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 79
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Tenn., paroled November 20, 1864, and dis- charged June 27, 1865; he now makes his home at Eagleville, Wood county.
The subject proper of this review had but lit- tle chance of securing an education, and was un- able to attend school at all until nine years of age, when he entered District School No. 8, which stood back in the woods, on the old Jacob Leathers farm, his first teacher being James M. Bronson. In the winter season he would pursue his studies, but the summer months were devoted to the labors on the home farm, where he re- mained until his enlistment. On the President's first call for 100,000 volunteers, Mr. Drake joined the 21st O. V. I., at Eagleville, April 6, 1861. the enrolling officer being George Foreman, and was assigned to Company A. After remaining about ten days at Camp Dennison, near Cincin- nati, the troops were sent to Louisville. Ky., and at Ivory Mountain participated in their first en- gagement. Our subject continued with his regi- ment, taking part in every battle up to July 22, 1864, when he was wounded at Atlanta, Ga., while on the skirmish line at S A. M. They had been ordered to lie down, and the ball penetrated twenty-four thicknesses of his blanket before it struck the left side of his head. This necessi- tated his going to the field hospital at Atlanta, much against his will, where on his arrival he was placed on duty. He watched his chances to get away, preferring to be on duty with his regi- ment if he was fit for service. One evening aft- er dusk, he jumped on a supply train, and, after an absence of two weeks, rejoined his regiment. The hospital authorities sent for him, but the colonel refused to give him up. In December, 1864, he re-enlisted as a veteran, receiving a thirty-days' furlough, and again joined the troops at Atlanta, whence he went with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea. He participated in the grand review at Washington, D. C., and was discharged at Louisville, Ky .. July 25, 1865, at the end of a long and honorable military career.
From his $13 a month wages, Mr. Drake had managed to save $500, and in the fall of 1865 he bought forty acres of land in Section 22, Bloom township, from Squire John Russell, it being the farın where he still makes his home. It was then covered with timber and very stony, while not a building or a fence was to be seen, and not even a road led to the place. With the aid of his family, all but five acres have been placed under the plow, and the comfortable residence is sur- rounded with neat and substantial outbuildings.
In October, 1865, in Bloom township, Mr. Drake was united in marriage with Miss Mary J.
Boley, who was born in Trumbull county, Ohio. November 5, 1849, and is a daughter of David and Lovina (Moyer) Boley, who located in Bloom township when Mrs. Drake was but a child. Besides his farming operations, the father also carried on a blacksmith shop at Eagleville, and after the death of his wife in the fall of 1887, he removed to Indiana, where his death occurred at the age of sixty-seven. To our subject and his wife have been born the following children: Carrie H., now Mrs. George Henry, of Bloom township; Addis S., at home; Jackson, who works in an oil refinery at North Baltimore; Susan L., wife of Michael Glowe, of Perry township, Wood county; David F., a farmer; Zenobia V .. at home; Gertrude and Gracie M., both of whom died in infancy; and Nellie J., and George A .. both at home. Until 1893, Mr. Drake had always supported the Republican party, but is now a Prohibitionist, while socially he holds membership with Urie Post No. 11O, G. A. R., of Bloomdale. He was a brave soldier, fearless in the discharge of his duty, and as a civilian he is classed among the honest, upright citizens of the community.
M. SNYDER, a prosperous and intelligent farmer, living in Section 1, Montgomery town- ship, was born February 2, 1854, in Crane town- ship. Wyandot Co., Ohio, and traces his ancestry back to Henry and Margaret (Irey) Snyder, who came to America from Germany, and were the parents of nine children. In 1836 they located in Wayne county, Ohio, where the wife died, but the husband passed his last days in Indiana.
Jesse Snyder, a son of Henry and Margaret (frey) Snyder, was the grandfather of our sub- ject. He was born in Chester county, Penn .. September 17, 1799. emigrated by wagons to Wayne county, Ohio, about IS30 or '31, and in 1843 removed to Wyandot county, where he was numbered among the wealthiest farmers and most liberal contributors to Church work. He wedded Sarah Mills, who was born in Chester county. Penn., in 1798, and died in IS74. His death occurred in Wyandot county, Ohio, on the 19th of January, 1890.
Stephen Snyder, the father of our subject, was the oldest son and second child in a family of twelve children. He was also a native of Penn- sylvania, born May 16, 1826, and during his boy- hood received only a common country school edu- cation. In Wyandot county was celebrated his marriage with Miss Emily MeCandy, who was bort in Wayne county, Ohio, January 26, 1831. and is the daughter of Francis MeCurdy, a miller by oc-
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cupation. The parents located near Upper San- dusky, where the father engaged in agricultural pursuits, and at his death, which occurred Octo- ber 5. 1875, his body was laid to rest in Wyan- dot county. Although a stanch Republican, he supported the man whom he considered best qual- ified to fill the position. At his death he left a widow, now residing in Bradner, Ohio, and four sons -- Frank, of Montgomery township; Jesse, a farmer, who died in Van Wert county, Ohio, at the age of forty-two years; the subject of this re- view; and Henry, of Bradner. The two daugh- ters, Sarah and Cecelia, died in childhood.
Our subject obtained his education in the dis- trict schools, but the schools during his younger days were not as good as at the present time. He continued to assist in the work on the home farm until his marriage, which important event in his life occurred in Wyandot county, February 4, 1875, Miss Anna Young becoming his wife. She was born at Shanesville, Tuscarawas Co .. Ohio, October 5, 1855, and is the daughter of Michael and Lucinda (Everhart) Young, whom she accompanied to Wyandot county when only five years of age. Her father, who was a brick- layer by trade, died on February 4, 1876, but her mother is still living, and makes her home at Bucyrus, Ohio Mrs. Snyder is the fourth daugh- ter and fifth child in their family of eight chil- dren. By her marriage with our subject she has become the mother of five children - Jesse A., born December 21, 1875; Henry L., born Sep- tember 3, 1880; Charles E., born January 24, 1883; one son, who died in infancy; and Rhoda, born July 2, 1888. Those living are still with their parents.
Upon his marriage, Mr. Snyder located upon his father-in-law's farm in Wyandot county, where he remained a short time, but on the death of his father removed to the old homestead, which he rented for two years. It comprised eighty acres, of which he then purchased one-half, but in Au- gust, 1886, he sold out and bought eighty acres in Section 28, Henry township, Wood county. Although twenty acres had been cleared, there had been but little tiling and ditching done, After one year spent upon that place - from tlie spring of 1892 until 1893 -- he located upon his present eighty-acre farm in Section 1, Montgom- ery township, which he had parchased in 1890, and now has one of the most highly-cultivated and well-improved tracts in the locality, consist- ing of 160 acres of excellent land. The family is one held in the highest esteem by all, and the sons are good, steady-going young men, of whom their parents may be justly proud. In politics,
Mr. Snyder is a strong advocate of the principles promulgated by the Republican party, and socially is connected with the Odd Fellows' Lodge at Bradner, Ohio, while his wife is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. He is a shrewd pusiness man, an excellent manager, and is now numbered among the substantial and represent- ative farmers of Montgomery township.
A. VAN BLARCUM, one of the most public- spirited and progressive citizens of Jerry City, is of Holland descent, and was born in Cayuga county. N. Y., September 10, 1831, a son of John and Laura (Powers) Van Blarcum. He is the eldest in their family of thirteen children, five of whom died in infancy, the others being as follows: (7) Adelia is the wife of Charles May, of New York City. (8) George H. was one of the brave "boys in blue " during the Rebellion, enlisting August 6, 1862, in Company D, ILIth O. V. I., of which he was appointed first lieutenant, and March 3. IS64, was made captain, in the action at Stony Mountain he was wounded in October, 1864, and received an honorable discharge on the 2d of Feb- ruary, following; he has since served as treasurer of Wood county. (9) Celestia is the widow of B. R. Taber, formerly of Bowling Green, Ohio. (10) Helen is now Mrs. James McPherson, of that city. (II) Samuel, of Chicago Junction, Ohio, has for twenty-five years been a conductor on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. (12) Harriet is the wife of George Bosworth, bookkeeper for the Pullinan Car Company, and they make their home in Pullman, Ill. (13) Abbie is the wife of James Taft, of Dennison, Ohio, master mechanic on the P. C. C. & St. L. railroad.
In September, 1833, the family arrived in To- ledo, Ohio, when it was but a hamlet, having made the trip by lake from Buffalo, N. Y. They located first in Port Lawrence township, Lucas Co., Ohio., but later the father lost all his prop- erty by purchasing land in Oregon township, that county, of which the title was iniperfect. After- ward he was landlord of the. .. Washington House " of Maumee City, after which he located on a farin near Waterville, and then kept the "Co- lumbia House" in that city, Early in the "forties" he started for Seaport, Portage township, Wood county, but while en route he learned of the destruction by fire of the hotel he intended to conduct, so returned to Waterville. Later he became owner of two boats on the Wabash & Eric canal, plying between Toledo, Ohio, and Lafayette, Ind., one of which he traded to Ephraim Simmons for the . Simmons House, " in the village of Portage, Wood county. There
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WOOD COUNTY, OHIO.
he also carried on general merchandising, and became owner of a farm in Liberty township. near that village. He also took a contract for grading the main line of the D. & M. railroad between Custar and Weston, this county. On disposing of his interest in Portage, he carried on the "Drury House," in Tontogany, for a time; later, in East Toledo, he kept the "East Side House, " and at Eaton Rapids, Mich., conducted the "Eaton Rapids House." From there he went to Indiana, where he engaged in the livery business, which, later, he carried on at Kensing- ton, Ill. In that city he was taken ill, and our subject brought him back to Bowling Green, Ohio, where he died at the age of eighty-four years. His wife had also reached that age at the time of her death, and their remains were both interred in the cemetery of that city. In religious faith they were Methodists, and in politics he was a stanch Republican.
Our subject received a common-school educa- tion, and remained at home until he attained his majority. For a short time he worked as a farm hand; for three seasons went as cook on Lake Erie, and later engaged in the same occupation with his father while the latter was contracting. He afterward entered the store of John McCrory, of Portage, where he remained nearly a year, and then began merchandising on his own account with the small capital of $30; but on the 4th of July, 1848, during the celebration at Portage, he cleared $130 by selling lemonade, etc. This gave him a start, and for twenty-six years he successfully conducted a general merchandising business at that place, at the end of which time " he traded his store for a farm on the Portage pike, which he operated for three years. On August 22, 1854, in Miltonville, Wood county, he was married to Electa Downs, a native of this county, and daughter of Samuel Downs. After her death, which occurred in Portage town- ship, he removed to Freeport, Ohio, where he conducted a store until May, 1876, at which time he went to Jerry City, there buying out the stock of goods of Israel Nestlerode. For eight years he continued business at that place, when he went to Bairdstown, where for a year he was employed as clerk by Ogden & Keene, whom, later, he bought out. He afterward removed his stock of goods to Jerry City, where he carried on business until December, 1894. In the meantime he was again married, his second union being with Miss Maggie Stewart. His present wife bore the maiden name of Miss Mary Beach. She is a native of Byesville, Guernsey Co., Ohio, and at the time of hier marriage, which was cele-
brated in Napoleon, Ohio, February 7, 1889, she was serving as chief templar of the Juvenile Temple of the Independent Order of Good Templars of Ohio. She is a lady of unusual literary attainments, finely educated, and a lec- turer of ability. By her marriage she has become the mother of one son --- Alfred, born November 20, 1893. By his second marriage our subject has one child-Leavy, born November 23, 1887.
At present Mr. Van Blarcum gives his atten- tion to his farm of forty acres, and also carries on a hotel in Jerry City. He is an industrious, energetic man, never idle, and takes great inter- est in everything tending to promote the welfare or aid in the advancement of the community. He has always been a stalwart Republican; for fourteen years served as postmaster at Portage, which office he declined to accept in Jerry City. where he is now serving as a member of the city council and on the school board. Socially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Blue Lodge No. 112, F. & A. M. ; and the Chap- ter, No. 58, R. A. M., of Findlay, Ohio; he also holds membership with Vitus Lodge No. 612, I. O. O. F., of Jerry City.
CLARENCE E. DOWLING, an intelligent and progressive young agriculturist of Montgomery township, residing in Section 29, was born March II, 1874, at Kenton, Ohio, and is the youngest child of Rev. William and Mary S. (Chapman ) Dowling. He comes from one of the most illus- trious families of Wood county, its members hav- ing attained to positions of prominence in their various walks of life.
The primary education of our subject was ob- tained in the schools of Kenton, and, on the re- moval of his parents to Marion, Ohio, he entered the schools of that place; but later again pur- sued his studies at Kenton, as the family had re- turned to that city. When about eighteen years of age he became a student in the college at Betli- any, W. Va., where his brother. F. M., was then professor of Latin, and remained there for almost three terms. On leaving college, Mr. Dowling came to the farm on which he still lives, it com- prising a tract of fifty acres located in Sections 28 and 29, Montgomery township, and he has erected thereon a pleasant dwelling.
On December 30, 1894, Mr. Dowling was united in marriage with Miss Estella Dicken, who was born in Section 29, Montgomery township. December 26, 1871, and is the youngest daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Stahl) Dicken. .. our subject is a young man of correct habits, and of upright, moral character, an honorable career
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lies before him in his chosen calling. and he has already met with success in his undertakings. He holds membership with the Disciples Church, and, politically, is a stanch Republican.
LEWIS P. RISSER. Among the citizens of Perry township who are of German birth is the gentleman of whom this narrative is written, and in his native land he learned the traits of economy and frugality, which have been the source of his present competency. Many of the best citizens of Wood county are his countrymen. and they almost invariably merit and receive the esteem and respect of the community in the same degree that he does. His birth occurred July 22, 1838, a son of Henry and Elizabeth Risser, whose other children were as follows: Catherine, who makes her home in Bloom township, Wood county; Jacob, a farmer of Elkhart county, Ind., though by trade he is a shoemaker; Elizabeth, now Mrs. H. P. Pletcher, of the same county; Henry, who died in that county; Bartholomew and Christian, both of whom make their homes in Elkhart county, Ind .; Mary, wife of George Milner, of Bloom township, Wood county; and Martha, who died in Ashland county, Ohio, in infancy.
In May, 1845, Henry Risser started with his family for the New World, and after a long voy- age of two months, they landed in New York. One son was born at sea. By the Erie canal they went to Buffalo, N. Y., thence by lake to Cleveland, Ohio, and by team to Ashland county, where the father had a brother living. For four years they lived in that county, but in the spring of 1849, they located on the eighty-acre tract now owned by our subject in Section 6, Perry town- ship. It seemed then that the work of civiliza- tion had scarcely begun in this region, the land was mostly covered with a dense forest, wild game was to be found, including turkeys and deer. Everything that was raised on the farm was taken to Perrysburg, where they could only receive mer- chandise in exchange. Only eighteen acres of the land had been cleared and after renting the place for six years the father purchased it. the price being $600, a part of which was paid by the five sons, who worked away from home in order to Secure it. After residing there for several years, the father sold the place to our subject, and re- moved to Elkhart county, Ind., where he died when nearly eighty-four years of age. In politics he was a Democrat. His wife passed away in Perry township, and was buried in the Mennonite cemetery.
district schools of this country, but his studies were often interrupted as his labors were needed in the fields. At the age of twenty-one he be- gan learning the carpenter's trade under George Lenhart, and followed that vocation for some years. At the time of his marriage he had only $30 on interest. and operated rented land in both Montgomery and Perry townships, then located on the home farm, but later went to Bloom township, where he first owned property. On selling out there he purchased the old homestead of his father for $4,000, and to its cultivation he has since devoted his attention.
On June 6, 1867. in Perry township was sol- emnized the marriage of Mr. Risser and Miss Hester Bresler, who was born in Fairfield county. Ohio, April 5, 1839, a daughter of John and Hester (Nestlerode) Bresler. She received a common-school education, and, while on a visit to her brother Philip, in Perry township, met and married our subject. They have become the parents of three children-Susie, born May 30, 186S; Tobias C., born December 30, 1869; and William E., born May 20, 1871.
Mr. Risser votes in support of the men and measures of the Democratic party. and for seven consecutive years filled the office of supervisor. In religious belief, both he and his wife are Protestant Methodists, attending the service of Bloom Chapel, of which he is serving as trustee. He declined the office of class leader, and resigned that of steward. In all his labors he has been ably seconded and assisted by his wife, who has proved to him a faithful and devoted helpmeet.
ASAHEL PHILO, one of the honored pioneer settlers of Webster township, was born July 2, IS32, of ancestry who originally came from France, settling in New York State. There our subject's father, Hurlbut Philo, was born, and thence moved to Pennsylvania, where he en- gaged in farming. He was there married to Miss Anna Patrick (a lady of English descent), who was born in Connecticut. They had nine chil- dren. two of whom died in infancy, the others being: David; Elizabeth, the widow of Thorn S. Castle; Fitch, deceased; Daniel; Susanna, the wife of William Gray; Asahel; and William, who was killed in a railway accident while on the way to join the army. In 1856, the family came to Wood county, locating in Webster township. where our subject's mother died in 1865. His father survived her eighteen years, and lied in 1883 in Milton township.
Our subject received his early education in Lewis P. Risser for one winter attended school in Germany, and completed his education in the | Pennsylvania, and worked upon his father's farm
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until his majority, when he moved to Erie coun- ty, Ohio, and found similar employment; then rented a farm in Huron county, and in 1854 he moved to Weston, Wood county. Six years later he bought a tract of land in Webster town - ship, entirely covered with woods and water. After redeeming this he sold it, and then im- proved an eighty-acre tract in the same way. On disposing of this, he bought 120 acres near Scotch Ridge, which he still owns, devoting it chiefly to stock raising. Beginning at the foot of the ladder, he has made his way by hard work, and has succeeded in every enterprise with which he has been identified. He holds stock in a creamery, and an elevator, and is president of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Co., of which he is also solicitor.
Mr. Philo was married in Sandusky county, Ohio, to Miss Elizabeth Marks, and six children were born to them: Annie Jane, the wife of John E. Muir; Caroline H., the wife of Charles McDonald; Albert D. : Berdella, and Ralph, who are still at home, and Mary, deceased. Mrs. Philo, who is a lady of fine abilities and great force of character, is an active member of the WV. C. T. U. and the Woman's Missionary Asso- ciation. The family are all members of the U. B. Church, and ready supporters of every worthy movement. Mr. Philo has been a school director for a number of years, and he was elected justice of the peace on the Prohibition ticket. He belongs to the I. O. G. T., and to the Grange, in which he was at one time Grand Master.
WESLEY H. EWING, one of the prosperous and influential farmers of Plain township, is a na- tive of Wood county, born November 25, 1850, in Perrysburg township, a son of Anthony and Adelaide (Harple) Ewing.
His father was the first white child born near Wolfe Rapids, Wood county, and was a boy at the time of the war of ISI2. Early in life he was a sailor on the great lakes, but he subse- quently became a farmer. He lived awhile in Lucas county, afterward locating near Perrysburg, Wood county; he died in Lucas county aged seventy-eight years. Politically he was an Old- line Whig. He was twice married, his first wife being Miss Rebecca Loop, by whom he had three children: Henry, Sarah and Samuel. To his second union eight children were born, name- ly: Wesley H., the subject of this sketch; Bethiah, who married Zack Jenson, and lives in Michigan: Anthony, residing in Norwalk. Huron Co., Ohio; Joseph, living in Texas: Julia, the wife of Samuel Jenson, living in Michigan; Esther, 1
the wife of George Pierson, living in Saginaw, Mich., and Tunis and Charles, both of whom reside in Michigan. The mother of this family is still living, and has her home in Michigan.
Our subject remained with his parents unt.l March 2, 1870, when he married Miss Rhoda Kittles, who was born in Lucas county, Ohio. September 1, 1854. For one year after his mar- riage he lived in Michigan, thence returning to Lucas county, where he remained ten years. In IS80 he took up his residence in Wood county, settling on a farm of forty acres near Bowling Green, to which he has added till he has 160 acres. - His place is fortunately situated in the oil field of the county, and he has sixteen good oil wells on it, from which he derives a hand- some income. He is a good business man, also a successful farmer, and is considered one of the leading, men of his cominunity. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party, is no office- seeker, but has served as school director. He is a member of Centennial Lodge No. 626, I. O. O. F., of Bowling Green. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ewing: Allen who is married to Nora Knauss, and has one child -- Roscoe), James, Arthur, Mabel, Myrtle, Blanche. and Raymond E. The family is highly esteemed. and holds a prominent place in society. The fine residence they now occupy was built in 1893.
Mrs. Ewing's parents, Dewitt and Elena (Proper) Kittles, were natives of New York. where they were married. They came to Ohio about 1850, and here he engaged in farming. also carrying on the trades of shoemaker and carpenter. They had seven children: Sarah. wife of H. Driver, a farmer living near Toledo: James, Tunis and Dewitt, all three of whom are farmers near Toledo; Jane, who died at the age of nine years; Nicholas, deceased in infancy, and Mrs. Ewing. The father died in 1860, the moth- er in March, IS91.
EUGENE GRANT LATHROP, one of the worthy representatives of agricultural interests in Wood county, was born in Auburn, Kans .. Janu- ary 25, 1863, and is a son of George D. and Columbia A. (Hover) Lathrop, the former a native of New York, the latter of Ohio. They were married, and for some years resided in Bellefontaine, Ohio. then removed to Milwad- kee, Wis., where for six years the father was bookkeeper for a hardware company. He then took his family to Kansas for the sole purpose of voting to make it a free State, and lived on a farm there until (863, when he returned t. Ohio. He lived in Auglaize county, on the site
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