on his father's farm until eighteen years of age, when in 1853 he came to this country, making the voyage across the 1 !- lantic in a sailing vessel, which reached New York harbor after a forty-two days' voyage. He lo- cated in Williamsburg (now Brooklyn). N. Y .. where he remained some four years, working as a common laborer. In 1857 he came west to Ohio, settling in Norwalk, Huron county, and for three years was employed on a farm. he came to Wood county, purchasing forty acres of land in Middleton township. It was covered with timber, but in the midst of the forest he erected a log cabin, and at once began to clear the property, continuing this work until the entire
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place was under the plow. In 1870 the cabin home was replaced by a substantial frame resi- dence, good barns have also been built, the place has been divided into fields of convenient size by well-kept fences, the latest improved machinery has been purchased, and to-day the farm is a valuable and desirable one.
In 1864, in Toledo, Ohio, Mr. Klag was united in marriage with .Johanna Hassalselle, who was born in Germany in 1841, and two children were born to them: Johanna, wife of Albert Raatz, a farmer of Perrysburg township; and Mary, wife of Lewis Schaller, who is operating the Klag home- stead. The mother of this family is now de- ceased. The history of a self-made man is inter- esting and encouraging, as it demonstrates what can be accomplished by perseverance, industry and well-directed efforts. By the exercise of these qualities Mr. Klag has steadily worked his way upward, and as the result of his labors is to- day in comfortable circumstances. He is a mem- ber of the Lutheran Church, and in political faith is a Democrat.
JONATHAN DUHAMEL, a prosperous agricult- urist of Perrysburg township, was born in Guern- sey county, Ohio, in 1832, a son of Henry and Margaret (Johnson) Duhamel, who were born and reared in Maryland, and where they were married. In 1820 they came to Ohio, and made their home in Guernsey county. In May, 1851, Mr. Duhamel removed to Perrysburg township, Wood county, where he purchased land and iin- proved it. Six children were born to them, as follows: Amos was a soldier in the Civil war, and died in Wisconsin; Benjamin is yet living; James, who was also a soldier, died in Indiana in 1882; Jonathan is our subject; the other children died in infancy. The mother of this family died in Guernsey county, Ohio, in 1836, and the father, for his second wife, wedded Miss May Arnold. She died in Wood county in 1886, leaving seven children, all of whom except one are living, but we have record of only three: Maria lives in Per- rysburg; William in Cygnet; Daniel is deceased; Fred lives in Dunbridge. The father of Henry Duhamel was born in 1765, and died in Wood county in 1862.
Our subject was educated in the district schools of his native county, also at Belmont Academy, Tuscarawas county, and was nearly twenty years old when the family came to Wood county. Some two years later he purchased unimproved land in Perrysburg township, which he cleared and cultivated. In 1861 he was mar- ried, in Middleton township, to Miss Eunice M.
Connor, who was born in Genesee county, N. Y., and of this union six children were born. namely: Adella (now Mrs. Henline), who resides in Freeport, Ohio; Elizabeth (Mrs. McPherson . of Dunbridge; and James, Grant, George and Grace, all at home. In 1862 Mr. Duhamel enlisted in Company D, ILIth O. V. I. for three years, or during the war. They were assigned to the Department of Ohio and Tennessee, and he served the most of the time on detached duty. In July. 1865, he was honorably discharged at Indianapolis, and returned home to engage in the peaceful pursuits of farm life. Since that time Mr. Duhamel has given his attention to the cultivation of his land, and has prospered in the business. He is a Republican, but has never taken any active interest in politics beyond using his influence in the selection of good men for office. He is public-spirited. ever ready to assist in any enterprise looking to the welfare of the community, and was the first man to petition for a ditch law in. Perrysburg township. Mr. Duha- mel is a inember of Wolford Post No. 51, G. A. R., at Perrysburg, in which he has held office at various times. He is highly respected by all who know him.
J. B. MILLER, a real-estate dealer of Bowling Green, was born in Knox county, Ohio, August IS, 1855, where he attended school and worked on a farm until eighteen years old, when he learned the plasterer's trade, at which he worked in Knox county for five or six years, then going to Ashland county for a period of six years, and thence to Bowling Green, where he arrived in 1888. Here he worked at his trade, made con- tracts for plastering, and assisted in building many of the public and private houses in the city. He continued in this line of business until March, 1894, when he entered the real-estate business, and was employed by Mr. Ru- dulph. He possesses property in Bowling Green. and has bought and sold a great deal since he has resided here.
Mr. Miller was married, in 1886, to Miss EHla Brown, who was born in 1857, in Knox county, and died October 11, 1891. Two children were born of this union, Mary M., and one who die i in infancy. Mr. Miller is a Republican in poli- tics, and socially is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Methodist Church.
The paternal great-grandfather, John Miller. came from Ireland to America and settled in Pennsylvania. He was employed in the Custou House at Philadelphia for some time. His son Jonathan, our subject's grandfather, was born in
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Pennsylvania, and was a farmer by occupation. He settled for a time in Columbiana county, when our subject's father was three or four years old, moving from there to Knox county, where he died. His wife died in Carroll county, Ohio. They had four children: Charles, Hirain, John. and Jonathan. Jolin, the father of our subject, was born in Montgomery county. Penn. He was married in Knox county, Ohio, to Sarah Burt- nette, who was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, in 1825, and is still living with our subject in Bowling Green. She was formerly an English Lutheran in her religious belief, but is now a member of the Methodist Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Miller were born five children, as follows: Cinderella, who married John Beam, and lives in Bucyrus, Ohio; J. B., our subject; Alice, who married Henry Garns, and lives in Wooster, Ohio; Myra J. is single, and lives with our sub- ject; and a child, who died in infancy. Mr. Miller is one of the energetic citizens of Bowling Green, and possesses the respect and esteem of all who come in contact with him.
A. F. CHASE, who occupies a foremost place in the ranks of Middleton township's leading and influential farmers, was born in Perrysburg town- ship, March 7. 1849. His father, Gulusha Chase, was born in Vermont, where he attended school and worked on his father's farni. When a young man he came to Ohio, locating in Per- rysburg township, Wood county, where he rented a farm of 200 acres, continuing its cultivation until 1856. He then removed to Middleton township, and purchased an eighty-acre tract of land near Hull Prairie, which he transformed into well-developed fields. He married Caroline Bridges, a native of Perrysburg, Wood county. and to them were born six children, five of whom died in early life, our subject being the only sur- vivor. Mrs. Chase passed away in 1857, and the father afterward married Miss Cunning, of Middleton township. He served as trustee of Middleton township for one term. as school di- rector two years, and gave a liberal support to all measures calculated to advance the general welfare. His death occurred in April, 1891.
Our subject acquired his education in a log school house furnished in primitive style, and early began earning his living by working on the farm of Richard Carter, with whom he remained for a number of years. He afterward returned to his father's home at Rudolph, and subse- quently aided him in clearing up the family home- stead in Middleton township, which since his father's death had come into his possession; a
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comfortable dwelling has been erected, a good baru has been built, many rods of tiling have been laid, and the work of cultivation and improve- ment lias been carried forward until the farm is one of the best in Middleton township, and the owner is regarded as one of the leading agricult- urists.
In 1870, in Middleton township. Mr. Chase was joined in wedlock with Mary Cobley, who was born in that township in 1851, and they had three children: Andrew, who was born Septein- ber 17, 1871, and operates the home farm; Ber- tha, who died in infancy; and Bertha (2), who was born in 1877, and is now attending school. The parents are members of the Hood Presbyte- rian Church, and in politics, Mr. Chase is a Democrat. Socially, he is connected with Camp No. 387. K. O. T. M., Haskins, and Roche-de- Bœuf Lodge, No. 530, I. O. O. F., while he and his wife belong to the Order of Rebekalı. His many excellencies of character and his genuine worth, combined with a genial, social manner, have won him many warm friends.
THOMAS DAVIS has witnessed much of the development and upbuilding of Jackson town- ship, has seen its wild and unimproved lands transformed into good farms and homes, and takes just pride in the progress and advancement that have here been achieved. The community recognized in him a valued citizen, one who has always borne his part in the work of improve- ment. ' He is also a self-made man, who well merits the success he has achieved, as it is a re- ward of his earnest and persistent labor.
Mr. Davis was born in Wales. November 10, 1827, and is a son of John and Mary (Morgan) Davis, also natives of that land. There were eight children in the family-Elizabeth, who died in Wales; Thomas: William, who came to Amer- ica when a young man, locating in Medina com- ty, Ohio, and after his marriage removing to Highhill, Mo., where his death occurred. James, who came to this country with his brother Will- iam, and in 186t entered the army, since which time no news has been received of him; Nancy, who was married, and died in Wales; Joseph. who came to America. served as a soldier in the Civil war, and died in Kansas: Charles, who came to this country with his brother Joseph, and loca- ted in Medina county, where he is now a pros- perous farmer: George, who was married, and died in Wales.
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